I once knew an older woman who said she’d do anything for perfect skin, and would “eat and slather on sh-t if she had to.” Yikes! While it may not be as extreme, these are equally disturbing new products out that contain questionable ingredients that promises ‘perfect’ skin! Let me know what you think.
- Baby foreskin. Apparently, a baby’s foreskin contain 6 natural human growth factors that help rejuvenate the skin and replace the loss of essential cells. Cells from the discarded baby’s foreskin have been reproduced to be used in an anti-oxidant serum that helps treat pretty much everything for cell repair, collagen boosts, and soothing burns. Poor little guys!
- Human Placenta. This dates way back, even though I only heard about it a few months ago. Apparently Soldiers in ancient Egypt used to consume fresh placenta to get ready for battle, as it’s known for its restorative powers. Placentas contain active enzymes, amino acids, vitamins and anti-oxidants, so it is said to be great for stimulation to regenerate skin and improve elasticity. Skin care specialists say this is great for those with acne-prone skin.
- Nightingale Droppings. Said to be an old Geisha secret, it has now traveled to the Western beauty world. Facials and skin creams have recently added this ingredient to their services and products. It is said to clean, brighten and exfoliate the skin. Apparently, is it also a hot thing in Hollywood, too!
- Animal Saliva. Animals lick their wounds for a good reason! Said to have a natural chemical in their saliva, EGF (epidermal growth factor) that helps skin repair itself. Research shows that it helps speed up healing in wounds, burns, and re-generate aging skin. The two scientists who discovered EGF won a Nobel Prize in medicine for their work.
So, anyone going to get these treatments anytime soon? I think I’ll just stick to the basic skin care tips! (And yes – this is real! No April fool’s joke ;-) )
Determining your skin type is especially important when you get to that age of using skin care products to treat whatever issues you have! This normally starts right when you hit your teens. Here are some characteristics of the different skin types to figure yours out.
Normal skin:
- an even complexion
- pores that are normal sized
- skin with very few lines or wrinkles
Your goal: Lucky you! All you need to do is maintain and protect.
Oily skin:
- all over shine
- pores that are medium to large
- acne-prone skin – blemishes, whiteheads, blackheads, pimples
Your goal: Minimize shine, control breakouts, moisturize and protect.
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I am officially the luckiest girl ever! Mario Badescu contacted me about trying out a facial using all of their products recently, and I just couldn’t resist – I have read so much about the brand who counts Jennifer Aniston, Kate Moss, Heidi Klum, and Charlize Theron as fans. I was so excited!
The very first time I got a facial was about 3 years ago, and was not a good experience. I was still a teen and had very acne-prone skin and the facial just aggravated the pimples, leaving me with more breakouts and peeling skin that stung after. I swore never again!
Thankfully, now that I’m 20, my skin has calmed down and my pimple days are over (except for the occasional stressed related ones!). So when I was asked to try out this facial, I wasn’t too worried. I thought that if I do breakout again and have reactions, then it’s final – me and facials do not mix.
However, this facial was a total success.
I went with Sophie from Beautynomics to ONLYaesthetics, a beautiful cozy spa which is the sole distributor for Mario Badescu in Singapore.
Sophie and I talked to our beauticians beforehand and got a customized facial with our major skin concerns (me, hydration and deep cleansing), Sophie (acne and cleansing). I talked with the beautician about what kind of products I wanted to avoid (anything too harsh that would cause reactions) so she selected the right products for me.
I was surprised when the beautician looked at my skin and said I have dry skin. I always just thought that my skin would be combination/sensitive. But I soon realized she was right – after talking, I had all the characteristics of dry skin, I just never noticed it. I mean, with this hot climate, I just thought we’d all have oily/combo skin! I am very glad that I actually discovered what my skin type is – dry and sensitive.
The Facial
The facial took 75 minutes, and it was pure luxury. All I could remember was really enjoying myself, chatting with the beautician and dreaming of the beach.
Here’s what was used on me:
- Enzyme Cleansing Gel
- Seaweed Cleansing Lotion
- Almond and Honey Face Scrub
- Silver Powder
- Whitening Mask
- Super Collagen Mask
- Vitamin C Serum
- Suncare SPF 30
That list was the in order of what was put on me, with a short extraction (didn’t take more than 2 minutes – I take that as a good sign!) and a wonderful facial and shoulder massage. I’ve never had a proper massage before, and they used all sorts of techniques that was so foreign to me, but it was very good! The soft music and nice cold room just added to experience.
I am so surprised that my skin could take so many products in a short period of time and it’s almost been a week, and no reactions! I guess my skin type really has changed – definitely for the better, I think. When I looked in the mirror after, my skin looked so dewy and radiant, I literally shouted “WHOA!”. My mom later said that I was glowing and is going to book herself an appointment too.
