acne scars or marks treatment

a friend of mine recently had a massive attack of acne. so she did the triple combo got a birth control advised by her gynecologist, took skin medication by a dermatologist and had acne treatment facials done by aveda beauty school.

so now that her acne has cleared up she is dealing with acne marks. and well the recommendations made by friends are ones that are cheap but also what they swear cleared all their marks.



so here are the suggestions:

• one friend recommended going to the obagi clinic this is pricey but the clinic specializes in helping people get flawless skin. and most celebs use their products.


• another friend recommended mixing sandalwood powder bought online with water and putting the paste on your skin till it dries up.

they both used sunblock constantly, even at home to prevent acne scars from getting darker.

and used a foundation called cover derm. they said it can be found online and actually works better than neutrogena and mineral make up because it gives a smoother finish. and helps acne calm down.

i thought it a good idea to share this as many people suffer from acne marks once their acne clears up. if any of you have suggestions that work for you. do post them.

beauty treatment at bargain prices.

so i was having this discussion with friends about which beauty schools are good for what service and turns out.

regency beauty school offers the mani-pedi spa treatment from $20 upwards now that's a good deal usually the cheapest you can get is a pedi and that too for $18.

aveda beauty school offers the best facials starting $30 and up.

eye brows and upper lip cleaning can be most cheaply done by finding a south Asian lady (Indian/Pakistani) providing beauty treatments from home. they offer mostly threading which in most cases better than waxing because it doesn't tear the skin. (the lady in my neighbourhood does both my eyebrows and upper lip cleaning for $15; and that seems to be the going rate.)

aveda beauty school also offers the best basic haircuts and dye jobs. starting at $50 and up. they do a gr8 haircut and basic highlights. i don't recommend using a beauty school for highlighting hair i say stick to your regular salon.

a few tips to find contentment or peace without therapy!

i know we all lead busy lives. work, friends, dates, husbands, babies, house chores, chores, etc...
but you need to take a breather for yourself sometimes. no friends, no cell phones and no family.
this sounds like heaven but how? here's a list of five things i do and suggest you try to just feel content and happy with life.

1. mani-pedi. (go alone, just enjoy the quiet and feel pampered)
2. go for a walk around your block or to the nearest park. ( the park is just across my house so this works out great)
3. no need to tivo your shows if its on abc, showtime or most channels check if they have a website that plays their full episodes. and log on and watch that episode with a good cuppa when its a good time for you. you can even do this while in the kitchen and making sure that new recipe that should bake for only 20 mins isnt burnt toast! also its easier if you dont have the added stress of remembering to tivo.
4. a good book before you go to bed. some times your in bed and cant sleep. well read a good book, you will fall asleep and it will relax you.
5. sometimes well shit happens! and you cant control it. now you have two options either panic and bitch or just realize its happened you can only do damage control not fix it! so stay calm and just go with the flow. losing your head will not help the situation! mostly say this to myself in such a situation. "i can either make peace with this and be content or panic and get all frustrated." its amazing how quickly i calm down as compared to when my husband decides to say' calm down, relax.'

if you have better suggestions. do tell me. i can do with relaxing tips.

what products not to try

well i know people give tons of advice on products to try..but it is always nice to know what not to do.. make life simpler... so here's a list of ten products I steer clear from when in the beauty aisle/ skin care aisle.

1. proactiv: yes i know Jessica Simpson has had success but in most people with oily skin that break out with black heads or acne that is really deep and just has a painful bump on the skin surface for you to feel; this product seems to make the acne worse. it takes their acne from moderate or mild to severe. so try it but if you feel that in two weeks you've got more zits than b4 chuck the kit out and cancel subscription.
2. neutrogena skin id kit: well they say its customized but you know what everyone gets the same products. so its just neutrogena stuff in a new package and more pricey; based on monthly payments your making.
3. boots botanics skin brightening gel (normal/oily skin); this is way to mild. it does nothing to make your skin feel less oily and isn't strong enough to remove impurities. stay away from this. Friends who used it had break outs in a day or two and previously their skin was smooth and flawless. so stay away from this product!
4. origins checks and balances frothy face wash for oily/combination skin. this is better used as a make up remover for those that feel your make up remover is too harsh. follow this by a mild toner i suggest clinique. your skin should feel clean and refreshed but this is not a good cleanser for daily face wash use.
5. acne-spot treatment of any kind: this should only be used at night. apply an hour before going to bed it will either inflame your whitehead or kill it. depending on what stage the acne is in. do not use it during the day that tiny zit you covered in the morning is now a crater! so spot treatments are for the night time. day time i suggest use Revlon's green colored concealer.
6. neutrogena sun block of any SPF level. this sunblock is just too oily. it will clog pores and is difficult to blend. i suggest use aveeno sun block or olay total effects 7 in 1 cream with SPF 15/30. these are milder in oiliness and do not cause sensitive skin to have sudden break out sessions.
7. Burt's bees radiance eye cream it seems to highlight dark circles instead of diminishing them. so unless you plan to sport not one but two shiners i suggest you leave this cream in the aisle.
8. any redness reducing creams that do not have a green tint! that's enough for you to not try this cream. the green tint actually helps cover the redness and make it blend in more with our skin tone.
9. any moisturizer which is tinted yellow or pale yellow. now let me ask do you want to look yellow or sallow in your coloring? I'm guessing no unless well your trying to convince someone your extremely sick. but do not use moisturizers that are yellow tinted classic example clinique dramatic moisturizers its as yellow as they get and notice no celeb ever claims to be using it either. they all use Elizabeth Arden/lancome/la mer skin products all these products have no yellow tinted moisturizers all are the clasic white cream or tinted.
10. last but defiantly not the least. Zeno acne clearing device. this is only good if you have maybe two white heads on your face. not good for treating black heads. and defiantly waste of money if you have severe acne. my friends with severe acne swear its best to just go to the dermatologist. and black heads are best treated by getting an acne facial by a professional beautician ( my suggestion aveda outer peace acne treatment find a aveda school nearby and get the facial done for less than half price or half price depending on acne.)

