Wednesday, July 30, 2008

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.

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

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.

Monday, July 21, 2008

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.

Sunday, July 20, 2008

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.

Saturday, July 19, 2008

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.

Thursday, July 17, 2008

Event A Success

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

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

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.

Monday, July 14, 2008

SkinCare Teacher on MySpace

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

Sunday, July 13, 2008

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.

Friday, July 11, 2008

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.



Thursday, July 03, 2008

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