Zeno

Beauty through the science of heat

Posts Tagged ‘acne solutions’

  
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    Keep Your Beauty Cool!

    Wednesday, August 17th, 2011

    It’s been a record-breaking hot summer for much of the country, with triple-digit temps everywhere from Oklahoma to the East Coast and humidity levels to rival the Amazon jungle. And if you live anywhere this hot, you know how hard it is to look lovely when just stepping outside makes you sweat – let alone doing anything while you’re out there.

    Well, fall is fast approaching, but for many of us, it’s still plenty hot in August – and often, even September. So it’s worth considering how to look your best even during a heat wave. Here are a few tips.

    • Give up the flatiron. Listen, heat and humidity and sleek, straight hair do not mix. If you can bear it, give in to the high dew point and let your inner waves come out. A drop of shine serum will keep the frizz at bay and polish up your ends, and haphazard, beachy waves are in right now anyway.
    • Wear your hair back (or up). Whatever your hair’s texture, if you’ve got any length at all, this would be a good time to try one of those cute up-do styles you’ve been seeing everywhere this summer. Try a messy bun, low side pony, or a fishtail braid – anything to get that hair off your hot neck and shoulders.
    • Carry blotting papers with you wherever you go. Blotting papers are easier and less messy than compact powder, and they soak up oil and shine like you would not believe. Keep a little packet in your bag, and your face will always look cool as a cucumber.
    • Adjust your moisturizer. Especially if you have oily skin, the dog days of August are the time to invest in a super-light facial moisturizer and use that instead of your usual type. And no matter your skin type, use a light hand with moisturizer when the temperature is high and the air is damp.
    • Switch to waterproof eyeliner and mascara. Because even if you’re not going to the beach or the pool, you need run-proof eye make-up during a heat wave.
    • Keep a bottle of ice water close at hand. Nothing cools you down as well as an icy drink, so sip cold water throughout the day to stay hydrated and beautiful.
    • Dress mainly in lightweight, breathable, natural fibers like cotton and linen. Trust me – they’ll keep you a lot cooler than manmade fabrics.

    Do you have any tricks for keeping cool in extreme heat? Let us in on your secrets.
    If you’re not nuts about the heat (like me!), remember: fall will be here before you know it.

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    Facebook friends weigh in on winter dry skin

    Thursday, January 13th, 2011

    Once again, I’ve noticed that Facebook is a great place to get advice on beauty products—in fact, I have a new staple I’m using all the time because I saw it mentioned on a friend of a friend’s Facebook page.  How about that?   The beauty conundrum being discussed at this particular time was, of course, solutions for the sad, dry, chapped skin that many of us experience during winter.  My face doesn’t have this problem because I use a moisturizer, but people….my hands!  Cracked and bleeding at times, I tell you.

    Ironically enough, the solution to my problem came from a friend who, having recently relocated to the snowy Midwest, was seeking a solution for her baby’s chapped, red cheeks.

    She posted a status update asking for help, and here’s what helpful advice came back:

    • Carmex and Aveeno lotion are what I always carry in my purse.
    • Coconut oil rubbed in at night
    • Burt’s Bees has a great line, or…just good ol’ Vaseline rubbed in after bath and at night.  Greasy, but works in the winter.
    • For cracked hands use Curel (lots) or Neutrogena’s hand cream…..we also use Vitamin E oil around here religiously…shower, after bath, rubbed in with lotions several times daily. I’m a big pure vitamin E gal. Works well mixed with face cream, too, for wrinkles!! You can buy it at Target in the vitamin aisle or any good co-op/ foodie store.
    • “Aquaphor, Aquaphor, Aquaphor”

    Each of the bullet points represents a different person and a different thing that’s worked for them, so I went down the list.  Eventually I had to agree—Aquaphor was the clear winner in stopping the scary winter “chapped and cracked hands.” And, while I wouldn’t put any of these near my acne-prone face, they do sound interesting and I encourage you to try them if you have dry and sensitive skin (especially in the winter).  Let us know how it turns out!

    And, once again, the next time you have a problem that is not an emergency, I urge you to let Facebook solve it for you.  The best advice comes from groups, it seems!