The summer of suncreen

Lots of people have the question "How do I prevent wrinkles?"

number one rule of thumb- SUNSCREEN. I cannot mention how important this one factor is....so here are some facts to SCARE you into wearing sunscreen :)

80% of lifetime sun exposure occurs prior to age 18

93% of parents do not correctly use sunscreen on their children.

33% of adolescents never use sunscreen

First of all...SPF stands for SUN PROTECTION FACTOR- Its a number that indicates how long skin can be exposed to the sun without burning and showing redness. Example- If a person normally burns in 30-minutes, an SPF-4 sunscreen should allow the person to be exposed to the sun for two hours (40 x 30 minutes) without becoming red or burning.

A common misconception is that you do not need sunscreen unless you are going to be sitting outside in direct sunlight. Most of our sun damage occurs from occasional, non deliberate exposure which is referred to as casual exposure (walking the dog, going to the mailbox.)

The best anti aging product you can buy is sunscreen. Not only buy it, APPLY IT.

When choosing a sunscreen look for a label that says the product is broad spectrum, meaning it is designed to prevent damage from both UVA and UVB rays. Another great product you can use is a sunscreen product that is added to a day moisturizer, eliminating the need for two separate products.

Personally I suggest wearing a lightweight SPF 15 on a daily basis, and use an SPF 30 for a day at the beach or being outside more than usual.

The skin will be more damaged if you are out in the sun between the hours of 10 A.M and 3 P.M.

Make sure you apply and REAPPLY often. One ounce of sunscreen is the appropriate amount of sunscreen for one application for the average person wearing a swimsuit. (And I can almost guarantee you aren't using that much ! ) Remember to apply sunscreen 30 minutes PRIOR to going out in the sun.

Lets do this..

so we dont look like this later...

Apply sunscreen. You'll thank me for it later.

the TRUTH about nose waxing

Now before you freak out, let me explain. I learned how to nose wax the 3rd day of school. I was so nervous and couldn't even believe I was going to do it. A lot of people think that it is going to hurt A LOT more than it actually does. And it WILL if you dont have a professional do it. There is a special technique and if you let just anyone do it they either wont apply or pull right and it will be...painful.

At school this was one of our most popular waxes. We had many many many men come in and do them. Sometimes we would have about 7 guys come in and get it done at the same time. (I think it was more for moral support).

Why wax your nose?

1. It beats trimming. Trimming can also make your hair more thick and coarse, like shaving can.
2. A nose wax usuallly lasts about 1 1/2 - 2 months depending on how often you like to get it done.
3. You can breathe easier!!! Believe me on this one! My dad also dont snore as bad when he gets his done.
4. It beats tweezing. Have you ever tried to tweeze one little hair? YOWCH!!! It hurts so incredibly bad.
5. It looks nicer. No more hairs! :)


heres 2 girls I went to school with doing it, Sherena and Katey.

The thing about nose hair is your using a hard wax instead of the standard soft wax which you use a strip with. Hard wax is applied and when it cools down you rip it off without a strip. The hard wax that I LOVE and swear by is Cirepil blue hard wax. The wax actually shrinks down the hair so that it comes out easier and painlessly.

Many people have never heard of this being done, but it is becoming more popular. Its definitely one of my all time favorite waxes to do and get done. And it doesnt take long at all. The longest part is just waiting for the wax to dry so you can remove it. Once its done, I promise you will be satisfied.

The hardest part is getting people to try it the first time. They think its going to be incredibly painful but I have NEVER had anyone that has said it hurts them. They are actually very pleasantly surprised with the amount of pain.



I did my dad's nose, too!

Ive seen some youtube videos of people waxing noses and it just becomes horribly disasterous. But heres a girl doing it and she does it well. You can tell because she pulled it right out of the first tug.

if you'd like to know more about nose waxing please let me know. If you would like to get it done by me, comment and i'd be happy to do it.

ALL ABOUT ACNE

Acne is a heavy-duty subject that almost all people can relate to. Even though the word acne is its own subject, there are many different forms of acne. Usually acne is broken down into 4 "grades"


GRADE ONE ACNE- is what is considered a minor breakout. There are a few blemishes, whether blackheads or whiteheads. Your skin is pretty clear except for the few pimples that arrive from time to time.

