Femme Facade

My friend asked me about a good adult acne treatment the other day. She has recently just developed acne. She never had any acne as a teenager. She is 29 years old now and this is the first year she has ever had any acne at all and she is really frustrated, sad, embarrassed, and freaked out by it. She doesn’t understand how it could all of the sudden just happen to her.

I remember I always thought she had such beautiful skin. It was always so smooth and blemish free. I was still battling with acne daily back in those days, and sometimes I found myself jealous. In college we used to go out and party pretty often, she would fall asleep most nights with a full face of makeup on. Sometimes I would fall asleep with makeup on too, but most nights I would remove my makeup and do my nightly routine. She told me she had no nightly routine, she just basically used soap in the shower and that was it. I was always astonished when she would always wake up with never a zit of any kind.

The Right Adult Acne Treatment Can Clear Your Skin

Now all of the sudden she is getting the huge cystic acne on her cheeks and chin. Yup, pretty much hormonal acne. She doesn’t understand why she is getting the cystic acne now and I told her, the skin changes as we age. It happens. Some people just never get acne and then BAM, they get adult acne.

When my friend and her two little girls came over for a slumber party the other night, I asked her what she was using on her face. She said just St. Ives Apricots Scrub. I said that is great, many people love that stuff. Exfoliating your skin is very important to keep the pores clear. She told me she doesn’t have time to research what to use and she was so frustrated about her acne. Researching about adult acne treatments can be very time-consuming and overwhelming, since there are so many skincare products out there. I told her about a few things that have worked to clear up my cystic acne in the past.

Two Great Adult Acne Treatments:

Alpha Hydrox 10% glycolic alpha hydroxyl acid and Eau Thermale Avene ystheal lotion are the two beauty products that finally got rid of my acne. I told her about both of the treatments for cystic acne. I even had some of the Alpha Hydrox gel left in the tube, so I gave her the rest of it to test out. I really hope it clears her skin. Everybody’s skin is different, but you never know, it might work. I hope it does, she is going through tough times right now, and really doesn’t deserve acne, of course no one does. Now stress doesn’t cause acne, but it does aggravate it, however I don’t think that is necessarily the only trigger for her acne. Her skin is just changing as she ages.

Now the Eau Thermale Avene ystheal lotion is around $30 and the Alpha Hydrox product is about $10. The Avene product is more expensive, but I really love this Avene product. Not only does it clear my acne, it is an anti aging treatment as well. That’s two skincare bonuses in one product, can’t beat it!

I finally discovered that my skin loves to be exfoliated. Exfoliation rejuvenates the skin. I used manual scrubs in the past, but they only irritated my oily, acne prone skin. When I used chemical exfoliation, which was gentler on my skin, the acne finally stayed away. I talked about the differences between chemical and manual exfoliation in the past. Granted I do get the occasional one pimple, but that is rare. The Alpha Hydrox product and the Avene product both exfoliate the skin, so you can pick your weapon or use both products. I no longer use the Alpha Hydrox product, but that is only because my skin no longer needs it. I used both for a couple years, I just don’t use it anymore. I thought I should mention that as a disclaimer. I like to simplify my skincare routine, and the Avene ystheal lotion is all I need for my adult acne treatment right now.

What kind of adult acne treatments have worked well for your skin?

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It’s summertime and we are really feeling the heat this summer. It’s time to break out everything that has to do with shine control. When the heat strikes, makeup starts to melt off your face, or you look like a walking shiny mirror, especially when it’s really humid. Well, I found an amazing pressed powder to help fight the shiny days, even for women with extremely oily skin.

First, make sure you are using all the right products to fight the greasies, such as a good light sunscreen, mattifying primer, the right facial products, and the right makeup. Using oil-free products will help your skin to be less oily. However, you don’t always have to use oil-free, sometimes oily skin just needs a skincare product made for sensitive skin. So make the call based on how your skin looks and reacts to a product. Oil blotter sheets are always there if need be, but I hope you will not have to use these sheets anymore at all.

What is the Best Pressed Powder?

Now on to the best pressed powders. Finding the right matte powder for your skin can be difficult, since there are so many powders out there, and because everybody’s skin is different. Now the ladies who have extremely oily skin, such as me, have an even harder time, because usually nothing gives them beautiful matte skin all day long. Perhaps, there is no best one either; it is up to your skin. However, there are some great matte powders nowadays; the makeup industry just gets more and more advanced.

Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder

I really love Rimmel’s stay matte powder! It really works on my very oily skin and it is super inexpensive too. I like to use the translucent powder because then I don’t have to worry about finding a powder that matches with my skin tone, but don’t worry they do have many colors to choose from. I also like using the translucent because then when I put bronzer on in the summer, I don’t have to change the pressed powder up to a darker tone. I must admit I didn’t even read the reviews before buying this powder; I just went with my gut. It reminded me of Mac’s Stay Matte powder, except without the high price tag, so I bought it up at around $6. Sometimes you need to go with your instinct and you will have victory, although if it was a dud, I could have easily returned it. This is just another reason why I love buying drugstore makeup.

Revlon Colorstay Pressed Powder

I have read some great reviews on the Revlon Colorstay makeup line, especially their foundation. So I can imagine that this pressed powder would be good as well. I haven’t used this powder, but I have used their Colorstay foundation and I like it. I’ve stopped using it though, so I can’t say too much, but that was only because I really prefer pressed powder foundation. You might want to check out this Colorstay powder, it gets huge raves on the beauty boards.

