Wednesday, April 24, 2013

A social experiment points out how women see themselves



“Many women see their bodies as a compilation of unacceptable features – thighs that are too big, arms that jiggle, cheekbones that aren’t high enough, lips that are too thin,” says Renee Engeln, a senior psychology lecturer and founder of the Body and Media lab at Northwestern University.

To help address this concern and with the hope of encouraging women to develop a positive self-esteem, Dove conducted a social experiment that proves one essential point: “You are more beautiful than you think.”
 



Video Source: youtube.com


Involved in the experiment were seven women, some strangers, and Gil Zamora, an FBI-trained forensic artist. With a curtain separating Zamora and the women, the latter described their facial pictures and the former would then sketch the face of the women based on their descriptions. Meanwhile, stranger-participants were tasked to spend time with the same women and study their facial features. Later on, the stranger would describe the woman they met, and Zamora would do another sketch.


Image Source: news2.onlinenigeria.com


It was evident that while the drawings based on the women’s self-image showed distorted representations of themselves, the sketches based on the strangers’ descriptions demonstrated more matter-of-fact and flattering details.


Image Source: news2.onlinenigeria.com


The women who participated in the experiment were overwhelmed with the differences in their own descriptions of themselves and the descriptions by others. After seeing the sketches, Kela, 40, said with teary eyes, “I need to work on feeling better about myself so that people will treat me in a way that I deserve to be treated.”


Image Source: dove.ca


Having a healthy self-image is not something that’s beyond reach. Women should develop a positive mental outlook and realize that indeed, they are more beautiful than they think.

For more articles and links on how to enhance self-image, visit this Lift and Glow Pro Facebook page.

Tuesday, April 23, 2013

REPOST: Get flawless skin naturally


Do you want to have glowing skin? Instead of splurging on expensive skin treatments, why not try these five simple tips from Health.com to help you achieve radiant skin naturally. 



Image Source: health.com
Natural skin care rules: 5 tips for great skin

Can you go natural and get a great looking glow? You can if you follow these five simple tips for creating the gentlest beauty regimen ever.

Avoid heavy-duty cleansers

Unlike your pots and pans, “your skin needn’t be scrubbed or squeaky to be clean,” says Jeannette Graf, MD, assistant professor of dermatology at New York University Medical Center. So don’t overdo it. Mild, nondetergent cleansers—milks, gels, foams, or cloths—are your best bet. Scan the ingredient labels of products to see if they contain gentle, plant-derived surfactants (the prefix coco- equals coconut, for example; gluco- equals fruit sugars). “The natural source is often hinted at in the name,” says Jim Hammer, a cosmetic chemist with and product-development manager at Pharmasol Corp.

Ditch the toner

These were originally invented to restore the natural pH of skin after it had been washed with an alkaline-detergent soap. “If you’re using a pH-balanced cleanser, there’s no need for toner,” Graf says. “It’ll only dry your skin.”

Make sure acid-laced products are pH-balanced

This means their pH is in sync with skin, so “they gently remove sebum (an oily substance secreted by the skin) and makeup without stripping natural oils,” Graf says. Look for the words “pH-balanced” on cleansers that contain glycolic or lactic acids and on exfoliators, she adds, because some have a low pH, which can cause dryness.

Opt for fragrance-free

Fragrance is the most common cause of skin-care-related allergic reactions. If you’re sensitive, be sure to choose products that are labeled “fragrance-free.” The ones that are marked “unscented” typically contain small amounts of fragrance to help mask the odors of active ingredients.

Choose multitasking moisturizers

A good day cream juggles two jobs—hydration and protection. Pick one that has plant-based moisturizers (natural oils, butters, and essential fatty acids penetrate skin better than man-made emollients like petroleum, Graf explains) and antioxidants (those from natural sources may also contain bioflavonoids and other beneficial compounds not found in synthetic versions, Hammer says), plus nonirritating physical sunblocks, like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide.


