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For other articles by Agostino Rossi, visit http://www.want2knowwhat.com, http://www.betterloveiseasy.com and http://www.mednewsyoucanuse.com today.
January 30, 2008
Mineral makeup is the latest trend in cosmetics. It is sold from department store counters, championed on late night infomercials and touted in fashion magazines. How do the various brands differ, and which one is best for you? How does mineral makeup differ from traditional products? Let?s take a look.
Despite different brand names and marketing strategies, most mineral makeup has remarkably similar ingredients. Some commonly used minerals include micronized titanium dioxide, micronized zinc oxide, iron oxide, silk mica, and hydrated silica.
Micronized titanium dioxide, a common ingredient in sun block products, is particularly suited to protect skin from damaging sunlight. This white mineral?s crystalline structure naturally reflects and defuses the sun?s harmful rays. Micronized zinc oxide works in combination with the micronized titanium dioxide to reflect the sunlight?s dangerous UVA and UVB rays.
Iron oxide is found in nature in red, orange and yellow hues. These pigments are blended into flesh tones for mineral foundations. Silk mica and hydrated silica soften the mineral compounds for use on the skin. Silk Mica gives mineral makeup a smooth texture, and hydrated silica binds the minerals to make them less messy. Individual brands may add secondary ingredients, such as vitamins, extra skin softeners or stronger pigments to neutralize skin tone.
Mineral makeup can counteract a host of familiar challenges. People prone to allergies or with sensitive skin will find mineral makeup contains no irritating dyes or perfumes. They do not use talc and other fillers that can be harmful to the skin. The acne-prone will find mineral makeup is organic, hypoallergenic and oil free; it will not clog pores like some conventional cosmetics.
Unlike traditional cosmetics, mineral foundations can provide sheer to full coverage. A light, sheer finish can be accomplished by moving the applicator brush in small circles on the face. Mineral makeup can also provide a more opaque texture if applied in layers with a damp sponge, much like you would apply liquid foundation. Fortunately, the consistency of mineral makeup gives coverage without the thick, unnatural, pore-clogging consequences of traditional liquid foundation.
Although mineral makeup has been a fixture in high-end department stores and specialty cosmetics shops for several years, a handful of more economical options are now on the market in drugstores. Consumers can expect to pay $25 for upscale mineral makeup brands, while drugstore mineral makeup from Neutrogena and Physician?s Formula range from $9-$12.
With so little variation in actual ingredients, the difference in brands is often limited to marketing strategy. Many brands cater to a specific skin type. For example, Mineralogie claims their mineral makeup is suited to those with oily skin, because it does not include minerals that give other brands a shimmery finish.
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Corinne writes on diverse cosmetics topics such as mineral makeup, eye makeup and foundation makeup. For more articles of Corinne’s articles as well as forums, directories and news, visit the comprehensive cosmetics site Essentua.com
January 20, 2008
I’ve often wondered if my lips are too thin, if I wouldn’t look better with slightly fuller lips. Not like Angelina Jolie, mind you. Her lips are too extreme in my opinion. And the thought of collagen injections or cosmetic surgery to enhance my lips has always scared me a little. Just look at the disastrous results of Melanie Griffith’s punch-mouth lips. And, even weeks after Turkish celebrity Ajda Pekkan’s lip surgery earlier this year, she was still banning photographers to 50 meters away! Three full months after the surgery, and she still hasn’t posed for a close-up…
No, I’m interested in just a little more fullness, to enhance my appearance just a smidgen…
So when I saw a poster ad for a lip-fullness product called ‘My City Lips’ — that you apply like lipstick — at my Eczane (Pharmacy) where we live in G?m?ld?r, it caught my attention. From behind the cosmetics counter, Ebru told me they didn’t have the product in stock yet, but if I wanted to try it out, they’d order me some for delivery in the next couple of days.
But at 70 YTL ($50+) per tube for a one month supply, I’m not sure about ‘My City Lips’. Still… One of these lip plumping products might be just what I’m looking for…
[Click following to access a fully illustrated HTML version of Lip Plumping Treatments — and Products with Peri’s picture.]
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Jim and Perihan Masters are a husband and wife team,
living on the Aegean Coast of Turkey just 50 miles south of Izmir.
