Mixing a little loose golden pigment into liquid foundation gives off a bit of an ethereal,goddess like glow. Just enough to catch the light,dont dump it all in.
Run by a licensed esthetician, A Skin,Makeup,and Body Blog. Everyone Welcome. Answering those unique skin questions that you do have, or ideas that you want to explore. Disclaimer: Although I do have many answers and solutions about skin,if a problem is persistent and extremely painful, please see a dermatologist immediately.
Personal Blog: www.geeksoutcookies.tumblr.com Questions, Comments, Topics Go Here..
Personal Blog: www.geeksoutcookies.tumblr.com Questions, Comments, Topics Go Here..
May 18, 2012
GSC Tip:
April 9, 2012
A liberal mix of epsom salts and thick body wash into a thick paste…
Long, dry exfoliation
Step into a moderately warm shower
Afterwards, nice rubdown with grapeseed oil
equals:
Skin absolultely AMAZEBALLS. ‘
Complete dreamskin.
Ive impressed myself.
April 9, 2012
Hands feeling like the struggle??
(This is something i do to my hands whenever im giving a facial. I want my hands to be the softest things ever to touch their face, and it helps products glide better too)
Dampen hands with water.
Grab some table salt. (kosher, sea salt, whatever)
Pour said table salt over your hands (not a whole lot, just a nice covering, like a pretzel)
Vigorously rub salt over the tops and bottom of your hands (like you would with handsoap).
Rinse off all the salt.
Dry hands, apply your lotion of choice.
Voila, Hands that feel like new issue.
(i just put my mom on this, and she is driving me crazy taking the salt shaker into the bathroom. You dont need to do this every day, but it gets the dead skin off and lets the lotion absorb better)
For sexy funtimes
Do that trick whenever you will be using your hands on their genitals. A handjob feels different, and it feels like silk to a woman, especially if they have just gotten a wax. FOR GODS SAKE MAKE SURE ALL THE SALT IS WASHED OFF YOUR HANDS!!
February 15, 2012
Skin Cancer: Not Only a White Person’s Disease
Confession: As a woman of color, I have exempted myself from sunscreen on many occasions as a young adult. Alright, even that’s a half-truth. I didn’t used to wear sunscreen because I figured skin cancer just wasn’t in my future. It wasnt until i was in college, helping out with a car wash fundraiser on a half overcast day, did i find out that sunburning was indeed possible for a person of color. That was my very first time visiting a dermatologist & an esthetician.
Turns out, I’m not the only minority that has or continues to forego sunscreen. People think they are naturally immune from skin cancer if they have a darker complexion. Therefore many, especially African Americans, assume they don’t have to apply sunscreen or get checked by a board certified dermatologist regularly.
I tell people, ‘If you have skin, you can have skin cancer,’ The truth is, the darker the skin you have, the more likely you are to die from melanoma. The overall melanoma survival rate for African Americans is only 77 percent, versus 91 percent for Caucasians, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation. So why are those with darker complexions more likely to die from melanoma than Caucasians? It’s under-diagnosed, and found in the later stages of the cancer, when the malignancies are more advanced, as African Americans tend to not get screened as frequently as Caucasians.
So what are the best skin cancer prevention practices for darker complexions? The same as everyone else:
- Always wear SPF 30 and above, reapplying throughout the day if in the sun
- Have an annual examination and screening by a board certified Dermatologist (if there is no history of skin cancer in the family)
- Get plenty of Vitamin D in your diet with supplements, yogurt, salmon and the like.
February 13, 2012
"Q: What if you have never used a beauty product even once? Is it okay to use it years later? Even if it smells and looks good? I have had makeup for years that I’ve never used and just found it again so I’m wondering if it’s okay? It looks as good as the day I purchased it!"
— It’s safe to say that if a product is six months past the expiration date, it’s time to get rid of it. Some products degrade faster than others. So if it’s a certain skin cream with active ingredients, it can cause extra irritation, or it might not even work if you use it past the expiration date. As for makeup, it can separate and won’t go on smoothly if it’s expired, even if it was only opened once.
It’s especially important to abide by the expiration date of sunscreen because it can completely degrade and lose its effectiveness.
To preserve the life of your beauty products ,keep your makeup and skin care products sealed tightly so that bacteria and yeast stay out. Id also advise to store your products at a moderate room temperature, since fungus grows in hot, moist environments. So don’t leave beauty products in the shower, as that’s a prime fungus-growing environment.
February 13, 2012
Double-Dipping at a Waxing Salon Near You
We all might be a little squeamish when it comes time for a bikini wax, but we might be worrying about the wrong things. Turns out there is more to be wary of than the pain and nakedness of it all—like the spread of infection. Double dipping the wax applicator can contaminate the wax, potentially leading to infection.
