WHAT SKIN ARE YOU IN?

Happy Wednesday Beautiful People!

I hope your day has been Awesome so far, & if not here's to making it better!

****For some strange odd reason my photos haven't been posting, I will take care of that soon. Thx for understanding!****

I've received some inquiries related to choosing cosmetics for cleansing, toning, moisturizing etc., & I wanted to address this publicly for the greater good of all FACES. Unfortunately choosing the best cosmetics for your particular skin is a real trial & error type of process. When you're lucky enough to find products that work for you, sometimes you still have to play the cosmetic field because skin changes over time. (Sometimes as much as in the course of a month) For women, changes can occur more often due to hormonal changes in our bodies. For both men & women, activity level, age, diet & other factors can influence the function of skin cells causing us to require specific products to maintain our skin's natural moisture level, softness & function.

My advice is always to give a product at least 2 weeks to determine it's efficacy, or adequacy, for your skin type. Unless, of course, you experience irritation or sensitivity. It's not as simple as grouping skin types & suggesting one product for all, because even within specific skin types we have variations of what we can handle on our skin. This is why cosmetic aisles are saturated with products, making your decision that much more difficult.

I'll provide you with some general characteristics of cosmetics that work best on different skin types & then its up to you to do your homework & footwork to find what best suits your individual needs. Let's go!!

You can typically categorize your skin type as 1 or more of the following 5: Normal, Oily, Dry, Combination or Sensitive.

There's a simple test described at All Women's Talk that suggests using a clean dry facial tissue(Kleenex, etc.) to wipe your face first thing in the morning. What you find on the tissue will help reveal your skin type.

REMEMBER: ALL skin types require the daily 3-part regimen of CLEANSING, TONING & MOISTURIZING!

Normal Skin:
Considered slightly moist, soft, elastic & flexible.
Wiping the face with the tissue will result in no visible residue or oil.
This skin type in generally non-problematic & requires the use of basic cosmetic products free of medicinal & therapeutic agents.

Oily Skin:
Characterized by abnormally high amounts of oil secretion; can often lead to acne (inflammation) & blackheads.
Wiping the face with the tissue will show a visible oily or greasy residue.
This skin type requires the use of cosmetic products that aid in oil-retention & reduction of enlarged pores. Salicylic-acid is a minor abrasive astringent used in most products made for oily skin. The desire of this skin type to reduce the 'shiny' appearance often results in the use of alcohol based products & lack of moisturizers. ALWAYS moisturize, but use creams that are less heavy & rich! NEVER use alcohol on the skin! Why, K. Sweet? Alcohol overly dries the skin & contributes to wrinkles! :) Don't do it!

***It is a feat to find toners containing absolutely no alcohol at all. It's safe to say that if alcohol is not the first ingredient listed on the product, it's not as concentrated & therefore not as harsh on the skin.***

Dry Skin:
This skin type is associated with a lack or insufficient amount of oil production. Typically dry skin can exhibits flakiness, sometimes redness & dry & scaly patches; can lead to whiteheads (caused by oil retention)
Wiping the face with e tissue will show no visible residue. The skin feels tight, dried out & possibly irritated.
This skin type requires the use of moisture enriching products. Avoid any product that contains alcohol or harsh astringents.

Combination Skin:
The most common skin type; characterized by both dry & oily areas. The T-zone, the area of the face comprised of the forehead and nose in a T shape, is often the oily area of combination skin, with dry areas around eyes & cheeks.
Wiping the face with the tissue will exhibit residue in the T-zone & no residue in the other areas of the face.
Combination skin requires attention to both areas, separately, to achieve uniformity in the skin's appearance. Treat oily areas as you would oily skin, & dry areas as you would dry skin. Cleanse oily areas often & Moisturize dry areas thoroughly. Many products specify their use for combination skin. These products are scientifically created with buffers that neutralize oily areas & treat dry areas simultaneously.

