The Importance of Sunscreen

Sunscreen works to protect your skin from harmful UV exposure, and this means aside from preventing you from getting burnt, sunscreen can provide additional benefits such as reducing your risk of skin cancer. Used consistently and daily, sunscreen is proven to significantly lower your risk of developing cancerous cells as UV radiation is the top contributing factor in causing skin cancer. Another added benefit is that sunscreen also prevents premature signs of aging. Over time, constant UV exposure can lead to the premature breakdown of collagen, elastin, and skin cells which can result in wrinkles, sun spots, discoloration, and a worn appearance.

Who should use sunscreen?

The sun affects everyone. We recommend that anyone over the age of six months use sunscreen daily. Even if you don’t burn or tan, it is important to protect your skin every day. Children under the age of six months have highly sensitive skin and should stay out of the sun, use shaded structures, and sun-protective clothing. Remember to ensure they drink plenty of fluids and avoid becoming overheated.

What type of sunscreen should you use?

The best type of sunscreen is the one you are most likely to use again and again. Any sunscreen is acceptable if it offers broad-spectrum protection against UVA and UVB rays, has an SPF of 30 or higher, and is water-resistant. There are a variety of sunscreens available to purchase and they come in lotions, creams, gels, wax sticks, and sprays. Some products are even formulated for specific purposes like sensitive skin and children.

SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor and the number refers to how long it would take for the rays to redden your skin when using sunscreen as directed compared to the amount it would take without any sunscreen. So, a product with SPF 15 would take you 15x longer to burn than if you weren’t wearing any at all. However, even if you use a product with an SPF rating remember to reapply every 2 hours and wear sunglasses, protective clothing, and a wide-brimmed hat when possible.

It is important to note that there is no research to support that sunscreen ingredients are toxic to humans. The FDA did recently issue a rule which asks for companies to provide more data about several ingredients, but that does not mean they are unsafe or that you should stop using sunscreen.

When should you use sunscreen?

We recommend applying sunscreen 30 minutes before going outside to allow the product time to activate. To get the most out of your sunscreen, we suggest you apply one ounce of product to your entire body. If you are going outside most of the day, even if it is overcast and cloudy, reapply every 2 hours or immediately after swimming or excessively exercising. Any areas that are going to be exposed to the sun should be protected. This includes your ears, back of the neck, feet, hands, and behind your knees.

How To Care For Sunburn

If you do become sunburnt, it is important to begin treatment as soon as possible. Just like traditional burn trauma, sunburns are graded on the level of damage to your skin. If you notice blisters or signs of discharge from the blisters this most likely is a serious burn and it is important to seek immediate medical attention. However, if your skin is only red or pink on the surface, home remedies and rest will soothe your pain and heal the damage.

Start with these home remedies to treat your sunburn:

• Anti-inflammatory medication can help reduce swelling and discomfort
• Apply a cold damp compress to chill the skin and alleviate the burning sensation
• Drink plenty of water and fluids to keep yourself hydrated
• Take cool baths to soothe the burn
• Use creams and ointments containing menthol, camphor, or aloe to relieve pain and hydrate the area. Refrigerating the creams will also provide additional relief

With any sunburn, avoid exposing the sunburnt area to the sun while your skin heals and covering the area while outside. Source

Beauty Secrets with Meghan Markle's Makeup Artist Daniel Martin

 

 

The Singapore Women's Weekly interviews Duchess Meghan's friend and celebrity makeup artist Daniel Martin. Find out his top beauty secrets and who's the most fun celebrity to makeup...

Recession Blonde: How Economic Uncertainty Spurred the Latest Hair Color Trend

Whether there's truth to these indicators or you chalk it up to mere coincidences, there have been many times when fashion and beauty trends have correctly predicted a recession. The Hemline Index, for example, is a theory created by economist George Taylor in 1926 that suggested the length of a hemline is closely related to how well the economy is doing. Shorter hemlines indicate a thriving economy (think the Roaring ’20s and the flapper dress or the ’60s and the birth of the miniskirt) while longer hemlines show an economy that is not (floor-length dresses and pants dominated fashion during The Great Depression). In 2009, the media coined the term recession hair, which saw many forgo their regular haircut and styling appointments as a result of the stock market crash of 2008. Now in 2025, TikTok takes it one step further and goes hair color-specific with “recession blonde.”

The National Bureau of Economic Research has yet to officially declare a recession in the US. But with the stock market in free fall, many industries facing massive layoffs, a trade war affecting many of our imported goods, and egg prices continuing to rise, it’s all starting to trickle down to how everyone wants to spend (or save) their money—especially when it comes to their hair routines.

