Aug
31
Perfect Facial Proportions: The Nose
Filed Under Aesthetic Medicine, Beauty, Plastic Surgery | Leave a Comment
The nose is in the middle of the face, and many people are conscious of its position and appearance. Many times we hear people commenting on the type or size of noses another individual has. Some different descriptions of noses we hear are those of:
The Roman or Aquiline Nose: This type of nose is convex in shape, like a hook. It is also known as ‘hooknose’ because of its shape. The word aquiline is derived from the Latin word ‘aquilinus’ which means ‘eagle like’.
The Greek or Straight Nose. This type of nose is perfectly straight with no curves or hooked like shape. It is known as Greek nose because it is generally noticed that the Greek people have this kind of nose.
The Nubian Nose: This type of nose has wide nostrils. It is generally a little narrow at the top, thick and broad at the middle and wide at the end. The term ‘Nubian’ comes from the ethnic group ‘Nubians’ who belong to northern Sudan.
The Hawk Nose: The hawk nose is so called because it is very convex, to the extent that it almost looks like a bow. It is very thin and sharp as well. Since it resembles the beak of a Hawk, it is known as the hawk nose.
Snub Nose: This type of nose is quite short in length and is neither sharp, nor hook like nor wide. It is almost as short as a nose possibly can be. Hence, it is known as snub nose
The turn up Nose: This type of nose is also called as the Celestial nose. It is so called because it runs continuously from the eyes towards the tip.
Like all other features of the face, there are guidelines and measurements that allows the nose to be viewed as more aesthetically pleasing. Here are the proportions for the ‘ideal’ nose:
- The ideal nasal length should be equal the distance from the stomion (the middle point of the oral slit when the lips are closed) to the menton (the lowermost point of the chin when seen in profile).
- The ideal nose tip projection should be equal to 0.66 x ideal nasal length.
- The distance from the infraorbital rim (lower bony edge of the eye socket) to the base of the nose is equal to the width of the base of the nose, and is half the length of the middle third of the face (ie, the distance between the brow to the base of the nose)
- The nose is straight by following a line falling from the midglabellar area (point between the brows), the nasal bridge, the nasal tip and the Cupid’s Bow of the lips.
- The width of the alar base (where the flare of the nose joins the cheek) should be equal to one eye width.
- The width of the bony base of the nose should be 80% of the alar width.
- The alar rims should have a slight outward flare in the inferior direction.
- The lines connecting the tip defining points (the most projecting area on each side of the nose tip), the supratip break area (the depression just above the tip), and the columellar lobular angle (angle formed by the junction of the infra-tip lobule with the columella) form 2 equilateral triangles.
- A line outlining the alar rims and the columella (the skin separating the nostrils) resemble a gull in gentle flight
- From the front, the nasofrontal angle (angle of demarcation between forehead and nasal dorsum, best seen in profile) lies at a level between the upper eyelashes and the supratarsal crease.
- In women, the nasal dorsum should lie 2mm behind and parallel to a line from just above the nasofrontal angle to the tip defining points. In men, the dorsum should be slightly higher.
- 50-60% of the tip should lie in front of a vertical line drawn adjacent to the most projecting portion of a normally positioned upper lip.
- The tip projection should be equivalent to the alar base width.
- The tip rotation is determined by the degree of the nasolabial angle, as measured by the angle between the vertical and a line drawn through the most anterior and posterior edges of the nostrils (normally 95-100° in women and 90-95° in men.
- The columellar lobular angle is approximately 45°.
- On the basal view, the outline of the nasal base forms an equilateral triangle, the lobular to nostril ratio is 1:2.
- The upper lip projects 2mm more than the lower lip, and in women, the chin lies slightly posterior to the lower lip, slightly stronger in men.
- The distance from the angle of the jaw to the menton is half the distance from the menton to the natural hairline.
As always, these are just guidelines, but the final appearance and modifications should be worked through with a qualified plastic surgeon.
Eager to find out what aging does to your nose? Check out the upcoming post!
Aug
27
Where To Find Vintage Online
Filed Under Fashion | Leave a Comment
I have this awesome Chinese cut red dress. The tag says it’s a size 14 but it’s form fitting if you’re a sexy eight. But you know back during the 40s sizes were just different. There was a war going on then, you know. I wasn’t there. I heard about it from my grandma, the original owner of the dress.
