B4rb's Health & Beauty Tips

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This is the section where I offer weekly beauty and health tips or secrets. Tips that everyday people(not in the beauty industry) might not know about and I would like to take the time to share with you my visitors. I will be posting a new tip every Friday, but if I think of something to share in between the Fridays then I will post anyways! I will be posting links with my tips just for reference or to provide more info on a specific subject. Enjoy!

<3 B4rb

1.29.04: Renee's Daily Face Regime(might help you somehow)
For Barb
My Skin Care Regime

As I'm fighting not only age but also an ongoing battle with minor acne, anything I can find that is not only simple but also something I already have around my house, I'll use it.

Some things that are definitely true:
1. Wash or change your pillow cases often. You can't imagine what a difference this alone has made in the improvement of the skin on my face!
2. Don't touch your face. You pick up all sorts of stuff on your hands on a daily basis and touching your face just puts all that crap on your face and into your pores.
3. No matter how bad you want to, don't pop that pimple. Years of doing this has left me with tiny scars (while maybe not noticeable to others, *I* can see them). It will go away on its own.
4. Good quality makeup won't mess with your face. Covergirl, while it's cheap, has proven to be the most guilty of messing with my face. Pay a bit more for better quality. It usually lasts longer anyway.
5. Also regarding makeup, always (ahem ALWAYS) wash it off completely before going to bed. If I can do it after drinking and dancing and stumbling in at 4 am at my age, so can you!

That being said, here is my face regime:

Mornings:
1. Wash with Aveeno Skin Clarifying Cleanser - this has soy extract and makes my face feel super smooth and clean. Always thoroughly rinse (I tend to over do it) and then gently pat your face dry.
2. Combine 1 tablespoon of white vinegar with a cup of warm water. Apply a small amount to either your acne prone areas or your entire face. I keep the remainder of this solution in a spray bottle, pop it in the microwave for 7 seconds and then spritz my face (be sure to check the temp of your solution - hot is not good!).
3. Moisturize with Pure Simplicity Rice Skin-Balance Face Lotion (Bath and Bodyworks). This stuff feels like heaven going on!

Evenings:
1. Wash face again with Aveeno Skin Clarifying Cleanser.
2. At this point I use one of three different masks:
a. Oats and Groats Exfoliating Mask - 1/2 cup dry cornmeal and 1/2 cup dry oatmeal Put both in a blender and "pulverize" - shake out a palmful and mix with warm water to make a paste - gently press the mask onto the face - leave on for 5 minutes - rinse off with warm water
b. Queen Helene Mint Julep Masque - this helps dry up acne pimples, rinses away blackheads and helps shrink large pores. Plus it is minty and feels great going on
c. Pure Simplicity Pumpkin Mask - it purifies and makes your skin feel silky. It also smells just like pumpkin pie!
3. Rinse your mask off thoroughly - it helps to over do this or even just jump in the shower at this point to get it all off
4. Spritz on Water/Vinegar mixture
5. Moisturize with Pure Simplicity Face Lotion
6. Everlasting Flower Line-Reduction Concentrate - I place a small amount around the bottoms of my eyes and in the corners to help reduce any lines. I also put a small amount between my eyebrows as my children have caused a worry frown there.

This all sounds like a lot but really takes little time. The nighttime routine is done after the kids have gone to bed and I'm ready to sink into the bath. Sticking to this has shown a massive reduction in acne breakouts and my skin doesn't seem so sallow and aged looking. My goal is to look barely 30 when I turn 40!

I will have more on great ways to make the rest of your skin great soon!

Thanks to Renee of r3n33.com!

1.21.04: Tips and Recipes from Renee
Renee sent me these tips and home recipes for masks and skin treatments. More are posted on here site r3n33.com.

Oats and Groats (Exfoliating Mask)
1/2 cup dry cornmeal
1/2 cup dry oatmeal
put both in a blender and "pulverize" - shake out a palmful and mix with warm water to make a paste - gently press the mask
onto the face - leave on for 5 minutes - rinse off with warm water - apply moisturizer

Zits Blitz
1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar or white vinegar into a cup of warm water - pat on face with soft, clean cloth or cotton balls - apply once a week - it will keep pimples at bay

Banana Wrinkle Fighter Recipe
Banana is wonderful as an anti-wrinkle treatment. Mash 1/4 banana until very creamy.
Spread all over face and leave for 15-20 minutes before rinsing off with warm water followed by a dash of cold.
Gently pat dry.

