Is Sunblock Necessary

You know it never ceases to amaze me at the number of people who do not bother using a sunscreen. It is basically pointless for one to cleanse and moisturize one’s skin if sun screen is not included in the regime. What is the point of cleansing your skin if you are not going to protect it? It is akin as you are dressed in your best clothes and you go out and stand in the rain without a raincoat or an umbrella. When you stand in the rain, the effect is immediate you are drenched, your make-up and clothes are ruined. Now standing in the sun without protection “ruins” your skin gradually and surely. Skin will not only age faster but the sun will give rise to pigmentation problems as well.

Sunlight exposes you to two kinds of ultraviolet light, called UVA and UVB. Both these ultraviolet lights are responsible for skin damage and skin cancer.

What is SPF?

SPF means sun protection factor. It is basically a measure to count the effectiveness of the sunscreen.A sunscreen with a higher number of SPF provides you greater protection from the harmful ultraviolet rays. 

What is the benefit of using a sunscreen?

Sunscreen chemically reduces the amount of ultraviolet rays that pierce your skin. Sunscreen creates a barrier between the harsh sunrays and your sensitive skin.

To get maximum protection from your sunscreen, make it a point to apply it at least 15 minutes before stepping out in the sun.

How to get the most benefit out from your sunscreen?

• Apply sunscreen 15 - 20 minutes before exposing your skin to the sun.
• Reapply  sunscreen  after every 2 - 3 hours in the sun.
• Check the label to make sure your sunscreen offers UVA and UVB protection.
• Choose a sunscreen which offers the best protection for your skin type.
• Make sure that the sunscreen is the last thing you apply on your face. It should be applied before your foundation/compact powder.
• Apply sunscreen daily without fail.

Lastly but not the least, remember that sunscreen will help protect your skin and  that a little care goes a long way.

 

Herbal Skin Whitening

Many of you have been requesting for a skin whitening session.  This is a formula that I have been working on for a long time now. It is basically a mixture of herbs that does wonders for the skin. These amazing herbs are able to brighten and lighten the skin tone. These herbs are also rich in antioxidants thus they leave your skin feeling supple but taunt as well.  The main ingredients are garbanzo beans, turmeric, fuller’s earth, sandalwood, saffron and yoghurt.

I must emphasize, though the herbs are able to help you achieve a lighter skin colour it will be your responsibility to retain that colour tone.  How you ask, well my dear friends by using sunblock of course!

I have included a brief summary as to the benefits of the herbs below.

Benefits of Garbanzo Beans

Garbanzo beans are an excellent source of Vitamin C, Vitamin B6 and Zinc. When applied topically, Vitamin C in the garbanzo beans help brighten the skin while vitamin B6 and zinc help heal the skin if any blemishes are present. Phtochemicals called saponins which can act as antioxidants are also present.

When consumed orally, it is also a good source of folate, protein and it is able to help lower cholesterol levels.

Benefits of Turmeric  

Turmeric is a natural healer for skin conditions such as eczema, acne, dry skin and psoriasis. Turmeric is also used in cosmetics as it helps to naturally slow the process of aging and restores youth. Turmeric is able to reduce  hair growth and gives the skin a healthy glow.

 

Benefits of Fuller’s Earth

Fuller’s Earth is rich in minerals. It is composed mainly of alumina, silica, iron oxides, lime, magnesia and when applied to the skin, it helps in removing dead skin cells and absorbing excess oil.  This makes the skin smooth, soft, moist and rejuvenated.

Benefits of Sandalwood

The best part of including sandalwood powder is that it benefits equally the dry skin and the oily skin individuals. It has antiseptic properties which help to fight skin irritations associated with dry skin condition and keeps it hydrated. While the astringent qualities reduce the pores of the oily skin individuals and keeps it taunt.

Benefits of Yoghurt

Yoghurt is a rich source of protein and is rich in calcium, potassium, phosphorus,  magnesium and zinc thus it is able to “feed the skin”. Yoghurt contains many healthy enzymes and natural oils which help provide moisture to the skin. Yoghurt also helps to cool and calm the skin. When yoghurt is applied externally it is able to help in a number of ways. Yoghurt helps with blemishes and acne scars, whitens the skin, tones down freckles, is an effective remedy for sunburn, helps to exfoliate the skin as it contains lactic acid, provides moisture to the skin and reduces pore size. 

