Skincare tips to help your skin look its best - even when the paparazzi sees you at your worst

Friday, December 25, 2009

Happy Holidays!

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On December 20th, I was going through beauty products and samples that I have yet to touch and thought, what better way to celebrate the holidays than to share it with my lovely readers! I randomly picked a reader that left a comment on my previous post and sent her a package that arrived just in time for Christmas. The lucky reader was Natalie of NaTGN. Congratulations and I hope you liked the package!

And to everyone else, thank you for leaving comments and subscribing to my blog. There will be more surprise giveaways in the future.

Until then, best wishes and have a fantastic holiday.

Saturday, December 5, 2009

Chocolate and Your Skin

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Chocolate and Your Skin - Picture from WaxNakedCom on Flickr


I am a chocolate feen. I eat out of a jar of Nutella - yes, I'm that disgusting. Remember that acne commercial back in middle school that pretty much linked chocolate to bad skin? Some people say I eat too many chocolate bars or that I don't wash my face... But that didn't scare me, I still ate chocolate anyway. I love chocolate and it's about time I shed light on the real deal behind chocolate and the skin.

I saw a book today and the title was: Why Red Wine and Chocolate Will Cure Your Heart. Okay, I got the red wine part down, now let's see the benefits of chocolate.

The good news: There is no evidence that chocolate triggers blemishes.

Cocoa actually contains more antioxidants per cup than red wine or green tea and if you really want to head down to the healthy route with chocolate, eat them dark. Dark chocolate protects the skin from UV light and therefore, fights aging.

It also has a protective effect on the cardiovascular system and helps your body recover after a hard workout. In a recent study, people who drank chocolate milk between workouts scored better on fatigue and endurance tests than those who had sports drinks.

The antioxidants in cocoa are known as flavanols, which increase blood flow and prevent cell damage and inflammation.

What does seem to cause acne are diets heavy in high-glycemic foods—including highly refined carbs like white bread, pasta and potatoes, as well as sweets like doughnuts and jelly beans.

So eat up, my chocolate feens, but skip the bread.

Sunday, October 25, 2009

Second-hand Smoke and Your Skin

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Second-hand Smoke and Your Skin - What it does
My boyfriend is a smoker and believe me, it bothers me. He tried to quit on multiple occasions but always falls back into the same routine and while it is his life, it does affect mine. I'm sure we've all heard about second-hand smoking and how dangerous it can be for our health. I know it causes premature wrinkles and can make your skin look dull, but I wanted to take it one step further and learn the biology (sort of) behind how smoking damages the skin.

Ever go clubbing and come back smelling like a pack of cigarettes? Smoke sticks to your clothing, hair and even skin and sometimes the smell takes a good couple washes before it's finally gone. And if it sticks that badly to hair and clothing, imagine the abuse our skin is taking.

Cigarettes are made up of over four thousand chemicals. One main poison that is used is formaldehyde, an adhesive that can be found in our everyday house-cleaning products. When formaldehyde is released into the air and is absorbed by our skin, it can cause skin rashes, promote scarring and make your skin smell (as noted above). Note: I will never overdose on cleaning products again.

Smoke damages the surface of your skin by changing the way skin cells move - it slows down the healing process. I've read somewhere that there is a certain amount of days when we can help promote skin healing and reduce the scar intensity before it leaves a deep scar. If the healing process slows down, the amount of healing days will be reduced and your skin is more susceptible to deep scars that will take longer to fade away.

Smoke also breaks down collagen and elastin (which are fibers that give your skin its strength and elasticity) and does not allow blood vessels to deliver enough oxygen and nutrients to the skin's surface. This will therefore create premature wrinkles and a dull looking complexion. In a nut shell, oxygen helps cleanse the body and if the amount of oxygen is reduced, more filth will remain in your body.

And while I'll keep pushing my boyfriend to stop smoking, know that there is no glamour in smoking. No one wants to look ten years older than they really are.

Monday, October 19, 2009

Sunday Tip: Drink Red Wine for a Glass of Antioxidants

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We've all heard the benefits of red wine, but what does it do for our skin?

