Staying Sweat-Free

I think it goes without saying that a top priority beauty essential is to stay sweat-free. If you have viewed my other blogs and previous posts on this blog, you already know that I'm transitioning towards a healthier lifestyle and enjoy experimenting with new things. With that said, the correlation between commercial deodorants and cancer risks are frightening. So, I can't in good conscious recommend using traditional deodorants. There are some great alternatives available, which, admittedly, make application and ease of use a little more challenging. Nonetheless, I think it's well worth the effort to make healthier changes. You'd be surprised by how many deodorizing ingredients you probably already have in your cabinets.

Baking Soda: It works by neutralizing the odor of sweat. It’s strong enough to use alone. Apply a coat light with a powder puff or a damp washcloth.

Basic Deodorant Powder Recipe: ½ cup baking soda, ½ cup cornstarch, and a few drops of essential oils of choice. Place ingredients in a glass jar and blend. Apply a light coat with a damp washcloth.

Basic Liquid Deodorant Recipe: ¼ cup each of witch hazel extract, aloe vera gel, and mineral water, 1 teaspoon vegetable glycerin, a few drops of antibacterial essential oils such as lavender or tea tree. Fill the concoction in a spray bottle and shake well. This makes a ¾ cup of liquid deodorant with an indefinite shelf life.

Apple Cider Vinegar or White Distilled Vinegar: You can simply fill a spray bottle with one of these vinegars and stay surprisingly fresh. The offensive smell dissipates rather quickly, but apple cider vinegar has a much gentler scent to begin with.

The Essential Acts to Keep Dark Circles at a Minimum

Dark circles can be caused by inflammation related to nasal congestion, as it widens surrounding veins. A poor diet and stress can also contribute to weakened blood vessels, which may break and create a mild bruised look. Fatigue can strain your eyelid muscles, enlarge blood vessels, and produce pallid complexion, amplifying the appearance of dark circles. Foods that are rich in vitamin K fortifies blood vessel walls and will aid in reducing dark circles. Dehydration can also lead to dark circles and puffy eyes, as your body desperately tries to preserve the very limited supply of water it holds by retaining your salt content. By consuming water more frequently and reducing your intake of salt, you’ll be surprised by the results. Lack of sleep can also trigger dark circles as your body isn’t circulating blood as effectively when you’re tired. So get your zzzzzs. In some cases, dark circles are genetic.

Uncovering the Truth About Oil-Free Products So You, As a Consumer, Can Make Informed Decisions About Your Purchases

There are many products available on the market that advertise oil-free, but be careful with these assertions. Let me give you a little perspective. A product that advertises oil-free simply means that it supposedly contains no oil and therefore won’t clog your pores, but this notion is inaccurate and too simplistic. There are numerous ingredients that cause clogged pores that don’t sound like oils. In fact, there are many cosmetics that aren’t in liquid form that contain wax-like thickening agents that are responsible for clogged pores. Even a moisturizer formulated for someone with dry skin can prompt oil production and breakouts for oily skin types. Whenever a product resembles a cream or lotion-y consistency, rather than a fluid one, it’s likely to contain ingredients that’ll aggravate your pores.

Furthermore, many products that advertise to be oil-free are often labeled non-comedogenic or non-acnegenic. This gives the illusion of clog-free results, which is untrue at times. If it is clog-free, it isn’t due to the labels because there is no approved or regulated standard for non-comedogenic or non-acnegenic. In fact, all you really need to be labeled as such is get the approval of any dermatologist. That could be a friend or someone who has a financial interest in promoting the product. There’s no test or rigorous review the product must go under.

Almost every ingredient used in skincare products other than water can have a negative effect. It really depends on your unique skin and how it reacts to the ingredients. There are other factors such as how it’s formulated and its concentration levels of the ingredient. Ingredients are listed in order of concentration. So if a potentially clogging ingredient is listed toward the end of the list, it’s probably not going to aggravate your pores, as it’s in its lowest concentrations. On the other hand, it could be problematic if it was the second, third, or fourth ingredient on the list. But it really depends on your skin’s reaction. Just because an ingredient could cause breakouts doesn’t mean it will. It also depends on how the product is applied, what it’s used for, and for how long it’s exposed to your skin. For example, a cleanser applied on your skin for a brief period versus a moisturizer that’s left on your skin for most of the day will have varied exposure risks and reactions. Many lists that provide ingredients that are harmful don’t account for these essential details.