Mac Blot Powder

Almost everybody loves Mac. I am absolutely in love with their eye shadows. They have such deep, uniquely beautiful colors that last forever; of course I do use a primer too. Anyway, I can image their Mac Bloc pressed powder works really good, since their eye shadows do. And their eye shadows do not even have any of the mattyfying technology either. Okay, back to the powder. I have read tons of positive reviews for this pressed powder. Women love, love this powder. It makes their shiny faces stay matte all day long. They say oily skin gals must have this in their makeup arsenal, especially when it’s hot and humid out. I have not used this Mac powder yet. I know shock and awe right!? Yes, it’s true, I don’t know why though. Okay, so the price tag was a deterrent, but beautiful matte skin is worth it! I think I was on my way to finally buy this powder, when I stumbled upon Rimmel’s Stay Matte Pressed Powder.

I hope you are not feeling too pressed into making a decision one way or another, haha okay, that was a bad pun. There are plenty of other powders on the market, but these three are the top three in my opinion. You can beat shiny skin, you just have to use the right products, makeup, and top it all off with the right pressed powder.

Bookmarks:

Are you wondering how to get rid of cellulite? Cellulite, that cottage cheese lookalike that likes to hang out on the back of thighs is not pretty. We all want to look great in our shorts or bathing suits when summer rolls around. There are so many lotions out there that claim to make cellulite disappear, but do they really work? What about exercises, can you really melt the cellulite away? Thin and thick girls have cellulite, it doesn’t matter what they do, right? Well, there actually are a few things you can do to get rid of cellulite.

I have had cellulite pretty much my whole life, well, as long as I can remember. It started on the upper thighs. I have pretty large thighs and a booty, so perhaps I inherited some cellulite too. Genes do play a part on how much cellulite you get, but at least having a booty can be a good thing. Anyway, as the years have gone by that cellulite has now decided to move on down the rest of my thighs as well. How is this possible? Well, there are some factors that can influence your body to have more cellulite, such as:

• Poor diet
• Fad dieting
• Slow metabolism
• Lack of physical activity
• Hormone changes
• Dehydration
• Total body fat
• The thickness and color of your skin

I am not obese, but I have put on a few pounds over the years. Still, it doesn’t matter if you are fat or thin, everybody gets cellulite. However, exercise will help to get rid of some cellulite, since cellulite is just fat underneath your skin. The fat looks bumpy because it is pushing against the connective tissue under your skin, which causes your skin above it to look all lumpy. Now, I exercised a lot when I was in high school, I was in water polo and I did weight training, but I still had cellulite on my upper thighs, even though I was skinny. So yes genetics play a big factor in cellulite. Although, experts say that exercise and a healthy diet can help. Why has the cellulite has traveled down my thighs, you might ask? Well, I have become a lot more sedentary over the years, therefore I need to incorporate some serious exercises into my routine.

Exercises to Get Rid of Cellulite

Do Some Lunges to Get Rid of Cellulite!

Make aerobics and weight training a part of your everyday routine. I think weight training is big here. Because again aerobics are great to get rid of fat all over, but I think weight training is needed to target your thighs and cellulite. As we age, muscle disappears, which may be why we have more fat in our thighs anyway. So make time for weight training, it will help make your metabolism faster too. Time for those squats and lunges. Try to hold weights while you are doing the lunges, for even more muscle tone. I am not a fan of lunges, but it must be done if we want to ever wear shorts again. Once you get rid of cellulite or just a little even, think how happy you will be after you worked so hard. You may even want to get a little frisky in the bedroom with your hubby, with the lights on! Yes, he probably doesn’t care about your cellulite anyway, because most men just love seeing a naked lady, cellulite and all. However, you will gain that confidence to strut around, which will inturn make your sex life even better. Anyways, I didn’t mean to go into the bedroom. Back to exercises. Exercise at least 3 days a week with cardio and weight training. Make sure to eat your vegetables and fruit as well. Eat healthy and remember moderation is key.

If you have a job where you sit all day, then it may not be enough to just exercise for 30 minutes everyday. Experts are finding out that sitting all day long is bad for your health, even if you exercise daily. Well, it makes sense, doesn’t it? We are sitting more than we are moving around, so no wonder we are gaining more weight and more cellulite. I know I am sitting all day long. Plus, going home to sit around the dinner table and then sit around the television is not helping either. Try to get up and move for a few minutes every hour! Yes, that is right every hour get up from your desk and pace when you are on the phone or thinking about a task. Try to do some sit-ups during commercials. Just simply get up and walk in place, wiggle, dance around, and just move a little.

Do lotions get rid of cellulite? No, lotions are really just pure hype. There is no magic pill that will work miracles on cellulite. Don’t fall for all the marketing hype that tells you how to get rid of cellulite fast, it is just hype. So many women will spend hundreds of dollars trying to erase their fatty lumps and beauty brands will make money on women’s desperate attempts. However, save your money. Don’t do the liposuction either, going under a knife is always scary. Don’t have unnecessary surgery, it is not necessary. Just work out and eat healthy, do all you can, and if it still not enough, then just be happy with your legs anyway.

We all want to get rid of cellulite magically overnight, but it is not possible. Eat healthy, exercise regularly, drink enough water, and get enough sleep. Treat your body right, and even after all of that and you still have cellulite, love your body anyway. We all have to learn to accept and love our bodies, just as they are at any point in time. Don’t wait until you shed all of that weight to love your body, love it now and then. Life is too short to go around hating your body, so learn to love your body, cellulite and all.