Drink Red Wine for a Glass of Antioxidants


Red wine contains antioxidants, which help prevent the absorption of hazardous chemicals. Whether if it's household products, second-hand smoke or even someone's sneeze, antioxidants will clean it up before your skin and body absorbs it.

It's as simple as that so drink up.

Cheers.

Sunday, October 11, 2009

Does Swimming Cure Your Pimples?

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Does Swimming Cure Your Pimples?I've been swimming at my gym pool and started to wonder what it did to my skin, specifically to my pimples. My skin has been pretty clear but milia and as of late, pimples, started to pop up. Was this the case of chlorine water?

I typed in "swimming" and "acne" into google and was surprised to come across articles claiming that swimming can pure acne. Was I the exception? If so, how do I become the rule?

Chlorine disinfects the skin and kills bacteria on the skin surface, thereby reducing the amount of oil your skin, and thus minimizes the amount of pimples on one's face and/or body.

Swimming is a good form of exercise. Recall my entry about exercising and its benefits on your skin. If you are healthy, then your skin is healthy, too. Deep breathing allows more oxygen to be processed and circulated by the body assisting in the removals of toxins and dead cells from the body and promoting the regeneration of cells.

The absorption of water is also part of the equation. It's recommended to drink a couple cups of water a day. Why? Because it flushes your toxins out and keeps you hydrated. If there are no toxins in your body then guess what? You'll probably end up with clearer skin. In the same way, swimming detoxes your body. It exudes harmful toxins through the skin and the excretion system for blood circulation is greatly improved.

So with all these great news about how swimming reduces pimples, what the hell happened to my skin?

I came across an article and while it agrees that swimming will cure your acne, the effect is only temporary. It goes on to explains that too much exposure to chlorine will make one's pimples and blemishes much worse. The area becomes dry and itchy and will become irritated. I guess it's kind of like oily hair. If your body thinks your hair or face is not getting enough oil, it will pump out more oil. = Pimples.

SO IN CONCLUSION,

Swimming is not an absolute cure to acne. Just like 2342423 other products and other methods, it's 50/50. It will either work for you or not. And in my case, it doesn't. So does this mean that I will stop swimming? Nope. I'll just find a way to battle the acne out and get that paparazzi skin.

Sunday Tip: It Takes [Your Age] Days To See A Brand New Layer of Skin

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It Takes [Your Age] Days To See A Brand New Layer of Skin


It Takes [Your Age] Days To See A Brand New Layer of Skin.

At one of Dermalogica's Skin Savvy workshops, they taught us that it takes about [insert age] days for you to see a brand new layer of skin. At that point, all the skin shedding would be completed and a new cycle will now begin.

So when you start using new products, give it approximately [insert age] days for you to see "results". You can then decide whether or not that product truly worked on your skin. But of course, if you've developed a reaction (pimples, dry rashes, etc) before that date, there is no need to continue its use.

I'm 22 so I should use a product for about 22 days before I can really see its true results. Twenty-two days is kind of long so I would take a picture on day 1 and compare it to day 22.

After twenty-two days, I'm hoping to see some paparazzi skin or the product is going straight to the garbage bin with a big fat F label.

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Beauty Products You Hate

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I'm sure we've all been through a few products that were all the rave but when we tried it ourselves, it was nothing but a waste of money and/or it did damage to our faces (break outs, black heads, etc).

For me, it's The Body Shop's Tree Oil line.
I've been meaning to review the line for a long time now, but I'm just dreading spending time writing about such an awful product. I used a dime size amount once a day everyday and it dried the hell out of my skin.

Definitely not paparazzi skin worthy.

So, What are some beauty products that you would never buy again? aka the products to avoid when you're in the lime light.

Sunday, September 20, 2009

And The Winner Is...

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Cargo Blush Contest#12

Congratulations to Cindeee who won my Cargo Blush contest!

You have been emailed.