After reading all of this, I imagine this discouraging information is offering nothing but bleakness. This message isn’t meant to unmotivated anyone, in spite of how unhelpful this information seems. Unfortunately, with more information often comes more questions than answers such is the case with this. It certainly wasn’t my intent to make others feel helpless and more confused, but I think it’s important to be informed. And sometimes being informed means being confused. But at least now we aren’t diluted.

My suggestion is to ask for samples before committing to any product line, preferably two weeks worth of samples so that your skin has enough to react to the product. Some sales representatives may feel uneasy giving you a large amount of samples, so what you can do is go to more than one department store and ask for the same sample until you accumulate an adequate amount. It’s a little ghetto, but that’s what samples are for. And when you consider how much they expect consumers to pay, I believe we have a right to make an informed decision before spending so much money. And if that means taking advantage of samples, that’s what I’ll do. Always ask before purchasing small samples. You never know generous someone behind the counter might be. When you find success with some of them, familiarize yourself with the ingredients, and look for those ingredients in the future. But let me reiterate that what it’s used for, how long it’s on your face, and its concentration levels determine how the ingredient will react. If a moisturizer with a certain ingredient works wonderfully for you, it’s a good bet that a cleanser with that ingredient won’t irritate your skin unless it interacts negatively with another ingredient. Another practice I incorporate is to consider the consistency. Generally speaking, the thicker the product, the more likely it is to cause breakouts. So for oily prone skin, I recommender gel or serum products. They’re generally pumped with water, not heavy emollients.

A Good Set of Eyebrows

It's amazing how such a simple change as shaping and arching your eyebrows can create such a transformation and yet appear so subtle and natural, if done correctly. And the correct way is to shape and arch your eyebrows according to your facial features, not someone else's. You may have a preference for a certain style, but take into consideration, realistically, how flattering or unflattering it would look on you. The goal isn't to pretend to be someone else. It's to draw out who you are and what you've been given and make the most of it. The right look will appear tamed, natural, clean, and flattering. A few people are blessed with natural arches, in which case arching is unnecessary. A simple shaping and regular maintenance plucking will keep you looking fresh and pulled together. The goal is to clean it up, not make it obvious that any change took place.

For your first time, it's best to go to an expert. An experienced professional can determine which shape is most flattering for you (although I recommend evaluating a shape for yourself beforehand) and turn your blank canvas into a completed and yet well-defined outline for you to follow in the future. I highly recommend getting a referral from someone whose eyebrows you admire. He or she's eyebrow shape doesn't have to match your facial features, but as long as it's well done and flattering on the person, it shows signs of suitability, perceptiveness, and skill. Maintaining great eyebrows aren't a costly investment, but it is best to go to a professional and not just any salon. Get the professional's name, rather than just the name of the salon, as people find new jobs. And if you're a new customer, you're more likely to be placed with a rookie rather than a longstanding customer. If you also let the waxist know that you've been referred, you're more likely to be treated with greater care.

I feel that, at this moment, I should take the time to explain what to expect. Being aware of what's going on makes your first time less daunting, but I have another motivating factor. I took my friend to the salon I go to, and she was mortified by the procedure because her salon operated differently. It's not that my salon was incompetent, as she persistently argued. It's quite the opposite. Each salon has a different method, and obliviously I can't anticipate each possible experience. My goal is to help recognize the signs of a superior salon and distinguish between the fakers and the real deal. So, I will focus on those aspects.

