Beauty Education: Parabens

Starting from parabens in hair products, the brazillian blowout, to cosmetics and skincare you apply onto your face. I've always wondered if having parabens in those products is really as bad as what we always hear about them.

Well I'm not writing this entry to say that parabens are a wonderful thing, and that we should support having it in our skincare, I'm just the type of person that is a little bit more open minded about these things, maybe especially when it's about cosmetics. Maybe consumers should step back and do a little bit of research on the link between cancer and parabens before they limit themselves from many great products, let alone freak out when they hear that this moisturizer they're holding has parabens in it. Because the truth is, there are parabens that are naturally produced in some fruits and vegetables, but nobody seems to know that, and you don't really see that information floating around in magazines and on the news...

I'm here to clear up some questions that you might have regarding both the benefits as well as the negatives that parabens could potentially have on our health.

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Commonly asked questions


1. What exactly are parabens?

It is a preservative that has replaced formaldehyde (a carcinogen), that is easily accessible and low in cost. Not only does it preserve your products for a longer period of time, it helps skincare seal in their moisture and keeps it fresh. This is why they are not only found in moisturizers but also products such as toothpaste, self tanners, lubricants and makeup. The cosmetic items I just listed are generally kept in your washroom, which means it is in an environment where the temperature is constantly changing from a high to low and high again. Having parabens in the products will prevent them from moulding and going bad.

2. Why is it a bad thing?

Parabens mimic estrogen produced in women's bodies, which is a cause to breast cancer at high amounts. Though after looking into many articles online, there were no direct links between parabens and cancer, only that parabens are more easily identified among cancer cells.

3. Are there any incentives/alternatives to parabens?

Yes there are: grapefruit seed extract, rosemary, lavender oil and more. These are just the familiar names that we hear more often.

4. What fruits or vegetables naturally produce parabens, and why?

The best example to of a fruit that naturally produces parabens is an apple. If you take an apple and cut it in half, it turns brown. Why do you think it doesn't turn brown before you slice open the fruit? It's actually because there is a layer of paraben outside of the apple that preserves and prevents the inside from going bad and turning brown. The list goes on such as blueberries, strawberries, barley, current, vanilla, carrots and onions. Not only do they act as preservatives, they act as antibacterial agents as well.

5. Why do some brands that claim to be paraben free still have parabens listed in the ingredients?

Firstly, I'd like to tell you that the company are generally not trying to lie to you and get you to purchase by using the phrase "paraben free" as a selling point. Because as I mentioned above, there are many fruits and vegetables that naturally produce paraben. In your skincare, they are not going to mention the fruit clearly as "strawberry," and will list out their chemical names. Which is why you generally won't recognize a lot of the ingredient name unless you ask your best friend Google.
Two brands that I know of that does this is Amore Pacific and Fresh.

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Being able to listen to some other opinions on parabens, I realized that as long as you're somebody who is living a healthy lifestyle, eating clean and exercising regularly, something as little as parabens in your skincare that can't even go past the epidermis of the skin, shouldn't really affect you at all.

Even by the end of this article, if you still refuse to purchase products that contain parabens, at least now you will have a valid argument of why you want paraben free products.
I hope this information is helpful to everyone, and I'd love to know what your thoughts are on parabens as well!

Please comment below to let me know, and thank you for reading!!


- Carol

How to get rid of irritated..sensitive acne

If you are one of those girls or boys like me who has super bad acne that keeps coming out for no reason, read this! It will help so much. Diet is a huge influence, but so is your skincare routine!
Check these problems out to see if you need to read on:

1. Do you have super sensitive and irritated acne that hurts when you touch them
2. You're afraid of deep cleansing and exfoliating because you don't want to hurt/pop/irritate/spread the acne
3. You have tried everything possible out there! A mad mask.. Benzyl Peroxide, Salicylic Acid, Willowbark... 
4. You've even tried to NOT put anything on your skin.. but you just feel it get oily or super dry


Yupp, your skin is exactly like mine, and you don't know why! For me.. it definitely was a combination of stress, sleepless nights and unhealthy eating. But by the time I knew I had to do something about it, it kind of was too late, it just got worst and worst. Right now I am living a much more healthy lifestyle, doing pilates training 5 days a week, and not eating junk food, high sodium, processed foods, pop, and all the stuff that will scrape off the health from your body.
Not to mention at my job, it is mandatory that I wear a full face of makeup.. so that didn't exactly help too.
Alright, so enough about me, lets talk about what I can do to help improve your skin from little baby steps.