In any case, in the event that you don’t have a grandmother who stock piles everything that she and her children have owned since BIRTH you might need a place to fill your vintage needs. Because vintage clothes are awesome and pretty and everyone needs some.
Fortunately, the internet is there for you:
1) Mod Cloth
This is a fun little boutique featuring everything from dresses to shoes. You don’t see many retailers sporting vintage shoes, so this is a rare find. Or maybe I just love shoes. Too much. Anyways, they also carry a wealth of accessories to augment your perfect retro look whether it be 40’s swing or 60’s flower child.
And they’re giving it all to you for 15% off until August 8th!Just shop your vintage little heart out, put it all in your “basket,” thenenter the super special code (ModCandy 15) at checkout! That’s it. 15% off some of the cutest vintage-inspired goods on the web.
2) Newport News
Didn’t expect to see this site on the list, huh? Well here’s the thing, you find the greatest treasures off the beaten path. Although there’s nothing vintage about their clothes, their shoe selection has some fantastic vintage-inspired finds. Nestled in between all the smart shoes for work there are a few hidden gems. Look towards the boot section and pumps.
3) ChinaTowner
Another clothing site filled to the brim with great clothes. The site actually caters to many different styles. There are quite a few vintage inspired dresses and tops among the ranks as well as some really cute jackets and blazers. It’s summer now so you can catch a few good deals on the winter stock.
This site is quite a bit more pricier than the others listed here but well worth it. They carry dresses and shoes centering around the Pin Up look. Got curves? Then try this place. Nothing looks sexier on a girl with curves than a cute dress and a pair of killer pumps. Channel your inner Monroe on this site.
This is a site much like Baby Girl but a little more cost friendly. The selection isn’t as big, but what they do have is stellar. They spotlight mostly the 40s and 50s in their clothes, but there are few 60 surprises mixed in there as well. Where this site really shines is the price. Even the full price items are pretty low on the cost scale so you can build a wardrobe with a bulk of these items and pick up a few pricier items from one of the other shops.
I love this site. Simply because it has EVERYTHING. I could spend hours browsing through pages of clothes and still find something new everyday. They have clothing inspired by the 20’s onward. The site itself is a little all over the place but fairly simple to navigate.
At first glance you would think that it’s all waist cinching dresses and five inch heels. But that’s only the first glance. This site also carries the cutest mini dresses. Sure we all want to be Bettie Page, but sometimes we want to be Twiggy too. And this site lets you do it.
8 ) Phix Clothing
Much like VH1, I love the 80’s and you know you do too. Cyndi Lauper was so hot. I’m not ashamed to admit my love of 80’s pop icons! Bright colors and a sea of ruffles. Stockings, leg warmers, the whole nine. This site has it all.
It’s all fine and dandy to have vintage inspired clothes, but nothing sets you apart from the crowd like real vintage wear. And its not always expensive. Take this site, for example; the prices are reasonable and the selection is good. Pick up a few items to add an authentic feel to your wardrobe.
No matter what decade you’re channeling there’s an online store out there for you. No need to deal with the scents and sounds of the local Salvation Army – you can get your vintage fix from the comforts of your very own desk (or bathroom, if that’s how you roll).
Taken from CollegeCandy.com:
Aug
24
Topical Botox Shows Effectiveness In Treatment Of Crows Feet
Filed Under Aesthetic Medicine, Aesthetic Procedures, Aesthetic medicine | Leave a Comment
NEW YORK – A topical, noninjectable form of botulinum toxin asserted its ability to effectively treat crow’s feet through impressive data from a recently completed phase II clinical trial released here.
Seventy-five patients at four study sites were treated with the novel topical toxin or placebo to the crow’s feet area. On a four-point static scale, a significant number of participants showed two point moves, according to Michael Kane, M.D., a principal investigator in the trial who released aggregate data from the study at the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery annual meeting.
“As one of the study centers, I was not unblinded as to which of my patients had toxin and which were [treated with] placebo. But, clearly, by looking at the patients, there were those whose crow’s feet got a lot better and some whose didn’t,” Dr. Kane, a plastic surgeon in private practice in New York City, tells Cosmetic Surgery Times. “The difference was night and day, both at rest and smiling. The people who showed significant difference, unsurprisingly, had lateral brow elevation, as well. Obviously, the toxin was working on the muscle.”
