If you have ever found yourself shopping for tanning lotions or creams, you may be overwhelmed by the options that are out there. The shelves are lined with tons of containers and tubes of products for tanning that you may be completely clueless to their uses. Deciding whether to use a lotion or not and if so, which one to use can be quite confusing to consumers. I can’t begin to tell you how much money I’ve wasted over the years buying the wrong products trying to achieve my desired results. Today, we will break down everything you need to know about tanning lotions so that you can make an informed decision when purchasing. Hopefully, this will help the next time you find yourself puzzled staring at the array of options available to tanners.

What is Tanning Lotion?

Tanning “lotion” is abroad term for products used to enhance the tanning process and increase melanin production in the skin. Consistencies vary from lotions, creams, and mousse, to gels, oils, and sprays. Using a tanning lotion is an essential element to achieving the deepest, darkest, longest lasting tan possible. They also contain the necessary ingredients to keep your skin hydrated and looking healthy. There are three types of tanning; indoor, outdoor and sunless. Each of these three types has products that are exclusive to that kind of tanning. The main two things to take into consideration before picking your product is which form of tanning you plan on doing and your skin type.

Outdoor Tanning Lotions

When choosing to tan outdoors, it is recommended that you use a tanning product that contains sunscreen. We all know the relation between overexposure to the sun and skin cancer. Sunscreen not only helps block dangerous, cancer-causing UV rays but also with preventing sunburns and premature aging.

Tanners should consider where they are going to tan, skin type, personal skin tone, and the desired level. This will help you in determining the SPF level, moisturizers, and additives; such as bronzers or accelerators, needed specifically for you. You should choose between fair, olive/medium, or dark.

Indoor Tanning Lotions

Indoor tanning lotions are intended for use with tanning beds or tanning lamps. These products rarely contain sunscreen and are only meant to block artificial UV rays, not natural ones from the sunlight. These should not be used to prevent sunburn. Indoor lotions are specially formulated with ingredients that will not damage the tanning bed like some outdoor lotions have been proven to do.

You will find a variety of options when shopping for indoor lotions. The following list will help you decide which products are best for you:

Basic Tanning Accelerators. Perfect for beginners needing to establish that base tan. These products will help you achieve a nice, even color. You will want to pick a lotion that hydrates, smooths, and softens skin while darkening These accelerators allow your body time to adjust to the tanning process before you move to the next level.

Bronzers. These are by far the most popular type of lotions on the market. These really bring that deep, natural looking pigment out in the skin. There are three main types of bronzers: instant bronzers that will wash away, natural bronzers that use ingredients to increase your melanin production, and DHA bronzers which work with the amino acids in your skin essentially staining your skin.

Some customers worry that using a bronzer will turn your orange. While this was a legitimate concern when they first came out, the industry has perfected this product to where this is no longer a concern when using a reputable brand. Modern products leave you with healthy, radiating skin. Another concern is streaking and staining. You want to make sure you apply the cream evenly, using care on hands, feet, knees and elbows. Hands should be thoroughly washed after application and before tanning.

Tingling Tanning Lotions. These are generally used by advanced tanners. These can be too harsh for beginners or anyone with sensitive skin. It is highly recommended to do a patch test before purchasing. Tingle products maximize the skin’s microcirculation and oxygenation process, the reaction produces deep, dark tanning results. You can use in conjunction with a bronzer for a beautiful tan in a short period.

As the name suggests, you will experience tingling and redness of the skin anywhere this product is applied. Some customers are unable to tolerate the burning and itching side effects. This can sometimes last for several hours, so plan accordingly. Hands should be thoroughly washed after application, and extreme caution should be used near the face.

After Tan Moisturizers. Helps replace the vital nutrients lost in the tanning process. This will help avoid the dryness and itchiness you may experience afterward. Many people use lotions before entering the beds, not realizing the secret to a longer lasting tan is daily hydration. Without this step, you will end up with a dry layer of skin covering your beautiful tan, blocking the natural glow.

Facial Tanners.  Designed specifically for the delicate flesh of the face. Many do not realize that normal lotions are not meant to be used on the facial and neck areas. If you do not wish to purchase a separate facial tanner, a good SPF will also work fine. Just make sure you are applying some type of protectant to your face to avoid signs of premature aging

Sunless Tanning Lotions

Sunless tanning has become increasing popular over the last several years, due to safety concerns over skin cancer. These self-tanners offer a completely safe option for obtaining your desired skin color. The coloring will typically start to fade within a few days, and all remnants will be completely gone in about three weeks. While the results are temporary and artificial, the health benefits far outweigh this minor drawback. With that said, these products should never be used to protect the skin against sunburn. These items can be purchased in the form of lotions, creams, mousses, sprays, gels, and foam.

A common complaint customers have, is the orange tint frequently seen with these products. Staining and streaking can occur as well. It is important to exfoliate and moisturize before carefully applying the lotion to get a more natural look. Start slowly and build your base color wisely. Generally, less is more with self-tanners. You can find many online discussions to help you find the most reputable brand.

Downside of Using Tanning Lotions

Everyone is unique, causing individual responses to different products. Sometimes the best thing you can do is pick a product that addresses your needs, then simply find the one you like most through trial and error.

Like with all things, there will be pros and cons. We have discussed most of the positives to using these types of lotions. Now, we will discuss the potential downsides.

When choosing to sunbathe, there is no product that will completely block all ultraviolet rays. Even though you may choose a brand with a really good SPF, you are still exposing yourself to some degree of sun damage. Also, the time of day and amount of time you are in the sun can dictate how well your lotion works. If you spend several hours exposed to the sun, you are extremely likely to suffer from sunburn, regardless of the type of product you use. The optimal time to get a tan is from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m.; if you go out too early or too late, you may not achieve the results you are hoping for. If you are looking for a quick tan, using the sun and outdoor lotions would not be your best option. It takes weeks of sunning and using the proper products to build a good even tan.

There are some definite downfalls to using indoor creams. First, they may or may not contain a sunblock. This can be scary because it has been suggested that the indoor items could enhance UV rays, rather than blocking them. The FDA does not recommend indoor tanning in any shape or form due to the risk of cancer. Once sun damage has occurred, it is virtually impossible to reverse it. It is highly recommended to always consider your safety before purchasing any products. Indoor tanners are formulated to produce quick results, so they are not active for long periods of time. They should be used during the session and then washed away once you get home. One issue most customers never consider is the rate dangerous bacteria can grow in the beds. If not properly cleaned, this can become a major issue. Some indoor lotions, such as the tingling formulas, will open your pores and leave you more vulnerable to these germs entering your body. These lotions usually do not have antibacterial properties, providing you no protection. For this reason, always make sure you personally clean the bed with an approved cleaner before climbing in for your own protection.

As we discussed earlier sunless, self-tanners are by far the healthiest way to get that beautiful bronze. There are some complaints consumers have besides the orange tone, and tendency to streak if not applied properly. One thing you hear quite often is the smell is not very appealing. Some have stated it has an odor that resembles the smell of hot flesh. The DHA is the culprit of the bad smell. Unfortunately, if you don’t experience this the product probably will not work. Another problem is the Tanner will stain garments or items that may get hit with over spray. It is recommended to apply inside and closed shower and wear older clothing until it has been completely absorbed. When it comes to your face, be very aware of how you are applying, or you may end up with shocking results. They do make sunless face tanners that are designed not to accumulate in lines on your face. Some people find it is best to avoid these products on the face altogether, using makeup instead. You should also note; sunless tanners are not a one size fits all. Use care when selecting which tone is best for you. It is very easy to get home and after a few hours realize you have applied a shade that is way too dark or unnatural. This can be disastrous if you have important events to attend.

Conclusion

Tanning is here to stay. There has been no decline shown in our desire to be the perfect hue of brown, just in the ways we choose to get these results. Making tanning products as desirable as ever.

There are a plethora of tanning lotions available on the market, including variations that are meant for indoors and outdoors, the sun and no sun. Buyers can choose from top brands or select a store brand, depending on their budget and preferences, but the focus should always be on their personal skin tone and skin type. Common types contain moisturizers, nutrients and a variety of levels of SPF.

Choosing between an indoor and outdoor lotion is also pertinent. Each has its own individual properties and should only be used as intended. The most important considerations to make before buying tanning lotion should include checking the SPF level, deciding on proper features, and making sure that the lotion is suitable for the type of tanning that a person prefers.

The post Everything You Need to Know about Tanning Lotions appeared first on The Active Health.

Crazy, isn’t it?

Because of that, most of us are walking around with styles that just aren’t quite as flattering as they could or should be, without even knowing that we are handicapping our beauty. Thankfully, though, once you really start to understand the type of face shape that you’re dealing with your going to be able to start picking hairstyles that really complement and accentuate your beauty – and from there you are going to be off to the races!

Thankfully, figuring out your face shape is nowhere near as much of a challenge as many people make it out to be. All you really need is a mirror, a critical eye, and a fundamental understanding of the same kinds of shapes you played with as a child.

Afterwords – after you really understand your face shape – you’re going to be able to cut, style, and highlight your hair in only the best ways possible, drawing out your ideal features and breathing new life into your overall look that just wasn’t there before.

And we are going to help you get rocking and rolling with this!

Just pay attention to all of the inside information that we are able to offer you below, really focusing on the tips and tricks that we are able to provide (as well as all of the recommendations that we have collected from top stylists around the world) and this is going to come together easier than you ever could have anticipated.

You’ll be a brand-new you!

The First Step is Figuring Out How to Identify Your Specific Face Shape

Look, there are plenty of high-end stylists and spas out there that would ask you to pay a truckload of money to get your face measured with all kinds of tools and technology, figuring out (right down to the finest detail) exactly what kind of face shape you are dealing with – but most folks just don’t have to go through that headache and hassle or hand over that kind of cash to get the answers that they are looking for.

All you must do is take a nice hot shower (and extended hot shower, at that) and let the bathroom get a nice and steamy. Let your mirror fog up, slide out of the shower, draw your hair back up (all the way) and then trace the general outline of your face onto the mirror using your finger.

If you don’t want to wait for the shower to heat up and the room to steam you can do the EXACT same thing with your non-steamed up at the mirror and an old eyeliner or lip pencil.

From there, figuring out your actual face shape becomes a lot easier!

There are really six major face shape types that you’re going to be working with here, and they are:

• Heart-shaped
• Round shaped
• Diamond shaped
• Oval shaped
• Square shaped and
• Oblong shaped

Determining the actual shape of your face is as simple as asking the following questions:

• Just how wide is my face, and is it as wide as it is long with the widest part of my face right around my ears? If so, you’re dealing with a rounder face.
• Just how long is my face, and is it longer than it is wide with a slender chin or a high forehead to? If that’s the case, you’re looking at a rectangular and more oblong face.
• Where do my forehead and cheekbones accentuate my look, and does everything tapered to a narrow jaw? If that’s the case, we’re talking about a heart-shaped face.
• Does my forehead have the same with as my jaw line, and do I have a more prominent jaw line with a squared off hairline? If that’s the case, we are working with a squared shaped face.
• Do I have a jawline that is wider than my forehead? That would be the perfect shape for a diamond face.
• Am I working with a face that is just about twice if it is wide? If that’s the case, you have and oval face!

Now that you know better what you are working with as far as your face shape is concerned to let’s dive a little bit deeper into the types of hairstyles that work best with your face.

Perfect Hairstyles for Round Faces

The general idea here is to minimize (as much as possible) the fullness of your face by framing your face with a bunch of layers and a middle or slightly off center part of it really breaks up the roundness of the face itself.

