Hi Everyone, thanks for reading my blog! Today, I'm talking about henna tattoos. There are several types of natural inks that are used, but henna is the one that I'm familiar with. Henna is a dye found in plant leaves and has been used to dye hair and skin since the Bronze age (whenever that was). Henna tattoos are a great alternative for people like myself that don't want a permanent tattoo. They last for two to three weeks, then they're gone. When my family and I go on vacation to the beach, we always get henna tattoos. I usually get mine on my foot/ankle. It's fun and perfect for the beach. The downside, is that they're expensive and you have to let it dry for about two hours and nothing can touch it or it smears. So, a tattoo the size of the palm of your hand may cost $25...something really small like a flower on your shoulder may cost $18, or really big one that covers your back could cost $45 or more. It's worth it for me because I don't want it to stay on. Letting it dry can be a pain because depending on where you get it, getting into a car afterwards can be impossible until it's dried.
So after getting henna tattoos every summer for years, I decided to order the henna ink (powder form) online and do it myself. I ordered the kit which came with several small clear packages of henna and the bag and tip. The tip is just like the one that's put on the end of a cake decorating bag, but smaller. Mixing of the henna is pretty simple, you mix it with lemon juice or water and let it sit until it's the consistency of mustard and then you fill the small bag. You should have your tattoo drawn out or have a picture of it...or you can freestyle it, if you're that good. You can use transfer paper and trace it, then flip it over on you hand, wet it and then trace the design on your skin. There's a slight learning curve to keep the flow of the henna from being broken, but if that happens, it's easy to correct. You'll quickly learn the angle to hold the applicator. The hardest part is letting it set without messing it up. The longer you leave it on, the darker and longer it will stay on your skin.
If you're really wanting to get a tattoo, but don't know if you'd really want to live with it for the rest of your life...I'd really recommend that you find a henna artist. Pay a little money for a lot of peace of mind. I guarantee you, you'll fall in love with the versatility of having different tattoos in different places without the lifetime commitment. And, NO, I don't have commitment issues...I have permanent tattoo issues!!
Thanks again for visiting!
Smartkookie
Sunday, September 23, 2012
Monday, September 17, 2012
Blog 3: Chemical Peels
Today, I'm talking about chemical peels. Specifically the TCA (Trichloroacetic Acid) peel. This peel is a medium depth peel and is typically done in a clinic, medi-spa or dermatologist office. However, you can buy TCA (or any other acid--for that matter) online and do it yourself at home.
In my arsenal of age defying beauty products, the chemical peel is by far the most productive for a nearly instant reversal of the clock....and by instant, I mean in about 7-10 days. That being said, I've only done it once on my face. I will ellaborate on this further, in a moment.
I first purchased a small bottle of 30% TCA about two years ago. As with anything I've ever done in the name of beauty...I always research, research, research and test, test, test!! Then, research some more! Once I'd researched it to death, I tested it on the back of my hand to make sure it wasn't some crazy acid. Here's what happened. It acted exactly as the instructions and the certified aesthetician that I knew, said it would. It stung, I fanned it, it stung more, it "frosted" over, I neutralized it (with baking soda and water), it turned pink for a few minutes and all was well. The first test run, I left it on for about 2 minutes (you can leave it on for much longer...up to 10 minutes for a clinical medium depth peel). The second test run (on my other hand), I left it on for 5 minutes. Over the next few days, it wrinkled up and was very dry...like dried elmers glue. It looked like a 90 year old lady. It didn't scare me, because I knew it would do that. About the 4th day, it started to crack and then it just peeled off. Amazingly, brand new, peachy skin was revealed. No wrinkles, no freckles. Naturally, I couldn't wait to do it on my face. Here's the downside...unless you just don't care what people think...you look pretty disgusting for the first 4-7 days. I didn't think about that before I applied the TCA peel to my face, so I went to work looking rediculous!
NOTE: You're not supposed to assist the peeling process. No peeling it off manually like you would a sunburn. It prematurely exposes immature skin to the damaging sun. The newly exposed skin is premature enough after it peels on its own and you MUST wear sunblock during and after the entire process.
Okay, so after my face peeled, the results were incredible. The tiny fine lines around my eyes were greatly reduced and my freckles had faded more than 75%. Truly, this is a highly effective treatment if you're not too scared to do it yourself at home and if you have time to stay inside for about a week or two. That's why I've only done my face once. When I'm off from work long enough to do it, it's always on a vacation going to the beach or something, so I have not yet had the opportunity to do it again. I've also changed departments and my office is grand central station...there's no way I'd come to work like that.
I used the rest of the bottle (tiny bottle, like 1/2 ounce) over the next year on my chest which was really freckled from years of sun exposure. I chose to do it in the winter because you shouldn't be in direct sun while doing the peels. Oh, you'd probably want to know this: A TCA peel in a medi-spa costs anywhere from $500 to $1200. A 1/2 once bottle of TCA costs about $26 and will be enough for about 10 peels. CRAZY, I KNOW!!! The level of peel that I'm willing to do on myself, however, would probably cost around $250 at a spa. I've got balls, but I'm not crazy enough to do a deep peel at home without a licensed aesthetician.