Settled now in the heart of what was once the ancient
Ionian Empire — the couple live an idyllic life by the sea.. writing,
drawing and painting, teaching English, and providing computing
service support to local businesses. They also sponsor the MSNBC
award-winning Learning Practical
Turkish Website which has built an enthusiastic international
following of devoted Turkophiles and inquisitive language students of
all ages.
January 13, 2008
The aging process of the skin is caused by known factors. Skin aging can in great extend be avoided, and aging symptoms in the skin can also often be cured. A general healthy lifestyle regarding for example nutrition and exercise is good for your skin as for the rest of your body. However, certain measures will be particularily beneficial for the skin. Here are these practical anti-aging measures for the skin presented:
PROTECTION AGAINST THE SUN
You should enjoy the sunshine with reason. Some daily exposure from sun-rays on the skin will not hurt. On the contrary, it will in fact do your skin good. The skin gets a better colour, and it gets somewhat thicker and more robust. Massive daily exposure, however, has a very disturbing influence on the skin, and will cause all types of skin problems: Wrinkles, brown spots, discolouring, very thin or very thick skin, dry skin and cancer. To keep your skin young and healthy in the long run, you must protect your skin when you are outside for longer times.
TAKING LECITHIN
You should take some supplement of lecithin or a product containing lecithin. Lecithin is a fatty substance. It is an important constituent of all body tissues. It consists of glycerol, fatty acids, cholin, ethanolamine, inositol and serine. The four latter constituents are working tools used in nerve signal transmission and in tissue regeneration. Lecithin is especially important for the function and regeneration of nerve tissue and the skin. Lecithin also has a cleansing effect upon the skin. It helps the sebaceous gland to produce cleansing secretions. Taking a daily dose of lecithin alone or a product containing lecithin will greatly help to keep the skin young and regenerate the skin from damage.
EATING FISH AND SEA-FOOD
A dish of fish or seafood at least every second day has proven to keep the skin in good condition and help the skin to avoid sun damage. You should include fat fish, since fat fish has an especially high content of vitamin A and D, important for the skin health.
USE OF PLANT-OILS UPON YOUR SKIN
Using a topical product containing certain types of plant oils or even using some of the pure oils upon the skin daily will make the skin smooth and ease regeneration from damage. Oils that have these effects are: Evening Primrose Oil, Flax Seed Oil, Borage Oil, Soy Oil, Wheat Germ Oil and Olive oil. Pure olive oil of good quality can be used alone upon the skin after the daily wash. The amount needed is very little. Use exactly as much that is needed to saturate the skin and make it smooth.
CONSUMING OLIVE OIL AND OTHER NATURAL OILS
Using olive oil in your dishes will help to keep your skin young, and help the skin to regenerate from damage and aging symptoms. Olive oil contains much mono-unsaturated acids and much of vitamin E. However, your skin will also need essential poly-unsaturated fatty acids. Therefore you should also consume some amount of other types of oils or supplements containing poly-unsaturated oils especially valuable for your skin. Other plant oils with fatty acids beneficial for your skin are: Evening Primrose Oil, Flax Seed Oil, Borage Oil, Soy Oil, and Wheat Germ Oil.
TAKING CONJUGATED LINOLAEIC ACID (CLA)
CLA is a fatty acid produced in the stomach of cows by bacteria, taken up into the cow?s blood-stream and secreted into the milk. This acid has shown to help the skin regenerate from damage and keep the skin in a juvenile state. Taking CLA as a supplement may help you get finer skin, and also help you to keep your weight at a wanted level. Fat milk and diary products also contain CLA and can improve your skin health. However, great amounts of fat diary products are not good for your heart and circulation.
THE DAILY CARE OF YOUR SKIN
The skin should be washed at least once every day with a mild soap or cleansing product. Men should shave during the wash or after the wash, depending upon the shaving method used. Then you should use some oil or cream to protect your skin and to make it smooth and elastic. Use a product containing natural oils with anti-aging properties. If you suffer from acne or other skin problems, the cleansing product and the protecting cream should contain ingredients to treat this problem.
Before exposing your skin to heavy sunshine for a longer time, you should also use some additional product with sun-shield. If you have used a product with sun-shield or make-up during the day, this should be washed away in the evening, and a new layer of protecting cream laid on.
