What are botox injections?

This common procedure involves using small needles to inject traces of a substance that "paralyzes" the muscles underneath, where lines are forming — usually around the mouth and eyes and on the forehead. It temporarily freezes the muscles that form these expression lines, cutting down on the repetitive movements that help create wrinkles. It's fast, easy and relatively painless, but make sure to pick a doctor with experience, and undergo an allergy test first. You'll have to get Botox shots every few months, but the results are dramatic and, over the long haul, can delay the formation of wrinkles.

What are oxygen facials? What celeb has them done?

A truly blissful option, this facial cleanses, hydrates and exfoliates the skin while it pumps in plenty of fresh air, improving circulation, stimulating cell rejuvenation and killing any blemish-causing bacteria hiding in pores. Ever wonder how celebs like Jennifer Aniston look so luminous even without makeup? Now you know.

This is how to avoid getting wrinkles

Good habits and good genes can only take you so far when you're competing against the biological clock. Like it or not, there will come a day when you'll look in the mirror and realize that some of those "smile lines" are sticking around. You probably know that day can be delayed if you eat right, exercise and guard against the sun. But if you, like the rest of us, don't always succeed with the healthy-lifestyle approach, turn to this list of fallback options from Charlene Haines of Euphoria Day Spa.
Oxygen Facials
Botox Injections
Facial Fillers
Epifacial
Thermage Non-Surgical Face-Lift

source-ivillage.com

In later posts I will explain what each of these methods consist of.

Try the home remedies!

Our skin faces a constant barrage of chemicals everyday from pollution to harsh chemically formulated products that strip the skin of its natural balance. The simple home remedies that I have posted on this blog help you to attain a clear, healthy and glowing complexion. I've mentioned many simple natural ways to maintain a healthy and glowing skin. Using these natural ways, one can stay beautiful for a longer period without having to suffer the side effects of the chemicals. Try them out and let me know what you think!

Remedies to make at home

Take equal quantities of turmeric powder and wheat flour and make a paste with sesame oil. Apply it to the face to remove unwanted hair.

Apply orange juice to the face for smooth and soft skin.

Take 30 ml. of cabbage juice and mix one teaspoon of honey in it. This mixture, if applied regularly to the face, helps to keep the wrinkles away.

Make a paste of raw carrots and apply it to the face. Wash it after one hour. The skin will become glowing.

Regular application of mint juice to the face helps to remove stains.

Try out some of these simple natural remedies for smooth, clear and radiant complexion.

Secrets for naturally beautiful skin:

Below are some simple 'secrets' to achieve naturally beautiful skin.

Mix equal quantities of cucumber juice, rose water and lime juice. Wash the face and apply it overnight. Rinse off in the morning. This clears the complexion and keeps it healthy.

Take 50 ml. of raw (not boiled) milk and mix a pinch of salt and two teaspoonful of lime juice in it. Use it as a cleansing lotion. It helps to clean the deep pores of skin.

Mix equal quantities of lime juice, glycerin and rose water. This lotion if applied to the face regularly at bed time is very useful in removing pimples, blackheads and other stains of the skin. It makes the skin soft, and can also be applied to other parts of the body (hands, feet etc.)

Take 50 ml. of tomato juice and mix with one teaspoon of lemon juice. Apply this mixture to the face. It helps to make the skin soft and glowing.

For teens:

Don't fall prey to false information and be armed with important information to help control your acne faster. Read on to find out if you have the right facts.

I have acne because I don't wash my face enough.
False! Actually, if you wash your face more than twice a day and scrub your skin hard, you will not only irritate your breakouts but also end up stripping your face of its natural oils and stimulate the production of excess oil that can clog up your pores and worsen acne. Cleansing your face gently with water or a mild cleanser twice a day is sufficient to rid the skin of excess oils and accumulated dust and dirt.

I have acne because I love chocolate, chips, and anything fried.
False! While some people claim that greasy foods stimulate their breakouts, studies have failed to find a connection between the 2. Nevertheless, if you feel that eating certain foods makes you break out, avoid them! Eating healthy is always a good thing.

I'm stressed out and breaking out.
True! While stress doesn't necessarily cause acne, it can promote breakouts. For example, college students who are prone to acne find that their acne flares up during exam week. So the key here is to try and limit the stress in your life. Try exercise, yoga, meditation, or a relaxing hobby that you enjoy to help you calm your nerves during stressful times.

Getting a tan will clear up my acne.
False! While getting a tan will make your skin darker and temporarily hide the redness of your breakouts, it does absolutely nothing to clear up your acne. In fact, spending time in the sun or in a tanning salon will only damage your skin, resulting in burns for now and freckles, sun spots, premature wrinkling, and a whole range of other skin conditions later on in life.

Since I have acne, I can't wear makeup anymore.
False! Heavy makeup that is oil based can clog your pores and cause flare-ups. But you can always choose makeup that is oil free and states "non-comedogenic" and "non-acnegenic" on the label. There are concealers and foundations on the market today that are medicated with benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid - while concealing the breakouts, they also work to control them. Consult your doctor or cosmetician to get more details.

