Happy Holidays!

Here's wishing everyone a very joyous Holiday season! May you receive many great skincare products and cosmetics as gifts. Makeup is great for gift-giving, too.

Cooking Oil is NOT for your Face

They're called medical professionals for a reason, folks. Do not attempt self-surgery. Just take a look at what happened to this Korean woman.

Whoops, that link is now dead. Try this one:

Clear Up Skincare Program

What a great program! It helps to raise the self-esteem of adolescents and solve their acne issues at the same time. The teen years are tough enough, and then throwing acne into the mix just makes it worse. Read about Clear Up Skincare and give them a round of applause. They also accept donations, as it is a not-for-profit program.

Master Cleanse, Day 16

Today I did some research on the tiny blisters on my hands. I found out they are called Dyshidrosis. Sometimes I get these, but there are usually only a few of them. This time I have a lot of them and as usual, they itch like crazy.
I decided that today would be the last day on the cleanse, and I will see if going off the cleanse will help with the blister issues. I did the minimum ten days on the cleanse, at least. Heck, I even went longer than 14 days, which is what I believe Beyonce did.

Master Cleanse, Day 15

I was super busy today yet I still managed to drink six glasses of the lemonade mixture. The day just flew by. I worked out in the evening and then I fell asleep before I drank the tea, so in the middle of the night when I woke up, I fixed the tea and drank it.

Master Cleanse, Day 14

Days 12 and 13 were uneventful, so no news to post.

I thought it was a riot on tonight's episode of "The Office" how one of the employees was on the Beyonce Lemonade Diet/Stanley Burroughs Master Cleanser program! And one of the other employees looked over at her and told her she was shaking, then later in the episode she passed out and hit her head. Wow. That's Hollywood for ya!

I have not had any shaking, diziness, headaches or any other adverse symptoms. I feel really good and I think I might even go 21 days now that I have reached the 14-day mark. The cool, sweet lemonade is a treat. I hardly even notice the cayenne pepper anymore. The maple syrup provides the nutrients I need and the salt water flush cleans all the gunk out of my colon that has been sitting there for so long. I also enjoy drinking the herbal laxative tea before bed, it helps me sleep better.

Master Cleanse, Day 11

I feel tired today because I had a big weekend and stayed up late. Other than that, I feel good.

Master Cleanse, Day 10

11 pounds down. I've decided I'll go 14 days on the Cleanse. I feel wonderful and I'm looking forward to the next few days of cleaning out my system. I did a lot of walking today for exercise.

Master Cleanse, Day 9

Carried on with the Cleanse as usual. I think I should be working out more. I'm lucky if I can find 10 minutes here or there to step on the stair stepper.

Master Cleanse, Day 8

Day 8 went pretty well. Had to go stock up on lemons and limes. Still have plenty of cayenne and maple syrup. Still feel great and no hunger pangs.

VI Peel

There's a new treatment called the Vi Peel for minimizing wrinkles and acne scars. It was developed by Dr. A.F Kalil.
What happens is that a doctor, nurse or esthetician will swab a solution on to the skin with a cotton ball which should stay on for awhile before you wash it off. After 3 days, the skin will start to shed.

It conquers skin issues at the cellular level instead of burning the skin off. The many acids and vitamins in it will help erase fine lines and wrinkles, shrink pores and build collagen and elastin.

The treatment typically costs between $300 - $400. An alternative for those who want a virtually painless skin care treatment with very little recovery time.

Master Cleanse, Day 7

Scale this morning read that 10 pounds are now gone. I'm still feeling great. No salt water flush this morning. I didn't do it because I forgot to drink the tea last night before I went to bed. So this morning when I got up, I had the tea.

Some people in the forums complain of a coated tongue when they are on the cleanse. That hasn't happened to me, thank goodness.

Master Cleanse, Day 6

I read the Master Cleanse book, which finally arrived in my mailbox. All I had to go on before was a version I found online, but I wanted the info straight from the horse's mouth. I am cutting my maple syrup intake in half and I'm still switching back and forth between lemons and limes for my spicy lemonade mixture.
Today I only had about 3 glasses of it. My day just got crazy and there was no time to go and prepare the drink. I should have made a pitcher full of it the night before.
I fell asleep without drinking the tea before I went to bed on the night of Day 6 leading into Day 7. I hope that doesn't mess anything up.

Master Cleanse, Day 5

Wow, amazingly I did not have any dreams of pigging out on food last night. I managed to remember to step on the scale this morning before I did the salt water flush and seven pounds have disappeared since Friday. I tried lime juice instead of the lemon juice today and I really liked it. I'll switch it up between lemonade and limeade to have some variety during this cleanse.

