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.

It Ain't Easy Being Blue. Check out this story about Paul Kerason who's skin has turned blue. He even had to move from Oregon to California due to people not being too nice to him.
Paul thinks that a colloidal silver ointment that he used on his face contributed to his bluish/purple facial skin condition.

Makeup, Mercury and Minnesota. Click here for a news report about Minnesota's ban on certain cosmetics which goes into effect January 1st because of levels of mercury in mascara, eyeliners and skin lightening creams.
Here's a slideshow in PDF format containing a report from 2005 on skin lightening creams and their effects in Africa. This link contains all you ever wanted to know about mercury.
The brand/line of cosmetics I represent does not sell a skin-lightening cream. As an alternative to eyeliners, you can wet your favorite shade of eye shadow and apply that as an eyeliner. To view the products, click here or contact your Beauty Consultant.

Nail Tips. Don't blow on your freshly painted nails to dry them, this will only dry the top and leave the layers underneath goopy. Clean the neck of your nail color bottle with nail color remover. Keeping it clean will ensure that no air gets into the bottle and turns your nail color all mucky. Don't shake the bottle of nail color prior to application. This only causes bubbles to form on your fingernails. Roll the bottle of nail color between your palms instead.

COSMETICS SEIZED: Jan Marini Skin Research Age Intervention Eyelash can cause eye damage. U.S. Marshals seized nearly 13,000 tubes of the product, considered by the FDA to be unapproved and misbranded. The product contains the drug bimatoprost, used to treat eye pressure and if someone is already on that drug and using Age Intervention Eyelash as well, the extra dosage can be harmful. The product may also cause swelling of the retina and loss of vision.
According to the FDA, you should discontinue use immediately and discard any remaining product.

Relax for Great Skin. I spent the weekend at a wonderful resort and spa on the James River in Virginia. A little relaxation can do wonders for your skin, not to mention good hair days! I highly recommend these pampering weekend getaways. Take advantage of them whenever you can, as they will do you a world of good.

Lead In Lipsticks

Click here for an article that talks about significant levels of lead in lipsticks.

Also, visit the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics site for more great information.

Accutane and Acne Issues. Wow, just saw a story about Hans Peterson's adventure with Accutane. He murdered the doctor who prescribed it to him and then fled to St. Maarten to be under the protection of France.
There's no reason for issues with Acne to be that complicated! Check out this page on solving acne problems.

Check out the Skin Care Talk forums. I hang out there sometimes and help answer people's questions, anything ranging from skincare to makeup to acne issues.

The Real Hustle - Organic Skin Care Scam

Prescription for Disaster? Just heard that between 1997 and 2005 prescription drug use was up by some 90%. This upset me just a little bit. I understand that a good portion of that is because of the aging population and their dependence on painkillers as they grow older. However, I'm not a fan of prescription pills. In my opinion they lead to skin problems and when people tell me they can't use anything on their skin my first inclination is to ask them what prescriptions they're on. I often don't do that because I don't want to be nosy about people's medical conditions, so what I usually do is tell them that some prescription drugs have been known to cause skin problems, which is the absolute truth.
I hate to think that people are suffering through all the side effects of these pills and not taking care of their skin the way they should. It's a shame.

Don't Rub Your Eyes. Not only should you avoid rubbing the eye area for reasons of a foreign object in your eye, you should never rub your eyes, period. If there's a foreign object in there, flush with water and pat dry with a towel. Don't rub! It will scratch the delicate surface of your eye.
Don't rub your eyes when you are tired because you will stretch the skin around your eye area and this leads to wrinkles. It's best to refresh your tired eyes by misting or splashing some cool water on your face and then gently pat dry with a towel. Or you can use eye drops. If you wear contacts, make sure you use the drops that are especially for contact lens wearers.

Is Your Face Running? Does your makeup just slide off your face in the heat and humidity of summer? You may not be able to use the same foundation year-round, you may just have to switch it up and opt for a lightweight tinted moisturizer during the summer months. These are great if you want sheer coverage for all those fun summertime activities. They work well year-round too.

Your Look To Go. What better item than Neckties by Belisi for that guy in your life, and a handbag for you to carry all your on-the-go cosmetics in? They also have scarves and pocket squares so they've got you covered, so to speak, as far as those items go. I remember watching old reruns when Flo from the TV sitcom "Alice" used to come in to Mel's Diner every day, take her scarf off her head and tie it around her purse strap. Since then I've always thought handbags and scarves were the coolest thing!
Go get yours today at Belisi! 25% off and free shipping with orders of $100 or more.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BLOG!
It was also MY birthday so it's a double celebration.
I look forward to another year of providing you with great information and tips on skin care (or skincare - one word)
glamour
beauty
nail care
makeovers
facials
and some health and fashion news thrown in too.
Don't forget to visit SkinCareTeacher