More basic washing and care that that outlined here, is not necessary, and may in fact damage your skin. The same is true for heavy use of make-up.
DON’T SMOKE
Smoking has a very negative effect upon the skin in the long run, and will cause a lot of wrinkles.
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Knut Holt is an internet consultant and marketer focusing on health items. TO FIND innovative medicines against skin aging, acne, eczema, scars, wrinkles, other skin problems and natural anti-aging supplements for the skin and the whole body, PLEASE VISIT his site:—
http://www.abicana.com/shop4.htm
—Free to reprint and reformat as long as the author’s name, his link and his information follow
December 19, 2007
Electric sun glasses is getting more popular these days. In fact, electric sun glasses is the name of a skateboarding sunglasses design. There are so many great designs like Electric VOL and Electric Maxwell. The best thing is you can have electric sunglasses even without polarized lenses ? whatever you prefer in designer sunglasses. Electric sun glasses can be very fashionable and cheaper than other designer sun glasses.
Most of the famous celebrities in the world of snow sports and skateboarding also endorse Electric sunglasses alot. This is because they come in nine different styles and their prices are very reasonable at about $60 to $95 per pair. They are very worth in term of the price level. When comparing to other designer sun glasses that sell for more than $300 per pair because of the polarized lenses, you may know you are getting a great deal when you buy electric sun glasses.
Also, all the frames for the electric sun glasses are actually made from grylamide which is a nylon material/ Hence, the sunglasses, even the Electric Vol sunglasses, are very light in weight and fit perfectly to your face. Therefore, when you fly through the air, you do not hope that your sunglasses to slip and distract you. This is the reason whey the rubber grips on the nosepiece stick even tighter whenever they become wet.
In additions, the lenses in electric sun glasses are made from polycarbonate which is actually a very shatterproof material. These sunglasses has already gone through the very strict testing before they go to the market in order to make sure they meet the shatterproof level. The nylon frame also comes in a wraparound design such that there will be no UV rays cane get around the sides and you can keep the sunglasses firmly in place.
Moreover, electric Vol sunglasses have no polarized lenses. These sunglasses only have the thin frames and large lenses. The style of it seems to be designed for fashion. And you can also have a choice in the color or lens you want, for examples, bronze, lavender, etc. Some of the Electric sunglasses like the Electric Maxwell and Electric Noise also include these lenses. Therefore, in case you can get polarized sunglasses for such a low price, why would you pay the higher prices for biker sunglasses when these work just very well?
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Rashme Wong is a successful Internet Marketer and publisher of Discount Sun Glasses.com. She provides more eye surgery solutions, contact lens and ‘electric sunglases’ information that you can search and learn on her website.
December 10, 2007
Statistics show plastic surgery is becoming more commonplace these days. For some, combining it with a trip makes absolute sense.
One of the fastest growing trends in medical treatment today is plastic surgery. Face lifts, liposuction, nose jobs and breast augmentation are all very popular surgical options for people looking to feel better about the way that they look. While plastic surgery is a generally safe and permanent solution to many individuals’ cosmetic concerns, unfortunately, it can be expensive. Health insurance usually does not cover the cost of cosmetic procedures, and so many patients are forced to pay for the entire cost of their surgery. In order to cut down on the price of their procedures, many potential patients are now choosing to have plastic surgery overseas.
When choosing to have plastic surgery overseas, there are many issues to consider. Before even starting to look for a different country in which to have your procedure, make sure that you have a consultation with your own doctor here in the United States. That way, you can be sure that you’re in good enough health to be able to have any surgical procedure, regardless of the location of the surgeon. You’ll also want to make sure to research the location or country where you want to have your surgery performed. Not all countries have the same standards for their doctors and hospitals, so you’ll want to find out just what sort of credentials are needed in your chosen country.
Another item to consider when having plastic surgery overseas is what you would do if any complications arise from your surgery. Often, when a patient chooses to have surgery in a different country, aftercare for their cosmetic procedure is not included. You may end up leaving the hospital or facility where your surgery was performed without being fully recovered, because medical standards vary. Be sure to have a doctor lined up for aftercare in the US before leaving for your plastic surgery abroad.
