Body Hair Removal: Solutions For Today
by: Sam Natarajan
As we as a race become increasingly conscious of the way others look at us and not just the way, we look at ourselves, personal grooming has never been more important. And top of the list for many men and women today is to gain a superior attractive quality by getting rid of unwanted body hair. Be it facial hair removal for women, or back hair removal for men, quick hair removal treatments have fast gained in popularity with the masses. As your search continues for the treatment best suited for you, we have tried to put together a concise set of hair removal solutions available in the market today for your benefit.
The commonest form of quick hair removal today is shaving, which as the name suggests is the simple application of a razor blade, either manually or electrically on the skin surface to remove the hair by cutting the hair stem. While it's a quick painless hair removal method which is effective, it lasts only for very short bursts of time and can never be termed a permanent hair removal solution. Still for people short on time and low on cash, shaving still promises to be an affordable practical solution. For the slightly advanced enthusiast, depilatory creams are a good bet to do facial hair removal and leg hair removal. These creams effect quick hair removal through surface chemical reactions with the protein in your hair, breaking it down and making it easy to come off. Available in a variety of forms such as gels and aerosols and typically calcium-compound based, this treatment offers a solution which however is not a permanent hair removal method.
Of course, if you are a girl, you have probably gone through the painful procedure of waxing for body hair removal especially for hands and legs hair removal. Tweezing like waxing works by plucking the hair out of the skin right from its root s, thereby giving a hairless skin which can last for several weeks until the roots of the hair grow back. Electrolysis for hair removal on the other hand works on the principle of destabilizing the hair roots through surface electrical currents charged through electrodes implanted in the skin. While the effect of electrolysis hair removal is long standing in nature, frequent sessions and a serious dent on your bank balance are realistic possibilities that you need to keep in mind.
The best hair removal method available today is laser hair removal for men and women alike. This treatment is swift, precise, painless hair removal technique which normally guarantees an extended period of freedom from unwanted hair. In just a few sessions, whether it is facial hair removal or back hair removal, the laser technology effectively answers all your needs and desires for looking your personal best!
Visit your local salon or contact your beautician for understanding which of these hair removal treatments would work best for you. All the best to looking good and feeling great!!
About the author:
Visit our articles section at http://www.Laser-Hair-Removal-For-You.comfor more such practical advice, tips and hair removal information. © 2005, Sam Natarajan. You may publish it at no cost, as long as the links are left intact, made live, and this notice stays in place.
Choosing Tanning Products Wisely
by: Jerry Blackburn
Why is it that people look so good and healthy with a little colour, yet tanning can be so harmful to your skin? Recent studies and the news report that there are more cases than ever of melanoma and we all know that extensive exposure to the sun will cause your skin to age more quickly.
There are solutions to the problem of harmful UV sunlight that allow you to have all of the aesthetic benefits of a rich tan without the harmful side effects. The answer is in the types of tanning products you use to care for your skin while in the sun and after.
Pre-Tanning Preparation
It is always good to keep your skin moisturized. Cold weather and dry air can dry it out as well as salt water and chlorine. Always protect your skin with moisturizers day and night. They are most effective if applied immediately following a shower because the skin is moist and freshly exfoliated from washing.
Before going out in the sun, even in the winter, it is important to protect skin with a moisturizer that has a SPF protection factor of 15 or more. This rating is how many times more protected skin is than if it had nothing on it. It is so important to protect the face because it is more susceptible to sunburn.
Tanning Beds
Tanning beds are only slightly less harmful to the skin that the actual sun. However, there are tanning bed lotions meant especially for tanning beds that give a deeper tone to the skin and protect it at the same time. Artificial tanning bed light bulbs are extremely strong, and that is why you can tan in just a few minutes per session. This also prepares the skin to deepen in colour each time you go to the beach.
Many salons have tanning booths where you stand or beds where you lie down and get all areas of the body tan at once. This is a good place to go if you are planning to go on vacation to a warm weather climate in the middle of winter. You can enjoy all of your holiday without having to worry about sunburn, because you can condition your skin to the sun before you leave home.