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Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Ageless beauty: 90-year-old Iris Apfel as the face of MAC Cosmetics



Hollywood’s love affair with beauty usually means having young-looking skin. But in 2011, when MAC Cosmetics chose nonagenarian Iris Apfel to be its beauty ambassador, the public was once again reminded that women, no matter what their age is, can be beautiful – fine lines, grey hair, and all.


Image Source: rookiemag.com


MAC’s move to choose Ms. Apfel as its endorser is in response to customers’ search for real representation. Psychologist Vivian Diller affirmed: “We saw things changing when beauty became homogenized and women said they don’t want to look like overly puffed up frozen faces.”




Video Source: youtube.com



With her distinct pince-nez as part of her signature look, the business woman, fashion icon, and interior designer has long allured fashion aficionados. Because she has not let age subdue her timeless and unique fashion sense, people of all walks of life are drawn toward everything that is her—her stories, wardrobe designs, accessories, and even philosophies in life. The president of products at Maysles Films, Bradley Kaplan, describes Iris as a woman with a blend of passion, energy, and determination. He adds, “She’s wonderfully strong-willed, opinionated and single-minded.”


Image Source: poppycockzine.com


MAC’s marketing move has led younger women to admire women of advanced age because of what they have in terms of dynamism, courage, experience, and, yes, real beauty.

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Monday, April 15, 2013

REPOST: Sensitive Skincare e-Book: Guide to Understanding, Treating and Protecting Sensitive Skin for All Ages and Seasons -- Presented by Skincare-News.com

Do you have sensitive skin?  This article from NBC News presents an e-Book that shows steps on how to take care of your skin:  


SACRAMENTO, CA — Sensitive skin comes in a variety of forms, from adult acne to allergic reactions. Read on for tips from Skincare-News.com's latest e-Book on how to properly care for sensitive skin.

Struggling with reactive skin conditions, acne or irritation? Finding the right products and treatments for sensitive skin can be tricky, but this guide can help. The latest Skincare-News.com e-Book Sensitive Skincare Handbook reveals how the right daily regimen, effective treatments and preventative knowledge can help keep skin healthy and radiant.

Introduction to sensitive skin

The first step to properly treating sensitive skin is to understand its causes and triggers. How do factors like weather, everyday household products and lifestyle habits contribute to sensitive skin? How can people go beyond skincare basics and learn to defend skin from potentially irritating ingredients, fabrics and jewelry? What are some tips to help people with sensitive skin types make smart product choices, from sunscreen and shaving formulas to deodorants? To find out, visit Skincare-News.com or click skincare-news.com/a-10376-Sensitive_Skincare_Handbook.aspx

Makeup and beauty

Skincare products aren't the only important consideration when it comes to sensitive skin. Anyone dealing with a delicate or irritation-prone complexion needs to evaluate her cosmetic choices as well. Which products are gentle enough for daily use, even on the most sensitive skin? How can women learn to identify problem ingredients and choose the right makeup formulas for skin conditions like rosacea and eczema? Since skin typically grows more sensitive with age, what are some sensitive skin tips from professionals specifically for more a youthful and flattering look? To find out, visit Skincare-News.com or click skincare-news.com/a-10376-Sensitive_Skincare_Handbook.aspx

Treatments and ingredients

Wondering how to balance skin that's not only sensitive but affected by menopausal acne, dryness or excess oil as well? The key to building a perfect regimen is choosing the right ingredients. Which products help banish hormonal and adult acne for good? What are the top ingredients to embrace and avoid for sensitive skin? How can people create a foolproof skincare routine that pampers and protects skin while helping to manage sensitive skincare issues? To find out, visit Skincare-News.com or click skincare-news.com/a-10376-Sensitive_Skincare_Handbook.aspx

Family skincare

Sensitive skin can affect the whole family, especially since this condition is often hereditary. What are easy and affordable options for the entire family to improve sensitive skin at all stages of life? How can men treat issues like eczema, acne and irritations without a lot of time or effort? For busy parents, what are safe and effective products for children through all weather and seasons? To find out, visit Skincare-News.com or clickskincare-news.com/a-10376-Sensitive_Skincare_Handbook.aspx