TRANSDUCTION TRANSFORMATION
The concept of simply applying a topical to eliminate wrinkles is not new, but proving the theory has yet to be conclusively accomplished. Yet, researchers involved with the development of the topical form of botulinum toxin think they are close. Its developers at Revance Therapeutics, Inc., a privately held company based in Mountain View, Calif., claim that the topical allows large macromolecules to cross the skin and other barrier membranes enabling local, targeted delivery. Delivered through the firm’s proprietary TransMTS™ (Macromolecule Transport Technology), the neurotoxin is based on a single, straight-chain, peptide that allows skin to be a gateway for drug delivery, rather than a barrier.
“Adding a peptide as a separate component within the [toxin] formulation allows the toxin to cross the skin,” explains Jacob Waugh, M.D., co-founder & chief scientific officer, Revance. “The peptide forms an ionic bond with the toxin and the peptide also has a Protein Transduction Domain (PTD), which is responsible for transcutaneous flux. It is essentially a quite broad and powerful transduction.”
Although the topical toxin’s technology is fairly obscure and complex, the use of two pathways on both the dead and living layers of the skin allows for a significant result, according to Dr. Waugh. Currently, there have been 600 crow’s feet areas treated via the TransMTS™ technology, with a fairly low local irritation rate and no evidence of adjacent paralysis above placebo grade, say the developers.
“TransMTS technology relies on the fluidity of the dead skin, that essentially is the equivalency of the typical topical that loads the stratum corneum, but more interesting is the second pathway that [also] happens on the living cells,” Dr. Waugh details.
“Basically, it’s a variation the cell uses to take a drink, then it dumps the drink back out on the other side of the cell.”
The key to TransMTS technology, say its developers, is a protein carrier featuring protein transduction domains that hold on to the cell membrane and allow larger molecules to pass through it undisturbed. The transport technology is also currently being studied for early applications of new cardiovascular disease drugs. Additionally, three different cancer drug trials are being investigated based on the system’s ability to transport molecules, according to the firm.
ADVANTAGE: EYE
While TransMTS technology may benefit additional medical innovations including insulin and other compounds, a phase III trial is underway to establish the neurotoxin adjunct’s effectiveness and advantages when treating crow’s feet. An area greatly sensitive to injections, a topical toxin may be a relief to most patients.
“I don’t think there’s much question regarding [the topical toxin’s] clinical effect for lateral crow’s feet,” says Richard Glogau, M.D., clinical professor of dermatology at the University of California and participant in the phase II clinical trial. “Yet, they [will need to] keep continuing to improve the formulation due to a delivery problem with the gel vehicle,” he adds.
The gel that allows the combination of the peptide and the toxin to get through the skin and the mechanics of using the gel present challenges in terms of getting it to stay where it is applied, according to Dr. Glogau, who completed a recent study for primary axillary hyperhidrosis with the topical form of botulinum toxin type A.
In that study, researchers used the topical agent to treat 12 patients in a randomized, blinded, vehicle-controlled study that also showed promising results: A 65 percent mean reduction of sweating on 10 axillae treated with the BTX-A (200 U) was observed after four weeks of treatment, compared with a 25 percent mean reduction in sweating on the vehicle controlled axillae. Although the topical toxin displayed its ability to reach the bottom of the dermis when treating hyperhidrosis, the one-time dosage upon which the crow’s feet trials’ results are based may be problematic says one investigator.
“It’s a very artificial situation, and I think that anything in dermatology ends up being a serial treatment — patients are looking for long-term effect,” Dr. Glogau says. “Yet, I think the neurotoxin is realistic in its abilities.”
“My one concern is that the topical toxin will be thought of as just the same as an injectable toxin, but in reality it’s another tool,” Dr. Waugh says. “Yet, it can be used to do some of the things that injectables can’t do.”
REFERENCE
Glogau RG. Topically applied botulinum toxin type A for the treatment of primary axillary hyperhidrosis: results of a randomized, blinded, vehicle-controlled study. Dermatol Surg. 2007;33(1 Spec No.):S76-S80.
DISCLOSURE
Dr. Kane is a paid consultant to Revance Therapeutics with an ownership equity interest comprising stock options whose value is less than $50,000 during the time of the study and for one year following completion of the study. Dr. Kane does not have a proprietary or financial interest in a product, patent, trademark, copyright, or licensing agreement, and has not received significant payments from Revance exclusive of the costs of conducting the clinical study or any financial arrangements whereby the value of the compensation could be influenced by the outcome of the study or tied to sales of the product.