Master Cleanse, Day 4

Day 4 went well. I tried making the lemonade using limes instead of lemons and I liked it. Went to bed at 10:00pm because I had been up late the night before.

Master Cleanse, Day 3

In reading the forums for others who are on the Master Cleanse, I see that a lot of people are saying if you can hang in there until Day 3, you're good to go for the rest of the cleanse. I had no troubles on Day 3, other than the nightmare that I pigged out on food. No hunger pangs or cravings, and I felt well with lots of energy.
Day 4, here I come!

Master Cleanse, Day 2

The morning of Day 2 I woke up and did the salt water flush - and flush it did!
I spent a little time in the bathroom.
Today I drank more of the spicy lemonade, at least 4 or 5 cups of it. Still nowhere near the recommended 6 - 12.
Again, no feelings of hunger. The book says you get all the nutrients your body needs from the lemonade. The maple syrup in there has all sorts of vitamins. It has to be Grade B organic maple syrup, though. Don't use an inferior product.
I did some leg exercises today. I was just too sluggish to work out on Day 1. I still felt tired today but that's because I have the house to myself this weekend so my sleeping schedule is mixed up. I'll stay up half the night and take naps during the day.
Also, I watched the movie Dreamgirls and Beyonce does look really tiny in that film.

Master Cleanse, Day 1

I decided to go on the Master Cleanse "Lemonade Diet" by Stanley Burroughs to detoxify my system. It's the same one the beautiful Beyonce Knowles went on in preparation for her role in the movie Dreamgirls.

Day 1:
(My Day 0 didn't go as planned, I did not have the Smooth Move herbal laxative tea on hand to drink the night before I began Day 1.)
I drank 3 of the 8-ounce glasses of the lemonade, Grade B maple syrup, cayenne pepper mixture and a couple of glasses of water throughout the day. I did not feel hungry all day, just a bit sluggish. I wanted a cup of coffee so bad, but I stayed away. I didn't drink the recommended 6 - 12 glasses of the lemonade mixture.
Just before I went to bed, I drank the herbal laxative tea.
That night I kept having dreams that I had eaten something and I was mad at myself for ruining the detox. I was so relieved when I woke up the next morning and realized I hadn't actually eaten anything.

Summer Bites

Sitting here covered in bug bites, I'm relieved that Fall is fast aproaching. I've been lucky to have evaded bug bites all summer long, except for this weekend. Now I'm here applying calamine lotion to my skin so I don't scratch all my itchy insect bites. There are a lot of them! Nothing worse than waking up in the middle of the night and not being able to sleep because of itchy skin.

Skin Problems? Check Your Medicine Cabinet

Often times women tell me they can't wear makeup. What I've found is that the ingredients in prescription meds they are taking are causing a reaction.
It's not that they can't wear makeup or stay on a skin care routine.

I've compiled a list, and this is in no way exhaustive, of many prescription drugs and their side effects related to skin.
AND THESE ARE JUST THE SIDE EFFECTS ON SKIN!

Aldara (Imiquimod) "skin cancer cream"
crusty black scab, bleeding, itching sores, skin tingling, more (see links!)

Caduet (Amlodipine Besylate, Atorvastatin Calcium) flushing, skin rash, Contact Dermatitis, Cystitis, Stevens-Johnson Syndrome* (see below), clammy skin, dry skin, skin itching, skin photosensitivity

Elocon (Mometasone furoate) Acne-like pimples, allergic skin rash, boils, burning, damaged skin, dryness, excessive hairiness, infected hair follicles, infection of the skin, irritation, itching, light colored patches on skin, prickly heat, rash around the mouth, skin atrophy and wasting, softening of the skin, stretch marks, tingling or stinging

Exelderm (SULCONAZOLE) skin irritation, burning, stinging, itching or redness

Flector (diclofenac epolamine) itching, swelling, rash, burning sensation

FLUOCINONIDE (Fluonex, Lidex, Lidex-E, Lonide, and Lyderm) Severe itching, burning, or skin irritation Signs of infection such as redness, swelling, drainage, or pus. Mild, temporary stinging irritation, burning, redness or dryness of skin, raised spots on skin, thinning of skin or bruising, poor healing of skin, acne-like skin changes

GLEEVEC® (imatinib mesylate) skin blistering, rash, skin yellowing, skin becomes progressively thinner and more susceptible to bruising and tearing from even minor bumps