Got more products that were a nightmare well do tell. we can all use with knowing what products to steer clear of. makes life simpler and beauty simpler!

day care and night time skin care

so continuing with the beauty care regiment.. i thought why leave out night time and day time...

hopefully you all follow your mothers advice to wash your face and brush your teeth before you go to bed... well paste up and rinse with mouth wash.. a healthy set of teeth mean a good smile and almost every beauty mags say a whiter smile helps make you look better.. so brush up..

now for the face wash.. unless your dermatologist has advised you to use a medicated face wash my suggestion use the juice organic pom kit.. it comes with a face wash and face moisturizer ($12.99) can be found at target... not only is this face wash organic but good for all skin types even the super sensitive skin types.. and pomegranate has all this good skin stuff that most face washes don't have.. also this will make sure all those fine line our mommies worry about, well we wont have to; not for a very very long time anyway...
the moisturizer is great too its smooth and light weight so you don't feel all oily and your skin is prepped for sun block.. i don't suggest using the moisturizer for night time.. i suggest you use a night time cream such as olay regenerist night cream ($17.99)... now yes you may not be old.. I'm 26 so no wrinkles yet..but prevention is better than cure and when you wake up to skin that is visibly brighter your day starts of a bit better.. well mine does any way.. also use the olay regenirist eye lifting serum ($17.99) at night.. your eyes don't look puffy and you have almost no dark circles even if you've had a crappy nights sleep... the products I'm mentioning work for me.. but maybe you have a night time or day time regiment that works better for you.. what products would you suggest?

release the goddess within

OK.. so time after time we're told to get in touch with our inner goddess.. i say we do like Cleopatra did.. hell she not only got in touch with her inner goddess she has us all convinced she is a goddess.. now that's what I'm talking about!...
so according to historians she bathed in milk.. well milk does exfoliate and now we can buy exfoliating body scrub over the counter ..when purchasing an exfoliating body scrub check if it has olive oil extracts that's good to moisturize dry skin while exfoliating..if it doesn't choose a scrub with sugar beads and don't be afraid to scrub.. after all it is called exfoliating scrub for a reason.. it wont help to just rub it on yourself and wash without scrubbing!
It is also said that Cleopatra used oils and roses to scent her water while bathing... well you can opt for a scented body oil.. choose one with yin yang it calms you and smells awesome.. Aveeno has one bath oil out with yin yang.. rub it on yourself once you turn off the shower and before you pat yourself dry with the towel.. once you've got the oil on you.. now pat your self dry.. pat not rub!
also deodorize ppl.. never under estimate the power of a smelly pit!.. it seriously diminishes your goddess-ness!
finally good skin care!.. all that make up in the world wont do you any good if you don't have healthy skin.. so if over the counter product don't work.. see a dermatologist it is worth your self esteem!...
Now for body sculpting before you dress up... if you don't work out and look like a model that's fine you can use the skin firming cream by nivea and the cellulite cream by nivea as needed every day or every other day.. my advice use it the day your not showering. This seriously works.. cellulite does go away and skin firming helps maintain that youthful look to your skin.. you don't have to be old and wrinkly to use skin firming cream.. use it now so that you can have younger skin for longer!
and now last but definitely not the least.. believe you are a goddess.. you have to believe it for others to believe it!.. so say it in the mirror as many times as you need..or do whatever makes you feel gr8 but you have to feel good about yourself to unleash that inner goddess that only you see and wish it was how others would see you. the power of our mind and positive energy is something even science can not refute!

online shopping advice

so spring is finally here!.. yippee.. finally i see the kids playing on the streets and running to the park... hopefully no more blizzards.... but in MN you never know...

has anyone visited the site etsy.com? its bloody brilliant! you get to buy all this cool handmade stuff as well as paintings by artists that are unique for a price that is actually affordable and within budget!

i love art work have paintings up every where in my house.. wish i had heard of etsy then! oh well.. but do check it out.

also.. if you like vintage clothing and accessories check out: vintagecouture.com... its got all the vintage dresses, belts, purses, jewelry by Dior channel, Gucci and many more! its a bit pricey but its the real deal! so at least add it to your favourites maybe you'll splurge and end up with vintage designer duds!

a girl shud should share her tried and tested products

you know we all have tried a gazillion products and some work and some fail... but here are some that have worked really well for me.

