Expert offers tips for a sleek office look

 

It can be a struggle to feel glamorous in the office, especially when you're not sure how much of your African American skin care product you should use to look professional, and not like you're heading to a bar. Recently, Forbes magazine spoke to makeup artist Gucci Westman who offered some expert tips for the working woman.

First, Westman gave a quick breakdown of how to create a "five-minute face."

“Add foundation where needed, use a powder if you have any skin problems or cream for smooth skin, curl lashes and give yourself a quick sweep of color on your cheeks. Apply mascara to your top lashes and a little to your bottom lashes and dark brown liner along the bottom lash line," said Westman, quoted by Forbes.

With this routine, Westman said it'll also be easy to go straight from a day to night look. The expert said that all you'll need is a sexy lipstick, such as a blue-red or orange-red shade, to get yourself ready for a night out.

Elle Magazine reminded readers not to forget about their hair when heading into the office. Well-groomed hair can be a good indicator of professionalism in the workplace.

911 for beauty emergencies

 

Have you ever gotten all ready for your day, picked out the perfect outfit and applied your African American skin care product flawlessly, only to have a beauty emergency erupt? This can be anything from makeup on your clothes to the tingling sensation of a cold sore coming on. Never fear, as there are many simple tips and tricks that can help you deal with any beauty problem.

Daily Glow reported on some strategies that you can use for any beauty situation. For example, if you're at a party and find a foundation smudge on your neckline, then reach for a box of baby wipes.

"It's an old retail trick," said Jill Anderson, owner of Horseshoe boutique in Seattle, quoted by the news source. "We keep a box of baby wipes on hand to remove makeup and deodorant that transfers to our clothes when customers try them on. Gently pat on the fabric to remove."

Next, the news source said that if you've noticed that your mascara tends to run, causing circles to form underneath your eyes, then keep some eye lotion handy. Using a bit of lotion on a tissue, the mascara comes off easily without leaving excess oil or grease.

Real Simple also had some tips to offer, for example, how to get rid of a pimple when it first appears. According to the news source, you should place an ice pack over it for five to 10 minutes, which will reduce swelling, then pat the area dry and apply benzoyl peroxide cream or gel. Use a cotton swab so that the oil from your hands doesn't get into the area.

Certain hairstyles may be the cause of hair loss in African American women

 

Researchers at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio conducted a study on the potential causes of scarring and hair loss in African American women, and came up with multi-faced results.

Authors of the study surveyed about 326 black women in order to gather their data. They discovered that central centrifugal cicatricical alopecia (CCCA) – a condition characterized by scarring and hair loss that begins on the center of the scalp and moves outward – is strongly associated with braiding, weaves and type 2 diabetes.

Moreover, these hairstyles and the blood sugar disorder have the potential to cause infections on the scalp. Braids and hair weaves often require the hair to be pulled tightly and, in some cases, for long stretches of time.

"Given the fact that many African American women pay hundreds of dollars to have their hair braided and weaved, they often maintain these hair styles for weeks to months at a time to justify the money spent," wrote the study authors.

Women who are concerned about hair loss or scarring may want to talk to their hair stylist about going back to their natural texture, which can easily be enhanced using black skin care products.

 

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.