Blog Posts by Beyond the Beauty Pages, SELF Magazine

By Pia Bhattacharya, Self magazine

Can you use makeup to reduce the appearance of your psoriasis? Covering up psoriasis isn't like hiding a few blemishes. For these answers and more, Tim Gunn directed us to Dr. Susan C. Taylor, expert in dermatology and ethnic skin disease.

"The first step in taking care of your skin is to see a dermatologist. There are many treatments available and the best one for you can be determined by your dermatologist," said Dr. Taylor. Here are her suggestions:

Related: 20 Ways to Get Perfect Skin

1. You can use concealer and foundation if the psoriasis patches are minimal and not very scaly. Read the ingredients on the packaging. Avoid makeup with alcohol and propylene glycol as they can irritate skin.

2. Moisturize your skin throughout the day and avoid rubbing your skin.

3. Exposure to UV light under controlled doses (by a dermatologist) can actually help improve psoriasis, but suburn can cause psoriasis to flare, so use sunscreen with SPF 30 every day.

4.

According to the National Institute of Health, approximately 7.5 million Americans suffer from psoriasis, a skin condition characterized by itchy, scaly patches on the skin and scalp. Psoriasis can affect your everyday life, including how you dress. For assistance in addressing this serious issue, we visited Tim Gunn.

The Project Runway design mentor and chief creative officer of Liz Claiborne, Inc., was busy on the set of his new online style guide for the Addressing Psoriasis contest, where five winners who suffer from psoriasis received a one-on-one style consultation with Tim.

Related: 20 Ways to Get Perfect Skin

"The first step in creating your personal sense of style may be determining who you are and
how you want to present yourself to the world. This can be particularly challenging for people
with psoriasis," said Tim. "I am excited to work with these inspiring individuals to help each of
them find a style that suits their life."

Tim talked about how challenging

Freshface Blush Powder in Blossom, $28.One of the downfalls of the summer months is, despite using sunscreen (an absolute must!), you can still end up with a nasty burn on your face. Are you looking a little baked from too much time on the beach?

Related: 26 Musts For Your Makeup Bag

Fear not! We've found 5 fabulous aloe-based products that will help heal your sunburn--sans that awkward still-looking-like-a-lobster phase. You won't miss a single night on the city with these products.

Buxom Stay-There Eye Shadow, $17
These lightweight, waterproof shadows come in a variety of vibrant colors and contain vitamin E and aloe so they leave your peepers feeling silky as ever. And if that weren't enough to sell us, the adorable canine-inspired names would have. Now all you have to do is fetch!

Related: Hungry? Try one of these 30 healthy snacks

Fresh Freshface Blush Powder, $28
Despite having floral names, these fragrance free, high pigment powders glide on smoothly. They can replace your less than perfect redness for a natural

By Pia Bhattacharya, SELF magazine

So you're still in weekend mode and your morning beauty routine didn't go as smoothly as planned. Here are a few pointers for looking fabulous on-the-go.

Bonus: Check out the top superfoods for flat abs

1. Face: Before you leave, smooth on a tinted moisturizer to even your skin tone. You don't need to apply it as precisely as foundation (just avoid your eyebrows). This will draw attention away from blemishes and give your skin a slight dewy glow if you don't have time for blush or bronzer. Try one with SPF like Stila Illuminating Tinted Moisturizer SPF 15, $32 so you can moisturizer, cover and protect your skin in one step.

Related: 26 Musts For Your Makeup Bag

2. Eyes: Driving while wielding an eyeliner pencil is a hazardous habit many women have. Instead, to liven up your eyes carry a clear mascara with you and swipe it over your lashes. You won't have to worry about smudging the color on your lids so it's perfect to use on the train or while

By Pia Bhattacharya, SELF magazine

The past few years have done a number on my once pristine set of pearly whites. Now, I want my bright smile back! Here are 3 great ways to make your pearly whites shine.

Related: Play your way to flat abs

Daily: -Use a toothpaste with hydrogen peroxide and baking soda -After flossing, wrap the string around the sides of each tooth to prevent plaque from holding liquid against teeth -Use blue infused lipstick to offset yellow

Weekly: -Use whitening strips and avoid discoloring drinks (tea, coffee, red wine) for 48 hours after applying -Rinse with fluoride mouthwash for two days after treatment

Bonus: See how you can dine like a star tonight

Yearly: -Use a pro bleaching treatment

Say hello to brighter days!

More from SELF:

• Try these superfoods for flat abs!
• Check out SELF's stop cellulite workout
  
• SELF's annual healthy food awards showcases 66 fast fix foods you'll love to eat!
• Find the best swimsuit for your body

By Pia Bhattacharya, SELF magazine

Just because it's your favorite tube of lipgloss doesn't mean you can hold onto it forever - like that tattered stuffed bunny from your childhood that no one wants to touch, but you. Makeup does expire, and if you keep it around for too long you it can hurt you. Here's a few rules for knowing when your favorite products are close to expiring.

Foundation: If you're foundation is oil-based, it can last for about a year. If it's water-based you can hold onto it for up to 18 months.

Mascara: Once you open the tube, bacteria can enter (and live). Only keep your mascara for up to four months to avoid risk of infection.

Eyeshadow: Powder eyeshadows can last you a long time; up to three years. If you have a favorite creme color, toss it after three months. The texture traps bacteria more easily.

Sunscreen: While it may seem OK to stretch your favorite tube of SPF as long as you can, you should only keep it for 6 months up to a year. It starts to lose its

By Pia Bhattacharya, SELF magazine

Most of us spend a considerable amount of time fussing over our hair: changing styles, length, cut and color. But what happens when you notice your once plentiful strands are starting to look sparse? Hair loss can and does happen to women, too.

Bonus: See how you can dine like a star tonight

If you're suffering from it, it you're not alone. We chatted with actress Finola Hughes ( General Hospital, All My Children ) and spokesperson for Viviscal, about her battle with hair loss.

"I think that women are extremely sensitive to any changes in the beauty of their hair. Hair is a signal of health and femininity. It is cutting into the very nature of a woman's self esteem to suffer hair loss," says Finola. She shared some of her insights with us:

Q: Hair loss is common in men, but many people do not realize that women can experience it, too. Do any factors make women more prone to this?

Finola: Through my own research and speaking with medical experts, a

By Pia Bhattacharya, SELF magazine

One of my grandmother's specialties was on-the-spot skin fixes. She could whip up an at-home remedy to get the red out of a blemish by morning. Her favorite ingredient for targeting trouble spots? Sandalwood!

Sandalwood, or chandan as she called it, has antiseptic properties that are great for treating acne, and when mixed with the correct ingredients; can work wonders on acne scars. Granny used to grind a piece of moist sandalwood against wood or a flat, round stone to create a powder. Here's a simple way to create her go-to spot treatment.

1. Take a tablespoon of pure sandalwood powder (available at many natural and organic stores) and add in two or three drops of water.
2. Mix it with a muddler or blunt object (kind of like muddling mint in your mojito) until it becomes a thick, creamy paste.
3. Add in two drops of lemon juice and mix till it's completely combined.
4. Apply the mixture to any problem spots, acne or scars before you go to bed.