Avoid skin complications with type 2 diabetes

 

African Americans are twice as likely to develop diabetes than Caucasians, according to the Wexner Medical Center. While many people understand how this disease can affect their body, they may not know how it can impact their African American skin. Recently, Everyday Health published an article detailing the effects of this disease on skin, and what people can do to avoid these complications.

According to the news source, as many as a third of all people with diabetes will have a skin disorder at some time in their lives, and it may also be a warning sign for the disease. The information provider spoke to Shannon Knapp, R.D., who offered some tips to avoid skin problems when you have diabetes.

First, she recommended keeping your body hydrated by drinking eight, 8-ounce glasses of water a day to avoid dry skin.

Next, Knapp suggested carefully taking care of cuts and scrapes.

"Use soap and water to clean a wound, then cover it with a bandage if necessary. If you notice any sign of infection - skin that’s red, swollen, or warm to the touch, or has a foul-smelling drainage or pus - call your doctor immediately. Any injury that takes longer than normal to heal merits a call to your doctor, too," said Knapp, quoted by the news source.

Finally, use SPF regularly to protect against not only diabetes-related conditions, but skin cancer as well. 

Look like a celebrity using expert tips

 

Your African American skin care product can make you feel like a celebrity if you know how to apply it correctly. Luckily, there are many makeup experts out there offering tips to help women look as close to a celeb as possible.

For example, Jeanette Ostergard, the Emmy-award-winning makeup artist for The Ellen DeGeneres Show, recently gave some tips to readers of Allure magazine.

First, she said she likes to avoid anything glittery or iridescent and instead goes for matte products. Next, Ostergard explained how she keeps celebrities from looking sweaty on the show.

"I use cream deodorant on the face if people are really sweaty," said Ostergard, quoted by the news source. "I just put it on under their foundation. I keep it in a little tub, so sometimes they don't even know."

Oprah's makeup artist, Reggie Wells, told O magazine that to find the perfect lipstick color, women should test it on the underside of their wrists, since this area is closer to the color of a person's lips than the top of their hand is. 

Habits that may be ruining your skin

 

Have you ever found that even if you moisturize, exfoliate and use the best African American skin care products on the market, you're still not getting the skin you want? This could be because even if you have a strict skin care regimen, you could still unknowingly be engaging in habits that are damaging your skin. CoolHealthTips.com has a list of these every days things that could be leaving you with a dull complexion.

First, while a glass of red wine may help the skin because of the antioxidants in this beverage, drinking too much alcohol can dehydrate the body and leave skin dry.

Next, sleeping with your makeup on can cause blocked pores and breakouts, so be sure to wash your face before hitting the hay.

Also, the news source pointed out that smoking can do a number on your skin. The Mayo Clinc supports this theory, stating that smoking can speed up the normal aging process of the skin, leading to premature wrinkles.

Finally, you may be eating foods that are damaging you skin. For example, too much salt has been shown to dehydrate the skin. Try to eat more vegetables and fruits, especially those that have antioxidants like pomegranates.

Start thinking about stocking up on summer products

 

Many women have already begun thinking about what African American skin care products they will use in the summer, especially considering how mild the winter has been. As the seasons change, so do your skin care needs, and you want to have makeup for each particular time of year. Recently, Beauty-Tips.net released a list of some of the must-have makeup products for the 2012 beach season.

First, the news source recommended getting new primer, since the heat and humidity can cause you to sweat and turn your makeup into a mess.

"To keep the face from melting off, it’s great to use a primer that fills in pores, fine lines, and also holds onto makeup for longer wear. Makeup primer should be applied before any tinted moisturizer, foundation, bronzer or blush to be able to enjoy the sun more while worrying less about makeup look," according to the information provider.

Next, Beauty-Tips suggested getting a foundation with SPF to protect from the sun. While it's important to wear SPF all year round, since the sun can still damage your skin even in winter, it's particularly important in the summer.

Finally, blotting papers are a good tool to keep around in the summer, since sweat can cause your skin to look oily and these papers can soak up excess oil.  

Work some pink into your Valentine's Day makeup

 

Valentine's day is coming up, which can be a fun time to incorporate a little pink into your African American skin care products. If you're worried about looking like a little girl by wearing pink cosmetics, then never fear because Bold Sky recently offered their readers some ways to wear pink makeup like the adult that you are.

First, the news source said that pink can be a fun eye shadow color, it's just important to blend.

