How Safely Do You Pretty Up?
Sure, make-up and make-overs are fun, and part of every girls night in or pajama party, but are you being safe about the way you use your cosmetics?
Like did you know that it’s dangerous to use aerosol hairspray near heaters or open flames, like candles or cigarettes? Unless hairspray is completely dry, it can catch fire and cause serious burns. Also dangerous are other aerosol sprays or powders: If you inhale them, they can damage your lungs. If you have to use them at all, use them in a well ventilated area, so there’s lots of air flow and the spray particles can blow away from you and not right into your lungs.
One of the most common make-up related injuries is scratching the eye with a mascara brush. Eye infections can happen if eye scratches go untreated, and these kinds of infections can damage the cornea, make your lashes fall out, or even lead to blindness. To play it safe, never try to apply mascara while riding in a car, bus, train, or plane.
Sharing makeup is also a no-no. When make-up artists switch from one person to the next, they take out fresh clean brushes and disposable mascara wands for each person. If you’re planning on doing a make-over party, stop by the drugstore and pick up some new mascara and disposable applicators, otherwise it’s like everyone licking the same lollypop…with your eyes!
And never sleep while wearing eye makeup. Mascara flakes can get into your eyes causing itching, bloodshot eyes, and possibly infections or scratches on your eyes. And it’s nice to have that fresh clean feeling before going to bed anyhowJ!
More things to think of:
Always keep makeup containers closed tight when not in use.
Keep makeup out of the sunlight or heat to stop ingredients from going bad.
Throw away any makeup if the color or smell changes.
Don't use eye make-up if you have an eye infection like pink eye, and throw away any makeup you were using up until then.
Hopefully with these tips, and common sense, you’ll stay healthy, happy and pretty!
(photo: Emily Roesly/morguefile.com)
Sunscreen
“Ladies and Gentlemen of the class of '97... wear sunscreen.
If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be IT.
The long term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience.”
-Mary Schmich; The Chicago Tribune
As temperatures are warming up, and some of us are already heading out to beaches and other summery spots, it’s important to be reminded of that famous graduation speech (and song!),” Wear Sunscreen”! Because Mary was right! We now know that too much sun exposure can cause skin cancer and definitely makes your skin more leathery and wrinkled as you get older. Hard to imagine, but just look around you at the leathery and wrinkled people you know, and remember: they once had the skin you do now. So protect it!
Some facts: - Eighty percent of lifetime exposure to sunlight occurs before the age 18.
- UVA rays penetrate glass/windows.
- Eighty percent of damaging rays can get through clouds.
- Sixty percent of the day's sunburning radiation occurs between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
- Heat and brightness are not indicators of UV intensity.
Knowing these things should help you get in the habit of wearing sunscreen just about everyday and all the time! But how do you do that without clogging all your pores and getting pimples? How do you use sunscreen in the best way possible to really protect yourself? There are ways!
- Use a daily face cream and lip balm with a sunscreen or SPF of 15 or more.
- Acne-prone teens should use a gel or alcohol based products for sun protection on the face. Usually the words “non-comodogenic” will be on the package, which means ‘won’t block your pores’, basically.
- Replace sunscreens each year.
- Cover all exposed surfaces, including tops of ears, scalps where there is less hair, noses and bony surfaces.
- Wear a hat and sunglasses that say they block 99 to 100 percent of the sun’s rays to prevent eye damage.
- Water-resistant sunscreens lose their SPF after 40 minutes in water; waterproof sunscreens after 90 minutes. Re-apply as needed.
- Apply sunscreen lip balm to lips.
- Sand, snow, concrete and water reflect up to 85 percent of UVA and UVB rays. Always be sure to protect your skin with sun screen especially in these environments.
Sunblock vs Sunscreen: What’s the diff? - Sunblocks : contain zinc oxide or titanium oxide that reflect or scatter rays and act as a barrier.
- Sunscreens: are chemical and absorb harmful rays.
- It has been determined microscopically that sun damage can be reversed by using sunscreens.
- Sunscreens are labeled with a sun protection factor (SPF). A sunscreen with SPF 15 gives you 15 times as much sun exposure before getting a sunburn.