Benefits of Saffron

Saffron has long been used by the Indian royalty to enhance their beauty. It is added in Ayurveda products as it is able to improve skin disorders like acne, skin spots, sun tan and skin dullness. This is a very expensive herb and does wonders for the skin.

Why Should I Do Waxing?

Waxing is the most effective method for temporary hair removal, since hair is removed from it's roots.At FTWS, we use home made wax. Home made wax does not contain any chemicals or preservatives. Thus unlike commercial wax, one should not be prone to redness or itchiness. Hot wax contains sugar so it is easier to remove and better results are obtained compared to cold wax.

Do let the consultant know if you have used a moisturiser or deodorant on the area to be waxed. A thin layer of wax is applied to the area with unwanted hair in the direction of hair growth. A cloth strip is applied over the wax strip and than ripped off quickly against the direction of hair growth. For best results, hair should be 6mm in length. An antibacterial lotion is applied after waxing.

Hair removal after waxing is effective for a period of 3 - 6 weeks. The new hair that grows after a few weeks is softer, lighter and sparser since some hair roots are permanently destroyed. Since the top layer of dead skin cells are removed, the skin is also smoother and softer.

Waxing is not encouraged on persons who have diabetes, since it may result in infection or on persons with a sensitive skin. It cannot be done on skin which is broken and irritated.

WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF WAXING

• Hair takes a longer time to grow back after waxing, because the hair is removed from the root.. It takes around 4 - 6 weeks to grow back and sometimes even longer.
• Waxing slowly reduces the growth of hair, so the more often you wax, the slower your hair growth.
• Gradually over an extended period of time, the hair may even stop growing in the waxed area.
• Wax is made from natural ingredients like sugar, lemon and water as opposed to depilatories (hair removal cream and lotions), which are made from harsh chemicals that burn the hair. Sugar and lemon are both beneficial for the skin.
• Dead skin is removed in the process of waxing. Waxing thus doubles as an effective exfoliator.
• The skin feels smooth after waxing.
• Compared to other saloons who offer waxing services, the cost of service at FTWS is kind to one's pocket.  :-)
  

Gosh! Do I hate acne! Even now, I do get acne breakouts when I get stressed!

Part of the reason is oily skin.Greasy skin that traps dirt and skin debris clogging up pores, makes your skin pores an excellent  breeding place for bacteria. The bacteria multiplies and voila you have acne!

All is not lost though, if you have oily skin that is prone to acne, here are 7 beauty tips to help keep the pimples away.

1. Keep Your Hands Off Your Face

Your hands, after touching so many things, picking up the bag, answering the telephone, opening the door,things we do everyday are covered with bacteria.The last thing you want to do is to put those bacterias onto your face. Touching your face often with your face,  or worse and still, picking those pimples with your fingers and you will see those pimples multiply. 

2. Keep Your Hair Off Your Face

If you have oily skin, you probably have oily hair. Oily hair brushing against your face adds to the oil on the face. Oil sweat and skin debris are a great way to clog the pores of your skin, leading to more breakouts! If you notice pimples appearing on your chin, forehead or your cheeks typically where your hair might brush against, your hair could be the culprit! Wear a hair band, use hair clips to keep your hair off your face, tie it into a ponytail or get a hair cut.

3. Wash Your Face 3 Times A Day With A Good Cleanser

I wash my face when I wake up, at lunch time and at bedtime. I also use an acne ointment  at night which I have obtained from a Consultant in Philippines. My skin clears when I stick to this routine. At night I would give ice compression. When I stray from this routine, I will be reminded with the burst of flare-ups!

4. Relax

Do you notice how pimples tend to appear more before a stressful event, exams, a big date or or a presentation? Stress wreaks havoc on our skin. Remember, acne/pimples can also pop up due to hormonal imbalances , like just before your period.

5. Sleep

Your skin heals itself when you sleep. Your entire body heals itself in your sleep. A night without sleep may lead to more pimples. Make it a habit to leave your worries behind and get a good night's sleep. Work out early in the day and get some exercise in the evenings. It helps.

6. Drink Water

Increase your fluid intake. Drink a minimum of 2 - 3 liters of water per day to flush out those toxins! What I mean by increasing your fluid intake, is by drinking plain water, the good H2O! Well if you find drinking water difficult than flavor it with slices of lemon, basil leaves or mint leaves.

