BellaSugar

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

BellaSugar — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 12:00:33 PDT

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 PDT

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,

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?

Don't Get Ticked Off! Easy Ways to Prevent Lyme Disease

Jenny Sugar — Tue, 29 May 2012 00:41:18 PDT

If you're the outdoorsy type - and I don't mean sipping cocktails on your patio - chances are you've come in contact with a tick or two. Blacklegged ticks, also called deer ticks, are the ones to watch out for since they carry the Borrelia burgdorferi bacterium, which causes Lyme disease. Seventy to 80 percent of people will develop a rash that looks like a bull's-eye within three to 30 days of being bitten, and other symptoms include severe headaches, dizziness, heart palpitations, neck stiffness due to meningitis, joint pain and swelling, and shooting pains. Antibiotics can cure most cases, but some patients will later develop neurological complications, such as Bell's palsy (loss of muscle tone on one or both sides of the face) when not treated in time.

Any way you slice it, Lyme disease is not something you want to bring home from a hike or trail run. The best thing you can do is take some simple precautions to prevent those bugs from infecting you, and here's how.

Stick to the trail: Ticks hang out in moist, humid grassy areas, so you can decrease your exposure by hiking, running, or biking on the clear, dirt trail. Avoid tromping through high grass, piles of leaves, and bushes.
Sock it to me: Wearing pants is probably not an option when working out in the Summer heat, but you can keep your lower legs protected by wearing socks that cover your shins. It's not exactly the most attractive, but it definitely beats joint pain, dizziness, and a skin rash.
Go for the chemicals: I'm always a fan of using all-natural products, but when it comes to protecting yourself against ticks, when used properly, DEET is your best bet. Spray small amounts on your clothes, and choose products with low concentrations of DEET for your skin. As soon as you get home, strip down and hit the showers.
Know your enemy: While in the shower, it's a good time to do a tick check. Look for a small dark brown bug with eight legs, and check everywhere including your armpits, inside your belly button, and in your hair. If you discover an embedded tick, look to this video demonstrating a pain-free way to remove the tick without the use of tweezers. If it's removed within 24 hours, your chance of contracting Lyme disease is pretty small.

23 Handy Uses For Vinegar

Emily Co — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 05:00:23 PDT

It's always a great idea to use the products you have that are already sitting in your kitchen for other purposes. You're saving green and being green! Not to mention, using these natural products will be less toxic for you and the other dwellers in your household. Here are a couple of great uses for vinegar:

Fabric softener. Add about 1/4 cup of vinegar to your laundry load to soften your fabric.
Static-cling remover. Add the same amount to reduce static cling.
Stain remover. Soak your clothes in vinegar to get rid of all kinds of stains.
Gum remover. Heat up some vinegar in the microwave and soak the area that's stuck to the gum. The chewing gum will dissolve.
Air freshener. Remove odor by putting a bowl of vinegar in the place where the smell is emanating. You can also put it in a spray bottle with equal parts water and deodorize the air.
Remove water rings. Mix equal parts vinegar and olive oil and dip a cloth in the mixture and wipe the water ring, moving with the grain of the wood. If a water ring is left on a leather furniture, wipe it down with just vinegar.
Keep cats away. Sprinkle an area with some vinegar to repel cats.
Clean rust. If you have a rusty tool or object, soak it overnight in vinegar. Rinse the objects with water after soaking so the vinegar won't affect them.

Read on for more handy uses.

Healthy Dose Link Time: How to Detox Naturally For Bikini Season

Michele Foley — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 11:19:21 PDT

Bikini-season anxiety? How to detox naturally this Spring - Mind Body Green
How to tone up without even moving (yes, you read that right) - Shape
Dinner tonight: baked - not fried! -chicken taquitos -Run Eat Repeat
Cate Blanchett appears on the cover of The Economist, sans Photoshop - Blisstree
Real-life women who've lost 3 inches from their middle in one month - Fitness
Feeling a little woozy on the ski lift? Ibuprofen may be the cure - Health
Harley Pasternak debuts the new Minimus Zero New Balance Collection - Fit Celeb