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How The Winner Was Chosen
I simply input the number of contestants that entered (13) on random.org and the number that appeared (12) was the winner. No cheats in this game!

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I forgot to do this with my last contest but I took pictures of how the package looks pre-mailed. Because we all know what it'll look like once Cindeee actually gets it. A huge postal sticker with a bar code, the corners will probably be dented and I won't be surprised if all the ribbon was gone. Plus it looks cute! -=P



Paparazzi Skin Contest
Paparazzi Skin Contest


Thank you everyone once again for participating. There will be bigger and better contests in the future! Until then, flashing lights are still coming because the paparazzi is after your skin.

P.S. Loved Gaga's MTV performance.

Sunday Tip: Concealer Is Not For Zits

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According to makeup guru Bobbi Brown, concealer is not for zits. Concealer is lighter than skin tone and should be used on dark under-eye circles and at the dark inner corner of the eye. Putting concealer on zits will draw more attention to them because it will make them look too light.

Monday, September 7, 2009

CARGO BLUSH GIVEAWAY

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Cargo Blush
It's time to hit the books and to lighten up someone's mood, I'm giving away a CARGO blush.

CARGO blushes contain:
Silica — An oil replacement that gives our blush a long wearing, silky, blendable and layerable texture for foolproof application every time.

Aloe Vera — Extracted from the aloe plant, Aloe Vera offers soothing hydration to the skin and is particularly good for sensitive skin.

Vitamin E — An anti oxidant and skin conditioner that helps fight the damaging effects of radicals and repair minor damage found on the skin.


All you have to do is:
1. Be a follower
2. Leave a comment

and voila, you're entered.

The winner will be chosen at random (using random.org) and will be contacted by me via email.

The contest starts today (Monday September 7, 09) and will close on September 20, 09. The winner will be announced on Monday September 21, 2009.

Good luck, everyone!
& Thank you for participating.

Have fun at school

CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED. THANK YOU TO EVERYONE THAT PARTICIPATED. THE WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED SHORTLY.

Sunday, September 6, 2009

Hide Those Bags Under Your Eyes

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As a night crawler, I'm bound to have heavy black bags under my eyes. Sometimes when I try to cover them up with foundation, it suddenly looks darker. Do you get that? Anyway, instead of covering them up, get rid of them!

1. Find eye creams with vitamin K. They are used by cosmetic surgeons because it prevents bruising, peptides and/or kinetin.

2. Wrap grated raw potato in cheesecloth or slice a kiwi. Lie down, and apply to eye area for 15 minutes. Pat dry.

Do you have any remedies that help decrease the appearance of under eye bags?

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

When To Throw Out Your Makeup

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I was cleaning out my bathroom this morning and came across an old eyeshadow palette from high school. I rarely used this palette and apart from its low pigmented shades, the fact that it was from Claire's explains a lot. I knew it was too old to be used, so I made use of it by drawing an eye and sprinkled pigment on it.

When To Throw Out Your Makeup


And that got me wondering, when do you throw out makeup?

A lot of cosmetics do contain expiry dates, but there are plenty of brands that don't.

So here are the general rules:

Foundations
Powders
Eye shadows
Blushes
Moisturizes
Good for: 12 - 18 months

Lipsticks
Good for: 12 months

Eyeliners
Mascaras
Good for: 3 months

Makeup that has deteriorated often goes pale or changes consistency - possibly pooling oil - and can even start to smell.

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Review: Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant

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Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant Review


Exfoliating helps reduce milia, acne and reveals softer, smoother skin. My friend Kim and I got our own bottle of Dermalogica's Daily Microfoliant from the Dermalogica blogger event back in June. Kim immediately tried it and loved it while I was trying to finish my at the time current exfoliant.



In a nutshell, it's been about two months and I really like it. It's my favourite exfoliant that I've tried thus far and I would love it if I saw major differences, but I unfortunately don't. It's great for your current skin but doesn't do much, if anything, for scars. I must add that I really love the rice smell and this probably added bonus points.