There are signs here and there. The price range is an initial indicator. A standard $8 wax job suggests the most basic kind, hardly worth your investment. Something in the $15 range suggests a superior treatment and type of wax. A proper eyebrow wax isn't just a wax job. It also provides eyebrow shaping. This technique involves waxing the BOTTOM part of your eyebrows, as well as on TOP and more times than not, in between. This is very important. And, hopefully, if you visit a perfectionist, your waxist will also use tweezers for stray hairs that wax can't remove and scissors to give a clean look because the reality is, no matter how superior the wax, it can't do everything. A cheap $8 job suggests that the waxist won't do all of this and will probably stick to waxing just the bottom of your eyebrows. A $15 treatment, on the other hand, will probably cover a thorough waxing. You won't know until you've had the treatment unless you inquire beforehand or get a referral, but it does provide some insight into the possibilities.

An $8 wax treatment doesn't suggest that the waxist is getting paid generously, so his or her skill level probably isn't too high, either. In addition to that, $8 for each wax job won't leave much money for a superior wax type. Such an inexpensive price range suggests that sugar wax, one of the cheapest wax type, is being used. So, therefore, hair can't effectively or efficiently be removed. That means more pain, more irritation, and mediocre results. In fact, to give you some perspective, sugar wax is often used at beauty schools because it's inexpensive and affordable. Even at beauty schools, they're often trained to wax your bottom, top, and inner area of your eyebrows. So, I'm always astounded by salons that offer an incomplete service. Beauty schools charge $2 on average and offer greater detail. I expect more from a professional than what a learning student can offer.

The best type of wax is what's often used for bikini and Brazilians. It's the kind that dries quickly and proficiently that it can be removed without the use of Muslim strips. It's less painful and less harmful on the skin, which is why it's used to remove hair in the most sensitive parts of your body. It only makes sense to use the best kind on any part of your body. It's just not universally used for eyebrows, as this type of wax costs more and requires advanced skill and technique. It's definitely worth the investigation, though. I assure you.

For starters, because this type of wax is superior, you use less of it, which is why there's less irritation. The wax also removes more hair effectively by removing it deeper from your hair follicles than sugar wax can. This, in theory, sounds good and it often is, but as with many other things, there are exceptions. Because it goes deeper into your skin, if you have any clogged pores, it'll be removed along with your hair. Such was the case with my friend when hair was removed between her eyebrows. I don't think she had a problem with where they removed hair or the shape she was given but the side effects that followed. She had a clogged pore when removed left an undesirable red mark smack dab in the middle of her eyebrows. That was unfortunate, but it doesn't mean that the wax was inferior or that the waxist is incompetent. It's quite the opposite. An inferior wax type isn't strong enough. And poor quality wax is not the way to go.

I just thought I'd share her experience, so other people are aware of the possibilities. Her results aren't the cause of incompetence or bad wax. After something like that, I can see why she never returned, but to run back and continue to pay for a service she's not fully receiving isn't the answer, either. She thought that my waxist waxed her eyebrows incorrectly, which is untrue. That's how you learn to arch, shape, and wax eyebrows in beauty schools. After informing her of that, she, thenn argued that it was still a bad salon because she wasn't notified for what was to come. Can you imagine working at a salon and explaining step by step what's going to happen next to each and every entering customer? It's unrealistic and time consuming. How could that have made her experience better? I do believe that it's a great idea to explain step by step what's going to happen for first timers, but she wasn't a first-timer. So, the explanation would've been unsuccessful. For one thing, if she said she's had eyebrow waxes before, they probably wouldn't have bored her with the details. Most customers would become annoyed at that point, and waxists' live off of tips. Besides, she was there to get her eyebrows cleaned up, shaped, and waxed. If you have hair between your eyebrows, most people including herself probably wouldn't decline the offer to remove it, in which case her results would've been the same. My suggestion? Go get your eyebrows done when your skin's in good condition or else specify where not to wax beforehand. It's not a waxist's job to anticipate and detect whiteheads and do only half of their job duties as a result of it. It was too bad for my friend that she didn't know beforehand. It's one of those things you learn after the fact. I hope your experience is better.

Tip: If you've had an experience similar to my friend's and/or insist on going to a salon that charges less (because who can blame you for wanting to save money?), I highly suggest getting your eyebrows done at beauty schools. You'd be surprised by the results, and you'd be paying a measly $2. I'm not saying that inexpensive charges guarantees inferior results. I'm simply arguing that it's a high statistical probability. If you're satisfied with the results, why pay more than you have to? Receptionists at beauty schools are more than open to suggest their best students. You can always ask around, too.

