Skin Care Steps

For most of us, skin care routines have become bogged down with loads & loads of information, products, remedies etc… Actually all you have to do is just spend 3 minutes every morning and night for young, glowing and healthy looking skin.

All your skin needs is just a 3-step routine:

Step1.

Cleanse to remove dirt and unclog pores.

Step2.

Tone to tighten up the pores, improving blood circulation and imparting a healthy glow.

Step3.

Moisturize with SPF protection during the day to prevent sun damage and at nightime before bed to prevent dryness and to nourish your skin for smoother, softer skin.

Recommended Skincare Products for a flawless complexion!

Epicuren Benzoyl Peroxide Scrub (2.5 oz)

Acne Fighting Tips

1.   Don’t pick!

2.   Wash twice a day. Lightly in the AM. Extra-thourghly in the PM. Use a mild unscented cleanser.

3.   Dot a small amount of 2.5% Benzol Peroxide on the affected area.

4.    Reduce reddness and inflamation by avoiding hot drinks, spicy food alcohol and overexposure to sun.

5.    Have a professional facial regularly to safely extract clogged oil and dirt without infection or scarring.

6.   Take a rest day. Give your skin a makeup-free day.

7.    Keep your hands off your face. If you do touch your face make sure your hands are washed before you do so.

8.    Eat a healthy diet and get regular exercise to improve circulation.

9.    Exfoliate once a week.

10.  Dry face with a clean towel and don’t rub it. Blot dry.

A little note about SPF

That sun-kissed, healthy glow that comes from spending time outdoors or in the tanning bed is wonderful.

What isn’t so wonderful is the damage that UV exposure leaves behind. Wrinkles, sun spots, uneven skin tone and dryness can all add years to your face.

Knowing how to choose makeup that disguise these problem areas help, but prevention is still the best medicine. Never leave the house without sunscreen on your face.

Facial skin is very delicate and must be protected year round from UV exposure, even on overcast days. If you choose to go without foundation, at least apply a moisturizer with SPF like this one.

Peter Thomas Roth Max All Day Moisture Defense Cream With SPF30 1.7 oz.

Makeup Tips

 

Expert Makeup Tips

Tip #1 How to make eyeliner last all day.

To prevent your eyeliner from dissolving in a pool of sweat or tears, apply a layer of foundation before applying the Kohl. On top of this a brush of dark eye shadow and then a liquid Kohl. This makes for an intense, dramatized look as well long lasting eye makeup.

Tip #2 What to do when you have applied too much lipstick.

You’re all set to leave, but you feel you’ve got a lipstick overdose? Too much lipstick can make you look, well, not like a movie star but rather like a joker. When this happens, don’t attempt to rub it off with tissue or cotton, as this can leave the lips very dry and not even receptive to another application of lipstick. What you want to do is apply moisturizer to your lips, leave it for a couple of minutes and blot it off. Then apply a more neutral shade.

Tip #3 Overcoming a prominate nose.

Many of us have nose problems. If it’s either too big or long here are a couple of things you can do :

Make-Up:
Create nose-shrinking shadows. Even if you don’t use any other makeup, apply some blush in the middle of your forehead. If your nose shines out then use a concealer, slightly darker than your skin tone, on it. Some experts suggest that you use the concealer on skin just outside your nose. Try both and see which suits you best.

Tip #4 How to conceal blemishes.

Blemishes like acne scars, pigmented (dark) patches, pits in the skin or dark under-eye patches can be concealed with make-up (use concealers that are available in stick, cake and cream options). Here is how:

•  To hide acne pits, apply cream or cake-type concealer into the pits, using a fine brush. The concealer should be one shade lighter than the foundation.

 

•  To hide dark patches, use a concealer that is one or two shades lighter than the foundation. After concealing, apply normal foundation all over the face and neck.

 

•  To conceal dark under-eye circles, it is best to use a foundation and conceal it with a light-toned concealer. Dilute the concealer with a drop of water before applying. Heavy use of concealers can show up lines and wrinkles, so go easy. , use foundation instead. In other words, you will need two shades of foundation. One should be close to your skin tone and the other a shade or two lighter. Use the lighter-colored one for concealing.

If you can’t get hold of a good concealer

Hand and Foot Care Tips

 

For Beautiful Soft Hands

Here are a few tips that you can do yourself at home.