Levulan (AMINOLEVULINIC ACID SOLUTION) Skin tingling/stinging/burning or change in skin color, open skin sores (ulcers), bleeding

Lipitor (Atorvastatin) hives, itching, facial swelling, skin rash

Nystatin (Triamcinolone) burning or itching of the skin, dark red spots on the skin, loss of feeling on skin, painful, red, pus-filled blisters in hair follicles, skin infection, thinning of the skin or sunburn: more likely if applied to the face, dry or peeling skin, skin irritation

Protopic (Tacrolimus) skin cancer

Sunitinib (Sutent) causes several side effects in skin, including rash, hand foot skin reaction, dry skin, and pale/yellow skin.

Vaniqa (eflornithine hydrochloride) acne, stinging skin, burning skin, dry skin, itching, redness, tingling skin, skin irritation, rash, ingrown hair, facial edema

Zyloprim (Allopurinol) skin rash

Zyvox (Linezolid) skin rash, itching, skin bruising

Anti-Depressants:

Prozac (fluoxetine) Sweating, rash, itching, acne, alopecia, hives

Celexa (citalopram) Sweating, rash, itching, acne, alopecia, hives

Luvox (Fluvoxamine) Rash, sweating

Paxil (Paroxetine) Sweating, rash

Zoloft (sertraline) Increased sweating, rash, hot flashes

Desyrel (trazodone) Rash, hives, sweating, itching, photosensitivity

Effexor (venlafaxine) Ecchymosis, acne, alopecia, brittle nails, dry skin, photosensitivity

Wellbutrin/Zyban (Bupropion) Rash, itching, sweating

Tofranil (imipramine) Rash, hives, sweating, itching, photosensitivity

Anafranil/Norpramin (desipramine) Diaphoresis, photosensitivity

Asendin (amoxapine) Rash, hives, sweating, itching, photosensitivity

Elavil (amitriptyline) Rash, hives, sweating, itching, photosensitivity

Remeron (mirtazapine) Rash, hives, sweating, itching, photosensitivity

Parnate (tranylcypromine) Rash, flushing, increased perspiration

Nardil (phenelzine) Rash, flushing, increased perspiration

*Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (SJS) is a life-threatening skin disease that can cause rash, skin peeling, and sores on the mucous membranes. It has been classified as a severe expression of erythema multiforme (EM). Stevens-Johnson syndrome is an inflammatory disorder of the skin triggered by an allergic reaction to certain drugs including antibiotics, such as some sulfonamides, tetracycline, amoxicillin, and ampicillin. In some cases, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications and anticonvulsants, such as Tegretol and phenobarbital have also been implicated.

Prescription Drug Side Effects Summary

Drug Injury WatchPrescription Drug Side Effects News and Information

Skin and Household Chemicals

Okay, when the label on that bottle says, "Avoid exposure to skin, may cause skin irritation" they're not kidding! I am ill today, it started yesterday after I sprayed my carpeting with a household chemical. I'm attributing my illness to that. Read those labels, folks and heed the warnings.

What I should have done was to rinse my skin with copious amounts of water to get rid of any residue of the spray.

Something fishy about this Pedicure?

Doctor Fish Massage franchises are the goal of John Ho of Alexandria, Virginia. He, together with his wife Yvonne own and operate Yvonne Hair and Nails salon. For the past four months they have been offering fish pedicures. No, I'm not talking pedicures for fish, I'm talking about a footbath filled with tiny fish that remove the dead skin from your feet!
You still get a standard pedicure after the fish are done and the skin is softened.

The hot water in which these toothless fish thrive doesn't support plant or aquatic life, so they adapted to feed on whatever food sources were available—like dead, flaking skin.

State regulations no longer allow the salon to treat the cusomers in a communal pool, where at times the fish would flock to the feet of an individual with a surplus of dead skin, leaving other customers nearly alone.

Skin Care Teacher Online Notification

The functionality of "online" notification has been added to the skin care teacher dot com website. Just go to skincareteacher.com and look for the "ONLINE NOW" button on the front page, or the "Ask An Expert" page.

Skin Care and Diabetes

Diabetes can really mess up your skin. Up to 1/3 of people who have diabetes will at some point develop a skin disorder which will have been caused or affected by diabetes. A skin disorder can even be an early warning sign of diabetes. This link will give you tips on how to prevent diabetes from even happening in the first place. It's both preventable and reversible!

If you do have issues with your skin as a result of diabetes, there are some skin care steps you can take to help keep your skin healthy.

