Have an Organized Bedroom

What better way to start the new year than by organizing your home? Here we give you tips and tricks on how to create an orderly bedroom so you can make more room for sleep and for romance.

Getting your closets in order is the first step toward keeping clothes under control and making dressing a pleasure rather than a chore.

Clothing, towels, bed linens, and sartorial accessories can all be used as interesting graphic elements. Store attractive, colorful garments in the open, where they not only serve as design features, they'll also be more accessible.

Seasonal items, from guest bed linens to winter clothes, need to be rotated in and out of long-term storage. Integrate handsome hideaways for these items rather than just stuffing them in any available space.

Choose bedroom furniture that explicitly serves your needs without wasted surface or drawer space and you'll be taking a big step toward keeping your bedroom clutter-free.


Source: AOL

Top Tips for Fighting Acne and Aging

Acne is bad enough during your teen years, but aging along with acne? No walk in the park. Here, top derms and estheticians tell you how to fight both issues at once.

Step 1: Learn what to avoid and why

Steer clear of products based in thick humectants like shea butter. "Fatty emulsifiers that are thick, heavy, oily or creamy can be comedogenic [clog pores], making breakouts more likely," says Annette King, Director of Training and Development for the International Dermal Institute. Noncomedogenic gel- or silicone-based products are best for your skin type. Also avoid products that list ingredients like SD alcohol and fragrance among their first ingredients. These are drying and can trigger oil production, says King.

Step 2: Check your skincare regimen

You've tried the gamut of over-the-counter "solutions" and had no luck? Skip ahead to step five to find out why and what you can do from there. If not, keep reading to find out what types of products you should and shouldn't be using.

Step 3: Treat acne at any age

Start with a daily cleanser that contains acne-fighting ingredients like salicylic acid. Follow with an oil-free moisturizer. If you're near 40, stick with a mostly age-fighting regimen and use a salicylic acid spot treatment night.

Step 4: Use acne-friendly aging tactics

If you see signs of aging all over, apply a firming serum or fluid that doesn't feel greasy or oily and lists anti-aging ingredients early in the ingredient list. (Look for retinol, which doubles as an acne treatment; peptides, which encourage cell turnover; and antioxidants like green tea and vitamins, which protect skin from environmental damage.)

Step 5: Spot treat partial signs of acne and aging

If you only see signs of aging around eyes or lips, use a gel or silicone product just in those areas. If you only see acne on certain areas, apply a clay-based mask once a week on those areas and wear an anti-aging mask on the rest of your face. 

Step 6: Consider a radical approach

If you've exhausted your skincare choices and still experience breakouts, consider more radical treatments (if they're in your price range). Chemical peels, light therapy, laser treatments and microdermabrasion series are alternatives to reducing non-cystic acne, signs of aging and acne scars. "I recommend Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) and the [Candela] Smoothbeam laser ... a diode-based laser [for acne]," says dermatologist Dr. Kenneth Beer.

Step 7: Destress your skin

If radical treatments aren't for you but over-the-counter products still aren't helping, it's time to evaluate your stress level. Stress-related breakouts can appear either all over or, particularly later in life, concentrated in the chin or neck area. Spot treatment products may help but you need to reduce your stress level to keep blemishes away completely. Try decreasing daily activities, taking yoga, setting aside quiet time, eating a nutritional diet and quitting smoking, drugs or alcohol. Your skin with thank you.

Step 8: Still having problems?

OK, you're relaxed and your skin is not responding to all the treatments you've tried. "If you have really red, pustular breakouts that linger or are very bothersome, your acne could be hormone-based," says King. "Hormones influence every reaction in our body." Now's when you see a doctor.

A dermatologist may recommend prescription topical like tretinoin or Retin-A, which treat acne and reduce discoloration and wrinkles, as well as oral antibiotics, which help minimize bacteria that grow into follicles and cause inflammation, says Beer. An endocrinologist can evaluate hormone levels and pinpoint imbalances that might be responsible for your breakouts. If you'd rather not take meds, consider seeing an acupuncturist who can recommend homeopathic treatments like teas, herbs and acupressure.

Step 9: If all else fails...

Embrace your skin. If you've tried many of the aforementioned levels of treatment and no one solution works long-term, fighting acne will likely be a constant battle for you. If that's the case, many women find that perfecting the application of mineral makeup and concealer can really help get them through the day.


Source: Stylelist

Beauty Myths and Truths II

Does red lipstick have lead in it? Is it dangerous?
YES and NO. While some red lipsticks contain lead, the amount is so miniscule that you receive greater exposure just by living your normal, everyday life. However, homes with small children should keep lipsticks hidden because eating a full tube at once could be harmful.

Is any makeup truly "waterproof?"
NO. This depends on your definition of "waterproof." In the beauty world, the word "waterproof" refers to a product's resistance to rubbing off or being sweatproof. "When it comes down to it, all cosmetics come off with soap and water," says Dr. Kunin.

Do I need to wash my makeup brushes after every use?
NO. You only need to shampoo your brushes once a week to sanitize and maintain their best quality, says makeup artist Sara Biria. If you need to dip into a different color and want to quickly refresh your brush, try a spray-on brush cleaner that you tissue off.

Do I have to throw out my makeup after a certain time period?
NO. Use your best judgment. If an item doesn't smell right or changes consistency or color, it's definitely time to trash it, says Biria.

If I have oily skin, should I avoid putting any type of oil on my face?
NO. Some oils can actually benefit this type of skin. Natural essential oils, like orange and grapefruit, help balance a shiny complexion so skin doesn't over-produce oil, says Dr. Christian Jurist of Pevonia Botanica Skincare.

Should I use anti-aging products if I'm in my 20s or early 30s?
YES. Maintaining the firmness, clarity and high collagen levels in skin (the 3 key factors to youthful glowing skin) is easier than trying to repair any damage later on, says Dr. Kunin. The most important anti-aging step is to use a daily SPF of 15 or higher.

Are organic skincare products better for your skin?
MAYBE. Just because it's natural doesn't mean it's safe. There is currently no government regulation for organic skincare products, and many natural plants can cause skin reactions and irritations. "You're paying more for the word without necessarily getting a better product," says Dr. Day.

Do eye creams really contain different ingredients from my normal face moisturizer?
YES. Today's eye creams target specific problems including under-eye circles and puffiness with ingredients like caffeine and vitamin K, which you won't typically find in facial creams, says Robin Evans.

Do facials make a difference for your skin?
YES. Facials can provide a brightening effect, but it's usually temporary and created by the massage stimulation of blood flow, says Dr. Rodgers. And only allow a trusted and skilled esthetician to perform extractions, as a poor job can inflame acne and even cause scarring.

Will liquid foundation clog my pores?
MAYBE. If you're break-out prone, use extra care when selecting a foundation and read the ingredient label. If you stick with oil-free foundations, or tinted moisturizers, you should be safe, says skin expert Evans.

Can I reverse wrinkles once they start forming?
YES. Retinoids are powerful wrinkle-fighters that come in both over the counter and prescription strengths. Treatments in your doctor's office that really work include Botox (though temporary) and more invasive CO2 laser sessions that are "the gold standard," says Dr. Day. New line fillers like Juvederm and Restylane can soften deep creases without the downtime of plastic surgery.

Will getting enough sleep cure under-eye circles and puffiness?
NO. Dark circles and puffiness are more often the result of broken capillaries, genetics, your ethnicity, or salt retention, so no amount of sleep will make a noticeable physical difference, says Dr. Rodgers. Consult your dermatologist if either issue particularly bothers you, as laser treatments can improve these conditions.


Source: Stylelist