Category Archives: Beauty

APPS, Beauty

Animals Will be Freed from Testing Cosmetics

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For those of us who have wondered what we are going to do about the question of using cosmetics, which are tested on animals, California is taking  an affirmative action to tackle this question by voting to pass a Cruelty-Free Cosmetics Act, which will go into effect by January 1, 2020. Governor Jerry Brown recently signed the act.   California will become the first state to penalize corporations, that sell products which are tested on animals.

Some Facts:

  • American and European cosmetics brands sold in China are required to have animal testing.   If you are using a product that is sold in China, it is not cruelty free.
  • Various products, such as, shampoo, deodorant, and  perfume that we use in the US are also sold in China.  For example, Maybelline; Este Lauder; Origins;  and, Clinique,
    Check whether your brand is on that list by clicking here:
    ♥ Animal tested cosmetics list
  • Brands on the “leaping bunny” list are considered to be cruelty free. You can review this list by clicking here:
    ♥ Cruelty Free Kitty
  • The FDA  does not require animal testing for cosmetics.
    You can read details at this link: Humane Society
  • You can load a free app on your iPhone or Android Phone, which helps you find companies that tell you if the company tests on animals.  Use this PETA link:  https://www.peta.org/action/bunny-free-app/

♥ Amazon sells cruelty free cosmetics: https://www.amazon.com

♥ Use your Bunny Free app to check if the product is truly cruelty free by typing in the product name.

 

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Beauty, Healthcare, In the Know

Drinking Water for Your Health & Well-being

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How many glasses of water have you drunk today?

Did you know that drinking water to hydrate your body is not the only beverage that will satisfy the daily requirement? That’s right, coffee, beer and other soft drinks also qualify for getting liquids into your body.  However, what I learned by reading about various ways to get that ‘boring glass of water’ into this body is that you can get your water by eating other food items as well!  Yaaay! Yes!  How about eating some yogurt, which is 95% water? Don’t like yogurt?  There’s more you can eat to satisfy the water requirement.   For example, watermelon (92% water), lettuce (95% water), one medium apple (84% water).

Continue reading Drinking Water for Your Health & Well-being →

Beauty

Brown Skin Care for Summertime

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Brown skin women often are surprised when they get burned by the sun.  Although brown skin does have a natural SPF of 13, allowing us to stay in the sun longer than women with white skin. However, we still need sunscreen to protect us from absorbing ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB).

  • Ultraviolet light is a type of electromagnetic radiation that makes black-light posters glow, and is responsible for summer tans — and sunburns. However, too much exposure to UV radiation is damaging to living tissue. 
  • UVA & UVB contribute to the risk of skin cancer

Here’s what you need to know and do to protect that beautiful skin of yours. 

  • Use sunscreen!  Sunscreens blocks/ absorbs the UVA  &UVB rays before they affect/damage your skin.
  • The SPF rating is a measure of the time it would take you to sunburn if you were not wearing sunscreen as opposed to the time it would take with sunscreen on.
  •  SPF 15 product blocks about 94% of UVB rays; an SPF 30 product blocks 97% of UVB rays; and an SPF 45 product blocks about 98% of rays.
  • Apply sunscreen 20 minutes before you go out into the sun.  This will allow your skin to absorb the product and create a protective shield.
  • Apply sunscreen to your face, neck , hands, and scalp! Apply after swimming even if it’s “water-proof”.
  • Look for broad-spectrum products .
  • Check expiration dates.  Toss after one year.

Continue reading Brown Skin Care for Summertime →

Beauty

Pimples & Tea Tree Essential Oil Safety

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Some of you may have already noticed that I am an Aromatherapy Enthusiast.  In fact,  I find essential oils fascinating.  So much so that I studied and acquired my Aromatherapist Level One certification, at the New York Institute of Aromatics, which is an approved school by the National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy ( NAHA ).

Essential Oils are all the rage recently and I expect the popularity of essential oils will continue to grow.  After all, many of us are looking for ‘natural‘ remedies to take care of fairly simple beauty issues.   However, along with their popularity, I am forced to clarify and point those who are using essential oils in a direction, which advises you to use them safely.

  • I came across an article recently which suggested that you could use Tea Tree oil (also known by its Latin name  Melaleuca alternifolia) for pimples. I do know of persons who have used Tea Tree essential oil as a remedy for pimples. However, I suggest that you use caution when applying essential oils on your skin.