It’s also not a bad idea to make sure that your hair stays longer than your chin, allowing you to add quite a bit of extra length to your face that simply wouldn’t have existed otherwise.

You may be able to get away with hairstyles that are a little bit shorter, but you must be really clever with your makeup on a day to day basis if you’re going to go in that direction. You can’t EVER go with hair that’s going to come right down to your chin (it will make you look as though you are wearing a space helmet).

If you go really – REALLY – short (we’re talking about like a shaved head here) you can open some fun and flirty looks, but as a rule, you’ll want to keep you style a bit longer.

Perfect Hairstyles for Heart-Shaped Faces

Those that have a more heart-shaped face are going to want to go with long, flowing, almost side swept hair with bangs that hit right at the corner of the eye to balance out the kind of “top-heavy” look your face will have naturally. Not only will this kind of approach really balance out your face in general, but it’s also going to eliminate what would have been in otherwise pointier chin – something that most people are going to want to shy away from.

Bob’s that are a little bit longer in the front the in the back will also bring quite a bit of balance to the youth focal points of your face, evening things out while offering you a lower maintenance hairstyle at the exact same time.

Choppy layers are probably something that you were going to want to stay away from. This is only going to add extra angles and extra layers to an already angular face shape, and really draw attention to shapes that you probably are looking to suppress.

Perfect Hairstyles for Oval Shaped Faces

If you are lucky enough to have an oval shaped face you’re going to be able to rock and roll with pretty much ANY kind of hairstyle you’d like without restriction.

Yes, you’re going to be you’ll to walk into any hairstylist and ask them for free much any kind of cut imaginable and the stylist is going to be more than happy to go with your recommendation. 99.99% of all the hairstyles out there for women are intended to help them create a more oval-shaped face with the hairstyle itself, and the oval-shaped is the real ideal.

You are going to be able to wear your hair nice and long and loose, tight and clipped or layered with or without bangs and not have to lose a wink of sleep worrying about how it looks.

There really aren’t any looks that you should try and shy away from, aside from maybe shaving your head all the way down right down to the skin. But if you have ever seen the movie G.I. Jane with Demi Moore you’ve likely seen exactly what a beautiful woman with an oval face looks like with their hair shaved down to the skin – it’s almost unfair!

Perfect Hairstyles for Diamond Shaped Faces

Very (VERY) like those that have oval-shaped faces, women with diamond shaped faces are going to be able to rock most any kind of hairstyle there is out there – with only a few exceptions.

Some of the most beautiful women on the planet have been blessed with diamond shaped faces, and a lot of them choose to wear their hair with longer cuts – sometimes with bangs, and sometimes without. A lot of women with diamond shaped faces also decide to go with all kinds of funky layers and highlights, working with pretty much any kind of style they’d like to go with so long as they stay away from adding a lot of volume to the sides or top that really stretch out their faces.

That’s really the only kind of cut you’re going to want to stay away from as a woman with a small chin and forehead and more prominent cheekbones. You don’t want to overthrow the tops and sides of your face with too much hair in a wild cut, or you’ll look a lot longer in the chin than you are hoping to.

Perfect Hairstyles for Rectangular and Oblong Shaped Faces

The general idea as far as hairstyles for women with rectangular and oblong shaped faces is to add as much width to your face as possible. Most women are going to do this by adding long brow-skimming bangs or go with chin length bobs and extra layers, essentially adding as much width near their ears and their chin as they can to create that oblong look at that really softens rectangular and oblong shaped faces.

Short haircuts are probably ill-advised (as they will make the top of your head look unbalanced in the lower area of your head and your face look a lot longer and thinner than necessary). Some women are going to be able to pull some mid-length level haircuts off, but even those are really risky if you don’t have the kind of confidence to play them off successfully.

Perfect Hairstyles for Square-Shaped Faces

The idea here is to pull off on the kind of hairstyles that Sandra Bullock would fall in love with, as she is probably the perfect example of a beautiful woman with a square face.

Long layers, wispy bangs, and pretty much anything that eliminates extra height at the crown of your head will help you to a look fantastic, all while adding a lot of roundness and fullness to your face. This is going to successfully soft and faces that could otherwise come off as very severe, very straight-faced, and almost masculine – not exactly the kind of attributes that a lot of women are looking for when they get complimented.

Closing Thoughts

At the end of the day, finding the perfect hairstyle for your specific needs and your specific face shape is going to be a lot easier than most people find the general process to be – if you pay attention to all the tips and tricks we can offer you above.

Sure, you’re going to have to make sure that you are brutally honest with the type of face that you have (especially if you have been sticking to convictions of enjoying a face shape that you might not really have), but once you leap over that hurdle you’re going to be off to the races.

If you are finding it to be a bit of an uphill battle trying to pick and choose the right hairstyles for your face to shape all on your own, don’t be shy about hitting up your local stylist and asking them for help. At the very least they’ll be able to tell you exactly what kind of face shape you are dealing with, and at best they’ll be able to help work with you to find the perfect new hairstyles that bring out everything you must offer.

The post The Ultimate Hairstyle Guide for Every Face Shape appeared first on The Active Health.

Laser Hair Removal

What is Laser Hair Removal?

Laser hair removal is one of the most commonly done cosmetic procedures in the U.S.  Concentrated beams of light are directed at the hair follicle. The pigments absorb this energy and break down, and the body flushes out the fragments naturally. The damaged hair follicle will have significantly slower hair growth. In layman’s terms, it is like you have burned down or shut down the body’s hair factory.

The lasers don’t damage surrounding skin cells because the energy is “pulsed” (very short and targeted to a small area) and set to a frequency that is absorbed only by pigmented cells.

What Results Can I Expect from a Laser Hair Removal Treatment?

Laser treatments can target approximately 80% of the hair follicles in a body part.  So, you will not be completely hairless; you will have significantly reduced hair that grows back at a fraction of its usual speed. Depending on your case, your body hair will not appear anytime between six months to several years. For some people, the hair removal is permanent.

How Many Sessions Will I Need?

Hair growth has 3 stages: anagen (growing), catagen (mature) and telogen (shedding). Laser treatments will only work on hair in the anagen phase.  That’s why you’ll need multiple visits to get the results you want. This can range from 5 to 7 treatments, depending on your case and the part of the body. The appointments are usually scheduled every 4 to 6 weeks.

How Long Will the Treatment Take?

The length of the session depends on the area you want to treat. Very small and fine hairs like those found around the mouth will take a few minutes. Larger areas such as the legs may need up to an hour.

What Usually Happens at a Treatment?

Your hair will be trimmed, so it is only a few millimeters long. The doctor then adjusts the laser’s settings to specifications: the color of your hair, thickness (hair on the face is much thinner than the hair on the legs) and skin color.

Then, you and your doctor will put on protective eyeshields. A light, the cold gel will be spread on the body part. It serves two purposes: To conduct the light waves so it can reach the hair follicle, and help cool the skin, so you are more comfortable during the treatment.

The doctor will then begin the laser hair removal process. You will feel little pricks against your skin as the light hits the hair follicles. Your skin may also feel warm. Some laser machines will have cooling mechanisms that help keep you more comfortable.

After the treatment, you will be given ice packs and creams that will help control inflammation or irritation.

Will Laser Hair Removal Hurt?

Pain tolerance varies among people. Some people describe it as tiny pricks, others say it is more like rubber bands are snapping against your skin. If you are very uncomfortable, your dermatologist can give you a numbing cream.

What are the Side Effects and Risks?

It is normal or skin to look red and feel sensitive like you have just had a mild sunburn. This only lasts a few days. Use cold compresses and the prescribed creams until it subsides. If you had the laser treatment on your face, avoid makeup for 1 to 2 days. If you had it done on your body, wear loose clothing and continue to avoid sun exposure.

Your hair will fall out over a period of 4 to 5 weeks. Protect your skin with sunscreen and report any blisters or persistent itchiness to your dermatologist.

How Do I Prepare for a Laser Treatment?

While laser treatments are, safe and will not damage surrounding skin cells, you need to take precautions, so your skin isn’t predisposed to irritation or reactions.

• Stop any other hair removal treatments like plucking, waxing, and electrolysis about 6 weeks before you go in for a laser session.
• Don’t schedule any beach vacations and tanning sessions for at least six weeks before the treatment. Sun exposure can make your skin more sensitive, and increase your risk for reactions and complications. Never have a laser treatment done on sunburnt skin.
• Avoid even indoor pools, since the chlorine and other chemicals can also irritate your skin.
• Stop using skincare products that contain retinol or AHAs. These ingredients can make your skin feel very sensitive to light, and lasers are essentially concentrated beams of heat energy. Ask your dermatologist about creams or lotions you can safely use while preparing for your treatment.

Electrolysis

What is Electrolysis?

Electrolysis uses electric currents from a metal probe to destroy the hair root. There are 2 different kinds:

Galvanic Electrolysis. This uses currents that work with your body’s natural water and salt to produce sodium hydroxide. This is a natural form of lye, which kills the cells in your hair follicle. This is one of the first forms of permanent body hair removal and has been practiced since 1875.

Thermolysis. This uses vibrations or waves to break down the hair follicle cells. The needle sends a current through a water conductor. As the water molecules vibrate, they create heat energy that destroys the root.

While electrolysis has been used for over a hundred years, its technology has improved significantly. Today’s treatments are empowered with computer technology that can help the electrologist choose to administer the currents with greater precision. They can control speed, timing, and intensity to adjust the kind of hair that you want to be removed.

What Results Can I Expect from Electrolysis?

Electrolysis has been used for decades and is the only permanent hair removal treatment approved by the FDA. In most cases, hair will not grow back. It is also safer for people who have skin pigmentation issues or have darker skin tones since electrolysis does not target melanin.

 However, the efficiency of this method depends on the ability of the needle to reach the root. If hair follicles are bent because of previous waxing or tweezing, you may see limited results or need to a repeat session.

How Many Sessions Will I Need?

Like laser hair removal, electrolysis will require several sessions to reach hair in different stages of growth.  While it is cheaper than lasers, you will need more sessions (approximately 10 – 12 treatments), depending on the thickness and amount of the hair). It is also safer to treat densely packed hair such as those on the face or bikini area over several sessions, to avoid skin irritation.

On the average, patients can take several months to complete a course of electrolysis treatments, but the results are permanent. Laser treatments are faster, but hair will regrow after a few years.

What Will Happen During the Treatment?

At the start of your electrolysis session, you will be asked to sit or lie down. The electrologist will disinfect the area you want to be treated, then inserts very thin needles into the hair root. You will feel a short electric current. Then, the hair is pulled out with tweezers. Each hair follicle takes an average of 15 seconds to treat.

This must be repeated with every follicle so the length of your session will depend on a case to case basis. At the end of the treatment, your electrologist will apply a soothing lotion.

Is Electrolysis Painful?

It has the same discomfort levels of laser hair removal. Patients describe it as stinging or pricking. You may be given a numbing cream to help minimize the sensation. If you are very sensitive to pain, you can try taking over-the-counter pain relief.

What are the Risks and Side Effects?

It is normal for the area that is treated to be red or tender (like a mild sunburn) right after the treatment. This usually subsides within a few days and can be managed with creams and cold compresses.

There are some reports of small cabbing, but this usually happens with galvanic electrolysis in areas like the bikini line. The scabs fall off after a few days.

How Do I Prepare for an Electrolysis Treatment?

Unlike lasers, electrolysis will not make your skin sensitive to the sun, so you don’t have to take as many precautions with staying outdoors or swimming. However, the currents will make your skin feel tender and red.