GRADE TWO ACNE- is when there are more blemishes visible. There may be both open and closed pimples, (meaning blackheads or whiteheads) but there is no inflammation. Just one step beyond grade one acne.

GRADE THREE ACNE- acne is the stage where inflammation is now involved. This grade will show with many blemishes and the skin will be reddened. Pimples are usually tender and can be swollen.

GRADE FOUR ACNE- is the final stage of acne, sometimes being called Cystic Acne. This grade has many blemishes, the skin is red and inflamed and there are cysts which are deeper. Also very painful and very deep. Hard to pop and sometimes throbbing.



Cool fact: A lot of people think that blackheads are the "dirt" in the pimple....The black color is not caused by dirt. Rather, it is a reaction of the skin's own pigment, melanin, reacting with the oxygen in the air. Betcha' didnt know that huh?

Its best if you can identify which acne you have so that you can take proper precautions to heal the skin back to its normal state. Sometimes you may have Grade 1 acne and other times you may have Grade 2. It all just depends on a few things...



THE CAUSES OF ACNE-

Unfortunatly you can get acne from many things the number one factor being heredity. If your parents had it you most likely will too, that also is the same for clear skin as well.

Acne can also be caused by sweating, cosmetics, humidity, hormones, certain medication, and last but definitely not least, bacteria. DUN DUN DUN.

Dont freak out. Here are a few things that you can do when you see a change in your skin or to prevent seeing a change.


Change your bed sheets often- A lot of people forget about doing this but you would not believe the amount of bacteria and dead skin cells that shed off during the night.

Clean your cell and home phones on a regular basis- I have seen some women have acne right where the phone is placed, I kid you not. Antibacterial wipes work the best.



Wash your face- I know this one sounds like a no brainer but some people dont use the proper care and then wonder why their face is breaking out. And no, using "just water" isnt going to help.



Cleansing your face in moderation- Some people wash their face TOO much (yes, it is harmful and CAN be done). It can lead to inflammation and cause the acne to swell.

Switch to mineral makeup- it doesn't harbor bacteria and wont clog your pores

drink your water- I cant tell you how important it is to DRINK YOUR WATER. You want to get rid of that harmful bacteria that is residing in your body. A miracle wont happen but you will notice a change in your skin, (and it wont hurt those love handles, either!)



There are also many substances in products that I would suggest such as benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, and anything with an antiseptic property.

Something I would definitely NEVER suggest is popping them. I know it is hard, and almost torture when a little visitor appeared the night before your big date but try your best not to go to town with the little sucker. Picking and squeezing can lead to "acne pocks" and scarring. If you absolutely HAVE to pick...be safe. Use two q-tips instead of using your fingers and apply antiseptic before and after.



I know this may sound like a lot and you are probably overwhelmed sometimes with acne but take it one step at a time, one outbreak at a time.

I hope this helps you guys! Are there any other things on acne you feel I didnt cover?

YOUR skin is MY mission

I decided to make a blog about skin-care because its something that im very passionate about. I just graduated as an esthetician from Bon Losee Academy and received my masters license. People are constantly asking me what they can do to better their skin so I decided to make a blog to help you all with your concerns. While being discreet from your home. No consultation needed! (Unless of course I was to work on you). On here ill go over waxing, (facial and body) products to use, getting facials and other treatments, how to work with your skin, acne, wrinkles, dry and oily skin, common problems and concerns...etc...

First of all let me explain to you guys a little bit about your skin.

A lot of people take skin for granted but its much more important than everyone thinks. There are many functions of the epidermis but heres just a few...

protecting the body from the environment, particularly sun
preventing excessive water loss from the body
protecting the body from infection.

Another reason why skin is so important with our everyday life is because SKIN is the biggest organ in our body with 12-15% of our body weight. Taking care of our skin should be an everyday thing just as important as taking a shower or brushing our teeth.



There are so many products out there to use!!! Wether its from the department store or from a high end salon anything is better than just using water! I do believe that some products are better than others but if it works for you than it WORKS! If you are receiving the results you desire and are happy with the outcome then there is no need to run out and buy a $200 facial cream. But others are unhappy with the quality of their skin and need something more extreme and are looking for more accurate help.



On this blog ill be going through things and products that you can do to give your skin the care that is needed. Please leave me feedback on what you want to see on here! Anything at all. :)



- Ta Ta for now. And remember...release your natural beauty.