Which Facial Oils Are Right For You?

By Kim Prasanerak

Motlow Buzz Contributing Writer

     Do you have acne-prone, sun damaged, or just overall dull skin? Or would you like a brighter and firmer complexion? Facial oils may be the answer to all of your skincare emergencies. If you want a radiant glow, a well-chosen oil is a must have.

Why I use facial oils
     I know there are several different facial oils out there on the market, and it can be overwhelming to know what oil will benefit for your skin type. I first started using oils when I was 15 years old, and I started to have a curiosity for skincare and developed a full skincare routine for myself. I have tested and trialed many different oils on my face over a span of a few years, and I have discovered that some are more effective than others for different skin types.

Why you should care for your skin
     You only get one skin over your lifetime, and it is your duty to take the best care for it as it ages. Proper skincare is important because our skin is the largest barrier against infection that we have. Keeping our skin healthy and moist keeps this barrier strong. All skin types are different. Because of this, your skin may require more care than the next persons. For this reason, you should pick products that work for you and cater to your skin needs.

What are facial oils?
     Facial oils are oils that are safe to be put on your face that can be beneficial for every skin type. Unlike creams or moisturizers, oils can sink deeply into the skin for long-lasting hydration and supplement. Face oils are naturally rich in vitamins and antioxidants needed for soft, glowing skin. They can help prevent and treat acne. There are several different oils on the market, and it can be overwhelming where to start. Some oils may not be so helpful to one skin type but be the holy grail to another. It is crucial to choose the right oil for your skin type, and this is a guide to help you to put your best skin forward!

Oily skin
     You may think, “I have oily skin, why would I ever put oils on my face?” Actually, oils may be the most beneficial to this skin type. Your skin may be oily because it is actually very dehydrated. Dehydrated skin tends to overproduce oil because your skin doesn’t know when to stop producing sebum since it is so dry underneath. It balances out your natural oils and can overall make your skin less oily. Oily skin types can benefit from a variety of oils on the market, but these are my favorite ones as I have this skin type!

Jojoba Oil
     This oil can be incredibly life-changing for an oily skin type. Jojoba oil is the closest thing to our skin's natural sebum, which is great at balancing out the oil on your face. It “tricks” your skin into producing much less oil. Jojoba oil is noncomedogenic, meaning it will not clog your pores. It is hypoallergenic, which means it will not cause irritation. It also has smoothing anti-inflammatory agents, healing properties, is moisturizing, and is a natural antimicrobial. These traits suggest that jojoba oil can prevent acne and promote healing for active breakouts. You can learn more about the benefits of jojoba oil at https://www.healthline.com/health/beauty-skin-care/jojoba-oil-for-face.

Grapeseed Oil
     Grapeseed oil is a very lightweight oil and absorbs quickly into the skin. It contains high levels of linoleic acid, which can control acne by decreasing clogged pores. It can help your skin's moisture level by reducing transepidermal water loss. This boost of moisture will help slow oil production down since the skin thinks it is dry. Grapeseed oil is also great for reducing inflammation. To learn more about how great grapeseed oil is for your skin, you can visit https://www.prevention.com/beauty/skin-care/a26038564/grapeseed-oil-skin-benefits/.

Dry Skin
     Dry skin types can benefit from facial oils a great deal since oils are very moisturizing. They can add a lot of luminosity to the skin and make the skin look overall less dull. Your skin may be dry because of a damaged skin barrier, and oils promote a healthy and strong skin barrier. Oils will heal the skin from inside out!

Almond Oil
     Almond oil is a light oil but moisturizes deeply. It is high in vitamin A (where retinol derives from), which can smooth out fine lines and help with skin texture. It is also high in vitamin E, which is an extremely powerful antioxidant, keeping your skin cells healthy and protects your skin from UV radiation damage. Almond oil is also loaded with fatty acids that help your skin retain moisture and heal chapped, irritated skin. To learn more about the many benefits of almond oil, you can go over to https://bucklersremedy.com/blogs/the-dirty/the-many-so-many-benefits-of-sweet-almond-oil-for-your-skin.

Marula Oil
     Marula oil leaves your skin full of vitality and radiance while reducing epidermal inflammation and restoring the skin’s balance. This oil can build skin resilience and strengthen the natural lipid barrier. With regular use, marula oil has proved to significantly increase skin hydration and help build healthy
collagen. It is also highly anti-inflammatory, which will not irritate the skin. To learn more about what marula oil does for you, go to https://africanbotanics.com/pages/the-beauty-and-skin-care-benefits-of-marula-oil.

Sensitive Skin
     Sensitive skin types may need to be careful with what they put on their skin. Before putting anything on the skin, they should do a patch test first making sure it will not cause any irritations. They need to find a formula that has no essential oils, which can be highly irritating. Sensitive skin types should look for an oil that will help repair the skin barrier that also soothes and nourishes it.