1. Look for products that are ALCOHOL FREE

Products nowadays contain nothing but gross chemicals that will irritate your skin, even the most natural products can only claim that they are 90% natural. But, I have to admit, that brands are becoming more conscious about what they put in, and clients are becoming more aware of wanting natural and paraben free. But alcohol is not a paraben, so it is contained in so many of your skincare products, it gets difficult to find ones that don't contain any, especially in your cleansers, toners and exfoliaters.

Alcohol is terrible for your skin, because it is stripping and it dehydrates, exactly how consuming alcoholic beverages would do for your skin inside out. Obviously if you are putting it in direct contact with your skin.. it really isn't going to help. So next time you go skincare shopping, even if you look for "natural" skincare, you should still read the ingredients to make sure they don't contain alcohol.

2. Don't use products that use Salicylic acid, Glycolic Acid or Benzyl Peroxide.

I know.. I know that these are the main ingredients that help with acne, but if you are super sensitive, trust me, this isn't the way! For our skin types, it will only irritate it. It is almost like doing chemotherapy for those who are not super sensitive. It heals you, but it drys out your skin so badly, you end up having a bunch of band affects afterwards and you gotta start hydrating your skin. Not to mention, some people start having acne again once they stop using these products. And you have to stop, because it is too damaging for your skin to have either or of these two ingredients permanently in your skincare routine.

3. Do not use a physical exfoliater

When you have skin that has very fragile acne, that would hurt and get irritated from touching it, doing a physical exfoliator (one with beads that you need to scrub into your skin) is really not the best solution. I know you'll ask me how you get rid of all that dead skin cells on your skin surface? My solution for you is not a chemical exfoliator too.. because those are usually super high in alcohol content, and really don't make anything better too... my solution for you is a gentle exfoliator like the clarisonic. Ok.. I know it may sound like a huge investment, but it works soooo well. If you think about it, you spending on a brand new skincare routine may cost just as much, if not more.

The reason why a clarisonic, or any of those gentle exfoliators that only does a gentle vibrating cleansing on the surface of your skin that is so gentle that you can use it both day and night without irritating the most sensitive skin types. It does the job, and does the deep cleansing, and it doesn't hurt. That is exactly what you need during this time. I cannot emphasize how important it is to give your skin a deep cleanse, and it is the most difficult when your skin is in pain, and you are out of solutions.

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Alright excellent, now that we have covered what not to have in our products, lets carry on to my current skincare routine, and maybe you can try it out to see how it suits your skin! Remember, less is more, so if you can, try to use as little products as possible. Just remember: Cleanse, tone, moisturize and protect.

1. Use a cleanser that is gentle, and for me I am currently using Ren's Clarifying Clay Cleanser. It is sulfate free, and you can tell because it doesn't foam up, which means it won't strip the natural oils off your skin, but at the same time it'll give your skin a feel of deep cleanse. It honestly is soooo gentle, but the clay that is in it will help to absorb all the impurities from your skin, all that dirt and oil, and help with those darn acne.

This is by far, the best cleanser that has helped with my acne problems. Try it.

2. Use a toner/hydrater that is either mineral water/grape water, or something that is simple and that you can literally only see a few ingredients. When it comes to skincare.. simple is always good, because if we can avoid chemicals, we always should. So I am currently using two, I like to alternate between Caudalie's grape water and Evion's mineral water. These two work amazing.. because they are super gentle, and so gentle that you can use on a baby's skin.

So why do we want to tone? I often hear a lot of people ask this question. Toners are super important, because it is what will help bring your crazy skin's Ph back to balance. What does that mean? Well, if your skin is breaking out, a lot of people I would automatically assume that you have either really dehydrated skin or super oily skin. So when your skin's Ph is out of balance, that is what will happen, your skin will either be super dry, or it will be super oily. When you use a toner, it will bring it balance. So this definitely is not a step you sensitive acne proned skin people should be skipping. 