As a matter of fact, if you are not knowledgeable/trained in the use of essential oils, I suggest that you research first.  Take a look at the link below for suggestions on how to use Tea Tree oil, and be safe first.

https://www.aromaweb.com/articles/dilutingessentialoils.asp

Beauty

Summer’s Skincare Tips

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I am not sure that I’ve ever thought about changing my skincare routine during summer months.  Have you?

Try considering the steps/techniques below during this transitional period.

I searched the www for answers. One dermatologist,  Dr. Cynthia Bailey, based in California suggested, that we may need to stop using  exfoliating skin care products such as scrubs and rough cloths, retinoid products and even glycolic acid products so that your skin can thicken up to better deflect UV rays.

Wikihow had a formula on how to choose a sunscreen: Use the SPF that’s right for you. Think about how quickly you burn on a sunny day. Multiply that number in minutes by the sun protection factor (SPF) of the sunscreen you’re considering. The result will tell you the maximum amount of time the sunscreen will keep you protected.

WebMD advises: Sunburns –They’re uncomfortable, to be sure. But they can also cause premature aging and lead to skin cancer. Your best bet is to limit how much sun you get — especially between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., when those rays are at their strongest.

There’s so much to know about how to care for your skin during this transitional period and during the summer months. For product suggestions, click the link below.

Stay Beautiful!

Beauty

Cruelty Free – Skin Loving Serums

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♦ This is the third post in the Serums series. For HairBlues followers who prefer to use Cruelty-Free cosmetics,  I recently found a very nice website that has reasonable prices, and nicely presented products. Click the source link for more information.

  • Serums, valued for their ability to deliver a high concentration of active ingredients directly to the skin, are made up of tiny molecules that can penetrate deeply into the skin. Due to their potency, they are perfect for addressing specific skin concerns. Each of our serums has different benefits for your skin.

Source: Skin Loving Serums

Beauty

Skin Serums for Skin Problems

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I chose the picture of this attractive young woman because she appears to have flawless skin.

Those of you who follow HairBlues learned something about serums from my post last month. You can imagine that I was delighted to find an article in the March 2018 issue of Real Simple magazine, which was all about Serums.  As a follow-up to that post, I thought you might like to read what serums the article suggested that we explore for various skin issues.  Yes!  There are serums that can address your particular needs from skin discoloration, anti-aging, antioxidants and acne fighters to name a few. Prices ranged from costly ($150.00) to low ($5.00). Continue reading Skin Serums for Skin Problems →

Beauty, Moisturizers, skincare

Skin Serums: Do they work?

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What do you know about skin serums? Do they work? Are they worth the cost? Are they good/bad for your skin?

  • According to some of the research I did, serums can help with various kinds of skin problems like, wrinkles, acne, redness, or dryness. They can  produce powerful results, compared to other skin care products.  Since they are water-based, your skin absorbs them quickly. Also, they don’t have petrolatum, or other kinds of oil. Serums have nutrients, (like retinol and vitamin C), which are good for your skin.

Continue reading Skin Serums: Do they work? →

Beauty

Fountain of Youth Exercises

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Alright,  alright, alright…. What if told you the Fountain of Youth is attainable with just a few dedicated exercises done by you?  Yes!
Are you excited?  I bet you are.  There are no big costs involved, and I am eager to share with you what I read recently in an article, which appeared in the New York Times. Below is a summary of the highlights I think you will want to try.

  • Facial Exercises are key.  And, expressive movements.  With these exercises some women who were middle-aged reduced their facial aging by about 3 years!
  • After doing the exercises for an estimate of 8 weeks, results significantly reduced aging by week 20.
  • These exercises targeted the face and neck.

Continue reading Fountain of Youth Exercises →

Beauty, Healthcare, skincare

Healthwise: New Year Checkups!

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Happy New  Year from HairBlues !

Now that you have written all of your New Year’s resolutions, and have committed to carrying through with those intentions, I’d like to make another suggestion that you may not have thought about.

I am talking about getting a skin checkup as part of your yearly healthwise plan.

You might be surprised to find out that skin cancer is the most common type of cancer there is. It’s incredibly prevalent; some skin-care statistics show that 2-3 million instances of skin cancer will be diagnosed globally every year. The good news is that skin cancer can be treated as long as it’s caught early… Read More »Source: Why You Should Get a Yearly Skin Cancer Exam – Leading MCW Continue reading Healthwise: New Year Checkups! →