Renee has tried every single one of these recipes and they rock!

Mayonnaise is a great conditioner for dry hair.
Depending on the length of your hair, apply approximately 1/2 cup of mayonnaise to your dry hair.
Work into hair really well and then cover your hair with a plastic bag, allowing to set for about 15 minutes.
Rinse thoroughly and then shampoo as usual.

9.3.03: Random Punk Hair Tip
Old Punk Rock Tip:
You can make hair gel out of egg white. Let the eggwhite dry in your hair w/ some hair spray so it won't stink.

8.3.03: More Random Tips
Frizz Free:
If you have curly hair and dont want it to frizz, but still want it to be shiney and not frizzy, apply some aloe vera through hair.

Hair Care Tip:
Before going into the pool, wet your hair in a shower or sink. When you wet your hair with regular water your hair soaks up that water first, instead of soaking up mostly chlorinated water first. This way, not only will the chlorine do less damage, but your hair won't reek of it for days.

Greasy Hair:
If your hair is a bit greasy pat some baby powder into it. Use only if you are blonde or else it looks like you have silver hair

6.25.03: Random Tips
If you have severely sun damaged, vitiligo or other skin conditions that keep you from tanning naturally in the sun or if you just want to avoid sun damage use 'Mist On' tanning instead, it rocks.

I will be reviewing the system this weekend and posting my results in the product review section.

6.5.03: Damaged Hair Repair
There are many ways to repair damaged hair caused by color, weather, perms, relaxers,etc..

If your hair is beyond repair. I.E. Breaking off, cotton like texture, or frizzy or split ends. I would advise getting a trim. Those situations are when your hair is beyond repair.

If your hair is not to 'the point of no return' as I call it. There are several ways to repair it.

1. Reconstructors are a good way. There are several different kinds you can find that are sold in packets at your local beauty supply store. Something usually that has 'protein' in the title. You apply this to your hair when you first get in the shower, put a cap on and go about your regular shower business for 10 minutes(or time it says on the pack) and then rinse out. The heat from the steam is used instead of a dryer on your head, as they use in salons. As most people dont have salon dryers in their houses(like I do) this is a good 'at home' method.

You can also get reconstructors in salons. I would recommend both the Tigi 'Dumb Blonde' and the reconstructors by 'Alterna'. Those 2 brands I have used on clients, the 'alterna' brand is a bit more expensive but SO worth it. Also the Biosilk works great, but I think they only have conditioners, not sure.

2. Conditioners are a must when dealing with damaged hair. I would recommend these salon brands:
Rusk 'Sensories Calm: Guarana and Ginger' Conditioner
Rusk 'Deepshine' Sea Kelp Leave In Conditioner
The sea kelp leave in conditioner is one of the best leave ins I have used on myself and others.
Also recommend Alterna conditioners and Biosilk Conditioner is awesome stuff!

These are 2 ways you can help repair your hair and upkeep your normal hair with good conditioners and shampoos. I am a firm believer in salon made products and believe, like in any other product: 'You get what you pay for'.

Also the tips below will help you understand why and maybe how your hair got damaged and more products to use.

5-24-03: Dry Hair Tips
Dry hair is caused by heat, an open cuticle, chemicals applied to the hair, and poor maintenance.

SOLUTIONS:
1) Less or no heat. When blow drying, use a cooler setting and do not blow dry until the is completely dry.

2) Use acidifiers. Acidifiers close the cuticle down and lock in moisture. Acidifiers have a pH of 2.5 to 3.5. They have a lower pH than hair does in an aqueous solution.

3) Color, perms, relaxers, and other chemicals are sometimes a necessary evil. They rob the hair of humectants. Humectants attract and retain moisture (water) in the cortical layer of the hair. Try to use low ammonia -low peroxide color. Do not leave neutralizer on too long with perms. If possible avoid relaxers.