Aug 1, 2009
By: Beth Kapes
Cosmetic Surgery Times
Aug
20
Miss the days when you still had your favourite lipstick shade or eyeshadow colour? With cosmetics, every of your favourite hue seems to be just a passing trend. is it possible to get it in your makeup bag again?
Well, don’t despair. There’s still hope of finding that particular product that you love! Read on to find out how to get your hands on that little jar of happiness that you covet.
DIRECT FROM THE MANUFACTURER
Call the makeup brand’s customer-service department to ask about leftover inventory, upgraded formulas/names or comparable substitutes.
* Estée Lauder brands: You can find products discontinued in the last 24 months through the company’s Gone but Not Forgotten program; you can buy up to six pieces, depending on availability. Call 800-216-7173 to start your search.
* Almay, Revlon & Ultima II: You can find discontinued products at cosmeticsandmore.com and their affiliated retail outlets (in Arizona, New York, New Jersey, and North Carolina), or call 888-882-5629 to place an order.
* Lancôme, Molton Brown and Nars: These companies sell discontinued items on their sites—Lancome-usa.com, Moltonbrown.com, and Narscosmetics.com—until inventory runs dry. Some brand sites, including Benefitcosmetics.com, Clinique.com, Lancome-usa.com, and Prescriptives.com—feature online alerts, so customers have fair warning when discontinued goods are disappearing.
ONLINE SHOPPING
If the manufacturer is unable to track down an old fave, here are some other sites worth checking out:
* Discount.makeup.com: This subsidiary of Makeup.com sells discontinued beauty products from many brands, including Shiseido and Bare Escentuals.
* Beautyencounter.com: This site sells hard-to-find products from Max Factor, Neutrogena, Goldwell, Sebastian, KMS, and more.
* Vermontcountrystore.com: Its niche is hard-to-find items, and customer service will track down products for which they get a lot of requests, even if the site doesn’t carry them. When an item is no longer manufactured and demand is sufficient, the site buys an original formula and reproduces.
* Threecustom.com: The go-to place for celebrity makeup artists, Three Custom Color specialists can replicate the exact shade and texture of just about any color cosmetic product, including blush, eyeshadow, lipstick, concealer, and foundation. The company has an archive of 9,000 makeup shades dating back to the 1930s, and it will duplicate a hue if you send a dime-size sample.
DON’T FORGET THESE
Tip #3 Still no luck? Here are other places to do makeup research:
* Ebay.com, Amazon.com and Overstock.com: These sites can list discontinued products. Since the goods offered can come from third parties, there’s the risk that a product is old or wasn’t stored or shipped properly, so read the fine print carefully regarding any return policy before ordering.
* Makeupalley.com: You can find in-depth information on tons of products, including discontinued ones, at this social community of beauty-product consumers. You can post a product request on the Swap Board; if another member owns the item, you can negotiate a trade.
* The Fragrance Foundation: For detailed information on just about any fragrance that’s ever existed, go to fragrancefoundation.org and click on Fragrance Directory.
Safety Alert: Your instinct might be to hoard when you find an old beauty favorite but remember that many cosmetics go bad fast once opened. Unopened beauty products and fragrances can last for several years if they are stored properly (in a dark, cool place). The exception is products with an expiration date, such as some acne products and sunscreens, as these have ingredients that might be compromised over time.
Aug
17
Making Glasses Work For Your Face Shape
Filed Under Beauty, Beauty Tips, Fashion | Leave a Comment
Many of us wear glasses out of necessity, but did you know that you can make the most out of the design to enhance the shape of your face? Here are some tips on the type of spectacles you can get according to your face shape.
OVAL
The balanced, oval face is considered the ideal shape, and lends versatility and many options in terms of hairstyle, makeup, spectacles and accessories. Most shapes and styles of glasses will fit you, except extreme geometric designs.
SQUARE
You have a wide forehead, a square jaw, and your cheekbones are in line with your jaw. To create a more balanced face shape, look for a lightweight oval or rounded styles, and draw attention to your cheekbones. Avoid square or rectangular shapes which will emphasize the angles of your face.