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Can vitamins for hair growth really grow your hair long? Many people want long, beautiful, healthy hair. Unfortunately not everyone can grow their hair long. But you can make sure your hair is as healthy as can be. Having healthy hair may also help it to grow longer. Healthy hair looks more beautiful too, you can see the difference when it comes to luxurious, shiny, locks over dull, lifeless locks. In order to get healthy hair you have to treat it right and take vitamins.

If you want, long, healthy, beautiful hair then you have to make sure you are getting all the recommended amount of vitamins daily. Vitamins make you more healthy on the inside and out. So don’t just take vitamins for hair growth, take them for your health. Doctors always tell you to get the recommended amount of vitamins daily, so listen to doctor’s orders, because you will see the benefits in your skin, nails, and hair. So take care of your body, eat healthy, exercise, and take your vitamins. Get plenty of fruit and vegetables everyday. If you look at a horse that gets fed well, with plenty of vitamins, compared to a horse that does not get vitamins you can see the difference in their manes. The horse that is well cared for has a very shiny beautiful mane. Well, it is the same with humans, the better you take care of yourself, the better your hair will look.

Now the question is, can you really get the recommended amount of vitamins from food alone? This is debatable. When I was in college I took a health class and I had two health teachers, because one teacher had to quit for a family emergency. One teacher said you can’t and the other said you can, so you can imagine my confusion. However, I agreed with my first teacher who said you cannot gain all the vitamins that you need everyday from food alone. Because you would have to eat so many apples and whatnot, just to get the recommended amount of fiber, and so on and so on for every vitamin. You would have to eat way too much food everyday as well. Plus, it’s not like you are going to eat the same everyday. Some days you will splurge and not eat very healthy and that is fine occasionally, but it can affect your hair. Well, when you take your multi-vitamin or hair growth vitamins then you can rest assured that at least you are getting the recommended amount of vitamins daily.

Fruit is Natural Vitamins for Hair Growth

Hair Growth Vitamins for Hair and Nails

You really do not need to take vitamins specifically labeled for hair and nails to get long, healthy hair. There is a lot of marketing out there for natural vitamins for hair growth, but don’t fall for it. Yes, the vitamins may work, but so will just taking a combo of other vitamins, which may be cheaper and better quality. All I am saying is, really do some research before you buy. Check out the ingredients of every bottle of vitamins, make sure the bottle contains the right amount of vitamins you are looking for. Shop around, compare ingredients, and compare prices. Don’t go too cheap either though, because oftentimes you get what you pay for, it is true. If you buy online, make sure you are buying from a reputable site, with an address and telephone number that works. Also, if you are pregnant check with your doctor before taking any type of vitamins. Or if you are on any type of drugs, check with your doctor to make sure the vitamins with not counteract your drugs. It is better safe than sorry, so just check with you doctor.

Some of the best vitamins for hair growth are: Vitamin E, Vitamin B, and Vitamin A. All of these vitamins are excellent antioxidants and they are great for hair growth. We all know how good antioxidants are for you nowadays, so gaining healthy hair from them is just another reason to take them. Vitamin E helps blood to circulate in your body more. When the blood is circulating it stimulates the scalp and muscles, allowing your hair to grow better. You can find vitamin E in avocados, mangoes, tomatoes, and broccoli. Vitamin B is another great vitamin for hair growth. There are many forms of the vitamin B family and they are all important for beautiful hair and skin, your immune system, and cell growth. Vitamin B also increases your energy level, a lack of vitamin B will leave you feeling drained. You can find it in turkey, tuna, potatoes, bananas, and beans. Vitamin A is known for cell growth and maintaining healthy skin. Since, your scalp is skin and that is where you hair grows from, it is important to take vitamin A for hair growth as well. It is found in liver, eggs, spinach, carrots, and sweet potatoes.

You don’t just need to take vitamins for hair growth, you need to treat your hair right as well. Treat your hair like fine silk if you want it to be healthy, long, and beautiful. Hair takes a lot of damages from the environment, styling tools, harsh shampoos, and just the way your handle your hair. Always brush your hair with care. Your hair is like fine silk and if you treat it as such, it will look more and more like beautiful fine silky hair. Never brush your hair when it is wet. Use a wide tooth comb, you may also want to use a detangling spray. The light leave-in conditioner will conditioner your hair and protect it from the sun’s rays, wind, and extreme temperatures. Try not to wash your hair every time you take a shower, skip a day and let your hair’s natural oils condition your hair. Use a deep conditioner mask on your hair weekly. I have written another post about a good hair treatment and some hair care tips as well. Get your hair trimmed regularly to get rid of split ends. Try not to use heat styling tools very often, and try to avoid using too many styling products. Let you hair air dry every once in awhile, let it go wild and free.

You can have the beautiful, healthy, silky hair you have always dreamed of. Now, it may not grow as long as you want, because genetics do play a part, but it can look as healthy and as beautiful as it can be. You just have to make a habit of taking hair growth vitamins. Take vitamins with your breakfast or dinner everyday. Have a healthy body from the inside, be healthy from head to toe. Make sure to treat your hair like fine silk and it will treat you right as well. Love your hair no matter what!

Bookmarks:

There are so many different types of hair treatments out there, that it can be overwhelming choosing just one. Are you a hair product junkie? It can be tempting to want to try all of the products out there, and that is fine, but it is also fine to use the same product over and over, if it works. Being a product junkie can be fun, as long as you can justify the expense on your wallet. Taking care of yourself is important and your hair is a big part of that. So make sure you are using the right hair products for your hair.