To prevent any irritation, switch to a gentler skincare regimen just before and in the first days after your session. Always inform your electrologist if you have recently taken any strong skin treatments such as lasers or chemical peels, especially if you are having hair removed from the face.

Laser Hair Removal vs. Electrolysis: Which is Better

Each permanent hair removal treatment has its pros and cons, and it’s up to you decide which one you’re more comfortable with. For both electrolysis and laser treatments, it’s important to stop plucking or waxing a few weeks before your first session. This keeps the hair root intact, so it’s easier for the machines to target them. Here are the most important factors to consider.

How much hair do you want to remove? Laser treatments can treat large, densely packed hair very quickly. Electrolysis, on the other hand, involves treating each hair follicle one at a time. If you are only removing a small amount of hair, electrolysis may be a more cost-effective choice.

What is the color of your hair and skin? Lasers work by targeting dark pigments called melanin. It is very effective for dark hair, but it has less success with blonde or red hair. People with darker skin tones or skin pigmentation issues may also not be good candidates for laser hair removal.

Where is the hair you want to remove? Electrolysis is generally recommended for hair in difficult-to-access places like behind the ear or nose.

Are you able to stay out of the sun? You will need to take some precautions when you do laser treatments, like avoiding the beach or tanning for at least 6 weeks before your treatment. If you work outdoors or are unable to reschedule a trip, electrolysis may be a safer option.

Are you scared of needles? Electrolysis does require the insertion of a probe, while lasers are completely non-invasive – the light energy penetrates your skin without damaging the skin surface in any way.

How quickly do you need the side effects to subside? While both treatments have minimal side effects, lasers do not produce scabs, and the redness usually subsides much faster than those from electrolysis.

How permanent do you want the results to be? Lasers can only delay or stunt hair growth for several months or years, while electrolysis gives more permanent results.

Now that you have everything you need to know about permanent body hair removal, you can decide whether you’re ready for electrolysis or laser, or prefer to stick to waxing and shaving. Weigh the pros and cons, look at your budget, and go for what works for you. It’s your body and your choice.

Just remember that if you do decide to have a permanent hair removal treatment, always to go to an experienced, skilled and trusted clinic. Don’t be afraid to ask questions or request for previous case studies, and get estimates on how much time and money it will cost for you to get the results you expect. That way, you can avoid any “hair-raising” experiences and surprises.

The post Everything You Need to Know About Permanent Body Hair Removal appeared first on The Active Health.

 If you’re prone to winter acne and want to survive the winter successfully, then you’ve come to the right place.  Listed below are some informative reasons and tips which will help you brave the acne and look gorgeous and beautiful.

Reasons Why Your Acne Is Worse In Winter

Natural Lipids. The cold air from outside contains less moisture than the warm or hot air linked to other three seasons of the year, and this leads to weather related dryness. The harsh chilly winds strip your skin of its natural surface lipids. Usually, the lipids hold in moisture and keep dirt and other environmental toxins out. With the lipid protection gone, bacteria gets in and causes acne breakouts in winter.

Air Temperature. During winter you mostly stay indoors, so you are exposed to dry air most of the time. When you go out in the cold weather, you’re exposing your body to a sudden change in the air temperature. The skin gets affected, and even this may lead to acne breakout.

Hot Shower. There is nothing more stress-reducing and satisfying than taking a hot shower after commuting in cold conditions. But do remember that high temperatures can strip your skin of its natural oils, proteins and fats. This action leads to inflammation, itching and even peeling and aggravates the condition of acne. Aim for warm temperatures in the shower.

Central Heating and Dry Air. To combat the cold, we use central heating in our homes. The artificial heating means less moisture in the air which can dry the skin and lead to acne breakouts. Layers of dead cells form on the skin’s surface and prevent sebum from flowing freely.

Dry Skin Build Up. Your skin dries out from external factors, and if you compensate by adding a rich moisturizer, it causes a buildup of dead skin that clogs pores.

Stress and Lack of Sleep. Holidays can be a hectic time. There may be less natural daylight which prompts your body to be less active. If you push yourself to exert more, you could become tired and stressed out which could lead to acne breakouts.

Skin Care Products. Due to increased work pressure sometimes you may go to bed without completing your evening skincare routine. Since you won’t be cleaning your pores, it can cause acne breakouts. Changing seasons can bring in new skincare products. You must choose the right formulas for your skin type. Otherwise, your skin could suffer due to blemishes.

You may update your look during the winter months. Berry, new fringe, smoky eyes or a new hair color so to speak. If you change or add new hair color or makeup products, you may notice a knockout effect on your skin.

Hats and Scarves. When you wear hats and scarves, you’re creating a closed environment between your skin and the wool outerwear. The hats cover your forehead and scarves your lower face; these can trap oil and encourage breakouts.

Tips To Take Care Of Your Acne Prone Skin During Winter

Drink Up

Try to keep yourself hydrated during winter, because of the low temperatures you tend to have less thirst and can quickly become dehydrated. You should make drinking water a habit. Keeping your skin cells hydrated results in clear skin.

You can eat fruits and veggies to boost your hydration levels. Drinking salty soups helps retain the water you have. To check your hydration levels track the color of your urine. Clear to light yellow is ideal. If you pass dark yellow urine, then be known that you’re not getting enough water.

To increase your moisture content, you can go in for detox waters. Here are some great recipes for you to try.

Detox Water for Clear Skin:

Cucumber Lemon Mint

Source: Vicky B.TV

Lemon is rich in vitamin C and helps in the collagen synthesis making your skin look young. Cucumber adds hydration and flavor to water. Mint aids in digestion and makes your skin glow.

You can make detox water with lemon, apple cider, aloe, honey and mint for clear skin. Check out the recipe at Young and Raw.

Detox Water For Acne Prone Skin:

Blueberry Orange Water

Source: The Peach Kitchen

Ingredients:

• 6 cups water
• Handful of blueberries
• Two mandarin oranges cut into wedges

Method:

• Combine all the ingredients in a pitcher. Keep in fridge for 2-24 hours.You can squeeze the fruits to pep up the flavor.

Cucumber Watermelon and Mint Infused Water

Source: All Because She Saved

Ingredients:

• 4-5 small chunks of fresh watermelon
• ¼ cup fresh mint leaves
• ½ cucumber cut into slices

Method:

• Add all the ingredients into a 16oz jar. Mash the fruits and fill the pot with water. Refrigerate overnight for best flavor.

Chia Fruit Water

Source: My Fussy Eater

Ingredients:

• Fruits of your choice
• One tablespoon chia seeds

Method:

• Add all the ingredients to a large jar and shake well.
• Keep it in the fridge for 10 minutes and shake again.
• Drink within a couple of hours.

Green Tea

While it is great to drink detox water, sipping hot green tea during the icy conditions is the best way to relax as it helps to reduce acne breakouts. Green tea inhibits the production of sebum and is more effective than benzoyl chloride.

Green tea has antibacterial properties which help to kill bacteria that causes acne. It contains six active catechins that prevent cell damage, reduce inflammation and irritation. These beneficial catechins protect against free radicals that cause acne.

Green tea prevents acne scarring. It balances hormones, helps regulate insulin levels and blood pressure all of which contribute to the severity of acne. Drinking 4-6 cups of green tea a day inhibits acne formation.

Change Your Cleansing Regimen

Try using a gentle cleanser. Harsh soaps will irritate your skin and dry it further. You should opt for a cleanser that won’t strip the skin of its moisture. Try Philosophy Purity Made Simple One-Step Facial Cleanser. It removes oil, dirt, makeup and lightly hydrates and tones your skin. Use it once every morning and night.

 You can also try Garnier Clean + Smoothing Cream Cleanser for Dry Skin. It is soap free and removes dirt while leaving your skin feeling hydrated. This cleanser is infused with nourishing jojoba and macadamia oils and leaves your skin perfectly clean and revitalized.

Avoid alcohol based toners and irritating scrubs. Experts suggest you go in for alpha hydroxy acids. These products even out skin tone and rids skin of surface buildup. Alpha hydroxyl acids prevent pores from getting congested and does not spread bacteria like the physical exfoliators.

Try to limit the use of topical acne treatments. Treatments containing benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid will dry out your skin. These can be too harsh for winter. If you have stubborn pimples, then go in for treatments that have a small concentration of these ingredients. You can try Neutrogena On-The-Spot Acne Treatment.Southern California-based dermatologist Dr. Annie Chiu recommends a prescription gel-like Aczone which calms inflammation caused by acne.

Moisturize Your Skin

Using the correct moisture formulation is half the battle won. Thick moisturizing creams may be too heavy for the acne prone skin. So you can try a light moisturizer like Evologie Stay Clear System. It uses natural ingredients that are safe and keeps your skin clear. If your skin is too dry, you can use a heavy cream at night.

Ellen Marmur, M.D., a Dove dermatologist advises you to go in for Jurlique Rose Moisture Plus Revitalizing Gel-Lotion. For even a greater moisture boost, try using a hydrating sheet mask like Dr. Jart+ Water Replenishment Cotton Sheet Mask a few times a week. When it comes to moisturizing bath products Murmur suggests using Dove Deep Moisturizing Body Wash. It contains stearic acid and glycinate, nutrients that replenish your skin’s lipids and prevents itching or rashes.

Adding a moisturizer into your beauty routine is essential, even if you have oily skin because the dry weather can confuse your oil glands and lead to more breakouts. So hydration is important.  Dr. Jennifer Linder, an Arizona-based dermatologist, advises choosing a moisturizer that is rich in essential fatty acids.

According to Dr. Linder, acne prone skin is deficient in EFA and borage oil or jojoba oil are excellent options for acne prone skin.  Niacinamide, a form of vitamin B helps to reduce oil production and redness. Dr. Linder advises trying PCA Skin’s Clear skin moisturizer.

Dr. Annie Chiu suggests oil free hyaluronic acid based products like Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water-Gel. It helps pull moisture into the skin and doesn’t clog the pores.

Wear Sunscreen and Avoid Abrasive Products

Wearing sunscreen may seem counterintuitive, but sun-induced inflammation can be worse during the winter. According to Dr. Linder snow reflects 80% of the sun’s rays. Sand and water reflect only 10%-15%. If your primary concern is about clogging pores, then go in for Supergoop Everyday Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 50.

Foods to Eat for acne

Avoid Dairy. Dr. Mark Hyman wrote in Huffington Post that, dairy boosts male hormones such as testosterone or androgens. It increases insulin levels, just as foods that quickly raise blood sugar such as sugar and starchy carbohydrates spike insulin.

Include Antioxidant Rich Foods. Fruits and veggies that are rich in antioxidants will significantly reduce the amount of inflammation in your body. Experts say that acne sufferers have substantially lower levels of vitamin C and beta-carotene. They also have low levels of zinc and selenium that regulate the activity of antioxidant enzymes in the body. To boost your antioxidant quotient, you can include strawberries, prunes, red berries and raspberries in your diet.

Carbohydrates. Processed foods are usually higher on the glycemic chart. In a research study, investigators found that participants who followed a low-glycemic-load diet had a reduction in inflammatory acne lesions.

If you have oily skin, try including almonds and grapefruit in your diet. Almonds are rich in vitamin E and grapefruit is a powerful antioxidant which is rich in fiber and vitamin C. If you have dry skin just drink more water and include spinach and avocados in your diet. Spinach is rich in vitamin A, and avocados are rich in vitamin A and C.

