Posts Tagged ‘rsquo’

In an ideal world, every woman and man would have a customized skin care routine. However, most people don’t have the time, resources or motivation to develop a skin care regimen that is specific to their individual skin care needs. Fortunately, there are plenty of product testers (like myself), who are more than happy to try out hundreds of skin care products in order to discover which brands deliver on their promise of clearer, healthier, younger looking skin.

Although my experience as a product tester allows me to try out high-end skin care products free of charge, I can’t bring myself to recommend expensive products unless they provide really amazing results. Therefore, with the exception of a few “splurge” items, the products on the following list are generally affordable and can be found at your local discount retailer or drug store.

As I mentioned earlier, the best skin care routine is one that is customized to your individual skin care needs, which means that not all of the products mentioned below are the right fit for every skin type. These products are recommended for combination skin (because that is my skin type), but because combination skin is a mixture of oily, dry and/or sensitive areas, some of the following products could be beneficial for these skin types as well.

Before you spend your hard earned cash on expensive skin care products, read the following list of affordable products that offer some pretty amazing results.

* Best cleanser: Purpose Gentle Cleansing Wash

Recommended to me by my dermatologist, Purpose Gentle Cleansing Wash is the best cleanser that I have found for my combination skin. It’s hypoallergenic and soap-free so it doesn’t clog pores or dry out your skin. Purpose also lathers and cleanses better than Cetaphil, another cleanser brand commonly recommended by leading dermatologists. Purpose Gentle Cleansing Wash also received Allure magazine’s Editor’s Choice Award in 2008.

Average retail price in 2009 for a pump bottle (6 fl. oz.): $6.29

* Best toner or astringent: Sea Breeze Fresh-Clean Astringent for Sensitive Skin

I have tried tons of expensive toners and astringents over the years and always find myself going back to Sea Breeze. I have found that the regular Sea Breeze formula can be too harsh for the areas of my skin that dry out easily, but the sensitive skin formula is just right for my combination skin. Simply apply a squirt to a cotton pad and smooth over a freshly cleansed

Unwanted hair is a common problem in many men and women. That’s why you can see beauty salons where many of them flock in every week to get rid of them. Shaving, waxing, tweezing and threading is all temporary that involve pain specially waxing. Modern technology has made it possible for the people to remove their unwanted hair vanish in one go. This treatment is known a laser treatment.

Laser is an intense beam of light, which enters the skin deep down to the follicle and the intense heat of the laser damages the follicle which inhibits future hair growth. Laser hair removal is not permanent but it has long term effects and for long lasting results there is more than one treatment sessions as well.

Laser treatment better works on the light skin with coarse hair not fine. Laser hair removal can be mildly uncomfortable because every follicle is surrounded by nerve ending, that’s why when the follicles are damaged they can be a bit painful. To overcome this, doctors apply anesthetic cream for 30 to 40 minutes before the procedure that provides adequate relief from the discomfort that occurs during the procedure.

Now the laser hair treatment is not just restricted to women, due to encroachment in technology it is possible to achieve the same smoother skin in men but in some cases men don’t want all the hairs to be removed the demand the thinning of the coarse hair in some areas of their body. Until now only this treatment can accomplish the thinning of here as desired not the complete removal. An average man needs four or five sessions for this procedure and a touch up after every one year.

Although laser hair removal is cost effective as it is now common, it slows the growth of hair but does not carries a permanent solution. It takes many sessions to provide a long period of hair free period and every year whether its men or women they need some touch ups. Fortunately the complications associated with the hair removal are rare but still it has some. Like the color of your skin fades by laser treatment on every year basis, infections can occur is the skin is injured, skins having cold sores can even develop infections after the treatment. Scarring may occur if the skin is sensitive.

All these issues can be settled by the guidance of a proper doctor who can give you better solutions.

Nails represent an important part in the appearance of a person and lot of attention has been put on making it more attractive as much as possible. Many cosmetic products are available in the market which is designed to make the nails appear better but probably not to make them healthier. Thus, knowing what’s best for the nails health and using cosmetics appropriately, would give the best results in having a good looking nails.

There are several factors which can damage or hinder the proper growth of a nail and that would make the nails unhealthy. These can be,

* Poor nutrition

* Infections

* Damage or injury to the nails

* Un-conducive environments such as wet and humid conditions

* Harmful practices such as nail biting and smoking…etc.

If these factors can be avoided, many of the problems associated with nails will be relieved and following measures will give a better idea in what exactly to be done to relieve these factors from taking effect.

* Keep the nails cut short and straight

By keeping the nails short, there would be less possibility of injuries and when it’s cut across and straight, the possibility of ingrown nails would be lesser. Thus, the measure will help to allow growing of the nail in a uniformed direction and to avoid infections following injury.

* Avoid the nails from getting wet all the time

In certain instances, a person might be involved in industries needing constant contact with water and thus making the nails socked and wet all the time. This could even happen at home as well. When someone wears shoes and socks for a long time, especially in warm and humid conditions, the same thing could happen. Therefore, preventing such long term exposure to wet and humid conditions are vital to keep your nails healthy and frequent drying would be beneficial to avoid fungal infections from settling on the nails.

* Prevent exposure to chemicals and detergents

At times of household cleaning and work related to handling chemicals, make use of a pair of gloves in order to prevent direct contact and thus the damage to nail and the nail bed.

* Take a nutritional diet

Diets rich in vitamins and other nutrients, including proteins, would have to be taken in balanced way to maintain healthy nails. At times, certain deficiencies can give rise to nail changes which can discolor or even damage the nails in the long run.