Recently, I purchased a bottle of 100% Trichloroacetic acid (TCA) which I've diluted to a strength of 50%. This is significantly stronger, but will give me a deeper peel. I have the flexibiilty of dilluting it further, if I need to. I will use it on my hands and chest (maybe my face) this winter.
WARNING: I would not take this blog and run out and buy acid online and pour it on your face. I am responsible for whatever harm I cause myself. Thankfully, I'm cautious and a nut about researching and getting the advice of professionals. I waited a year from the time I thought about doing it, to the time I actually used it. I'm not interested in disfiguring myself in the name of beauty. That would be dumb! So, please do your own research, ask professionals your own questions and use caution!!
The resutls of a peel are lasting. Unfortunately, they don't last forever. We continue to age, our skin cells continue to turn-over, and with additional sun exposure, we damage new skin. You can do a medium depth peel once every 3-6 months. There are deep peels that last years. These must be done in a medical center and you are put under general anesthesia. They are no joke! Your face crusts over like a major burn, but when it's done peeling...WOW...the results are incredible. Literally, it takes 10 years off of some people! It's expensive and painful...but in my opinion, worth it! I'm not there yet, thank goodness!
It should be said that there are lighter peels such as the glycolic peel. Glycolic acid is found in over the counter face washes and lotions. There is also a glycolic peel kit at CVS, by Skin Effects for about $24.99 (It's on sale right now for $19.99) and has 8% glycolic acid. You're not going to get much bang for your buck unless you use this type of product often and it will be superficial at best, as opposed to a medium depth peel where your skin crusts over and peels off.
Well, I hope I've covered everything! If you have any questions, ask!
Thank you for reading my beauty blog!
Lydia
In my arsenal of age defying beauty products, the chemical peel is by far the most productive for a nearly instant reversal of the clock....and by instant, I mean in about 7-10 days. That being said, I've only done it once on my face. I will ellaborate on this further, in a moment.
I first purchased a small bottle of 30% TCA about two years ago. As with anything I've ever done in the name of beauty...I always research, research, research and test, test, test!! Then, research some more! Once I'd researched it to death, I tested it on the back of my hand to make sure it wasn't some crazy acid. Here's what happened. It acted exactly as the instructions and the certified aesthetician that I knew, said it would. It stung, I fanned it, it stung more, it "frosted" over, I neutralized it (with baking soda and water), it turned pink for a few minutes and all was well. The first test run, I left it on for about 2 minutes (you can leave it on for much longer...up to 10 minutes for a clinical medium depth peel). The second test run (on my other hand), I left it on for 5 minutes. Over the next few days, it wrinkled up and was very dry...like dried elmers glue. It looked like a 90 year old lady. It didn't scare me, because I knew it would do that. About the 4th day, it started to crack and then it just peeled off. Amazingly, brand new, peachy skin was revealed. No wrinkles, no freckles. Naturally, I couldn't wait to do it on my face. Here's the downside...unless you just don't care what people think...you look pretty disgusting for the first 4-7 days. I didn't think about that before I applied the TCA peel to my face, so I went to work looking rediculous!
NOTE: You're not supposed to assist the peeling process. No peeling it off manually like you would a sunburn. It prematurely exposes immature skin to the damaging sun. The newly exposed skin is premature enough after it peels on its own and you MUST wear sunblock during and after the entire process.
Okay, so after my face peeled, the results were incredible. The tiny fine lines around my eyes were greatly reduced and my freckles had faded more than 75%. Truly, this is a highly effective treatment if you're not too scared to do it yourself at home and if you have time to stay inside for about a week or two. That's why I've only done my face once. When I'm off from work long enough to do it, it's always on a vacation going to the beach or something, so I have not yet had the opportunity to do it again. I've also changed departments and my office is grand central station...there's no way I'd come to work like that.
I used the rest of the bottle (tiny bottle, like 1/2 ounce) over the next year on my chest which was really freckled from years of sun exposure. I chose to do it in the winter because you shouldn't be in direct sun while doing the peels. Oh, you'd probably want to know this: A TCA peel in a medi-spa costs anywhere from $500 to $1200. A 1/2 once bottle of TCA costs about $26 and will be enough for about 10 peels. CRAZY, I KNOW!!! The level of peel that I'm willing to do on myself, however, would probably cost around $250 at a spa. I've got balls, but I'm not crazy enough to do a deep peel at home without a licensed aesthetician.
Recently, I purchased a bottle of 100% Trichloroacetic acid (TCA) which I've diluted to a strength of 50%. This is significantly stronger, but will give me a deeper peel. I have the flexibiilty of dilluting it further, if I need to. I will use it on my hands and chest (maybe my face) this winter.
