Beauty Information

Beautiful Skin 101


Most women shy away from being called 'too sensitive.' But when the subject is kin, they're all too willing to wear the scarlet S. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, at least 40% of women believe they have sensitive skin, although most dermatologists report that only a fraction really do. Sensitivity "defined as skin that's prone to irritation from products, weather, or stress" is a real (albeit misunderstood) condition. It's not the same as an allergy. It means you have a lower tolerance for irritating ingredients, such as fragrances and dyes. The evil twist here is that the more skin reacts, the more sensitive it becomes. Imagine normal skin having a natural barrier like Saran Wrap. People with sensitive skin have a disrupted barrier all the time. But by identifying what disrupts that barrier and protecting it with the right moisturizer, you can develop a thicker skin.

Read Labels: Before applying creams, lotions, or makeup, read the ingredients list. The fewer ingredients on the label, the better. All products and formulas should be free of fragrance, dye, and isopropyl alcohol (commonly known as rubbing alcohol). And beware of botanical ingredients and oils. Test each new product on the side of your neck for a few days before using it on your face.

Cleanse: Wash you face with a milky, non-foaming liquid cleanser or a soap-free bar. Do not use a washcloth or any rough scrubber, which can be too abrasive for sensitive skin. Rinse face well by splashing with lukewarm water and pat with a soft towel, leaving skin slightly damp. There is no need to use a toner, which generally contains drying and irritating isopropyl alcohol.

Moisturize: Dab moisturizer onto damp skin in the morning and night. Look for one that contains ceramides, fatty acids, or cholesterol, all of which help form a protective barrier against irritation. In the morning, when the moisturizer is absorbed, apply a sunscreen (with an SPF 15 or higher). It should also contain zinc oxide or titanium dioxide, which are least likely to cause reactions. Cheat Sheet

Choose the right products. 'Allergy-tested' means it doesn't have ingredients that cause common reactions. 'Noncomedogenic' means it won't clog pores.

Read labels. Not everyone with sensitive skin is troubled by the same thing, but the most common irritants, in order, include fragrance, isopropyl alcohol, dyes, PABA, lanolin, sorbic acid, formaldehyde, and benzoic acid. Don't assume that natural products are safe. Some botanicals (rosemary, sandalwood, arnica) and essential oils (jojoba, tea tree, lavender) may irritate.

Test samples on the neck for several days. If they don't irritate you, they'll probably be fine for your face. Don't try an arsenal of new products at once. Similarly, if skin breaks out, stop using everything, and reintroduce products one by one.

Be as gentle as possible. Use a creamy, liquid cleanser or a soap-free bar and rinse with lukewarm water. Avoid Buf-Pufs and washcloths. Pat with a towel and leave skin slightly damp.

Moisturize with a product for sensitive skin, or one that contains fatty acids, cholesterol, and ceramides. Every day, be sure to apply a PABA-free sunscreen that contains titanium dioxide or zinc oxide. Daily Basics

Wash with a milky, non-foaming liquid.
Use a soap-free formula with oatmeal that calms dry and itchy skin.
For day, use a fragrance-free moisturizer containing a non-irritating sunscreen. At night, smooth on a noncomedogenic formula that helps fortify the skin's barrier while you sleep.
Dermatologists say that sensitive-skin sufferers are more likely to avoid using sunscreens, associating them with past reactions to PABA. Choose one that won't aggravate skin.
It's not just what you put on your face. Hair spray can cause breakouts along the hairline. Use an allergy-tested and keep the hair off the face whenever possible.

Extra Help

To soothe redness, dermatologists recommend using a fragrance-free treatment. A dime-size dab of an over-the-counter 1% hydrocortisone cream also relieves itching.
For dryness on the body, increase resistance to the environment with a product containing lipids, which is safe for sensitive types.
To treat blemishes, start with an irritant-free face lotion that minimizes blotches with vitamin A. Follow with a concealer that won't aggravate acne, which does double duty by helping clear and conceal blemishes.
Dermatologists like products that get their color from iron oxides, which are less likely to cause reactions. They're also talc-free, which means they won't rob skin of the moisture it needs.

Tricks of the Trade

Don't' shower or bathe for more than 20 minutes, or you'll dry out your skin. Use lukewarm water.
Don't start any aggressive treatments during the winter, when skin is dryer and more sensitive because of low humidity and indoor heating. A humidifier helps skin from becoming parched.
Grainy or chemical exfoliants can cause breakouts. Excessive daily scrubbing rubs the sebaceous glands, which can clog pores. Use a clay or mud mask to slough off dead cells instead.
Facials are trouble unless they're simple, steam-free, and employ fragrance-free products.
Avoid chemical peels and laser treatments if you're sensitive to exfoliants and skin-lightening creams.
If acne medications irritate your skin, ask your doctor about taking oral antibiotics or birth-control pills, which can help minimize blemishes.
Keep Retin-A treatments to only once a week. Dilute the strength by mixing it with your moisturizer.
For skin that seems provoked by anything and everything, ask you dermatologist about cleansers and moisturizers that are normally prescribed for hypersensitive postsurgery and postpeel patients.