Sensitive Skin:
Probably the most problematic as it can become highly irritated by cosmetics; usually dry, or flaky & may show redness.
Wiping with the facial tissue alone could spark irritation; may exhibit same signs as dry skin but to a greater degree.
Products for sensitive skin are usually therapeutic in nature; providing some medicinal agent that helps to cool, calm & control the skin's irritation. Many products for sensitive skin contain Aloe Vera & Vitamin A, C, D or E,(or a combination of them)- all influential in balancing out skin deficiencies.

I hope that this information gives you a better understanding of your skin & assists you in determining the best product for you.

K. Sweet's Tips for Cosmetic Product Use

1. No matter what your skin type always CLEANSE, TONE & MOISTURIZE daily!
2. Avoid products containing alcohol as it dries the skin & causes wrinkles!
3. Allow a product about 2 weeks to determine if it's good for your particular skin!
4. Avoid products containing fragrances, parabens, sulfates, artificial color/ dyes, or anything you can't pronounce.
5. Discontinue use of any product that causes inflammation or irritation. Seek medical attention if this continues.
6. Don't feel obligated to use the same line of product for cleansing, toning & moisturizing. Just be aware of conflicting properties.
7. Explore natural products. They're good for you & the environment! :)
8. Oily skin types: Examine your diet, reduce fatty foods, salts & carbohydrates. Increase water intake!
9. Drink plenty of water! So important I had to say it again for everyone!
10. When in doubt, seek professional consultation. F.A.C.E. by K. Sweet provides skin analysis & consultation with every Facial Massage, Rolling Cream, Deep Cleansing & Makeup Application service. Email F.A.C.E. by K. Sweet for questions & appointments for services!

You're Beautiful!

THREE SIMPLE STEPS TO SUCCESS

Did I say simple? Yes. I did!

Happy SATURDAY beautiful people!

As you've read in my prior post YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT I was expecting the best from my body while not giving my body the best! I got involved with a fitness/ weight loss group to finally tackle my battle of the bulge! To my surprise, I've been successful! I've lost 25lbs so far, & I feel like I'm in the best shape of my life! As I approach the 90 day mark of my #Drop30by30 fitness campaign, I am seeking ways to maintain my weight loss & continue my quest to be healthy & fit! There are many ways to take on weight loss, & millions of fads to follow to get in shape. So much so, that it might just drive you crazy. I think its important to start off slow & set little goals in order to achieve larger ones. Also, get with like-minded people that can motivate you & encourage you to achieve those little goals.

So...We've all heard of BeachBody right ??? The folks behind P90X, Hip Hop Abs & MANY other workout videos! Their motto is DECIDE, COMMIT, SUCCEED! Its been my motivation & hopefully you can adopt it too..See, I told you it was SIMPLE!

DECIDE
Based on some desire in your life, you must DECIDE that a change is necessary. Set a goal to accomplish!

I want to fit those jeans again!
I want to keep up with my children!
I want to fight diabetes, high BP, obesity!
I want to be fit!


COMMIT
Once that goal has been set, you must determine what it will take to achieve the goal & then COMMIT to it!

I'm going to run 2 miles a week!
I'm going to stop drinking sodas!
I'm going to lower my sugar intake!
I'm going to replace one meal a day with a fresh salad!

SUCCEED
The most simple part! You made a decision, you stuck to doing what it takes to make it a reality. You get the results!

The jeans fit!
You're playing with the kids & not out of breath. Hell, you wore them out!
Your sugar level decreases, BP regulates!
You feel energized! Lighter! Refreshed!

This can be used in other aspects of life as well. Work, businesses, relationships. Some of you are on the first step with your health & fitness! You've DECIDED there's a problem! Some of you may still need to DECIDE it's time to change! Some of us are battling the COMMIT part! We want change, it's hard! Don't be discouraged! It's important that you follow through in order to SUCCEED! Once you've succeeded with that goal, set a new one! Recognize that life is a series of processes. Take it 1 day at a time, 1 goal at a time, 1 small victory at a time! Before you know it, you'll have won so many small battles, you'll have already won the war! DO NOT BE DEFEATED!!! EVER!