A final item to consider is whether you will actually be saving a large amount of money by having your procedure abroad. Sometimes, when you factor in the cost of flying to a different country, as well as the cost of staying in that country before and after your surgery, it may be cheaper to stay in the US and have your plastic surgery done at home.
Choosing plastic surgery overseas can be a viable choice for people looking to cut down on the cost of cosmetic procedures, but it’s important to do a lot of research on the subject before planning your trip and deciding to have surgery in a different country.
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Ricardo de Silva is with PlasticSurgeonPractices.com - a directory of plastic surgeons.
From wrinkles to blotches, the appearance of our face is critical. While there are many treatments available, microdermabrasion is one with positives and negatives.
The field of plastic surgery is one of the fastest growing areas in medicine. New developments and techniques are constantly being developed to correct many different areas that are causing cosmetic concern in both the young and the elderly. One part of the body that causes considerable stress to people in a cosmetic way is the skin, specifically the skin of the face and neck. Wrinkles, discoloration, scars and acne all affect the way people look, which in turn affects their self esteem. Luckily, a new type of procedure is available to help erase these problem areas.
Microdermabrasion is not really a surgical technique, rather it is a non-invasive procedure performed in spas and plastic surgery offices that gives terrific results without the use of knives or lasers. Basically, microdermabrasion is the process of using an abrasive (rough) service to polish away the outer surface of the skin, known as the stratum cornea. Some of the substances that are used to accomplish this are jets of zinc or aluminum oxide crystals, or rough surfaces akin to very fine grade sandpaper.
When the mechanism is passed over the skin, the stratum cornea is literally sanded off, and it is then suctioned off (in a dust like form) with a small wand vacuum. Since this layer of skin is composed of dead and old skin cells, the removal of this skin surface doesn’t hurt any of the important tissue underneath. It also does not hit any nerves, so no anesthetic is needed and microdermabrasion is not painful.
There are other things to consider about microdermabrasion, most importantly, what it can and can’t do. After a course of microdermabrasion, your skin will be left looking smoother and glowing ? because you’ve removed the layer of dead, lackluster skin cells that was sitting on top of your healthy skin. You may see a reduction in fine lines and small wrinkles, as well as a reduction in the appearance of acne or raised scars on your face.
Microdermabrasion does not, however, get rid of large wrinkles, deep discoloration, or large deep scars. It is not a complete solution for acne, either; repeated treatments are required to treat acne and keep it from coming back. Microdermabrasion is a good alternative to more invasive skin procedures ? but only if you keep in mind its limitations.
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Ricardo de Silva is with PlasticSurgeonPractices.com - a directory of plastic surgeons.
It slices, it dices, it will help you win the lotto. Of course, we are talking about collagen, the popular skin treatment solution. Here is an overview of collagen.
There are many materials that make the human body what it is. Bones make up the structural basis of the human body, while muscles and connective tissue fill in the rest. The skin is our outer protection, the facade that is seen by the rest of the world, and it’s often the area that most people concentrate on when trying to change their appearance cosmetically. There are other areas that can change the way we look, however, and one important substance that has the ability to change our image is collagen.
Collagen is a protein ? the main protein in the connective tissue of animals. It is also the most abundant protein found in the bodies of mammals with fully 40 percent of the total amount protein in our bodies being collagen. This protein is a long, fibrous structure with a lot of strength in the way it’s formed. Collagen, along with keratin (another protein structure) is responsible for both the elasticity and strength found in human skin, and it also plays a role in tissue development.
When collagen degrades, skin changes shape. The degradation of collagen happens naturally as people age and the shape of the skin changes naturally as well. Less collagen means that your skin is not as elastic or able to hold to the structures below it, causing wrinkles and stretch marks to form. When collagen is lost from other body structures, such as ligaments, it can cause problems with joint pain and mobility.
So, what can be done about the loss of collagen? Since wrinkles are caused by this protein loss, doctors and cosmetic companies have been experimenting for years with ways to replace the missing collagen. Unfortunately, there is a high risk of reaction to organic collagen injections and other treatments with these reactions causing side effects that range from swelling to itching and rashes. Many plastic surgeons and doctors have discontinued using collagen injections for this reason.