Recession blonde (or recession brunette) refers to the darker, more brown-tinted hue that many are letting grow in with their normally bright, golden strands. TikTok users explain that while it may look like “old-money blonde,” letting their natural roots grow actually points to how the economy is affecting their spending habits; many are opting out of their touch-up appointments to save money.

While cost still depends on where you get your color done, upkeep for blonde hair can be quite the investment and oftentimes the more expensive option. “There are so many complexities to being blonde, and so many different methods to get to the end goal,” celebrity colorist Jenna Perry tells Vogue. “A double process, hyper blonde, is one of the most labor-intensive on your colorist to provide the biggest blonde impact. Highlights generally feel more natural, although the final may look effortless. A skilled application is akin to that of a trained painter and [cost] ranges depending on your colorist as well.”

Read more on this topic here...

What is Red Light Therapy?

Pain relief without medicine or surgery might sound too good to be true, but red light therapy offers exactly that. Red light therapy uses photobiomodulation, which is a low-level laser therapy that delivers red and near-infrared light to areas of your body. In doing this, it helps regenerate (or grow back) cells, restore cell function and trigger blood flow. In turn, this helps to heal and relieve pain.

Photobiomodulation was discovered about half a century ago. Now, it's used to treat all kinds of ailments, sometimes multiple at the same time. It relaxes muscles, which relieves muscle spasms, pain and stiffness. It has a similar effect on joints, including relieving aches, pains and stiffness.

Benefits of red light therapy

From major league baseball teams to elite athletes, red light therapy has become commonplace in healing for athletes. However, it has benefits far beyond the court, pool and track.

Its major benefits include improving joint mobility and easing muscle pain. More specifically, red light therapy helps with:

• Arthritis pain
• Joint pain
• Muscle pain, including healing muscle injuries and reducing soreness after exercise
• Tendon pain, such as from Achilles tendonitis

"Some people also experience additional advantages, including improved sleep, less stress, reduced anxiety and relief from depression," says Dr. Khojasteh.

With whole-body red light therapy, your entire body reaps the benefits of this treatment. This means if you have multiple conditions, such as arthritis and muscle pain, you can treat them at the same time. However, you can also use this therapy to treat targeted areas of your body.

Are there side effects of red light therapy?

Red light therapy is considered a safe treatment when administered by a trained medical professional. By determining the appropriate dosage for your needs, they can ensure your condition is treated without any negative side effects. However, if you have certain conditions, such as skin sensitivity or if you are pregnant, your provider may recommend avoiding red light therapy.

The future of red light therapy

Red light therapy might already seem futuristic, but there may be even more benefits down the line. Healthcare researchers are continuing to find new benefits in this simple but effective treatment for pain and other ailments.

For now, you can take advantage of its current benefits to your muscles and joints. Whether you have one issue to address or many, red light therapy can provide the relief you need. Just make sure you talk with your primary care doctor before using any at-home devices as treatment.

Source

How to use Kitsch’s Satin Heatless Curling Set

 

 

A quick tutorial on how to use Kitsch Heatless Curl System for perfect lived in curls.

How To Use Dry Shampoo

Low maintenance, high maintenance or somewhere in between — getting ready to face the world means something different to everyone. We do it in our bathrooms, our cars (mascara at a red light, anyone?), in ubers, airports, at our desks and in locker rooms. We get ready everywhere. Yet, we can only wash our hair in a shower when we have the luxury of time.

But who has that? And when we do get our hands on a few extra minutes, we’d rather spend it doing more important things — like sleeping ;) When used correctly, dry shampoo can make life infinitely easier, and give you the freedom to look and feel like you just washed your hair — without the drama of shampooing, conditioning, blow drying and styling..

Step 1: Shake the bottle.

And shake it good! When you’re in a rush this step is often missed yet so important, especially when you want to minimize the white powdery residue. By shaking the bottle, you help mix up all the good stuff which in turn, makes the dry shampoo more effective. So put in the extra bottle shimmy and reap the benefits!

Step 2: Section hair, then spray in short, powerful bursts.

Separate your hair into medium sized sections so you can get Batiste into every nook and cranny at the base of your roots. Before spraying, create space between you and the product by holding it 12 inches away from your roots (about the length of the can). This distance helps the product fall evenly where it should, and doesn’t leave hair looking like you just powdered your wig.

