Battling Breakouts

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• Posted December 11, 2012 at 1:07 am
• Skin Care
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Acne is a significant problem for many people. Whether they have occasional breakouts, regular monthly attacks, or a more long-term affliction, acne can result in a lack of confidence and emotional distress. Thankfully, there are a number of options available to both conceal breakouts and reduce the likelihood that they will occur.

The major culprit is sebum. Everyone produces sebum. It’s part of the skin’s natural defences and helps to protect it against bacteria and stay hydrated. This is one of the reasons that using a harsh cleanser that strips away the sebum and other oils on the face is a bad idea. Sebum is a necessary part of healthy skin.

However, sebum production is regulated by a complex mechanism that can be upset by a variety of factors, including hormone changes, age, genetics, the environment, diet, among many others. Hormone levels are especially important. That’s why women get spots at particular points in the menstrual cycle. Contrary to commonly held beliefs, eating fatty foods does not cause acne, but general health does affect hormone levels.

Acne is also not a sign of uncleanliness. Even the cleanest people can get acne, and overuse of some cleansing products can actually increase sebum levels and make it worse. Washing away surface oils does nothing to prevent acne because the problem is deeper down.

Too much sebum leads to facial pores being blocked by sebum plugs, which create the perfect environment for bacteria to thrive. These bacteria, combined with the body’s immune response to them, are what causes the visual manifestation of acne.

Don’t be tempted to squeeze or pick at spots. With the exception of very serious outbreaks, which should be treated by a dermatologist, pimples will clear up by themselves with a little help. Squeezing or popping them can lead to scarring.

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Banish the Dark Circles Under Your Eyes

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• Posted December 4, 2012 at 10:03 pm
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We’ve all experienced those Monday mornings after a long weekend when we stumble to the bathroom mirror to discover prominent dark circles underneath our eyes. For some people, this is a hereditary condition that they have to live with over the long-term, and for others it’s a result of fatigue or illness. In either case, careful application of makeup around the eyes will help you look fresh and rested, even if you don’t feel it.

First a word about what these dreaded dark circles are. For those with darker skin, one of the main causes periorbital hyperpigmentation, which just means that there is more pigmentation around the eyes than the rest of the face. The skin around the eyes is some of thinnest in the whole body, and for lighter-skinned people, when the skin is pale because of tiredness, illness, or because they inherited especially thin skin from their parents, these blood vessels will show through the skin a bit like a bruise. As we age, our skin also becomes thinner, so older people are more likely to have dark rings than younger people.

Cover Up With Concealer

Both concealer and liquid foundation will do the trick, but not all concealers are appropriate. Cream concealers work best. The skin around the eyes is a highly mobile and expressive area, so a dry product will be prone to cracking.

The concealer should be applied after foundation and eye makeup, and it should be applied sparingly. Too much concealer, over too wide an area, will not create a desirable look. Carefully cover the dark areas, and then blend the concealer outwards.

Use A Cold Compress

Applying a cold compress to the area around the eye may reduce the appearance of dark circles. Because the circles are caused, in many cases, by blood vessels that are visible beneath the skin, and applying a cold compress causes those tiny blood vessels to constrict, the flow of blood and the coloration it causes is reduced.

There are various natural remedies that have a similar effect. Applying cold cucumbers to the eyes for 15 minutes may help to reduce darkness and puffiness, as will a cold teabag or ice-cube wrapped in a cloth. Some people use a frozen spoon, although you should take care with this method — too cold and it’s possible to cause serious damage to your eyes and the skin around them.

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Coping With Oily Skin

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• Posted at 3:56 pm
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Oily skin is a problem that afflicts many men and women. Excess oils can produce a shiny appearance, especially around the chin and nose, and people whose skin produces more oil than necessary often also have problems with acne.

It’s not all bad news though, oily skin types are actually less prone to the signs of aging, because oils work to keep moisture trapped within the epidermis. That, however, is cold comfort to those of us who have to live with skin that looks slick and greasy no matter how much it’s cleaned.

Oils are a necessary part of our skin’s protective mechanisms, so we have to find a balance between removing the excess, and overdoing it, which can lead to dry skin. Unfortunately, using harsher skin treatments, which will strip away the oil, will also cause the body to start producing more oil to compensate and can make the problem worse over the long term.

Oily skin is a common problem, and there are many products designed especially to reduce the appearance of shiny patches.

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The Results Are In on Our HydroShield Hydrating Dream Cream

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• Posted December 3, 2012 at 10:08 pm
• Case Studies, Skin Care
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At Dr. Denese, we believe in our skin care products. We also know that simply touting their benefits or putting them on the side of the jar isn’t always enough to convey just how effective our skincare line truly is. That’s why we decided to put them to the test. We recently conducted a clinical study where we asked 10 everyday participants to give our best-selling products a try. The results were nothing short of amazing.

Among the 5 products tested was our HydroShield Hydrating Dream Cream. We created the HydroShield line of products to increase moisture retention, smooth and reduce the appearance of dry lines and wrinkles, rejuvenate dry skin, and deliver advanced hydration for a more youthful appearance. The secret is our innovative Intelligent Hydration Technology, which is able to actually locate dry patches and deliver hydration specifically to those targeted areas. Sounds great on paper, right? But how did this technology really stand up when it was tested in real life?

Of the 10 people who tested the Dream Cream, 9 of them reported seeing fewer wrinkles. That alone is pretty amazing. Even more incredibly, every single one of the study participants declared that they saw a significant reduction in dry lines and rough skin, with an improvement in the overall hydration and moisture retention of their skin. That’s 100% positive results!

HydroShield Hydrating Dream Cream was developed and designed to work in conjunction with our HydroShield Face Serum to prevent moisture loss and dramatically rehydrate the skin. It’s perfect for anyone who has dry, parched skin, skin that is lined and wrinkled, or skin that feels tight and dehydrated from a lack of proper moisture balance. As the participants of this study discovered, in just one application, our innovative HydroShield products deliver the perfect balance of moisture and effectively tackle fine lines and wrinkles for a more hydrated, youthful appearance.

Want to learn more about how our other best-selling products fared? Stay tuned for more results from our clinical study! We’re sure you won’t be disappointed.