Synthetic collagen, along with other wrinkle fillers such as Restylane, are now being used in place of traditional collagen injections. This way, people can get the same benefits of replacing this missing protein without having to deal with adverse reactions. When you hear someone mention collagen treatments, they are really referring to the synthetic option.
Combating collagen degradation is sure to continue to be a big research area in plastic surgery for years to come. This is particularly true as the baby boomer generation ages.
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Ricardo de Silva is with PlasticSurgeonPractices.com - a directory of plastic surgeons.
Collagen is an especially popular cosmetic solution for those looking for appearance improvements without surgery. Of the various treatments areas, lips tend to be at the top of the list.
As humans age, many things happen to the structures of our bodies. Bones start to become brittle, muscles weaken, and other internal organs also change condition. One of the most obvious parts of the body that sustains changes is the skin. Wrinkles form, the outer surface can become dry, and other parts of the face and neck can droop. Much of this skin transformation can be traced to the fact that collagen begins to degrade as we age, but there are ways to combat this change. Collagen is one way to restore a youthful look to an aging face.
As you get older, the skin on your face may sag. This sagging often is seen in the neck area, but also in the lips which may appear to get thinner and less plump as we age. Collagen treatments seek to remedy this by adding collagen to the lip area, creating a firmer, plumper looking lip. Collagen that is used for lips is often taken from the tissues of other animals, making this an organic solution. As it is organic, there is also a risk of reaction to the collagen ? which can include allergic reactions such as itchiness, redness, swelling and other signs of allergy.
Another organic way of filling wrinkles used frequently in the face area that is similar to collagen are fat injections. Often, the fat is taken from your own body (in an area that tends to hold more fat, such as the thigh or buttocks), which reduces the risk of any adverse reaction. The fat is then injected into the lip as a temporary plumping agent. Unfortunately, since this is only a temporary type of treatment, many patients have to repeat these treatments to achieve their desired look.
There are also synthetic alternatives to collagen lip treatments. These include Fibril, which is a gelatin powder that is mixed with the patient’s own blood to make a collagen like treatment, and Goretex. Goretex is a thread-like material that is placed underneath a patient’s skin so that it can add soft-tissue support.
While there are many different ways to surgically and cosmetically enhance your lips, collagen is still considered one of the most popular. Just be sure to consult your surgeon before having this procedure done, and know the risks of allergic reaction before consenting to collagen treatments.
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Ricardo de Silva is with PlasticSurgeonPractices.com - a directory of plastic surgeons.
From reality television to spruced up celebrities, there is little doubt plastic surgery is popular these days. Words are cheap, however, so here are the numbers on plastic surgery.
If you watch television, surf the Web or listen to any radio station, you can definitely see that plastic surgery is extremely popular. There are reality shows devoted to extreme plastic surgery makeovers and the tales of plastic surgery gone wrong, and many patients have developed websites to tell their own plastic surgery stories. But just how common is having these sorts of cosmetic procedures? Here are some numbers on plastic surgery that really show how many people are going under the knife.
The 2004 numbers on plastic surgery show that there were 11.9 million surgical and non-invasive cosmetic procedures performed that year (statistics provided by the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery). This represents a 44 percent increase over the amount of people that had similar procedures in the year 2003. Of the 11.9 million procedures performed, 18 percent were surgical (while the remaining were procedures such as injections or dermabrasion).
From the year 1997 to the year 2004, there was a 465 percent increase in the total number of cosmetic procedures performed in the United States, and a 118 percent increase in the number of surgical cosmetic procedures. 90 percent of the total 11.9 million cosmetic procedures performed in 2004 took place on female patients, which amounted to 10.7 million procedures.
The numbers on plastic surgery for the year 2004 also show the top five surgical procedures that took place during that year. They were: liposuction, breast augmentation, eyelid surgery, rhinoplasty, and facelift. The top five non-surgical cosmetic procedures were as follows: Botox injections, laser hair removal, chemical peel, microdermabrasion, and hyaluronic acid (Restylane) injections. Most of these procedures took place on people aged 35-50 ? 45 percent of the total amount of people who had cosmetic procedures.
The amount of people getting cosmetic procedures, both surgical and non-invasive, has been steadily increasing every year. With the numbers clearly showing that many people prefer non-surgical procedures over those that require surgery, medical science is sure to be developing more and more non-invasive solutions to cosmetic issues.
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