March 14, 2020 at 01:00AM by CWC People have been turning to turmeric for ages because of how healthy—and anti-inflammatory—it is for your diet. The ingredient is becoming a DIY beauty star for the same reason, and the ingredient is even trickling into skin-care products, thanks to its anti-inflammatory effects on the skin. Given that inflammation is at the root of breakouts, it’s no surprise than many people are turning to turmeric for acne. If you’re not familiar, turmeric is a plant that is native to southeast Asia. “It’s commonly used as a spice. The powder comes from the roots of the turmeric plant, known as curcuma domestica, which is thought to contain medicinal properties,” says Marnie Nussbaum, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City. People relate the plant to ginger, adds Purvisha Patel, MD, board-certified dermatologist and founder of Visha Skincare. “It is bright yellow because of the active ingredient curcumin,” she says. It’s used in beauty products because of its bacteria-killing, irritation-quelling, and nourishing properties. “Curcumin is a potent anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, anti-neoplastic, and antioxidant, as it combats free radicals and free radical damage,” says Dr. Patel (free radicals can result in the skin aging more quickly). “It has been used for centuries in Eastern medicine to combat certain skin conditions such as psoriasis, vitiligo, and acne.” Keep scrolling to learn more about how the ingredient is an acne-fighting superhero. Using turmeric for acne Acne is an actual inflammatory condition of your oil glands and your pores. “Acne is
Tag: Facials
J-Beauty “doubles” are the key to happier, more hydrated skin
March 12, 2020 at 09:00PM by CWC It wasn’t until a few months ago that dermatologists woke us up to the idea of “moisturizer layering,” which involves using moisturizing ingredients in every step of your routine in order to maximize hydration. But in Japan, this methodology—referred to as “doubles”—has been a way of life for generations. Japanese skin-care doubles refers to the J-beauty method of double cleansing, first with an oil-based cleanser followed by a water-based one, then double moisturizing with an essence and a cream as a way to ensure hydration at every step. According to Junko Gomi, CEO of Japanese skin-care brand H2O+, it’s a common skin-care practice in Japan, and one that is taught from a young age. “Double cleansing is popular because the Japanese are very particular about removing dirt. For example, Japanese people take off their shoes when entering the home, they take baths and wash their hair every day, and when worshipping god at the shrine, it is common practice for Japanese people to wash their hands and rinse their mouths to purify the body,” she says. As for doubling up on moisturizer, Gomi explains that adding layers of hydration helps to soften skin and even out the texture. Because of this, many Japanese skin-care brands, like Tatcha and DHC, sell basic skin sets featuring four items: an oil cleanser, a gentle water-based cleanser, a hydrating essence, and a moisturizing cream. “Having optimal skin hydration is the primary solution to achieving soft, healthy-looking skin
The top 3 buzziest beauty product categories in the Whole Foods skin-care section
March 11, 2020 at 08:00PM by CWC You love Whole Foods for its organic fruits and vegetables, hot bar filled with a never-ending supply of work-lunch favorites, and the cool innovations like being able to bottle your own almond milk. But if you’re not hitting up the beauty aisles at Whole Foods for skin-care products, you’re seriously missing out. Whole Foods just released its annual list of beauty trends, and there are some super buzzy product categories every beauty buff should know about. And from March 11 through March 17, all the beauty items are on sale. The grocery store might not be as well-known for its skin-care section as massive retailers like Sephora and Ulta, but it’s one of the most underrated places to find clean beauty items to add to your skin-care routine. The top 3 buzziest beauty categories you can shop at Whole Foods 1. Blue light defense Everyone knows how important it is to protect your skin from harmful UV rays with sunscreen. Now, the focus is on protecting against blue lights, too, through blue light defense products. Whole Foods says there are multiple different types of products that offer protection, from serums to sprays. One product you’ll find on shelves is DERMA E Blue Light Shield Spray ($17), which uses lutein to “shield your skin from free radical damage and blue light aggressors,” reads the website. 2. Bakuchiol If you haven’t heard of bakuchiol yet, you’re about to see it everywhere. The ingredient—which comes from
Why do we keep coming back to 100-year old beauty products? Because they work
