December 18, 2015,  Beauty Makeup Skin, Dermatology Care

Shopping for beauty products can be overwhelming because there are so many options out there in every price range. Are the more expensive products really the best? It depends on the product. Below is a list of luxury beauty items that will pay you back in their benefits and effectiveness if you splurge on them.

Serums and Emulsions

Serums and emulsions are skin care products that are packed with concentrated ingredients. They have a different molecular composition than moisturizers and creams and can permeate the skin’s outer layer more easily, thus delivering ingredients to the areas where your skin needs them most. Products with hyaluronic acid attract moisture to your skin and keep it there, preventing dehydration. Others have different functions, such as brightening and tightening. Because a little goes a long way, you can afford to spend more on high-quality ingredients that will really make a difference in your beauty routine.

Anti-Aging Products

As you age, your skin loses elasticity. Many products promise to plump your skin, reduce sagging and diminish the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. However, different products contain different ingredients, some more effective than others at fighting the signs of aging. Typically, products that cost more have higher concentrations of ingredients, so they’re more potent and improve skin more rapidly.

Exfoliators

Although many inexpensive scrubs exist to buff away the top layer of dead skin, you’ll want to splurge on a chemical product for more intensive exfoliation. Chemicals such as glycolic or lactic acid infiltrate the skin and get rid of oil build up deep in the pores.

Foundation and Concealer

Foundation sits directly on your skin all day long, so you want to make sure it is formulated to provide your skin with nutrition, and you don’t want it to clog your pores. More expensive formulas contain better ingredients for your skin. In addition, less expensive foundations are often pre-packaged, which means you can’t try them out before purchasing.

Now that you know what to splurge on, you may be wondering what products you can save on. Mascara’s effectiveness depends largely to the applicator, and different wands work for different lashes and eye shapes. Therefore, try out cheaper mascaras and find the one with an applicator that works best for you. Eye shadow and blush will go on smoothly and last longer when the skin is properly primed, so you don’t need to splurge on the colour cosmetics; spend your money on the products that prep your skin properly.

Sources:
http://www.cosmopolitan.com/style-beauty/beauty/advice/a6083/beauty-products-to-save-and-splurge-on/
http://money.usnews.com/money/the-frugal-shopper/2014/02/28/beauty-products-when-to-save-or-splurge

February 27, 2015,  Beauty Makeup Skin, Skin Care

What You Should Know About the Causes and Treatments for Pigmentation on Face

Pigmentation on face, also called melasma, is a skin condition that causes dark patches to appear on your face. This usually occurs in highly visible areas like the forehead, cheeks and nose. The discolouration is sometimes very pronounced. You should know the causes of this condition and the treatments that are available today.

Common Causes of Pigmentation on Face

Melasma occurs when special cells called melanocytes start to produce too much pigment. Melanocytes are the cells that maintain the normal colour of your skin. It is not fully known why the cells start to behave in this way. It is possible that excessive exposure to the sun over long periods of time can trigger mutations in the cells. Hormonal changes from pregnancy or hormone replacement therapy can trigger the condition. Harsh makeup has also been known to cause melasma. Fortunately, the condition can be treated.

Peels

One of the most common and effective treatments is a chemical peel. A peel is a cosmetic treatment that uses a special solution on your face and neck. The solution actually removes the topmost layers of your skin. This reveals new and younger skin underneath. It also triggers the production of new skin and collagen cells. A peel can actually lift away the discoloration on your skin completely. There are also times when it will just cause the pigmentation to fade. Multiple peels are sometimes needed if the pigmentation on face is very dark.

Microdermabrasion

Another possible treatment for melasma is microdermabrasion. This is a form of professional exfoliation. A professional will direct a stream of small crystals or beads at your skin. These particles will start to knock away old and dead skin cells. This can help with melasma because it strips away the layers of skin where the darker pigment is located. Microdermabrasion usually provides subtle results. This means you might need to go through several treatments to see a significant lightening of the discoloured areas.