If the winters where you live are cold and dry, keep a humidifier handy.

Keep your skin clean and dry. Use talcum powder in areas where skin contacts skin, such as armpits and inner thighs as well as the groin area. Do not use feminine hygiene sprays, though.

Make sure the skin on your feet is healthy. Check the skin daily for sores and cuts. Wear flat shoes that fit well.

Avoid very hot baths and showers. If your skin is dry, don't take bubble baths. Try installing a shower filter, which can remove many skin-drying chemicals from your water.

Moisturize your skin to prevent chapping, and avoid scratching/itching your skin as this can foster skin infections.

See a dermatologist (skin doctor) about any skin problems you're not able to solve yourself.

Lots of Love for Locks of Love

I once donated my hair to Locks of Love, a great organization who make hairpieces for kids who have lost their hair, mainly from alopecia areata, which can sometimes be caused by a skin disease.

If you have at least a 10-inch length of hair you'd like to part with, next time you go in for a haircut, let the salon know that you'd like to donate your hair to Locks of Love.

Event A Success

Thanks to all who stopped by tonight. The event went great and it was good to see everyone!

Now Appearing

Thursday night from 5-8pm I'll be at a Women In Business fair sponsored by the local chapter of Business and Professional Women/USA.
The event takes place in the gym at St. Margaret's School in Tappahannock, VA.
Stop by and say hello if you're in the area.

SkinCare Teacher on MySpace

There's now a page for Skin Care Teacher on MySpace. Stop by and add to your friends!

Skin Care for a Sunburn

Sunburn (erythema) is your skin's natural defense against overexposure to ultraviolet rays.

Spending a day in the sun is an idea of a great time for many folks. But just one sunburn can severely damage your skin, and it can also increase your risk of skin cancer.

The best thing to do, obviously, is to take care and prevent a sunburn in the first place. Many cosmetics now have sunscreen built in, so you can protect your skin just by putting on your makeup. Avoid the sun between the hours of 10am and 3pm, when the sun's rays are strongest. Wear wide-brimmed hats, sunglasses with UV protection that wrap around to protect the skin at the corner of your eyes, long-sleeved light-colored clothing and sunscreen. Reapply the sunscreen to your skin every couple of hours, and don't forget areas like the tops of your feet and your ears. Beware of tanning beds, which can also burn your skin.

If your skin does end up getting sunburned, to care for sunburned skin you can try the following home remedies:

Take a cool shower or bath, and/or apply cool compresses to the affected skin for 15 minutes a few times a day. Gently pat your skin dry with a towel - do not rub.

Cut the leaves of an aloe vera plant lengthwise, remove the gel inside, and smear the gel on your sunburned skin.

Soak a small piece of cloth or some cotton gauze in whole milk and apply carefully to the burned skin. Leave it on for about 15 - 20 minutes, and then rinse the skin with cool water.

Slice open a cucumber and wipe it directly onto your skin.

The information provided is not a substitute for professional medical advice and care. Severe burns to the skin can require immediate medical attention. If you get a fever, nausea, dizziness, become sensitive to light or experience severe pain, see a doctor at once. Doctors can prescribe a corticosteroid cream that soothes the skin and can speed up the healing process. A family member of mine was prescribed "silver cream" for his skin after a burn injury. It's expensive, but it's worth it. Your skin is worth it. Skin is the body's largest organ, after all.

Katrina Price is an authority in skin care and cosmetics. Her website, www.skincareteacher.com contains great information on how to care for your skin.

Got a Brand New Bag

I saw the infomercial and I was skeptical. I figured I'd try it, what the heck. Guess what?! I LOVE IT! It truly DOES hold a TON of stuff. I had a Liz Claiborne purse jam-packed with all my belongings. Everything from in there fits nicely into this bag. I highly recommend it.

Foundation: A Good Base for Your Face

by Katrina Price


You know nothing can be built without a good solid foundation. It's the same for your face, it needs a good base.

To prepare your facial skin for a good foundation, first go through your skin care routine. If you don't have one, here's what to do. First cleanse, then use a toner, then mask for exfoliation. The mask doesn't need to be done daily, just perhaps twice per week. It's important to exfoliate so you don't have those dead skin cells ruining your makeup look, and causing your foundation to ball up when applied.

Next, you want to moisturize. At this point you can choose a moisturizer which already has sunscreen built in and is tinted, for those of you who prefer just a sheer layer of foundation. Apply that and then go to the "powder" step below. If you prefer normal coverage, opt for a moisturizer with just the SPF in it (unless you're allergic to SPF).
After you moisturize, you can apply concealer to any problem areas. One tip I learned is to use your concealer all over your facial skin as your base, then just use a very light layer of your foundation. I've tried this and I absolutely loved the results. Truly flawless skin!

