Cleanse regularly. And by regularly we mean once in the morning, and once at night. Ditch the ordinary bath soap and reach for cleansers formulated for acne: they usually include ingredients like benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, glycolic acid, and beta hydroxy acid—which all help cut oiliness. Don’t wash your face more than three times a day, though. Trying to “rub off” the oil this way will only strip off essential fatty oils, and could end up irritating rather than helping your skin.

Tone. Many dermatologists still can’t agree on whether alcohol-based toners should be used for oily skin. While some believe it’s the best in “mopping up” oil, others are convinced that alcohol is too harsh and may irritate the skin. Plus, stripping the skin of its moisture will only signal your glands to produce more oil. Since sebaceous glands are more abundant on your T-zone (that would be your forehead, nose, and chin), play it safe by applying an alcohol-based toner on these areas, and a water-based toner on the rest of your face.

Moisturize. It’s a common misconception that having oily skin gives you a free pass from using moisturizers. While it’s true that you already have an abundance of natural skin hydrators, that doesn’t mean you don’t need the extra help. Moisturizers do more than just keep your face from drying up—they also act as a barrier, protecting your skin from dirt and bacteria. The trick is to pick one that’s oil-free, water-based, and non-comedogenic, so it won’t clog your pores.

Apply sunscreen. No, this is not because your skin has developed the ability to bounce off light…it’s really to protect it. The sun’s harmful UVB rays can cause your sebaceous glands to create more sebum—sometimes up to four times the amount it’s already churning out! (Hence, the super shiny face when you’re out under the sun.) Since drugstore-variety sunscreens tend to go on thick, look for water-based ones, which are lighter and won’t clog your pores. Many makeup companies are also infusing SPF into their products, so you can opt to use powder of foundation with an SPF of 15 or higher.

Blot. Every girl should have a supply of oil-control blotting paper in her purse. While this doesn’t stop your skin’s sebum production, it does help keep it under control. Just remember to blot, not rub—the idea is to “soak” up the oil with a light touch, not mop it up by digging into your skin!

Source:  http://ph.she.yahoo.com/blogs/teen-life/

How to treat acne scars
Treatments will depend on how severe your scars are. If you’re dealing with mild scars, you can turn to scar-minimizing creams and lotions to lighten those dark spots. Make sure to look for key ingredients that can help lighten your scars. Creams with Vitamins C and E are obviously good choices. When looking for products with natural AHAs, try to find out if they are milk or fruit-based AHAs. Fruit-based AHAs tend to irritate sensitive skin.

Bleaching creams or whitening lotions are also an option. These usually contain an ingredient called hydroquinone, which halts the production of melanin (which colors the skin). Over-the-counter lotions and creams with hydroquinone contain just about 2%. If you want anything stronger (usually 4%), you’ll have to request it from a doctor.
If you’re not satisfied slathering the vitamins on your skin, you should also load up on them. Vitamin C helps form collagen, and prevents it from getting weak. In fact, Vitamin C is one antioxidant that boosts two other antioxidants in the body: namely glutathione and Vitamin E! Glutathione is important because it helps the skin balance out the lighter pigments (pheomelanin) and darker pigments (eumelanin). Vitamin E, on the other hand, helps in healing scar tissue.

At-home facial masks and scrubs using ingredients like honey and organic yogurt can also help. Honey contains enzymes that not only neutralize acne bacteria, but also helps in healing the skin. Yogurt, on the other hand, contains lactic acid and natural alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs), both of which have a mild exfoliating effect that can slough off dead skin cells to reveal new, smooth skin.
For severe scars, you might need to go to the dermatologist who might recommend chemical peels or laser therapy (which involves a local anesthetic to numb the skin!), and “dermabrasion.” As for “rolling scars,” they’re usually injected with a type of steroid to flatten them out.

