1. Fight aging. One of the reasons why we age is that old skin cells pile up creating a firm layer of old skin. To fight this natural process you can exfoliate weekly or use deep peeling. March is the last month when deep peeling is recommended because in April sun can be too damaging for such procedures. For an at home deep peel you can use mud masks, deep peeling creme, or a chemical peel. Some of these peels are DIY and can be made from scratch.
2. Creme with vitamin A. Use of creme with vitamin A (retinol) will speed up the separation of old skin cells from your skin and will fight blemishes. So, to have young and pigment free skin use such creme daily. Important tip, when checking the ingredient list of your creme, vitamin A should be within the first 7 of ingredients listed.
3. Three flaws of beauty. Bangs, eyeliner and lipliner.
Bangs. Bangs change the proportions of your face, by making your face appear shorter than it is. By adding bags you visually eliminate 1/3 of your face thus making your face appear disproportionate. Avoid bangs if you can.
Thick eyeliner (lining upper and lower lash). When you line your eyes with a thick application of the liner, instead of looking beautiful you end up looking like a racoon. Make sure that towards inner eye corners the line gets thin, and towards outer corners the liner line gets thicker. Tip, when applying eyeliner line upper lash line only.
Lipliner. Avoid lipliner if you are starting to see wrinkles around your lips, as liner will attract more attention to your age. When picking a lipliner make sure that it matches the shade of your lipstick - not a darker or lighter shade. Quick tip, to make your lipstick last longer, instead of lining your lips, fill in the entire lip area with the lip liner, then apply lipstick.
Stay beautiful!
Diana ♥
I am 24 right now, and I am already weary of the wrinkles. I don’t have many, but a few is just enough to start me on the aging paranoia. So I have researched all the fighting methods and this is how you can fight your wrinkles too:
1) Almond oil - Apply a bit of almond oil underneath your eyes. Almond oil is great for fighting wrinkles around your eyes.
2) Anti aging products - Only work if they have these ingredients: hydrolyzed collagen, hydrolyzed elastin (bioelastin), and hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid.
3) Natural ingredients - Anti aging cremes and serums must have one or a few of these ingredients: royal jelly, sea buckthorn, ginkgo biloba (Maidenhair tree), centella asiatica, ivy, green tea catechins, and red grape. Please note that these ingredients must be listed as one of the first 7 ingredients on the list; this will ensure that there are potent quantities of the ingredient in the product.
4) SPF 15 / 30 - Use sunscreen regularly as the sun damages and dries up your skin. Make sure that your sunscreen contains - Zinc oxide and Titanium dioxide. Avoid sunscreen that contains - methyl benzoate, benzyl, anything ending with -benzoate, camphor, and cinnamate. These are synthetic filters which are linked to cancer.
5) Botox - I would recommend botox injections only to those past the age of 40. Make sure that you get it done in a clinic by a certified and lisensed doctor, not a nurse. Nurses cannot perform such procedure. After you are done with botox you cannot: exercise, do yoga, bend down, go to sauna, tanning salon, gym - botox can relocate to other places or evaporate.
Diana ♥
1. Dairy products
Drink Kefir or yogurt as they function best at providing your body with calcium and hence preventing bone deterioration that happens with age. Please don’t drink milk. Milk is a major cause of allergy, it does not digest properly and may interfere with your body’s immune system.
2. Juice
100% juice has twice more sugar than in actual apples. And juices from concentrates, nectars and “juice” drinks have in them twice as much sugar as 100% juice. So do yourself a favour and don’t drink juices at all - unless you are looking to ruin your teeth and health. Switch to eating raw fruits or make freshly squeezed juice at home without any added sugar.
3. Tap Water
All of our tap water has chlorine in it. Chlorine is a gas and it is used to clean up our water by killing bad bacteria. It is safe to drink tap water but there are three things that you should remember:
1) Water has to be filtered before it is consumed. Just buy a Britta filter in a jug and use it at home.
2) Boil water only once. If you boil water more than once in your cattle or on the stove you are running into a risk of getting cancer. When water with chlorine is boiled multiple times it releases cancerogenic agents.
3) Let water sit for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes of poured water from the tap, when it sits still, chlorine evaporates and your water is then safe to drink or cook with.
Stay healthy,
Diana ♥
Come winter time and late autumn my skin turns into an old painting - dry and cracked. I have been fighting dry skin every cold season for a good couple of years now. I wanted to share with you my routine & tips:
1. Drink water. Drink up to 10 glasses of water per day, this is really important as your hydrated body means hydrated skin.