4) Treat your hair. Replace lost humectants with essential fatty acids (lipids), acidify your hair, use low pH products, use cool water. Replace what was taken out to make your hair dry. Also eat a diet full of essential fatty acids (in moderation and non-animal {no cholesterol}).

RECOMMENDATIONS:
1) Get a good low pH shampoo. High pH shampoos lift the cuticle allowing moisture to evaporate. Here are a few great shampoos for dry hair:

* Sunset Hair Elements (Moisturizing) Shampoo
* Matrix Biolage Hydrating Shampoo
* Paul Mitchell Moisture and Shine (Creatives)
* Redken Moisturizing Shampoo

2) Replace lipids. Your scalp produces sebum. This is the hairs' natural source of lipids or essential fatty acids (EFA's.) If your hair grows past your neck line; The hair makes no or little contact with the body. If you use heat (irons, rollers, blow drying), your hair will get depleted of EFA's.

* Sunset Hair Elements (Vanilla Bean) Treatment
* Paul Mitchell Hair Repair

3) Acidify. Acidifiers lock the lipids and moisture in the cortex. They are probably the single most important step to good hair. They maintain good hair.
* Sunset Hair Elements Hair Re-Balancer
* Nexxus Ensure
* Redken Extreme
* Paul Mitchell "The Rinse"

4) Other - 1/2 teaspoon of safflower oil taken orally a day ( you may build up to 1-2 tablespoons)

5.7.03: Toning out orange and yellow tones in blondes

I have been getting LOADS of 'ask b4rb' questions about this so I am going to put the answer to that dilemma in my 'tips' section.

If you have yellow tones in your hair that you want to get rid of use a violet based toner. You can purchase toners at your local beauty supply store.
If you want to get rid of orange tones get a toner with a blue base in your desired shade. i.e. pale blonde base: blue

4.11.03: Vitamins for your hair

2 vitamins I can think of are great for your hair:
Fish oil pills:
Fish oil pills because they help your hair strangth and shinyness.

Prenatal Pills:
I used Prenatal Vitamins to get my hair to grow quicker when I was growing it out and it works great!!

3.11.03: Random Tips

Make-up Remover:
A great way to take off make-up is with baby oil. Just dab a little on a tissue and swipe across your face!

Lip Gloss:
Instead of using lip gloss that doesn't last long enough, rub a thick layer of petroleom jelly (e.g. Vaseline) onto your lips and around them. This is great for winter as well because it prevents chapping and cold sores.

Lipstick Lasts Longer:
Try putting on lip liner than lipstick and blot, put powder on top of lipstick and add another coat of lipstick. Works really well and is cheaper than buying long lasting lip colors. It does work!!

Beautiful Pouty Lips:
To achieve, beautiful pouty lips, if you were not born with them...try this trick:
Wipe your lips very very dry...apply a drop or to of rubbing alcohol to a cotton ball and gently rub across your lips ..DO NOT LICK, and don't try if you may have a allergic reaction. Next, take a neutral lip liner and line your lips, conceal and then powder with a light or transparent powder..apply lipstick, then line with a matching lipliner above your natural lipline...apply vaseline in the center of the top and bottom of your lip..and prepare to be amazed....

2.6.03: Winter/Fall Season Tips

These are a few tips for the winter time anything dealing with that nasty static or dry skin that tends to come with this weather.

* Women on the go should consider keeping a multiple use lip/eye/cheek pencil in their purse for touch-ups during the day. And always keep a tube of lip balm handy in your pocket to ward off chapped, dry lips.

* Stop hair from frizzing by spraying combs or brushes with Static Guard then running it lightly through hair after styling and before hairspray. The versatile product is essential for cutting static on the inside of hats and jacket hoods, too. For a one-two punch, spritz the inside of your pants legs and skirts to further prevent static cling. Be sure to keep a handy tote-size can in the purse or car for “static emergencies.”

* For a dewy, youthful look, mix cream or liquid blush with a dab of petroleum jelly and apply to dry cheeks.

* Don’t forget your hands! Lock in moisture by slathering on a good hydrating lotion before bed and after the morning’s shower.

* Water works: Drink lots of water to moisturize from the inside out, and lightly mist facial skin with distilled water in a small spray bottle after applying makeup to keep it fresh throughout the day.