RECTANGLE
You have a long, narrow face with a squarish chin. You will need to give an illusion of widening and shortening the face, and softening the jawline. Lightweight, wider frames will counteract a narrow face and close set eyes. Avoid angular frames as well which will only serve to accentuate the angles of your face even further.
TRIANGLE
If you have a broad forehead and cheekbones, which taper down to a small chin, you have a triangular face shape. Try not to get frames which extend beyond your temples. Frameless spectacles are an excellent choice, and the arms of the glasses should be lightweight.
CIRCLE
The round face needs to create illusion of angles and vertical lines, so frames that are slightly wider than your face should be your top pick as these will make your face seem smaller. Square or rectangular frames balance a round face, but avoid round shapes and full, frameless lenses.
Aug
13
Emblem Of Life
Filed Under Beauty | Leave a Comment
The word scar was derived from the Greek word eschara, meaning fireplace. Traditionally the fireplace was in the heart of the house, and around it most domestic activities took place. It was the center of family life and an area where children gathered to be with family. It was a common setting for injuries, many of which resulted in wounds. Eventually these scars became so associated with the hearth that the language used to describe the end result of healing became indistinguishable from its cause.
Scars may be ugly to look at, but to some, it marks a rite of passage, acts as an emblem of life’s story and also a tattoo into one’s memory of the significance of life. Dana Jenning’s article Our Scars Tell The Stories Of Our Lives in the New York Times is a moving chronicle of the stories behind the scars on his body from the pranks and injuries from childhood to his present day life modifying challenging surgeries of his adulthood. Dana Jennings is a New York Times reporter who is fighting against prostate cancer, and his postings each week pertaining to his fight against it appears at nytimes.com/well. Take time to read his story, and ponder on the significance of the scar. Is it really as ugly and revolting as one or society thinks it is? Or is it a beautiful, encouraging memory of courage and survival?
Our Scars Tell the Stories of Our Lives
Our scars tell stories. Sometimes they’re stark tales of life-threatening catastrophes, but more often they’re just footnotes to the ordinary but bloody detours that befall us on the roadways of life.
When I parse my body’s motley parade of scars, I see them as personal runes and conversation starters. When I wear shorts, the footlong surgical scar on my right knee rarely fails to draw a comment.
And in their railroad-track-like appearance, my scars remind me of the startling journeys that my body has taken — often enough to the hospital or the emergency room.
The ones that intrigue me most are those from childhood that I can’t account for. The one on my right eyebrow, for example, and a couple of ancient pockmarks and starbursts on my knees. I’m not shocked by them. To be honest, I wonder why there aren’t more.
I had a full and active boyhood, one that raged with scabs and scrapes, mashed and bloody knees, bumps and lumps, gashes and slashes, cats’ claws and dogs’ teeth, jagged glass, ragged steel, knots, knobs and shiners. Which raises this question: How do any of us get out of childhood alive?
My stubborn chin has sustained a fair bit of damage over the years. On close examination, there’s a faint delta of scars that brings back memories of my teenage war on acne. Those frustrating days of tetracycline and gritty soaps left my face not clean and glowing but red and raw. The acne also ravaged my back, scoring the skin there so that it still looks scorched and lunar.
I further cratered my chin as an adult. First, I sprinted into a cast-iron lamppost while chasing a fly ball in a park in Washington; I actually saw a chorus line of stars dance before my eyes as I crumpled to the ground. Second, I hooked one of those old acne potholes with my razor and created an instant dueling scar.
Scanning down from the jut of my chin to the tips of my toes, I’ve even managed to brand my feet. In high school and college I worked at Kingston Steel Drum, a factory in my New Hampshire hometown that scoured some of the 55-gallon steel drums it cleaned with acid and scalding water. The factory was eventually shut down by the federal government and became a Superfundhazardous waste site, but not before a spigot malfunctioned one day and soaked my feet in acid.
Then there are the heavy hitters, the stitched whips and serpents that make my other scars seem like dimples on a golf ball.
There’s that mighty scar on my right knee from when I was 12 years old and had a benign tumor cut out. Then there are the scars on my abdomen from when my colon (devoured by ulcerative colitis) was removed in 1984, and from my radical open prostatectomy last summer to take out my cancerous prostate. (If I ever front a heavy metal band, I think I’ll call it Radical Open Prostatectomy.)
