BellaSugar

Product Review: Nature's Cure Anti-Acne Papaya Skin Care System

BellaSugar — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 12:00:33 -0700

I'm always a little leery of anti-acne products, because let's face it - some almost do the reverse of quelling the breakout situation. With that said, I realize the effectiveness of any anti-acne product varies so much by individual, and for me, I think I've hit the jackpot with this one (and I hope it works for you, too).

Nature's Cure Anti-Acne Papaya Skin Care System ($19.99) comes as a three-product package. The main acne-fighting ingredients are salicylic acid and papaya enzymes, known for their exfoliating and antibacterial properties. The kit includes:

Acne-Clearing Papaya Cleanser - It's a little more liquidy and low foamy than I am used to, but it did the trick.
Pore-Perfecting Papaya Toner - Removed pretty much all the makeup the cleanser may have missed without a stinging, burning, or "mediciney" feel.
Acne-Repairing Papaya Moisturizer - Super-light feeling, and a little goes a long way. It also wore really well under foundation.

Overall, this skin care system worked wonders to keep my acne problems in check - without producing dry, flaky skin. At first I was a little unsure about the somewhat sweet, musky scent (mostly papaya), but it grew on me with regular usage. And since the results were so stellar, a little stink is acceptable in this case.

Other bonuses? Soft skin, smoothness, no tie-dyed sheets, and reasonably priced - heck, I'll pay anything to put a halt to the breakouts, but when it comes at such a bargain price, woohoo, I say!

See reader reviews of this product and add your own here!

Doing Drugstore: Nature's Cure Acne Treatment

BellaSugar — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 15:59:04 -0700

You know how you can go to Walgreens, and the bottom of the shelf has a bunch of unusual products you've never heard of? Well, I saw Nature's Cure Acne Treatment ($9.99), a homeopathic remedy for acne, and thought it sounded a bit quacky. After all, I'd had bad luck with a previous fling with supplements. At the same time, though, I was curious, so I did a little online research and found lots of rave reviews. Sold!

Nature's Cure claims to "tackle internal causes by stimulating your body's natural defenses to help stop acne where it starts." The homeopathic pills include English walnut, yeast, cone flower, wild rosemary, vegetable carbon and frost weed-all in micro-doses which aim to clear up skin. You take two pills a day (one in the morning, one at night) and apply the included benzoyl peroxide cream on zits. Simple. The box promised "results within two weeks," and boy, did I get them. To find out what happened, read more

You know, the pills aren't too terrible. They're flavorless, slightly chalky and chewable. I had great faith in them: Every time I took one, I thought, "Ha ha! Flawless skin will soon be mine!" Chomp, chomp, chomp. I was a pill-popper, and happy to be one. (I tried using the cream, but because my skin is sensitive, it dried out almost immediately.)

Soon, just as Nature's Cure promised, I saw results. Ugly results. Let me tell you, I have never broken out as badly as I did after taking these pills. About a week after becoming a pillhead, my chin erupted into gross, goop-filled pimples. I stuck with the program, though, because I'd read reviews by people who explained that this was just skin "purging" existing junk, and that in a few more weeks, everything would be gravy.

But there was no gravy, only more pimples.

I took Nature's Cure for a little over a month, but then I had to stop. The zits didn't stop coming, and I was tired of waking up every morning to see more blemishes. I headed to see my dermatologist (don't miss my interview with him), and started a prescription program that is working great! But that's another story. For now, I have to say that Nature's Cure merely aggravated my acne. Based on other people's experiences, maybe I'm just a fluke-but this is a final sign that my skin just doesn't respond well to supplements. Anyone else have a more positive experience?

Link Time!

BellaSugar — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 07:00:19 -0800

Which New Moon premiere hairstyle looks best on Kristen? - FabSugar UK
Stars wear wintry red lipstick - Stylist
The cat eye is making a comeback - Glamour
Cindy Crawford on self-image and eating disorders - The Guardian
Did Too Faced Lashlight Mascara light up Karen's life? - Makeup and Beauty Blog
When to get a wet cut, and when to get a dry cut - Allure
Re-create Nicole Kidman's piecy curls - InStyle
The cure for hair shedding is . . . garlic? - Naturally Curly

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.

Think Before You Pink, Says Advocacy Group

BellaSugar — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 07:00:50 -0700

If you've shopped at all this month, you've likely come across dozens (if not hundreds) of pink-ribbon products. These items raise money for various breast cancer research groups; Estee Lauder alone is donating $500,000 to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation this year. But with all of the pink-ribboned offerings, how can you choose wisely?

The people behind health-advocacy group Breast Cancer Action are going strong with their Think Before You Pink project, which wants shoppers to think twice before buying these items - particularly when it comes to cosmetic products, as the group believes that some ingredients in cosmetics are carcinogenic. In a thought-provoking interview, Breast Cancer Action Communications Director Richard Leiter touches on the group's goals.

Do you think companies behind these products are sincere about fighting breast cancer, or is this just a way for some of them to look charitable and improve their image while raking in profits?
We have no way to evaluate the motivations of any cause-marketer except to look at the nature of their contribution. Is the mechanism for contributing transparent? Is the total contribution substantial? Do they make it easy for consumers to see where the dollars are actually going? If a company is contributing a very small portion of their sales, then they're probably more interested in profits than progress.

