Valen’s Vanity Square

Oh my gosh, what is it with my face? Why are there 7 zits on my face?!! Pores seem to be getting bigger, too! Is it hormone (period due soon), or is it time to change my pillow case? Hmmph!

May be I should start using facial sheet mask again. Have stopped using mask for quite some time coz afraid of allergic reaction, although I don’t know if the mask is really the cause.

Anyway, I found this beauty ‘recipe’ on the internet that you may like to try if you like DIY skin care:

1 tsp raw honey + 1 tsp aloe vera juice

What to do: Stir honey and aloe until well blended. Paint mixture on face using a large, clean makeup brush, wait 15 minutes and rinse, says Josh Rosebrook, creator of the Josh Rosebrook organic skin-care line in Los Angeles.

Why it’s a beauty boon: When mixed with water, raw honey grabs onto water, creating a film that seals in moisture. It also fights breakouts because the glucose helps skin zap bacteria. Aloe contains nearly 75 nutrients that benefit skin, according to Jeannette Graf, M.D., assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. And it delivers moisture deep down below skin’s surface.

Have also done a skin age test. Results showed that my skin age is 2 years younger than my actual age. Well, should I be happy about it? I want my skin to be at least 5 years younger than my actual age!

You can try the quiz and test your skin’s age by visiting this page.

When I tell you that I want to age gracefully, just like so many other women said, it doesn’t mean that I will not use anything for anti-aging skin care. (Would you?) In fact, aging gracefully is about taking good care of your own skin, health and appearance so that you look great at your age. At least, that’s my definition of aging gracefully.

Come on, who doesn’t want to hide their age, or at least make themselves look 5 or 10 years younger? Even men love to look younger and smarter, don’t they?

While all of us tend to use anti-aging skin care product and procedures to help us fight the effects of aging, anti-aging skin care is not achieved by any magic potion. It all boils down to DISCIPLINE. It is about being proactive - taking actions to stop or slow down what age is doing to your skin or overall health. So here are a few tips for proactive antiaging skin care.

Maintain healthy eating habits
Easier said than done, huh? But it is a very important rule to always remember. A well balanced diet is the key to maintaining a proper body metabolism that will reflect on the skin. Eat a lot of fruits and vegetables (raw), they are the best source of fibre and help cleanse your body. Avoid oily and fatty food; not only do they lack in essential nutrients but also cause weight gain. I remember reading an interview with the model QiQi, wife to Hong Kong actor Simon Yam, she even avoid sweet sugary food because these foods tend to speed up the process of skin aging.

Eliminate stress
This is probably the most important natural antiaging skin care measure. Stress disturbs the body metabolism and accelerates the aging process. I can attest to that! Since working from home, life is stressful for me and I get sufficient rest, I look and feel so much better than when I was working 9-to-5. I also look younger than my peers of the same age….

Drink lots of water
Everyone knows that we need to drink at least 8 glasses of water every day. Water helps to flush out the toxins from the body, keeping it clean and making it less prone to disease. Again, most of us can’t stick to this rule because we are so busy that we forgot to drink! (Coffee, tea and soft drinks don’t count into that 8 glasses of water, okay?)

Regular exercise
Again, another wonderful natural antiaging skin care procedure. Besides toning your muscles, it also helps in cleaning the skin by flushing out the toxins in the form of sweat.

Protect your skin against UV radiation
UV rays are known to speed up the aging process. Always apply a good sunscreen lotion or day cream with SPF during the day. My skin might have looked better than what it is now if I had used sun protection cream when I was younger in my college years.

So, if you really want to age gracefully, the above are some of the natural antiaging skin care tips for you. For more anti-aging tips, you can gain access to a free (actually two) ebooks here.

When it comes to skin care products, I’m not one of those who are very particular about using only natural skin care products. It does feel nice to use natural skin care items coz they smell fresh and very natural, of course, haha! But so far my skin doesn’t complain much about most of the non-natural products, as long as they don’t cause excessive oiliness or dryness or trigger acne, I’m fine.

While the well-known brand Burt’s Bees uses all natural ingredients in most of their products, including their facial cleanser, it is difficult to find a skin care product that is 100% natural in the market.