" It is important to use a combination of pinks instead of flat bubblegum pink for for your eyes. Your eye makeup ideas are important because that will be the focus of your face. Try a base of flesh tone pink or peach layered with a brighter shade like Barbie pink. This combination will bring depth to your eyes because normally pink is a pretty flat colour," according to Bold Sky.

Next, the news source suggested using a pink eyeliner on your top lid. This little hint of pink will be just enough to make your eyes pop.

Of course, there's also pink lipstick. Cosmopolitan Magazine recommends that African American women try darker pinks with a hint of purple in them.

Skin cancer can strike anyone at any time

 

Do know your risk of skin cancer? Many women probably think that they are protecting themselves against this potentially deadly disease by simply wearing sunscreen in the summer, but they would be incorrect. Skin cancer can strike any time of year, and can affect women of all skin tones.

Recently, DailyGlow.com offered its readers a quiz to determine their personal risk of skin cancer. The news source also spoke to dermatologists who explained the risk factors of this disease.

First, the beauty website pointed out that African American women still have a risk of developing skin cancer, even though it's a common misconception that they can't.

"Skin cancer is less common in those with darker skin, but it's still a threat," said Jessica Wu, M.D., quoted by the news source. "In fact, skin cancer tends to be more aggressive and advanced when it's diagnosed in African Americans, Hispanics and Asian Americans."

Next, Daily Glow stated that even if you never burn or rarely go out into the sun, the sun's UV rays can still affect your skin, even through windows when you're indoors. This is why it's important to wear an African American skin care product with added SPF.

The Skin Cancer Foundation reminds people that the sun can also damage eyes and the skin surrounding them, so be sure to protect your eyes with some cool shades when going out.

Using the right concealer may give you the complexion you've always wanted

 

Many women have an uneven skin tone, scars or dark spots on black skin that can make them want to hide under the covers all day, rather than show their face to the world. But this doesn't have to be the case, because it's amazing what a little bit of concealer can do.

If you've tried this blemish-covering product with cakey results, it could be that you chose the wrong type for your skin texture.

Concealers come in a number of forms: sticks, pencils, pots of thick cream or tubes of highly pigmented product. As such, it's easy to go wrong when choosing one.

Think about your skin type. Is it oily? A thick formulation may work best for you, and even try lightly dusting translucent powder over the area when you're done blending the concealer. If your skin is dry, give the concealer in a tube a try, as this will easily melt into your skin.

If concealers are still leaving you with discoloration, consider using African American skin care products that can help fade dark spots once and for all.

 

The right shade of lipstick can make or break a look

 

African American skin comes in a number of shades and tones, and each one looks different against colorful hues. This is why that fuchsia lipstick looked so fresh on your best friend, but made you look like you were trying out for the circus.

So, how do you pick the best black skin products to enhance your complexion? The first step is to determine what your undertones are.

The two most general categories are cool – characterized by a hint of blue or violet – and warm – which includes tones of red and yellow. If you're not sure which you fall under, hold different colored fabrics up to your face in a well-lit room. If a blue backdrop looks natural against your skin, you're cool. If red flatters your complexion, you're warm.

Once you've got this nailed down, go check out makeup selections and try to pick out shades that match your undertones. That fuchsia lip color may have looked bad because it's a cool tone, while you have a warm complexion. So, look for glosses or lipsticks that match the color intensity that you love, but choose a coral or a warm red. Flattering, no?

Natural wedding makeup tips

 

Ladies, if any of you are planning on getting married soon then you may be wondering how you'll use your African American skin care products on the big day. While you want to look your best, you don't want to look overly done-up. Recently, Daily Venus Diva offered some tips for keeping your wedding day makeup looking natural.

First, the news source said you should use a liquid foundation, since they are sheer and look the most natural. They also suggest using a brush or sponge to get the smoothest look.

Next, the beauty news provider recommended using bronzer.

"Brush some bronzer onto your cheeks, forehead, nose and chin. This will enhance your golden undertones and add a healthy glow to your face use a powder brush for applying bronzer," according to Daily Venus Diva.

Shape Magazine suggests that if you don't already have a skincare regimen, you should start one a few months before the big day. The news source also recommends getting a facial 4 or 5 weeks before walking down the aisle.

Common skin care mistakes can be avoided

 

If you're using an African American skin care product with an added moisturizer, then you're already doing a lot to keep your complexion hydrated during the winter. However, what you may not realize is that some of the smallest decisions you make throughout your day could be harming your skin. Recently, Health Canal published an article on some of these tiny choices that make a big difference.

First, the way you shave your legs could be impacting your skin. Shaving irritates the skin, so you want to wait until the end of your shower to shave. This way, your pores have time to open up and the coarse hair on your legs has time to soften. Also, be sure to moisturize after shaving.