The “base tan” myth Going to a tanning booth to get a ‘base tan’ before a big beach vacation is a bad idea all around. Not only are tanning booths bad for your skin in general, they create a certain kind of tan that doesn’t even relate to the kind of tan you’ll get in nature. The SPF you get from a tanning bed tan is about a 4, and even the least powerful sunscreens are better than that! So by going to a tanning booth, you’ve not only damaged your skin unnecessarily, you also haven’t even saved yourself from a possible burn at the beach! Pretty silly for the money, don’t you think?
Artificial tanners don’t help you either, unless it specifically gives an SPF on the package!
So basically, nothing beats Sunscreen! Just for fun, we’ve added a few options you can look into, but as always, check with your parents or doctor for possible allergies, and test a little before using any new product all over your body.
Clinique Lip/Eye SPF30 Sun Block This product is specifically designed for use on the face, around the eyes and on the lips. Chemical free formula and broad spectrum protection (protection against UVA & UVB rays). Product need only be applied every 10 hours.
Clarins Sun Block Stick Ultra Proctection SPF 30 This portable sun stick is ideal for the forgetful sunbather. Just twist the case and swipe the balm wherever sun protection is needed, including the face. Must be reapplied after swimming and heavy sweating.
Jack Black Sun Guard, Oil-Free Ultra-Light Sunscreen SPF 20 This very lightweight sunscreen has nothing to do with the famous actor, and is great for guys and girls. It feels like nothing on the face, is not greasy or heavy, and offers protection against both UVA and UVB rays. If you avoid sunscreen because it feels too sticky on your skin this is the product for you.
ZIRH Shield, Water Resistant Sun Spray Sunscreen SPF 14 Spray on product offers medium range protection (SPF 14) in a light weight, non-greasy, water resistant formula. Great for active sunbathers, as it resists the effects of sweat and water. Lightly scented. Suitable for guys and girls.
Clinique Special Defense Sun Block SPF 25 A great choice for those with sensitive or acne prone skin. Can be used on the face and body. This unscented cream offers high SPF protection against UVA and UVB rays. It goes on a bit greasy but quickly sets. Highly recommended for fair skinned people.
Holiday Spa-Day!
There's so much to do up until the holidays! Baking and shopping and decorating! Getting ready for all the events with family and friends can be pretty whirl-windy! And then once the holidays have hit, then there seems to be nothing to do!!!
Well, how about hosting your own in-house "Spa Day"?!? It's a kewl way to relax with friends, and maybe even family, while doing something good for yourself! Build your preparation in to the pre-holiday hub-bub, and then you'll have everything handy to host an easy-breezy day of indulgence without even needing to leave home! You decide on the guest list and we'll give you some ideas to pick and choose from for your own signature spa combination!
Facials Your local large chain drugstore will have lots of options on pre-made facials, and the internet is filled with recipes you can make at home from natural ingredients from the grocery store. A favorite quickie solution are the individual pre-mixed facials from the drugstore. That way, you can buy a selection of different ones, and meet the skincare needs of all your guests! Don't forget to have some lovely moisturizers and lip balms on hand for a post cleansing pick-me-up!
Mani-Pedis We did a big article on doing your own mani-pedis a few months back, so peek through our archive and print out the article - it is truly in depth!
Food There are two ways you can handle the food selection for your day: Healthy options, like salads and fresh made soups to help get over the effects of holiday over-indulgence; or what we like to call the "Brat Island" option. "Brat Island" is something my sisters and I indulged in when we were younger, and is a kind of 'anti-spa' idea. The rules were simple: Desert first (ususally hot fudge sundaes), then the hot tub (great if you've got one), and if you felt like it, dinner while you watched a romantic movie all cuddled up on the sofa. If it's a special indulgence day, sometimes even parents will go along with this, but you know your parents best!!! Just don't make it a habit!
Entertainment Anything from listening to fun music, to watching a guilty pleasure movie that you've seen a thousand times and know by heart, to an insider only game of cards or monopoly. As long as it's something that can be enjoyed by all, and preferably in some cozy state of comfy, cuddly clothing where slippers are involved!
There are tons of options you can add to your day, depending on your own personal taste. For further ideas, look at the online menus for spas in your area... I just wouldn't suggest the 'hot stone massage' without a trained professional on hand! LOL!
Good luck, and great relaxing!