Topical Creams

There are over-the-counter and prescription topical creams available that can sometimes help to restore your normal skin pigmentation. One of the most common uses a chemical called hydroquinone. This cream works by inhibiting the ability of your melanocytes to produce pigment. The result will be a lightening of the discoloured areas over time. A second cream contains powerful corticosteroids. This type of cream changes how your skin cells work but can also weaken your immune system.

Laser Treatments

Laser treatments can sometimes help to remove pigmentation on face. Very precise bursts of laser light are used to remove your upper skin cells. The lasers are so accurate that they allow professionals to remove just one layer of skin at a time. The laser can actually vaporise the discoloured skin cells. You can see a dramatic difference after just one or two treatments. An issue with laser treatments is that they sometimes cause side effects like redness and swelling that will last for some time and affect the appearance of your face. Some treatments can even cause a different type of discolouration in rare cases.

Laser Treatment

Makeup

A final option for people who have only very slight pigmentation problems is to use makeup. A combination of primer, normal makeup, foundation and a setting powder can often effectively camouflage the discolouration for a whole day. This works well only with light discolouration since darker patches will end up showing through the makeup.

The many treatments for pigmentation on face mean you do not have to just live with discoloured patched of skin. You can fight back and regain the clear and consistent complexion that you want. There are currently treatments available for every type of skin and every level of discolouration.

March 10, 2014,  Beauty Makeup Skin, Dermatology Care

Makeup – the quintessential part of life for every woman no matter which part of the world they come from. And what does one need to apply makeup? Of course, the right makeup brushes.

Makeup brushes come in different shapes, sizes and variants and one must ask the question, whether the choice you make is right for you. Know that a good quality make up brush can create the perfect look that you’re searching for; especially when using a cheap applicator, or one that doesn’t mesh well with your skin can not only create an unwanted appearance, but might also cause rashes if you have a sensitive skin.

Most commonly, makeup brush bristles are classified as natural or synthetic variants. Synthetic bristles are mad-made from polyester or nylon fibers and are less expensive than natural ones. They are often baked and dyed to make them softer and give them more absorbent properties, and these fibers can be of different shapes; tipped, tapered, etched or abraded, to help increase their color transferring capabilities. The biggest advantage of synthetic makeup brushes is that they are prone to lesser amounts of damage from solvents and makeup, are easier to clean and are usually able to offer better and softer layering of powdered blush, cream and concealer. They’re also great for those who are allergic to animal fur.

Natural fibers like squirrel fur, horse or pony hair, goat, badger and kolinsky hair are widely used to make makeup brushes. They are a good choice to use when needed to give a varying layer of shades or color to one’s skin; very soft with squirrel hair, or firm with badger hair.

Goat hair is most commonly used, especially by makeup artists because of its softness and ability to spread powdered color smoothly and evenly across your skin, not to mention that it can also bring a natural luster to your skin. Perfect for blending, buffing and applying sheen, pony hair also falls into the category, much like goat hair, though much finer than goat hair. These kinds of bristles are perfect for brushes used to highlight cheekbones, bronzing or contouring.

Squirrel hair is also very soft and fine and brushes made with them are usually full in the middle and tapered at the tip. The softest squirrel hair comes from the Russian blue or gray squirrel and is usually on the expensive side. Used for blending and contouring as well, these brushes are great for creating shadows and adding details to creases, thereby being the best for adding details to one’s eyes.

Kolinsky hair offers amazing porosity and is wonderful to use for bringing color gradients into play. It is considered as one that offers a true, firm and precise color layer, and the brush can maintain its original shape for years.

Coarser than the rest and stiffer too, badger hair brushes are able to define and shape eyebrows, fill in gaps and are therefore the best to use for eyebrow pencil applications and firm brow feathering.

Make up brushes are a worthy investment, and are also the tool to offer perfect makeup, if only you’re wise and purchase the variety that’s right for the kind of makeup you’re looking for.

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