SPRING BLING!

Hello Beautiful!

Spring is approaching! The rain is falling, nourishing the land & preparing for this year's bloom! What are you doing to prepare for Spring? Many of us break out the scrub brushes & industrial strength cleaners, fill some garbage bags with old clothes & linen & get to cleaning house! That's an awesome thing- decluttering your space, but have you considered decluttering your FACE?

Facial massage & skin care treatments are an excellent way of turning back the hands of time. Not only are these services relaxing & restful, there are many other benefits that, when properly performed, produce visible improvement in your skin tone, texture & appearance. Our skin naturally sheds every so often, & if we don't remove old skin cells our skin starts to appear lackluster, dried out & old! Aged skin also decreases in function over time. Nourishment & circulation declines, wrinkles form, & before you know it, you no longer recognize the person in the mirror.

Facial massage helps to reduce fat cells, increase blood circulation, stimulate & strengthen muscles & increase nourishment to the skin. Facial treatments leave the skin soft, & flexible & can relieve pain & tension in the face, scalp & neck. Renew yourself with an exfoliating facial massage to remove old worn out cells & leave your skin fresh, renewed & blinging with youthfulness! Bring in Spring, feeling & looking like a fresh bloom!

If you're in the metropolitan Los Angeles area & looking for a professional exfoliating facial massage, contact F.A.C.E. by K. Sweet @ 323 401 0744 to schedule an in-home pampering session! Bring me your tired, worn out & overworked skin, I'll provide the gift of a fresh, renewed, relaxed new you!

YOU'RE BEAUTIFUL!

LETTING INNER BEAUTY MASK OUTWARD APPEARANCES

Hello Loves!

First, let me apologize for my absence. As you know, I've been trained in Barber Artistry as well as Facial Artistry, & I was away preparing for my state licensure! Thank God, I am now a Licensed Professional. Thanks for your support. Much more to come from K. Sweet! Muah!
K.

Today I just want to drop a little something on you regarding the most effective beauty tool you possess: YOUR SPIRIT!

Inside of all of us there is a portion of our make up that exists to serve as a guide, comforter & confidante. It's that support system when we need a push! It's that stop sign before we make bad decisions. It's that hand we hold as we walk through tough times, & that assurance that things will work out fine. It's the reason you smile when bills are due & you have no money. It's the reason, if you're anything like me, people ALWAYS seem to strike up a conversation with you in public for no apparent reason. (LoL I used to wonder, 'why are they talking to me?')... DON'T DENY YOUR SPIRIT! If you tune in closely and listen intently, your spirit tells you the who's, what's, when's, and why's, & sometime the how's!

There's nothing more attractive than a beautiful spirit! No amount of cosmetics can hide the ugly in you! Some of the most visually beautiful people in the world have the UGLIEST spirits! You know them! You've come in contact with them. They may have rejected you at some point. NEVER ignore your spirit! OR the spirit of others for that matter. There's a solid Christian teaching that says 'do not believe every spirit but test the spirits,' meaning examine a person according to the spirit in them. Allow a person's spirit to speak for them & let the spirit in you assess who that person really is, for it is the truest judge of character.

We get so caught up in life that sometimes we begin to just go through the motions & that's not what life is about. Not sure who said it fist, but 'We are spiritual beings going through human experiences.' not the other way around! To be successful in life, you must be in tune with your spirit. Deep down inside of all of us there is a yearning to live right, do right..be right! What is right? Ask your spirit. If you feel like you can't hear your spirit anymore, it's time to get reacquainted. Find a quiet place, meditate, pray, speak to your spirit. Link it with the spirit of the Creator & ask for guidance. Only then will you be able to FACE yourself, FACE your fears, FACE your talents & successes. Let it remind you how strong you are! Let it tell you how great you are! Let it tell you what choices to avoid! Let it use you! There's a King in you, Brother! There's a Queen in you, Sister! FACE YOUR SPIRIT!