March 11, 2020 at 05:10PM by CWC Pond’s Cold Cream has been around since 1846, Vaseline just celebrated its 150th birthday, and it’s estimated that 60 Dove Beauty Bars—first invented in 1957—are sold every single second around the world. Despite the fact that new beauty brands are launching every week, beauty enthusiasts continue to sing the praises of tried-and-true products, decades (and centuries!) after they were first introduced. Given that innovation drives the multi-billion dollar beauty business forward, what’s behind the back-to-basics mentality? “The beauty industry is always needing to reinvent itself to sell new products, but just because something is new, doesn’t mean it is better,” says Caren Campbell, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in San Francisco. That point is easy to miss in the age of shelfie. Overflowing cabinets and countertops are leaving many consumers with a try-it-all mentality that ultimately results in confusion about the options at hand. As such, using tested, dermatologist-backed products is a clear-cut way to combat this. “I think that more people are going back to the basics because they feel like they’ve been let down by multi-step routines that cost a lot of money and time,” says Papri Sarkar, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Brookline, Massachusetts. “They want something simple that they can do in their sleep…or right before sleep, in this case.” And some dermatologists even point to fewer, simplified steps as being better for skin. Older products tend to be blander, and these products are meant to keep moisture within skin,
I’ve tried hundreds of hyaluronic acid serums, and this drugstore pick is the best
March 10, 2020 at 01:00AM by CWC Hyaluronic acid is the ultimate people pleaser of the beauty world: It’s recommended by every single dermatologist for keeping moisture within your skin, it works on all skin types, and it plays well with the rest of your routine. Because of its hydrating powers—and because I’m a beauty editor—you can bet that I’ve tried practically every one out there. My favorite? It’s a drugstore find: La Roche-Posay hyaluronic acid serum ($30). When we talk about ghosts of HA past, my complexion has absorbed a very wide range, from over $300 options to those that cost less than $10 (and hundreds in between). This one won me over because it is incredibly effective in moisturizing my skin and you don’t really have to shell out a lot of money to reap its benefits. Photo: La Roche-Posay Shop now: La Roche-Posay Hyalu B5 Hyaluronic Acid Serum, $30 The most important thing an effective hyaluronic acid serum needs is different molecular weights so that it can hydrate both the top and innermost layers of your skin. This one has that, plus added benefits of B5, which is a water-soluble vitamin that delivers moisture and helps to plump and protect your skin barrier. Studies have also shown that the vitamin helps to reduce redness and hyperpigmentation, which explains why my skin looks so radiant and even when using the serum. Dermatologists are fans of the drugstore serum, too. “It satisfies all the criteria: it’s hypoallergenic and great for
Derms tell us if ‘For All Skin Types’ products are too good to be true
March 09, 2020 at 08:00PM by CWC Skin-care routines have reached peak customization. With companies like The Ordinary and The Inkey List releasing pure active ingredient serums, it’s now easier than ever to play beauty chemist and curate your own regimen. But there are still tons of all-skin-type products. Are they legit? Marisa Garshick, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Manhattan, says yes. “Products that are designated for all skin types are typically made up of ingredients that are gentle enough for sensitive skin but yet effective to be used by majority of people who use it,” says. Dr. Garshick. “Although it is always good to consider your individual skin type, there are various products that can be tolerated by all skin types.” If you have any particular skin issues, Rebecca Baxt, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New Jersey, says your better off using products that are a bit more targeted. For example, “if you are acne- or rosacea-prone, an all-skin-type products might make it worse. It’s best to stick to oil-free, noncomedogenic, fragrance-free products for those skin types generally speaking. It can be different for each individual patient,” she says. Dr. Garshick says some products are better than others to buy in an all-skin-types formula. “Often gentle cleansers are a great option for all skin types,” she says. She likes the Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser ($10) and Dove White Beauty Bar ($4). “Even those with oily skin can benefit from a gentle cleanser as part of their regimen, as you never want to dry out the skin too much.”
