Acne? Blame the recession!

A recent AP story reports that adult acne is way up due to the economic recession. "Stress is a leading cause of breakouts, and there's no shortage of that these days,” the story says.  The dermatologists cited reported fewer Botox injections and liposuction surgeries (typically elective procedures) these days, but said that treatments of adult acne have become more popular than ever.  Patients with warts and eczema flare-ups are also heading to doctors’ offices these days.

Read the full article here. 

According to studies, stress exacerbates acne first by stimulating adrenal glands to produce excess hormones, and second, by impeding the healing of your spots.  Doctors’ main piece of advice?  Same as your mother’s:  DON’T PICK AT IT.

Lindsay Lohan Launches New Tanning Spray

Because she can! 

Lindsay Lohan is launching a new self-tanning spray called Sevin Nyne (named after her two favorite numbers).   Lindsay reportedly worked with her very own tanning expert, Lorit Simon, to develop the spray-on mist.   Like other self-tanners, DHA is the main active ingredient.  Other ingredients include gogi berry and Chardonnay extracts.  Tasty!  The spray will be available in selected stores April 15th.

And if you don't like the way your tan turns out, I'm sure Lindsay would be happy to sell you a pair of her leggings.

Hairy Situation

So many hairy man-celebrities lately!  What is with the bearded man trend?   A return to manliness?  Laziness?  Sporting facial hair for movie roles? 

 

 

Mineral Makeup for the Blushing Bride?

I’m a newly-engaged bride-to-be, and as such, I am, sadly, incredibly self-centered right now. I, like many brides, am obsessing about my wedding dress, my wedding hair, my wedding skin. In my hunt for the perfect bridal make-up look (i.e. a natural, no-makeup look, yet one that perfectly obscures every single tiny flaw in my complexion and also magically causes onlookers to mistake me for Audrey Hepburn), I am becoming more and more interested in mineral makeup.

Mineral makeup – face and eye makeup made of ground-up, naturally-occurring earth pigments – purportedly does not contain the usual (artificial) ingredients of “traditional” makeup. Fans of the stuff will have you believe that ththe natural ingredients make the cosmetics healthier for your skin, while critics allege that mineral makeup basically contains the same ingredients that have been incorporated into face makeup for years - zinc oxide, titanium dioxide – and that the makeup’s recent popularity is all marketing hype. Either way, I find that brushing the mineral powders on my face gives me some light coverage and even a luminosity that my usual liquid foundation does not. I love how the powder evens out my blotchy skin, but is still light enough that my freckles show through. If you apply too much, you can buff away the excess, and it’s easy to blend the color from my face over my neck. Generally easy to use and it gives me the natural look I want. I may have found my perfect wedding makeup!

Laser Hair Removal vs Electrolysis

Is it on your arms, or maybe under them? What about your legs and the dreaded bikini line? If you have dark hair, you probably have it on your upper lip, maybe even your chin. Unwanted hair. If you are a woman, there is a good chance you have it somewhere on your body and you want to get rid of it. Fortunately there are a number of options for you to remove your unwanted and often unsightly hair so you no longer need to live with it.

If you are like most women who deal with hair removal methods, you’ve probably tried the standard shaving. But who wants to deal with messy creams and gels, and the dangerous razor that could cut you as you precariously balance on one leg in the shower? And waxing is just painful! Plus if you do it yourself it’s messy and if you go to a salon, it’s never ending and expensive. Forget depilatory creams and lotions, they smell awful, hardly ever work well and can give you a rash. Besides, none of those options are permanent solutions. So what’s a girl to do?

If you’re looking for a permanent solution to hair removal, you have two main choices: laser hair removal vs. electrolysis. Both of these are permanent solutions and as with anything, there are pros and cons to each.

Let’s take a look at laser hair removal first. Lasers are used to pulse light into the hair which will destroy the melanin or dark pigment in the hair. Because hair grows in three stages: growing, resting and shedding, you will need more than one treatment to get all the hair in an area. Each laser treatment only targets hair in the growing phase. Once the laser targets the hair follicles and kills the melanin, the hair will take up to two weeks to fall out. Sometimes, exfoliating lightly can help to remove the extra layer of skin and shed the hair faster.

