The Danger Triangle of Your Face

I have a habit of popping my pimples despite hearing and reading several warnings against this. It is said that the act may infect the pimples and or leave permanent scars.

When the news about a boy getting hospitalized due to an infected pimple was relayed to me, at first I couldn't believe it. The "danger triangle of the face" sounds absurd and illogical. But research made it clear to me that it does exist.

Hormonal Acne and Diet

Image Source: Simon Howden | Freedigitalphotos.net

Although the myth about eating chocolates can cause acne has already been debunked, other foods can still trigger acne breakouts.

Recent studies show that foods high in glycemic index (simple carbohydrates that are high in sugar content) can worsen acne condition. 

6 Quick Tips for Dry Lips

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Photo Source: marin | Freedigitalphotos.net

any people might experience having a dry and chapped lips at one point in their life. It's not surprising, as the skin on the lips is very thin, making it more sensitive than any other skin parts of the body. Low humidity environments, such as air conditioned rooms, make our lips prone to drying. Sun exposure can also risk the lips to being sunburned.

Even though our lips consist of a small part of our skin, it is no excuse to skip lip care. Long before I started this blog, I am guilty of neglecting my lips. Not only were my lips dry and chapped, they were also very pale. When I discovered lip gloss, I saw the huge difference between beautiful lips and dull lips. Of course, I later learned that lip gloss is only a quick fix, not a cure, and therefore switched to lip balms.

Product Review: Jason Natural Soothing 98% Aloe Vera Moisturizing Gel

I had been using Kiehl's Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream for several months already, but decided to buy a different moisturizer before setting out for a December trip to Hong Kong. The reason was Kiehl's product is lightweight and moisturizing enough only during high humidity days. I was afraid that it wouldn't be enough to protect my skin from the harsh cold wind of Hong Kong.

My Recent Skincare Routine

I used to follow dutifully the ever so popular trend of skincare regimen: wash, tone, moisturize. Now, I'm becoming less convinced of this trend's necessity. For the past several months, I've been trying to revamp my skincare routine into a much less complicated regimen. During some periods, my skin repaid my modifications with a lot of breakouts. But as I adjusted slowly, my skin eventually improved. I learned that I need not use a lot of products in order to have a healthy skin.

Product Review: Alba Botanica Hawaiian Sunscreen SPF 45

I have been using Alba Botanica Natural Very Emollient Sunscreen, which I have written a review about in my past post, for a few months already. I think the said product is fine, and works well as a daytime moisturizer during the low-humidity periods. However, after using it for a few times during my jogging spree, I noticed that my skin has darkened a bit. So I decided to look for another product from the same brand which hopefully would work better, and has chosen the Alba Botanica Hawaiian Sunscreen SPF 45 because it cointains green tea (Skin care products containing green trea turn me on!). Besides, it contains higher SPF, longer water resistance time (80 minutes), and most importantly, it bears a seal of recommendation from the Skin Cancer Organization.

Facial Cleansers for Oily Skin

Cleansing the face is an essential part of your skin care routine. Even if you spend a fortune on the best creams or serums in town, you wouldn't get the desired outcome without proper cleansing. Cleansing removes excess oil, makeup, sweat and dirt. If you have oily skin, it is a must to prevent breakouts.

A good facial cleanser should be sufficient to remove grime without harshly stripping the skin's top layer. It's a challenging task for cosmetic chemists to acquire since there must be a balance between having enough cleansing power and being gentle to skin. I've recently written a primer about facial soaps and cleansers in general. If you're interested, you may visit this page to read a more in-depth discussion.