Home Remedies for Acne

Green Tea. Green tea has antimicrobial and antiseptic properties. Wash your face with a cup of cold green tea or keep the green tea bags over the affected area.

Tea Tree Oil. It has natural inflammation-fighting properties. A 5 percent tea tree oil is less harsh than a 5 percent benzoyl peroxide solution. Tea tree oil can be just effective as benzoyl peroxide but can clear up less quickly.

Just mix a few drops of tea tree oil with 20-40 drops of witch hazel and use a cotton swab to apply. Try this treatment for twice a week. More of this could dry your skin and make your acne worse.

Honey. Honey has antibiotic properties that can help improve acne. Mix half cup of honey to one cup of plain oatmeal and leave it on for 30 minutes. Otherwise, you can just apply a teaspoon of honey to the affected areas.

Conclusion

If you experience breakouts after prolonged exposure to cold. Try to cut your time outdoors and give your skin some TLC by keeping it warm and comfortable. Central heating systems bring in dry air. So invest in a humidifier for your home. It will re-balance the moisture levels in the air and give your skin a breather space from air conditioned or centrally heated areas.

If you suspect stress and loss of sleep to be the cause of your acne breakouts, pace yourself as much as possible and don’t burn the candle at both ends. Take time to cleanse and moisturize your skin every night.

Pillow cases can house oil and dirt and may cause acne. The buildup of oil and dirt from your skin and environment can clog the pores resulting in acne breakouts. Launder your pillow cases once in two or three days and make use of natural pillow cases.

Open your windows for 10-15 minutes every morning, so the dry air escapes making room for fresh air. Make sure you wear a warm robe to avoid catching a cold. Due to the cold weather many of us tend to become lethargic so try not to stop exercising in winter.

Do you suffer from winter acne? How do you cope this inflammatory condition? Please do share with us in the comments section. Please try out all our tips and let us know your experiences.

The post Tips for Surviving the Winter with Acne-Prone Skin appeared first on The Active Health.

It really doesn’t matter why your skin is sagging. You could have lost a lot of weight and have excess skin. Maybe you had a baby and just can’t seem to get rid of that mummy tummy. Another common reason is due to aging. Wrinkles and fine lines tend to make our faces look worse for wear.

You can add essential oils to your daily beauty routine to stop the sagging skin. But just how do you do that? Well, here are all the steps you need to use essential oils for sagging skin. We’ll jump right into it.

Start by Finding the Right Essential Oils

Not all essential oils are made equally. While some are excellent for relaxation and unwinding, others offer better benefits when it comes to the skin care. You want to make sure the essential oils you use in your beauty routine will help to improve the sagging skin.

This could mean having lots of different types of oils in your house. After all, some oils will work on clearing up other skin ailments, like eczema and dry skin. Others will help to sooth rashes or speed up the healing processes of wounds.

Some of the best options for tightening the skin include:

• Almond essential oil
• Frankincense essential oil
• Myrrh essential oil
• Neroli essential oil

These tend to be the least popular options. Almond or myrrh do tend to be the easiest options to find. It’s worth stocking up, especially when you find one that works just right for your needs.

If you want commonly found essential oils, you can opt for:

• Tea tree essential oil
• Rose essential oil
• Ylang ylang essential oil

They are beneficially but not as good as some of the others mentioned above. They tend to work on clearing up acne, improving the natural oil production, and supporting the elasticity.

Now you know the essential oils to stock up on, it’s time to find ways to make them work for improving the tightness of your skin.

Add Some Essential Oils to Your Egg White Face Mask

Egg whites are extremely effective in skin care. They have the protein that helps to support the collagen production, which improves the skin’s elasticity and firmness. Protein also helps to support the structure and regeneration of the skin cells, while leaving a firm feel to the touch. Egg white masks are commonly suggested to those with oily skin. The mask helps with the tightening of the pores to help reduce the chance of developing acne.

You can take the egg white masks one step further by adding some essential oils to them. Start with almond oil if you’d like. The almond oil has protein, which will work with the egg whites. At the same time, you have the healthy fats to help make your skin look fuller and brighter. Egg whites can be relatively drying so the almond oil will add some moisture to support the whole organ.

Other oils will add some similar benefits, but almond oil tends to be the easiest to add and get hold of.

Make sure you use your egg white and almond oil face mask at the end of your day and after a full beauty routine. It’s a refreshing way to end a long day, and you have the time to allow the proteins to get to work really. Wash the egg whites off with lukewarm water to avoid opening the pores too much.

Create a Toning Face Wash with Your Essential Oils

You need to cleanse your face, but you want to do it with toning and to firm in mind. This is where essential oils play a popular part. They help to support your whole skin, without too much effort.

It is possible to add essential oils to your current exfoliating products if you want, but it’s best to make your own from scratch. When you make your own, you get rid of the chemicals that are added to the exfoliating products that you buy over the counter. You know exactly what has gone into your products and will make sure there are plenty of nutrients to support your skin.

This face wash doesn’t just tone your skin. It will also support the cells and help to balance out the natural oil production. It’s perfect for those with both oily and dry skin. There are also antibacterial properties, helping to reduce the chance of acne developing.

Ingredients

• 1 cup of water
• ¼ cup of castile soap, liquid form
• 5tsp jojoba oil
• 2tbsp honey
• 1tsp tea tree oil
• 15 drops lavender oil
• 10 drops rosemary oil

Method:

• Boil the water and allow it to return to room temperature.
• Add all the ingredients together in order of the list.

You only need a couple of pumps of the homemade soap for your cleansing routine. The essential oils will all work together to create a firmer texture to your skin.

If you can get your hands-on frankincense and myrrh, they can replace your tea tree or rosemary oil. While tea tree and rosemary essential oils offer antibacterial properties for the skin, the honey is also excellent for this. The frankincense and myrrh will help to add more firming properties to your new face wash.

This is also a wash that can be used in the shower. You don’t just have to use it on your face for your cleansing routine!

Do make sure you get castile soap. This isn’t drying, which means you don’t have to deal with the flaking skin or problems with natural oil production.

Make a Firming Body Oil

We’ve covered a couple of ideas for the face, but what about the rest of your body? Chances are you have sagging skin around your middle, your butt, and your thighs. You want to find something that helps to tone them up, right?

Well, while the cleanser can be used, you need a body oil that will help with the firming process. That’s just what you’ll get here.

This mixture does use some essential oils that we haven’t covered yet. They are effective for firming, but you can use any of the ones mentioned above instead. It’s not just the essential oils that work on firming your skin with this body oil.

Ingredients:

• 2 tbsp. rosehip seed oil—or any other oil that is full of omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids!
• 2tbsp sweet almond oil
• 5 drops of cypress essential oil
• 5 drops of frankincense essential oil
• 5 drops of geranium essential oil

Method:

• Just add all the ingredients into a mason jar.
• Shake vigorously to make sure all the ingredients are combined well.

You want to use this on skin that is still damp. It helps to make the oil go further and will help to make it easier to spread it across your body. The dampness on the skin will also help with soaking the oil into your skin and leave it to feel fresh and ready for the day.

Make sure you massage the oil into your skin. This helps with the toning process. When you massage the skin, you improve the blood flow to the areas, and that means the collagen is produced better. You’ll find you have fewer stretch marks and find that your skin is left with a rosy glow at the same time.

Use the oil daily. You can make as much as you like, so don’t worry about sticking with the exact measurements. You just want that ratio of measurements for the best effects and easier application without affecting your natural oil production.

I love to use the body oil at the end of the day to make my skin feel amazing at the end of a long day. It’s also perfect for straight after a shower on the weekend, when I have a little extra time to pamper myself.

Soak in an Essential Oil Filled Bath

Why not add some essential oils to your bath water? This tends to be an overlooked option since essential oils in bath water tend to be used for relaxation or curing skin ailments. The benefit is that you can do everything at the same time with the right essential oils.

Add some frankincense, lavender, and tea tree oil together. The scents work well together, and they all offer some different properties. The tea tree oil is antibacterial, while the lavender is relaxing. You then have the frankincense and tea tree oil working together to firm up the skin.

Just add 10-20 drops of each to your bath water and then relax for 20 minutes or so. The length of time will depend on how hot you like your water and how quickly it cools down. Have a glass of lemon water to hydrate your body and don’t forget about a good book to just spend some time to yourself.

Being able to relax will also help to tone your skin. You produce fewer stress hormones and get far more happy hormones. The happy hormones will support your hormonal responses, which in turn supports the collagen production. You also get to feel better within yourself, so you’re more likely to look after yourself daily.

Follow the bath up with your body oil that you’ve just made from above.

Massage Some Rosemary Essential Oil with Honey on Your Skin

Like with the body oils, you want to massage certain essential oils into your skin. Mix some rosemary essential oil with some honey and apply it directly to the sagging skin. This mixture is highly effective on the stomach and thighs since you really can work your fingers into the skin. The mixture is also excellent for all types of reasons for sagging skin, but especially for those who have lost weight or been pregnant and need to tone up the extra skin.

Do work on the areas at the same time. This type of mixture isn’t going to be an overnight success and works with a good exercise routine.

You will find that your skin looks much better than it has in a long time. The rosemary oil boosts the circulation, which helps to improve the texture, feel, and look of your skin. You’ll get a rosier glow and support the collagen production.

It’s Not All About the Essential Oils!

Please don’t think that using essential oils will instantly give you the perfect skin. I wish I could say that sagging skin was cured just through essential oil use. Unfortunately, there is more to it than that. However, the essential oils will help to improve the look and speed up the process of developing the firmer looking skin.

You also need to hydrate the skin and make sure it remains hydrated throughout the skin. Moisturising creams and body oils will help with this, but you also need to stay on top of your water intake. Hydrating the whole body will balance out the hormones and ensure the right amount of natural oils are produced in the skin. This instantly helps you get a better look and supports the collagen production.

It’s also important to eat right and exercise. Eating high protein meals will support your collagen production to improve the elasticity of the skin. The collagen production will drop with old age, which is the reason for the wrinkles and fine lines.

Exercising helps to tone the muscles, so you only have the skin to worry about! You can also helps to speed up the elasticity process and weight loss to improve the look of your body.

It’s time to get to work. Make your skin look amazing through using the right type of essential oils and using them in the right way. It really is worth the hard work when you get firm skin that is ready for anything.

Whether your skin sags due to weight loss or because of old age, you can act with essential oils. Mix them into your bath water, body wash, and moisturising oils. You will start seeing the difference all over, especially when you mix in a healthy diet and exercise routine to support the collagen production and hormonal balance within the body.

The post How to Use Essentials Oils for Sagging Skin appeared first on The Active Health.

While there are various cures out there, they can cost a fortune. And then you don’t really know what you’re putting into your body to help cure the chapped lips. Most of the time they don’t really cure the reason for the chapping and just soothe the pain. Other times they do nothing for the pain and take the time to soften the lips and repair the damage.

So, it’s time to look for home remedies instead. The great news is that there are plenty of homemade alternatives. Chances are you will have many of the ingredients already in the alternatives, or they will be extremely easy to buy. These remedies will make large batches in most cases, too, so you end up saving money over time.

Here’s a look at 10 remedies for chapped lips that you need to try today.

Flavoured Lip Scrubs for Exfoliating the Skin

Chapped lips are usually due to lack of moisture. While you can repair the reasons quickly, you can’t always get rid of the dead skin. Peeling the skin off is painful, so you need to get rid of it in other ways. One of the best options is to create an exfoliating lip scrubs.