When it comes to finding the right hair product, I like to go by ingredients. Not all products have the best ingredients, so I tend to stick to my favorite hair products. Using a moisturizing hair treatment once a week is very important for healthy hair. Deep conditioning treatments will add moisture back into your hair. Leave the conditioner on for about 20 minutes and wear a shower cap to keep the heat in while you wait. Waiting 20 minutes will really moisturize your hair and make it silky soft. A keratin protein hair treatment, will really help to repair damaged hair, but use a deep conditioning treatment as well. Too much protein can be too much of a good thing, it can actually cause dry, brittle hair. So balance the protein with conditioning, it depends on your hair, but a protein treatment once a month is good. Always use a conditioning treatment after a protein treatment too. Aphogee 2 minute or 2 step reconstructor are excellent ones to try.

Your hair type will determine the type of hair treatment you need. I have fine straight hair, so I will use products for fine hair or even normal hair. If you have curly hair, then you hair oftentimes will be drier naturally, so you should use a dry hair treatment. I think everyone should use the most gentle shampoo that they can find. Your hair really doesn’t need a strong shampoo, unless you were wrestling in mud or something. Styling products can build up, but a gentle shampoo will rinse out the build up. If you want you can use a clarifying shampoo once a week or once a month, depending on your hair and product use. I prefer to do co-washing. That is conditioner only washing. That is right, I don’t even use a shampoo. Well, I do occasionally, but rarely, maybe once a month. I have written a post about co-washing before. Lots of people like to wash their hair this way, because it is so gentle and it will still clean your hair, believe it or not.

Treat Yourself to a Great Hair Treatment

I like using Garnier Fructics 3-Minute Undo Triple Nutrition Dryness Reversal Hair Treatment. It does not have any silicones in it, which I think can build up too much in your hair. Some people love silicones and some people don’t. I fall into the don’t category. Now, silicones can be good, because they coat and protect your hair from breakage, plus they make your hair really shiny. But I think they just build up and coat your hair, and don’t actually provide much moisture. So I prefer products that uses natural oils and other moisturizing ingredients. For some at home hair treatments, you can use pure oil, such as olive oil or coconut oil as a conditioning pre-wash natural hair treatment for 20 minutes. Some people will use mayonnaise, why not try it, if you are feeling really brave. I just don’t think I could do it. Some good deep conditioning treatments that many people love and buy at the store are: GVP The Conditioning Balm, Sexy Hair Healthy – Sexy Hair Pumpkin Treatment Masque, Joico Kpak Intense Hydrator, Je Veux Revitalizing Mud Mask, Bumble and Bumble Crème de Coco Masque, Biolage Conditioning Balm, and so on…

Treat your hair gently all the time, but especially gently when it is wet. Hair breaks really easily when it’s wet. So you may want to use a detangler spray or a leave-in conditioner, it will help the comb to gently glide through your hair. I have fine straight hair and I use my normal daily conditioner and Aussie’s Hair Insurance Leave-In Conditioner spray. My hair used to get so tangled every time I washed it, no matter how gentle I was. I never ruffled it with my towel, which is bad for you hair by the way. Aussie’s leave-in spray makes my hair silky and tangle free. It has great ingredients and is super cheap too! You may not need to wash your hair everyday either. In fact, not washing your hair everyday can be good for your hair, because it allows your hair’s natural oils to moisturize your hair. And not washing will help you to avoid all that shampooing, just rinse with water on the no wash days, that will be enough, or just put your hair up with a cute clip.

Fight the Heat with the Right Hair Treatments

Heat can play a toll on your hair. Try to limit your heat styling products use as much as possible. Blow drying, curling irons and straightening irons can dry out your hair. Using special heat styling protective treatments to protect your hair from the heat will help though. Let your hair air dry as often as you can. At least give your hair a break once a week, say when you do your deep conditioning hair treatment. Coloring, perms, and hair relaxers can damage your hair as well, but we all want hair that looks great, so what’s a girl to do? Well, just take good care of your hair despite any chemical or mechanical damage. I color my hair, but I use a deep conditioner every week and I co-wash. I also use the leave-in conditioner spray that is light, but detangles my hair. I don’t brush my hair a great deal either. I just comb it when it’s wet and then let it air dry almost everyday. At night I will brush it and put it up in a bun while I sleep. Putting it up in a bun at night will keep my hair from getting tangled at night and I like to think it keeps it from getting too many split ends. I don’t do this every night, but almost. I am not married, so I may not want to put it up when I get married, because I think I look better with my long hair down, but we will see.

It is important to get a haircut regularly too, about every 12 weeks or more depending on your hair style. A haircut can help your hair stay healthy. Snipping away those split ends is the only thing that will get rid of them. Hair treatments can make the cuticle lie down and disguise them, but they are still there. Conditioning treatments can help prevent them, but if you already have split ends, you have to cut them off. Cutting split ends will help keep them from going up the whole shaft of your hair.

Don’t forget to exercise, eat healthy, and take vitamins too. It all affects your hair just like it affects the rest of your body. If you take care of yourself, your hair will show it. So spend time on yourself, you deserve it. Find a great deep conditioner treatment, treat your hair like fine silk, and get it cut regularly, even if you are trying to grow it. Treat your hair to your own person weekly spa time with special hair treatments, and you will have beautiful, shiny, healthy hair.