2. Lotion. Every time you are out of shower or bath apply lotion all over your body and face. Any moisturizing cream or Vaseline will do. Please make sure that your creme is as natural as possible free of “mineral oil”, parabens and other chemicals.
3. Soap. Every time I wash my face with soap my skin dries up like there is no tomorrow. There is only one way out - lotion.
4. Exfoliate. Once a week or daily exfoliate your skin with scrubs - not just hands and face, but your entire body - including legs and feet.
5. Fish. If you like fish eat it more often (eat it at least once a week), fish contains oils which are good for your skin and brain :)
6. Vitamin E or Aloe Vera - Buy these in gel form, and use as a creme. Also you can drink vitamin E in tablets.
Diana ♥
Three suggested to dos which are certain to change your life for better this November.
#1. Rejuvenate
When you grow older your skin needs a bit of help as it does not renew as easily on its own building up layers of dead old skin. As an aide daily or weekly peeling is a must. To kick off those old layers of skin and give way to new and healthy skin use either a scrub (it can be in form of a creme scrub or loofa) or fruit juices - acidic juices of lemon or orange can be applied to your skin for about 10-15 minutes and then rinsed, these acids will wash away the old skin particles.
#2 Hand sanitization
With viruses on the loose it is a good idea to take as many preventative cautions as possible. Always cary with you a small liquid hand sanitizer (if you don’t like the smell of alcohol, buy a scented one). Apply it frequently, especially when in public spaces (school, office, transport, mall, restaurant). Hand sanitizer reduces your risk of getting virus sickness such as flue 5-10 fold. Also don’t forget to wash your hands on a regular basis with antibacterial soap.
#3 Ingrown Nail
November is the time when we start wearing winter and late autumn shoes. As our toes are hidden and squished inside a shoe we often forget about them. Our lack of attention may result in ingrown nails. Gross, I know. To prevent this please pay attention to your toes, once a week inspect them and perform DIY (do it yourself) pedicures.
Stay healthy,
Diana ♥
Toxins In Our Cosmetics
How often do you read the ingredients written on the label of your shampoo, lipstick, blush, hand lotion, and other beauty and makeup products that you use? Maybe now it is time you started to do so. I investigated most of the written but rarely read ingredients, let’s find out what they are. Please read, memorize and avoid these toxins at all cost. To check your current cosmetics and beauty products for chemicals use Skin Deep by EWG.
Parabens
What? Class of chemicals used as preservatives
Hazard: Linked to cancer and may interfere with male reproductive functions
Where? Moisturizers, face and skin cleansers, shampoos, conditioners, sunscreens, deodorants and antiperspirants, shaving gels, toothpastes, makeup, and many others
Laureth Sulfate, Sodium Laureth sulfate
What? Detergent and foaming agent
Hazard: Human cancerogen, irritant, may cause hair loss and neurological problems
AKA: SL, SLES, SLS
Where? Shampoos, soap, toothpaste, shower gels and bubble bath
*NOT TO BE CONFUSED with Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate which is derived from coconut and palm oils; a safe skin friendly surfactant (foaming agent) for both skin and hair. Or Sodium Lauryl Lactylate which is derived from palm kernel and sugar, a safe, skin friendly cleanser for both skin and hair.
Phthalates (DEP, DBP, DMP)
What? Adhesive
Hazard: Shown to damage the liver, kidneys, lungs and reproductive systems in animal studies, phthalates can be absorbed through the skin or inhaled. EWG found phthalates in nearly three-quarters of 72 name-brand products, though none of them listed phthalates as ingredients.
Where? Nail polish, body care products, perfume, hair products, cremes, and makeup
Triclosan
What? Ingredient added to reduce or prevent bacterial contamination
Hazard: Alters hormone regulation and contributes to making bacteria resistant to antibiotics.
Where? Antibacterial soaps, toothpaste, deodorants, face and body wash, acne treatments, and makeup.
“Fragrance”
What? Nitro- and polycyclic musks are artificial chemicals used in “fragrance” mixture
Hazard: Irritate the skin, trigger allergic reactions, and are linked to reproductive problems in women
AKA: Synthetic musk, synthetic fragrance
Where? Cosmetics and body care products, like perfume and soap, if you see “fragrance” written it means it has these artificial musks.
GMO or GEO (Genetically modified organism)
What? An organism whose genetic material has been altered using genetic engineering techniques.