What It Is / What It Claims

A Rice-based powder formula that activates upon contact with water. Thereby releasing Papain, Salicylic Acid and Rice Enzymes that micro-exfoliate dead cells, instantly leaving skin smoother and brighter and is gentle enough to use on a daily basis.



I was using Soap&Glory's Scrub-Your-Nose-In-It as my regular exfoliator and it's made up of fine grains that I can feel scrubbing against my skin. The Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant comes in powder form and requires you put add water to the mixture. There are no grains at all and it's just a smooth cleanse with a nice smell.



Michelle Phan recently made a video about making your own rice toner and even announced that she will be released a rice cleanser to her skincare line, IQQU. Of course, knowing her, she listed the benefits of rice and what it does to your skin.



It definitely is gentle enough to use everyday and does not dry out my skin.

I forgot to mention that it has a price tag of $60. That puts things into perspective a bit. Luckily for me, it was free. But would I buy it for $60? No. I make $10 an hour and that's 6 hours of my ass working for a bottle of exfoliant. It doesn't contain miracles but allows me to wash away dead skin cells on a daily basis. Regular exfoliants are only recommended to be used 2-3x a week because it's rough on your skin. Until I can actually afford to buy higher end products and not fall into the debt pool, I'll stick to my under $20 drug store products. I know I'll miss the rice smell once my bottle runs out because I love, love, love the smell.



Exfoliation helps reduce milia.

Thursday, July 30, 2009

Contest: CARE by Stella McCartney - Calming and Soothing Elixir

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Whoo hooo, it's paparazziskin contest time!

This contest is to celebrate the one month anniversary of paparazzi skin. I hope to learn more about skincare and share info and tips with all of you (with the occasional makeup fun here and there).

Contest: CARE by Stella McCartney - Calming and Soothing Elixir

The prize will be a 30ml bottle of CARE by Stella McCartney - Calming and Soothing Elixir.

CARE is an organic line that contains essential nutrients like vitamins, antioxidants, trace elements, and essential organic elements such as amino acids and fatty acids to help boost and maintain the skin's vital functions. Each product is certified eco-friendly.

The Calming and Soothing Elixir contains Camomile, Arnica and Liquorice, rich in polyphenols and compound lipids to gently soothe and cushion the skin.

SO WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO DO IN ORDER TO WIN THIS?

Simply email:
1. Your Name
2. Your Email
3. The answer to: Which celebrity has the best paparazzi skin (aka amazing skin)?

to paparazziskin@gmail.com

and I'll write out each participant's name and draw it out of a hat - the good ol' fashion way. Winner will also be contacted via email.

CONTEST ENDS WEDNESDAY AUGUST 5, 2009 AT 12AM EASTERN TIME

I don't think Sephora carries the CARE line anymore, but you can read more about the collection on one of its pages: http://www.sephora.com/browse/brand_hierarchy.jhtml?brandId=5856

GOOD LUCK!

P.S. I have tried the Nourishing Elixir but would love to hear what the winner thinks about the Calming and Soothing Elixir.

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

No Sleep = Pimples

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I'm pretty much a night crawler.

I would stay up all night doing absolutely nothing and sleep during the day if I could, but I can't. I'm currently taking summer courses and because of my procrastination, I lose a lot of sleep. Everything comes at a cost and my punishment for being a-last-minute-rush-rush-person are pimples.

Inflammation causes acne... and lack of sleep can worsen this condition.

When you lose sleep, your body produces more pro-inflammatory cytokines (messenger cells) in the blood. Thus, increasing regular inflammation levels.

Of course this isn't the case for everyone. Some people are born with gorgeous skin and while I'm green with envy, I need to find out what's best for my skin and how I can prevent future breakouts.

And my number one issue: lack of sleep!

Picture by Lindy Meow on FlickR

Contest Update: It's coming! I'm just waiting for some cards to come in before I post contest details. It'll be my first give-away so I'm looking forward to it.

Friday, July 24, 2009

Exercising Is Good For Your Skin.

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My boyfriend and I love the commercials for Concerned Children's Advertisers, especially the ones trying to get kids to become active.