For those prone to oily hair, heaviness happens at the base of the roots caused by product build up, sweat, or grease from your hands. This is where you should focus your spray, and the sweet spot where dry shampoo works it’s magic.

Step 3: Massage into roots with fingertips or a brush.

Time to get science-y. This simple massaging action activates the starch element to help accelerate absorption so that any white residue begins to disappear. Also, who doesn’t love a little scalp massage! Don’t want the dry shampoo (especially ones with a hint of color) on your fingers? Instead, use a brush from the roots to tips. If you want to get fancy, Conair designed a brush specifically for our Minis. You can find it here.

Step 4: Style as desired. Or not. Whatever you’re feeling.

Now it’s time to do your thing. Use your wand, iron (or throwback to a crimper!) to add the final touches to your hair. As a bonus, dry shampoo gives hair grip so braids, ponytails, or messy buns get even better. Don’t want to do anything extra? That’s fine too. Source

How Hair Tinsel Became 2025’s First Big Beauty Trend

The idea of glitter hair has been around for decades. “Tinsel hair first appeared in the early 2000s when the hair extensions market exploded in general,” says Rachael Gibson, the Hair Historian. “As well as seeing wider availability of extensions for more traditional services like length and volume, we started seeing options for more fun, fashion looks – like really vibrant colors.” Who could forget the infamous feather hair extensions of the mid-2010s or the iconic festival hair covered in chunky glitter from the same era? “The desire for sparkly hair goes back further though; glitter hairsprays were popular in the 80s and 90s, my favorite Vogue cover from 1984 features a bonkers silver look, and of course Cher was wearing tinsel wigs back in the 70s too,” says Gibson. Guido Palau recently released his own glitter hairspray for Zara too, proving that glimmering hair is on the rise.

Gibson also points to flapper evening wigs, which were made of metallic bullion embroidery thread designed to glitter under stage lights. It’s also incredibly low-technology to achieve the effect. Typically, strands of tinsel are simply taped in and you’re good to go. You can buy DIY kits online, or go to a hairdresser, and tinsel typically lasts one to two weeks depending on how it’s cared for.  

Now that the 2010s aesthetic is back on the rise, it’s no wonder tinsel is so ubiquitous. “I lived through tinsel hair the first time round and it felt really exciting and innovative, especially as it tied in with the explosion of modern digital culture too,” says Gibson. “I vividly remember filming tinsel hair extensions backstage at Ashish SS15 using Kira Kira; the original sparkle filter app, which launched around the same time. It was a real fashion show moment, which immediately had traction online because it was so visual and shareable.” Hair tinsel is so easily tied to a very, very nostalgic aesthetic of the past: Tumblr visuals, chunky glitter makeup, early Beyonce, Kesha and cult brands like Meadham Kirchoff and Heatherette. 

Make-up artist Monica Monteiro started wearing hair tinsel about two years ago and hasn’t taken a break since. “I love that it looks like the hair from my Barbies from the 90s,” she says. “They make me feel magic, and like I’m a whimsical creature.” Likewise, the artist and content creator Taylor Quitara first experimented with hair tinsel around 2009 when she was a tween modeling for the iconic pre-teen fashion haven Limited Too/Justice. “My revival of hair tinsel was this past Halloween when I was recreating a Galliano runway look,” she says. “Then I kept the tinsel and started incorporating it into my everyday style. I love how it catches the light and can be cute but also badass if you want it to be. It’s also a nod to my youth which is sweet.”

Continue reading more here...

5 Signs You Should Reduce Your Sugar Intake

Are you consuming too much sugar? The answer is probably yes. Even if you’re super conscious about how many sweet things you eat or drink, just look at the label of any item in your pantry or fridge, and you’ll likely find it has higher-than-recommended doses. And yes, that includes things that don’t seem sugary on the surface, such as baked goods, condiments, sauces, and other prepackaged foods and drinks.

According to the World Health Organization, no more than 10% of your daily calories should come from added sugars in a healthy, balanced diet. That can add up quickly, so what are the risks associated with too much sugar in the body?

5 signs that there’s too much sugar in the body

1. Exaggerated cravings for sweets

“If too many carbohydrates or simple sugars are consumed, it triggers a phenomenon called carb craving, which leads to cravings for more and more sugary foods,” says Dr. Missori. “This happens when sugar is absorbed through insulin and blood sugar levels drop rapidly, causing hypoglycemia. As a result, the body seeks more sugar to compensate for this drop.”