Hazard: Our system cannot break down these ingredients, compromising our immune system.
Where? Personal care products including skin care, deodorant, perfume, and cosmetics.
Formaldehyde (FR, FRPs)
What? Colourless gas
Hazard: Human cancerogen. Not always listed as can be released by other products/preservatives.
AKA: Quaternium-15, dimethyl-dimethyl (DMDM) hydantoin, imidazolidinyl urea, diazolidinyl urea, sodium hydroxymethylglycinate, and 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol (bronopol).
Where? Nail polishes, nail glues, eyelash glues, hair gels, hair smoothing products, baby shampoo, baby soap, body washes and other personal care products.
Siloxanes (D4, D5, PDMS)
What? Softener
Hazard: Endocrine disrupter and reproductive toxicant
AKA: Look for ingredients ending in “-siloxane” or “-methicone.”
Where? Hair products, deodorant, lipstick, moisturizers, facial treatments, and other cosmetics.
BHA and BHT
What? Preservatives
Hazard: Suspected endocrine disruptors and may cause cancer
Where? Lipsticks, moisturizers and other cosmetics.
Petrolatum
What? Used for shine and as a moisture barrier
Hazard: May cause cancer
AKA: Mineral oil, mineral oil jelly
Where? Shampoo, soap, conditioner, moisturizers and other.
DEA-related ingredients (diethanolamine)
What? Emulsifiers or foaming agents
Hazard: May cause cancer
AKA: Look for related chemicals MEA and TEA, cocamide, lauramide DEA
Where? Moisturizers, sunscreens, soaps, cleansers, and shampoos.
Petrochemicals
What? Chemical products derived from petroleum.
Hazard: Cancer, kidney toxicant, neurotoxicant, and a respiratory toxicant (similar effect to Laureth Sulfate)
AKA & Where: Paraffin Wax, Mineral Oil, toluene, Benzene, Phenoxyethanol, Anything with PEG (polyethylene glycol), Anything ending in ‘eth’ indicates that it required ethylene oxide (a petrochemical) to produce e.g. myreth, oleth, laureth, ceteareth, Anything with DEA(diethanolamine) or MEA (ethanolamine), Butanol and any word with ‘butyl’ – butylalcohol, butylparaben, butylene glycol, Ethanol and word with ‘ethyl’ - ethyl alcohol,ethylene glycol, ethylene dichloride, EDTA (ethylene-diamine-tetracetatic acid),ethylhexylglycerin, Any word with “propyl” – isopropyl alcohol, propylene glycol,propylalcohol, cocamidopropyl betaine, Methanol and any word with ‘methyl’ - methyl alcohol, methylparaben,methylcellulose, Parfum or fragrance – 95% of chemicals used in fragrance are from petroleum.
Diana ♥
1) Daily cleansing - Wash your face every night before going to sleep, daily dirt and makeup clogs up your pores. Use a scrub or good old soap and water.
2) Weekly cleansing - Cleanse your skin once a week. Use natural clay or mud mask. This routine will clean up you pores, and will rid you of white and black dots. Want to spice things up? Try a peel. Also exfoliating your skin fights acne.
3) Diet - diet influences the oiliness of your skin as well.
A. FRUIT & VEG - Try eating food rich in protein. Include raw vegetables and fruits into your daily diet routine.
B. VITAMIN B2 - vitamin B2 prevents your skin from increasing the oiliness of your skin. Great sources of B2 are nuts, grains, oats, and beans.
C. SO LONG FATS - Decrease your sugar intake. Say goodbye to chocolates, pastries, pop, alcohol and fried foods. Or at least control yourself and consume these items in small portions.
D. SPICY? NO THANK YOU - Spicy foods dilate blood vessels, and make your skin produce more oils.
4) Hydration - You have to hydrate your skin. Drink lots of water (10 glasses per day is the norm). Good hydrating cream which is fit for oily skin will help to hydrate your skin as well.
5) Recommended products: Clinique’s 3 step system $49 , 3 step system from Yves Roche $7 , Moisturizer from Lush for oily skin $37.95 , Mineral clay firming masque by St. Ives $15 (get it in Shoppers Drugmart), Thermal mud face pack by Parrs $25.80, Estee Lauder oil control pressed powder $27, any mineral based makeup, any makeup by Bare Minerals
Get these routines memorized by heart and start practicing them. Let’s kick that oily skin’s ass once and for all!
Diana ♥