Aloe Vera Oil
     Most of the health benefits provided by aloe vera come from its water-retaining leaves, specifically the nutrient-rich gel extracted from them. It is the gel mixed with a fatty oil that creates aloe vera oil. Aloe oil can help in keeping the skin supple and firm. It may help with fine lines and wrinkles. It possesses anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, anti-viral, antifungal, and astringent activity. It is known for its ability to promote overall skin health. To get more insight on how amazing aloe oil is, visit https://articles.mercola.com/herbal-oils/aloe-oil.aspx.

Moringa Oil
     This oil is getting more and more popular by the minute in the cosmetic industry mainly because of its anti-aging benefits and other important properties. It helps fight skin fatigue and helps the bad effects from pollution on the skin. It is a wonderful skin purifier, making it glow naturally. It is filled with antioxidants that slow the aging process down and help the activity of free radicals. It is also packed with fatty acids helping repair the skin barrier and anti-inflammatories to calm irritated skin. To learn more about the benefits of moringa oil, go to https://www.stylecraze.com/articles/benefits-of-moringa-oil-for-skin-hair-and-health/#gref.

Tips and Tricks for a Great Salon Experience

By Lindsay King

Motlow Buzz Contributing Writer

                 

                                                           

SMYRNA-- For years now, most women follow the beauty trend of doing their nails. But the question is, “How do I know which salon will best fit my needs?”

Personally, I want quality nails at pocket-friendly prices. I do not want to break the bank. Unfortunately, sometimes “quality over quantity” comes into play, as some salons are less talented than others, resulting in poor quality nails.

            I like to refer to some people as salon shoppers. They visit different salons to see which ones are best and the most affordable. A popular question asked is, “How do people choose between all of these different salons?”

            In my personal opinion, when browsing for a nail salon online, chain salons like Nails So Happy usually do not have the best quality, although they are a chain salon. In my experience, local salons cater more to my needs, while providing friendlier service for their clients. I have found that reading online customer reviews helps you choose the best salons. Being able to frequently visit a local business always helps foster pleasant relationships with the nail beauticians.  

My Personal Favorite:

             I have been going to “T-Salon” for about two years now. Out of all of the salons that I have tried in the past, I have found that they do the best job and truly care about their customers. When trying new nail techniques like the SNS “dip” technique, T heavily informed me on the process as well as the removal. I really appreciate that he educates his customers on each process to ensure satisfaction. The staff there are friendly and very talented in their work. I’m always sure of having a good set of nails when I go to T-Salon.

Articles like http://www.nailsmag.com/article/121846/tips-on-dips can be very helpful to salon owners and employees. They are able to educate themselves, as well as their customers on each technique.

What I Liked About My Experience:

Every time I enter T-Salon, I am always greeted with the same friendly faces of the owner referred to as “T” and his long-time faithful employees. While I am in the salon, I get to catch up on “International House Hunters”, which I believe must be T’s favorite show. It is playing every single time that I am there. I really enjoy that every time I visit T-Salon salon, they always cater to exactly what I want, as opposed to what they want. I really appreciate that the employees are never pushy towards me, nor try to upsell me, which results in a possible overcharge.

Which Technique to Choose:

            My new personal favorite technique when going into the nail salon would have to be the Dip. I prefer the Dip simply because of the fact that they hold up much longer than gel. They do not hurt my nails like acrylic. For those who are unfamiliar with Dip, it is a new alternative to acrylic nails and is healthier for the growth of the nail.

When using the Dip, the process is still rather similar to the acrylic. They still use a drill on your nail, but only for a short amount of time as opposed to the acrylic option. Your nail is then painted with a clear “dip polish” and “dipped” into the nail powder color of your choice. The process is repeated several times to ensure durability. Dipped nails typically last about four weeks with no cracks or chips depending on how fast your nails grow.

After reading Julia Gsell’s in-depth blog https://www.houstoniamag.com/articles/2017/7/13/i tried-it-dip-powder-nails covering her exploration with dipped nails, I came to find that she also had a successful experience with the SNS nails.

The only thing that I don’t really care for about the “dipped” nails is the removal process when going to get a new set put on. The technicians drill the nail and then place your finger on a cotton ball drenched in acetone. They then carefully wrap it inside tinfoil and let it sit for about 10 minutes, which makes the process a lot longer.

What Could Have Been Better About My Experience?

            My nail-salon companion, Olivia, accompanied me on my recent visit. She received a pedicure that was not quite up to par with past visits. She received a cut from a nail buffer. The nail tech then poured acetone on top of her nails, resulting in a painful experience. It was decidedly not her favorite outing to the nail salon.  

My Experience as a Whole:

Overall, my whole experience at T-Salon recently was rather exceptional, although I did have to wait around 30 extra minutes to get my nails done because of under staffing. However, it was well worth the wait. I was pleasantly surprised when I went to pay my bill and saw that it was less than usual. To my surprise, if you still have on a full set, the price is only $36 instead of the normal price of $41, which is a great deal and definitely worth it. All in all, I was very pleased with my nails, even though it took longer than normal this time around. The color coral pink that I chose complimented my nails beautifully.

