The following information was presented earlier this year at American Academy of Dermatology’s 70th Annual Meeting by Raechele Cochran Gathers, MD, FAAD, senior physician at the Multi-Cultural Dermatology Center of Henry Ford Hospital Department of Dermatology in Detroit.

BEST PRACTICES/HAIR CARE TIPS:


Washing


• Hair should be washed once a week or every other week to avoid build-up of hair care products, which can be drying to hair.


• Conditioners should be used every time hair is washed. Special attention should be paid to the ends, which are the oldest and most fragile part of the hair.


• If you work out regularly, it is a good idea to rinse the hair with water to remove sweat and salt buildup between washings. You can follow with a conditioner. Also, water is good for hair and adds moisture.


Products


• Dr. Gathers recommends hair care products that contain natural ingredients, such as olive oil, shea butter, aloe vera juice or gel, or glycerin, as they help dry hair maintain moisture. 


• Shampoos that contain sulfates can be drying for some hair types, especially if hair is washed frequently. 


• Conditioners that contain wheat proteins, amino acids, hydrolyzed proteins or panthenol are recommended by Dr. Gathers.


• Hot oil treatments should be used twice per month to add additional moisture and elasticity to the hair.


• Heat protectants should be used on hair after washing and before hair is heat styled to minimize heat damage.


Styling


• Relaxers should be applied by a professional hair stylist to ensure they are applied safely and to minimize hair damage 


• Touch-ups with relaxers should not be done too frequently (every eight to 12 weeks to new hair growth is recommended), as they can cause hair breakage. Never apply relaxer to hair that has already been relaxed.


• Ceramic combs or irons should be used when pressing (thermally straightening) hair. It is best to use heat no more than once weekly.


• A straightening device with a dial temperature is preferred to ensure the device is not too hot. 


• Braids, cornrows or weaves should not be too tight. If it hurts while hair is being styled, tell the stylist to stop and redo it. Pain equals damage.


• Even the slightest bit of noticeable thinning can be the start of hair loss, so women should see a dermatologist immediately if they notice any changes in the texture or appearance of their hair.

Select a creamy concealer that has yellow or peach undertone to reduce the appearance of dark circles. Apply the concealer to the area under the eyes up into the inner corner of the eyes. Pat the concealer into the skin using clean fingers or a make-up applicator until it has blended in. Many celebrities keep the area surrounding their eyes a shade lighter than the rest of the face to brighten the eyes.

First, choose a lip liner that is one shade darker than your lip gloss. Line the lips with pencil, going just outside of the lip line. Apply lip gloss and blend the lip liner using the gloss tip or a cotton swab.

Apply a bronzer or highlighter that is a couple of shades darker than your skin in a straight line down the sides of the nose, from the eyes to the tip, Patel suggests. Gently blend the makeup in, but make sure that the bridge is defined so it looks as though it is narrower.

Q: When should you use sunscreen?

Dr. Hirsch: The American Academy of Dermatology recommends that a broad-spectrum water-resistant sunscreen of at least SPF 30 be used year-round.

Q: What is the difference between UVB and UVA rays?

Dr. Hirsch: UVA and UVB are different types of ultraviolet radiation emitted by the sun. UVB is primarily responsible for sunburn. UVA light penetrates the skin more deeply than UVB does and causes tanning. Both are contributory to premature skin aging and skin cancer, so it’s critical to seek out broad-spectrum protection.

Q: What role do antioxidants play in sun protection?

Dr. Hirsch: While sunscreens provide the primary protective barrier to cutaneous damage, the judicious use of topical antioxidants can add an additional buffer.

Q: How much sunscreen needs to be applied to the face and body and how often should you reapply?

Dr. Hirsch: One ounce, or the amount needed to fill a shot glass, is considered to be an ample amount to protect exposed skin. Sunscreen should be reapplied every two hours and more frequently if you are sweating or swimming.

Source: Vichy

Help protect skin this summer with Vichy’s new Capital Soleil sun care line

“An easy way to do makeup in five minutes is to start with a tinted moisturizer that has SPF in it. Right there you are taking care of three steps: moisturizer, sunscreen, and foundation. Next use a cream blush, dab it on your cheeks, lids, and lips (again you just took care of three more steps). Next line the eyes with a soft brown eyeliner pencil. Put a coat of mascara on the upper and lower lashes. Set the face with a translucent powder followed by some clear gloss to go over the cream blush you put on your lips and your out the door!”

Source: beautypress

• Remove all of your lipstick and lip liner. You’ll want a fresh application to go with your revived make up. Apply a light layer of lip conditioner to soften and smooth your lips while you touch up the rest of your face.

• If things look too messy or dark under the eyes, use a Q-Tip with a little moisturizer to clean the area. Yes, I said moisturizer – it works great for quick cleanups and won’t break down the makeup you apply over it.

• If your eye shadow has creased or eyeliner has run, blot the area gently with a tissue, then use a brush or sponge to smooth out the remaining color. Apply a little translucent pressed powder over the area to catch any excess oil and then reapply shadow and liner as needed to make your eye makeup look fresh again.

• If you have oily skin, blot away any excess by laying a blotting tissue over a make up sponge and press it lightly over the shiny areas on your face. Do this before you do anything else.

• Once the excess oil on your skin has been blotted, remove the blotting tissue and use the sponge to smooth out your foundation, concealer and blush (women with dry and normal skin should also follow this step). Use a gentle buffing motion, making sure to smooth all edges as you go.

• Use your favorite foundation to touch up blemishes, faded areas and around the mouth. Blend with the sponge or your fingers.

• Apply a little foundation or concealer under the eyes to highlight and brighten the center of your face.

• Lightly dust translucent powder over the face (kabuki brushes are best for this step) to set make up and give you a soft, smooth finish.

• Apply more blush or bronzer and finish with a touch of highlight powder on the tops of your cheekbones.

• Finally, blot off any excess lip conditioner and reapply lip liner and lipstick.

Final Fun Tips: Give you party makeup extra pizzazz with …

• Shimmering eyes-shadow brushed lightly over the lid.

• Extra black eyeliner smudged with a brush or Q-tip for a sexy, smoky effect.

• A dab of high shine gloss with a burst of shimmering sparkle over your lipstick will give it a holiday gleam.

Source: beautypress

Free radicals can cause skin cells to break down, accelerating premature aging. These radicals can be found in UV rays, air pollution, iron in tap water, stress, cigarette smoke and poor diet. To protect skin against free radicals it important to wear sunscreen daily, consume plenty of antioxidants such as vitamin C, vitamin E and beta-carotene, which help the body neutralize the effects of free radicals.

Moisturizers not only increase the skin’s water content, but they also protect the skin, improve tone and texture, and mask imperfections. When choosing skin care and beauty products, make sure the items you are selecting contain moisturizing ingredients, such as shea butter, to keep your skin hydrated. Heavier creams and body butters are best for fall months and should be applied while skin is still damp to help seal in the moisture.