You just need some petroleum jelly with some sugar mixed in. The sugar acts as an exfoliate for your lips as it would for your skin, while the jelly works as a barrier to protect your lips from further damage.

The jelly can have a strange taste and feel. You can add some fruit juices to your jelly if you’d like. Watch out for the citrus juices like lemon and orange. They tend to be acidic and can sting any cuts in your lips. You could opt for flavoured lip balms to mix in if you’d like.

Make Your Own Lemon and Coconut Scrub

Instead of using petroleum jelly, pull out the coconut oil. This is far better and will be a lot cheaper for a lot more! Coconut oil is full of antibiotic and antifungal properties. It also helps to reduce inflammation and soothe burning in your lips. You’ll have the added benefit of various nutrients at the same time.

You can add some lemon juice to your coconut oil if you’d like. This gives off a tropical taste with the coconut, so even in the middle of winter, it feels like a Hawaiian vacation.

Don’t forget to add the sugar for the exfoliating properties. You can add a little salt instead. When working with the coconut oil, the salt won’t dry out the lips. Instead, you get the antibacterial benefits, especially if you use sea salt.

Create a Honey and Olive Oil Balm

Let’s move away from the scrubs and focus on the moisturising of the dried lips. That’s the reason they’re cracking in most cases, after all.

You want ingredients that will hydrate and nourish the skin over your lips. Try olive oil and honey. The oil will help to soften while offering some antibacterial properties. You’ll also get some vitamin A and healthy fats into your lips. Honey will offer the vitamin C and some deliciously sweet taste to your lip balm.

It is possible to turn this into a scrub if you would like. You can add some sugar if you would like to create an exfoliating scrub. There’s no need to do this, though. The balm works extremely well to soften all the skin and heal any of the damage.

If you really want to add sugar, add a mixture of brown and white. They just help to add some flavour to your honey.

Have Minty Fresh…Lips

Forget the minty fresh breath. It’s time to get minty fresh lips with the perfect lip balm. You just need some peppermint essential oil and coconut oil.

Both ingredients work together to create a moisturising balm for your lips. It’s so easy to create. You just need to mix a couple of tablespoons of coconut oil with 10-20 drops of peppermint essential oil. The exact amount will depend on the amount of balm you want and how strong you want the minty scent to be.

If you can’t get hold of peppermint essential oil (which is unlikely), you can use crushed mint leaves instead. Do watch out for the mint on cracked lips, as it can get into the cracks and cause some stinging.

Don’t Forget to Add the Beeswax

We focus so much on the coconut oil for moisture that we forget about a certain ingredient that many balms will include: beeswax. This is an ingredient that helps to lock in the moisture, rather than to allow it to rub off when eating or drinking.

Locking in your moisture is important. It’s the only way to repair the damage that the dryness has done completely. You’ll also find it repairs the outer cracks quicker. The beeswax will also help to create a more solid balm so it can be taken around with you so much easier!

You just need to add a little beeswax to your coconut oil, honey, and other ingredients that we’ve already mentioned.

Think About Adding Vitamin E Capsules

It is possible to get vitamin E capsules that you can open or crush and add to your homemade lip balms and scrubs. It’s worth thinking about investing in them for the sake of your lip health.

While we look after our skin, we tend to forget about our lips. The sun and other toxins will damage them over time, and free radicals get the chance to get into the lips and change the cell structure. We end up with more damage and a higher risk of developing conditions and ailments.

Vitamin E is an antioxidant. It is also full of other antioxidants. These antioxidants will fight against the free radicals that are on your lips. You’re left with a much healthier face that looks amazing.

Massage Milk Cream into Your Lips

Milk cream is highly effective. If you’re not a vegan, you can use it quickly and easily. Just grab the cream and massage a small amount directly into your lips. The cream will then work deep into the layers of your lips to create a soft and natural plump look.

One of the benefits of milk cream is that it has added protein. The protein will get into the cell structure and tissues of the lips to help strengthen them. While moisturising, you’re creating a structure that will withhold against the elements.

This isn’t a balm to leave on throughout the day. You only need it on for 15 minutes and will need to rinse off with lukewarm water. Repeat two or three times a day for best results.

Yes, you can apply other balms afterwards. It works very well after using a lip scrub.

Soothe the Pain with Aloe Vera

Now that we’ve looked at repairing the damage, it’s time to soothe the pain that the chapping has caused. Aloe vera is the ingredient to add to your balms, and it will work extremely well with beeswax and any oils. Just add it to any of the balms and scrubs mentioned above!

Aloe vera is full of antibacterial properties, vitamin E, and anti-inflammatory properties. The vitamin E will cool down the burning sensations while fighting against free radicals. At the same time, the antibacterial properties will fight against any chance of infection within the cracks and the anti-inflammatory properties reduce the reason for stinging and pain!

You can use aloe vera gel on its own. Just massage into the lips and wash off after 15 minutes. It does tend to work better within a balm, though, so it has more time to work.

Finish Off with Rose Petals

Now that you’ve exfoliated and moisturised your lips, it’s time to get a rosy glow. The exfoliating will help, but that glow disappears over time. The great news is there is a homemade remedy to help keep your lips looking and feeling amazing: rose petals.

You just need to soak some petals in milk for around three or four hours and then crush up into a paste. The paste can be applied just like a lip balm or lip gloss, and you’ll get a rosy hint. Yes, there are different coloured rose petals, so you get to choose just how red your lips look!

The paste isn’t just to make your lips look good. It will also moisturise your lips to cure the reason for the cracked lips deep down.

You can apply this throughout the day and even at night before you go to bed. Give the rose petals a chance to work on your lips.

Don’t Forget to Keep Yourself Hydrated!

The nine methods above help to cure your chapped lips, but what about preventing them from occurring completely? This is possible with a few simple steps to your regular routine.

The most important thing you need to do is keep yourself hydrated. Dehydration affects your whole body but is extremely visible when it comes to your lips. In fact, dehydration signs start with your lips and skin. Your body doesn’t need the water here as much as it does in other parts of your system. It will draw the water from there while it can.

Even if you use the bombs and scrubs above, you won’t completely get rid of the problem. You should hydrate while using them to add the moisture back in and avoid dehydration become a problem again in the future.

Licking your lips will be something you’re compelled to do. After all, it adds some moisture back in. The problem is that you only get temporary relief. Licking your lips will just lead to the lips becoming drier and more irritating. Whether you use a bomb or not, you want to avoid licking your lips.

Avoid picking at the scabs or the dried skin on your lips. You know that it makes your lips more painful, but it also makes it harder for them to repair completely.

When to Take Other Action

There are times that cracked lips are a symptom of something more severe. Persistently cracked lips could be a sign of diabetes, underactive thyroids, and even STIs.

If you have used various home treatments and your cracked and dry lips are still a problem 10 days later—as in they haven’t even minimised—you will need to speak to a doctor. Your doctor will look for a deeper reason for your cracked lips and will find other treatments to help cure them.

The cracked lips could also be a side effect of medication you are on. This is common if you have medication that dehydrates your body. Your doctor will be interested in the side effects and will want to check that you aren’t experiencing others—that you may not even be aware of!

Exfoliate, Moisturise, and Protect

Now it’s time to use the homemade alternatives to cure chapped lips and focus on your health. Even if you only get chapped lips in the winter, you will want to try something to look after them. Exfoliating and moisturising with the natural remedies above will help to avoid dryness, inflammation, and irritation. You’ll also avoid free radicals causing a problem.

The homemade alternatives are extremely easy to create. You don’t need to spend a fortune, and there are high chances that you have most ingredients already in your home.

Your biggest question will be the flavours. You could try balms and exfoliates without them, but they can be bland for long term use. Look out for natural flavours and essential oils to jazz up your lip balms and scrubs to create something that you love to use daily.

The post Homemade Alternatives to Cure Chapped Lips appeared first on The Active Health.

Can you do it with less than a week to go? While you won’t find miracle cures for your skin, you can help to get a bridal glow. You can improve the look and feel of your skin to the point that the new skin cells shine through and you get a natural shine. There’s no need to worry about your photos making you look dowdy or plain.

When you look back over your photos, you’ll remember how beautiful you felt. You’ll see all the good things, instead of having regrets about how you wished you looked after your skin in the months before your big day.

So, with five days left, here are the steps that you need to take to get that bridal glow.

Start By Doing More Exercise

The activity you do will affect the look and feel of your skin. So, the first thing you can do is up the amount of exercise you do and focus on a regime that will get you burning calories in the run up to the day. This isn’t the time to crash diet, but the time to just focus on your health.

One of the benefits of exercise is that you will reduce the stress hormones in the body. Stress causes a hormonal imbalance that makes the body release more natural oils through the skin. You end up with an excess of oils, so your skin starts to look greasy and unwashed. You’ll have a sticky and slimy glow on your wedding day that you really don’t want!

When you do more exercise, you release more happy hormones in the body and reduce the stress hormone release. You end up with a balance back for the natural oils. Your skin won’t be as greasy, unless you naturally have oily skin. There are steps that you can take for this, so don’t worry, but exercise is a great way to initially start the process of reducing the natural oils.

The exercise will also help you get ready mentally for your big day. You take time out just to look after you, so you feel less stressed in the run up to it and don’t look back thinking there was all that nightmare planning for no reason.

Try doing an hour a day if you can to really release the stress. If you can’t, then 30 minutes a day is better for you. It doesn’t mean a trip to the gym. Pull out home workout DVDs or hit the ground running. You can also try swimming, Yoga classes, and more!

Get a Full Professional Facial

The lead-up to your wedding day is the time to look after yourself. Pamper yourself and treat yourself to a professional facial. Make sure it’s a full one and using materials that are designed to help brighten your skin and leave you feeling cleansed and refreshed.

A deep clean facial is an excellent way to get a starting block to keep your skin looking that way in the lead up to your big try. Do this on days five or four at the latest. Any closer to your day and you run the risk of some rash or redness if you are allergic to any of the materials.

If you’re worried about allergies, test the facial product on the inside of your wrist or your ankle—somewhere that is going to be easy to hide on your wedding day. If you have sensitive skin, it’s best to let the facial expert know, as they will know the best materials to use for you.

Once you’ve had a professional facial, opt for your own facial in the nights running up to your wedding day. Natural face masks are great for controlling the oil production and will add extra vitamins and minerals to your skin. Lemon juice face masks will brighten up your skin and add vitamin C, while salt or oatmeal masks are more exfoliating to get rid of the dead skin cells.

Leave all chemical peels and laser treatments. These will cause redness and that redness can stay into your wedding day. If you really want a chemical peel, arrange for that weeks before your big day if you still have time.

Develop an exfoliating routine in the week before your wedding. You want to make sure you cleanse the pores completely and help them tighten up afterwards to avoid dirt and grime causing acne. Try splashing with cold water straight after the exfoliating and use an egg face mask to help. The protein in the egg is also nourishing for your skin and will help with the building blocks of the skin cells.

Cut Out Salt, Sugar, and Alcohol

In the days before your wedding, you need to focus on the best diet for your skin. That means getting rid of anything that can cause a hormonal upset in your system.

Focus on getting more nutrients in the days before. Get your vitamin C and E and make sure you have plenty of protein. These will also help to create luxurious skin, whether you use the nutrients topically or in your diet.

It’s time to cut out some of the ingredients that are bad for your health and skin. Start by reducing the amount of sugar you intake. Refined sugar causes insulin spikes and hormonal imbalances. You end up with more natural oils being produced, leaving your skin oily and greasy.