Bookmarks:

Finding the right anti aging product for your skin can be overwhelming. There are so many products out on the market, that it can be stressful just walking down the beauty aisle, but don‘t give up hope. Before you start your search there are a few things to know though. Realize that aging happens to everyone, don’t become obsessed, be happy, and age well. Read reviews and test out the products until you find a product that smoothes out those wrinkles. Know that you can have that youthful glow and look younger. There are products that really work, but sometimes it takes a little more than that.

Anti Aging Product Secret = Laughter

Aging happens. We all age. We will all become old and wrinkled, with age spots peppering our faces and hands. However, life is short, so we have to enjoy the journey and that includes the aging part of it. When are you old anyway? When you ask people in their 80s if they feel old, they will usually tell you “No!” They still feel like they are in their 20s. No one feels old. So do you just look old? When do you look old then? Does it happen in your 30s, 40s, or 50s? Everybody will tell you different and when they hit that age, they will say, no way, that’s not old. We as a society place to much attention on aging. Yes, everybody loves to look at the young people in their 20s, but that is only a decade of someone’s life, which is such a small part of life. We should place more emphasis on wisdom and being happy. It doesn’t matter how old you are. It shouldn’t matter how many wrinkles you have. I can say this all day long though, but we still care.

We still spend millions of dollars on anti aging products. We still want to age as gracefully as possible. And there really is nothing wrong with this, as long as you don’t take it too far. It just seems like so many people are taking the whole anti aging thing way too far nowadays. People in their 20s are even getting obsessed about it! They should be enjoying life, not worrying about wrinkles. Although, no one should be worrying about wrinkles, because worrying causes more wrinkles, right? Lol! No, you really shouldn’t worry, just be happy in life, no matter how many wrinkles you have. Let the joy shine through and people will see that, not your wrinkles.

How Far Are You Willing to Go for the Right Anti Aging Product?

Now, I am not saying you shouldn’t strive to look your best. It is important to take care of yourself. I am just saying, try to strike a balance. You can age as gracefully as possible, without getting obsessed about it. You can also be happy enjoying every second of your life. First, you need to realize that an anti aging beauty product can only do so much. If you want drastic, instant results, then you will need to go to a little more extreme measures, such as plastic surgery or botox. Now botox prices are reasonable, but the question comes down to how much are you willing to pay? Can you handle the upkeep? An anti aging product will take longer to show results, but the risks are pretty much non-existent and the price is way cheaper!

There is no one magic anti aging potion that is the best. Everybody’s skin is different and what works for your friend, may not necessarily work for you. Although, it is good to get recommendations on products, just remember that it may not work for you, but something else will. Use products that are right for your skin type. Also, be aware that your skin does change as you get older too. Your skin be more sensitive than it used to be, so reach for the sensitive skincare products and see how they work. Read reviews and then start testing out the anti aging wrinkle products. It just comes down to trial and error. So keep trying them out, until you find one that works for your skin.

Retin-A anti aging products really do work to smooth out your wrinkles, which I have written many posts on. If Retin-A does not work for you, then try peptide anti wrinkle products. Do not use both Retin-A products and the copper peptide products together though, because they counter-act each other.  I have written a post about collagen creams before as well, but I thought I would make a little note of it here as well. Collagen creams really do not work like you think. Collagen molecules are too large to seep down past the first several layers of your skin in order to go deep into your skin. Just keep looking for the right anti aging facial products. Don’t give up hope, you will find the right product for you.

Don’t forget to apply sunscreen daily! Sunscreen should be the first anti aging product that you reach for. The sun’s harsh rays causes wrinkles and a broad spectrum UVA/UVB sunscreen can help to prevent those wrinkles. Make sure you read the ingredients, because not all sunscreens work as effectively as others. And yes, you need to apply it daily. Even walking to and from your car can cause damage over time. Plus, all the anti aging wrinkle treatments can make you more photo-sensitive to the sun.

Most of all, make sure you are happy. Try to laugh every day, because that is the secret to aging gracefully. You will look younger, just because your joy is radiating around you. So don’t dwell on the bad, think good thoughts always, and laugh. After all, laughter is the best medicine for the body and the mind, right?

Bookmarks:

Botox injections, laser resurfacing, derma fillers, plastic surgery, it can all be so overwhelming. We all want to age well, but should you choose a wrinkle treatment to help you or not? And which one should you choose? There are a lot of anti aging treatments out there, but there is something for everybody. Plastic surgery can be expensive, derma fillers are a close second, and then there’s botox. Botox prices are pretty reasonable and there’s the whole no surgery part! Plus, it seems like more and more people are getting botox. They even have botox parties! (which you should avoid by the way.) Before you decide though, you should consider all of your options and do some research.

Pay the Botox Prices for Your Happiness

Why do so many young people get botox? It seems like more and more people in their twenties are getting botox injections. I understand about wanting to age as gracefully as possible, but I think there are some other winkle treatments that can be done before botox. All people in their twenties need is sunscreen really. Perhaps a retinol product and they are good to go. We are just a society that is obsessed with aging. I think these people that are so young are becoming really obsessed though and at way too young of age! I was researching a botox website that helps you find surgeons, and one of the reviewers was a 23 year old man. He said he loved botox and was going back for more. I am sorry, but I don’t think these young people should even be thinking about aging so much. They should be enjoying their youth not worrying about wrinkles! How young is too young? What do you think?

Now, if you are in your 30s and above and you really want to get botox I say do it. Just be careful about getting too obsessed about aging and anti aging. Botox injections are not as dangerous as plastic surgery, although botox does come with risks. Everything comes with risks, I mean you are getting needles with a botulinum toxin ingredient injected into your face every 4 to 6 months. I have not gotten botox and as of now I am a little scared. My mom has been thinking about botox though. And I do have some friends my age who have gotten botox, so I am curious about it and that is why I researched and wrote this post. You only live once and if getting botox will make you happier, then go ahead and get it. Forehead wrinkles and crows feet can really make some people depressed and sad, so get the botox if it will make you a happier person.