But for all the potential tales of woe that they suggest, scars are also signposts of optimism. If your body is game enough to knit itself back together after a hard physical lesson, to make scar tissue, that means you’re still alive, means you’re on the path toward healing.
Scars, perhaps, were the primal tattoos, marks of distinction that showed you had been tried and had survived the test. And like tattoos, they also fade, though the one from my surgery last summer is still a fierce and deep purple.
There’s also something talismanic about them. I rub my scars the way other people fret a rabbit’s foot or burnish a lucky penny. Scars feel smooth and dry, the same way the scales of a snake feel smooth and dry.
I find my abdominal scars to be the most profound. They vividly remind me that skilled surgeons unlocked me with their scalpels, took out what had to be taken, sewed me back up and saved my life. It’s almost as if they left their life-giving signatures on my flawed flesh.
The scars remind me, too, that in this vain culture our vanity sometimes needs to be punctured and deflated — and that’s not such a bad thing. To paraphrase Ecclesiastes, better to be a scarred and living dog than to be a dead lion.
It’s not that I’m proud of my scars — they are what they are, born of accident and necessity — but I’m not embarrassed by them, either. More than anything, I relish the stories they tell. Then again, I’ve always believed in the power of stories, and I certainly believe in the power of scars.
Aug
10
Bizarre Beauty: Animals In My Pot!
Filed Under Aesthetic medicine, Beauty, Beauty Products, Health, Skincare | Leave a Comment
With the rapid progress in science and technology, the beauty industry has tapped into it as well. The latest buzz is the use of non-traditional sources of ingredients for enhancement of beauty and to turn back the hands of time! Here’s a few of the weird and wonderful ingredients and products that are now available for commercial use.
SNAKE VENOM
The slithering snake’s poison does not seem a likely candidate for delicate skincare. However, snake venom is actually a complex mix rich in pepides, proteins, toxins and enzymes. It inhibits a nerve transmission enzyme- anticholinesterase- thus blocking nerve signals to the facial muscles to contract. The result? Its action is similar to Botox, causing muscle relaxation and smoothens out wrinkles.
Although in nature snake venom attacks normal healthy cells and causes excessive salivation, tearing, and paralysis and eventual death, the products that we get containing snake venom are actually synthetic versions of the real thing (*phew*). Called Syn-Ake, the proteins, peptides, and enzymes are mimicked to produce a much gentler effect on the skin, while avoiding the deadly consequences of the snake venom toxins. Gwyneth Paltrow is known to use snake spit to keep her youthful looking skin.
Syn-Ake is manufactured by Pentapharm, and its own research comparing a Syn-Ake infused cream against a placebo showed 67% of the participants using the cream reported a decrease in muscle contraction, and wrinkle size was reduced by 52%. Read more on Pentapharm’s press release on Syn-Ake HERE.
If you’re interested, here are some products containing snake venom:
Sonya Dakar’s Ultraluxe 9 Age Control Complex
Planet Skincare Anti-Ageing Skincare Technology
Syence Skin Venom Memory Cream
PLACENTA
As gut wrenching it may be to imagine bloody placenta tissue on your face, placenta has been used since ancient times by Eastern cultures as in ingredient in both medicine and health products. The placenta functions to nourish the unborn fetus by supplying oxygen, nutrients and blood supply, and post delivery of the infant, the placenta has been utilized in various products for its regenerative properties. Famous beauties regularly applying placenta directly onto their faces? Cleopatra and Marie Antoinette!
Nowadays, placental tissue are mostly extracted from animals, and the high concentration of nutrients, collagen, enzymes and amino acids offer anti aging properties. Celebrity endorsement? Jennifer Lopez uses placental products!
Interested? Find placenta in
EMK Placental Anti Aging Serum
SNAIL SECRETIONS
Slimey snail secretions are not quite what you’d like mixed into your face cream, but the secretions are rich in a substance called calcite which, while snails use to repair their shells, is said to improve the texture of skin as well as help reduce scars.