You’ll always want to cut down on the salt that you have. Sea salt in facial masks and topical treatments can be beneficial, but don’t use it too much. And definitely cut it out of your diet temporarily. The salt will just dehydrate your skin, leaving it flaky and sometimes painful. If you already have naturally dry skin, you’ll definitely want to reduce the amount of salt you put in and on your body.

Alcohol is another ingredient to cut out in the days before your wedding. You can make up for it on your wedding day and honeymoon if you really want.

Alcohol dehydrates the body and will just add empty calories. You’ll have more refined sugar in your system, as well as toxins that your body needs to get rid of. The organs will take the nutrients from your skin, since your skin doesn’t need them as much. You’re left with dry and flaky skin and a completely hormonal imbalance.

Many brides will opt for alcohol to help them de-stress after their wedding day. It’s time to find another way to handle the stress. You can opt for exercise instead to help the look and feel of your skin.

Opt for a Spray Tan or Fake Tan for a Golden Glow

If you want to fake that golden glow, it’s time to get a spray tan. You can also opt for fake tan if you want, but do think carefully about the type of fake tan you use.

The benefit of a spray tan is that it is a little more permanent. You will need to follow the advice from the beauticians when getting it, otherwise the tan can end up streaky. Too many people wear tight fitting clothes and rub the tan off before it has time to set!

If you don’t fancy the spray tans, instant fake tans can be used on the day of your wedding. Make sure you rub them in evenly with a mitt and ask one of your bridesmaids to help you on your back, the backs of your arms, and your thighs. Don’t put your wedding dress straight on! Give your tan a few minutes to completely dry. That means you want to give yourself plenty of hours to get ready before your wedding day.

You can use the fake tans that you apply the days before your wedding, but you will need to make sure you leave no streaky marks. The problem with non-instant tans is that you don’t see the streaks until after you’ve finished it all.

Fake tans will help to give a golden glow but you can end up orange! Think about your natural skin tone and the colour your skin naturally goes in the sun. Don’t opt for a darker shade because you think it will make you look better. You want to look sun-kissed and not like you’re been doused in orange soda.

Trial fake tans earlier than a week before your wedding day. This will give you a better idea as to whether the colour is right for your skin or if you can go a shade darker.

Have a Relaxing Soak the Night Before

Get your favourite bubble bath or bath salts, light a scented candle/incense, and put on your favourite music. The night before you want to have some downtime just for you. Set up the bathroom—whether you’re at a hotel or in your own home—just in the way that you want it and enjoy a few hours of peace.

You can even opt for a girly night with your bridesmaids if you want an after-soak facial. Just make sure the ingredients you use in the facial aren’t those that you could potentially be allergic to or make sensitive skin worse. This is also a chance to pull out the deep body butters and moisturisers to help hydrate your skin fully the night before.

If your bridesmaids are staying with you, put on a few movies after your long soak and enjoy a night of not even thinking about the event the next day. This is your chance to switch off from the world and give your body and skin the relaxation they need.

Don’t forget to get an early night! Your skin needs you to sleep. You won’t have the dark spots under your eyes the next morning and you won’t have red eye from being up far too late. Your own skin will feel softer and look more luxurious.

Start Your Wedding Day Healthy

The morning of your wedding is just as important for your skincare as the lead up to the day! Start it right with a healthy breakfast. Drink plenty of water and focus on fresh fruit, protein, and whole grains.

Some brides are a little nauseous on their wedding day morning. You’ll want to get something on your stomach to help settle the butterflies. Try to keep it light with some fresh fruit and then you can see how you are.

Another option is to focus on the likes of lemon water. This is refreshing as your first drink and will add plenty of nutrients into your system. You’ll also get an alkaline-based start, which helps to settle some of the feeling of nerves in your body.

If you have the time, opt for a 30 minute exercise to help ease the excitement and nerves. Your body can’t tell the difference between excitement and fear, so will release stress hormones when you feel like this. Help your skin look great by releasing the happy hormones and keeping the stress and excess oils at bay.

You’ll want to give yourself three hours at least to get ready. This gives you the chance to completely moisturise your skin before having your makeup applied. Whether you hire someone for your makeup or you do it yourself will be completely up to you. There really isn’t a right or wrong way to do this. If you do it yourself, opt for makeup that you know is good for your skin and will keep the moisture locked in throughout the day.

It’s Time to Enjoy Your Wedding Day with Beautiful Skin

You don’t need to spend months primping your skin for it to look luxurious. While you want to spend those months doing some good for it, you can also improve the look and feel in the 5 days before your wedding.

Follow the tips above as soon as you can. It’s time to focus on exercise and a healthy diet to make sure your body gets all the nutrients that it needs. Drink plenty of water and opt for hydrating facial masks that will leave your skin soft to touch and glowing. Don’t forget the fake tans if you want to get a naturally-looking golden glow.

Enjoy your wedding day and look back at the pictures without regret.

The post How to Get That Bridal Glow 5 Days Before Your Big Day appeared first on The Active Health.

Hair Structure

Your hair consists of many layers, chemical bonds, and proteins. The actively growing cells which produce hair are present in the hair bulb. The cells arrange themselves into six layers; the first three inner layers form the cuticle, cortex, and medulla. The outer three membranes form the inner root sheath and the basement membrane.

The hair shaft made of a protein called keratin is tough and resistant to wear and tear. Eighteen amino acids make up the keratin of which the most abundant is the cysteine. It gives the hair much of its strength.

The middle layer of the hair is the cortex. It is made up of polypeptide chains that are cross-linked with each other, by three different types of side bonds. One type of side bond is the disulfide bond. These bonds are joined to the Sulphur atoms of two cysteine atoms to create cysteine. These bonds are the key factors in giving hair its strength and durability.

“Think of straight hair as a ladder and curly hair as a spiral staircase. The steps on both are the hair’s bonds. If you break those bonds, you can rebuild the spiral staircase as ladder—so curly hair becomes straight. Ammonium thioglycolate and sodium hydroxide permanently break the bonds—that’s how traditional relaxers and “Japanese straightening” treatments transform the texture of the hair.”

 “These treatments last until your hair grows out, but they can be damaging,some “keratin treatments” (and the popular Brazilian Blowout Original Solution) saturate the hair with a formaldehyde solution before it is dried and flat ironed; the formaldehyde locks the hair into that straighter position, so it stays smooth beyond your next shampoo. Your natural texture then gradually returns over two to five months,” says cosmetic chemist Randy Schueller, editor of thebeautybrains.com.

Cysteine Hair Strengthening Treatments

Cysteine Complex and Cysteine Hair Smoothing System are the modern forms of hair straightening treatments. These treatment uses the naturally occurring essential amino acid cysteine to straighten and strengthen your hair. They are considered safe than keratin treatments.

Cysteine is naturally absorbent and has no formaldehyde or any other harmful substances that release formaldehyde fumes under heat pressure. The cysteine treatment is semi-permanent and lasts for about three months. If you have gone through various styling and chemical treatments and have rough, dry and dull hair, you should try this hair treatment.

The cysteine hair treatment helps to strengthen your hair roots, adds shine and protects your hair from further damage. It cuts out excessive frizz and dryness and keeps your hair well in place and makes it easier to maintain. This treatment gradually fades away from the hair over time. You cannot see the line of demarcation as new hair grows out. Cysteine hair treatment is one of the safest in the market, but if you’re unsure then it is better to go in for a patch test.

Cysteine Complex Treatment

The Cysteine Complex contains botanical ingredients and pure proteins. It works in synergy with existing hair proteins to soften, restructure and release curls from hair. This formula penetrates inside the hair shaft and delivers great moisturizing and conditioning benefits which in turn improves the overall strength of your hair. The ingredients present in Cysteine Complex includes cysteine, hydrolyzed wheat protein, dendrobium orchid, shea butter and cocoa seed butter.

Facts about Cysteine Complex Treatment

The Cysteine Complex is a non-formaldehyde keratin treatment that reduces 70% curl volume on Caucasian hair and 50-60 percent curl volume on ethnic hair. You can apply this formula over any relaxers. If you use Cysteine complex over any other keratin treatment, just make sure that it has been at least two months before the previous treatment.

Experts highly recommend that you do the Cysteine Complex after the color service. This formula should be used on children 12 and over. If you’re pregnant, it is better to consult with your doctor. After the treatment, it is wise to use Sulfate free shampoos because sulfates can strip away the treatment.

Hair experts advise you not to swim in the pool for the first two days after application to let the product settle into the hair. For stunning results use KerAcai as the base product before applying any styling products to your hair. KerAcai deposits a fine layer of keratin to your hair, protecting and nourishing each strand and prolongs the life of your Cysteine Treatment.

It is best if you shampoo your hair only thrice a week. If you shampoo often, it will fade away the treatment. Do not use henna or metallic dyes before or after the treatment. It is better to highlight, re-bond or color your hair before the treatment. Regularly oiling your hair is not recommended because it will create a buildup in the hair.

Steps of Application

You must wash your hair well enough to remove any dirt or buildup. The stylist applies Amazon Series Cysteine Complex Smoothening Cream onto your hair section by section until she covers your whole hair with the cream. She doesn’t apply the cream to the roots of your hair and leaves one inch from the roots without the cream. The reason is that the cream may make the roots soft which results in hair fall. The stylist wraps your hair with a clear plastic film and makes sure that your hair does not have any folds or creases.

After half an hour the hair stylist takes your semi-wet hair section by section and dries your hair with the help of a hair straightener. Using De Fabulous Hair Repair Shampoo the stylist washes your hair and applies De Fabulous Hair Repair Conditioner, and Amazon Series Acai Oil Treatment to strengthen your hair. You should use the above products regularly for 3-4 months.

Cysteine Hair Smoothing System

The Cysteine Hair Smoothing System consists of four compartments.

• Cysteine Smoothing Shampoo
• Cysteine Smoothing Treatment
• Protein Leave-In Conditioner
• Keravis Hair Strengthening Protein Conditioner

This system straightens the hair using a sulfite/urea active straightening complex. High concentrations of cysteine are used to provide a protective shield on the surface of the hair. The amino acids extend the longevity of the treatment by helping in the restructuring of the disulfide bonds. Other noticeable proteins in the system include hydrolyzed wheat protein, hydrolyzed wheat starch, and water.

The Cysteine Hair Smoothing System was studied microscopically using an Atomic Force Microscope. Researchers investigated the 3D image of the topography of the hair fiber. They took the untreated hair as a baseline. The scientists compared the hair treated with cysteine system with hair treated with more traditional relaxers. You can see the comparison in the Figure. From the Atomic force microscopic images, the investigators found that Cysteine Hair Smoothing System closely resembles untreated hair. This formula makes your hair sleek and smooth with minimal damage and without the addition of formaldehyde.

Steps of Application

Shampoo and rinse your hair thoroughly twice using the Cysteine Smoothing Shampoo. Apply the Protein Leave-In Conditioner. Follow it up with Keravis Hair Straightening Protein Conditioner.

 Apply Cysteine Smoothing Treatment until hair is saturated. Rinse after 30 minutes using Cysteine Smoothing Shampoo. Apply the Protein Leave-In Conditioner to towel dried hair. Comb through and blow dry until 90 percent dry. Finally, flat iron to achieve smooth straight hair.

Keratin Hair Strengthening Treatments

Keratin is used in these treatments to strengthen and straighten your hair. A stylist applies the keratin straightening product to your hair. She then uses a flat iron to seal it in. The entire process takes 90 minutes or longer depending upon the length of your hair. Some of the keratin products include.