There's absolutely nothing I can do about acne.
False! The bad news is that acne will not disappear overnight. It may take anywhere from 6 weeks to a year or 2 to clear up. And most people suffer from acne at some point in their lives. But the good news is that it can be cleared up, or at least controlled. There are many products on the market today for treating acne, from topical medications to tablets taken by mouth. So talk to your doctor to find out what will work best for your acne. see source

Honey and it's rejuvenating effect on skn!

An article on honey points out the various benefits of honey for the purpose of rejuvenating the skin from inside. The article lists out three important aspects of honey in three stages, namely cleansing, toning and moisturising where honey fulfills its purpose, especially for dry skin. The tips are as follows:
1. For Cleansing - A suggested combination of honey, oatmeal and bee propolis is given to show the affects of honey’s moisturising feature coupled with the cleansing features of bee propolis and the exfoliating properties of oatmeal.
2. Toner - Honey and Rosewater would go for the pH balance of the skin, where rosewater clears of dead tissues and honey maintain the moisture.
3. Moisturizer - You can always take a steam and then apply honey, to follow-up with a splash of cold water after the honey dries-off.

Lemon juice for the skin!

There are many bleaches that give a glow to your skin. But somehow I feel that a homemade bleach works best for all skin types, especially sensitive skin. One homemade bleach is a mixture of equal parts of lemon juice and sugar.

Lemon juice is naturally rich with fruit acids and with sugar it not only removes dead skin cells but also bleaches darkened or discolored areas. Moreover being rich in Vitamin C it stimulates collagen in the skin. The best part with lemon juice and sugar solution is that it removes tan, works as a toner, works as a bleach and antioxidants.

Psychodermatology

Most often severe stress or depression shows on skin and the impact of skin problems reverts back to worsen depression. However, the new refuge is reported to be in psychodermatology, a field that apparently merges psychiatry and dermatology and claims to relieve mental stress through relaxation, biofeedback, self-hypnosis or psychotherapy to deliver a healthy skin. Facts provide that both external stress as well as internal stress rob the skin of its glow, in the latter case lack of sleep, secretion of stress hormones and anti-depressants makes the skin look lifeless. Psychodermatalogy is an old science to make skin stress-free, but unfortunately few know about it. Therefore most of the patients suffering from acne are reported to have resorted to botox, the consumption of which has led many acne patients commit suicide.
Research reveals that pshychodermatology with its specific approaches towards psychophysiologic disorders, primary psychiatric disorders and secondary psychiatric disorders has cured skin disorders like acne, psoriasis, rosacea, hives, trichotillomania, so on and so forth.
Any psychotherapy that claims to relieve the mind with music, biofeedback, massage and muscle relaxation without side effects on both mind and skin can throw a challenge to dozen anti-depressants and more than invite a safe and soothing recovery of mind for a glowing skin.
source-skincareblog.org

Great make-up tips for Eczema patients

Most often patients suffering from eczema find it difficult to conceal the redness of the skin in any special occassion. An article tips on how eczema patients can cover-up the outbreaks on the skin without worsening it further with irritants.
However, eczema patients can determine products that cause allergy and avoid those products, while selecting their make-up items. Few tips to select the right make-up for eczema skin is as follows:
1. Select a foundation for sensitive skin type.
2. Foundation and cosmetics must be labelled as hypoallergenic, noncomedogenic and nonacnegenic.
3. A green-tinted foundation would neutralize the redness of skin.
4. Eye make-up should be done with water-soluble products.
5. Clean your face and moisturize it before and after make-up.
Via: CareFair

Answers to three questions

What are the types of acne ?
These include blackheads, whiteheads (comedones), the larger papules (pimples) and later, pustules and large cysts. Scars occur after papules, pustules and cysts. They are permanent.

What should I do when I have acne ?
Consult your doctor early. Waiting to 'outgrow' acne can be a serious mistake, since medical treatment can improve your appearance and prevent the development of scars.
Your doctor will prescribe treatment depending on the type and severity of the acne. Follow the doctor's instructions.
Some antibiotics (tetracycline or erythromycin), which are effective for acne need to be taken on an 'empty stomach, to improve absorption. Some lotions or creams may make the skin red or flaky but usually this effect is temporary . Go back to see your doctor if the lotions or creams cause excessive redness and itchiness. Do not squeeze or scratch pimples. Do not attempt to cover pimples on the forehead with a fringe.

What are topical acne medications ?
They consist of peeling agents (sulphur), topical antibiotics (erythromycin, clindamycin, benzoyl peroxides) and topical vitamin A, (Airol, Eudyna, Retin A or Stieva A).

Hot Cocoa

Hot Cocoa - great for the skin!

1 cup skim milk
2 teaspoons cocoa powder
1 packet artificial sweetener

Heat skim milk. Stir in cocoa and artificial sweetener. Makes one serving.

Nutritional Information (1 serving):
Calories: 101
Carbohydrate: 14 grams
Protein: 11 gram
Fat: 1 gram
Saturated Fat:1 gram
Cholesterol: 4 mg
Fiber: 1 gram
Sodium: 127 mg
Potassium: 462 mg
Calcium: 306 mg
Exchanges: 1 skim milk