Self-Confidence

Beauty and ugliness is everywhere. Beauty will never be truly appreciated because it's a superficial status that can easily fade. And yet with plastic surgery, you can cheat your way to be beautiful. And yet unattractiveness isn't going scarce. While some people are tormented about not being attractive enough, most people will give you a second look if you aren't a 10. So, whether you're hot or not, confidence is what's going to get you remembered especially since so few women possess it. Smile, be happy, and be proud of who you are. If you can't do it, that's okay. It takes time to become confident. I sure as hell am not. I'm just a hypocrite. In the meantime, fake it until you get there. Be conscious of your positive qualities, do things that make you feel good, and surround yourself by people who support you. A good environment, a positive outlook, and a smile goes a long way. (By the way, I know I sound cheesy, but it doesn't make me wrong.)

Use Products Targeted for Your Race

One of the best beauty advice I can ever give you is to use products targeted for your own race. Companies pour millions of dollars annually trying to understand skin types better to increase profits. This is probably why many cosmetic and skincare companies focus on one race. Targeting something specific increases success rates, rather than a general target that their funding can't adequately cover. Department store products are more likely to target races than drugstore brands, but that isn't to say that you should steer clear of drugstore brands. It isn't the price tag that determines quality, it's the ingredients. And certain ingredients are formulated to accommodate certain races better than others. For example, whites generally age quicker than Asians and blacks. This is because Asians and blacks have a tendency to have oilier skin, and oilier skin adds lubrication that prolongs elasticity. So, it serves beneficial for white people to use products that don't zap natural oils, and this includes people with oily skin. There are different types of oily skin. Asians and blacks with oily skin is different from whites with oily skin. And this is precisely why using products intended for your race is ideal. Finding products that most closely match YOUR skin type is better than something that deals with your skin type. If a white person used a product intended for Asian people, for example, he or she can unknowingly zap oil that would be useful to him or her in the future had s/he have used a more appropriate product line. Skin color is another example. Asians tend to have a yellow undertone, so using an Asian product line is ideal if you're Asian and will more than likely result in a closer match. Asians with pale skin is slightly different from whites or Latinas with pale skin. Whites and Asians are more likely to find products targeted for their race than blacks and Latinas. Sadly, product lines dedicated to blacks is very limited, but at least there are options available. The problem is that if it doesn't work for some blacks, there isn't much alternative for them. There really aren't products available specifically for Latinas because they're so mixed that it's hard to formulate a product that'll work for them all. Then again, because they're so mixed, Latinas can look white, Asian, or black, which means that just as long as their skin type matches, theoretically, they can use products intended for that race with success because of the genetic similarity. Whatever your circumstance is, understand it, embrace it, and act accordingly. There's nothing wrong with who you are, and no one should make you ashamed of it. It's just skin. On the grand scale, it's an unimportant factor, but it still defines who we are, so we shouldn't forget it, either.

What are beauty essentials?

To understand what beauty essentials are, we must first define what beauty is. As frivolous as beauty may seem on the surface, it's actually a rather controversial and deep-rotted subject. It's far from frivolous. It's responsible for the rise in eating disorders, the "Heroin Sheek" phase, bankruptcy, society's corruptive influences on many individuals, to the rarely acknowledged "feel good feeling" it has on many people. Prioritized improperly, beauty becomes an infectious disease that contaminates other areas of your life. But when beauty is applied wisely, it's transformative. Beauty brings the positive inner you out. It's your self-confidence, your smile, your happiness, your joy, your inner beauty just shining through. It's little things you do to make yourself feel special and good about yourself. It's taking time out of your life to remind yourself that you're worth pampering. With regular special treatments, you start to realize how much you deserve this because you're worth it. Believing that changes you for the better. That's what beauty is to me. And essentials are everything that goes with that. I don't consider beauty essentials to be obnoxiously overpriced, financially disruptive purchases and compulsive habits that causes more burden than relief. That's beauty obsession and damage. That's not what I'm about. I'm about incorporating pamper treatments that make me feel good about myself, things I can afford and deserve emotionally and financially.