Skin Care – Skin Care Tips

Did you ever pick or pop your blackheads? Never squeeze your comedones, the medical term for both whiteheads and blackheads. It is one of the most skin damaging habits of most teens. Let this article shed light on the consequences of comedone extraction.

There are negative consequences of comedone extraction. For one, when you pick your blackheads or whiteheads by yourself, you usually leave your skin inflamed. This will usually make it red in the original spot of the blackhead. This leaves it open to bacterial infection as well.

When extracting, you always think that you had already removed the comedone. But this may not necessarily be true. The clogged pore may not be completely extracted and the bump will appear again after a few days.

If ever you need to extract the clogged pores, then use a stainless steel blackhead extractor. This tool will reduce the inflammation and will also completely remove the pore plug. Make sure to sanitize the tool before using it to avoid infection. Cleanse the empty pore with a gentle cleanser immediately.

You can also try going to the spa or salon for an exfoliating facial with blackhead removal. The professionals use steam to soften the skin and special products to extract the blackhead without skin damage to make skin care easy.

I am against extraction of comedone as much as possible. My advice is to just leave it alone and try exfoliating your skin instead. Try using salicylic acid after properly cleansing to allow fast cell turnover in your skin. This will prevent clogged pores and minimize the whiteheads and blackheads in a few weeks. You also need to exfoliate the skin twice a week to prevent them from coming back.

Here are some true skincare facts to take the place of the myths you may have heard. First, oil is not a bad thing. The skin’s oil creates a natural protective barrier. It acts as a lubricant to help prevent injuries. It has a small amount of selective antibacterial activity, helping to prevent some infections from taking hold. Sebum is the medical term for the oil produced by the skin’s sebaceous glands. It would naturally protect the hair from becoming frizzy, frayed and damaged. It would naturally protect the skin’s cells from moisture loss. It would, but we are constantly washing it away.

Good hygiene is important for preventing the transmission of diseases. We tend to overdo it, showering two or three times a day, washing our hands dozens of times per day and washing our hair every day. Eventually, this constant cleaning will lead to excessive dryness and an aged appearance. Depending on what you do and your level of physical activity, you might need to shower often. It’s okay to wash the oil away, as long as we replace it. Here’s another true skincare fact. We need some sunlight.

Our bodies use UV-B rays to produce vitamin D. Vitamin D is an essential nutrient. Low blood levels of this nutrient are on the rise according to doctors. They believe part of the reason for the deficiency is the constant use of products containing sunscreens. There are too many sunscreen ingredients to list here, but if you read the label of ingredients on your cleansers, creams, makeup and other cosmetics, you may see one or two listed as “active”. Most of the active ingredients in today’s cosmetics are sunscreens.

Oxybenzone, benzophenone, titanium dioxide, zinc oxide and avobenzone are among the most common sunscreen ingredients. At least 8 separate studies have confirmed that there is an increased incidence of malignant melanoma among regular sunscreen users. Researchers are not sure why. They can’t give us a true skincare fact about the danger of sunscreens. But they have a theory. The theory is that sunscreen ingredients penetrate through the skin’s outer layers and cause free radical damage.

Free radical damage is known to play a role in the formation of cancerous growths. It also plays a major role in skin aging. Here’s another true skincare fact. Some molecules penetrate through the skin’s outer layers. Others don’t. Ingredients like collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid are worthless, because they cannot penetrate. Chemicals like artificial preservatives and sunscreen ingredients may be dangerous to our health, because they can penetrate.

Let’s recap. Everyone should use a moisturizer on their face and body after showering. Ideally, the moisturizer should not contain a chemical sunscreen or dangerous artificial ingredients. Collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid are not moisturizing. You are probably wondering what you should use to moisturize. There are a number of beneficial plant oils including grape seed, jojoba, olive and Shea butter.

Mineral oil is derived from petroleum and is not good for your skin’s health. You’ll find additional true skin care advice in my other articles. The ones mentioned here are only a few of the facts you should know.

Acne is a very common problem faced by both men and women all over the world. Acne breakout can be a very tricky condition to treat mainly because it comes on coming back if the root cause is not removed. In this article let us find out some of the best home remedies that have been used actively in Asian countries to treat acne and pimples.

What Causes Acne?

Acne is a problem generally faced by young people. During puberty the production of sex hormones increases considerably both in males and females which stir up sebaceous glands to make up extra sebum. This natural process in the body causes acne breakout which sometimes is so severe that it needs immediate medical attention.

Remedial Measures

There are a lot of home remedies which can help in eliminating the acne problem. Let us discuss about some of them which you can put to use at home.