2. Weight gain

Insulin can promote weight gain, so if it’s being produced in excess—as a result of consuming too much sugar, for example—that can lead to insulin resistance. According to Dr. Missori, this in turn facilitates and accelerates gaining weight. “This imbalance can also cause sudden drops in energy,” she says. “High blood sugar levels can damage the body’s proteins through a process called glycosylation, which reduces the function of organs and systems and impairs their efficiency.”

3. Accelerated skin aging

Excessive sugar consumption also has negative effects on the skin. Dr. Missori says excess glucose triggers a process called glycation, which leads to the formation of compounds called AGEs (advanced glycation end products). “These substances inflame cells and degrade the two proteins that are essential for keeping skin supple and soft, such as elastin and collagen,” she explains. “It doesn’t end there: Excess sugar accelerates skin aging, promoting oxidation and loss of elasticity. High levels of insulin can also cause the appearance of dark spots and skin folds.”

4. Fatigue and mood swings

“Sugar is the main fuel of our cells, so an adequate amount ensures good energy levels,” says Dr. Missori. “If sugar levels are too low, energy is in short supply. Conversely, if blood sugar is too high but insulin is not working properly, we can still feel tired, despite an abundance of blood sugar, with mood swings and sudden states of sluggishness and fatigue.”

5. A tightened gut

Excessive sugar consumption not only causes a rapid rise in blood sugar and the rapid release of insulin, but it also compromises gut balance. This imbalance also alters the gut microbiota over time, which can lead to dysbiosis—a.k.a. the prevalence of harmful bacteria over beneficial ones. Some of the most common symptoms of dysbiosis are various digestive disorders such as abdominal bloating, diarrhea, constipation, flatulence, and a feeling of heaviness after meals. The consequences of dysbiosis are many. “In addition to reducing the gut’s ability to absorb essential nutrients, it weakens the immune system,” says Dr. Missori. “It worsens the overall health of the body.” Source

How to Get Rid of Dandruff

If you’re wondering how to get rid of dandruff, it’s important to know that you’re not alone. Not only is the skin condition incredibly common for all hair types, but it also has a variety of potential causes. That said, constant white flakes of dead skin cells on your clothes can get pretty frustrating.

But first: What is dandruff? Also known as seborrheic dermatitis, dandruff is an inflammatory response to an imbalance in the scalp microbiome. “This causes the overgrowth of Malassezzia, a normal yeast found on the scalp,” says Carmen Castilla, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in NYC. “This overgrowth causes an inflammatory reaction, which leads to scalp flaking and itching.” While there is no known cure for dandruff, there are plenty of treatment options. Ahead, everything you need to know about how to get rid of dandruff.

What causes dandruff?

According to Caroline Robinson, MD, FAAD, a board-certified medical and cosmetic dermatologist, there isn’t one clearly defined cause for the scalp condition. “While we do not completely understand all of the causes of dandruff, we do know that the oils on our skin [sebum], a friendly yeast that lives there [Malassezia], and our sensitivity to the interaction between the two can all play a role in how likely we are to get dandruff,” she explains. “Areas of high sebum production such as the scalp, parts of the face, and the center of the chest are the most common areas where we see dandruff.”

How to treat dandruff

First, Dr. Robinson recommends washing your hair with an over-the-counter shampoo formulated with salicylic acid to address the condition. “I often recommend starting with Neutrogena’s Scalp Therapy Anti-Dandruff collection, because it has four different salicylic acid formulas to effectively help with flakes and control many of the symptoms of dandruff,” she says. If dandruff shampoo doesn’t help, Dr. Robinson suggests visiting a health care provider like a board-certified dermatologist for medicated shampoo and topicals. “I will often treat my patients with dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis, a more severe form of dandruff, with prescription topical anti-inflammatory solutions and prescription shampoos to gain control,” she says.

Dr. King agrees, adding she may prescribe dandruff treatments such as a topical cortisone for the scalp and affected areas.

What ingredients fight dandruff?

“For dryness and flaking caused by seborrheic dermatitis, dandruff shampoos, which include ingredients such as ketoconazole, selenium sulfide, salicylic acid, or zinc pyrithione, can be a big help,” says Iris Rubin, MD, board-certified dermatologist and founder of Seen Hair Care.

Dr. King adds that you’ll want to look for the following antifungal ingredients to fight the overproduction of Malassezia.