With laser hair removal, all parts of the body can be treated. The laser is an efficient way to remove hair because it can target more than one hair follicle at a time. Large areas, such as legs and arms can be completed quickly and efficiently. It might take years to perform electrolysis effectively on such large areas, but with a laser, it only takes a few treatments. Laser hair removal is equally efficient on smaller areas such as the upper lip and chin. And don’t worry if your skin is sensitive in these areas, the laser can be turned down to adjust for sensitivity.

Unfortunately laser hair removal cannot be completed in only one session. Because the hair grows in cycles, it’s most efficient to have treated in multiple sessions. Depending on the type of hair you have, and how much of it you have to treat, you will need four to six treatments spaced about a month apart. Some people see an immediate difference in the growth of their hair, while for others it takes awhile to see the effects. It’s also important to note that the lasers only target the dark pigment on the hair, so laser hair removal is only effective for those with dark hair. This can be a major drawback for women with lighter hair on their upper lips and other areas.

Now, let’s talk about electrolysis. This is a hair removal technique that has been around a lot longer than the lasers and has its own set of advantages and drawbacks. There are two types of electrolysis, needle and tweezers. Only the needle form of electrolysis is recognized as a permanent form of hair removal. So when you are choosing a practitioner for your hair removal, be sure you ask which technique they use.

Electrolysis works by applying an electric current with a very fine needle electrode into each hair follicle. It takes about 60 seconds to destroy the root. Just like laser treatments, because hair grows in three stages, it takes multiple treatments in order to get all the hair.

Some people think that electrolysis is painful, but in reality, most people can tolerate the discomfort just fine. It can be much harder to target hair follicles that have been bent or misshapen from other hair removal attempts in the past. Things like waxing or tweezing can damage hair follicles and make it more difficult to remove them.

The main drawback for electrolysis is that it takes a very long time. Because the needle needs to be inserted into each follicle, it can take hours to treat even a very small area such as the upper lip. Treating areas such as legs or arms would be almost impossible.

The advantage to electrolysis is that it is an effective treatment for all hair types including those with very light hair, because unlike laser hair removal, electrolysis does not target the pigment. So this would be the only effective permanent hair removal technique for those with troublesome light hair.

When it comes to choosing between laser hair removal vs. electrolysis, there are a number of factors to consider, the most important being what type of hair you have. If your dark hair makes you a candidate for both treatments, you will want to consider the size of the area that you are treating. Larger areas will be extremely expensive and tedious to treat with electrolysis.

Ultimately, both electrolysis and laser hair removal are the only permanent methods if you want to be hair free. Weigh the pros and cons for each method and choose the best solution for you and your specific needs.

Britney Spears Launches Hair Extensions Line

When it comes to endorsements, there is doesn’t seem to be any product that is immune from the lure that celebrity power can bring to the marketing strategy, and hair extensions are no different. Celebrities such as Jessica Simpson and Rachel Welch have been endorsing hair extensions for years, and some have even launched their own product lines. The latest to join in for the quest for beautiful tresses is Britney Spears.

Forget about clothing and make up lines, this popular celebrity has been rumored to be launching her very own line of hair extensions. And who better to tout the benefits of add on hair? Ever since Britney’s infamous melt down where she shaved her head, she’s been using wigs, hats and then hair extensions to recreate the look of the long locks she sheared off.

As part of her major comeback, Britney’s hair extension line is due to hit stores to coincide with her March 2009 debut of her new album Circus.

Hair extensions are no longer just for the rich and famous celebrities; these easy to use hair pieces add instant length and fullness to hair and are perfect for every hair type and lifestyle. Even if you’re the girl next door, hair extensions can give you the look you want. Because they are easy to use, and care for and you can style them just as you would your natural hair everyone can use them and they fit into every lifestyle.

Britney may be on to something with her most recent product launch. Her hair has been the subject of many magazine articles and tabloid covers, so why not benefit from that notoriety and bring to market a product she is very familiar with. We’ll be watching for Britney’s hair to hit salons and stores everywhere this spring.

Everyone Can Have Sexy Long Hair

Have you ever longed for the sexy, luscious look of long hair? Do you wish that you had never started cutting your hair, because now it will take years to get that long, beautiful look? At some point, most women have wished for long hair that sweeps back from their shoulders and falls down their back. But the problem is that hair that long takes a very long time to grow, and often you will get split ends, or other damage while you’re waiting for it to grow.

So what is the remedy? Is there any hope at all for women who crave long hair? Of course there is. You can get hair extensions and instantly that long, gorgeous look that you have always wanted is yours for the taking. But maybe you think that hair extensions are only for people who have a lot of money or are celebrities? That’s no longer true. There are so many different types of hair extensions now, that they are accessible to everyone in almost every price range. So you no longer need to be rich in order to have sexy hair.