Who are some of the worst “pinkwashers” in the cosmetics industry, and why?
The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics publishes a list of cosmetics companies who have signed the Compact for Safe Cosmetics. Currently, none of the major cosmetics companies - including Avon, Revlon, Estee Lauder, Mary Kay - have signed the compact. And these four all engage in pink-ribbon marketing.

To find out which companies the campaign does like, read more.

If shoppers wish to support breast cancer research, how should they approach pink-ribbon products?
We urge shoppers to examine each product to make sure that a sufficient percentage of the purchase price does indeed go to breast cancer research (or services, or education or treatment - which all require funds.) Even more importantly, they should make sure that the pink-ribbon products they support don't cause breast cancer.

Within the beauty/cosmetics industry, which BCA products get the thumbs-up?
Our Think Before You Pink website lists companies who have gone paraben-free. We think that's a good start.

What are some of the successes the campaign has had? What would you like to see in the future?
The "Think Before You Pink" campaign led to the California Safe Cosmetics Bill in 2004, encouraged Avon to begin reformulating some of its products, and most recently focused considerable consumer attention on Yoplait yogurt's "pinkwashing". They require you to eat a hundred containers of yogurt and mail in the lids just to contribute 10 bucks. Doesn't it make more sense just to send a check?

A greater worry: Yoplait is made from milk that comes from rBGH-injected cows. rBGH has been linked to breast cancer and other cancers. We'd like to see General Mills join Wal-Mart, Starbucks and all of Europe in using rBGH-free dairy.

One more result: We've seen other breast cancer groups begin to urge their membership to ask tough questions of manufacturers and demand transparency.

Let me play devil’s advocate: Isn’t it better for some money to be donated to breast cancer groups than to have none donated at all?

Individuals and corporations will continue to donate to breast cancer. It might actually be better for that money to be donated directly to the most promising research and most needed services - rather than allowing a marketing department, which may not be fully informed or motivated, to make that choice. Another danger in feel-good cause-marketing is that consumers may get the impression the breast cancer is cured or almost cured and that's far from the truth. The end to the epidemic will come only when profound environmental and societal shifts occur.

The jury is out on whether phthalates and parabens are causational, correlative, or unrelated to the development of cancer. Why should women be concerned if the evidence isn’t completely in?
The stakes are so high - and the consumer alternatives are so abundant. Isn't it better to be safe than sorry?

Tea Tree Oil Products, Part III: Hair Care

BellaSugar — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 10:59:57 -0700

Welcome to my third and final post in this tea tree oil products series. Today I've picked out a few very special hair and scalp products containing tea tree oil that are designed to correct dry, itchy, flaky unbalanced scalps, as well as lackluster, brittle hair. If you have any favorites of your own, please leave a comment and let me know more about them!

Paul Mitchell has a whole range of tea tree products. One that I've specifically heard a great deal about is his Tea Tree Hair and Scalp Treatment ($11.99). It has a great invigorating sensation and smell and is believed to soothe, calm and moisturize the texture of the skin on your scalp as well as condition, repair and protect your hair.

For two more tea tree oil products for your hair, read more

Kiehl's Tea Tree Oil Shampoo ($18) is recommended for those with normal to oily scalps. It helps soothe, stimulate, moisturize, nurture and condition the scalp. Simultaneously, it provides a gentle cleanse that won't strip your hair, so it's a good everyday shampoo.

Jason Natural Tea Tree Oil Hair & Scalp Normalizing Conditioner ($7.49) is a great product if you are looking to help cure an irritated scalp. Not only does it contain tea tree oil, but it's also got jojoba oil to lubricate and moisturize. Aloe vera gel and sea algae extract hydrate and plump up your hair fibers. For optimal results, use after shampooing with a tea tree oil shampoo, massage it into your hair and scalp, and leave it on anywhere from one to fifteen minutes.

Fantastic Facial Creams, Part II: Dry Skin

BellaSugar — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 10:08:07 -0700

Welcome back to my five-part series on Fantastic Facial Creams for your skin type. (What skin type do you have? Tell me here.) Yesterday, I gave you the best face lotions for oily skin, and today, we'll explore face creams for dry skin.

There are actually two kinds of dry skin: oil dry and water dry. Oil dry means that you don't have enough oil in your skin, so you'll want to use a cream that contains natural oils. Water dry means that your skin is dehydrated and typically manifests itself in fine lines all over your face. If this is your skin type, drink plenty of water and look for a product with a humectant. Here are my recommendations for both types of dry skin.

Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion ($9.89) is formulated to soothe and nourish water-dry skin. It has an oil-free, fragrance-free, and non-greasy texture, and it contains humectants that enrich your skin with moisture. It's also great for sensitive skin, since it contains no irritation-causing lanolins or parabens.

For two more fantastic facial creams for dry skin, read more

Kiss My Face Lavender & Shea Butter Moisturizer ($4) is a body and face lotion in one. It contains calming lavender as well as shea butter, which will help cure and soothe oil-dry skin.

Estee Lauder Resilience Lift Extreme Ultra Firming Creme for Very Dry Skin ($70) is great if you aren't sure which type of dry skin you have. It's rich in nutrients and will help moisturize tired skin that needs a lift. It gives your face a shiny, healthy glow, and it contains SPF 15 for sun protection. Use in the morning and in the evening, and within four weeks, you should see notice younger-looking skin.