To Pay the Botox Prices or Not?

Botox prices depends on how large of area you want done. A single botox injection syringe will cost around $300 to $400. If you want to target the crows feet wrinkles around you eyes that can run from $300 to $700. The forehead wrinkles can run from $800 to $900, because it is such a large area and it requires multiple injections. The price of your surgeon will range in prices as well. They have to charge for their labor. Their expertise will also dictate the price. You get what you pay for and I wouldn’t spare any expense when it comes to my face. Unfortunately, botox is not covered by your insurance because it is a cosmetic procedure, but you can get financing options from your doctor.

Shop around for the best surgeon and make sure they are board certified plastic surgeons. Do not go for the cheapest botox price you can find! Most of of the surgeons all pay the same price for botox, which is $10 to $18 per unit used. And $400 is 100 units. So if you see a ridiculous cheap price, steer clear, because the surgeon may be lacking in experience. Also, don’t do the botox parties. When you are getting such a procedure done on your precious face, it should be done at a doctor’s clinic.

If the botox prices are too expensive for you, there are always alternatives. Plus, if you are afraid of needles, have no fear other options are here. There is laser resurfacing, it does not get the deep wrinkles, but it can smooth your skin’s texture and give you that youthful glow. Then there are dermal fillers which can fill moderate to severe wrinkles, such as Juvederm and Restylane. A dermal filler injection is a bit more expensive than botox though, but it can last you up to a year as opposed to botox’s 4 to 6 months. There are lots of different types of face fillers so be sure to check them out as well.

Some topical botox alternatives are Retin-A, copper peptide creams, and peels. Retin-A is a very popular wrinkle treatment and it is a lot cheaper than the expensive botox prices! With Retin-A you will not get instant results like you get with the injections, but it is safer and cheaper. Retin-A is also good for clearing the skin, which would make it great for people who suffer from adult acne and wrinkles. Copper peptide creams should not be used with Retin-A, because they counteract each other, but it is a great option to use if Retin-A does not work well for you. As you can see, I really like Retin-A. I have written a lot about it and it’s other formulas such as retinol and retinaldehyde. Peels are another great way to exfoliate your skin and really smooth out those wrinkles. So don’t forget to try other options before or besides botox and be patient, the results are worth the wait.

We can’t beat aging, but we can age as gracefully as possible. And since science has given us all of these ways to help diminish wrinkles, why not try them? Just research all of your options before deciding on one. There are plenty of topical wrinkle treatments to try out there. Botox is a relatively inexpensive option though. It is less invasive and less frightening over plastic surgery, as well. The main point is to be happy no matter what. If you will be happier with the botox, then do it! But be happy whether you have a ton of wrinkles or none at all, the is the key to aging gracefully. Aging happens to all of us. We shouldn’t get obsessed about it. Aging is part of this wonderful journey called life, so enjoy it.

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With all the fad diets out there it is hard to know which one to try. Or perhaps you have tried them all and none of them work? Well, one of the keys to any diet, is discipline, patience, and motivation. You have to stick to these crazy fast diets. There are diets that work fast. They really do work, but you have to be strong and determined.

Many people know that these fast diets are not meant to be followed for the long term, because they are NOT meant for long term. You just want to loose 5 to 10 pounds quickly, so you can look hot for that party coming up right?! Well, you can jump start your weight loss with one of these diets that work fast. The fast results make you really happy and that can motivated you to keep the weight off. However, if you want to keep the weight off you need to go off the fad fast diets and just eat healthy and exercise regularly. But this post is about fast diets that work. Fast diets that just melt away those pounds.

Good Diets that Work Fast:  

The Cabbage Soup Diet – is a very interesting diet. I think it is a bit confusing and strict with certain foods you can eat one day, but not the next. It is a 7 day diet and of course you eat cabbage soup as a meal every day. Cabbage is high in fiber and very good for you. This diet is kind of like the Special-K diet where you replace a meal with cereal instead. This diet is a low-calorie diet that can be boring, but it may be effective for you.

Loose Weight with a Diet that Works Fast

The South Beach Diet – is a low-carb diet. The first two weeks you are not suppose to eat any fruit or simple sugars at all. Then you can slowly incorporate fruit back into your diet. You are suppose to eat as much vegetables as you want though. And you are suppose to eat whenever you are hungry, so this diet is not a low-calorie diet, but a low sugar diet.

The Juice Diet – is where you only drink juice for three days. You can buy the special juice mix at the store or you can try the lemonade juice diet. They are all the same very low calorie diets that work really fast, but they are extremely hard to stick too, even for three days. Plus, forget about being able to concentrate on work or anything. You will be so weak, so it’s probably best to try this on the weekend. I have tried it before and I could not do it. I like to enjoy a meal with my family and it’s very weird when I can’t. Plus, the temptation to eat something is too great. Perhaps, this diet could work for you, if you live alone. This is definitely one of those extreme diets that work fast.

Diets that eliminate an entire food group are usually hard to stick to though. Your determination and discipline has to be strong. You have to have self-control. Control your emotions and tell yourself no. With strict diets you are left feeling deprived, which can lead to cheating. Low calorie starvation diets are hard to stick to as well, because you are being deprived again. Most people know these fad diets that work fast are not healthy. They are only meant for the short term of a week or two. So if you really want to loose those first 5 to 10 pounds, try one of these diets, but then immediately switch to your long term plan of healthy eating.