They're not the greatest quality but you can still see the humour behind it:




Not only is exercise good for your health but for your skin, too.

Exercising speeds up your metabolism and keeps your blood pumping to your skin and other body organs. As we age, muscle mass shrinks and depletes the muscle tissue that helps to anchor and support skin. By staying active, your skin will maintain its firmness and as a bonus, stop you from gaining that extra weight.

So keep those muscles working and stay active!

Sunday, July 19, 2009

The Sunday Tip: Wipe Down Your Cellphones

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I always talk on the phone with my left ear and occasionally a few pimples would pop up here and there on my left cheek. If you break out more on one side of your face than the other, it may be because of your phone usage.

Cell phones accumulate bacteria (where we put them, hands touching them, etc) so it's best to wipe your cell phone with an antibacterial cleanser on a regular basis.

Did you know that your cell phone has more germs than your toilet?

You wouldn't splash toilet water on your face would you? Wipe those cell phones down!

Friday, July 17, 2009

Review: B. Kamins Chemist Sunbar Sunscreen SPF 30

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Review: B.  Kamins Chemist Sunbar Sunscreen SPF 30

I think 80% of my blog thus far has been based around the importance of sunscreen. I went to Sephora in hopes of grabbing an oil-free sunscreen. One of the beauticians at Sephora recommended B. Kamins Chemist: Bio-Maple Sunbar Sunscreen SPF 30. It's "fragrance-and-oil-free" for the face and body. He told me it dries up like a powder so I wouldn't have to worry about having an oily complexion.

And well, was he correct?

Kind-of.

It makes my face appear shiny but it doesn't actually feel oily (it feels matte). However, after my daily dose of powder and foundation, the shiny look disappears.

There are days when parts of my face feel a slight burning sensation. It is probably because I recently exfoliated but there is an ingredient(s) that irritates my skin, and I have yet to pinpoint the exact culprit.

Luckily, this product did not give me pimples. Don't we just love products that don't make us break out? + Bonus point.

It claims it can be reapplied over makeup and I guess technically all sunscreens and moisturizers can be reapplied over makeup, but that doesn't mean it won't ruin your makeup. I tested this claim out and the sunscreen pushed my makeup around and pretty much ruined my lovely powdered face.

It's $41 CDN for a 120ml tube from Sephora (also available on the official B. Kamins site) and can be used on the face and body but for that price, I'll just stick to the face.

The Good News
- contains protection for UVA & UVB rays with a SPF of 30
- leaves a matte finish

The Bad News
- the price isn't exactly student-friendly ($41 CDN)
- I hate the packaging; more than enough sunscreen pours out of the tube

Overview of the Ingredients Listed on the Package

Avobenzone (also known as Parsol 1789) - 2.5%
An effective ingredient to neutralize the effects of the sun's UV rays.

Octinoxate (also known as octyl methoxycinnamate) - 7.5%
Sunscreen agent used to protect skin primarily from the sun’s UVB rays.

Oxybenzone - 6.0%
Sunscreen agent that protects primarily from the sun’s UVB rays, and some, but not all, UVA rays.

Titanium Dioxide - 2.04%
An inert earth mineral used as a thickening, whitening, lubricating, and sunscreen ingredient in cosmetics. It protects skin from UVA and UVB radiation and is considered to have no risk of skin irritation.


Overall

I'm sure there are other sunscreens out there that are just as good as this sunscreen for a fraction of the price. It does have a matte quality to it but my face appeared to be somewhat shiny after an application. I don't want to have a shiny face on my makeup-free days! It does, however, contain all the necessary protection (parsol is key) to block the sun away from your face and body. But in all seriousness, I would not purchase this again because of it's price ($41 CDN) and the fact that an ingredient in this product irritates my skin (leave the burning sensations for the sun burns!).