Prevent scars from happening
Of course, it’s better to prevent the scar from happening than trying to treat it.
Improve your cleansing habit by washing your face with a cleanser fit for your skin tone twice a day to remove pimple-causing dirt and oil than can clog your skin. Apply toner, followed by a thin layer of moisturizer or day cream. Don’t worry—moisturizer doesn’t cause pimples. In fact, it helps balance out the skin’s moisture, keeping your oil glands from producing excess sebum (which could clog pores).
Consult a dermatologist ASAP when you notice the onset of a papule or nodule (you can always tell when one’s coming up because of the pain). This can prevent the zit from growing bigger and deeper, thus preventing major scarring.
And of course, never ever pick, pop, or poke your pimple. This will only irritate it, causing more harm than good. And leaving you with a nasty souvenir.

Source: By Maui V. Reyes for Yahoo! Southeast Asia

For girls, wearing make up is not only during special occasions. It is also use for daily prepping up on daily walks and night out. Some girls stock many make up that sometimes they are no longer used. Us girls should only keep make up sets which we used often. We should only keep six make ups. What are these? Just continue reading and you’ll know what make up set to keep.

1.   Foundation.  Although some people say you can skip this, foundation really helps bring your whole look together.

Think it will look like a mask? It’s all about application! Skip the sponge or brush and use your fingers to apply only where you need it—under your eyes, on your lids and to smooth out uneven skin tones.

Skip the concealer unless you have blemishes that can’t be covered by foundation.

2.   Powder.  Loose powder will set your base for the rest of the day so you don’t need to keep reapplying. Loose is also lighter than pressed so you don’t need to worry about looking too made up. But say no to baby powder because it never looks flattering on anyone.

3.   Peach-toned blush. Peach looks more natural than pink, especially for Asian skin. Pick a color that has equal amounts of both hues if you are on the fair side. A good blush should be able to go from day to night. Or, you can invest in a darker hue for evenings out.

4.   A neutral eye shadow palette. This usually contains four colors that you can build on so you can actually go from day to night just by adding a darker color. While neutral sounds boring, it’s actually more useful than a trunkful of rainbow hues. Though those are cute, pick a few colors that match your hair, skin and eyes for days you want to have a bit of fun.

5.   Mascara. A well put-together face is never complete without long, luscious lashes! Do you have short lashes? Pick one with a lengthening formula. If you’re partial to movie star eyes, get a volumizing mascara for the false lash look!

6.   Lipstick. Pick one or two everyday neutrals and another two for parties and nights out. Take note: Neutral need not be boring! Pick a snazzy coral or a pretty taupe for day and your perfect red and a bright orange for night.

Source: 6-make-up-essentials

Women are into applying creams to maintain a beautiful looking face. But do we really know if cream is what we should apply on our faces? This post will tell us women as to what we should apply and when we should apply them. Again, I do not own this post. I am just sharing this post which I found in Yahoo!

A trip to the drug store or beauty shop can be quite overwhelming. As if trying to pick which eye shadow to buy wasn’t hard enough—what about which anti-aging product to buy?

You’ve probably come across tons of skin care products with labels such as “serum” or “cream” on them, and wondered if it really mattered which one you got. You’re probably also confused as to why serums, which usually come in smaller tubes, are more expensive than creams (which can be packaged in big tubs).

Creams are made up of a mixture of oil and water, which is done through a special heating and mixing process. Since they have oil in them, they tend to be more moisturizing in action. Once the cream’s base is made, other ingredients are added to the mix to benefit the skin. These can be antioxidants or a certain essence.

Serums, on the other hand, are water-based—this makes it easier for the skin to absorb. It also means serums are more lightweight. Since the skin readily absorbs serums, it’s the best carrier for active ingredients, such as Vitamins and other anti-aging chemicals. Think of serums as a concentrated way of delivering ingredients to the skin. This explains why some serums come in smaller containers than their cream counterparts—you only need a small amount to reap its benefits.

So which one to buy, you ask?

Serums essentially don’t moisturize the skin as well as creams do (it being water-based and all). Which means those with dry to normal skin can do with creams, as they have stronger moisturizing effects. Those with oily skin can benefit from serums, as they don’t need the extra oil on their face. But what serums lack in hydrating powers, they make up for with their ability to pack a punch when it comes to delivering large amount of beneficial nutrients and ingredients into the skin.