WARNING: I would not take this blog and run out and buy acid online and pour it on your face. I am responsible for whatever harm I cause myself. Thankfully, I'm cautious and a nut about researching and getting the advice of professionals. I waited a year from the time I thought about doing it, to the time I actually used it. I'm not interested in disfiguring myself in the name of beauty. That would be dumb! So, please do your own research, ask professionals your own questions and use caution!!
The resutls of a peel are lasting. Unfortunately, they don't last forever. We continue to age, our skin cells continue to turn-over, and with additional sun exposure, we damage new skin. You can do a medium depth peel once every 3-6 months. There are deep peels that last years. These must be done in a medical center and you are put under general anesthesia. They are no joke! Your face crusts over like a major burn, but when it's done peeling...WOW...the results are incredible. Literally, it takes 10 years off of some people! It's expensive and painful...but in my opinion, worth it! I'm not there yet, thank goodness!
It should be said that there are lighter peels such as the glycolic peel. Glycolic acid is found in over the counter face washes and lotions. There is also a glycolic peel kit at CVS, by Skin Effects for about $24.99 (It's on sale right now for $19.99) and has 8% glycolic acid. You're not going to get much bang for your buck unless you use this type of product often and it will be superficial at best, as opposed to a medium depth peel where your skin crusts over and peels off.
Well, I hope I've covered everything! If you have any questions, ask!
Thank you for reading my beauty blog!
Lydia
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Blog 2- Retinol (AKA Retin-A)
Greetings and thanks for visiting my blog. Read on for more awesome insight into tried-and-true beauty products. Today, I am going to be sharing information about Retinol or Retin-A. Originally indicated for use on acne, it was soon discovered that as a secondary effect, retinol stimulted the production of collagen and cellular turnover. The product that I use is labeled Tretinoin Gel .05% (Tretinoin is retinoic acid or vitamin A acid). What do I use it for? I'm glad you asked. I use Tretinoin gel to help exfoliate my skin and restore collagen loss due to my age (I'm turning 40 this year). My skin has always been uneven, blotchy, and thick. Using the Tretinoin gel a couple of times per week (at night) helps to keep my skin fresh and smooth.
This product is a prescription only product and costs over $150/ tube in the US. However (comma), you can purchase it online from Canada or India for far less. No, it's not illegal! I think. I bought six tubes for $80, but you can buy just a single tube.
As with most prescription medications, there are warnings associated with using this product. The main warning is not to be in direct sunlight while using it. That's because the product is so effective at exfoliating your skin that it leaves you with less mature skin (not raw or anything like that) which in direct sun light is more susceptible to the UVA rays which are the biggest culprits of skin cancer. So, use sun screen!! Also, it can irritate your skin if you use it too often or put too much on. I've gotten it down to a science and use it in cycles for about two days at a time every other week. I always use an SPF of at least 15 in my daily moisturizer. I also have SPF of 15 in my tinted moisturizer/foundation, so I keep my face protected for quick spurts in and out of the sun. Note: I use a much higher broad-spectrum SPF if I'm outside for long periods of time doing yard work or at a sports game, etc...a minimum of 30, but more often a 50SPF.
As a nice perk, it also keeps my face pimple free. After all, it is marketed for acne.
So, in addition to the hydroquinone cream that I use for hyper pigmentation issues, the Tretinoin gel is a nice weapon against early aging from sun damage. It’s worked wonders on the tiny crow’s feet and laugh lines that are creeping into my life.
Thanks again for visiting my blog. Please ask your questions, I’ll be happy to answer them!
Until Next Week,
Smart Cookie
This product is a prescription only product and costs over $150/ tube in the US. However (comma), you can purchase it online from Canada or India for far less. No, it's not illegal! I think. I bought six tubes for $80, but you can buy just a single tube.
As with most prescription medications, there are warnings associated with using this product. The main warning is not to be in direct sunlight while using it. That's because the product is so effective at exfoliating your skin that it leaves you with less mature skin (not raw or anything like that) which in direct sun light is more susceptible to the UVA rays which are the biggest culprits of skin cancer. So, use sun screen!! Also, it can irritate your skin if you use it too often or put too much on. I've gotten it down to a science and use it in cycles for about two days at a time every other week. I always use an SPF of at least 15 in my daily moisturizer. I also have SPF of 15 in my tinted moisturizer/foundation, so I keep my face protected for quick spurts in and out of the sun. Note: I use a much higher broad-spectrum SPF if I'm outside for long periods of time doing yard work or at a sports game, etc...a minimum of 30, but more often a 50SPF.
As a nice perk, it also keeps my face pimple free. After all, it is marketed for acne.
So, in addition to the hydroquinone cream that I use for hyper pigmentation issues, the Tretinoin gel is a nice weapon against early aging from sun damage. It’s worked wonders on the tiny crow’s feet and laugh lines that are creeping into my life.
Thanks again for visiting my blog. Please ask your questions, I’ll be happy to answer them!
Until Next Week,
Smart Cookie
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