How Roberto Cavalli's New Face Stays Gorgeous

BellaSugar — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 06:00:34 PDT

You may not know her by name yet, but Elisa Sednaoui is changing that. The face of the latest Roberto Cavalli fragrance, this multilingual model portrays one head-turning tigress in the spot above. She's something of a renaissance woman, too; this 24-year-old with Italian, Egyptian, and French heritage has used her modeling career to catapult her to other opportunities like acting and directing a music video. And on top of that, hello - she's gorgeous. She's sharing her best beauty advice (it's refreshingly down-to-earth!), so read more

The 5 Worst Types of Foods to Eat Late at Night

Leta Shy — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 15:28:05 PST

There's no need to deny yourself a late-night snack if you're feeling hungry, but you still have to think smart when it comes to eating late. Eating the wrong foods will disrupt your sleep while also adding a lot of unneeded calories to your day. Instead of just diving into the nearest, tastiest-looking item in your fridge, here are five types of foods to avoid at night and why.

Greasy or fat-filled foods: Greasy, heavy, fatty foods not only make you feel sluggish the next morning, but they also make your stomach work overdrive to digest all that food. Stay away from things like fast food, nuts, ice cream, or super cheesy foods right before bed.
High-carb or sugary foods: A little bit of something sweet before bed may be just what you need to rest happy, but if you gobble a huge slice of chocolate cake, the spike in your blood-sugar levels could cause your energy levels to spike and plummet, disrupting your sleep in the process. Avoid cake, cookies, or other desserts as well as carby snacks like crackers or white bread and munch on an apple instead.

Read more foods to avoid late at night after the break!

10 Ways to Ease Kids' Winter Blues

LilSugar — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 12:30:15 PST

As the Winter lingers, keeping your kids holed up inside, chances are they're more than a little ready for some springtime sun. Help them beat the seasonal blues by switching up your family's routine with these 10 fun cabin fever cures:

Head to an indoor pool. Part of the problem may be boredom, since your kids are probably sick of their Winter activity standbys. Swap out the typical TV-and-PJs routine and slip on swimsuits instead.
Switch up mealtime with a Hawaiian luau. Your menu has likely consisted of soups, stews, and seasonal foods lately, so try channeling some Summer sun with a fresh and festive dinnertime luau.
Get friends together for a bowling night. Pair up with family friends for a fun night out and a change of scenery. Bowling works for all ages, so it's a great way for the whole gang to get up and moving.
Build a fort in the living room. Try some activities you don't normally do to invigorate your kids' attitudes. Help them flex their creativity by putting an indoor fort together, then crawl inside for a cozy game of cards.
Have a "pretend we're at the beach" day. Sip smoothies, serve popsicles, and blow up some beach balls to fake a day at the beach. Feeling extra adventurous? Fill a large tub or blow-up kiddie pool with sand for some indoor sand castles.

Read on for more ways to cure cabin fever.

Will Susan G. Komen's U-Turn Make a Difference?

Annie Scudder — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 12:40:00 PST

This morning, Susan G. Komen for the Cure announced that it has reversed its decision to stop funding Planned Parenthood's breast cancer screenings. Under pressure from its own affiliates, employees, and supporters, the breast cancer foundation released a statement that began, "We want to apologize to the American public for recent decisions that cast doubt upon our commitment to our mission of saving women's lives." It continued:

Our original desire was to fulfill our fiduciary duty to our donors by not funding grant applications made by organizations under investigation. We will amend the criteria to make clear that disqualifying investigations must be criminal and conclusive in nature and not political. That is what is right and fair.

Acknowledging the damage to its brand, it stated, "We urge everyone who has participated in this conversation across the country over the last few days to help us move past this issue. We do not want our mission marred or affected by politics - anyone's politics." The reversal fell short of an apology to Planned Parenthood for creating a policy that blatantly targeted the organization, and there is still evidence that staunchly pro-life individuals are running the show. But do you think responding to the public's outcry will bring people back on board with Komen?

Healthy Dose Link Time: Brazilian Blowout Contains Formaldehyde

Susi May — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 10:22:22 PST

Health hazards of hair straightening: Brazilian Blowout contains carcinogens - Blisstree
Go crazy and try the Insanity Workout for free! - Self
10 easy ways to get cooking with kale. It's a superfood! - Real Simple
Could a club drug be the new cure for depression? - The Stir
Three natural ways to soothe your sore throat - Prevention
Trying to diet? Try skipping the food boards on Pinterest - Fit Bottomed Girls
A full-body workout for you. Print it out and do it! - Fitnessista
Race on! Train for a 5K personal record! - Women's Running