The key to loosing weight and staying in shape is through healthy eating and exercising over the long-term. Eat balanced meals. Control your portions, but don’t starve yourself. Enjoy everything in moderation, that is the key. Eat plenty of fruit and vegetables. Eat whole grains and lean protein. Don’t eat a lot of processed food, nor fast food. When you don’t feel deprived, you will stick to it and you will loose the weight and keep it off. Try to always eat healthy and not yo-yo diet, it’s better for your body.

Exercise is very important as well. Work out for at least 30 minute everyday or 3 to 5 days a week. It is important to exercise in moderation as well. You don’t want to over exercise and burnout, but you want to stay consistent. Make sure to incorporate both cardio and weight training into your exercise routine. Lifting weights is very effective for weight loss. As you get older your body does not burn as many calories as you did when you were younger, since you body looses muscle as you get older. So weight training is more important for weight loss than you know. It will not make women look like a body builder either, no matter what, you will only look nice and toned. Try a different cardio activity to spice up your routine so you don’t get bored. One day try dancing, running, walking, swimming, tennis, or aerobics. Just move you body and have fun with it. Diet alone is not enough, you must exercise too. Plus, the pounds will drop even faster.

Loosing weight can be difficult. So many people are struggling with weight loss in America. Being overweight or even just 10 pounds overweight can be stressful. Well, don’t be mad about being overweight anymore. Try one of the fad diets that work fast to give yourself some quick satisfying results. However, you don’t have to try a fast crash diet. Just try eating healthy and exercise first, it will be much healthier for you. If you must try the crash diet, then remember to only stay on it for a week and then switch to healthy long-term eating. Stay motivated, be patient, and discipline yourself. It is hard work to get into shape, but you have to do it. Without your health it is hard to enjoy life to the full. So believe in yours

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I have talked about vitamin C serum before, but I thought I would talk about it again, since it’s been awhile. We all know how popular antioxidants are right now. Antioxidant serums are all the rage, because they help fight free radicals, which causes aging. A good antioxidant serum is an excellent addition to your anti aging routine. The right serum can smooth out your wrinkles, even your skin tone, and give you that beautiful healthy glow. Before you go out and buy any serum, there are a few things you need to know, which will save you time and save your face.

Find the Best Vitamin C Serum

There are a variety of antioxidant serums in the stores today and they do not all work the same. Some are better than others. Now, I have said in a previous vitamin C serum post, that scientists are still debating on what the best antioxidant serum is. They have said all of them work well, as long they are fresh and stable serums. Many scientists say that no one antioxidant works better than the other, so you should just use an anti aging product that contains a combination of antioxidants, in order to get the most benefits. However, others say that is only because many consumers fail to find a good stable vitamin C product. Therefore, Vitamin C is one of the most powerful antioxidants to prevent wrinkles and aging.

In order for you to get the most benefits out of vitamin C, you have to make sure it is fresh. Now, you could go ahead and make your own homemade vitamin C serum, there are a lot or recipes online. I posted one below for all of you ambitious DIY types. Me personally, I am not a fan of homemade skincare recopies. I never tried any of the home acne remedies and I used to have really bad acne, but I prefer to buy something that scientists have worked on and proven works. Okay, so fear gets to me, but when it comes to my face I am not going to go there. Plus, just buying a product is a lot faster and it can even be cheaper, but whatever floats your boat.

Homemade Vitamin C Serum

(resource: skinacea.com)

3½ teaspoon distilled water (at room temperature)
½ teaspoon l-ascorbic acid powder
1½ teaspoon propylene glycol
1 dark glass bottle

Instructions:

• Clean the bottle with rubbing alcohol or boil it in hot water.
• Let the bottle to cool and dry.
• Add the l-ascorbic acid to the bottle.
• Add the distilled water.
• Shake the bottle or use a something to stir it up, until all the l-ascorbic acid is dissolved.
• Add the propylene glycol
• Put on the cap and shake well, until everything is blended.
• Use up and make a new batch every 5 to 7 days. L-ascorbic acid is highly unstable, so you have to make a new batch frequently.

Anyway, back to find the best vitamin C serum. Not all vitamin C skincare products work the same, and I am not just talking about creams vs. serums. No, I am only talking about serum vs. serum. I have research about these serums a lot. And for a serum made of vitamin C, it has to be stable. A stable serum is one that is made with the right formula. Also, the serums will oxidize fast too, if the liquid turns yellow or brown, smells bad, or causes a bad reaction on your face, toss it out. Just like an orange, it will go bad with time. Sunlight and air will cause the vitamin C to oxidize very quickly. So you really should only buy small dark bottles, because they do not last forever.

A vitamin C serum for face should also have the right amount of vitamin C concentrate in the bottle. Many companies will say they have vitamin C in their anti aging product just to sell their product, but their product does not contain enough vitamin C to even do anything to your skin. Everybody wants to make a profit and like I said earlier, antioxidants all the rage. That is why it is your job to me a smart consumer and you are already, if you are reading this. J Make sure your serum has a percentage of 5% to 20% vitamin C, anything lower will not have any benefits. There are also different forms of vitamin C, such as L-Ascorbic Acid, which is the strongest and then there are other derivatives, such as (MAP) magnesium ascorbyl phosphate, which is more gentle for sensitive skin. Different skin types can handle different forms. This is where you just have to read reviews and tested it our for yourself.