1. Herbs

There are certain herbs which work wonders in skin problems. These herbs generally work by clearing all the impurities from the blood and helping the body eliminate all the toxins from the body hence making the skin healthier and clearer in the process. Amla and neem are two of the world’s most popular herbs which work exceedingly well in skin related problems.

2. Water

There is no substitute for water in treating skin related problems. In fact most supermodels and film stars attribute their rich skin tone to their habit of regular intake of water. If you have acne or any skin problems increase the intake of water and within a week time you will get some positive results. Water just like herbs clears all the impurities from blood as well gets rid of all toxins and improves overall health.

3. Magic of Garlic

This is one herbal remedy which has been known to work very successfully in acne problems no matter how severe it is. Take three seeds of garlic one time a day and your acne will be cured within a month’s time.

The beauty product business really has two sides to it. Those products that cover up a problem and those products that treat it.

In our youth we nearly always want to go for the quick fix in all areas of our life and this normally means covering up!!

As we grow older and a little wiser we come to realise that covering something up does not make it better and that if we can solve the problem it won’t actually need covering.

I’m not saying there is no need for make-up. Concealers and foundations can enhance our beauty when used correctly and we all love enhancement! What I’m saying is that before you keep repeat buying that concealer and slapping it on day after day think about your skin underneath and how it could be improved.

This brings us to skin care, improving your skin by what you put into your body. The same thing goes for hair. We are a product of our genetics and our actions. Our actions include what we feed our bodies from the inside and out. I want to make the point that we should always try to improve the health of our skin through proper hydration and care, rather than through applying layers of make-up to disguise the damage we may have caused to it. The damage can be caused by poor diet, smoking, our environment, and irritation from creams or cosmetics used on our skin.

Our skin has to breathe, it is not designed to be suffocated by layering it with several cosmetic formulations day after day. There are foundations available today that do actually allow the skin to breathe, namely the mineral powder make-up that has become so popular. Taking the example of blemish or acne prone skin it is far better to treat the problem than try to make it look better by applying a coloured cosmetic that doesn’t really cover it or that irritates the problem further. The same applies for our nails and hair, it is so important to consider the impact of using cheaper, inferior quality products, that can actually cause damage.

Many many shampoos, conditioners and styling products contain silicone. Silicone gives a great shine to the hair, the illusion that the hair shaft is smooth, and may initially fool you into thinking you are using a great product. In reality the silicone is just coating the hair shaft, and that doesn’t allow your hair to breath. In the long term it actually dries it out. Its far better to choose a product that contains natural ingredients and over time will give you more moisturised naturally shiny healthy hair.

The bottom line is to always be aware of the ingredients in the products we are ‘feeding’ our bodies, and always focus on solving the problem so the cover up becomes merely an enhancement.

There are some things that boys can’t blog about, so here’s some tips from the girlfriend on how to keep looking young even as the years go by. Enjoy reading!

Hair
- Use anti-ageing shampoo. Prevention is always better than cure.
- Wear a sun hat. (Unless there’s sun protection for the scalp. Even if there is, the greasiness will destroy your lovely hairstyle.) So be sure to choose a style you’ll love wearing.
- Update your hairstyle regularly. Get an age-appropriate hairstyle. Schoolgirl bangs can give an instant face-lift. Sideswept bangs can add a touch of girliness. There are so many hairstyles out there, there’ll definitely be one that suits you.
- Use hair masks weekly if your hair suffers abrasive treatments like colouring. Even swimming chlorinates hair. So do take care of it and give it weekly pampering.
- Stack your diet with hair-loving protein and nutrients. And don’t crash-diet, as it’ll affect how your locks look.

Eyes
- Invest in a good eye cream. As the delicate skin around your eyes is thinner than the rest of your face, it more often than not is the first place where crows’ feet show up. Retinoid creams can help to keep fine lines from deepening into wrinkles; consult your dermatologist.
- Apply eye masks regularly. Once a week would be my recommended minimum. If your budget permits, twice a week would do quite nicely. For me, I make sure to also put on an eye mask after I take off my contact lenses to prevent fine lines. As I don’t wear contacts everyday, this is feasible budget-wise. Find a skin care routine that works for you. Just don’t neglect your eye area.
- Mascara opens up your peepers and beautify you almost immediately. Many ladies also get a bit of a boost from false eyelashes to get that doe-eyed look. Go ahead and mesmerise the men out there. Just take care when you remove your eye makeup. Many women tug at their eye area to get that last bit of mascara and eyeliner off, and also just tear off their false eyelashes. Such force is not de rigeur for removing eye makeup. In other words, be gentle with your eyes.
- Wear UV-protected shades as squinting not only strains your eyes, it crinkles the thin skin around them. Big, wraparound shades provide maximum protection.
- Get enough sleep so that your eyes look well-rested. If you have puffiness, apply eyecream chilled overnight in the fridge (I know many ladies know this already. Good for you!).
- Don’t cry the night before! You’ll get puffy eyes. Poor girl.