I believe not all synthetic products are harmful to the skin, and not all natural skin care products can solve all our skin problems. Sometimes it is not the question of whether the skin care product is natural-base or synthetically produced. It is the matter of suitability, whether the particular product suits your skin or can treat your skin problem. Natural skin products are in general milder and more suitable for sensitive skin. They may not be able to treat acne marks or treat fine lines as effectively as those partially natural or synthetic skin care products.

Even when you are using a natural skin care product, it doesn’t mean that you can be careless with other aspects of skin care, as good skin care always comprise of healthy eating habits (avoiding oily food), regular exercise, drinking a lot of water (8 glasses everyday), and cleanliness.

My next writing assignment has a pretty comfortable deadline, which is three weeks later. That doesn’t mean I can totally relax and not do anything. I still have personal projects that I need to accomplish, but I don’t have to rush for deadlines or burn midnight oil (for 24 hours!) for at least another 2 weeks.

I will also take this opportunity to rest more, for the sake of my skin! I think my skin must have aged a million years due to one 24-hours of non-stop work. Lines are obvious now, eeeks! Luckily there’s no acne breakout, otherwise I have to tackle several skin issues at one time.

I found out that sometimes certain simple things that I do everyday or regularly can help prevent acne breakout or stop it from getting worse, such as:

• Changing the pillow case. It helps curb ‘mysterious’ acne breakouts.
• Replacing used towels with cleans ones regularly.
• Dabbing off the sweat on my forehead and around the nose otherwise these areas will get oily.
• Keeping my hair away from my face when I am awake and sleeping. Sometimes I can get so irritated by my own hair, because it makes my face, neck and shoulder itchy! The scratching usually causes rashes or triggers acne.

So, while I’m not too tied up with work this week, I’d better change the bedding in my room.

Here’s some quick tips to healthy and radiant skin, by knowing what potential irritants to avoid when buying skincare products, especially for those with sensitive skin.

Artificial fragrance - can cause irritation, allergic reactions and pigmentation problems when exposed to sunlight.

SD-Alcohol - can cause dry skin because it strips off oil and moisture from the skin, leading to skin dehydration.

Comedogenic ingredients - can clog pores, leading to blackheads and acne problem.

Mineral oil - leaves a heavy after-feeling, makes skin even more sensitive to irritants.

Lanolin - is comedogenic and can cause allergic reactions.

Artificial coloring - can cause irritation and photosensitivity that lead to skin dehydration.

Anti-aging secrets can be sometimes as simple as 1-2-3.

Change these 10 bad habits to slow down your skin aging process, and you will be on your way to looking younger and staying healthy!

1. Frowning.

You’ve gotta STOP FROWNING and be happy! You don’t want to see those sad and unhappy lines settling down on your face to become wrinkles, do you?

2. Staying up late at night.

Your body undergoes repair and healing process while you are sleeping. Not having enough sleep or going to bed late is one of your skin’s greatest enemy - it speeds up your skin’s aging process. So make sure you get 8 hours of sleep every day. (easier said than done though, hehe…)

3. Under the sun frequently.

Another great foe of your skin is the ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun. Not only it causes skin problems like pigmentation and freckles, it may also lead to skin cancer in serious cases. The damage imposed by UV rays also causes the skin to age faster. Always apply sun protection lotion or cream 20 minutes before you leave the house.

4. Incomplete make-up removal.

Always remove your make up thoroughly at the end of the day! The pores need to be clean so that your skin is able to breathe normally.

5. Not drinking enough water.

Water is the source of life, and your skin needs that to help maintain its suppleness and health. Everybody knows a person needs at least 8 glasses of water everyday, and these exclude caffeinated beverages.

6. Smoking and alcohol drinking.

Besides being a risk for lung cancer, smoking can also cause one to look 10 years older the real age! This is due to the nicotine content in the cigarettes. Nicotine has effect on the blood vessels of the skin that can lead to wrinkles formation. Alcohol is dehydrating, and may affect the skin’s normal function.

7. Dislike exercising.

If you want to stay healthy, look and feel young, you’d better pick up your butt and start moving! Exercise helps improve blood circulation, increase muscle strength, and the sweating helps remove toxins from the body. If you want a healthy and glowing skin from top to toe, start exercise today!

8. Likes for oily and spicy foods.

There is nothing wrong if you like oily and spicy foods, just that they aren’t the best for your health and skin. Cutting down on this group of foods will help to minimize problems such as oily skin and acne. Consume more fruits and vegetables as they are rich in vitamins that are beneficial to the skin.