Keratin Complex Smoothing Therapy by Coppola

The innovative formula binds keratin to the hair, preventing humidity from penetrating the hair. Thus it locks out frizz. The Keratin Complex Color Therapy incorporates the keratin technology into the hair coloring process. This action makes your hair stronger and smoother as it undergoes a color transformation.

La-Brasiliana Treatment

It is a revolutionary process that contains collagen, and it transforms your hair into a healthy and shiny state. You can use this formula for all hair types. The application takes between 1.5-4 hours and creates a glossy finish that lasts up to 4 months.

Brazilian Keratin Treatment

The Brazilian treatment contains the liquid form of keratin. It does not use strong chemicals to open and close the hair cuticle to straighten it. The Brazilian keratin treatment just coats your hair and does not break the bonds of the hair shaft.

The Brazilian Blowout

Brazilian Blowout uses the professional bonding technologies that improve the condition of your hair. It creates a protective protein layer around the hair shaft to eliminate frizz and soothe the cuticle. You can leave the salon and immediately wash your hair. There is no line of demarcation with new hair growth.

Liqwd Professional Q-Keratin Smoothing Treatment

This solution uses keratin and a unique blend of protein-rich quinoa to soften, enrich and glisten strands. It is free of formaldehyde. You can retain your hair texture after the treatment, and you can style a full range of wavy, curly and straight finishes without any limitation but your hair will have a glossy, satin finish.

Tela Beauty Organics Phyto-Keratin Smoothing Treatment Blowout

It contained 85% USDA certified organic ingredients like mushroom, lemon, orange and sprouted soy all combined with plant-derived keratin to seal the cuticle in with shine and resiliency. This formula contains ceramide complex that derives lipid hydration to strands. It is formaldehyde free.

Unnique Amino

This keratin treatment is another recent launch. It strengthens strands with nanoparticle blend of amino acids. This product is free of formaldehyde. The hair becomes stronger, smoother and more manageable. It is non-irritating and does not cause allergies.

Facts About Keratin Hair Treatments

The keratin treatments are temporary, but the results last for about six weeks. If you wash your hair often, it will return to normal quickly. Keratin treatments are best for thick, curly, frizzy and coarse hair. These treatments are also suitable for damaged or chemically treated hair such as colored, relaxed, permed, highlighted and bleached. Keratin treatments are not appropriate for fine, straight or thin hair.

Sealing keratin into the cuticles can strengthen and repair your hair. If you use a hair product containing functional keratin proteins you are replacing the missing and damaged keratin from your hair. If the keratin in your product shares a sequence, form, and function of the natural keratin. It will patch up the frayed cortex and smoothen out those ruffled protein scales.

Experts say that a keratin hair treatment could reduce your blow dry time by 40-60 percent. Even if you walk in the wet or light rain, your hair won’t become frizzy. You shouldn’t wash your hair 3-4 days after getting your treatment. That’s because the solution takes the time to work. You should use sodium sulfate free shampoo to help maintain the treatment.

Use a tube of shampoo that doesn’t contain sodium chloride for long lasting results. Exposure to chlorine, sun and saltwater will reduce the lifespan of the treatment. Color two weeks before or after the treatment. However coloring hair before the treatment seals in color and helps to prevent fading.

Keratin is a restorative treatment. These treatments won’t break your hair. Hair breakage is due to the flat irons that are used to dry and seal the hair. Hair experts say that some salon workers may use a flat iron that is way too hot which scorches your hair and breaks it off. If you suffer from psoriasis or seborrheic dermatitis, check with your dermatologist before taking keratin treatments.

Formaldehyde Factor

Some keratin treatment products contain formaldehyde. Using them can raise indoor air concentrations of formaldehyde to levels that could be a potential hazard. According to American Cancer Society exposure to relatively high amounts of formaldehyde has been linked to some types of cancer in humans. If you’re concerned about this fact, then you can go in for keratin products that are free of formaldehyde to strengthen your hair.

The formaldehyde can cause health problems especially for people who regularly work with it.  The main health problems related to formaldehyde in keratin products has been about salon workers and not people who get keratin treatments.

To be on the safer side, you can ask the salon personnel if they know that the product you are going to be using contains formaldehyde-related ingredients or other ingredients you wish to avoid. Experts point out that most companies put the formaldehyde to safe limits, but some salons mix their own to incorporate more formaldehyde. The Environmental Working Group has given a list of businesses that claim little to no formaldehyde, but tests show their products contain substantial amounts. You can check the list here.

Conclusion

Hair strengthening treatments are used to straighten the hair and to make it shiny and healthy. Some keratin treatments do contain formaldehyde which has got a bad rap in the health circles. Experts argue that hair breakage is due to the high heat of the hot iron and formaldehyde has nothing to do with hair breakage. Formaldehyde usage affects the salon workers more than the clients.

On the other hand cysteine hair treatments though do not contain formaldehyde, still uses a hot iron to seal in the product. So from my point of view keratin and Cysteine treatments are equally the same. It would be wise if you go in for hair treatments that do not use formaldehyde be it cysteine or keratin hair treatments to strengthen your hair.

The post Cysteine vs. Keratin: The Ultimate Hair Strengthening Face Off appeared first on The Active Health.

Yes, this is an option that is highly effective and safe. However, you want to know all about the chemicals you’re putting on your hair and the risks you’re opening yourself up to. While this is effective and safe, it’s not the best option for everybody.

Don’t worry, though, because I have your back. I’m right here to help you learn all you need to know about keratin hair treatment and what it actually means for your hair and scalp. So, let’s get started, shall we?

Just What Does Keratin Hair Treatment Involve?

Before we start looking at the effectiveness and the potential risks, you need to know about what this treatment is. You’ve heard of the name but now have no idea what it actually is for your hair. Well, here’s a look at it.

Keratin is a treatment that offers you sleek and sexy hair. It tames the frizz, helping you get shiny and beautiful looking hair without the hassle. You don’t need to go to a hair salon for the treatment, as there are now sprays that you can apply to the use of a flat iron. The chemicals are locked into your hair for a short time, repairing the damage that causes the frizz.

This isn’t a permanent option, but it will last for a month to a month and a half. Of course, if you wash your hair regularly or you go swimming on a daily basis, the treatment won’t last that long. The chemicals are washed out, and you will be left with frizzy hair.

However, it’s a quick option for those who need something the day before a Christmas night out or a girl’s weekend away.

One of the biggest benefits is that keratin treatments are suitable for all types of hair. Even if it’s damaged seemingly beyond repair or you’ve just had it coloured or permed, you can still use the treatments without causing excess damage afterwards. The only type of hair that it doesn’t work on is those with thin, fine, or straight hair. Of course, those with straight and fine hair won’t likely need it since they have the moisture and don’t have a frizz to tame!

How Do Keratin Treatments Work?

Now you know what they are, you need to know more about what the keratin treatments do. Just how do they get into the locks to nourish them?

The treatments work by adding hydration to your hair. If your hair is extra porous, it will become frizzy and tangle. You’ll notice that your hair breaks easily and you’re left with a tangled mess, even after deeply conditioning it. You just don’t seem to get the luxurious streaks that celebrities with a similar hair type to you get.

The hair is actually made up of keratin naturally! It’s a type of protein that helps to support the life and strength of the hair. All you’re doing with the treatments is boosting the amount of the naturally created proteins. You put the keratin back in when it is lost, which often happens due to chemical processes and age.

It’s sometimes noted as a chemical treatment, but it really isn’t. This is why it’s completely safe and excellent for the majority of hair types to use.

When you have the extra protein back in, your hair becomes straight and full. There’s a shine to it that makes your hair look extremely healthy.

There are different types of keratin treatments, though, and this is where some of the chemical ideas come in. Some treatments have glycolic acid added in. While this can help to boost the health, blonde hair can start to look dull and faded. Whether you are getting keratin-added products over the counter or getting keratin treatments at a salon, you’ll need to make sure the treatments are suitable for your colour hair.

At home, treatments aren’t the best option for personalised treatments. They offer a one-size-fits-all approach, even though that isn’t actually the case. You’ll want to consider the keratin quality and check reviews of any product to find out what people with your hair colour and type say.

Can You Make Your Keratin Treatment Last?

The average woman will see their keratin treatment last for around six weeks. This is a good amount of time for the cost of the treatment. However, there are some women who notice they need treatments every few weeks. This is often because they haven’t taken steps to make sure they look after their hair post-treatment.

Start by limiting the amount of washing of your hair you do. This can limit your exercise, especially if you swim a lot. The washing process will take out some of the proteins added in. It will also strip dry hair of the natural oils, making it harder for the oils to reach the tips. Even deep conditioners don’t always help to add the nourishment back in the hair.

Those with dry and frizzy hair will be best leaving their hair washing to once a week. It really doesn’t need washing more often than this! You’ll make the keratin treatment last longer since you’re not trying to strip it out frequently.

When you do wash your hair, make sure you use a dry shampoo. Never ever wash your hair in the 48 hours after the treatment, since you won’t give the chance for the keratin to work. The dry shampoo helps to keep your hair clean without all the oils being stripped out. This is also great if you want to wash your hair more frequently than once a week. You’ll also want a dry conditioner!

You should keep your hair down for 48 hours after the treatment. Tying your hair up or pinning it back will put kinks in your hair. This is meant to straighten your hair, remember?

You’ll want to look into the chemicals and ingredients added to any type of shampoo; normal or dry! Sulphate formulas will counteract with the keratin and further dry out your hair. There are plenty of sulphate-free options and shampoos and conditions without any chemicals. Natural options are great for nourishing the hair before and after treatment.

Some shampoos will have keratin infused in them. These are great, as long as they don’t contain any sulphates. Surprisingly, manufacturers add both in making their products obsolete.

Your salon will be able to recommend keratin-friendly products and shampoos that are excellent for the post-treatment period. Some salons will even sell specific brands, knowing that they work perfectly for your needs. It’s also worth talking to your salon about any other products that work to keep your hair looking and feeling perfect for longer.

Will This Permanently De-Frizz Your Hair?

This is a common question, and I can understand why. If the Keratin helps to strengthen and support your hair, surely it will help to permanently de-frizz your hair in the long term. After all, the more keratin you add in, the more it will work, right?

Well, unfortunately, keratin doesn’t permanently keep your hair frizz free. This is a treatment that will wear off, and there are no long-term, lasting benefits. At least, there are no noticed long-term benefits. You’ll need to keep getting the treatments if you constantly want a permanently frizz-free look.

However, you can help to promote the longevity of the treatments. Some women have made their treatments last two months and even into a third month through the right post-treatment products.

If you do want permanently straight and frizz free hair without all the effort and money, you will need to consider other treatments. There are plenty of Japanese hair treatments that work extremely well for de-frizzing your hair permanently.

There are some keratin treatments that say they are permanent. It’s not the actual keratin that does the work here. There will be other added ingredients, including formaldehyde. When you break the strands of your frizzy and curly hair, they can be mended in a straight fashion. The formaldehyde and other treatments help to support this new method of mending.

Most keratin treatments will include some formaldehyde, even if the salon says that their products are formaldehyde free. If you want a treatment completely without this chemical, you will need to do your own research and talk to the salon about using a specific option (or use it at home). This can take the time to find, and you’ll need to consider any other adding chemicals and ingredients.

Keratin Treatments Can Make Frizz and Breakages Worse!

Remember that you don’t get permanently frizz-free hair? Well, the treatments can make the natural state of your hair worse! Yes, it can become far more brittle and tangled once the treatment has worn off.

