The Lipstick Cases

The laparoscopic adjustable gastric band is a relatively young weight loss procedure in the United States, having been approved by the FDA less than 10 years ago. The band resembles a shower curtain ring that has an inflatable inner ring that can be inflated or deflated with the addition or withdrawal of saline. Lap band surgery advantages are numerous. We will take a look at a few of them in this article.

One advantage to the lap band surgery is that the stomach or small intestine is not cut or re-routed. This makes the lap band surgery reversible should the need arise in the future. The lap band placement does not create absorption problems or malnutrition as in gastric bypass.

Lap band surgery takes much less time, averaging about one hour. The risks associated with anesthesia are decreased because of the shorter surgery time. Banding has fewer complications during and after surgery when compared to other popular forms of bariatric surgery.

Because the surgery is much less invasive, the recovery time is also considerably shorter. It is not unusual for a lap band patient to return to work (with restrictions on lifting) within a week’s time after having the procedure done.  Read more...

When adopting a daily skin cleansing routine, it is important that one takes care of the skin under the eyes. Chemicals in the water, our personal care products, and environmental irritants, can cause severe damage to the skin under the eyes because the skin is very thin in this area. When people look for eye care products they are often faced with a number of choices such as skin moisturizers and eye creams. Many people wonder if a moisturizer can be used as a replacement to eye creams. Both moisturizers and eye creams have their benefits therefore many skin care experts recommend using both in their skin care routine.

As our skin is exposed to eternal damaging substances and free-radicals, it begins to show premature aging, fine lines, wrinkles, and other aging symptoms. This is because the skin is losing moisture, vitamins and minerals, and external harmful matter such as bacteria and toxins are being absorbed. The skin cells start to die and the skin loses its elasticity. The result is poor and unhealthy skin. Skin care moisturizers and eye creams are needed for good skin health.  Read more...

One’s age, lack of sleep, poor diet, busy lifestyle, and genetic predisposition, are common causes of panda eyes, or dark circles under the eyes. Because the skin under our eyes is thin, it is at a higher risk of damage from products such as makeup and harsh environmental substances. Fortunately, there are things that one can do to minimize panda eyes.

1. Implementing a healthy lifestyle is one way of minimizing panda eyes. Exercising regularly, drink lots of water (8 glasses a day), eating a healthy diet that includes fruit and vegetables, and getting 7 – 8 hours of sleep a night, will help improve the health of the skin and reduce panda eyes.

2. Quality organic eye creams are important to reducing panda eyes. These eye creams will nourish and hydrate the skin, while nourishing the skin with much needed vitamins and minerals. They not only reduce dark circles but help to reduce puffiness around the eyes. As well, there are eye creams for specific skin types such as dry skin, oily skin…etc.  Read more...

The solution to good looking hair is taking good care of the scalp too. For many people who are in a rush, hair care involves a rushed shampoo in the shower, then using damaging products or tools to style the hair. But taking the time to pamper the foundation of your crowing glory will help make your hair look and feel better. Here’s how to achieve balanced hair down to the scalp in your routine.

Start with Massage

You don’t have to go to a spa or spend money on a masseuse when it comes to caring for your hair and scalp. Giving your scalp a good massage while you shampoo only takes a few minutes, but it provides long lasting benefits for your hair. Once you lather up with some warm water and a quality organic shampoo, take your forefingers and starting at your temples, start making small circles around your scalp moving up towards the crown of your head. Then move your fingers down the center of your head and massage well into the front of your hairline. Massaging your scalp improves circulation and blood flow in your scalp which can help with any thinning or hair loss. It also stimulates the hair follicles so that your hair will grow in healthier and stronger.  Read more...

It is important that you understand how you can match your skin type with the right type of moisturizer because there is no one size fits all solution when it comes to properly moisturizing. There isn’t a single product that is going to work wonders for everyone – You have to find the right product based on the unique and individual needs of your own skin. With a properly formed skincare routine, there is no reason why you cannot achieve soft, smooth and oil free skin.

Soft and supple skin is going to depend on the use of a good moisturizer in order to keep it feeling nice and smooth. You need to determine what your skin type is, and how your skin responds to different types of skin care product in order to choose the most appropriate skin care products for your own unique needs. Whether your skin is old or young, oily or dry, sensitive or a nice combination between these qualities, there is a product that will work better than the others to deliver the results you seek.

Dry Skin  Read more...

