The Cost of Picking Pimples and Not Wearing Sunscreen

Whoa! It's been such a long time since my last post (which was made when I lived in British Columbia). I am back home in Toronto and have a lot to share. But first: The Cost of Getting Rid of Scars.

I got a lot of scars from picking at pimples and I never realized it (because they were the same shade as the scars from what I can tell), was that I also had sun spots. My advice to you now is: Wear sunscreen every day if you don't already. Preventative care is so much easier than dealing with the consequences when they come.

My ultimate goal was to remove these scars so I won't have to hide them with foundation and powder anymore.

Through a suggestion, I went to do glycolic chemical peels. I did one every three weeks for four times. The complexion of my face became better; it was glowing instead of looking dull. On my fourth visitation, my esthetician told me to consider photofacials. The scars I had seemed pretty deep and even with chemical peels, it wouldn't remove all my scars. So through the honest recommendation of my esthetician, I went in search of photofacials.

The thing with social buying sites (group buying pages like GroupOn, Living Social, Team Buy, etc) is that they offer cheaper prices for what would be steep dents in my pocket. I know some people don't trust these places because of the prices but remember it's just regular spas that are offering this deal in hopes of bringing in more customers.

I luckily came across a spa that was offering two photofacials for $50/each. It was a nice place (nothing sketchy) and the esthetician there was very knowledgeable. It was an IPL photo facial and if you've done laser hair removal, you would know that there is a bit of pain that comes with it. It's kind of like flicking an elastic band on your skin. There were some places that hurt more than others. For example, my forehead was the most painful area for me.

I have done two photo facials as of today and will be going onto my third session later this month. I have also added microdermabrasion to the equation at another spa which they both separately recommended. Microderma would be for the top layer of the skin and photofacial works underneath. Apparently the results would be faster.

Overall, I still have scars but they've lighten and my overall complexion has improved. I've learned that my scars aren't just scars, some of them are sun spots, which could have been prevented by wearing sun screen when I was younger! I now wear sunscreen everyday even if it's cloudy out (plus I have to because of the treatments I'm doing or it'll just be useless), but preventative measures is so much better and less costly.

WEAR.
SUNSCREEN.

EAT WELL.

DRINK LOTS OF WATER.

PROTECT YOUR SKIN.

/end rant

Sk1n Probiotic Systems - Night Cream

I was first introduced to the Sk1n Probiotic Systems when I was checking out an online sale. Probiotic (beneficial bacterias) are commonly "used as ingestibles to help replenish and maintain the balance of healthy and harmful bacteria regulating our internal health."

Anywho I did my research on the product line using MUA and googling up reviews. There weren't a lot of reviews but the ones I could find were positive - a little too positive. Call me a skeptic but some of the ratings gave me that unsettling gut feeling. It screamed COMPROMISED to me.

A couple days later I was shopping around Winners and saw a Sk1n Night Cream on the shelf for a few dollars so I decided to buy it and write a review on it.

What it claims:
Night Cream An exclusive combination of natural probiotics and minerals that absorbs quickly and includes a time-released moisture booster that oxygenates and hydrates your skin while you sleep. This all-natural cream is an intensive anti-wrinkle treatment that improves cell metabolism and vitality. Dermatologist tested.

I put it on at night and when I woke up, my face was oily looking. It looked oily but moisturized nonetheless. I've used it every day for a couple of weeks and I'm stopping its use. My forehead is full of zits. And my forehead is the only spot that's blemish free on my face. Now I feel like I'm back in grade 7 with a zit infested forehead. I've also developed some milia here and there around my eyes and face.

The verdict: Yes, your face may be more moisturized (you'll see that in the mirror the next morning) but for me, it came at a price: zits and milia. It retails for about $40 (I got it for a steal, by the way) so no, I would never buy it again.

Happy Holidays!

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.

Chocolate and Your Skin

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.

Second-hand Smoke and Your Skin

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.

Sunday Tip: Drink Red Wine for a Glass of Antioxidants

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

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.

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

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.

Beauty Products You Hate

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.

And The Winner Is...

#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

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

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.

CARGO BLUSH GIVEAWAY

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.

Hide Those Bags Under Your Eyes

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?

When To Throw Out Your Makeup

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.

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.

Review: Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant

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.

Contest: CARE by Stella McCartney - Calming and Soothing Elixir

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).

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.

No Sleep = Pimples

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!

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.

Exercising Is Good For Your Skin.

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!

The Sunday Tip: Wipe Down Your Cellphones

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!

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