Scientific analysis of the complex compound shows it is loaded with antioxidants & anti-inflammatories, immune modulators, proteins & peptides, enzymes & co-enzymes, cell-communicating and bio-available ingredients that act in concert and are biologically compatible with living cells. The serum is a complex compound that glycobiology scientists have identified as powerful biological glycoprotein enzymes, copper peptides and co-enzymes, proteoglycans, and glycosaminoglycans. It triggers cell turnover, dissolves or “digests” denatured, damaged and dying cells and releases their amino-acids and other components for the rebuilding of healthy molecules to replace blemished cells, enhances skin’s recovery capabilities, is antioxidant and anti-inflammatory, repairs and regenerates damaged and sunburn skin cells, promotes the proliferation of the water holding glyco molecules within the skin and enhances the capability of skin to secrete antimicrobials and control microbes, including those that proliferate in acne inflammatory lesions.
SPERMINE
Yeps, you read it right. Spermine, a powerful anti-oxidant, was originally recovered from sperm. Spermine is a polyamine present in many cells, tissues and organs, and plays an essential role in DNA systhesis and stability. Its anti-oxidant properties allows it to function as a free radical scavanger, and is a powerful anti-oxidant when applied to the skin.
According to Scandinavian manufacturer Skinscience, their research showed that their product was able to increase collagen production by 4 times, is 30 times stronger than Vitamin E, slowed aging by 25%, strengthened the skin’s barrier function and stimulated the glow and vitality of the skin.
Skinscience Anti-Aging Normal Cream
FROG SKIN
Just when you thought it was the end of the list, here’s one last food for thought. Scientists have successfully extracted a protein from the skin of the bullfrog, which is high in anti-oxidant properties and incredibly effective fighting free radicles. According to their study, when the peptide was added to a wall of human cells, it reduced the effects of oxidization by up to 73%! The peptide is also water soluble, which means it is possible to use it beauty products! So its worth keeping an eye out for it when it appears on the anti-aging market!
Move over vitamin E capsules… The animal revolution has started!
Aug
6
Its a constant state of worry for the pregnant mom. Worries concerning the health of yourself, the health of your baby, the labor and birth process, what else needs to be prepared before the little one pops out. Aromatherapy seems like a good idea, or is it?
There are actually some oils that a pregnant lady may want to avoid. Reason? Some of the oils may trigger bleeding, miscarriages, contractions, cramping, or harm the unborn baby. These oils can be absorbed through the skin (the skin becomes more permeable during pregnancy, hence a quicker and larger load of oils being absorbed through the skin) and enter the bloodstream to circulate around the body, producing an effect on the body’s organs and functions.
Some common oils recommended to be avoided during pregnancy include:
- Aniseed
- Basil
- Balsam Peru
- Bay
- Begamot
- Birch
- Bitter Almond
- Camphor
- Caraway
- Carrot Seed
- Cassia
- Cedarwood
- Cejeput
- Celery Seed
- Chamomile (blue)
- Cinnamon
- Cistus
- Clary sage (OK during labour)
- Clove
- Comphrey
- Cornmint
- Cumin
- Cypress (OK after 5 months)
- Dill seed
- Douglas fir
- Eucalyptus
- Fennel
- Galbanum
- Hyssop
- Jasmine (OK during labour)
- Juniper
- Lavender (spike)
- Lemon
- Lemongrass
- Lemon myrtle
- Lemon verbena
- Lime
- Lovage
- Majoram
- Melissa
- Mugwart
- Myrrh
- Nutmeg
- Oakmoss
- Oregano
- Origanum
- Parsley
- Pennyroyal
- Peppermint (avoid even when breastfeeding)
- Pine (scotch)
- Rose
- Rosemary
- Sage
- Savory
- Santolina
- Spearmint
- Spikenard
- St John’s Wort
- Sweet marjoram
- Tangerine
- Tarragon
- Thuja
- Thyme
- Valerian
- Wintergreen
- Wormwood
- Yarrow
It is a long list which is not exhaustive. But it must be remembered that these oils are recommended to be avoided based on current knowledge of characteristics of each oil. No conclusive research has been performed to determine the significance of each of the above essential oil on pregnancy. It wouldn’t be ethical to be testing on a pregnant woman and her unborn child, would it?
Saying so, if you have been using any of the above oils but not experiencing any symptoms such as bleeding or contractions, you are probably alright, but please consult your doctor or midwife and consider stopping the oil for the safety to your baby, especially during the first trimester (weeks 1 to 12 of pregnancy). Saying so, some aromatherapy may prove useful during labour, childbirth and the post delivery periods. Its best to consult an aromatherapist for more details!
Good luck!