We'll talk makeup applications & cosmetics real soon, but MY SPIRIT wanted to speak to your spirit today! Let that tidbit marinate in you a little bit & watch the beauty that's inside of you outshine all the made-up faces around you! Love yourself & one another! God bless!

Beautylish.com

I'm a natural born learner, if there is such a thing! I enjoy learning new things & I especially love creative people that share their craft. Beautylish is an awesome site for everything in beauty: tutorials, demos, product reviews and camaraderie amongst beauty amateurs & professionals. Cool place to share & learn new techniques! I just reviewed a product on Beautylish! Check it out!!!

THE PERFECT FOUNDATION

HAPPY TUESDAY MY LOVES!!!

I hope that yesterday's health review was beneficial to you in some shape, form or fashion. It's imperative that we focus on not just looking good but feeling good as well!

Now that we know how to keep our bodies healthy, let's talk about our most important asset, no not that one, the one we show off everyday: OUR FACE!

BeautyFact: The perfect foundation for ANY makeup application is a properly prepped FACE!!!

Sounds simple enough, right? Well, not everyone has figured this out yet. So let's get some understanding;

The skin is the largest organ of our bodies. It is living & active, consisting of several layers that work together to protect the body, regulate body temperature, absorb nutrients, release wastes, & detect pressure & temperature. (among other things) Sometimes referred to as the envelope of the body, the skin can be classified as normal, oily, dry, or combination. Healthy skin is slightly moist & flexible yet firm.

The skin of the face is often quite different from that of the body. This is why most facial skin cannot endure the use of heavier or more abrasive soaps that the body can handle. Your face is typically exposed to far more elements than your body. Your face is the first part of you to feel the cool morning breeze or the warmth of a hot sunshine on a summer day. It is attacked by the debris in the air & those fumes from that smog-inducing car you drive behind on the way to work. How many times a day do your hands come in contact with your face? What did your hands touch before they landed there? How many other people's hands touched those same things you touched before touching your face? Just think of all the things your face is exposed to on a regular basis & you may be a tad disgusted. That's why it's important to show your face some extra love & care to keep it in great condition.

Regardless to skin type, there are 3 key steps to preserving the quality of your facial skin, & they must be followed on a daily basis:

1. CLEANSE
2. TONE
3. MOISTURIZE

CLEANSING the skin removes all superficial dirt & waste products. Warm water & moist steam are two excellent facilitators to open the pores & allow deep cleansing to take place. You should always begin cleansing with 1-2 minutes of moist heat.EXFOLIATING cleansing involves removing dead skin cells to help unclog pores & reduce acne-causing bacteria. (PORES are small openings on the skin surface that serve as an escape route for sweat & oil) Skin sheds on an average of every 30 days & it is important to refresh the skin by removing dead cells & exposing the younger, newer skin cells beneath.
Learn more about the benefits of exfoliating!

TONING the skin involves the use of a toning lotion or wash to aid in further cleansing of the skin. Toners also remove makeup residue, refresh the skin & give the impression of reduced pore size. Toning will assist in keeping the skin taut & looking young by stimulating skin cells to reduce the appearance of fine lines & increasing blood circulation, which in turn provides the skin with more nourishment, leaving it healthy & vibrant. Toners with little to no alcohol are preferred for all skin types. Alcohol is a drying agent that is often used to dry out pimples, however it is too harsh on most skin. Oily skin types tend to use alcohol to remove oil from the skin but this, in fact, only stimulates skin to produce more oil.
Learn more about the benefits of facial toners!

MOISTURIZING the skin sounds like a no brainer but many people neglect this step for different reasons. Moisturizing the skin replaces essential nutrients lost in the cleansing process. A good moisturizer has an SPF factor of no less than 15. It pprotects the skin & encourages even skin tone (color). Again, oily skin types tend not to moisturize believing this will cause them to appear more oily...MYTH! By not moisturizing, the skin is left dry & (because it is living & active) it recognizes this as a problem to be fixed. It signals oil glands to produce more oil to protect itself, thus leaving the skin more oily.
Find out which moisturizer is right for you!