6.5/10

Monday, July 13, 2009

OT: How To Make Your Own Makeup Brush Cleanser

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A bit off-topic but since I was browsing around for a tutorial on how to make your own makeup brush cleanser, I decided to share my results! I used EnKore's tutorial (below) and he did a fabulous job explaining what each product does for your brushes. Overall, this did a great job of cleaning my brushes and it can all be made with house hold products!




Make Your Own Makeup Brush Cleanser

Ingredients
1. 1/2 table spoon of dish washing soap
2. 1/4 cup of rubbing alcohol
3. 1/2 table spoon of hair shampoo
4. 1 table spoon of spray leave-on condition (water-like)
5. 1 cup of filtered water

Miscellaneous
1. Plastic container
2. Something to mix your cleanser (I used a chop stick)
3. Bottle to hold your finished cleanser

Cleanser for Makeup Brushes - The Results!

My shampoo and spray leave-in condition are peachy-orange so this was the result. I didn't follow the measurements exactly; I just estimated and it still worked great nonetheless. However, the rubbing alcohol smell does prevail so don't sniff it.

Cleanser for Makeup Brushes - The Results!

Cleanser for Makeup Brushes - The Results!

Sunday, July 12, 2009

The Sunday Tip: Plain Yogurt Facial

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Every Sunday I will share an interesting beauty tip that I came across.

While quickly flipping through the book, Fast Beauty: 1000 Quick Fixes, I found a piece about a plain low-fat or nonfat yogurt facial. I have a tub of plain low-fat yogurt in the fridge so I thought why not? ...Until I remembered I had a clay mask on a few hours ago.

The Down Low
Yogurt is packed with calcium and is thus good for your hair and skin. If you have tight and/or dry skin, it will soothe it, soften it, and make it feel silkier. If you have oily skin, it will absorb excess oil.

Instructions
Massage plain low-fat or nonfat yogurt onto your skin and leave it on for 15 minutes before you rinse it off.

Since I didn't use this regime on myself, I went to good ol' youtube and found someone who did:



Has anyone tried this before? Did it work for you? I think I'll try it next Sunday.

Saturday, July 11, 2009

What Does The Sun Do To Our Skin? & What Are Its Long Term Effects?

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The other week I watched The Doctors show and there was a woman on there that loved to tan. She was literally orange and still didn't want to give up tanning. And get this, she puts butter on herself while she sunbathes.

Sure, dark tans can be sexy now... but what about later?
Skin damage accumulates over time and it will ultimately affect how we age and look.

Bad Tan - Image from GettyImages
Photo from Getty Images

Let's explore and see what happens to your skin when you tan:

1. When you're outside and you notice that your skin is red (even a little), it means your skin is working to protect you from UV damage.

2. Melanin (skin colour pigment) protects our skin from UV rays by absorbing them before they reach the deeper layers of the epidermis [outside layer of skin] and dermis [inside layer of skin].

3. UV rays injure and then kill skin cells in the epidermis and damage the tiny blood vessels underneath that nourish the skin.

4. The bronzed tan we admire so much is actually a sign of skin damage from too much UV.


Ok, so time and time again, I've mentioned that sun exposure has an effect on how our skin ages and here are some examples of visible sun damage:

1. Of course, wrinkles. Many scientists believe wrinkles have more to do with sun exposure than chronological aging.

2. I always spot older people who obviously love to tan and their skin definitely reflects that - leathery skin. And it's not rude, leathery rough texture is what the book used!

3. Age Spots. The colours of age spots depend on your skin tone and can range from beige to black. They also grow darker with time and sun exposure.

4. This one surprised me - dull complexion. The skin of African-Americans appear ashy while Caucasion and Asian skin have a "yellowish sallow tinge."

5. As mentioned above, UV rays injure and then kill skin cells in the epidermis and damage the tiny blood vessels underneath that nourish the skin. This leads to the tendency to bruise easily. As the sun injures these blood vessels, they become fragile and break more easily than before.


Stop premature aging by taking care of your skin - wear sunscreen!

Advice: Look for sunscreens that contain Parsol 1789 aka Avobenzone. It effectively neutralizes the damaging effects of both UVA and UVB rays in the skin which cause wrinkles and hyper pigmentation.