• Selenium sulfide: Has antifungal properties; can decrease irritation and itching
• Pyrithione zinc: Has antimicrobial and antifungal properties; also helpful inflammation and itchy scalp
• Salicylic acid: Helps to reduce scaling on the scalp
• Ketoconazole: Is an antifungal with mild anti-inflammatory properties
• Coal tar: Suppresses fungus; decreases inflammation; may reduce sebum production
• Tea tree oil: Has antibacterial, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory properties

Dry scalp vs. dandruff

While dandruff can cause a dry scalp and a dry scalp can come with a lot of dandruff symptoms, the conditions are not one and the same. A dry scalp can also result from other common skin conditions such as contact dermatitis or an allergic reaction to hair care products. To find the definitive cause, you should seek medical advice. “If you’re unsure whether your dry, itchy scalp is due to dry skin, seborrheic dermatitis, or contact dermatitis, it’s best to schedule an appointment with a dermatologist,” says Dr. Rubin. “Scalp psoriasis is a common skin disorder that causes the skin cells to grow extremely fast and become patches of dry, itchy, flaky skin,” adds Robinson. “Psoriasis often requires management with prescription therapy, which is why I recommend speaking to your dermatologist if you suspect that you might have this.” Source

Should You Add Apple Cider Vinegar to Your Skin Care Routine?

From avocado facials to honey scrubs, reaching into your kitchen cabinet in hopes of attaining clearer, smoother skin is nothing new. But does apple cider vinegar (ACV), another superfood ingredient, also deserve a spot on your bathroom vanity?

If you’ve considered using this pantry staple to help treat acne or another skin condition, such as eczema, psoriasis, or rosacea, that isn’t surprising. The popularity of apple cider vinegar for skin care has only grown in recent years, thanks to its reputation for healing common infections and wounds or lowering blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes, as some research has shown. 

But you should know that those benefits are not backed by high-quality research: Long-term randomized controlled trials on the potential effects of ACV in humans are lacking, notes Harvard Health Publishing. (And, as University of Chicago Medicine points out, despite what you may have read online, ACV won’t cure cancer.)

When it comes to helping you achieve a healthier complexion, some of the components in ACV may help, but experts are cautious about the ingredient’s use either orally or infused in beauty products. Below we explore the possible benefits and risks of using apple cider vinegar for skin care.

Can Using Apple Cider Vinegar Help Improve Your Complexion?

For many people, one immediate question is whether it’s beneficial to put apple cider vinegar right on your face and skin. And while a study noted that ACV may offer antifungal and antibacterial properties, the research on how it may affect your complexion is lacking, says Melissa Piliang, MD, a dermatologist at the Cleveland Clinic. “There is really no good scientific evidence proving the skin-care benefits of ACV (topically or orally), and it can be harmful,” she says. But she adds that it can help skin conditions if used cautiously and with supervision from a dermatologist.

There are a few things in ACV that may boost the appearance and health of your skin;

• Acetic Acid Research has shown this acid is antifungal and antimicrobial. When used topically, it clears bacteria that may be related to either infections or skin conditions like acne, rosacea, and chronic scalp rashes such as seborrheic dermatitis and eczema.
• Citric Acid This is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA). AHAs are used to increase skin cell turnover and have been shown to decrease wrinkles and age spots.
• Acetic acid and citric acid are found in higher levels in ACV, but they are also found in other types of vinegar. White vinegar probably works as well for skin conditions as ACV does, says Abigail H. Waldman, MD, a dermatologist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. “Doctors have been using vinegar soaks forever. The theory is that ACV has more citric acid, which might be where the hype is coming from, but a lot of the effects are overblown,” she says.

Diluting Apple Cider Vinegar Is Key to Using It Safely

When it comes to using apple cider vinegar in a skin-care routine, experts do not recommend applying pure ACV to your skin, as the acids in it may cause chemical burns and irritation, according to case reports. “Putting it on the skin straight up is highly irritating, and I have seen many patients who have irritated and burned their skin by repeated use of apple cider vinegar,” says Patricia Farris, MD, a dermatologist in Metairie, Louisiana, and a clinical associate professor at the Tulane University School of Medicine in New Orleans. “I advise patients against using this particular home remedy for this reason.”

For skin infections, Dr. Waldman advises making a dilution of 1 tablespoon of ACV per 1 cup of water. There’s a wide range of recommended concentrations, but it’s generally advisable to start there and see how much you can tolerate.

“The higher the concentration, the more likely it’s going to irritate your skin,” Waldman says. “But it probably also works better because of the higher levels of acetic and citric acid. It’s a balance. You never want to use ACV in its concentrated form.”

Source