Lotions & Creams and other Tanning Products
It can be confusing knowing what type of lotion to use to best protect your skin and still give you great colour. There are spray on lotions, facial tanner products, a lotions with all kinds of number on them! Much of what you should use depends on your skin type.
If you are fair skinned then you need to choose a tanning product that protects the most. An SPF rating of at least 15, but 30 would be better. Those with darker, olive skin tones can use a lotion with an SPF of 8 and be adequately protected, provided they reapply the lotion frequently if there are going to be in the sun for long periods of time. There are also sunless tanning products that offer no protection from UV rays, but will change the skin colour without the sun.
About the author:
Jerry Blackburn released a lot of articles for the news section of http://www.tanning-lotions-tips.com. Amongst his works Jerry is working on topics like tanning products http://www.tanning-lotions-tips.com/sunless-tanning-products.htmland provides information on sunless tanning.
Colour & Cosmetics
by: Jane Thurnell-Read
Many people avoid artificial colours in their foods, but don't check out the colours in cosmetics and personal care products. It is only in recent years that cosmetics have started to carry a full list of ingredients on their packaging.
Making sense of the ingredients can be difficult for the lay person. This is particularly true for colourings, which often go under the guise of numbers rather than names.
In many countries colours in cosmetics are listed as colour index numbers. C.I. numbers are allocated by the Society of Dyers and Colourists. The scheme covers colours used in food, personal care products, cosmetics, household products and fabric dyeing. So, for example you will not normally see ‘tartrazine’ listed in your lipstick ingredients, but it may be there listed as C.I. 19140. Erythrosine will be listed as C.I. 45430, and so on.
The USA uses a different system: the FD & C colors have been categorised by the American Food & Drink Administration for use in foods, drugs and cosmetics. So in this system tartrazine is FD & C yellow 5, and amaranth is FD & C red 2.
The ‘E Number’ system is used by the European Community (EC). This is a system of giving code numbers to food additives, some of which are also used in cosmetics and personal care products. This system is also used in some other countries but without the E prefix, so E102 becomes simply colour ‘102’.
All this confusion for the average consumer would not be important, but for the fact that some of these colours are known to cause problems in susceptible individuals. For example, tartrazine (also known as FD & C Yellow 5, CI 1914 and EI02) can cause migraines, itching, rhinitis and agitation in susceptible individuals. Many individuals avoid its use in food, but do not realise how extensively it is used in cosmetics, such as lipstick, and personal care products.
The big worries in terms of colours in cosmetics and personal care products are lipstick, coloured lip balms, lip gloss and lip pencils, because anyone who uses these regularly ‘eats’ a fair quantity over their life time, but these colours also appear in skin cream, foundation, mascara and so on too. (Remember also that these colours can also be in 'natural' cosmetics and skin care products.)
Another worry is that even the 'experts' cannot agree on an international 'safe' list of colours, so that a colour may be allowed in one country, but banned elsewhere. For example, quinoline yellow is allowed within the European Community and in some other countries, but is banned in Japan, Norway and the United States.
As ever, the advice is: keep yourself informed and read the label. Here is a list of the different names and numbers that common colourings go under:
Tartrazine: E102 or FD & C Yellow 5 or C.I. 19140
Quinoline yellow or E104 or C.I. 47005
Sunset yellow or E110 or FD & C Yellow 6 or C.I. 15985
Amaranth or E123 or FD & C Red 2 or C.I. 16185
Ponceau 4R or E124 or C.I. 16255
Erythrosine or E127 or FD & C Red 3 or C.I. 45430
Red 2G or E128 or C.I. 18050
Allura red AC or E129 or FD & C Red 40 or C.I. 16035
Patent blue V or E131 or C.I. 42051
Indigo carmine or E132 or FD & C Blue 2 or C.I. 73015
Brilliant blue FCF or FD & C Blue 1 or C.I. 42090
Fast green FCF or FD & C Green 3 or C.I. 42053
Green S or E142 or C.I. 44090
About the author:
Jane Thurnell-Read researches and writes on health and well-being. Visit her site http://www.healthandgoodness.comfor well-researched articles on a whole range of topics. She's not trying to sell you anything - this is an information web site. the most common unsolicited comment from people who surf this site is "brilliant".