This can often lead to women going back to the salon more frequently for treatments. They want the constantly frizz-free look! Well, you’re just continually making your hair worse. The treatments won’t last if they originally did, even with good post-treatment hair care.

What you really want to do is reduce the amount of treatments you put your hair through. This is especially the case if you go through other types of hair treatments and chemicals. Most salons will recommend that you only do three treatments a year. It could be worth limiting to just one or two a year. Just opt for them on your most special occasions to get the perfect look.

These treatments will include your at-home ones and will also include any keratin-added products that you have in your bathroom. You want to keep to completely natural and nourish treatments as often as you can.

The great news is that you can repair some of the damage you cause by using some other natural treatments. Opt for sea salt sprays, lemon juice in shampoos and coconut oil treatments to add nutrients and moisture back into your hair between your treatments.

This Is Definitely Not Suitable for All Hair Types

We’ve already looked at some of the hair types that this type of treatment isn’t suitable for. Remember that the point is to tame the frizz and strengthen the dry and broken hair. If you already have sleek and straight hair, you won’t need to add this type of treatment to your routine. Even if you have pixie cuts or other extreme hairdos, you won’t need to add the treatment in your trips to the salon.

Those who have hair that is tameable through other methods will want to think twice about this type of treatment. Remember that the keratin can cause some damage, so you want to keep a number of ingredients you add to your hair to a minimum. If you can take your hair with coconut oil and conditioning treatments, so you get beautiful and bouncy curls, then opt for that instead! You’ll definitely save money.

If you have blonde or bleached hair, the treatments may not be suitable. It will depend on the extra ingredients, as we’ve already mentioned.

Those with dry or itchy scalps and allergies will want to consider all the ingredients first. The keratin shouldn’t cause a problem, but other chemicals may dry out the scalp too much. Remember this problem could also be linked to your shampoo and the amount you wash your hair!

Will You Opt for a Keratin Treatment?

Now it’s completely up to you about caring for your hair. Keratin treatments are safe, and there is a natural element to them. The problem is the other ingredients and chemicals that can be added.

They help to tame the frizzy and dry hair, but you want to limit the amount of treatments you get through the year. Don’t forget to add moisture in through other natural means and protect your hair from damage in between treatments.

The post All You Need to Know About Keratin Hair Treatment appeared first on The Active Health.

Oily skin occurs because the body produces too many natural oils. They end up making the skin look and feel greasy. There’s a glossy shine over the skin and more chance of acne and blackheads developing. And there’s nothing worse than trying to wear makeup over oily skin. It runs and blocks the pores.

We’re left looking for ways to treat the skin. Or even just hide the fact that we have oily skin.

Well, the good news is that there are treatments. There are steps that you can take to take the natural oil production, get rid of excess when it appears, and leave your skin looking and feeling brighter. It’s time to get rid of the shine and risk of acne with this ultimate guide to oily skin treatments.

The best part of this is that there are no chemical products involved. Sure, chemical products can help, but they just end up causing the natural oil production to decrease to the point where we get the opposite problem! They don’t help to counter the reason for overproduction of natural oils to balance everything out.

Why Do You Get Oily Skin?

Before we look at treatments, let’s look at why the skin produces too many natural oils. We’re all different, and we do have a genetic effect. Those whose parents have oily skin will usually find that they have it too. But that doesn’t mean you’re at a complete loss or that you will necessary have an overproduction of the natural oils.

There are also environmental factors and hormonal factors to consider. During puberty, the menstrual cycle, and pregnancy, the hormone levels are sent haywire. This will lead to more oil production in many cases, which you can’t control.

And if you’re more stressed, you will find more oils are produced. This is because the stress hormone cortisol affects the oil production. The great news is while you can’t do anything about the oil production affect, you can control the amount of stress hormone that is released. We’ll cover that soon.

The diet can also affect the oil production. This doesn’t mean stop eating fatty or greasy foods. It’s not the type of food but the reaction that the food causes in your diet. If your body inflames and reacts poorly to the food or drink that you consume, then you will see an increase in the oil production. Following a healthy diet is recommended, and we’ll get onto that more soon, too.

As mentioned, there is also an environmental factor. Our bodies produce the oils to help protect the skin from environmental damage. But the environmental elements can also hinder the production or stimulate the production. This is especially the case if you live in hotter climates, where you need to sweat a lot more.

There are plenty of home remedies to help control the natural oils that are produced. Some of these will help with the hormonal balances, while others will help with the symptom of oily skin.

Start by Reducing Your Stress

Let’s focus on the cause of oily skin first. If a rise in stress hormones is your problem, then you need to reduce them. This can be easier said than done but it is entirely possible. It’s good to reduce stress for your overall health anyway.

First, you want to figure out why you’re stressed. It could be due to family, work, finances, or even school. Once you know the reason for the stress, you can start to act against it. When you have control over the situation, make some changes to take action to stop it. By doing something, you can stop the worry and focus on improving your lifestyle or your situation.

For example, if work stress is a problem, you can take steps to reduce your workload by delegating tasks or discussing the situation with your manager. It may also be possible to take a step back in any extra amounts that you do without the extra pay, such as areas that you’re not contracted to do but feel like you help.

When you can’t do anything to solve a situation, you need to find a way to deal with the stress. For example, you may not be able to do anything about your current financial situation, but you can stop worrying. Take steps to create a budget to make your life fit in your current financial needs. Focus on finding free activities to do and consider ways to improve your income or earn extra money on the site. While you’re not taking direct action, you’re doing something that can help to reduce the release of stress hormones.

Exercise is an excellent way to reduce your stress hormones. It forces the release of happy hormones, which will counteract the stress. The happy hormones also help to reduce the amount of natural oils being produced and released into the skin, so your skin is clearer and fresher.

A healthy diet is also important. When it comes to reducing stress, the healthy diet promotes happy hormones. Your body gets the nutrients it needs, so the brain is protected. When using any type of oily skin treatment, make sure you follow a healthy diet. This isn’t just good for the stress hormones but also helps to nourish the skin. You make sure you get all the right nutrients, including vitamin C, vitamin E, and even magnesium. They all help to cleanse the skin and promote good hormonal balances.

Use a Face Mask at the End of the Day

You want to find ways to help you relax, and a face mask at the end of the day is a great option. You’ll find some ‘you’ time and be able just to sit back and do nothing. It’s important to find 15-30 minutes for yourself daily because you need to unwind and relax after a long day.

When it comes to oily skin, the right products in a face mask will help to remove excess oil and promote less oil production. You can tighten up the pores, so the oils don’t seep through as much to cause that glisten.

Try these face masks to get you started:

Baking Soda with Lemon

Baking soda and lemon work extremely well to slow down the production of oils in the skin. Let’s start with the lemon, which is full of citric acid and vitamin C. Do limit the amount you use, as the acid can be irritating if you have sensitive skin. The acid does help to remove excess oil while disinfecting and cleansing the skin. It can also brighten up any dull patches. The vitamin C helps to promote healthy oil production while supporting the overall health of the skin.

As for the baking soda, that helps to cleanse the skin. It removes the oil and dirt, while also getting rid of dead skin cells from the body. The baking soda will unclog your pores to reduce the risk of acne later.

You really don’t need to use a lot, but this is one of the most affordable and easy to make facial masks. You likely already have all the ingredients. You can also add some brown sugar to create an exfoliating mask, so you deeply cleanse the skin gently.

Make a paste with the ingredients, adding some water to help, and apply to the skin for 15 minutes. Wash off with lukewarm water.

Turmeric Facial Masks

Why not add some turmeric to some water and create a facial mask that way? I know what you’re thinking! Turmeric is bright yellow and tends to stain. Well, it is full of oil reduction benefits when it comes to the skin and has been used in skin rejuvenation remedies for centuries.

Turmeric has antibacterial, antiseptic, and antioxidant benefits. It also holds anti-inflammatory properties to help reduce swelling in your skin, which can cause acne. The turmeric will also reduce skin problems, like eczema and psoriasis.

I wish it were just as simple as mixing turmeric and water, but there are a few other ingredients you will need. Mix in some yogurt and honey with your turmeric and leave the mask on your face for 20 minutes. You can opt for lemon juice as well if you want some of the benefits already mentioned above. Tea tree oil is another option to throw in.

The benefit of the extra ingredients is nourishment, soothing, and hydration. Honey treats acne breakouts by killing bacteria that causes them. The honey will also moisturize your skin. Doesn’t this defeat the purpose? Well, not quite. Just because your skin is oily doesn’t mean it is hydrated. And poorly hydrated skin can lead to excess oil production to counter the problems.

Oatmeal Face Masks

An extremely popular face mask is an oatmeal one. This is often used as a scrub rather than just a mask, helping to remove the dirt and grime collected throughout the day. However, it does nourish the pores and help to reduce the development of excess oil. Oatmeal also helps to heal the skin through antioxidants and reduce inflammation, which causes other problems.

You just need two teaspoons of grounded oatmeal with some honey. Lemon juice and tea tree oil can also be added if you want, but you don’t need to.

This is one of the quickest facial masks you’ll find. It only needs to be left on the skin for a couple of minutes. You’ll want to apply in circular motions to massage into the skin. This helps to get all the properties into the pores and will remove the dirt. It also helps to promote extra blood flow to the skin, improving the look and feel.

Use the Right Cleansers

As well as facial masks, you need to cleanse your face thoroughly. Yes, you can over-cleanse, so you only need to do this two or three times a day.

Start with a tea tree oil cleaner. This will help to reduce pimples and acne while removing the oils. Wait, oil removes oil? Yes! Just because your skin is producing oil doesn’t mean it doesn’t need some. The tea tree oil helps to slow down the production of natural oil because it helps with the balancing of hormones.

Tea tree oil is also antibacterial, so it helps to heal lesions and wounds. If you must scar from acne, you should use the essential oil directly onto your skin. There are now many acne treatments that will add it in because it is so effective.

You can mix the oil with some water or jojoba oil and apply to a cotton ball. Use wipes across your skin to gently cleanse it.

Aloe vera is another popular option for treating oily skin. This is full of anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties, so it will get right into the pores and reduce the oil production. It clears up the excess oil quickly, so you’re left with fresh skin.

Some people are allergic to aloe vera, so it’s worth testing the serum on the part of your skin first. This is usually the case for those who are allergic to onion and garlic, as they are from similar families.

When it comes to oily skin treatments, studies have shown that aloe vera helps to maintain the hydration of the skin. The body doesn’t have the need to produce excess oil to keep the skin hydrated. You just need to apply it through massaging it onto your skin and allow it to soak in completely. There’s no need to wash it off.

Don’t Forget a Salt Scrub for Your Face

Salt scrubs are natural creations that will completely cleanse your skin. Sea salt is the best option because there are far more nutrients, especially minerals.

But doesn’t sea salt dry out the skin? This can be a problem. If you have eczema or other skin conditions, you’ll want to limit the amount of scrubs you use. However, when it comes to oily skin, drying it out can sometimes help with the balancing of hormones. You can remove the excess oil and then use a hydrating mask or cleanser to help promote balanced hydration.

Salt detoxifies the skin and will kill bacteria building up in it. You can mix it with some lemon juice to help kill off more bacteria and add extra vitamin C to the skin. Make sure you apply this to damp skin as it is very abrasive.

Cleanse and Treat Your Oily Skin

By balancing out the hormones, you can reduce the risks of developing an oily skin. While you do that, you can use various skin cleansers and facial masks to reduce a number of oils that are produced.

Try to avoid makeup where possible while cleaning out the skin. They have chemicals that can upset the balance of the hormones and just lead you right back to the beginning.

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