Thursday, December 19, 2013

What Makeup and Skin Care Products Are Harming Your Skin?

Hi everyone! This one is a guest blog post from Elizabeth Rago. You can learn more about her at the end of this post. I was contacted to feature this article. Here you go!




In a sea of cosmetic products, it is often hard to differentiate what products or lifestyle choices are producing unwanted breakouts, excessive oil, or unruly and irritated dry skin. It might not be the product that is the problem, per say, but the user. Mishandling products and veering off your usual regimen is the best way to harm your skin instead of fine tune and highlight your natural assets. So, what products are doing harm to your skin instead of good? Let’s examine a few dos and don’ts of using make up and skin care products.
Don’t use too much exfoliant. While giving a little extra nudge to the natural sloughing of the top layer of skin is suggested, going crazy with an exfoliant can cause more damage than good. Red, inflamed, irritated, and/or patchy dry skin are all symptoms that you have overindulged and are now harming your skin. It’s best to back away from the product and start to repair the damage you have done with calming products that will promote healing.
Don’t go to bed with a dirty face. Sleeping in a pool of your own oil, foundation, and faded liquid liner all night is probably not the path to flawless skin. The first rule of preparation for beauty sleep is “cleanse the skin.” There is no way around it, this easy breezy two-minute ritual can prevent breakouts and give your skin the best chance for repair and rejuvenation. Simplifying your evening regimen will make the process a little less time consuming.
Don’t get too liberal with the anti-acne treatment. Many products meant to zap zits are full of benzoyl peroxide. Acne.org states benzoyl peroxide “is the only medication which can penetrate into the skin and deliver oxygen. Acne bacteria cannot live in the presence of oxygen, and benzoyl peroxide kills 99.9% of them almost instantly.However, over use of this product can eventually dry and irritate the skin, which will bring on more breakouts. If you are striking out with acne, it’s time to call in the big guns. Let a dermatologist tackle your concerns by determining whether your skin would benefit from a facial, peel treatment, or microdermabrasion. Medical spas offer a number of treatments that can combat the tougher to fight acne that some people might be suffering from.
Do use the right product. A common mistake consumers make is not matching the right product with their unique skin type. Establishing a relationship with a dermatologist, esthetician, or trained skin care professional will ensure you will be not only properly paired with the correct product, but educated about your skin’s condition. Since the skin is ever changing with age and horomones, having a professional on call who knows your skin’s history will be a convenient way to troubleshoot through concerns. In turn, you will not only save yourself unnecessary steps but pointless dollars spent on the wrong product.
If you find you are still having problems, it’s always best to speak to a professional dermatologist or practitioner at a medical spa to guide you through the process of choosing the best care and treatment for your skin concerns. Using product appropriately and removing it before bed should make a noticeable impact on your skin’s health and overall brilliance.
About the author: Elizabeth Rago is a writer specializing in health, wellness, and women’s lifestyle content, working with yoga studios, chiropractors, mental health, wellness practitioners and Thrive Medical Spa in Chicago. Elizabeth writes the weekly column, The Circular Home for Chicago Shopping (an editorial partner of the Chicago Tribune) and is Senior Editor of All Things Girl, highlighting topics related to the modern domestic woman. She has been published in Mamalode Magazine, MOMentumNation.com and thesavvyfreelancer.com.  Connect with Elizabeth on Twitter, LinkedIn, Houzz, and Google+.

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