7. Stay Away From Pressed Powder Compact

Yup, you heard me right. Some use the compact powder to hide the acne. Just think - By mid day your skin gets oily. You take out the compact powder and powder puff your face. Now your face would already have dirt, bacteria and oil on it. You pat your face with that powder puff and the powder puff picks up the dirt, bacteria and oil. You place it back in the compact. The bacterium happily breeds in there. Then you take out the compact powder again and pat more powder mixed with oil, dirt and bacteria onto your face. Thus you are putting more gunk and keeping more gunk into your compact. This vicious cycle continues and no wonder the breakouts never heal or end. A better way would be to use a blotting paper to blot off the excess oil instead and throw it away. Blotting paper is easily available at the pharmacy.

If you need to use your compact powder, than make it a point to wash your powder puff or change it weekly. Remember to wash your entire make-up brushes regularly with soap and water. Then dry them completely before you keep them.

It would be good to get an Anti Acne Facial done monthly.(Read more about the Anti Acne Facial under the FACIAL Page). Oily, acne prone skin requires a lot of care. The bright side is that oily skin is slower to show signs of aging than dry skin. Take care of your skin and you will probably look younger than your peers as the decades go by.

Bleaching Facial/Body Hair

Bleaching body and facial hair helps to lighten the color of hair to a light shade of blonde/golden colour. Results may last from 2 – 6 weeks.

How does it Work?

The bleach is applied over hair and left on about 10 minutes. It is wiped off with a clean wet towel. The bleach takes out the pigment (color) of the hair.

There are two types of bleaches used here at FTWS. The two bleaches used in our saloon are Olivia (Herbal Bleach), Fem and Gold Bleach. (Please read under the page of Bleaching/Whitening for further info about these two bleaches)

The Pros

1. It's fast, easy, and without a lot of risks. Large areas of hair can be bleached at the same time, with the entire process only taking minutes from start to finish. You don't risk a lot pain or getting ingrown hairs, since you aren't removing the hair follicle.

2. It can temporarily lighten dark skin tones. The lighter skin tone can last for up to 3 days.

The Cons 

1. Bleaching facial and body hair doesn't give you a smooth and hairless surface. These are the main reasons people want to rid hair. Even though hair is lighter, it still may be noticeable, especially if you are standing in the sun or a bright room.

2. Not all hair or skin types can benefit. Don't count on bleaching disguising long or thick hair- only finer ones, like on the face or arms. Bleached hair on dark or tan skin, can still stand out because of the color contrast (light hair against dark skin).

3. The results aren't very long-lived. The hair above the surface is the only part of the hair follicle that has been lightened. As the hair grows, you will see the darker, natural color.

Ouch Factor

A tingling sensation while the cream is working is normal, but shouldn't be painful. A strong, burning feeling is a good indicator it's too strong for your skin, or you're allergic to a bleaching ingredient. For sensitive skin it would be best to do a patch test.

POINTS TO NOTE

• At FTWS we only bleach areas outside of your body.  It is not advisable to bleach near eyes, inside nose, ears, on nipples, scar tissue, warts, moles or near genitals. Bleach also shouldn’t be used over sunburned, irritated, inflamed or chapped skin, or an area that is freshly tweezed or shaved. It’s simply not safe.

• Bleaching must not be done on extremely exfoliated skin. Bleaching isn’t safe to use on areas where you are using Retin A, Alpha Hydroxy, or Glycolic Acid.

Keeping Eyebrows Groomed Via Threading

Threading is an ancient form of hair removal from India and the Middle East. The western world has actively adapted to threading themselves. During threading,  the threader loops a cotton thread around the hair to be removed, twists it, then pulls the hair from the follicle. The procedure is commonly used on facial hair. The amount of pain experienced is similar to that of tweezing.

Shaping your eyebrows correctly is important because it can change your facial expression. Though the shape is up to you, it's best to stay as natural as possible. In general, the beginning of the brow should be aligned with the center of the nostril below it and should extend a bit past the outer corner of the eye. The arch should fall over the outer third of the eye. Removing hair too far in from the inner edge of the eyebrow will make your eyes look smaller; removing too much from the bottom will make you look perpetually surprised. If you have doubts, do not remove the hair.

Always discuss the shape and look you are going for with your threader prior threading. Remember, once the hair is removed it will take time for the hair to grow back

Promotion for May and June 2011