Everything you need to know about straightening natural hair
March 07, 2020 at 06:00PM by CWC From ages 6 to 18, I got my hair chemically straightened every six weeks. Then, in college, I started my natural hair journey, finding refuge in big, curly wigs and sleek box braids. I’m loving the journey of embracing my natural texture, but sometimes, I still like silky-straight hair. And if you’ve ever tried to straighten kinky curls, you know the struggle of maintaining the look without also frying your hair—but it can be done. Here’s how. Choose a stylist and method—carefully The first step, says Anu Prestonia, a hair care consultant and the founder of natural beauty line Anu Essentials, is finding a stylist who has extensive experience with various hair textures. That stylist can help you choose between two straightening methods: a blowout or a silk press. Both straighten the hair, but one can work better for you depending on your hair texture. “A blowout usually works best for someone with naturally straight hair or hair that straightens easily,” says hairstylist Ursula Stephen, who’s touched the heads of stars like Rihanna and Laverne Cox. Prestonia adds that blowouts are also appropriate for people with super-fine hair, since the less-intense heat is better for hair that’s susceptible to damage. But a blow dryer alone isn’t enough to get thick, kinky curls pin-straight. For people with naturally curly, coarse hair, Stephen suggests a silk press. “The hair is blown out, then flat-ironed to give it a sleek, shiny finish,” Stephen says. This style
How I’m preparing my skin-care routine for an extra hour of daytime
March 07, 2020 at 04:00PM by CWC I dread the changing of the clocks at the end of winter because, let’s be honest, it’s the bad one. As terrible as it is, “spring forward” has to exist in order for us to have “fall back,” wherein you can have an extra hour of sleep. There can be no good without evil. On March 8 we have to face the evil and turn our clocks forward an hour. But on the bright side this means we get an extra hour of daytime. Since my face is going to be bathed in more sunlight than it has during the winter, I was curious if there were any tweaks I should make to my daytime skin-care routine. So I called in the experts. First up: sunscreen. It is skin-care canon that everyone should wear sunscreen every single day. Ninety percent of aging comes from unprotected UV exposure, dermatologist Mona Gohara, MD, told Well+Good in a recent episode of Dear Derm. [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLlrv7VBPPU] There are two types of sunscreen: chemical and physical. Dr. Gohara says that if you see words like avobenzone and octinoxate on the label, it’s a chemical sunscreen. She also notes that chemical sunscreens have that “piña colada” classic sunscreen smell. If you see zinc oxide or titanium dioxide on the label, it’s a dead giveaway that it’s a physical sunscreen. Chemical sunscreens work by being absorbed into the skin, while physical sunscreens form a physical barrier on the skin. There
How I’m preparing my skin-care routine for an extra hour of daytime
March 07, 2020 at 04:00PM by CWC I dread the changing of the clocks at the end of winter because, let’s be honest, it’s the bad one. As terrible as it is, “spring forward” has to exist in order for us to have “fall back,” wherein you can have an extra hour of sleep. There can be no good without evil. On March 8 we have to face the evil and turn our clocks forward an hour. But on the bright side this means we get an extra hour of daytime. Since my face is going to be bathed in more sunlight than it has during the winter, I was curious if there were any tweaks I should make to my daytime skin-care routine. So I called in the experts. First up: sunscreen. It is skin-care canon that everyone should wear sunscreen every single day. Ninety percent of aging comes from unprotected UV exposure, dermatologist Mona Gohara, MD, told Well+Good in a recent episode of Dear Derm. [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLlrv7VBPPU] There are two types of sunscreen: chemical and physical. Dr. Gohara says that if you see words like avobenzone and octinoxate on the label, it’s a chemical sunscreen. She also notes that chemical sunscreens have that “piña colada” classic sunscreen smell. If you see zinc oxide or titanium dioxide on the label, it’s a dead giveaway that it’s a physical sunscreen. Chemical sunscreens work by being absorbed into the skin, while physical sunscreens form a physical barrier on the skin. There
6 common things that cause sudden facial breakouts, according to dermatologists
March 05, 2020 at 02:30AM by CWC If you’ve ever looked in the office bathroom mirror after lunch, noticed a brand-spanking-new zit, and wondered “where the hell did that thing come from?” this one’s for you. Some facial breakouts seem to come up out of nowhere and ruin your afternoon, but chances are those surprise pimples have been brewing for some time—and there are a whole lot of things that might have caused them. To find out where exactly they come from, I asked dermatologists to share the most common reasons behind sudden facial breakouts. The good news? Nearly all of them are avoidable with a few lifestyle tweaks—though sometimes, IMHO, a midday zit is well worth the extra scoop of ice cream. Common causes of sudden facial breakouts 1. Stress If pimples are popping up before a big presentation or a nerve-wracking first date, stress is likely to blame. “We know that stress has a significant impact on our skin,” says board-certified dermatologist Joshua Zeichner, MD. When you’re stressed, your brain releases a stress hormone called cortisol, which causes your oil glands to go into overdrive. They start to produce more sebum, which ultimately leads to acne. While many hormonal breakouts are unavoidable, stress pimples can be put to rest by chilling out. 2. Your diet Breaking out the morning after binging Ben and Jerry’s and The Bachelor (aka the bets way to spend a Monday night)? Those are probably sugar and dairy pimples. “Certain foods like dairy and