And while it is illegal in several states, it’s not always enforced. Many aestheticians are even trained to double dip out of convenience.We all have a certain level of bacteria on the skin, which is usually harmless. However, there are types of bacteria (like staph) that can be dangerous if you have a weak immune system. So, if your waxer double dips, you run the risk of contracting a potential infection from the contaminated wax.
How to Protect Yourself
Your aesthetician should use a clean applicator each time she dips into the wax. Heated wax makes the perfect breeding ground for bacteria and germs. “Waxing tools should be taken out if a sterilized pouch and sanitized before being used again. Always make sure a new roll of paper is put on the table before you lay down too. And, whoever is doing your wax should wear gloves so there is no cross-contamination.
February 12, 2012
An Exfoliating Wash For Sensitive Skin
Exfoliating is a necessary step to achieve a glowing complexion, but it’s not something my skin can handle regularly. The Microdelivery Exfoliating Wash from Philosophy recently came to my rescue. Finally, an exfoliating face wash that is gentle enough for everyday use. Why did it take me so long to find you?
Addressing fine lines, clogged pores and uneven skin tone, this wonder wash has everything I was looking for. The resurfacing benefits of this unscented cleanser are serious. My skin is noticeably smoother and softer after I use it each time, without the redness and tightness I often get from scrubs with larger granules. Also, I’m pretty sure I’ve finally found a face wash that can stand up to blackheads—a task no other face wash has been able to execute.
February 4, 2012
sweetietooth asked: What are your favorite products for getting rid of blackheads, specifically on the sides of one's face?
A blackhead, or open comedo is a wide opening on the skin with a blackened mass of skin debris covering the opening. Despite their name, some blackheads can be yellowish in color. A comedo is a widened hair follicle which is filled with skin debris (keratin squamae), bacteria and oil (sebum).Blackheads are said to be the first stage of acne. They form before bacteria invade the pores of the patient’s skin. A blackhead can develop into a pimple, which is also known as a papule or pustule.
Blackheads, and acne in general, usually develop after puberty, when hormone levels surge and reach the skin. The presence of higher levels of hormones in the skin triggers the stimulation of the sebaceous glands, which produce oily substances. The sebaceous glands produce too much oil in the pores, which accumulates and gets stuck. When the occluded oil is exposed to air it becomes black.
Several conditions and circumstances can cause blackheads, or make them worse, such as the use of topical oils and make up. Blackheads can affect people with any type of skin, but are generally more common in those with oily skin.
- Check your makeup – The truth is, what you put on to cover blackheads up might actually be causing more of them! If you wear lots of heavy foundation or use thick face creams, you could be contributing to the problem with your products! In general, if you have a problem with greasy skin and clogged pores, consider using as few products as you can. The fewer layers of stuff that you put on your face, the better.
- Lots of water & healthy eating – Cliche’, maybe, but it’s so true. What you put into your body shows on the outside. Simple as that. If you eat lots of greasy crap, your skin is not going to look as good as it would if you ate more veggies and drank more water.
- Use BHA – BHA stands for Beta Hydroxy Acid, which is an exfoliant that removes the dead layer of skin from your face. If you’ve ever seen a skincare product that contains salicylic acid, that’s BHA. BHA is important for getting rid of blackheads because it goes into your pores to clean out the excess oil and dead skin cells that make up blackheads.
A great product that i use is Neutrogena Acne Stress Control (about 5 bucks) I put it on at night after washing my face, and when I wake up, my skin always looks better and better. I have less blackheads, and as a bonus, my skin is clearer and softer than it was before. Because my skin (and most people’s) changes when the seasons do, I change up from using the Neutrogena in the spring and summer to Murad’s Exfoliating Cleanser in the fall and winter.
- Do a clay mask once a week – This is only for those of you with oily or combination skin. Dry skin, obviously, needs all the oil it can get. Blackheads are partially caused by excess oil on your face, so if you have greasy skin, a good quality clay mask will help sop up some of the grease and keep your pores clearer. Using it once a week is enough – you don’t want to over-dry your skin, because this could lead to even more problems!
- Don’t bother with a pore strip – First of all, they’re basically useless for getting rid of anything that’s stuck deep in your pores. Second of all, they can actually damage your skin! I know these things look like miracle products, but save your money because they aren’t really going to help.
- Squeeze, but do it carefully! - This is one situation where picking your face may actually help instead of making things worse. Don’t take this as permission to pick at your face all you want! There is a right and a wrong way to squeeze blackheads and it’s really important that you do it the right way.
First, wash your face with a gentle cleanser. (I like Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser.) Next, cover your face with a warm, wet cloth for 10 to 15 minutes. Pat your face dry, then wrap tissues around your fingers to prevent slippage. Use GENTLE pressure to press down then up around the sides of the blackhead. If nothing happens after one or two tries, stop. That means the blackhead isn’t ready to come out yet. Whatever you do, don’t pinch, use your nails or press too hard. This can damage your skin and might even lead to scars!