You can actually have the best of both worlds by applying a moisturizing day cream or anti-wrinkle cream during the day, and apply the serum at night. Or boost your skincare regimen by applying a serum as a base and a cream on top.

Day cream and night cream—which one?

Now that you’ve got your serum vs. cream issue out of the way, what about day and night creams?

Before you think about interchanging each (or just using one during the day and at night), think again: there’s a reason it’s called day or night cream—each is specially formulated for that time of the day.

Most day creams come with SPF, an ingredient you don’t need at night. Day creams are also lighter than night creams, and also help protect the skin against free radicals. Free radicals can be found in everyday things, from the sun’s rays to the pollution in the air.

Night creams, on the other hand, are a bit denser as they contain more emollients and oils—so using them during the day may leave your face looking too greasy. Night creams may also contain ingredients such as retinoids and alpha hydroxy acids, which can increase your skin’s sensitivity to light. Exposing yourself to the sun when under treatments with these ingredients can irritate your skin.

Keep in mind too, that the skin recharges itself while we sleep—which is the best time for our skin to soak in all the beneficial ingredients found in night creams.

A good rule of thumb to remember is that day creams protect the skin, while night creams restores the nutrition lost during the day.

If you want to use just one cream for both night and day, get one that’s not only light, but doesn’t contain SPF. You can apply sunblock instead on top of the cream.

By: Maui V. Reyes for Yahoo! Southeast Asia

You will need:

• 1 banana
• 1 tablespoon olive oil

Steps:

1. Put the banana and olive oil in a blender
2. Mix them until it becomes a mask-like consistency
3. Apply mask to hair until dry.
4. Unwashed hair, cover it with shower cap.
5. Wait for about 15 to 30 minutes.
6. Rinse our the mask, shampoo and conditioner.

You already have a beautiful and healthy looking hair.

Source: styletips101.com

Here are the simple steps for a healthier and smoother skin.

1.  Lemon detox.  You should always start your day with a homemade lemon drink.  Aside from the fact that this drink is refreshing and can be quick and easy to prepare, it helps you detoxify your body.  All you need to do is to squeeze lemon juice into your mug, add hot water and then drink it slowly.  This is extremely useful in flushing out all toxins and impurities within your body, thereby keeping your skin healthier.

2.  Avoid excessive smoking and drinking.  This is considered to be among the most relevant skin care tipsas this is proven to work.  Keep in mind that the toxic substances that are present in cigarettes and alcohol are known to be extremely bad for your skin.  If you are an excessive smoker and drinker, then there is a great tendency for your skin to age prematurely.  You can expect wrinkles to form early paired with skin discolorations.

3.  Get sufficient amounts of sleep.  You have to remember that getting the right amount of rest and sleep is capable of improving your health and well-being.  Take at least seven hours of sleep every day.  This will help you reduce stress, thereby ensuring that your skin looks healthier.

4.  Keep yourself hydrated.  Make sure that you consume a lot of water every day as water is proven to be the primary solvent in a human body. It is capable of washing out toxins and impurities from your body.  It also helps in keeping your skin moisturized.  Because of the ability of water to improve the appearance of your skin, it is no longer surprising why keeping the body hydrated is considered by a lot of people as one of the most effective skin care tips.

>>Source

I do not own the tips that I’ll be sharing here. Rather, I got them through the help of Google.

These are just simple tips. You need not to exert too much effort or to buy something to keep your hair healthy.

These Hair Care Tips are from Hair Care Guide

The following are some basic hair care tips that you can use to improve the health and look of your hair.

General
A healthy lifestyle will mean healthier hair for you. Excessive stress, smoking, not exercising and not eating nutritiously are not healthy for your hair.

Get enough sleep.

Hair Products (Gel, mouse, hair spary…)
Avoid using hair styling products with alcohol which dries out hair.

Avoid puting hair styling products directly on your scalp; if you put it on your scalp you’ll clog the pores on your head.

Swimming
Before entering a pool, wet your hair so your hair will soak up the initial water instead of the chlorinated water.

When swimming where a cap to protect your hair from chlorinated water, if you choose not to wear a cap make sure you shampoo and condition your hair right after you are done swimming.

