Sunday, April 29, 2007

Eye Wash. I see so many women cleansing their eyelids and eye area with their facial cleanser. Often times, the cleanser is not formulated for the delicate eye area. It may even lead to eye irritation. Also, chances are if you're applying cleanser there you will remove the cleanser with a damp wash cloth and that leads to more pulling and stretching of the already thin skin in the eye area.
Use eye makeup remover on a cotton ball or pre-moistened cloth instead.

Wednesday, April 18, 2007


Makeover for My Tree. I added this face to my tree to give it some personality. It blends in pretty nicely and adds a whimsical touch to my front yard.

Here are the supplies needed to give your trees a makeover.


Saturday, April 07, 2007

The Particulars of a Pampering Pedicure

It's sandal season! Time to get those feet ready for the warmer weather ahead. If you plan on making a trip to a salon for a pedicure, here are some things you should know.
An infection caused by Mycobacterium smegmatis, a rapidly replicating bacterium that responds poorly to medication, is a possibility when you go to get a pedicure. It starts out as a red, swollen toe or looking almost like a bug bite and then gets swollen and turns blue or purple. You're looking at a long course of antibiotics and possibly even surgery to correct the scarring that can occur. One of the most serious mycobacterium infections called fortitum may cause boils on the legs.
While severe infections from a manicure or pedicure are rare, you wouldn't even want to risk getting a minor infection from having a pedicure done. Athlete's foot, toenail fungus and even warts are other potential pedicure dangers, not to mention allergic reactions, loss of a nail, and the spread of staph infections or viruses and, in extreme cases, HIV and hepatitis. A fungus can take hold of your toenail, multiply and cause the nail to grow up to 1/2 inch thick. It's very ugly, it can cause a lot of foot problems. If you're a diabetic, it may lead to infections and even toe amputations.
Some nail technicians recommend finding a salon that does not use whirlpool tubs or any other foot bath that involves plumbing, because the bacteria can sit in the pipes and there's no good way to clean them efficiently and effectively. Chairs specially designed for pedicures have foot baths attached with individual filtering systems. The filters can become clogged with hair, skin and toenails, making an ideal breeding ground for bacteria. The swirling waters then spread the bacteria.
Here are helpful tips for finding a reputable salon to perform a pedicure on you.
Make sure the establishment has a license. It should be prominently displayed in the front reception area. Your cosmetologist should also have a license posted at his or her station.
Leave if the salon appears even the slightest bit dirty. Take a peek at the towels and the instruments and look to see if workers are washing their hands between treatments. Sniff the air, and if you sense a strong odor, that's a bad sign.
Ask questions. How does the salon disinfect its instruments? The cosmetic industry is not required to use sophisticated and expensive machines to ensure a medical level of sterilization. Are disposable items that cannot be sanitized (like emery boards, nail buffers, toe separators, orange sticks, etc.) thrown away immediately after their use?
Cutiekit, Your Professional Manicure Pedicare Tool Kit
Bring your own manicure and pedicure equipment, towels (and disposable foot tub liner, if possible) with you to ensure the supplies will not be used on anyone else. Many people have a set of their own dental tools when they go to the dentist, so having your very own pedicure kit only makes sense. You can find two pedicure kits that I recommend at my website.

Ensure that the person performing the pedicure knows your cuticles are not to be clipped or cut. They are important in that they keep bacteria from getting under the nail bed, and if there's a chance you could be cut and bleed, it could lead to serious infections. In addition, razors, scrapers or graters for calluses must never be used.
Try to relax and enjoy. Just remember to keep on your toes and tread carefully when going for a pedicure.

Katrina Price, also known as the Skin Care Teacher is a ten-year veteran of the skin care and beauty industry. Valuable information can be found at her website http://www.skincareteacher.com and her blog, updated almost daily at http://skincareteacher.blogspot.com

Friday, April 06, 2007

One Mold You Don't Want to Fit. Mold is not good for your health. If you live in NJ, DE or PA, you can give Mold Managers in NJ a call to help eradicate any mold issues you have in your home. Mold can lead to skin rashes along with numerous other health problems. Just run an internet search for "mold dangers" and you'll see what I mean.

Monday, April 02, 2007

The Eyelashes Have It. If they don't, call eyelash transplant artist Dr. Alan Bauman of Boca Raton, FL. He can help you find someone in your area who can perform eyelash transplants. It's a great idea if the eyelashes have been lost to cancer or burns. You may suffer mild infection and bruising, and your eyelashes will fall out and need to be re-transplanted but other than that, and the $3,000 per eye price tag, you'll have a great set of long, luxurious eyelashes.

What happens is that hair follicles get harvested from your scalp, and sown in one by one to your eyelid. They will grow like the hair on your head, so they need to be trimmed, curled and maybe even dyed.

This surgery has become very popular recently. Dr. Baumann said he's seen a 300% increase in the number of eyelash transplant operations being performed, and he's busy training doctors all over the country to perform the surgery.