Now you have a basic knowledge of Skincare. Follow the guidelines & look into the links for further information on the best foundation for any makeup application.

YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT!

Hello my loves!
Let's just get this part out of the way. You knew it would come! Let's just FACE it! Time to examine yourself; your strengths & your weaknesses! Only then, can you truly grow!

Just 41 days ago, I would wake up in the am & start my day with 1 or 2 cups of coffee, plenty of sugar & cream, & a cigarette. Throughout the day, I'd take in some potato chips, maybe a sandwich or some fast food, & at least 2-3 cans of Pepsi before sundown. (& of course, more cigarettes) For the most part, I'd complete my day with a balanced dinner, (I do love veggies & baked foods) but sometimes even that was replaced with fried chicken, fried fish or barbecue from my local BBQ spot & yes, another Pepsi, followed by a cigarette. (not to mention, dinner was served between the hours of 8 & 11 pm) I found myself waking up, low in energy & lacking motivation. Though I maybe ate only once or twice a day, I had gained so much weight & it didn't seem to be going anywhere. My skin had dried out & my face became pimple & blackhead city! I'd look in the mirror and think..." Whyyyyyyyyy?!?! "

I couldn't, for the life of me, figure out why I was so tired. I'm only 29, where had my energy gone? How do you wake up tired? That's just insane. And what was up with puberty on my face after 25??? Ughh! ... & then I considered my ways! It was me that was insane!!! How in the world could I pollute my body the way I was doing and expect a positive outcome? You're probably not as bad as me. Of course you're not, but you do know your faults just as well as I knew mine!

The word 'diet' has taken on such a negative connotation. In actuality, it simply refers to the foods you eat. Just like gassing your car up at the pump, the quality of the fuel you put into your body has a direct effect on the outcome that is produced. You feel this outcome in your daily activities, your movements, & your breathing. You see it in the shape of your body (or the lack thereof) & in the feel of your skin, on your body, & even moreso, on your FACE.

Our bodies are made up of various systems that work together to sustain themselves. With proper nutrition and activity, the body is able to carry out digestion, respiration, circulation, & movement. It senses things that will cause it to be sick, it fights against sickness, & regulates hormones, temperature & blood flow. It sends what it needs, where it needs it, as well as releases waste. Talk about multi-tasking! When any of these systems stops working to the best of it's abilities, other systems must work harder. In some cases hormonal imbalances occur or some parts just don't function properly & this is when we must seek medical advice. However, due to lack of nutrition or inactivity, problems occur that could be avoided & if not given immediate attention, these fixable problems can lead to serious illnesses & even disease. Lack of green vegetables can cause poor digestion at the least, but can lead to serious blood disorders. Lack of water can cause oil glands in the skin to back up (leading to acne) at the least, but it can also lead to bladder infection, toxicity in the blood & even kidney failure.

So, with all that being said, the bottom line is 'You REALLY are what you EAT!' Remember that food pyramid thing that they used to promote years ago? Guess what, it really works. It's necessary to eat well balanced meals throughout the day, everyday, to keep the body in proper working order, to better attack sickness & disease, & to keep the skin free & clear of acne, blackheads, pimples & disorders. It's important to flush our bodies with water to help it function properly & assist in releasing wastes. It's also important to eat regularly throughout the day to maintain a healthy metabolism. (that's just a big word to describe how our bodies break down food for energy)

Lower your sugar intake. Increase the fiber & raw foods you eat. Learn about Superfoods that assist with keeping the body regulated and healthy. Make a conscious decision to eat well & treat your body better. I made the change & I've never felt better. I guarantee you will not only feel great, but you'll also see the difference your food makes! Hope you enjoyed that little science lecture. More importantly, I hope you learned something. Reward yourself with an apple!