3. Find a moisturizer that is calming. I am currently using Caudalie's moisturizing sorbet. Just like all of their other products, it has got grape seed oil in it, and for this particular sorbet, it also has chamomile. Chamomille as you know it.. if you are a tea drinking, is super calming and relaxing, and it will do the exact thing for your skin. It is going to help calm and tone down the irritations that you are getting on your skin. It will help to relax all the painful acne and help sooth it completely. If you get the chance to try it, it feels so good and makes your skin feels so smooth, and is absolutely fast absorbing. You can use this whether you are extremely oily, combination or dry.

4. Lastly, protect your skin using sunscreen. Your skin has already gotten enough irritations with your stressful life, now keep it protected from the sun. The sun as you know it is one of the most damaging thing that could ever happen to your skin. It breaks down collagen, causes dark spots, and causes the fastest aging to your skin. A good sunscreen I like to recommend is the Clarins SPF 40. It is oil free, and fast absorbing so that your skin doesn't have that white and sticky feeling you always get when you apply sunscreen. 

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So give those four products a try, and I hope I can help heal your skin, or at least improve it, like how mine has durastically in the last week that I have just completely changed my skincare routine to this. 

One of the biggest tip also, is to be consistent with this, which means you must wash your face every day, moisturize it every day. It might sound stupid.. but people do get lazy, and they think if they didn't put on makeup that day, they don't need to cleanse. WRONG, wash your face EVERY DAY! You have no idea how much gross stuff and bacteria is in the air that we even breathe. Even if you live in Fiji, or places that have a low pollution rate, cleanse your face! 

I hope I was able to educate you guys with some new tips and trips. Any questions? Feel free to leave comments below.. If you are shy to ask, feel free to email me:

carol.yuu92@gmail.com, and just have the heading as "responding to your blog" and I'll happily respond to you guys. 

Have a fantabulous weekend!

-Carol

#nowplaying: Clarity - Zedd ft. Foxes

  

The life of a tired college students... how to brighten up that face!

Hello everyone!!

Going into my second semester it has been more hectic that ever, and I literally have been getting an average of 3-4 hours of sleep. The fact that I have to work all the days I am not at school doesn't really help either. I shouldn't complain though, because working part-time really helps me to manage my time a lot better too and I don't procrastinate as much. If I were to stop working and have all this spare time to do my homework, I definitely would leave everything to the last minute. I know it is really boring, and every time I begin my new blog entries with a short complaint about how tired I am every day. A few weeks ago I met up with a friend who told me that he had been going to school full time, going to work basically full time, he was going to the gym for three hours every day AND he took up two martial arts lessons and one dance lesson. That made me re-think about my life, and maybe I should be doing something more and manage my time better. All I am doing is school and work.. and I am already complaining. I should at least start running a couple times a week to maintain a better health as well. Even lately my pimples have been coming back out again because of my lack of sleep plus stress from school. I really should start living life a little bit more positive (:

So with me being one of those super tired college students, I decided I'm going to teach you guys how to fake that awake look! Obviously I'll still encourage you to sleep lots to prevent those dark panda circles, and drink lots of water to keep that complexion hydrated. But... if you're super lazy and busy like me, here are instructions on how to fake it!

So with all that dull skin around your eye area and in your whole complexion, the concealer is honestly going to be your best friend. You can either use a brightener or an under-eye concealer to brighten those dark circles to give yourself a more refreshed and awake look. I am currently using my Nars creamy concealer in custard. Go and read my previous entry on it if you want to know how it is like. It is an eye cream and concealer in one, and it comes in 10 shades!

The second thing I like to have is a BB cream (Beauty Balm). I am currently using the Clinique BB cream with an SPF of 30 and comes in three shades. The reason why I would avoid a full coverage foundation is because being so tired and stressed all the time, my skin is already getting all that bad emotions from my body.. I really shouldn't shock it even more with a foundation. Even when I go to work, right now a BB cream is already good enough to help even out my complexion. The concealer is already good enough coverage for me to cover up any small blemishes. You can go ahead and use a more full coverage concealer if you need it. BB creams are also good because they help to hydrate your skin and gives you good sun protection, especially this Clinique one. Most of them are around an SPF of 10-15. The highest one I have seen so far is the Estee Lauder one which has an SPF of 50. I still haven't had the chance to try that one yet, but as of now the Clinique one is my favourite one. If your skin already is looking even and you don't need anything for your complexion, you should definitely still have an SPF. I can't stress enough how important sunscreen is, because UV damage is actually one of the biggest damages to aging skin. So you can say that sunscreen is probably the most effective antioxidant. Many people don't know how damaging the sun is, so now you know (:

Next is an eye cream! I think this is going to be your second best friend next to the concealer. I am using the Algenist eye balm. Even though coverage is important, helping to reduce and prevent is important too. Because the skin around your eyes is the most sensitive part, you must take care of it as early as possible. Even though I am still 20 and still don't have any signs of aging, I still put on eye cream that helps with dark circles, puffiness and wrinkles. An eye cream is also extremely important because it helps to hydrate the area around your eyes. Wrinkles are enhanced when the skin is dry. So keep that area moisturized! Even if you are using a concealer like Benefit's fake up and Nars' creamy under eye concealer, you should still add an eye cream to add that protection. More is never going to harm your skin (unless you're 20 and you're using anti aging products for 50 year olds, then you might be overdoing it a little...).

This is optional, but if your complexion still looks a little dull after you're done with BB cream or foundation, add a little bit of bronzer of blush to give that nice natural glow to your complexion. I am using the Nars orgasm blush. It is a beautiful pink/peachy blush with a orange undertone (which makes it look absolutely gorgeous on asian skin tones). It also has a little bit of gold shimmer in it that makes it act as a subtle and beautiful illuminator as well.

Lastly is something to help brighten your face, either a serum or a peel. I am currently using Dr. Dennis Gross' alpha beta peels. They are honestly the most amazing things I have ever used. It helps to brighten your whole complexion, helps with discolouration, black heads, wrinkles, pores, acne, acne scars, and literally anything you can think of to help your skin. It is super easy to use, it is a two step peel system. Step one is to help exfoliate and take off all that dirty build up that clogs your skin throughout the days because of the dirty air. Step two is to help neutralize the peel and stop it from eating away that dead stuff. I always say that no makeup is more beautiful than beautiful skin. After you use this, I swear it will change your life. It honestly is ok for all skin types even if you are sensitive to the bone!

Anyways, that is all my tips for a tired college student who needs a little bit of help with maintaining a healthier (or faking) look.

Armin Van Buuren was just here last week. Here is my makeup during the concert:

I am using Urban Decay's vice palette as usual and Hourglass liquid lipstick in "child." Also can't forget those falsies that I get in Taiwan for super cheap ^^~

Thanks for reading! I hope everyone is able to enjoy the sunny weather and not be stuck inside school and work all day long...

- Carol <3

#nowplaying: take the world on - 2NE1 ft. Will.I.am

The difference between dehydrated skin and aging skin.

A few days ago I encountered a very rude client who was very uneducated about skin care. She not only did not listen to me explain the difference between aging and dry skin, she argued with me using false facts. And that really annoyed me... because you do not have the right to call someone rude, when you are supporting yourself with false facts. Not to mention I was not rude at all. I remained calm the whole time, asking her to let me explain over and over while she rudely interrupted me and walked out on me. I've grown up being quite introverted and quiet, and never have I been called rude before. There really are people who are just stupid and rude ==.

I won't say what this person was like because I don't feel the need to let this person be exposed on the internet, but needless to say... I want people to understand the difference between aging skin and dehydrated skin, at least before you go and yell at someone for assuming that they said you were old. The reason why skincare brands separate their lines into different age groups, is obviously because someone who is 15 and someone who is 50 cannot use the same products. I thought that was common sense. When I tell you to use something that requires more hydration doesn't mean I'm saying your skin is old. As you get older, its natural for your skin to start to  deteriorate and lose its moisture. The lady was clearly in her 40's, and if you really think that using a product that is meant for teenagers and expect to get the same results, please dream on, because it won't work. It's almost like a 40 year old eating baby food and expecting to receive the same nutrients a baby would receive from it. Skincare does not work that way!