Next step is your actual foundation. There are liquids, creams, creme to powder, sticks, mousse and more. You'll have to try them and find the right style and shade for your skin type, as well as the season. You'll need to switch up your foundation if you're prone to dry skin in winter. If you're using a powder foundation, apply that with a brush and you're ready to apply your color cosmetics. If you've used concealer as a base, just use your normal foundation very sparingly at this point. If you've just dotted your concealer onto the problem areas, then use a normal layer of foundation. Be sure to use the right shade of foundation. I see it time and time again, the neck is pale and the face shade is darker. Blend well at the jawline so people won't be able to tell where your foundation ends and your neck begins.

When applying foundation to your skin, use outward and downward strokes on your face, never go upwards. Apply with your fingers or a cosmetic wedge. I use the wedges, but they're not my favorite as they tend to soak up a lot of the foundation. They give a much nicer finish than when I just use my fingers, though. Also, they are more gentle to use in the delicate eye area. You don't want to do any pulling or tugging there.

Now you'll want to apply powder to set your foundation. You won't need to do this if you are using a creme to powder foundation. It will go on creamy and then dry to a light powdery finish. I like this kind of foundation, as I don't have to touch-up as much during the day. Powders come in different formats as well, typically loose or pressed. Loose powder can be whisked on with a large fluffy powder brush, or patted on with a powder puff. Pressed foundation in a compact gets applied with a small powder puff or cosmetic sponge. I'd been taught that powder gets applied in a downward motion, since you'd want all the tiny hairs on your face facing the same direction. I follow that suggestion when I'm using the pressed powder, but when I let loose with the loose powder, I'm just all over the place with my powder brush.

So there you have it, a base for your face. Now you're ready to apply some color. Even those of you going for the natural look will want at least a little lip gloss or mascara. I'll touch on color application in a future article. If you simply can't wait, then go to my website.

Katrina Price has over eleven years experience as a skin care and cosmetics consultant. Her website is http://www.skincareteacher.com

Weather website AccuWeather.com has a Fashion Forecast on their site. Type in your zip code and it will let you know if a frizzy hair day is ahead. If that needle's in the red, you might want to give this product a try:

Just a friendly reminder to PLEASE remember your sunscreen as well as your wrap-around sunglasses when you head out for the big Fourth of July festivities next weekend. Stay sun safe and protect your skin!

CHEERS FOR ELEVEN YEARS!
Today marks the 11th Annversary of my being in business as a skin care and beauty consultant.
Here's to eleven more years! At least!
I truly love what I do and I like being my own boss. Plus, getting all my beauty supplies at wholesale is pretty nice, too. If you think something like this may be what you want to do with your life, visit my site and take a look around. Then, touch base with me and let me know what you thought.

DID YOU KNOW: The average human body is covered with 20 square feet of skin. That amount of skin weighs in at around 6 pounds.

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY!
Try some green eyeshadow on for size - you'll love it!

Botox Your Mole? There's been some controversy over dermatologists and their willingness to see a person who wants Botox injections right away versus people with questions about moles on their skin. The moles usually cannot get an appointment for a few days. This is very disconcerting to a lot of people, as moles can usually be an early sign of skin cancer. Doctors are always urging us to come in and be seen as soon as you notice moles on your skin. Yet, it seems that the almighty dollar always wins. Botox injections equal quick cash. Mole diagnosis is just too much work for some doctors.

Don't "Wine" About Lipstick. If you have trouble getting lipstick marks off wine glasses (which should only be washed in plain hot water, by the way - no soap!) then simply hold the lipstick-stained part of the glass over a steaming tea kettle and then wipe the lipstick off with a soft cloth.

Clip-In Hair Extensions. Click Here to see a before and after slideshow of Laura trying out some clip-in hair extensions.

Skin Condition: Staphylococcus Aureus - Superbug - MRSA
This blog on Staph/MRSA contains all you'll ever want to know about this skin condition.

The Ped Egg

Saw an ad on TV today for something called the Ped Egg. I'm wondering if anyone has tried this and what you thought. It supposedly files dead skin off the rough, calloused areas of your feet. The lid on the unit even pops off so you can discard the "filings". I'm not sure what they mean when they show the translucent "Professional Model Shown" lettering on the screen twice during the ad.