Be Beautiful the Natural Way

By Shanice Green

Motlow Buzz Contributing Writer

SMYRNA--Do you suffer from sudden breakouts, load of acne, or annoying black spots from applying makeup? It is highly important to take care of your face if you use makeup daily and even more important to make sure you are using the right products that are perfect for your skin.

Continuing to use toxic ingredients from makeup on your face will eventually harm you and will cause health problems. Using all-natural based makeup products will not only keep your face healthy and beautiful, but it will allow your face to stay young and glow.

Cheap makeup brands are affordable, but some of the drug store brands will break your sensitive skin out.

“It’s important to read the label and look for products that work best for your skin type,” according to a recent story in the publication Medical Daily. Dr. Lindsey Bordone, a dermatologist, also mentioned that even if a popular “natural” makeup has aloe or other natural ingredients, that doesn’t mean it is best for you. The skin on your face is valuable and deserves products that will keep your face hydrated and healthy.

To learn more, visit https://www.medicaldaily.com/skin-clearing-makeup-organic-makeup-healthy-skin-387932.

For example, brands like Tarte Cosmetics are made of all-natural products that are extremely healthy for your face. These ingredients include acai berries, which come from a species of palm trees in Europe.

Another antioxidant brand is Physicians Formula that was especially made for women with sensitive skin. Physician’s Formula uses non-toxic ingredients and is hypoallergenic.

Popular makeup brands tend to lead you on like they are all-natural or that they are good for your skin, but sometimes that is not the case.

            For instance, the Vitamin C in fruits is good for your skin, and this is why makeup brands usually take this for an advantage. Fruits like blueberries, kiwi, pineapple, papaya and strawberries are parts of Vitamin C that help with blemishes and allow your face to feel and look radiant. Brands that use Vitamin C in their products are more likely using it to appeal to you.

Vitamin C

            Everyone will eventually age, but using all-natural makeup products will prolong the wrinkles.

“Wrinkles and age spots are the inevitable result of time, but skin aging may be sped up by overexposure to the sun and tanning beds…treat your skin kindly an optimize your nutrition by eating antioxidant-rich fruit,” said BBC’s Good Food magazine.  

Women should monitor what they eat, how they sleep, or what they do that could harm your skin. Taking care of yourself, including your face, is very important to maintain a healthy, everyday life.

For more information, visit https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/eat-your-way-fabulous-skin.

            In fact, using organic and non-toxic makeup products are best to use for women with health problems and sensitive skin. These all-natural makeup products soothe and heal your skin for the better. Putting harmful and toxic chemicals on your face will put you at health risk and make your face lose its natural beauty.

            As the result, acne is the biggest threat to using makeup. Makeup acne has its own special name called acne cosmetica. Acne cosmetic is tiny, red bumps that appear on your face that block your pores.

“Acne cosmetica occurs when oils from your makeup collect in and clog your pores, so thick liquid or cream products are more often culprits than are lighter products like powders,” according to an article in the Health section of How Stuff Works.

Be careful when you apply makeup on, and remember not to use too much and create a cake-like look. This blocks your pores and creates negative reactions.         

To learn more, visit https://health.howstuffworks.com/skin-care/beauty/skin-and-makeup/makeup-affect-your-skin.htm.

            In my own experience, applying makeup was an everyday thing that I loved to do. The issue I had with my face was my sensitive, oily skin. I needed makeup products that would keep my face from sweating the makeup off and also keep it from breaking out. I even had to spend extra dollars on better makeup brands to keep my face healthy.

All-natural make up and skincare

Regrettably, I was spending hundreds of dollars on makeup to make my face look good. To prevent me from spending more money than I was getting in, I had to talk with a makeup specialist at Ulta Beauty. She surprisingly told me that I did not have to spend as much as I was to keep my face healthy. The specialist said for me to try drug store brands with antioxidant ingredients and she was right. As soon as I started buying antioxidant makeup, my face was clear, hydrated and healthy.

            Listen ladies, if you cannot afford expensive makeup, then do not buy it! You do not need it to make your face look good and clear. Speaking from someone who knows where you’re coming from, you just need all-natural makeup made from all-natural ingredients. Use the safe route when it comes to your face, because your face has the most precious skin.

The skin on your face is the hardest part of your body to keep clear. This is why it is highly important to watch what you apply to your face. Even try sustaining from applying fragrance-free products to your face, because they can cause negative skin reactions. Your face may not look like its suffering now, but underneath your pores, it causes a problematic long-term effect.

            It is at most importance to apply all-natural makeup products to your skin to hold on to your youth, beauty and health. Wearing makeup daily is normal and perfectly fine. As long as you maintain a healthy routine by cleaning your face and using suitable products for your skin, your face will thank you. You do not have to wear makeup to be beautiful, but if you are a makeup lover, using the healthiest makeup products will benefit the future you.

For more detailed information on healthy makeup brands check out, visit www.thegoodtrade.com/features/18-natural-organic-makeup-brands-your-face-will-love-you-for.

For more face care tips, visit https://www.aurorahealthcare.org/patients-visitors/blog/is-your-makeup-safe-5-skin-healthy-makeup-tips.