Dehydrated skin is caused by:

Not giving enough hydration to your skin, no matter how old you are, as long as you are 25 or over (which is the age women's skin sadly starts to deteriorate whether you like it or not). Usually when your skin is dehydrated... it'll go crazy and be oily yet dry. The reason why it does this is because due to the lack of moisture.. your skin starts to produce its own oils to try to replenish the moisture. But at the same time you feel dry, that means your skin is dehydrated. This problem can happen anytime depending on how you care for your skin. Don't tell me that your skin is "not that dry" when I tell you that a moisturizer meant for teenagers is not suitable for your skin. Nowhere in that sentence did I mention that you had old and aging skin. I am actually doing you a favour and informing you that the product you are about to purchase is about to do nothing to your skin and you will be wasting your money.

Aging skin is caused by:

Loss of collagen, sun damage, environmental damages, free radicals and capillaries in your skin breaking apart. This also will start happening after the age of 25 (yes, whether you like it or not).



So in conclusion, before you tell me that brands do not make products that split into different age groups, you are wrong, and when you try to use a product that is meant for someone who is 15 when you are 40 expecting it to give you the same results you are also wrong. Oh, and you were also wrong when you thought that brands make products for just one age group. I'm sorry you are so self conscious about your aging skin that you thought that when I was trying to educate you about your wrong choice of products that I was implying that you looked old.

Thank you for reading my rant, and I hope everyone takes good care of their skin and please be polite (:
When you are a kind person.. It gets you places.

Have a good day~~

#nowplaying: Apollo - Hardwell

summer is getting close... time for a review on Nars' new creamy concealer (:

Hi everyone!

I've been so busy with final projects, school, and especially work, I haven't been able to do a new review. Work literally has been super hectic since there was an event! I even had to get called into work on school days (which I usually don't do) cuz the days would just be way too long. Well, I did that, and was about to over time to 10 hours yesterday, but thank god the day started to slow down, so I didn't have to stay.

So the summer weather is starting to show up, and I am more than excited! Except because of my one year program, I don't really get a summer this year ><''. Oh well, at the least the sun will accompany me to school every day :D I already whipped out my maxi dress yesterday...

and my makeup too :) I absolutely love Tarte lipsticks, they're the only lipsticks that don't make my lips look completely disgusting (cuz of my super flaky and dry lips). So if you have chapped lips like mine, Tarte would be my number one recommendation! Not to mention, this infrared rouge is the thing for Spring 2013.

Alright so enough about me, its time to look at Nars' new creamy concealer!! I have been waiting for it for the longest time, and I finally got it yesterday! Obviously, the makeup addict I am... I had to put it on right when I got home... and I have to say, it is absolutely amazing! This concealer is an awesome makeup and skin care in one. 

What is so good about it?

1. I have a combination skin, and it was able to give a nice matte finish without powder. (Give it about 20 seconds to dry)

2. It was super moisturizing, and made it extremely easy to apply without having difficulties to blend it out. So in my opinion, I definitely loved it much more than the original concealer. 

3. Extremely long wear and did not crease. (I had it on for a full shift at work from 9:30 a.m - 6 p.m, and I still had it on till about 8 p.m)

4. Does not accentuate your fine lines around your eye area, and fills them in. 

5. Has a medium - full coverage, and will hide your dark circles with only a few dabs of the product.

How does it do its job?

1. It includes an ingredient called Silica. This is what helps to reduce the wrinkles and fine lines around the eye area in time. 

2. Titanium Dioxide (sunscreen). When you are treating any part of your body or face, it is always important to protect it also from sun damage. Sunscreen is the best antioxidant and anti aging product there is, because most of the damage in our skin... whether it be sun damage or dark spots, most of them are caused by the sun. Asides from protecting your skin, this is also what will help even out your skin tone.  

3. Bark Extract. Is what will help increase the hydration around the eye area

This is what it looked like right when I applied it using the concealer in shade custard. (Left eye with concealer, right eye without). I don't know why my nose was so red this morning... 

I used it on some of my pimple scars, and it hid it pretty well. But that's only because it was pretty light already. If you're somebody who only has minimal imperfections on your face, you could use this as a concealer for your acne or scars as well. But if you're somebody who needs a full coverage concealer for acne, I recommend using either Makeup Forever's Full cover concealer, or Kat Von D's lock it foundation and tattoo concealer. 

I give this concealer a 10/10! Because what's better than something that will heal AND cover? 

Thank you so much for reading.

I hope you will love this product as much as I do!! 

Have a good day, and I wish everyone's day to be filled with sunshine!

-Carol 

#nowplaying:  Can't hold us - Macklemore