The Beauty Post

Do you treat the skin on your face different than the skin on the rest of your body? I mean our skin is an organ so what is the difference between the skin on your face than on your body? I definately pay more attention to my face. My boyfriend once said that maybe when I get old, I would still look young on my face and the rest of my body would be old and wrinkly. I certainly hope not! But we should take care of our skin all over. Some give aways of your age are your hands and neck. So make sure you take care of those areas too! 

Retin A is a derivative of Vitamin A. It is a very popular treatment used for acne, scars and wrinkles. Retin A helps skin cells to turn over more rapidly and also helps exfoliate your skin to reduce the build up of dead skin cells. That is probably why it works well for those with acne. There are studies that show Retin A can help make collagen, reduce fine lines and increase epidermal thickness which would be helpful for those who are concerned with wrinkles. But this ingredient does come with side effects. Some of which are dryness, itching, redness, peeling or flaking. Some users have reported a slight stinging when they apply Retin A. Another side effect of Retin A is that it can make your skin more sensitive to the sun. I’m guessing its because Retin A thins the outer layers of your skin (the effect of exfoliating). Many would suggest that you should avoid sun exposure and tanning beds and to use sunscreen. Retin A is also not recommended for women who are pregnant. The first part of Retin A sure sounds good…but the benefits of it just doesn’t seem to out weight the side effects - to me anyway. I’m sure women who love Retin A would disagree. I have used it before and I thought it did more harm than good. When I applied it, it feels like it burns. After a while, my skin feels so irritated and red. On top of that, my skin was flaking too. I went back to see my dermatologist and she suggested that I should use a product with a lower percentage of Retin A in it. I used it for a total of about a month. I have not seen any improvements in my skin at all. I thought that it was worse off than before I started using it. But some dermatologist says that it takes time to work and if you are patient with it, you will see the benefits. But the idea of burning my skin and making it irritated and flaky and red is just not right to me. What are you thought on Retin A?

Tamanu Oil is said to be a good oil to use for reducing scars. Traditionally, islanders used this oil for many purposes. From soar throats to insect bites, to body odor. Tamanu oil has many uses. But for our skin, this oil is beneficial due to its anti inflammatory, antimicrobial, antibiotic and antioxidant properties. It helps us reduce scars and age spots by promoting the formation of new skin tissues. Tamanu oil can also help protect our skin and keep it clear. Although Tamanu oil has a rich and thick consistency, it has the ability to penetrate all three layers of skin. Once applied to skin, it is easily absorbed.

What is the best way to apply your favorite moisturizer? Some say to rub it in, some say to pat it in, and others say we should apply it in a circular or upward motions. I like to rub it in because that way I feel that it is all evenly spread out and that I get every spot on my face. But it does pull my skin which of course is not a good idea. I also think that rubbing your face in a circular or upward motion can also pull your skin and stretch it. Patting it in may be the best way without pulling and tugging your skin, but I don’t feel that I applied it evenly or I didn’t put on enough. Which way do you think is best?

Honey has been used by many for thousands of years as a natural remedy. It is known to help with allergies, aids digestion, help heal wounds, soothes sore throats, provide antioxidants and so much more… for our skin, honey can be used as a cleanser and moisturizer. Honey makes a good moisturizer due to its ability to attract and retain moisture. It also has antibacterial and antimicrobial properties which would make a good cleanser especially for those with acne skin. Honey is a good choice even for those with sensitive skin. Honey contains B vitamins and minerals. I have been using honey as a facial cleanser for the last past few days and it makes my skin feel very soft. It also seems to be doing a good job as a cleanser. My skin doesn’t feel oily afterwards. It just feels clean, but not the squeaky, tight and dry kinda clean.

Bismuth Oxychloride is a common ingredient used in mineral makeup. It has good binding qualities to help your makeup stay on your skin. It also gives your skin a shine. So it doesn’t sound too bad right? But many woman have reported bad side effects such as itching, burning, breakouts and/or their skin turning red after using mineral makeup. The possible culprit is bismuth oxychloride. This ingredient is easy to access and is inexpensive. It is used in mineral makeup as a filler. Bismuth Oxychloride is a mineral byproduct of lead and copper refining. It is considered a heavy metal and it can clog pores, cause blemishes and irritate skin. Although bismuth oxychloride is classified as non toxic it is said that 75% of users are allergic to bismuth oxychloride. But other users have reported no bad side effects from it and they have reported clearer skin. I have used BE which contains bismuth oxychloride and I’ve never had a problem with it. So I suppose it really depends on your skin.