* For Skin: Give your skin a boost of much-needed moisture with a tinted sunscreen that you can wear under your foundation. In the winter, a tinted sunscreen gives your skin the three things it needs most--color, moisture and sun protection.

* For Nails/Hands: Tough, dry skin and cuticles can make your hands look and feel like a lumberjack's. To fix them quick, just apply a layer of your favorite facial mask to your hands, including the cuticles. Rinse off with warm water and gently push back cuticle with an orange stick.

To sum up all these tips I would say the most importand is to MOISTURIZE during these cold winter and fall months.
Happy Winter/Fall and soft moisturized skin to you!

1.28.03: Skin Tips

* If you have oily skin and feel that you need toner, apply it only on the T-zone, and rinse it off afterward (leaving it on can dry the skin). Use a clay mask as often as every three days to absorb excess oil.

* To stop redness and swelling in an emergency situation (job interview, wedding), ask your doctor for a cortisone injection. It calms down a pimple almost instantly. (OUch! But it works!)

* If you can't get to your dermatologist (or needles make you squemish), temporarily reduce redness and swelling by dabbing on a drop of drugstore cortisone cream, Preparation H, or Vasocon-A eyedrops. Preperation H also works very well to tighten bags.

* Definitely use a benzoyl peroxide or salicyic acid cleanser to fight pimples. A very good product for washing your face is Proactive Solution. It gets rid of that acne within a week, in most cases!

ACNE TIPS:

* Cleanse the skin with a benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid cleanser, apply an alphy hydroxy, and then use a toner. Then use an acne fighting medication to the skin along with a moisturizer.

* To dry out a pimple overnight, try using toothpaste (not gel) directly on the zit. This should help dry it out overnight. A great face mask is to use the white part of an egg and apply it to your face for about 15 minutes. The vitamin A in the whites is also good for your skin.

* The egg white is also a great overnight remedy, but just use a Q-tip to dab on the egg-white directly to the pimple. To rid redness from an inflamed zit, use visine eyedrops and apply to the red spots.

* Another way to get rid of redness: try hydrocortisone cream or pop two Advil.

I hope these few tips help you with your skin!
1.16.03: Haircolor Tips and Info
Color does not lift color, So if you have tint in your hair that is darker than you desired color it will not lift to the color you want. It will only lift your outgrowth(virgin hair) only.
Following Info taken from free beauty tips.com.
Different Tints and the differences between them all:
"A) Permanent Tints:
Must be mixed with hydrogen peroxide to lift hair color. The peroxide opens the hair cuticle so that the tint can penetrate the cortex and form the color. The higher the level of peroxide, the quicker and lighter the result.

B) Semi-Permanent Colors:
They don't actually lift the color - you can either vary the tone within your natural highlights or go darker. Quasi-color contains ethanolamine and 3% peroxide which slightly opens the cuticle. This means that the color can last up to 20 washes and will softly fade as you shampoo, causing no regrowth problem.

C) Semi-Permanent Vegetable Colors:
Contain only vegetable extracts and natural ingredients, so no color is stripped from your hair. It is similar to henna but it doesn't coat the hair (adds shine though). This color sits on the hair's surface and will wash out after about 8 shampoos. "
So check out Free Beauty Tips for boundless amounts of information.

12.24.02: Foundation Tips and Info
Hey Ladies here is some foundation tips for you:
When buying foundation keep in mind your skin type:

•If you have dry skin, look for a creamy, moisturizing formula.

• For oily or combination skin, an oil-free or water-based make-up is best, as it minimizes shine (the high powder content in water-based foundations gives a matte finish).

More foundation Info:

• Tinted moisturizer does exactly what it says leaves a tint or the skin and moisturizes. It is terrific for summer on tanned skin or for skin that is naturally clear and even toned, as it gives virtually no coverage; it doesn’t work on open-pored or oily skin.

• Some cosmetic counters offer a personalized foundation and powder service, where the products are made on the spot to match your skin tone and type exactly. The line that does the best job on this is "Perscrepitives". It is a bit expensive but really 'exact'. This is good especially if you are like me and have a very uncommonly light skintone. This is also good for dark skintones which are sometimes hard to match.