Standout Products
Standout products for me were the Almond & Honey Scrub, Whitening Mask, Super Collagen Mask, and the Vitamin C serum. I really need to hunt down what made my skin look as radiant as it did and will buy it asap, I have a feeling it’s a mixture of all those products – whatever, I’ll buy them all!
Thank you!
Overall, it was such a great experience and a big thanks to Wendy, Sheena and ONLYaesthetics for this opportunity. I would highly recommend trying out a customized facial yourself, and when you do, tell them I say hello! :) You can read Sophie’s blog post on her experience here.
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More info:
- You can join ONLYaesthetics’ Facebook group to enjoy special privileges.
- OnlyAesthetics is located at Holland Village, 25A Lorong Mambong, (opp NYDC)
- Tel: +65 6314 4434
- Website: www.onlyaesthetics.com
I had only briefly mentioned this product because of it’s special Breast Cancer Awareness Edition, but one of my best beauty finds ever has been Clinique’s famous moisturizer, Dramatically Different Moisturizing lotion – you all know how moisturizing is one of the ultimate skin care tip!
Did you know? Created in 1968, it is sold every 4 seconds somewhere around the world, and counts Cameron Diaz and Celion Dion as fans.
Hydrated skin doesn’t just look smoother and healthier-it’s better able to function as a barrier against external aggressors.
Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion is the moisture “drink” developed by Clinique dermatologists to maintain skin’s optimal moisture balance.
Works to soften, smooth, improve the condition and texture of your skin.
I first found out about this product when I was on holiday in Thailand. I had gotten a sample size of it from a shop, but was too paranoid to try it on my face for fear of breakouts (this was at least 3 years ago, when I was still in my teens and had acne-prone skin).
Instead, I decided to use it as a hand moisturizer (you know how cold hotel rooms get) and I was amazed at how crazily-smooth my hands felt! I got the courage and started using it on my face, and when I got back home, I went to buy the full bottle immediately.
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As far as aging goes – I’m sure the main concern for everyone is their face, but as they say, hands do show your age very well.
Renowned dermatologist Dr. Zein Obagi has seen it happen a million times: women who have never noticed their hands before find themselves with bulging veins and dark spots that ages them quite a bit.
If aging hands is a concern of yours, fortunately, both preventative and corrective measures can be taken to treat and protect the delicate skin of hands:
- Carry an SPF lotion for hands at all times. “UVA rays, which cause skin aging, penetrate the windshield as you drive and reach the dermis and subcutaneous tissue,” Dr. Obagi reveals. Apply it to your hands and wrists.
- Use products with retinol. “If you want to be smart about renewing your hands, treat them with a product with a high concentration of retinol,” Dr. Obagi recommends. “I created ZO Skin Health Oraser Overnight Hand Recovery to infuse skin with collagen-stimulating, spot-lightening retinol to restore hands as you sleep.”
- Use an at home exfoliation treatment. “Dissolve dead skin cells and polish the surface, uncovering radiant, healthy hands,” Dr. Obagi explains.
Pretty simple, no?
“Women are attuned to every fine line that appears on their faces, but don’t give their hands the same attention,” Dr. Obagi explains. “Because hands are especially vulnerable to UV exposure and have very little fat layer to conceal veins, the signs of aging they monitor closely on their complexions—wrinkles, creases, and sun spots—tend to be exaggerated on the hands without proper care.”
Do you do anything to take care of your hands? I’ll need to get a hand cream with SPF pronto!
This myth has been around for ages, and came about because toothpaste can be drying, and the logic behind it is that it can dry up zits, which will eventually lead to their disappearance.
I vaguely remember putting toothpaste on mosquito bites for some reason?!
Either way, I know some who swear by this so it may help for some, but there are far more irritation and reactions you can get rather than healing. Also, fluoride toothpaste have been proven to make pimples worse.
What do you think of this ‘myth’? Has anyone tried this before?
The beauty industry, especially the skin care industry, is starting to overload with products – some might feel a little overwhlemed with what is available on the market today. Serums, scrubs, night creams, eye creams, day creams, this-and-that creams … Don’t know about you, but I’m confused!
However, no matter what new ‘miracle cream’ comes into the market, there are 5 skincare tips that will always make your skin look amazing:
1. Sunscreen is a must. It helps prevent skin damage that ages you, and of course skin cancer. The best is to get an SPF 15 or higher.
2. Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize. I wrote more about this in my post, Preventing Signs of Aging Tips, it tells you how to keep every part of your body looking healthy, younger and soft.
3. Remove makeup throughly. Remove all traces of makeup before you sleep. Also, try not to cake on too much foundation that might clog pores and result in blemishes and zits.
4. No smoking! Smoking will dramatically age your skin, amongst other things!
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Hello and welcome! I'm Renee and I created this site to combine my love for writing, the web, and of course all things beautiful. ;) You can find out more 