If you have oily acne prone skin, the best vitamin C serums are: Avalon Organics vitamin C serum it’s a lotiony serum that is very light and not sticky at all. Murad’s Active Radiance Serum Feautring Resilent-C Complex can be expensive, but it works. Paula’s Choice Active Skin C-Strength 15% is like a primer and it will disappear instantly. And SkinCeuticals AOX20 is very liquidy and it will seep right into your skin.

For dry skin try: La Roche-Posay it’s a fabulous skincare line and their Active-C product comes in a nice light lotion. SkinCeuticals CE Ferulic also contains vitamin E, this is a great product for dry skin. Nufountain Sensitive Skin Vitamin C serum is another great option. Jason Naturals Ester-C serum and Kiss My Face Ester-C serum from the Potent & Pure line are two other natural lotion types for dry skin.

A vitamin C serum benefits are amazing, it can indeed give you that youthful glow again. Just keeping trying them, until you find one that works for your skin. Be sure to give the product time to work though. A good stable serum will smooth fine lines, erase red spots, and even your skin tone. Make sure you keep the serum in your medicine cabinet, away from sunlight, heat, and air. In order to receive extra protection from the sun’s harsh rays apply the serum before you sunscreen, wait 5 minutes and then apply the sunscreen. Be patient and your skin will look better than it has in years!

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Collagen creams are very popular. Well, all of the anti aging products are very popular, because everybody wants to stop the clock, right?! To be able to turn back the clock 10 years or just a few would be a dream come true. There are ways to age as gracefully as possible. Finding the right anti aging routine for your skin is key. Make sure you know what ingredients are in your creams. Read on to find out if collagen cream really works or not.

First let’s talk about skin. The skin is made up of 3 layers: the epidermis, the dermis, and the hypodermis. The first layer is the epidermis and it is the protective barrier and keeps your skin from getting dehydrated. The second layer is the dermis and it contains the most collagen. The dermis also grows blood vessels, hair follicles, and nerves. And the third layer is the hypodermis which is made up of fat and tissue with large blood vessels and nerves. This layer also protects the inner organs and keeps your body warm. Now let’s talk about Collagen. Collagen is located largely in the dermis and acts a framework structure to help grow blood vessels and cells. Collagen is a protein in the skin that helps the skin stay elastic and moisturized. When you make those expressions lines, collagen will help the skin to bounce back into place and be smooth.

So because collagen is in the second layer of skin and acts as a framework structure for the skin, you can see that a collagen cream will not work very well to smooth out wrinkles. Collagen in creams can not penetrate the protective barrier of your skin. The collagen molecules are too large to penetrate deep down into your skin. The collagen face cream will just sit on top of your skin and then be washed away when you wash your face. I have heard about new creams that they have been working on with transdermal technology, which may be able to penetrate deep into the skin. We will see if these creams will work or not though. As of now, the only proven way to add more collagen to your skin is through injections.

Collagen Injections Instead of Collagen Skin Cream

Collagen injections do work, because they inject collagen and collagen like substances underneath the skin. Now, there are quite a variety of collagen injections available. When you inject the collagen it will indeed go into the dermis where your body should accept it as its’ own, thus your skin will be more smooth. Some injections can cause an allergic reaction and be rejected by your body though. Collagen injections can be made up of collagen from cows, collagen from other parts of your body, collagen from other people, or a synthetic collagen filler. Some injections are just fat from other places in your body that will be easily accepted in your dermis. The injections you decide to have done, depends on you and your skin and how often you can get the injections done. Some injections are only temporary and will last only 6 months. Plus, you will most likely need several injections done to treat different areas of your face.

Anyway, this post is not about collagen injections it’s about collagen creams. I am not that big a fan of shots and surgeries, especially not plastic surgery. I think anytime you go for a unnecessary surgery, it is dangerous. However, whatever floats your boat. My opinion may change in the future when I get more wrinkles, but by then modern technology may have advance more and who knows what they will come up with. I can dream right? J However, I really don’t see my opinions changing much when it comes to shots and surgery, unless it is absolutely vital, such as a car accident. Now there are a lot of anti aging products that do indeed work to smooth out those wrinkles. Retnoid has been proven to reduce wrinkles and give your skin that youthful glow. I have written other posts about these anti aging products. Before you go buy retinol cream make sure you are buying a good product though, they all have different percentages, some over-the-counter products are better than others. And of course prescription rein-A is the most effective treatment of all. A good stable Vitamin-C serum can help to produce more collagen and help get rid of red spots too. Check out my other post about vitamin C as well.

Now you can still use the best collagen cream as your everyday moisturizer though. The collagen face cream can act as a great moisturizer, after all it is a lotion. The collagen and the other ingredients will determine how moisturizing the cream is. I would not spend a lot of money on the cream though, since it doesn’t have any special benefits beside moisturizing your skin. Any cheap facial moisturizer will work just as well as the expensive moisturizers, it all just comes down to the ingredients. Even a body lotion will work just as well, as long as your face likes it. I don’t see why there is any need to speed money on a facial cream. Save your money for the other anti aging products that really work and have great benefits.

So collagen creams do not really work to smooth out wrinkles, but if you like to use them as a moisturizer then keep using them. The collagen is just too large of molecule to penetrate all the way down to the dermis. That is why it is good to research skincare products before you buy them. Knowing what ingredients do can help you save money and be a smart happy shopper. There are plenty of anti aging products that do help to smooth wrinkles so keep on shopping.

reference: webmd.com

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