Learn About The Latest Trends In Cosmetics Now
by: Bridget Allen
The days of bright blue eye shadow and slathered on blush are gone with the wind! If you are in desperate need of a make up freshen up, consider these hot trends in cosmetics. These latest colors, tips, and techniques are just what anyone needs to update a look or make the change into a new season. Remember that your cosmetics do have an expiration date, so keep this in mind when shopping for new make up. With each season, carefully look through your make up kit and discard any items that are outdated. This is critical, especially with eye make up that can expire and potentially cause painful infections. Also, remember not to share your make up with anyone else to prevent spread of germs and infection.
Today’s latest trends in cosmetics reflect the fashion trends—shimmer and shine! From super glossy lip gloss to candy like eye make up with glitter to make your eyes truly pop. This trend only applies to eyes, lips, and nails, however, since cream and matte finishes is hot for foundations, powders, and blush. In addition to shimmer and shine, the color of eye and lip make up is quite subtle. Gone are the vibrant colors and eye popping shades of eye shadow. Instead, pale browns, ivories, grays, tans, and other natural colors are all the rage. Lip shades are also a bit more subdued, with a nude lip or a sheer pink gloss being incredibly hot.
Lipstick is out today, with lip gloss taking over the first place in purses all over the country. These lip glosses are made in every color under the sun and many mimic the appearance of lipstick with a much smoother and glossier look. For individuals looking to care for their lips and enjoy that terrific nude lip look, consider using a simple hydrating stick. The all natural brand, Bert’s Bees, produces a phenomenal product that can be applied under a gloss or used by itself.
The days of pressed powder may be numbered; as today’s hot products include cream powders that go on thick but dries sheer and ultra light. This option is great for individuals who would like a bit more coverage than pressed powder offers, but do not want to deal with the mess and hassle of using foundation. Another popular trend along this line is the cream blush, which also goes on like a cream but dries a powder. Also, cream blushes prevent that unnatural coloring that appears on many women’s cheeks.
Right Blusher for the Right Type of Skin
by: Tania
Copyright 2005 Tania http://www.ultimate-cosmetics.com
Gone are the days when women stuck to one color blusher usually pinks or peaches. Now days, blushers come in a whole new variety of colors and different formulations. There are vast array of clever new formulas. The main choices are traditional powder, a cream texture, a modern liquid or a gel finish. So there is certainly one out there to suit your skin type.
Powder blush is the easiest to use. If you prefer this type, choose one that isn't too sparkly or it'll enhance your wrinkles. Shimmery blushers are far kinder to mature skin as they diffuse fine lines, making the delicate skin around your cheeks look younger. And as your skin feels drier as you get older, you could also try moisturizing cream formula that gives a flattering sheen to your skin.
All Skin Types
Right type: LIQUID CHEEK STAINS
Reason: They're excellent for all skin types and face shapes, as you can use a little to achieve a natural flush of color, or layer to build up the shading to an intense hue that will last all through the day.
How to apply: They work best on bare cheeks and need to be applied quickly to avoid mistakes. Apply powder blusher over cheek stains for ultimate staying powder.
Dry or Combination Skin
Right type: CREAM
Reason: Cream blusher is the best if you have dry to combination skin as there's no powder to sit on your dry patches. Also, the texture helps your skin maintain a natural , luminous glow.
How to apply: It's easy to apply on bare skin or over foundation. If you have a round face don't shade apples of your cheek instead apply it on your cheekbones, slanting towards your temples.