• Many foundations now also incorporate sunscreens to protect your skin from harmful ultraviolet light, which is an added benefit. I always use foundation with sunscreen at any time of the year because it is one of my main things I do when it comes to my face. =)

Hope those tips help you in your journey to the perfect foundation! -B4rb

12.18.02
Sorry for the neglecting of the tips section. Been busy as heck with the new layout and a little thing called 'life'. Now I am back and am sure to give you more tips than ever!
I will start by posting 2 cool hair tips sites I found:
Professional Hair Tips from SalonWeb
All about Hair
Have you ever wondered what different herbs in your shampoos such as Chamomile really do for your hair?
Heres a list of a few common herbs and what they do for your hair:
1. Sage: Excellent for weak hair.
2. Rosemary: Enhances dark hair
3. Chamomile: Promotes healthy hair growth.
4. Catnip: Promotes hair growth.
Random B4rb Hair Tips:
Never attack wet hair with a brush, no matter how rushed for time you are. Tangles in wet hair are best removed with a wide-toothed comb. Excessive blow-drying can damage hair in the long-term, making it brittle and causing split ends. If you can, let your hair dry naturally, then brush into place. This is especially a no no if you have chemically treated hair be it a relaxor, perm or color; these services make you hair more sensitive and hair is a lot more vulnerable when it is wet. Especially bleached hair! It is the most sensitive, I think..Brushing it can break hairs off and cause serious split ends. Ick!

An obvious tip for healthy hair is to drink a lot of water.

Tuesday, 10.15.02
Random Man Shaving Tip:
Use baby powder on your face before shaving with an electric razor this helps get closer and prevents razor bumps and ingrown hairs.

Thursday, 09.12.02
Do you have excessively oily or oily skin?
Here are some general tips to control oilyness:

1)Use an astringent daily to remove excess oils. Don't use an alcohol-based products -- if you strip too much oil from your face, the skin will overcompensate and produce even more oil.

2)Cleanse at least twice a day with a mild cleanser to help prevent clogged pores . But don't scrub hard or overwash your face.

3)Moisturizing is not necessary on a daily basis. However, if your face feels tight after washing, then apply a light, oil-free moisturizer . Avoid mineral oils and cocoa butter.

4)Ladies: When choosing makeup, especially foundation and blush, buy oil-free products. Makeup that is water based and noncomedogenic won't clog pores. (There are also oil-absorbing foundations that help keep oil off the face.)

5)Use a sunscreen that is not oil based, preferably a gel, as it's less greasy. Be sure to use a minimum SPF of 15.

6)An at home mask recipe I found on the net to help with oilyness: For oily skin, combine 1/2 cup of cooked oatmeal, 1 egg white, 1 tablespoon of lemon juice, and 1/2 cup of mashed apple into a smooth paste. Apply mixture to your face. Leave treatment on for 15 minutes before rinsing to find fresh clean skin.

7)Try not to wash your face with harsh soaps to remove your oilyness this only leads to an even worse rebound of it.
Good Things to use on Oily Skin:
Grapeseed oil is an excellent base oil, which is great for oily skin.

Try mixing in some carrot oil, which has properties that aid scarring reduction, inflammation, and is rich in vitamins beneficial to the skin: A, B, C, D and E. You only need a small amount of carrot oil, so add it as part of your carrier oil (using too much over a long period can cause skin discolouration due to its natural carroty orange pigment:)

Jojoba oil works wonders for oily skin - protects and moisturises oily skin while it helps to balance sebum; it makes a good base oil for combination skins too. Note: If you have oily skin I would advise not to moisturize on the daily basis.

Makeup Tips/Products for oily skin:

I only reccommend top of the line makeup products so I am sorry if your budget dosen't allow purchasing some of these products. I find with makeup(foundations and powders mainly) that you get what you pay for.

I highly reccommend using MAC products:
You can find this line at Nordstroms or MAC stores around the country also in Major Department stores such as Macy's etc..

