Everyone has been raving about coconut oil recently. Apparently it whitens teeth, moisturizes the skin, makes a great hair mask, you can cook with it, etc. Frankly, I get really irritated with these kinds of fads. I’ve actually had to stay off Pinterest for the past week because if I see another post about “oil pulling” or pan fried coconut kale, I’m going to lose it. I may, however, have to eat my words a bit.

A friend told me that coconut oil makes a really good eye makeup remover. I was skeptical, as I wear a lot of waterproof eye makeup; and I wear a lot of eye makeup in general. I had a jar that I purchased last year from Trader Joes, so I gave it a try; and it totally works.
<div>Coconut oil will be in a solid form in the jar. Scoop out a nickel-sized amount and emulsify it with your fingers. Your body heat will melt the oil quickly. You don’t need to add water or anything, the oil will instantly begin to break down your shadow, liner, and mascara. I was surprised that although it did leave the skin around my eyes feeling moisturized, it didn’t feel greasy after I washed my face. I have to think that the oil has beneficial properties for the delicate eye area. My friend may be on to something here.</div>
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<div>Coconut oil, like all oil, has a shelf life and can go bad.  Make sure your oil is fresh before you put it anywhere near your eyes!</div>
Sometimes it’s ok to hop on the bandwagon.

Most of us have been there. Especially with the dismal winter we’ve had. You’re feeling pale and pasty; lacking that healthy glow. A little self tanner couldn’t hurt, right?

Nobody is perfect. And frankly, I’ve yet to meet anyone who can execute a flawless self tan.

Self tan fixes fall into two categories: preventative, and restorative. Let’s talk about them.

-BEFORE you apply self tanner, you must exfoliate your skin. This loosens dead skin and helps to smooth out dry patches. Dead skin and dry patches are like a sponge for self tanner. These areas will suck up the solution, and turn extremely dark and orange. Not a good look. Take it from Kim, here. 

As Kim has shown us, hands are particularly susceptible to dryness. Concentrate on the hands, elbows, knees, and ankles.

Once exfoliated, apply moisturizer liberally to these areas to create a buffer. Let it soak in so the tan will still take.

-AFTER the tan is applied, the waiting game begins. Is it even? Is it too dark? Is it streaky? Here are a few remedies for self tanning blunders.

1.) For streakiness, baking soda works great. Instead of applying it straight to the skin, mix it with a mild cleanser on a washcloth or loofah and work it into the affected area. This method is gentle enough to not dissipate the whole tan, it will simply alleviate streaky patches.

2.) For orangeness or over-saturation in dry areas, toothpaste is a savior! Don’t bother getting the expensive, whitening kind. Any toothpaste will do. It works fast, too. Use a small amount (less than a quarter size) to affected areas. Massage in as if you would rub in lotion. Rinse off with warm water and repeat until desired results are achieved.

3.) If you happen to have any extra lemons lying around, cut them in half and rub the flesh on the streaky, and/or orange areas. The acid in the lemon breaks up the tanning solution, and relatively quickly. If the skin is dry, the lemon may sting a bit.  If you go this route, make sure to cleanse the skin immediately afterwards and liberally apply moisturizer.

Self tanner, although much more safe and healthy than traditional tanning, can be much more unpredicatable. Prepare yourself, and your skin before application; and if mishaps occur, a remedy is just a cupboard or medicine cabinet away!

Melanie

Skin and skincare is fascinating to me. As someone who struggled with chronic cystic acne for upwards of ten years, I spent a lot of time on the internet researching “miracle cures”and “breakthrough products.” I put toothpaste on my face, ate lemons, and bought just about anything that someone told me would work. It was an incredibly frustrating and expensive experience.

As consumers, we are inundated with information about skin, skincare routines, and products. Some of this information is accurate, but a lot of it isn’t. As an esthetician, I hear all sorts of false information from my clients. Here are some of the big ones:

1.) You know your product is working when it “tingles.”

That tingle is telling you that your skin is irritated and inflamed. While your skin may look tight, bright, and feel nice and clean now… you will pay for it down the road. These irritants that cause your skin to tingle can actually break down the collagen and elastin in your skin.

2.) Your skin “adapts” to products, so you should regularly switch up your routine.

This is simply not true. Often times when we start using a new product, we see instant, dramatic results. The product is doing what it’s supposed to, and your skin is improving. With continued use, the condition of your skin improves, and the results don’t seem as dramatic. Your skin hasn’t become “used to” the product, it simply has responded to it.

3.) Everyone will eventually outgrow their teenage acne.

Unfortunately, this is not the case. Men have it a little better than women, because after puberty, men’s hormone levels become steady. Women’s continue to fluctuate due to menstural cycles, pregnancy, etc.

4.) SPF 30 provides twice the amount of sun protection as SPF 15.

The number after SPF has nothing to do with how much it “shields” you from the sun. The lower the SPF, the more often you have to apply it to stay protected. For instance, a very fair-skinned person can absolutely wear SPF 15, but they would need to re-apply it every half hour. If this same person wore SPF 50, they could re-apply it every hour and have the same level of protection.

5.) Greasy food causes acne.

While french fries and pizza aren’t the healthiest, there is no evidence that supports the idea that they cause acne. In fact, research is starting to show that gluten and dairy actually contribute to acne in some cases.

6.) Blackheads are dirt trapped in the skin.

Blackheads appear when the skin produces too much oil. Dead skin cells block the pore, keeping this excess oil from being released. This causes a blockage. When this blockage nears the surface of the skin, it oxidizes and turns dark. It can’t be “scrubbed away” – it can either be extracted or dissolved. Using products with salicylic acid help to not only dissolve blackheads, but it keeps the skin exfoliated to help prevent them in the first place.

Don’t believe everything you hear and read! Come in and see me if you have any skin questions.
Melanie