Oily Skin
Right type: POWDER
Reason: It's classic, and perfect for achieving dense color coverage. It's the best texture for contouring your cheekbones, and is ideal for oily skin as it lies well on your skin's surface and reduces shine.
How to apply: Sweep on to your cheeks in a croissant shape for a natural - looking flush.
Mature Skin
Right type: GEL OR MOUSSE
Reason: Mousse and gel formulas are great for mature skins and if you want a subtle result. They can be worn alone on bare skin or layered over foundation, before powder, and are less fiddy to use than liquid stains. All mousse formulas offer pretty velvety finish and are really smooth to apply.
How to apply: When putting on gel or mousse blusher, tap it gently on to your cheeks and blend upwards and outwards with your fingertips. But don't apply it on top of your make- up as you will not be able to blend it.
Find related information here: http://www.ultimate-cosmetics.com/blush-makeup.htm
About the author:
Tania - For http://www.ultimate-cosmetics.com- The final destination to beauty and makeup tips. Get addicted at our forums: http://forums.ultimate-cosmetics.comYou are free to publish the above article in your ezine or website, provided the credit is given to the author and a hyperlink (HTML clickable) is given to http://www.ultimate-cosmetics.com
The Truth About Home Made Facials
by: Janice Wee
I started making facial masks after reading several books on natural cosmetics. Common ingredients used in home made facials are eggs, lemon, milk, honey, cucumber, tomato, essential oils and lots more fruits, herbs and other ingredients.
The assumption I had was that home made cosmetics, being all natural and preservative free were much safer than the commercial masks you found in stores. A wrong assumption. You know the saying. Never assume anything. It makes an ASS of U and ME. Did you know some of the deadliest poisons on earth are 100% natural?
There are complaints about preservatives irritating the skin and all that. That may be true especially for a person with very sensitive skin. But preservatives actually make cosmetics safe to use. Preservatives kill or at very least, inhibit the bacteria, mold, viruses and nasty things that would otherwise thrive in the cosmetics we use. Commercial preparations usually contain some preservative or other to make these products safe for use. Some of the very high end cosmetic formulations are packed in sterile capsules to do away with or at least, minimimize, the need for preservatives.
If you make your own skin care for use later in the week, chances are, unless you are anal about sterilizing everything and freezing every batch once it has cooled, thawing it only when you are going to use it, and keeping your cosmetics away from the raw meat in the freezer, eventually, you could find yourself using contaminated home made cosmetics, which could lead to a skin irritation.
I used to make my own skin care but found all the precautions I had to take such a hassle, now I buy mine off the shelves.
Even if you make your facial products for immediate use, you have to be careful about using only the freshest ingredients. A mouldy fruit or anything that is spoilt can lead to disastrous results on your skin.
Then there is the safety of the ingredients used in your skincare products.
I once told a pharmacist about the lemon remedy I was using on my pimples. She was horrified. Lemons are highly acidic. Lemon juice is pH 2. Sulphuric acid is pH 1. Lemons can cause a nasty acid burn if you are not careful.
We had a discussion about this. She told me about a customer who showed up with an acid burn. Turns out, she had a sunburn. Back in Australia, she would soothe that sunburn by rubbing cut cucumber over her skin. The juices would ease the sunburn. This time around, she was unlucky. The cucumber she used was more acidic than the ones she was used to and she ended up with a really nasty acid burn.
Though cucumber is soothing, cucumber contains Alpha Hydroxy Acids as do most fruit and some of the other ingredients used in homemade beauty recipes.
You see, in home made skin care, the exact chemical makeup of the ingredients you use may vary, leading to unpleasant results if you are unfortunate. That is why, everytime you make any facial mask, test it on the inside of your wrist first, before you let that mask touch your face.
I was lucky. The lemon facial I did helped clear my skin by killing the bacteria, without burning my skin. The pharmacist said I was fool hardy. As did my cousin who has been making her own beauty products for years already.