1. Soften your hands even while you do the dishes. Add a little almond oil (about a teaspoon) to dishwater. The water will soften rough skin while the oil seals the moisture.

2. Take 1 spoon of sugar, lemon juice and hand cream and rub your hands till the sugar completely dissolves. This really makes your hands soft!

3.  If you work with water protect your hands with gloves. In the nights use hand creams containing lactic acid and urea. Go up to your arms. Cover with plastic gloves and keep on for 10 to 15 minutes, before removing plastic. Let the creams stay on overnight on the hands.

4.  Soften nails with a nourishing cream, too, because they tend to get brittle. Pay special attention to the cuticles. Soak your fingers in tolerably hot olive oil for 10 to 15 minutes. Use remover infrequently, but a good nail polish is protective.

Questions and Answers

Q. What are hang nails?

A. Hang nails are tears in the cuticle or in the skin along the side of a fingernail. Never bite or tug at them. Instead remove with  clean sharp cuticle scissors and apply a dab of antibiotic ointment to prevent infections.

Q. How can I get rid of the dry skin on my elbows?

A. First exfoliate and then use a fruit acid based moisturizer.

 

Sandal worthy Feet

To get sexy sandal worthy feet. Do a home pedicure. First you will need the right instruments.

• Quality nippers
• exfoliators 
• cuticle pushers
• An electric foot bath (optional).
• A toenail brush to clean both the tops and undersides of the nails, as well as the feet.
• An abrasive pedicure file (wand exfoliator) or pumice stone to get rid of dry, flaky skin.  
• Toenail clippers made to cut thick, hard nails without tearing them.
• Fine-grained nail files or emery boards for shaping and smoothing nails.
• Foam toe dividers (or cotton balls) to separate toes when applying base, polish and top coats to prevent smudging.
• A nail buffer to shine the tops of nails before you polish them or to give bare ones a natural, healthy look.
• Once you have the right tools, set aside about an hour to get your feet and toes worthy of being in the limelight.

Not only can you use these instruments at home, but you can bring them to the salon if you elect for professional treatment–this will help prevent bacterial infections that can develop when professionals use poorly sanitized tools. Here’s everything that you will need.

 

1 Soak

The first thing you should do is soak your feet in warm (not hot) water in A small foot tub or foot spa for five to 10 minutes. “Add a few drops of essential oils like rosemary and peppermint to invigorate your feet during an early morning pedicure, or add drops of lavender or rose to help relax them after a long day. A few drops of tea tree oil or clove oil in your foot bath can also help treat fungal infections. Then, as your feet are soaking, use a toenail brush to clean your nails and feet.

2 Scrub

Once the warm water has softened the skin on your feet, gently scrub the bottoms concentrating on the heels with an exfoliating scrub and pumice stone or an abrasive pedicure file.  Be careful not to exfoliate too much of the outer skin away. This thick layer acts as the body’s protection.

3 Cuticles

Dry your feet, making sure to get between the toes, an area that can become a breeding ground for bacteria and cause infection if not dried properly. Then massage a cuticle cream into the cuticles, or use almond oil or olive oil around the base of your toenails. Gently push back the cuticles with an orange stick, but don’t cut them since they provide protection between your nail and nail bed, the whole piece of skin that the nail is attached to. It runs from the bottom of the white tip of the nail to the base of the cuticle.

Finally, place a tiny drop of one of the cuticle oils onto each nail, and buff them to increase their strength and shine.

4 Rubbing the lotion on

Using small, circular motions, massage your feet and ankles with a moisturizer mixed with a touch of your favorite essential oil (like rosemary, peppermint or eucalyptus), or just massage a little almond oil mixed with other essential oils into your feet, and then slip on a pair of moisture slippers  for about 15 minutes to help your feet absorb the moisturizer.

5 Cut them short

It’s much easier to cut thick toenails after moisturizing (which is why this step comes now). Cut them with a Straigtedge Toenail Clipper , leaving the nail length closer to the tips of your toes than to the nail bed. (If you cut them too short, they’re more likely to grow into the skin, causing painful ingrown toenails.) Then file and shape your nails, making sure to file them in one direction. Sawing back and forth will weaken nails, causing them to split or break.