Aug
3
Beauty Off The Breakfast Table
Filed Under Beauty | Leave a Comment
Hit by the recession? Beauty can’t wait for your pocket to fill up though. One option is to make your own beauty products- here are some homemade recipes for scrubs, cleansers and masks. Try them out!
Throughout history, women have tried some bizarre DIY beauty treatments: Geishas applied nightingale droppings; English nobility used mercury and puppy urine; Cleopatra reportedly soaked in sour donkey milk.
Today, we still want to keep our complexions radiant, smooth, and firm. Fortunately, there’s no need to slap disgusting — or potentially deadly — ingredients onto our skin. You just need to make a trip to your local grocery store to whip up some of the most beneficial and budget-friendly facials you can find.
Here’s how some of the pros cook up skin care at home:
Let a Breakfast Staple Double as an Exfoliating Cleanser
For a simple DIY scrub, mix a teaspoon of white sugar, corn meal, baking soda, or cooled coffee grounds into your daily cleanser.
A packet of instant maple brown sugar oatmeal is one of the beauty secrets Cristina Bartolucci, founder of DuWop Cosmetics and celebrity makeup artist, uses to keep her skin soft. She combines a handful of the oatmeal with a few pumps of cleanser in her palm and packs it on her skin. In about 10 minutes, Bartolucci gently scrubs it off. The oats fight irritation while the brown sugar exfoliates. Plus, you can use the leftovers for breakfast!
Look to Your Spice Rack for an Irritation-Fighting Facial
New York City restaurateur Donatella Arpaia squeezes fresh apricots onto sunburned skin to relieve itching and burning. Another way to calm irritated skin: Soak a washcloth in cooled whole milk and apply it to your face.
Expert facialist and founder of Lather skin care, Emile Hoyt says turmeric is one of the best anti-inflammatory ingredients around. Mix a half teaspoon of the spice with 6 ounces of plain yogurt, 2 tablespoons of honey, and half a cup of oat flour and spread it on clean skin. Hoyt says that dry, irritated complexions will feel moisturized and refreshed after 15 minutes of this treatment.
Brew Up an Oil-Erasing Mask
Oily or acne-prone skin can benefit from brewer’s yeast. Whisk two egg whites with 2 teaspoons of the yeast and apply with a paint brush or large makeup brush. Leave on for 20 minutes and rinse.
Rather than pay for an expensive mud mask, a bottle of Milk of Magnesia can dry up oil just as well. Paula Begoun, author of The Complete Beauty Bible, advises blotting unflavored Milk of Magnesia on your skin and letting it dry. Rinse it away with a washcloth in about 15 minutes for a shine-free fix.
Take advantage of buttermilk’s astringent qualities and dip a cotton ball in it, dab on your skin, let it dry for a few minutes, and rinse away with a gentle cleanser to send excess oil down the drain.
Try Some All-Natural Anti-aging Agents
Nutritionist Keri Glassman, author of The Snack Factor Diet, suggests mashing a banana and grating five almonds for a mask that exfoliates, smoothes, and fights aging.
Normal complexions will soak up the age-fighting, antioxidant benefits from olive oil, says dermatologist Leslie Baumann. Dab the oil onto flaky areas, or mix a teaspoon of brown sugar with a quarter cup of olive oil for a nutritious cleanser.
Ole Henriksen, founder of the Ole Henriksen Spa in Los Angeles, says you can perk up your skin with a cleanser that combines a cup of plain yogurt and 2 teaspoons of dry red tea leaves. Sponge on the mixture and use it as a cleanser. Henriksen says the yogurt helps fade uneven pigmentation and the tea leaves are gentle enough to scrub any complexion.
Insider Tip: How to Make the Most of Your Homemade Beauty Treatments
Although all the good-for-your-skin ingredients are crucial for a facial to work, the method used to apply them is just as important. “The reason you look so great after a facial is because you have increased blood circulation to your skin due to the facial massage,” says Eva Scrivo, owner of Eva Scrivo Salons in New York City.
It just takes three minutes and you can do it whenever applying a homemade beauty treatment or even just cleansing. “This is the reason aestheticians have beautiful skin,” Scrivo says. Here’s how she advises getting your complexion into shape: Whenever you apply a treatment or cleanse, apply light pressure — enough so you can feel the bones of your face — with your finger tips. Start at the jaw line and move up to the forehead using upward strokes.
Adapted from WebMD
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