It is been accepted that consuming less sugar, fats and alcohol will promote better nutrition for the nails.

* Keep the nails moisturized

A person should practice applying moisturizer to both finger nails and the toe nails in order to prevent excessive drying of these structures.

* Do not bite your nails

Frequent biting will damage the nails as well as make them grow abnormally. Therefore, avoiding such practice is empirical for healthy nails and applying bitter tasting nail polish would tackle the problem to a certain extent.

* Don’t pick on the cuticles

Trying to remove or picking on the cuticles can damage the nail bed and thus gives rise to abnormal growths, infection and other complications. Therefore, such practice should be avoided.

* Lookout for problems

Always check your nails consciously to identify any changes and initiate treatment early.

* Avoid smoking

Due to its effect by making the nails stain, avoidance of such practice would help in maintaining the nails healthy.

The desire for a fuzz free body has recently sparked a growing interest in hair removal services.  Women have shave their legs and under their arms for generations and waxing, sugaring, and other methods of hair removal have been around a while too and these methods are now used on more body parts than ever and by men as well as women. It’s no surprise that technology has found a way to step into this growing part of the beauty industry as well by introducing us to the concept of laser hair removal.

The cheapest way to remove unwanted hair is probably still a razor.  It has the advantage of requiring no power, can be done at home, and rarely requires assistance unless the hair is in a hard to reach place such as the back.  A disposable razor can be bought for less than a quarter a piece so using a new one every day for a year could keep the body hair free for under a $100.  The down side is the twenty minutes it takes to shave ‘everyday’.

Waxing and other professional hair removal services such as sugaring and threading are not required as frequently.  The cost of waxing is dependent on the size and complexity of the area to be waxed and on the provider of the waxing service. A small area such as the chin or upper lip can cost fewer than $20 while a leg or back wax might easily be priced at $150.  These methods are repeated at 2 to 4 week intervals depending on the growth rate of the hair in the waxed area.  At a mid-range price of $60 and a schedule of once every three weeks, that adds up to over $1,000 a year to stay smooth.  The down side is that the hair has to grow back out to a shaggy fuzz between each service.

Laser hair removal, like waxing, is often priced based on the size of the area being treated and the provider of the service. A single treatment on the lower legs (ankle to knee) can cost anywhere from $80 to $300 dollars depending on the provider. It takes 5 to 15 treatments over an extended period of time to see the results of laser treatments. The length of time between treatments is based on the growth cycles of the hair being removed so treatments are performed about once a month. Assuming mid-range price of $150 a treatment and 10 treatments that would mean it would take 10 months and $1,500 to have fuzz free lower legs. 

This makes laser treatments seem the more costly approach to hair removal. But looking at the costs over a three year time frame changes the picture. At one year out the cost of using a razor everyday would be cost $100 and take 121 hours, waxing would cost $1,000 and take 17 hours, and laser treatments would cost $1,500 and take 10 hours.  Move the calendar out three years and shaving cost $300 and uses up 363 hours, waxing costs $3,000 and uses up 52 hours, while laser treatments have still only cost $1,500 and taken up 10 hours.

Anyone considering laser hair removal should consider their hair removal goals and find out from their provider how effective the treatments are likely to be for them. Dark hair and light skin is the best combination for hair removal. Blonde and grey hair is mostly unresponsive to laser removal treatments. Dark skin usually calls for extra treatment sessions. 

The only person that can decide if laser hair removal is worth the price is the person getting the treatments. Someone that is a good candidate for the service will save time and money in the long term. Someone that is a bad candidate will be throwing both away.

Pet nail grinders have increased in popularity – but, if used improperly, they can actually cause more harm than good.  If you’ve recently purchased a nail grinder for grooming your pet’s nails, you might want to check these important tips make sure you can use it safely.

• Create a Calm, Quiet Environment to Use Your New Grinder

Most pets are sensitive to strange noises and will need time to get used to the sound of the nail grinder.  Before actually sitting down to grind your pet’s nails, you may want to have a few sessions of just turning on the grinder while holding your pet in your lap or nearby.

Talk to your animal and pet them often to reassure him or her that the grinder will not harm them.           

This also applies to when you actually begin grinding their nails.  Find a quiet and comfortable place to grind their nails.  Talk to your animal and take little breaks to pet them and reassure them that they are not in danger.

• Be Careful to Grind in Short Sessions to Avoid Harming Your Pet

Some people don’t realize that the friction from nail grinders can cause an excessive amount of heat when held in the same place for a prolonged amount of time.  This can actually burn your pet and cause much pain.

To avoid burning the nail, don’t try to grind each nail in one prolonged session.  If you apply short grinding sessions to each nail – moving from one to the other and repeating until done, you will avoid harming your pet.

If you’re not sure how long is too long to apply the grinder to the nail, touch your pet’s nail between grinding sessions to feel if the nail is heating up.  Decrease grinding time on each nail until you no longer feel heat.

• Work Slowly and Avoid the Quick of the Nail

Just as when you clip your pet’s nail, you must avoid going too deep or you will hit the quick of the nail.  This can cause pain, bleeding and could cause infection if not properly treated.  Work slowly with the grinder and remove small amounts of nail to avoid hitting the quick.

• Schedule Short Bi-Weekly Sessions to Keep Your Pet’s Nails Trim

The best way to keep your sessions short and your pet’s nails trim is to schedule bi-weekly sittings with your animal.  This will let them become accustomed to being groomed with the nail grinder and keep their nails neat and trim.

Keeping your pet’s nails groomed with a nail grinder is a great alternative to clipping.  Taking care to use your grinder safely will keep you and your pet happy for years to come.