A matte foundation such as M.A.C studio fix is designed to work w/ oily skin, so it lasts well, has good coverage and you can keep your look shine free by touching up with the M.A.C blotting powder. Other than choosing oil-fred foundations, use concealer on blemishes to reduce the amount of foundation you need to apply. Concealer is designed for max coverage, so this will aid in minimising the amount of foundation you would need to get the same coverage as cover-up. Be specific w/ your concealer tho – you don’t want to be wearing a full face of concealer, or it defeats the purpose of minimising foundation use. Apply it directly onto areas that need covering up, blend the edges well, then apply foundation and set your “base” w/ an oil absorbing powder. Take blotting papers w/ you for touch-ups during the day.

It may be worth trying one shade lighter in your foundation, just to combat the darkening from the oil. Even keep your cheek color soft and natural, so that when it darkens you won’t look ruddy. I would stay away from shimmery foundations and cheek colors – lips is the best place for shimmer for you- maybe a touch on your eyes as a highlighter.

So... your best makeup investments and tools are: a light gel hydrating lotion, a makeup primer (which is silicone-based), conceal first then lightly apply a foundation designed for oily skin, finish with an oil absorbing powder (use a press release motion w/ a clean powder puff for max anti-shine).

Other Foundations I suggest for oily skin:
Vincent Longo Water Canvas
NARS balanced Foundation
Stila Pivotal Skin
Bobbi Brown Oil Free
Clinique Superfit

Stila, NARS, and Bobbie Brown lines can be found at your local Sephora store or online at Sephora.com.
If you don't regularily wear makeup but like a lil bit you can also use a light tinted moisturizer. The key is to try to purchase items that won't clog your pores or clog them as little as possible. Oily Skin is really prone to clogged pores which makes matters worse.
Above all the best tip I think is to use a non-alcohol based Astringent at least once a day. I have found with a friend with oily skin that I reccommended this to among others that this works the best.
Phew! Lots of tips for oily skincare and makeup. I hope that you find some of the info helpful to you and would always recommend seeing your dermatologist about your skin because it might be a more serious condition such as Sebohrrea: A condition that involves unusually hyperactive Sebaceous glands. There is no known cure for this condition but your doctor will recommend treatments.
Good Luck and Good Skin to you!

Tuesday, 08.13.02
This weeks tips are about how to get unsightly bags from under your eyes. I know a lot of tricks but the most instant way to get rid of bags is an old runway trick which might sound gross, but it works great! You want to know about this trick ok its: "Preperation H" yes you heard me! It is the best to tighten the skin under your eyes or anywhere on your face.Just don't get it in your eyes! I did other research about this subject and found some other more natural ways. Cucumbers, Black Tea Bags, cold spoons? I am really not sure about the cold spoons? I think it has to do with the metallics? I should really know these things, but I have never heard of that remedy? Also bags could be covered with concealer and then foundation if nothing else works. For dark circles makeup works great too!
Heres some tips:
Natural remedies:
1)A few egg whites, stiffly beaten, and applied with a brush to the face and under the eyes will make the skin feel tighter and look less puffy. Add a drop or two of witch hazel which also reduces swelling and will keep the egg whites from drying to rapidly.
2)Rinse your face in cold water when you wake up or when puffy eyes attack anytime of the day to constrict blood vessels and reduce swelling. This a great energizer.
3)Making sure you are drinking enough water will also reduce eye puffiness. When a person is dehydrated the body starts storing water as a defense system and this will add to puffiness around the eyes.
4)Try to cut down on your sodium intake, this causes problems
5)Cucumbers for 20 mins, Cant not mention that..=)
6)Caffeinated Tea Bags. Moisten 2 tea bags and put over eyes for 10 minutes. Why caffeinated? Caffeine constricts blood vessels and reduces swelling, thats why.
Makeup Remedy:
You can use makeup to conceal puffiness and draw attention away from the problem. First, apply concealer around the entire eye area (lash line to brow bone, too). Next, set it with a light dusting of translucent powder. Then apply a dark liner to your upper lash line and add your favorite eyeshadow to your lids. Lastly, curl your lashes and apply mascara only to the upper lashes. This look can be as dramatic or subdued as you like, depending on your choice of shades. But it's vital that you avoid lining or applying mascara to the lower lash line -- the point is to draw attention away from the undereye area. Tip: After you apply the rest of your makeup, sweep a touch of blush across your lower eye area -- yes, over the bags. This also will help reduce the appearance of puffiness.
Website for more information on this subject:
Search here: beauty.about.com