- See a dermatologist – If all else fails, a derm can really help you out. They can prescribe things like Retin-A, antibiotics or Accutane, which can all help with blackheads. Procedures like microdermabrasion are also said to be effective, but I recommend trying the above steps first because the problem can usually clear itself up without these extreme treatments.
At the end of the day, blackheads are kind of an ongoing battle. For those of us who are prone to them, light makeup, gentle cleansers and BHA treatments are necessary to get rid of them and keep them away. There isn’t any magical cure that will rid you of them forever, but taking good care of you skin on an ongoing basis will work wonders.
February 2, 2012
How To Prevent Acne
Everyone in their life has had acne. Either it was one or two blemishes here or there, to your full blown riot of the skin, everyone gets them. Unfortunately, the problems dont just classify itself to teenage years; adult acne is a serious problem as well. Personally, i never had that many breakouts when i was a teenager, but as soon as i turned 25, all hell broke loose. Fortunately, i knew some estheticians that helped me control my situation before it got to the point of major scarring.
Gently wash with lukewarm water and mild cleansers. You’ll need two cleansers — one specially formulated for your face and a separate one for your body.Whatever you do, don’t scrub! It’ll just aggravate your acne, and even worse, it could cause bleeding.
Swab a benzoyl peroxide or salicylic (Pronounced “Sally-Sill-ic) /glycolic (Gly- col-ic) acid toner on your face with a cotton ball or pad. This will do a deeper cleaning on your pores. Let your skin dry completely before applying any topical acne medications, since applying them to wet skin can be irritating.
February 2, 2012
A (Glamorous?) Day In The Life….
Some people say I have the most superficial job. I work as an esthetician/skin care therapist and my job consist of doing facials, massages, waxing, makeup, tinting and body wraps. It’s luxurious if you think about it, but my job is far from luxurious. I spend the majority of my day with fully naked individuals in a room with no windows, Enya or some other new wave artist softly being played in the background.
My clients rely on me when it comes to beauty, so I guess it is quite superficial, but people often misinterpret that my job is glamorous.. Yes because waxing stranger’s vaginas and penises are very glamorious.
Don’t get me wrong. I love being an esthetician because every day, I get to make someone happy even if it’s just doing their eyebrows, or doing their makeup for their wedding, or simply pampering them to the best I can.
February 1, 2012
What is Threading?
Eyebrow threading is a depilation technique which originated in India, although it is also widely practiced in the Middle East. Salons in Western nations offered the service to Middle Eastern clients for decades before European and American women became interested and the popularity of eyebrow threading skyrocketed. The hair removal technique is not just for the eyebrows: threading can be used to remove other facial and body hair as well.
February 1, 2012
A Thin Line….Between Love & Hate (of Waxing)
Waxing is a love hate relationship, you want the smoothness without the pain and want to be in and out and hairless, right?! Well here are some tips to help you be prepared before, in less pain during, and smoother after:
February 1, 2012
February 1, 2012
How To Wash Your Face Like An Esthetician…
Now, normally, this would fall into the “common sense/learned this when i was younger” category, however..there is always room for improvement. When i learned how to do facials, i never thought of these extra steps would make the difference between a washed face and a clean face. This is a “basic” wash, without any extra treatments (exfoliation,mask); that will come in a different post.
1) Wash your hands first! (duh) You’ve been touching things all day and they’re dirty, you don’t want all that dirt on your face! (Also, if you have any eye makeup on, now would be the ideal time to take it off, unless you have done so already, or the face wash that you are using is strong enough to take it off.) Make sure you get under your nails, too. You’d be surprised how much of the day ends up on your hands..and under your nails.
2) Wet your face with lukewarm water. Anything too hot will surprise your skin, and if it’s especially hot, it could result burst capillaries, which results in those sensitive red spots, that are sometimes found on your cheeks and nose. If you have Oily or Dry skin, this could further make things worse by alerting your skin to a drastic change going on and it will go into overdrive.
February 1, 2012
Welcome All!!
Thank you for being interested in my tumblr!!
Ill try to keep this short and to the point.
I started this as a collector site to house all of the advice, tips and tricks that ive been given over the years, and the knowledge that has been given to me in my esthetician courses, as well as on the job tips and things ive learned from various seminars. Over the course of me being on tumblr, ive helped a lot of people out with their skin troubles, so i figure it would be better to have a reference point.
Topics Ill try to cover are education, makeup, skin care products, product reviews, beauty advice, product ingredients, organic & holistic treatments, new product launches and special beauty events, as well as documenting my own professional experience as an esthetician.
RSS feed: http://thebeautyinthegeek.tumblr.com/rss