Some people are under the mistaken assumption that the only time to use sunscreen is on especially hot and sunny days. The truth is that anytime that were out in the sun, the suns rays are having a negative impact on our skin. There is a constant barrage of ultraviolet light that can cause our skin to age before its time, and it can lead to more serious skin problems in the long term. Even on days when its not all that hot outside, it is a good idea to use sunscreen.

With that said, sunscreen is still most needed when a person is spending a day out in the sun, especially if theyre trying to tan. This is when there is the biggest risk of sunburn, which is a direct result of intense sun exposure. Its important to understand how to choose the right sunscreen for the job. SPF, or sun protection factor, is the rating system that is used to determine the strength of a sunscreen. Usually, a minimum sun protection factor of 15 is recommended for tanning or prolonged sun exposure. However, much more powerful levels of protection are available — up to a 60 SPF rating or more.  Read more...

Everyone wants to look as best as they possibly can. With stars and other celebrities doing all they can to be beautiful, everyone wants to do their part to look their absolute best. The facials process of beautification is one that can be long, but also quite rewarding in the end. Although, it is not just to look beautiful, the facial can also be something that is quite relaxing, and can really help in fading the problems away with this amazing system. The results of a facial are ones that can make the person look more radiant, and even a little younger with these decades old techniques.

All About Beauty The facial is something that women (and men) have been enjoying for many years. Obviously, there are very many different methods and styles of facials that are available, but they usually all follow the same basic steps. The first would be the cleansing, as the best canvas to work with is a blank canvas. Secondly, there is a skin analysis where pads are placed over the eyes, and an esthetician observes the subject’s skin thoroughly through a bright magnifying lamp. The next step is the exfoliation process, which is where a steam is directed at the face to provide much needed moisture.  Read more...

As the temperature rises, swimming suits and shorts come out of the closet, flip flops get dusted off, and all thoughts of winter are left behind. Summertime means yards work outside, days at the beach, and outside fun with the family. However, the intense summer sun can cause skin damage and cancer, so using sunscreen is a daily necessity, especially during all those outside activities.

The purpose of a sunscreen is to block the harmful UVA and UVB radiation from the sun. This radiation damages all skin types, from those who are fair to those who have a dark complexion or tan easily. In fact, a reliable sunscreen is necessary even on a cloudy day because the cloud layer does not block this radiation. All sunscreens carry a Sun Protection Factor or SPF. The SPF rating shows how the product performs in protecting against UVB radiation. Wearing a sunscreen of SPF 15 daily will help prevent the sun’s damaging effects. It is recommended to apply sunscreen at least 30 minutes before sun exposure. During the summer most people flock to the beaches, so some sunscreens are designed to be water-proof or sweat-proof.  Read more...

It is an unfortunate fact that of life that nearly everyone will have to deal with at least one common skin condition during the course of their life. Most of us reach for the nearest bottle of the latest and greatest product when trying to overcome these conditions. These products normally contain a wide variety of chemicals that may or may not be laden with vitamins or other ingredients that will temporarily treat the initial condition but may wind up causing another set of problems that are related to the chemicals.

There are 5 main skin care problems we will address in this article: Whiteheads, Acne, Dry Flaky Skin, Sun Damaged skin and Premature Aging.

Whiteheads: Whiteheads are actually tiny pockets of keratin and should be treated with care. They should never be squeezed or poked. They are best treated by using a hot washcloth to open up the pores of the skin. Follow this treatment with a product that is formulated with natural free radical fighting ingredients as well as antioxidants to exfoliate the skin, leaving it with a healthy glow.  Read more...

Skin care products have numerous chemicals included as ingredients, and many of these are less safe than we might think. Isopropyl alcohol is one of the most often used compounds. This is an irritant, and it makes the skin extremely dry. Manufacturers add this to their formulas even though it creates a lot of skin damage. Any time your skin is dried to this degree it is easy for bacterial, fungal or viral infections to appear.

Propylene products are petroleum derivatives and can encourage discoloring and aging of the skin. Many skin treatments also have dyes and colorants among their list of ingredients. C, D and F are dyes that have been extracted from coal tar. These create irritation of the skin and exacerbate the issues for those with sensitive skin problems.

Many of the formulas for skin care products also contain mineral oil. This ingredient may add certain smoothness to the skin temporarily, but at a very great cost. Mineral oil adheres to the skin and blocks cellular respiration. Toxins cannot be excreted and oxygen cannot reach the cells. This petroleum product literally smothers your skin and completely clogs the pores. Once this substance is on the surface of your skin the cells are unable to regenerate properly and this can lead to acne and signs of premature aging.  Read more...