• Bliss Ingrown Hair Eliminating Peeling Pads ($38) are amazing! My friend introduced these to me because I had embarrassing irritation and bumps from bikini waxes. I've been using them for a few months now, and I'm completely bump-free. Trust me, I've tried everything, and this is the only product that works. best it got featured on Cosmo so i know I'm on the right path!
• L'Oréal Liss Ultime Shine Perfecting Serum, $23, since it's super-light.Apply a drop of shine serum (skip your roots) before blow-drying for smooth, glossy results. I blow dry my hair every time I'm out of the shower as its frizzy and wavy and this tames the wild bird nest i have!

So what products have you used that work?

twitter

so ive joined twitter! its great how many ppl you can follow on it.. and i found out about a billion ppl like CEO's that i had never heard of... i guess it is true the Internet does bring ppl closer.. it helps make 'its a small world' phrase true!

makes me realize ingenuity in any form is truly appreciated by ppl around the world.. but its got issues with picture uploads or maybe its me..

oh well im sure ill figure it eventually.. i mean i do work in IT.. lol

memories and teenage mutant ninja turtles!

you know as you grow up you take one memory with you. the one from when you were a kid and you remember it clearly. i have one but i doubt its one f those life defining moments. its just a simple one of me and my brother going to the grocery store for the first time without our mum. she asked us to get some yogurt she needed for the stew she was cooking. and the store was just a block from our house. so we went and instead of buying the the yogurt we bought the yogurt and a big yellow and blue truck that my younger brother just fell in love with. and instead of going home we went to the park. where we spent god knows how long playing. my mum ended up calling the police and they found us in the park close to our house. i also remember thinking when my parents where lecturing us we need to have something to be able to keep in touch like the teenage mutant ninja turtles do with April. and boy am i glad we now have cell phones! this isn't a funny memory but still its my most vivid memory.

so tell me about yourself...

i think its about time i described myself a little bit... I'm in my twenties... married to my college sweetheart.. and still trying to do everything.. I'm creative make cards for people instead of buying them.. cant cook.. will definitely even burn water!.. and talk a mile a minute.. I'm definitely the stubborn and think i can do it all.. lol.. i know i cant but i believe there are dreamers and there are the doers.. id rather be a doer...

i paint mostly on canvas and will have that up too for comments... so that i can take the critique and improve...

graduated in IT.. and since i never really showed much inclination to study my dad thought i was pulling his leg when i told him i was now a computer engineer it took him 5 minutes to calm down and look at me and say' seriously! well I'll be damned the girl does have a brain!' and this is not a joke..
my dad spent the whole day calling his buddies and saying how is airhead of a daughter had become a computer engineer...
this was more of a shock to my mother who thought all i ever did was shop and do artsy stuff she was sure i was going to be an interior designer... the truth is i love art but i don't want to do it for money I've seen how it takes the love and the cathartic experience out of the art work...

my husband who i love when i met him thought i was doing something artsy or trying to get in fashion since all i did was shop.. he actually dropped his fork on the floor while having dinner when i told him 'i work in IT.. i actually am really good with computer stuff but find it boring to talk about.' he laughed and said ' you don't have to impress me... i like you.. now tell me what you really do..' at this point i debated whether i should kick him under the table or throw water on him.. i opted to say ' why don't you pick me up at work tomorrow ill show you around.'

needless to say my husband now.. who at that point was just a guy i was starting to date was all red and embarrassed by the time i was done showing him my cube and oh my business card... I've never really seen a man blush quiet so much.. the rest is history i guess...

i also am very shy in person.. so take forever to talk.. most people just think I'm arrogant but I'm actually petrified ill say something that they wont like or will make me look stupid... yes i have a complex.. so shoot me... that's why i like this blog..i can post everything but still no one knows me.. i like this anonymous thing going on here..

well that's enough about me.. please those who follow this blog.. do tell me about yourselves..

no extra ordinary life

I do not live an extraordinary life.
I do not inspire singers to sing,
nor when i enter do the church bells ring.
I am not even known for recipes
I am not even known for my stories,
and so no one comes,asking for me.
I am the shadow cast by the sun,
I am the sparkles in your champagne.

not mine its by D.M.J. no idea who that is but i changed and omitted some verses bcz i didn't like it went I'm sure his is better.. but this is my spin on it...

to be inspired again!

Listen to the Exhortation of the Dawn!
Look to this Day!
For it is Life, the very Life of Life.
In its brief course lie all the Verities and Realities of your Existence.
The Bliss of Growth,
The Glory of Action,
The Splendor of Beauty;
Yesterday a Dream of Happiness,
And every Tomorrow a Vision of Hope.
Look well therefore to this Day!
Such is the Salutation of the Dawn!

"not entirely mine.. liked it and changed some words... so take no credit.. but it is inspiring"