Aloe Vera have been used by many centuries ago. It was used traditionally to treat burns and wounds. Aloe vera contains 200 active compounds, 18 amino acids, 8 essential amino acids, and other vitamins and minerals. Aloe Vera is able to penetrate deep into your skin layers to prodvide your skin with nutrients and moisture. It is also an anti-inflammatory, help heals wounds, and provide relief to burns and sunburns. Aloe Vera has a PH level that is similar to our skin which is slightly acidic. Many have said that aloe vera is very helpful in reducing scars as well. Aloe Vera can also help reduce the redness or swelling caused by acne due to its anti inflammtory effects. I have tried aloe vera but I find that it dries out my skin. I did not find it moiturizing at all. But it did a good job calming down my pimples. I had a few blemishes that I put aloe vera on and in the morning, it looked smaller and less red. So maybe I’ll just use it as a spot treatment for my blemishes.

First lets see what is the difference between sunscreen and sunblock. What I’ve learned is that sunscreen also known as chemical sunscreen absorbs uv rays. And sunblock, also known as physical sunscreen reflects and scatters uv rays. So which one is better? There are so many controversies around sunscreen. Now I really don’t even know if I should use it! There are articles that I have read that states sunscreen can be absorbed into our skin which can cause damage to our skin and body. I thought that sunblock is more natural since it usually contains titanium dioxide and/or zinc oxide which are both natural minerals. But some say that titanium dioxide and zinc are just as bad as chemicals since they create free radicals when exposed to sunlight. Now I just want to give up on sunscreen altogether! But I know that sunscreen is essential because if I don’t put on sunscreen when I’m at the beach I’ll definitely get burned. So I’ll be using my sunscreen at the beach. But what about other days? Most experts recommend that we put on sunscreen everyday. Even during the winter and cloudy days. Do we really need to do that? What is your sunscreen routine? Do you use it everyday? Only during the summer? Do you think its doing good or harm to your skin?

Here are links to articles for information on uv rays, sun care, sunscreens/sunblock

www.mayoclinic.com/health/sunscreen/SN00044

www.newsroom.ucr.edu/cgi-bin/display.cgi?id=1399

www.deliciousorganics.com/Controversies/sunscreen.htm

www.terressentials.com/truthaboutsunscreens.html

www.skinbiology.com/toxicsunscreens.html

Coconut oil is said to benefit the skin in many ways. It moisturizes, heals and protects. It contains vitamin E and lauric acid which is also found in mother’s milk. Coconut oil helps strenghtens the connective tissues, protects our skin and limiting the damaging effect caused by sun exposure. It also helps in removing the dead skin cells on the surface of the skin. Coconut oil also contains antioxidants which helps protects our skin from free radicals. I’ve been told by many that coconut oil is the best thing to use for dry skin. They say to put in on all over your body after shower while your skin is still wet and that really helps with dry, dehydrated skin. It is also a great hair conditioner/moisturizer for those with dry hair. When coconut oil is at a cold temperature, it solidifies. It will turn back to liquid when its warmed. I have tried using coconut oil, but it was just too heavy for me. I put it on after shower and it just feels greasy and heavy. Maybe I’m putting on too much? It absorbs after a while though. I used it on my hair as well and it made my hair very oily. I have also tried it on my face and I broke out from it. I think overall, coconut oil is too thick and heavy for me. Anyone else had the same problem?

Hello everyone! Sorry for not updating for a while. But now I’m back! Please visit often because I will have more updates on all things beauty and skincare. Now…lets move on…Today is Tuesday and every Tuesday I will be doing an article on the ingredient of the week. This week’s ingredient is
Jojoba Oil. This ingredient is quite popular in skincare products. From organic/natural products to more commercial skincare products. So what is so special about this ingredient? Lets take a look at what it does. Jojoba oil is actually a liquid wax. It is an excellent moisturizer. It absorbs quickly to soften tissue and yet forms a lipid layer on your skin to protect from elements and to prevent moisture loss. The structure of jojoba oil is very similar to our own sebum. This is why our skin takes in jojoba oil well. However, jojoba oil also absorbs excess sebum. Our own skin sebum helps protects our skin. If we have too much sebum it can cause clogged pores. So this seems like a very good oil to use for people who have dry or oily skin. Jojoba oil is very stable. It does not turn rancid easily. Maybe this is another reason why many cosmetics/skincare companies carry this oil in their products. This oil also contains vitamin e which is an antioxidant. Jojoba oil seems like an all around good oil to use for any skin type. Some say that it also reduces wrinkles. But I’m always very skeptical about any ingredients that claims to reduce wrinkles. Because if thats the case, then no one would have wrinkles. I have heard/read from some users that they break out using this oil. But maybe they’re putting on too much or using refined jojoba oil or with other oils in the mix? If you have used or are currently using jojoba oil, please leave a comment for other readers to review on how it works for you!