Friday, November 10, 2017

How to Choose a Moisturizer for Aging Skin

The signs of aging inevitably appear as we continue our journey called life. Even though these are not the most pleasant guests on the face, there are many ways to both prevent and treat them.

First of all, we believe it takes an understanding of the very reasons that lead to the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Smoking, insufficient physical activity, alcohol, poor dieting, as well as misuse of cosmetics are among the leading causes for premature sagging of the skin. 

Mimicking, talking, and even the innocent moments when we stare at the screens of our phones or laptops gradually deepen the fine lines.

1. Start by finding the most suitable cosmetics for your skin type.



This is our best advice. There is no use buying the best and most expensive products if they don't suit you skin. For example, hyaluronic acid is a fantastic natural component to influence the signs of aging by softening and plumping the skin. But how does this work? 

Hyaluronic acid encourages retaining moisture to the surface of the epidermis so that fine lines and wrinkles become visibly smoother. However, in case of oily skin, products that enhance such a process can be counter-productive, as these can lead to unwanted shine. 

Vitamin C, Salicylic Acid, Green Tea Extract, as well as Retinol are among the best compounds to treat oily skin type. These help to increase the antioxidant levels and to promote cellular turnover to speed up the regeneration. On the contrary, such mild exfoliating compounds can cause worsening of the issues related to dry skin. So these have to be in combination with suitable emollients and oils that can aid in stimulating collagen production without triggering flakiness. 

Grape Seed Oil, Hyaluronic Acid, Baobab Extract, Argan Oil, and Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride can make an excellent addition to the treatment. Sensitive skin type is the most easily irritated of all, so it’s best to opt for products that are natural-based. Fortunately, the booming of science and technology focus much on creating beauty lines that are inspired by nature. 

Meanwhile, combination skin type can benefit from adopting a more complex approach. You can choose to use two different products. One for targeting oily zones, and one to remedy dry patches. In case you are prone to acne and blemishes, products containing AHAs and BHAs are most likely to help you since they aid in drying out the pimples.

2. Experiment with ingredients and learn the art of self-observation.

Even though cosmetics claim to be suited for a specific skin type, we are all so unique, that this cannot be the most explicit guidance. You can try to implement a Korean moisturizer for aging skin to your beauty routine. 

Apart from their ageless, spotless appearance, Koreans are well-known for their meticulous skin treating programmes. Their formulations boast of medicinal herbs and extracts. By combining so many natural compounds, there is a higher chance that each of the ingredients reveals different benefits for the skin. 

And nonetheless, we can learn to develop the Korean ways of paying attention our skin’s reactions. Don’t just wait for miracles - check the face regularly for signs of improvement. Don’t be afraid to change the cosmetics until you find something that works for you. And even then, bear in mind that the efficiency of the compounds starts decreasing with regular use, so the whole process is a never-ending education with many trials and errors.

3. Always consider the consistency of the products.



Lightweight formulations are the best ones to suit oily skin. Meanwhile, products with a thicker consistency are more likely to benefit dry skin. Oil-based cosmetics can pamper sensitive types. Chamomile, Lavender, Geranium, Sandalwood, Neroli, and Tea Tree Oil can aid in calming the skin. 

We can also bring relief to acne-prone conditions with the help of oil-based products, as long as the oils possess a low comedogenic rating. Shea butter, Coconut, Argan, Raspberry, Blueberry, Blackcurrant, Hemp, Neem and Pomegranate Oil are the ones that are less likely to cause clogging of the pores. 

It is also significant to consider increasing the care for the gentle eye zone. The skin in this area is very fragile, so it would be of maximum support to implement suitable cosmetics. In this case, you may want to look for some Korean eye creams or eye treatment products.

4. Read the labels thoroughly.

We know that can be a challenge, especially with so many ingredients that sound like a mouthful. But it is significant to educate ourselves on understanding and decoding the labels, at least to some extent, as that can help much to improve our self-observation with the effect of various ingredients on the skin.