Next, the fabrics you wear could be affecting your skin. Cotton and silk are the best fabrics because they allow the skin to breathe.

Finally, even the simple act of licking your lips could cause serious problems.

"The biggest mistake you can make is to lick your lips when they are chapped," explained dermatologist Jill Weinstein, quoted by the news source. "While this may provide short-term relief, eventually your lips will dry out as the saliva evaporates. Help keep them moist by using an oil-based lubricating cream or lip balm made with petrolatum or beeswax and SPF."

Remember, The Mayo Clinic states that it's necessary to wear SPF through all seasons, even winter.

Basic skin care facts to keep in mind

 

If you use the best African American skin care products, then you probably did your research before choosing a cosmetic. While it's important to understand what makeup to use to make your skin look  its best, you should also understand some of the basic facts about general skin care.

Recently, FeelgoodStyle.com published an article with some interesting skin care facts that any lady who wants a healthy complexion should know.

First, while drinking water is a good way to hydrate your skin from the inside out, water alone is not enough to truly benefit your skin. You should also be eating foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids, such as fish, as this nutrient can help keep your skin supple. In fact, The University of Maryland Medical Center states that a sign of omega-3 deficiency is dry skin.

Next, the news source states that while moisturizing is important, moisturizing and exfoliating is the key to eliminating dry skin.

"Think about this, would you add a layer of paint to a cracked wall? Of course not. The paint would peel off in no time...It's a similar principle when treating dry,cracked skin," according to the website.

Finally, the news provider recommends using a humidifier in your room at night during the winter, since your skin is more prone to dehydration in the colder months. 

What ingredients are in your African American skin care product?

 

There are many cosmetics out there, so how do you tell apart the good from the bad? Well, one thing you may want to do is check the ingredients of African American skin care products before buying them. The ones that contain antioxidant-rich ingredients such as pomegranate and green tea are things you should be looking for, while there are certain ingredients you should avoid.

First, products that contain extracts of green tea and pomegranate (which are good sources of antioxidants) are particularly good for the skin. Discovery Health explains the benefits of these substances on their website.

"Antioxidants are nutrients (vitamins and minerals) and enzymes (proteins inside your body) that can help to prevent and repair damage to your body's tissue. Antioxidants do this by slowing or preventing the effect of free radicals, which start oxidation - a process that causes damage from oxygen that can lead to cell dysfunction," stated Discovery Health.

Those are the things you should be looking for, but what should you avoid? Products with hydroquinone may be damaging, so steer clear of them. This skin-lightening ingredient has been called a possible carcinogen and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration proposed a ban on products that contain it in 2006, according to MedicineNet.com 

Skin care reminders for mid-winter

 

How has your skin been holding up this winter season? If you have been using the best African American skin care products with antioxidants and moisturizers, then you probably still have a glowing complexion. If you haven't been following some of the winter skin care basics, however, then you may be in trouble.

Recently, Forbes magazine offered some reminders for what people should be doing to protect their skin this season.

First, did you know that what you eat and drink can affect the skin, particularly in winter? The news source recommended staying away from too much soda or alcohol during the cold months and to stick with water.

WebMD adds that what you eat can be reflected in your skin.

"Your skin is a reflection of your underlying health, so good nutrition, getting enough sleep, reducing stress, staying hydrated, etc., all play a role in creating better-looking skin," said dermatologist Mark Rubin, quoted by WebMD.

Next, Forbes said that people should use a heavier lotion in the winter than they would in the summer, as the skin needs better protection during the cold months. Finally, remember to wear sunscreen as UV rays can still be harmful in winter. 

Viola Davis stunned in green at the 2012 Academy Awards

 

The 2012 Academy Awards ceremony recently happened, and, as always, one of the most interesting features of the night was the fashion. International Business Times reports that for the female stars, makeup was almost as important this year as the dresses since cosmetics really can make all the difference.

One actress who stood out was Viola Davis, whose African American skin care products matched her dress perfectly.

"Viola Davis showed off her natural locks at Sunday's Oscars and matched her makeup to her dress. Davis' closely-cropped hair was complemented by large emerald earrings, which matched her emerald Vera Wang gown. Davis' eye makeup went along with this color trend. Matchy-matchy is no longer a fashion 'no,'" stated the news source.

The Root reported that while her dress and makeup were lovely, what really stuck out was the fact that Davis chose to wear her natural hair instead of a wig, a move that most fashion reporters applauded.