6 Prepare for polish

Clean the oil and debris from both the tops of your nails and beneath them with a piece of cotton wrapped around an orange stick that you dip into a non-ace-tone nail polish remover (it will be stated on the label). Be sure to separate your toes with foam toe separators to keep them from rubbing against one another and smudging the polish.

7 Polish

Apply a clear base coat of polish. Then apply two coats of color and finish with a top coat, which will help set the polish. For natural-looking toenails, give them a French pedicure. First buff them to a nice luster,  paint a white stripe over the top of the nail tips and finally paint a pale pink polish on the surface. No matter what type you use, polish takes at least 15 minutes to dry. Use the time to put your feet up and relax.

8 Tools

Clean your instruments with soap and water each time you use them so your nails don’t get infected. Then twice a month you should sterilize them by rinsing them with 90 percent isopropyl rubbing alcohol. Store your tools in a clean plastic container or a zip-lock bag.

A full pedicure takes about 60 minutes: 40 minutes to prep the feet and apply polish and 20 minutes to dry. If you don’t have the time, simply wash your feet while you’re in the shower and give them a quick rub with a pumice stone or foot file. Then, after you dry off, slather your toes and nails with a moisturizer. Do this at least once a week so your skin doesn’t become flaky.

 

A few more useful tips 

• Use a foot file each time you shower/bath.
• At least once a week, use a scrub for both your hands and feet.
• Put lotion on every day.
• Also get insoles for your shoes.
• Soften your hands while you do the dishes. Add a little almond oil (about a teaspoon) to dishwater. The water will soften rough skin while the oil seals the moisture.

 

For rough feet and heels.

Before bedtime, wash feet and then rub them with a good AHA based cream or lotion, the put on clean socks to let feet soften over night.

Beauty Tips

 

 

Here are some great tips on staying healthy and beautiful!

1. Get plenty of sleep!

Sleep is essential in staying healthy and young looking. I personally get 8 hours a day. If you can get anywhere between 7- 8 hours then you have had plenty!

2. Don’t smoke.

Smoking depletes all of the color out of your face and it causes wrinkles and it smells bad. Should I go on? Quitting is not an easy task. If you need help quitting then you should try quitting
3. Eat healthy foods as much as you can.

I know there are alot of temptations out there, but eating healthy foods has so many great benefits.

Berries have antioxidants that help you fight off disease.

Vegetables have lots of fiber in them that can detoxify your body. 

Experiment with healthy food. You would be surprised at how many healthy foods are very tasty if you just try them.  Eat a healthy diet all week and on the weekends treat yourself to a little something special like ice cream or popcorn or pizza!!! That way you can still have your favorite junk food, but in moderation.

When you eat healthy your organs function better and you will feel better and you will be in a better mood. Your whole day can be alot less stressful if you eat healthier foods.

4. Speaking of stress… De – stress your life.

If you are a busy person and you are stressed out all of the time. You can age very quickly! Studies are finding that stress can lead to cancer. Take time off once and a while. Relax. Treat yourself and your body to a day at the spa. If you can’t afford the spa then do what I do.

I call it “Day of Beauty”

I buy all of my little home spa goodies on ebay or the drug store (drugstore.com) and stock up on the following items:

1 packet of a mask (single use, usually a $1)

1 packet of a hair treatment (single use, usually a $1)

Put together a pedicure kit (Avon makes great pedicure products) and do a mini pedicure on yourself.

A big bottle of lotion that smells good (The Body Shop), and slather it all over! 

You can add more things, but this is usually a nice combo. Take time to do these things and you will feel like you have just been to the spa. Oh! and I cannot forget the most important thing! Light that scented candle!

5. Exercise!

I know! I don’t like to do it either, but we must if we want to stay looking young and gorgeous! Pick something that you enjoy doing. I like to be outside with nature, so I go for walks on a regular basis. I walk at lunch at the office. You would be surprised how good it is for you. 

It has so many health benefits I could write a book about it.  Anyway, if walking isn’t your thing then find something you like, bike riding or hiking, swimming, tennis or dancing etc. I found out that if you do something you like to do rather than doing exercise as a chore then it is much more enjoyable.

6. Drink lots of water!

Don’t pass this one up because it has so many benefits. Not only does it make your skin look radiant but, it detoxifies your body! And, can aid in weight loss!!