5. Don’t rely solely on other people’s experience with a product.

And lastly, we don’t believe in one-in-all treatments. We all lead a different lifestyle, which can significantly influence the cosmetics we use. Perform your observations and only learn from other people’s experience, but never take it for something granted.

The Bottom Line

We live in the times when the beauty skin care industry is rapidly developing at pace, that is the fastest one in the history of humankind. And yet, with an abundance of products on the market, it is so easy to get lost in promises and an ocean of ingredients.

There are two sides to every story, as the free access to Internet has made people more connected than ever. 

We can learn from our insights and impressions with the best ways to treat the skin. And we find it an incredible opportunity to share our knowledge with so many people out there!

*This is a guest post by Hannah, the co-founder of Support Your Beauty. Her goal is to help her readers get the most out of all the most popular skincare products out there by being familiar with how each ingredient can impact one’s skin, hair, and general health. She believes that with a proper skincare regimen coupled with a smidge of makeup, anyone, no matter what age, race, or gender, can look and feel their best. To place a guest post, email frances@topazhorizon.com for my rates.

Friday, November 03, 2017

Beautiful desks for work-at-home mamas

If you work from home like I do, you probably drool over those beautiful #deskgoals photos on Instagram (as I do haha). Pottery Barn sent me an article, "How To Organize Your Home Office for Increased Productivity," which I will publish below in a bit, but before I do that, lemme just show you mamas the desks and work tables available now at Pottery Barn. They are sooo nice!

This is the Juno Desk. I like its iron and wood aesthetic. As I get older and my life more full, I've found that I prefer to be surrounded by streamlined things—in design and function.


Although there is a thing about being too simple. I don't know how to feel about this Pittsburgh Crank Desk. It looks like it used to be a sewing machine. I do appreciate its lines. I think it appeals to the simplest design lovers, or steampunk fans.

Modern elegance—that's the Ava Metal Desk. It's so sleek and, my goodness, you have really keep this kind of table clear and uncluttered!

And this is me. My escritoire looks just like this except that mine doesn't have drawers. This Toulose Secretary Desk is right up my alley. It's simple and functional, has tons of storage space, and when my life gets too messy and chaotic, I can just hide it and lock it away hahaha. Totally love this desk!

Now here's the article Pottery Barn wants me to share with you, working mamas. Happy weekend, and rest well. Love lots from working mama me to working mama you!


* * * * * * *

How To Organize Your Home Office for Increased Productivity

PRESS RELEASE - If you work from home, you know that the setup of a home office space can directly influence how productive you are. Working from home has its challenges, as it can be much harder to focus than it is in a traditional office environment. With a few simple design changes, you can increase your focus and productivity, even if your space is full of distractions. Pottery Barn has the organizational tools you need to organize your home office and increase your output.

OPTIMIZE YOUR DESK SPACE
The desk is the area where most or all of work gets done, so it is the most important element of creating a productive home office. Declutter the space by removing unnecessary papers and objects from the desktop. Only keep what is necessary, like your computer and a notepad, and stow everything else in bins or drawers. A desktop organizer can keep pens and post-its in order, without overwhelming the space.

USE BINS
Clearing your desk space is important, but it can be counterproductive if you simply move everything that was on top of your desk into one of the side drawers. Use bins within your desk drawers to stay organized. Keep necessary items like scissors, highlighters, and tape in their own compartment close by, and then sort the rest of your items based on how often you need them.

ORGANIZE YOUR FILES
Deal with the paperwork every day by filing those things that are important and tossing the others. Use a paper tray for paperwork that needs to be addressed in the short term, and get a filing cabinet for organizing papers you need to save. 

USE THE RIGHT STORAGE
One obstacle of having a home office is that many people want the space to look more personal than what you might find in an office building. This can make designing the space tricky, but it doesn't have to be. Using stylish bins or wicker baskets for storage can soften the space. An attractive storage bin can play double-duty, holding cords or office items while giving the room a homey feeling.