Drying
Hot air can be damaging to your hair so when using a hair dryer use the cool setting.

Don’t leave the blowdryer in one spot for more than a few seconds, keep it moving and at a good distance away from your hair.

To speed up the drying process, pat your hair dry with a towell and let the remaining moisture in your hair dry naturally.

Gently use your fingers or a pick to untangle any knots while your hair is drying.

When it comes to hairstyles, pick one that fits your face shape

By Tatin Yang for Yahoo! Southeast Asia

When it comes to choosing a hairstyle to suit your face, it’s most important to choose one based on your face shape because this helps balance out any exaggerated features. A cut that doesn’t complement your face shape, no matter how expertly done, will spell disaster and a long slew of bad hair days for you. We hope this cheat sheet helps you find the right hairstyle minus all the drama.

Round 
Round faces are typically characterized by an absence of sharpness, i.e., rounded cheekbones and a soft jawline.

Best looks: Uneven cuts, layered, wispy strands that frame the face help elongate and slim down a round face; side-swept bangs also add a lengthening effect to the face.  For mid-length hair, choose a side part. Those who prefer to wear their hair long can go for layers in varying lengths with the shortest layer reaching past the chin coupled with a center part.

While round faces typically look best with hair that is worn mid-shoulder to shoulder length, you can also wear an asymmetrical bob as long as it falls below the chin and is texturized enough that it doesn’t cling to your head which will emphasize the roundness of your head and face.

Oval
Oval-shaped faces are proportioned in such a way where the length is one and a half times the width of the face. Ovals are considered a versatile face shape, able to wear almost any hairstyle

Best looks: Since oval faces can pull off virtually any cut, secondary factors at play in choosing your hairstyle are your features, e.g. a fringe to cover a wide forehead or a haircut to accentuate the eyes, like blunt cut bangs are perfect to showcase pretty eyes. A center part looks great on oval-shaped faces to highlight the symmetry.

Short, mid-length or long, the hairstyling world is the oval face’s oyster. Sharp, angular bobs look punk and edgy while surfer girl hair, i.e. loose waves go well with a center part and look feminine and pretty. Thick or curly hair textures should go for shoulder length cuts to help weigh down the curls.

Square
Square shapes are defined by a wide forehead, paired with an equally wide angled jawline.

Best looks: Super long hair is flattering and sexy on squares. The length creates a curtain, framing your face, while hiding the squarest portion of the jaw. Using a flat iron to make the hair long and shiny straight adds drama. Or you can opt for a wavy or tousled shag with layers that won’t emphasize the squareness of the face.

On the other end of the length spectrum, skinny bobs, i.e., bobs that are thinned out at the ends softens the jaw while at the same time looks edgy and current. Keep the bob messy and less structured, and make sure it hits just a little past the jawline.

The goal in finding a flattering hairstyle for square faces is to look for a style that softens all that angles. Avoid blunt bangs that line up and emphasize the angles in your face.

Heart
The shape is wider at the forehead, which narrows at the jaw line, with the chin tapering off to a point. Since the chin is pointy, you want to avoid a hairstyle which focuses on the chin

Best looks: Balance the shape instead with a cut that highlights the cheekbones and eyes, by employing bangs (blunt or side-swept works).

Because of the gamine features of a heart-shaped face, pixie cuts also work very well with this shape. Long hairstyles look well with deep side parts and long, layered waves.

Long/Oblong
By the very description of the shape, long faces are longer than they are wide.

Choosing a cut for oblong shapes can be tricky because you want to add width without dragging down the face.

Best looks: Cuts that don’t flatter round faces work well on oblong-shaped faces. Chin-length bobs, curls and waves in a mid-length style look best. If you plan to get a fringe, go for bangs that skim the brow to balance the length and to conceal a high forehead.

Avoid hairstyles that hang too close to the face and scalp, like a pixie or super long and straight hair. Skip the blunt cuts, too because these tend to make the face look drawn.

Source: http://ph.she.yahoo.com/blogs/teen-life/hairstyle-084611178.html