Seasonal skincare

The changing seasons can wreak havoc on sensitive skin, especially in the dramatic transition from cold, dry weather to heat and humidity. Need some guidance on how to adapt a current skincare regimen for spring? What are some seasonal tips for staying active outdoors through any weather conditions, without damaging sensitive skin? How can men and women keep sensitive, irritation-prone skin hydrated and radiant throughout the year? To find out, visit Skincare-News.com or click skincare-news.com/a-10376-Sensitive_Skincare_Handbook.aspx

Find answers to many more questions about sensitive skincare through all seasons and for all skin types and ages at Skincare-News.com or skincare-news.com/a-10141-Cold_Weather_Beauty_Handbook.aspx

 
 

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Monday, April 1, 2013

REPOST: What causes dark under-eye circles?

Get rid of under-eye circles by trying these strategies from CNN.  Read on: 
    
(Real Simple) -- If your dark under-eye circles aren't quite as adorable as a panda's, you don't have to grin and bear it. Try these (en)lightening strategies to minimize them. 
Your plan of attack depends on the color of your circles. Look straight into a mirror in natural light, then lower your chin slightly to expose the shadows under your eyes. This way, you'll see clearly whether your circles are more blue or more brown. 
Blue circles 
The cause: Blue circles result from oxygenated blood pooled beneath the under-eye skin. Skin here is very thin and almost transparent, so blood shows through. This is more noticeable in the morning: When we've been horizontal for a while, fluids accumulate and the veins expand to hold more blood.
Blue circles may get worse with age. "As we get older, we lose subcutaneous fat, which can mask blueness below the surface of the skin," says dermatologist Joshua Zeichner, the director of cosmetic and clinical research at Mount Sinai Medical Center, in New York City.
OTC treatments: There are a few options that work in different ways, though their effects last only a day at most. Topical creams with stimulating ingredients, like caffeine, can constrict blood vessels and temporarily boost circulation; potent hydrators, such as hyaluronic acid, plump the area, pushing the skin up and away from the pooled blood.
Retinoic acid creams thicken the outer layer of the skin to conceal shadows. Another quick fix: products with stainless-steel rollerball-tip applicators. "The cool metal causes vessels to constrict," says New York City dermatologist Eric Schweiger.
Professional treatments: A few other treatments approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use on the rest of the face can effectively treat under-eye circles. One noninvasive solution is a cream with a prescription-strength retinoid.
Blue circles can also be significantly diminished by a treatment called Thermage, which involves a high-tech handheld radio-frequency device. It is nonsurgical, requires no downtime, and is thought to increase the production of collagen, which builds up and tightens the skin.
One session costs about $1,000, and the results last three to five years. Zeichner treats dark circles by injecting a hyaluronic acid filler, such as Juvéderm or Restylane, to plump the skin and hide blueness; the injections can last a year or longer and cost $700 to $900 a pop.
Brown circles 
The cause: Brown circles result from hyperpigmentation, triggered by chronic eye-rubbing, sun exposure, or genetics. They are most prevalent among Asian and African American skin tones.
OTC treatments: Your best bet is daily use of a cream or serum spiked with a skin brightener, like soy or citrus, which can lighten circles over a period of four to six weeks. Avoid hydroquinone, a go-to lightener for sun spots and scars, as most dermatologists agree that it's too heavy-duty for the eye area.
Professional treatments: As with blue circles, there are treatments dermatologists use elsewhere on the face that can also lessen the look of brown circles. They respond well to low-concentration TCA (trichloroacetic acid) peels, which exfoliate.
Plan on spending about $100 a treatment, and you may need several over a couple of months. For enhanced results, there are lasers, like the Q-switched or Fraxel, which destroy pigment cells and even out skin tone with a beam of light energy. Most circles lighten after two or three $500 sessions.
Preventive measures 
Reason No. 734 to wear sunscreen: It will keep circles from returning after treatment and can also stop them from developing in the first place. Sun protection prevents skin from both thinning prematurely (exposing blueness) and tanning (getting browner). 

Lift and Glow Pro is a fast-acting skin rejuvenation serum that can help retain people’s suppressed radiance. Visit this Facebook page for details.