Lemon can thin the skin. It is so acidic. The pharmacist thought the other things, like the almond meal I mixed with the lemon juice helped neutralize the extreme acidity. Also, when I used freshly squeezed lemon juice directly on my face, I would dilute it with water first.
Yet the books I read with home made beauty recipes often include lemon in their recipes. After all, lemon has lightening properties. Lemon juice is often used to lighten freckles. Lemon was even recommended in a book by a former model, for use as a toner.
Not all ingredients are that dangerous though. Oats is an excellent ingredient for use in soothing facials. That was recommended to me by a doctor. For my toddler's rash. Cooked oats in a bag in the bath water is a home remedy to soothe itchy skin. Here is a facial that uses oats and rose water. http://www.womanht.com/facials/RoseOatsFacial.htm .
A home made face mask can be as simple as putting some mash fruit your face. http://www.womanht.com/facials/fruity_facials_tried_and_tested.htm outlines such experiments with fruit.
Different skin types require different ingredients. Dry skin can use richer, nourishing ingredients. Really dry skin would love the moisturizing effect of sweet almond oil or olive oil. Oily skin, on the other hand would break out in pimples if you try massaging these oils on your face. What works for your best friend may be disastrous on you.
The easiest thing to do nowadays is to simply buy a great mask for your skin type off the shelf for your home facial. I use commercial masks these days after some disastrous experiments trying to find new ingredients for new home made facial masks for my site. The successful facials were published at http://www.womanht.com/facials/ .
About the author:
The writer is the writer of the articles in http://www.womanht.com/facials/.
What exactly is Jojoba oil and why is it used so much in skin care products?
by: Glen Jansen
Back in 1822, a small shrub was discovered in the desert near Baja California by a botanist named H. F. Link. Mr. Link named this new plant after a fellow botanist from the U.K. named T. W. Simmonds. The proper named of the Jojoba plant is Simmondsia chinensis. It wasn't until after the U.S. banned whale hunting that this plant started to be cultivated. Up until then, the oil of whales was used in skin care products and cosmetics. After the ban, much research was done to find more suitable replacements for the skin and hair care industries.
The Jojoba plant produces a bean pod and it was discovered that heating the beans caused an oil to be secreted. The desert peoples of Southern California and Mexico had long been using this oil to treat skin conditions and cuts. The Japanese did some research on Jojoba oil and found it to be nontoxic to the human skin. In addition, soon it was known the amazing properties of this oil.
Jojoba oil is actually a wax that is liquid at room temperatures. The 'oil' has similar chemical makeup to the sebum oil that our skin produces naturally. In fact, it is one of the most easily absorbed vegetable oils available today. Because of this, it was soon used to produce all kinds of hair and skin care products.
The oil is wonderful for people who suffer from sensitive skin conditions, including psoriasis and eczema. It helps soften your skin and when applied to your hair will increase its shine. It is also known to help reduce wrinkles and other lines associated with aging. In addition, it helps promote the growth of new skin cells. It even has some anti-bacterial qualities too.
Because of these amazing properties, there is no wonder it is being used in the manufacturing of all kinds of hair products, replenishing skin care products, wrinkle reduction treatments, acne control products and even cosmetics. You can find the oil for sale individually too. A 4 oz bottle can be purchased for as little as $8 and can be used to make your own moisturizing cream at home.
Take your favorite essential oil, such as lavender, and add 40 to 50 drops to a 4 oz bottle. Apply to liberally to your skin and rub until it has been absorbed.
The Jojoba plant was an important and necessary discovery. Its amazing properties help people all over the world look better, feel better about themselves and helps people who suffer from disabilitating skin conditions. If you purchase it, look for organically grown Jojoba oil and make sure it is pressed and not chemically extracted.
About the author:
Taking care of your skin early is the best way to prevent aging of your skin. Our goal is to provide information and resources for you to find anti-aging skin care and wrinkle protection at any age. Visit Anti Aging Skin Care for more information on natural skin care and acne skin care.