Hints on concealing your acne with makeup.

Using your Makeup Creatively to Conceal Acne

Did you say that you had an important meeting to attend tomorrow and you needed your skin cleared up by then?  Well, your acne may not clear itself that quickly, but there are some tips you can use in order to look your best.

Using makeup creatively will enable you to conceal your acne temporarily but you must adhere to a few basic rules.  Do keep in mind that this is only a cover-up, not a cure.
 
Your most important acne cover-up tools will be concealer, foundation, and powder.  Buy only brand name, trusted products from reputable stores.  Choose oil-free, hypoallergenic products matching your skin color. 

Read the product labels thoroughly to ensure that you aren’t buying products loaded with oil that will halt your acne treatment in its tracks.  If you decide to try a new brand, test it out before using it by dabbing a little bit under your jaw line.  If your skin is going to react negatively, it will do so within the hour.

Before you start the acne cover-up process, gently wash your face and neck with your usual cleansing product and then pat dry.

Now you can start the cover-up process.  Dab small amounts of concealer directly on the red or darkened splotches of your face and neck that were caused by acne blemishes.  Use a throwaway makeup sponge to blend the concealer into your skin. 

Don’t overdo this step because too much concealer will look awful once it dries.  Apply it very lightly.

Now, dab small amounts of foundation on your skin, blending with the sponge.  Reapply to areas that seem to need a little more coverage but, again, don’t overdo, because too much makeup will draw attention to your acne-scarred skin.

Your final step is to apply a very light layer of powder, using a soft makeup brush.  Always use oil-free powder with the softest brush you can find to avoid irritating your acne-troubled skin.  The powder will absorb any shine left behind by your makeup and will also give your face that “finished” appearance.

Be certain to dispose of the makeup sponges you used during your cover-up.  They will retain oil from your face and should be thrown out to avoid transferring that same oil to your face tomorrow. 

Always wash your face before going to bed each night.  Your skin needs that time to breathe and your acne must not have makeup coating it, because additional blemishes may result.

Natural Remedies for Acne that may help.

Have a drink of water.

This is simple in the extreme. The idea is, that if you drink, say, 7-8 glasses of water a day, then your body will be cleansed of  the elements of toxicity that contribute to the development of acne.


Hot and cold compresses.

This is a natural remedy often recommended. Hot and cold wet towel compresses will help to reduce the swelling and eliminate clogged pores - a major culprit in the production of acne.

Oils and Juices.                                                                            

The benefits of using natural substances like almond oil, (which can help with the removal of acne scars), cannot be ignored. Apricot juice can also help to alleviate the presence of cysts by cutting through them.

Citric fruit juices, such as lemon juice, can serve as a natural exfoliate, removing the dead skin cells that may clog the pores.  Allow the juice to dry on the skin for approximately 10 minutes before rinsing it away with cool water.

Accutane Side Effects Exposed: Side Effects of the Miracle Drug and the Alternative to Accutane

If you suffer from severe case of acne that has failed to respond to conventional treatments such as antibiotics, then your dermatologist may recommend the use of the popular Accutane or Isotretinoin. Accutane is a potent oral drug from Hoffman-LaRoche that has been proven highly effective for reducing acne symptoms dramatically after only one course of 15-20 weeks.

With its undoubting success at battling even the toughest cases of acne and ever-growing popularity among teens as a miracle drug, why is Accutane still considered the most controversial pharmaceutical on the market? The answer: a documented list of severe and sometimes permanent side effects.

Although some of the side effects associated with the use of Isotretinoin are mild and tolerable (dry lips, dry eyes, nosebleeds, extremely dry skin, increased sensitivity to the sun and thinning hair) there is in fact a long list of serious side effects that have been reported due to the use of Accuttane which persisted even after the drug therapy was stopped. Among those are: Severe aches and pains in the lower back and large joints, severe allergy reactions that include moderate rashes and difficulty to breath, vision problems, hearing loss, permanent liver damage, persistent migraines and headaches and skeletal hyperostosis which is an excessive bone growth that occurs along the sides of the spine.

But perhaps, the two most bothersome of all Accutane side effects are its potential to cause severe birth defects if taken by pregnant women or women that became pregnant while taking the drug and the suggested link between the intake of Accutane and the changes in mood, severe depression and suicidal thoughts.

Since, Isotretinoin can be harmful to the fetus, it should not be used during pregnancy and women should avoid pregnancy for at least a month after the use of Accutane. Additionally, because of its severe side effects, nursing mothers must avoid the drug completely.

Although researchers still argue whether Isotretinoin causes depression or not, Roche the manufacturer of Accutane, openly shares information claiming that Accutane and its generic, isotretinoin, can alter mood: "Synthetic derivatives of vitamin A, can negatively impact brain chemicals such as dopamine and serotonin."

The FDA website warns: "All patients treated with isotretinoin should be observed closely for symptoms of depression or suicidal thoughts, such as sad mood, irritability, acting on dangerous impulses, anger, loss of pleasure ... mood disturbance, psychosis, or aggression."

Moreover, statistics show that between 1989 and 2003, there were 216 reported drug-linked suicides among U.S. teens younger than 18. Of these, 72 suicides were linked to Accutane (isotretinoin). The next highest number of suicides in that time period -- 55 -- involved Prozac (fluoxetine).

Accutane works by reducing the size and output of the sebaceous glands and thus stops excess oil production. The problem is that Accutane damages your skins sebum glands and liver function in the process. By the time you stop taking the drug, your skin oil glands will return to function but your liver will not be able to properly balance your hormones and prevent the over production of sebum.

Isotrteinoin also normalizes your keratinization (the shedding of dead skin cells), improves fat metabolism and reduces inflammation. But all of these benefits can be easily achieved using all natural dietary, supplementation and skin care alternatives and without the side effects. For example: Foods that are rich in Vitamin A and Beta Carotene can help reduce the secretion of oil by the sebaceous glands. Simple home made peels made of Papaya can easily replace the peeling action of Isotrerinoin and sleep optimization, and regular exercising including vitamin, C, E, Zinc and Colostrum can boost the immune abilities of the body and thus reduce inflammation.

Accutane is not the solution to acne. Not only does it treat the symptoms of the disease and not the internal cause, stopping your skin's natural oil production, can in most cases, result in extra dryness combined with the acceleration of the skin's aging process (yes! your skin will look older). Moreover, Accutane severely damages your liver function among other side effects, which in turn destroys your delicate inner balance and your natural healing abilities. Hence, it is doing the opposite of curing.

A long-term acne solution should address the internal cause of acne by tackling all acne contributing factors and neutralizing the acne environment - the only, safe, natural and effective way you could ever achieve lasting acne freedom.

Mike Walden is a certified nutritionist, independent medical researcher, natural health consultant and author of the #1 best-selling e-book, "Acne No More- Open The Door To An Acne Free Life." Mike has written dozens of holistic health articles and has been featured in ezines and print magazines, as well as on hundreds of websites worldwide. For information on Mike's Holistic Clear Skin program, visit:

http://bit.ly/fxN1wo