FIND THE RIGHT LIGHTING
Lighting also plays a big role in staying organized and focused. If possible, place your desk by a window to maximize the use of natural light. Use lamps with soft lighting throughout the room to create a space that makes you comfortable and inspired to work.

USE BOOKSHELVES
If you have books or materials you depend on for your work, bookshelves are a must. Categorize your books to keep everything handy and easy to access. Also take advantage of open space to display photos or other items that can tie-in the office decor with the rest of your home.

ADD VARIETY
If you have the room, add an additional chair or sofa to your home office to give yourself a different view from time to time. If you don't have this option, rotate the lamp on your desk or occasionally switch out pictures on the wall. Even subtle changes can shift your brain and help you stay focused.

MAKE IT LOOK NICE
Sometimes, putting in the effort to make an area look nice can be a big boost to productivity. Use attractive items throughout the home office to help you stay motivated to keep the area clean. Use bookends to make a bookshelf more attractive, or opt for matching desk accessories to give the area a coordinated look.

In the Philippines, Pottery Barn is exclusively distributed by Stores Specialists, Inc. and is located at Central Square in Bonifacio High Street Central and at Estancia in Capitol Commons. 

Visit or follow www.facebook.com/PotteryBarnPH and @potterybarnPH on Instagram for more information.

*To be featured on Press Release Tuesdays, send it to frances@topazhorizon.com. Photos courtesy of Visions & Expressions.

Thursday, October 26, 2017

Light therapy benefits on skin: Do they work?

Big confession: Before I get any treatment done, I devote a ton of research to it, but when I went to Flawless Face & Body Clinic for the Flawless Rejuvelite Mask Facial, I had been so busy I just said yes to it without knowing what it was. So when my aesthetician positioned what basically was a lamp on my face and I was bathed in blue light for 15 minutes, I went, "Okaaaaaaaay, what's this supposed to do?"


What just happened was my first every LED therapy. LED means light-emitting diode. These diodes are in the mask and they emit infrared light. There are different kinds of wavelengths per light, which is seen in the color of the light. Here's the list:

White reduces inflammation
Red promotes good blood circulation and lymphatic drainage
Amber stimulates production of collagen and elastin
Blue kills acne-causing bacteria on the surface and deep in the skin

The light is not your usual light because this penetrates deep into the skin and causes skin-beneficial reactions. And nope, this light doesn't damage skin at all. Because my main skin concern is acne, I agreed to the recommendation of Flawless to try the Flawless Rejuvelite Mask Acne Control Facial.

As you can see in my photo above, the light is blue. Blue light is beneficial to acne sufferers like me because it kills the bacteria present on the skin and also the ones deep in the layers, the bad bacteria that cause all the cystic acne that's so painful! I will admit that 15 minutes bathing under blue light was, well, not thrilling for me. But when I read the report made by the National Center for Biotechnology Information of the U.S. National Library of Medicine that blue light therapy does wonders to pimply skin, I was sold because I love science!

Here's the excerpt from the article on the NCBI website:
"Phototherapy with visible light, specifically blue light, has been shown to improve skin condition in cases of acne and blemishes. It is further reported to control the condition before an outbreak occurs. This blue light therapy is clinically shown to control acne without harsh chemicals or prescriptions and improves the skin’s appearance. "

I'll do a proper review soon since I just started Rejuvelite and I want to see its full effects after a week or so. Meanwhile, to learn more about the LED light therapy that Flawless is offering, read this and then maybe you should give it a try! Right now, a few days after my first Rejuvelite Mask Facial, my skin looks really glowing. I think I've found my new favorite Flawless treatment!

Come back soon for my review!

JAN. 2018 UPDATE: Sorry it took a while but here's my review!

*This post is brought to you by Flawless Face & Body Clinic.