This article is brought to you by IH Distribution, LLC.

Bringing you health, anti-aging and skin care products from around the world. Shop online: www.ihdistribution.com & www.ihd.myarbonne.com or contact us: sales@ihdistribution.com

Please share the content of these articles with your friends, family and colleagues. Reprint rights granted. All reprints, must include a link to www.ihdistribution.com. Content may not be altered and articles must be used as distributed by IH Distribution, LLC

Copyright IH Distribution LLC 2004


MORE RESOURCES:

Houston Chronicle

Twilight goes for beauty over substance
Houston Chronicle, United States - Nov 20, 2008
Twilight goes a tad heavy on the beauty products. At the screening I attended, the audience burst into awkward giggles at the first sight of Peter Facinelli ...
Review: Twilight -- Eric's Take Cinematical
'Twilight' Los Angeles Times
'Twilight': Teen Anemia, By Kurt Loder MTV.com
The Post Online - Salt Lake Tribune
all 863 news articles


Variety

"Beast" sure to be a 3-D beauty for Disney in 2010
Reuters - Nov 19, 2008
By Gregg Kilday LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Belle, the Beast and all the dancing silverware in "Beauty and the Beast" are getting a 3-D makeover. ...
'Beauty' gets 3-D makeover Variety
“The Beauty and the Beast” Gets 3-D Makeover from Disney eFluxMedia
Beauty and the Beast’ gets a 3-D makeover Monsters and Critics.com
Hollywood Reporter - AHN
all 166 news articles


Sally Beauty Holdings, Inc. Reports Solid Results for Fiscal 2008 ...
MarketWatch - Nov 20, 2008
"Sally Beauty Holdings had solid results in fiscal 2008, ending the year with same store sales up 2.6%, gross margin expansion of 70 basis points, ...


‘Dr. 90210’ shares his 7 beauty secrets
MSNBC - 23 hours ago
Well, today he's left the knife at home and is sharing seven household beauty secrets that will enhance your looks and help you preserve your youth. ...


Wet your thistle with this blue-headed beauty
Indianapolis Star, United States - 13 hours ago
The flowers then expand the plant's beauty. The tiny, metallic blue flowers develop on stiff stems from July through September. The flowering period can be ...
Frosty-looking foliage makes delightful addition to garden TheNewsTribune.com
all 2 news articles


Beauty goes green
KXVO CW 15, NE - 20 hours ago
By Shahnaz Khan There is a lot of hype in the beauty industry right now about so called "green" products. There are literally thousands of products on the ...


At-Home Beauty Devices Drive Industry Excitement
MarketWatch - Nov 21, 2008
The most dynamic trend for the beauty industry in 2008 has been the emergence of at-home or do-it-yourself (DIY) tools -- especially those that offer ...


Sally Beauty profit misses, but allays recession fears
Forbes, NY - Nov 20, 2008
Sally distributes beauty supplies and hair products to salons and stylists -- items that typically hold up a bit better than products like jewelry, ...
Sally Beauty Holdings maintains Q3 profit Bizjournals.com
Sally Beauty 4Q earnings rise, but miss expectations 10:40 AM CT Dallas Morning News
UPDATE 1-Sally Beauty quarterly profit misses Wall St view Reuters
RTT News - Forbes
all 21 news articles


TopNews

Disney expands 3D movies with "Beauty", IMAX deal
Reuters - Nov 19, 2008
Disney has begun re-rendering in 3D the 1991 Oscar-nominated "Beauty" for a big-screen debut in 2010, bringing Disney's 3D slate for that year to 11 titles, ...
Will You See a 3-D Beauty and the Beast in Theaters? BuzzSugar.com
Disney’s ‘Beauty And The Beast’ IMAX Deal TopNews
Disney Builds Upon 3-D, IMAX Initiatives TheHDRoom
Cinematical - Los Angeles Times
all 305 news articles


iCIMS Named Winner of HRchitect Beauty Contest
PR Web (press release), WA - 12 hours ago
Each “Beauty Pageant,” held over the course of the next five months, focuses on a different category of HR technology and features six contestants. ...

Beauty - Google News

home | site map
© 2008