Another common concern about hair extensions is that they are made from synthetic hair so they won’t look real or you can’t style them as you would your normal hair. That’s not true for many extensions. Most quality hair extensions are made from human hair and are securely fastened to your existing hair so you can wash and style it as you normally would. In fact, you can treat your hair extensions as you would your own, natural hair.

Hair extensions are so accessible and so easy to use that they are available for everyone to use. All you have to do is pick the color that matches your shade, have a friend or stylist on standby to put them in for you and before you know it, that sexy, long look is all yours.

Hair Irons are Perfectly Safe for Hair

If you have never used a hair straightener before, you may wonder if it’s safe to use on your hair. This is a very common question, and the simple answer is yes. Hair irons are very safe to use. If you are afraid that they will damage your hair, you don’t need to worry about this. Hair irons have come along way from the days or using a household iron to straighten your hair. Now hair straighteners are not only safe to use, but they actually benefit your hair.

If you like to color your hair, you may have been told that it isn’t safe to use heat styling products. But that isn’t true. You should however, use quality hair tools that will keep your hair looking good. Look for a hair straightener that uses ceramic plates because that will lock in the moisture into your hair. Also, tourmaline will help your color look vibrant longer because it seals in the natural oils into each hair shaft.

Even if you have used chemicals to perm your hair, you can use a straightener to achieve a different look. It’s happened before where someone wants curly hair, only to find that they don’t like the look and want it to be straight again. You can absolutely use a quality hair straightener on chemically treated hair without worries. Just be sure to use a quality hair iron that will nourish your hair.

A hair straightener that uses ceramic, far infrared heat, and tourmaline will actually benefit your hair instead of harming it, so you don’t have to worry any longer. These properties will infuse your hair with moisture and lock in the natural oils while sealing the hair cuticle, so you don’t have to worry about nay fly away hairs, or that dried out frizzy look. Hair straighteners are perfectly safe for daily use, and you will be pleasantly surprised with how much better your hair looks after using them.

Give Her Bath Products For The Holidays

One of the most popular gifts for women during the Holidays is body lotions, creams, and other bath products. These products are something most any woman loves to have around her bathroom to treat herself to a relaxing time in the tub or shower. I think everyone knows a woman who does not treat herself as well as she does that are around her on a daily basis so we want to give her something for herself for the Holidays.

Bath products come in many forms and so many scents that it is easy to get one item she will love or put together a great smelling gift basket assortment of creams, bath salts, lotions and more to pamper her skin during and after the bath.

Bath products are just one of those gifts that also can cover any woman, no matter what her age or even her lifestyle she will love to get bath products she can use to make herself feel great. Whether she wants a moisturizing lotion, a rejuvenating cream, or exfoliating scrub these items are always a sure hit with her. Treat her this season and even yourself to some of the best bath products available by shopping at Salon Hive for the very best.

Start with a Boar Bristle Brush

So many people underestimate the importance of a high quality brush and they simply run down to the drug store and pick up whatever is on sale at the time. But hair health and proper styling starts at the very beginning, at the basics of choosing a quality hair brush.

For many people, a boar bristle brush is one of the best choices. These brushes are made from the natural boar bristles that are naturally very stiff. They are packed tightly together, and are occasionally supplemented with some synthetic bristles as well.

Although boar bristles are very hard to the touch, they are not harmful to your hair, in fact despite the fact that many people think they will damage their hair, they do the opposite. The tight, stiff bristles actually stimulate the scalp, releasing the natural oils in the scalp. As you brush, the bristles carry the natural oils through the hair, right down to the tips. This results in glossy, beautiful looking hair.

A lot of people actually enjoy this brush and use it as a massage for their scalp. It can be very soothing and relaxing to give yourself a scalp massage. Almost like a little spa treatment in the comfort of your own home.

The tightly packed bristles also remove any dirt and debris, making a boar bristle brush a very good option for those who do not like to wash their hair every day. A boar bristle brush will help to keep your hair clean and looking it’s best.

These brushes work best for people with thick hair, although you should never brush your hair when it is wet. Let the hair air dry, or towel dry it, before using your brush.

When you start your styling regime with a quality brush, you will see a great difference in your styling results. So stop buying the latest drug store special, and invest in a quality brush that will make a difference.

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