Tips for Oily Skin Care

Oily skin is caused by the sebaceous glands producing too much oil and as a result your skin may frequently appear shiny. Some persons who have extremely oily skin may experience a greasy or sticky feeling for several hours after cleansing.

Characteristics of oily skin
- Large pores
- More prone to breakouts
- Clogged pores and blemishes

Advantages of oily skin (Yes, there are advantages)
- Signs of aging, including fine lines and wrinkles, take longer to appear
- The large percentage of oil on the skin's surface helps the upper layer retain water, therefore protecting the skin from dryness caused by the environment.

Cleansing - Step 1 in oily skin care
Avoid harsh soaps which destroy the natural pH balance in your skin. Use a beauty bar or a lathering gel two times per day to effectively clear away impurities from your pores and remove oily buildup. Wash with tepid or warm, not hot, water.

Masking - an essential oily skin care step
Masks provide an extra deep cleansing and will help to absorb excess oils; remove dead skin cells; and refine the texture of your skin. Masks also help to minimize the appearance of large pores.

Toner/Freshner - the extra cleansing step
This is an important step, especially after applying a mask as it acts like an extra rinse cycle to remove any residue left by the mask. It also improves the appearance of your skin.

Moisturizer - Hydration!
Many women feel, as I did several years ago, that if you have oily skin you do not need a moisturizer. This is incorrect! The key is to identify the type of moisturizer suitable for oily skin care. The correct moisturizer should provide hydration where needed, and condition dry areas, if any. This should be applied two times per day after cleansing.

For oil control during the day, keep a pack of beauty blotters (blotting sheets) on hand to blot off the shine but keep your makeup in place leaving your face shine-free.

Tips on How to Keep Your Makeup Looking Good at the End of the Day

Today most jobs require that you multi-task, and running around even in air-conditioned settings, can cause your makeup to fade during the day. Here are some quick tips to keep your makeup looking good all day.

1. Start with a medium coverage foundation that's oil-free for a matte look. For move coverage you may layer on a second application after the first dries. Foundation protects your skin and acts as a barrier from the elements. Make sure to look for foundation that's non-comedogenic, which means that it will not clog your pores.

2. Set foundation with loose powder. Mineral powder is ideal because it is finely milled and has great staying power. Further, it helps to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

3. If you have oily skin, avoid touching up with powder too many times during the day. Do so only when absolutely necessary. Instead solve the problem of shiny face by using beauty blotters or blotting sheets. These are thin sheets of paper, usually made of linen, that absorb the shine but leave your foundation and powder intact.

The Eyes Have It

4. An eye primer is recommended before eyeshadow application to keep eye color from 'sliding off' during the day. No primer on hand, use a light application of concealer instead. Moving from the work environment to an evening out, intensify eye color by applying a creme or pencil eye shadow and layer with powder eye color.

5. Water-resistant or waterproof eyeliner gives more staying power and keeps the color vibrant.

6.Many makeup artists recommend waterproof mascara if you work in an environment where regular mascara could 'bleed' or 'run'. Care should be taken to remove waterproof mascara with an effective oil-free eye makeup remover as waterproof mascara can cause your lashes to dry out.

Luv 'Ur Lips

7. Start with a lip creme or lip enhancer that acts like a glue to keep your lipstick in place longer then apply lipstick and a gloss. An alternative is to outline the lips with lip pencil then using the same color or a shade lighter fill in the lips with the lip liner. Apply a gloss over the pencil.

A nourishing treat for your lips is to use a lip color that moisturizes and protects from the sun at the same time.

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Using Affirmations to Make Healthy Choices in Food and Nutrition

You probably have heard the expression that you are what you eat. Which of these reflect the main component of your diet?

What you eat affects the way you look and how you feel about yourself. Making healthy choices in food and nutrition will also affect the way your skin looks. How can affirmations help you to make healthy choices?

Affirmations can help you stick to your diet, say no to temptation, and eat nourishing and
satisfying foods. How? By replacing the negative spiral of thoughts in your mind with
powerful, positive ones. You first have to believe that it is possible to gain control over your thirsts, desires, and cravings. The first step in making a lasting change in your life is to make the commitment to success. Once you've set your commitment in stone, you're ready to learn the top 10 affirmations to get you through moments of weakness.

Beauty is just a click away! Visit me, your Mary Kay Independent Beauty Consultant: http://www.marykay.com/yjones


Photo of 'burger' by Stuat Eman

Use Sunscreen Daily in All Seasons of the Year

Many people go to great lengths to apply sunscreen on a regular basis during the warmer seasons of spring, summer and fall. They, however, neglect to do this in winter because they may not feel the effects of the sun's rays directly. But it is equally important to use sunscreen in the winter months, and it would be best to make it a habit to apply sunscreen every morning whether you plan on spending the day outdoors or not; and whether it's summer or winter. The fact is that harmful UVA rays (the rays that cause aging of the skin) can easily penetrate windows of cars, buildings and airplanes.

More and more skin care and beauty products have sunscreen added to them thereby eliminating the need for a specific sunscreen lotion for those who use and wear those products. Your goal should be to have a combined SPF value. When using these facial products, remember to include the neck as that is an extension of the face.

If you plan on being outdoors for long periods, say in winter on the slopes, or in summer on the beach, a broad-spectrum sunscreen of at least SPF 45 is recommended, which should be reapplied every hour. In addition, it's recommended that you apply sunscreen at least 30 minutes before exposure to the sun in order to allow the lotion to penetrate the skin. The sun is most powerful between 10:00 a.m and 4:00 p.m. so whenever possible, avoid long periods of exposure during these hours.

Protecting your skin with adequate sunscreen in one way of helping to protect against the damages which cause premature aging of your skin.
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Beauty is just a click away! Visit me, your Mary Kay Independent Beauty Consultant: http://www.marykay.com/yjones