BellaSugar

Wine and Chocolate For the Holidays? Oh Yes, and Here's Why!

BellaSugar — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 07:00:59 -0800

Dropping temperatures often equate to a less than glowing appearance of the skin. But you don't have to look like a poor turkey on Thanksgiving day during these cold-weathered months. In fact, this year, I'm giving my thanks to dermatologist/psychiatrist Dr. Amy Wechsler, who has not only provided us with her adult acne tips, but now she's got some helpful advice on banishing dry, wintry skin, along with suggestions for beauty-friendly gifts this holiday season. Find out what she has to say when you read more.

5 Tips For Minimizing Adult Acne

BellaSugar — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 04:00:38 -0800

Dr. Amy Wechsler is not only a dermatologist, she's a psychiatrist as well. What a combo! In fact, some even call her a "beauty shrink," and the Manhattan-based skincare expert and author of The Mind-Beauty Connection: 9 Days to Reverse Stress Aging and Reveal More Youthful, Beautiful Skin ($20), has a few things to share with us regarding adult acne. As we all know, breakouts that occur post-high-school can be rough on the psyche, and that's why I asked Dr. Wechsler her tips on helping us prevent and deal with pimples in our 20s, 30s, and beyond. To check out her advice, keep reading.

Reader Review of the Day: Neutrogena Body Clear Body Scrub

BellaSugar — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 10:05:24 -0800

Got bacne? Don't worry, you're not the only one. Reader bengalspice found something that works to keep the back pimples at bay. Here's her review of Neutrogena Body Clear Body Scrub:

I bought this for my boyfriend three years ago when we started dating because he had really gross bacne. No, really. I mean really gross bacne. I would use this to scrub his back because he had no clue how bad it was back there. Within a month his back was SPOTLESS! He's been using this less frequently since then, and the bacne hasn't come back. He also likes how the grit feels when he massages it into his shoulders. It smells really good, too. I also use this when I have acne spring up during the winter, when I tend to wear stuff that irritates my skin.

Agree? Disagree? Share your opinion on this or more than 50,000 other items in our product reviews section!

Can You Guess Which Celebrity Had Acne?

BellaSugar — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 07:00:16 -0700

Acne does not discriminate, now does it? I envy my friends who have the clearest, naturally pimple-free skin, wondering when I'm going to eventually be rid of my chin and jawline acne. Luckily, the majority of us don't have the paparazzi following us around to catch us, spots and all. Even celebrities get zits, and they've got something to say about it. Can you guess who said what about their own skin problems?

Question 1 of 6

"You can say acne is a small thing, but if you have it, it's not. It's humiliating. It changes you. You want to retreat and hide out." Who said it?

DIY Spa Treatment: Honey and Yogurt Acne Mask

BellaSugar — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 13:00:53 -0700

When it's warm outside, my face tends to be more apt to breakout. Do you hear me on that one? I've shared with you dermatologist Dr. Hema Sundaram's recipe for her Sweet Tea Antioxidant Facial Exfoliator, and now she's got something else for us to help beat the early Autumn heat - and the pimples. Better yet? Most ingredients are probably already in your pantry or refrigerator. Her latest recipe both hydrates and exfoliates the skin, while providing antibacterial properties.

"Neem oil has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects, which can help heal breakout-prone Summer skin," said Dr. Sundaram. But that's not all. "The fatty acids in neem oil build collagen and maintain skin’s elasticity while plain yogurt works to soothe, nourish, and tighten skin," she added. Get the easy-to-make recipe after the jump.

Reader Review of the Day: Mario Badescu Drying Cream

BellaSugar — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 09:00:00 -0700

A few weeks ago, a reader wrote in about advice for bringing a pimple to a head. While I dished out some tips and tricks, perhaps Mario Badescu Drying Cream ($12), a treatment that helps dry up under-the-surface-blemishes, would also have been an option. Find out why reader Cmill38 gave it a five-star review:

If you're looking to fix a whitehead or a coming-up-to-the-surface pimple, use this drying lotion. This cream is to be used to those under-the-skin, painful cysts that are hormonal. I also love this because it blends into your skin and covers a blemish a bit. It doesn't work in one day, but that's what happens with a blemish under the skin. It also lasts forever! You need the smallest amount possible any time you use it. I'm a loyal user and firm believer in this stuff.

Do you have a pimple treatment product you'd love to tell us all about? Is there a go-to cream you just can't live without? Or perhaps you've tried an acne-clearing mask with not-so-great results. It's time to head on over to our Product Reviews section and let us know all about it.

Why Are You Breaking Out? Take This Quiz to See!

BellaSugar — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 07:00:16 -0700

It happens to all of us. You wake up one morning, or check the mirror in the afternoon, and you've started breaking out. You wash, you apply your benzoyl peroxide/salicylic acid, but it just keeps getting worse, and you have no idea why. We've discussed the different kinds of acne before, but to help you stop your breakout quickly, I've put together a diagnostic quiz to determine just what kind of acne you have, what environmental factors may be causing your breakout, and what you can do to halt it. Click here to begin.

When did you last wash your pillowcase?

Yesterday.

Within the last week.

Within the last two weeks.

Uhhh, can't remember.

Using any new skin, hair, or fragrance products - or switched detergents?

Nope

Yep

Any construction going on around your home or office?

Nope

Yep

What do your acne cysts look like?

Big, red, deep-down bumps

Small, yellow-ish, full of pus, close to the surface

Just blackheads and whiteheads

Any eye irritation lately?

Nope

Yep

What's on your nails?

Polish/topcoat

Acrylic, gel, or solar nails

Nothing

Been taking a Spinning/weights class, or using the machines at the gym or the exercise area at the park?

Nope

Yep

Got a new favorite food?

Nope

Yep

Do you usually get sick when the seasons change?

Nope

Yep

Been kissing someone new or started sleeping at their place? Or has your honey been using anything different?

Nope

Yep

How-To: Bring a Pimple to a Head

BellaSugar — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 12:00:36 -0700

Pimples under the surface of the skin can be painful, annoying, and just plain stubborn. Recently, a reader contacted me about an unfortunate case of an under-the-surface pimple on the chin. "I've tried a deep-cleansing pore mask, alcohol wipes, and soaking it with hot water and no luck," she said. Making a hot compress to apply to the problem area is one of my favorite ways to bring a pimple to a head, but since it doesn't seem to be working in this instance, I've done a little research on the topic. Find out how to get that pimple out fast when you read more.

Follow This Easy Tip to Beat Backne

BellaSugar — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 10:01:06 -0700

At the risk of heading into TMI territory, I've been breaking out on the backs of my shoulders lately. Nothing crazy, but enough to notice when I wear a sundress. At first, I couldn't figure out what was behind this bout of backne - after all, I wasn't breaking out elsewhere, and if anything, my skin has been dry rather than oily.

Ah, but then I spotted the culprit: a new conditioner. While it was doing wonders for my hair, it wound up leaving a film on my shoulders after rinsing. Rather than give up my conditioner, I just switched the order in which I clean myself. It used to be "scrub body first, then deal with hair," but now it's the opposite. The result: no more back bumps.

Photo by Faultypixel

What's Your Acne IQ?

BellaSugar — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 13:00:14 -0700

Adult acne: Two words that I'd rather not stick together or blurt out in the same sentence. I'm sure we've all suffered from this inflammatory skin condition at some point or another, cursing its appearance with every blackhead and whitehead that surfaces.

So, what do you know about pimples and such? Take my quiz to find out. I've even included some tidbits for you history buffs out there.

Source

Take the quiz