BellaSugar

What We're Sweet On: A Primer That Deslicks Acne-Prone Skin

Jaime Richards — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 06:05:17 PST

Most primers succeed at smoothing out skin at a basic level, a few stand above the rest. If you have oily- or acne-prone skin, you might want to give Murad's Skin Perfecting Primer Acne and Shine Control ($35) a try. Formulated with salicylic acid to help keep pores clear, this matte-finish multitasker helps reduce and prevent breakouts. (Although it's not a substitute for your regular skin care regimen.) And because it's universal in color, it will match your skin tone to a T; you can even get away with wearing it with very little concealer or foundation on top. Oh, and if you're someone who gets oil slicks so major you've considered alerting the EPA, you'll love the way this primer helps put a stop to excess shine.

Eating Tips For Weight Loss and Clear Skin

Zelana Montminy — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 11:25:09 PST

Snacking? Protein? Sugar substitutes? With so many questions about food, we turned to our friends and registered dieticians Stephanie Clarke and Willow Jarosh of C&J Nutrition for some tips and tricks. Watch and learn how to eat not only for weight loss, but for your skin, too.

3 Gentle Ways to Help Decongest Clogged Winter Pores

Miriam Lacey — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 06:02:13 PST

When the weather gets chilly and windy, skin gets dry, flaky, and easily irritated. No surprise, then, that clogged pores pose a major problem. In warmer weather, using acid or a drying agent like benzoyl peroxide is the easy solution, but when skin is already sensitized, both often just end up inflaming things further. Don't worry, though. There are plenty of gentle ways to keep pores clear. To see three of the easiest fixes, just keep reading.

Three Acne Spot Treatments That Really Work

BellaSugar — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 13:20:00 PST

No one likes getting pimples - especially the ones that seem to sprout up overnight and last for months. Luckily, there are tons of treatments that help put a stop to acne breakouts without emptying your wallet. That's why we chose these three miracle-workers that break pimples down within 24 hours to give you flawless skin once again. And the best part is, you can get each one of them at your local drugstore.

Facials and Acne

Allure — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 04:05:00 PST

We're excited to present this story from our friends at Allure:

Getting facial treatments with extractions may reduce premenstrual acne, but the timing seems to be important, according to a report in the International Journal of Cosmetic Science. When performing comedone extraction (steaming and gently pressing on the skin around blocked pores to remove dirt, oil, and debris), "I observed that when I did this with my clients midcycle, just after ovulation, they had less acne prior to their periods," says study author Katerina Steventon, a cosmetologist in the United Kingdom.

Her hypothesis: Such facials should be done around ovulation, because pore size decreases afterward, and because the skin becomes more oily and vulnerable to bacteria before menstruation; all these conditions may make extraction less efficient in preventing premenstrual acne. This needs to be tested in a clinical study, she adds.

Claro's Acne Treatment Device Zaps Pimples in a Flash (Literally)

Jaime Richards — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 06:45:48 PDT

There are several pimple-zapping devices on the market (such as Zeno and Thermaclear), but what differentiates Claro ($195) from many is that it uses a combination of three treatments to speed up healing time. Blue light attacks P. acnes bacteria, aka the germs that cause acne, red light works to help reduce redness and soreness, and infrared energy supplies heat to enhance the treatment. Full disclosure: the folks at Claro sent me the device for review.

Claro is only meant for inflammatory acne of the mild to moderate variety, making it perfect for occasional breakouts - especially the time-of-the-month kind. It's not designed to - bam! - get rid of pimples in an instant, but after my initial use, I did see results the next day. Pimples were less red, less noticeable, and healed much faster. So to see more pros (and even some cons), just keep reading.

4 Easy Steps to Covering Up a Gargantuan Pimple

Jaime Richards — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 05:06:52 PDT

We've all been there before: you wake up one day to what appears to be Mt. Vesuvius erupting on your face. "Depending on how big a pimple is, it can create almost a shadow underneath it," explains L'Oréal consulting makeup artist Collier Strong.

And if our foolproof steps to covering up pimples just aren't cutting it, don't give up hope. A few optical illusion-style makeup techniques can make the oversized spot less noticeable. See four steps on how to do it when you read more.

5 Foolproof Steps to Covering Up a Breakout

Jaime Richards — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 06:00:00 PDT

Whether you're in your 20s, 30s, or beyond, getting a breakout is never a welcome occurrence. And regardless if there are just a few (or many) spots that have taken up unwanted residence on that sweet mug of yours, there are certain foolproof makeup tricks you can use to strategically hide them. Read: gone are the days of orange and/or caked cover-up jobs. So to see five easy steps to getting a more flawless looking face in the presence of acne, just keep reading.

All of Your Most Common Acne Questions - Answered!

Jaime Richards — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 12:07:11 PDT

While 80 percent of teenagers will experience acne at some point or another, it's not uncommon for the condition to afflict women well into adulthood. "The good news is that we have really great treatments, and nobody has to suffer with it," says Dr. Linda Stein Gold, director of dermatology clinical research at Henry Ford Health System in Detroit.

That's why I asked Dr. Stein Gold some of the more pressing acne questions: all the things you want to talk to your dermatologist while you're visiting his office, but either don't have the time to fit in or simply forget to inquire about. So to see Dr. Stein Gold's top acne advice, just keep reading.

Could an Acne Vaccine Be on the Way? Signs Point to Yes!

Annie Tomlin — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 15:35:46 PDT

Exciting news for acne sufferers: bumps and lumps could someday become eradicated with a vaccine. OK, so that's just a possibility at this point, but scientists are embarking on an intense two-year project with hopes of making that dream into reality. French pharmaceutical company Sanofi Pasteur and UC San Diego scientists believe that by targeting the immune system, the experimental vaccine may help the body neutralize P. acnes, the bacteria that cause acne. Soon, the vaccine will enter the first phase of clinical testing; if results look good, we could someday be an injection away from having clearer skin.