Saturday, June 27, 2009

Mr. Sun, Sun, Mr. Golden Sun, Please Don't Harm Me

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UV 101

We all love the hot weather and how joyful it can be when the sun is out shining upon us, but the sun plays a huge factor in how our skin ages.

There are three kinds of ultraviolet [UV] rays: A,B and C. UVA is responsible for suntans and has a role in aging and skin cancer while UVB causes sunburns. UVC rays are absorbed by the ozone layer so it does not reach our skin.

So look for sunscreens that contain both UVA and UVB protection!

It is recommended to use a SPF of at least 15, but the higher your SPF protection, the more protected your skin is. If you tend to tan or burn easy, use a higher SPF level.

And remember to reapply sunscreen every two hours!

I am currently using:
B. Kamins Chemist: Bio-Maple Sunbar Sunscreen SPF 30 for my face [$41CDN from Sephora]
& Life: Sunthera 3 Baby SPF 60 for my body [$5.99CDN from Shopper's Drug Mart]

Do everything you can to protect your skin before it's too late. Prevention is key. We don't know when the paparazzi is going to snap our photos. Who says you can't get famous at 60 years old? ;)

Saturday, June 20, 2009

'Shrink' My Pores, Please

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Akida on FlickR

Products that claim they can shrink or get rid of pores are the ones that entice me. Being a victim of large pores and black heads, I am was willing to drop money after money to find a product that lived up to its promises. Well...

Pores are simply openings; they don't have tiny muscles that dilate and contract... There are no products that will get rid of them, either. You're born with a certain number of pores and that number remains constant throughout life.

The best thing to do is to keep pores clean because trapped oil and dirt will develop into black heads. This can be done by cleansing and exfoliating. Please note that washing your face more than twice a day (even if you have oily skin) is not recommended.

Friday, June 19, 2009

What Product Claims Really Mean

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As of late, there has been an increase of brands that produce anti-aging or natural products. But what do "anti-aging" or "natural" really mean?



Anti-Aging Claims

Did you know that products can legally claim to be anti-aging if they contain sunscreen?

There are two important factors that determine how your skin ages: genetics and sun exposure. So if you don't have the money to splurge on anti-aging products, just slap on some sunscreen (which should be apart of your everyday skincare routine, anyway).


Natural Claims

Even if only one substance in a product is natural, marketers can use this term. Natural ingredients could make up less than 1 percent of the total. Since product labels only tell us what ingredients are used and not how much is concentrated in the item, it could contain small amounts that don't make the product very effective.


Dermatologist-Tested

Companies send dermatologists products to try but it doesn't say how many people tested the item or how carefully and scientifically they tested it. Even if a dermatologist tries a product and doesn't like it, the manufacturer can still say it was 'dermatologist-tested', because it was.



So who or what can we trust? Customer reviews. I always read Makeup Alley [MUA], Essential Day Spa and Sephora before buying a product.

The Search for Fabulous Looking Skin Begins Here

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Getty Images

Unfortunately many of us are not blessed with blemish-free, pore-free and/or acne-free skin. I have been battling uneven skin for a while and no matter what promises products made or how many advices beauticians gave, I have not found that perfect formula.

This blog is not the absolute answer to your skin problems, but acts as a resource to educate you with the health and care of skin. I will pull information from academic books and websites, so don't worry about me giving out false information!

Through this blog, I hope that you will find beneficial information that will help guide you in the right direction on your search for perfect skin.

Skincare tips to help your skin look its best - even when the paparazzi sees you at your worst.

Photo from Getty Images

About Paparazzi Skin

A blog that explores skincare and the truth behind product claims.

I am not a dermatologist nor do I claim to be. I extract information from books and the internet that I believe will help educate readers and myself about skincare.


From time to time I will do makeup-related posts.

Email
paparazziskin [@] gmail . com

Toronto, Ont., Canada

Skincare Books

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Beautiful Skin
by Marsha Gorden and Alice E. Fugate



Future: Product Reviews