Face
- Sun protection. Cannot be emphasised more. My boyfriend doesn’t understand why I have to apply sunblock for a 5-min trip to an indoor place. But us girls all do, so let’s ignore them ignorant boys.
SPF must be 15 or higher, and ensure that your sunscreen says “broad spectrum” on its label so that you’ll get dual protection from UVA and UVB rays.
- Exfoliate weekly to restore that radiant glow and get baby-soft skin.
- Choose products that are suited to your skin type, sensitivity and moisture level (dry to oily). If you are not sure of your skin type, an easy (and usually free) way is to consult the girls at makeup/skincare brand counters at department stores.
- Invest in proper skincare products — cleanser, moisturiser, eye cream, and sunscreen — and cultivate proper skincare habits. For example, don’t wash your face more than twice a day, and don’t exfoliate more than once a week.
- It’ll be good to get facials done by professional, certified beauticians once a month or every 4-6 weeks. You can choose to do your own facials too! The Internet is a great source of facial recipes and tips, and it makes for a fun girly activity you and your gal pals can bond over.
-While you’re getting your facial, don’t forget to throw in a eyebrow-tweezing session. Some beauty salons include eyebrow-tweezing in their facials. The correct brow shape can open your eyes, brighten your face and make you look happier, all without makeup. Just refrain from overtweezing as the hairs won’t grow back as fast as they used to.

Teeth/ Smile
- Go for regular dental checkups, at least once a year. Coffee stains teeth so you might want to cut down on your daily caffeine dose. And don’t smoke; not only does it stain teeth in a way that makes coffee seem harmless in relation, it increases your risk of lung cancer among many other diseases you can get from lighting up and puffing away. AND it makes you wrinkle. So STOP smoking.
- Ensure you get enough calcium in your diet to keep your teeth and gums healthy. The body stops stocking up on calcium in the bones after 30, so if you still have time add more calcium-rich foods (such as leafy green vegetables and dairy) into your diet.
- Brush properly. We actually don’t need to scrub furiously at our molars. The place to pay attention to is the gums. Dentists recommend holding the toothbrush at a 45-degree angle and lightly brushing it against your gums, to get plaque and stuck food out. Oh, go light on your gums as brushing against them too hard will, yes will, cause receding of the gums. And your teeth may as a result drop off more easily.
- Scrape your tongue. It’s a quick and easy way to clear away bacteria and debris settled on your tongue. Your tongue should look pink and not have a whitish layer on it. Plus, scraping your tongue (just use your toothbrush) could be the solution to clear any bad breath problem you may have.
- Dazzle others with teeth-whitening procedures if your budget allows you to. It does wonders for self-confidence; if you look good, you’ll feel good and if you feel good, you’ll look good. Bling!

Lips
- Use a lip balm, better if with sunscreen, as the skin covering the lips are extremely thin and vulnerable to UV damage, as well as dry weather.

Neck and decolletage
- They’re most often neglected in all the focus on the face. But this is exactly why the neck area is often the giveaway spot to revealing your true age. So if you want perfection all over, use a good neck cream and moisturise away. Don’t forget sunscreen for the neck too. Simply put, pay attention to the neck area as well.

Same goes for Hands!
- Hands, like the neck, are often neglected. But that’s not very wise because not only is the skin on our hands thinner than the rest of our body, the hands are also most exposed to the sun.
- Use a hand cream (better if it’s with sunscreen). Try pushing the dishwashing to the dishwasher or the man. If not, use gloves to protect your hands.
- Occasional manicures to pamper yourself don’t hurt either!

Body
- Again, moisturise and use sun protection. And for glowing, radiant skin, your diet plays a great part so make sure you have lots of antioxidants in it.
- That’s for the external part. The internal part is to exercise and workout regularly. Don’t leave out weight-training too; even a little bit can do wonders for your body.
- It’s best not to sleep in an air-conditioned room. Not only is it not friendly to the environment, it also dries out skin when you’re least aware of it. If your workplace is air-conditioned, drink lots of water to counter the water loss, as well as moisturise your skin with a good body lotion.

Feet
- Pedicures are a great idea. Or you could DIY and use a pumice to scrub off the dead layer of skin on your soles. You could also do feet masks; apply a generous layer to your feet and put on socks overnight.

Laughter
- Julia Roberts has laugh lines but we don’t care cos she has a GREAT smile. Plus laugh lines show that you’ve lived a life well-lived. Laughter releases tension and minimizes stress so you don’t unknowingly walk around with a crease in your forehead. Watch comedies, play with your pet, spend time with loved ones. Enjoy your life and it’ll show.