Blog Posts by Carol Belanger

Body Butter Strawberry SmootherThe Body Butter Strawberry Smoother by Softsoap sounded luxurious and luscious and I couldn't wait to try it. After a long winter here in the north woods, my dry skin really needed something new and exciting and a product that would gently exfoliate to bring a new glow to my skin.

The first thing I noticed when I first used this product was its lovely scent. It is a light scent and had just a hint of strawberries. Secondly was the lather or lack thereof. I found that the product didn't lather very well. However I have extremely hard water (well water) and that could have been the culprit.

The product claims to have a "gentle exfoliate". Personally I did not experience any type of exfoliation of the skin while using this product. Therefore it must be very "gentle".

I found the product's claim of "helping skin retain moisture" to be true. My skin didn't feel dry after the shower and felt moisturized the rest of the evening. Additionally, I liked the fact that the product contains some

Most people fail to realize just how important hydration is in maintaining a healthy body and beautiful skin. Maintaining the proper amount of fluid in the body at both the extra-cellular (outside a cell) and intra-cellular (inside a cell) is essential for cell health.

Proper hydration is critical; it helps the body assimilate essential nutrients and excrete toxins, assists in maintaining pH balances, and helps prevent kidney stones, constipation and urinary infections. Furthermore it reduces the signs of ages and keeps skin soft and elastic. Additionally the water content in skin helps it perform its protective functions.

Without proper hydration the skin looks dull, dry, and extra sensitive and it loses it suppleness. Additionally without sufficient hydration the rate of healing to damaged dermal layers are slowed, hair follicles can get blocked causing bacterial accumulation and even skin breakouts and acne take more time to heal. Additionally, when the skin is not

I just loved the Estee Lauder Sumptuous Extreme Lash Multiplying Volume Mascara! The color I received was extreme black, and it was true to its color. Furthermore, I must say the application was flawless and in just a couple of coats it really brought out volume and length to my eyelashes.

This product has all the features I look for in mascara. First and foremost, there is very little clumping. Secondly it separates the lashes to really bring out length, and last but not least it didn't smudge or flake under the eyes.

I usually do not apply mascara to my lower eyelashes as most mascara seem to smudge and leave a dark circles under the eye by the end of the day. However, after testing this product last night on my lower lashes it actually stayed in place and did not smudge or give me dark circles under the eye.

I really liked the large tapered brush. The brush holds more mascara thus covering the eyelashes from the base to the tip in one easy stroke. The tip of the

Is your dresser filled with a menagerie of skin care products that you do not like or they just didn't do as the product claimed. Finding the right products for a good skin care regimen can be quite overwhelming given the enormous selection available. Well you are not alone as many people face this same predicament. Below are what I believe to be the most common mistakes when selecting skin care products.

Mistakes #1 - Whenever a new skin care product is introduced on the market a number of people are very eager to try it out. We have a tendency to believe that this new product is exactly what we are looking for and don't bother reading the ingredients or check to see if there is any clinical proof of their claims. We just take for granted that the product will live up to the hype.

Mistake #2 - We purchase a skin care product because it is on sale or at a discounted price. While sales are great, you should base your purchase on the reputation of the company and the

Good skin is more than just an application upon application of skin care products. Overuse of and a menagerie of skin care products can actually be detrimental to your skin and to your health especially when they are loaded with harmful or otherwise questionable ingredients.

A great complexion and overall great skin, starts with good health which means staying fully hydrated and getting the necessary nutrients, vitamins and minerals in our diet each day. A balanced diet equals better health and a healthier, glowing complexion. Some basic nutrients the skin needs is pure water, zinc, soy protein, vitamin E, vitamin C, B-complex, carotenoids a flavonoids, and omega 3 fatty acids just to name a few.

In addition to a good diet, your skin also needs cleansing, toning, moisture, and protection. Additionally there may be specific problem areas you will need to address such as blotchiness, acne or breakouts, dry patches, etc.

The basics - cleansing, toning and moisturizing,

Have your ever heard of Toasted Skin Syndrome? It is a skin condition called Erythema ab igne. The term comes from the Latin meaning "redness from fire". It is also known as "chronic heat dermatitis" and laptop induced dermatitis. This condition is brought about from exposure to heat. This syndrome is not new as it was first observed on people who work close to extreme heat, like the furnace of old trains, wood ovens, wood stoves, coal stoves or open fires. It could also be observed on people who have overused heating pads or blankets.

A few weeks ago I noticed this area on the back of my thighs just above the knee that looked to me like varicose veins or some sort of bruising; it was a net-like pattern of brownish red lines. It covered almost all of the back of my thigh on one side and some on the other leg. I really didn't know what to think about it. I searched the internet and diagnosed it as several conditions but still was not sure. Finally I broke down and spent the $100

In the last few years a new skin care product called shielding lotions has emerged. This new type of product is a lotion specially formulated to protect the skin's outer layers from irritants, whether it is in skin care products or environmental factors. They are also formulated to restore moisture and allow the skin to moisturize itself.

Shielding lotions are not your typical moisturizer cream or lotion. A moisturizer only provides moisture to the top layers of the skin and once the moisturizer wears off it is back to the dry skin problem. A shielding lotion however bonds with the skin thus protecting the skin for long periods of time and holds the skin's natural moisture in the deep layers of the skin.

How many times have you used a moisturizer to alleviate the dry chapped skin on your face or your hands to no avail? Application of moisturizers only provide a temporary solution, thus application after application is needed to relieve the dryness. A shielding lotion will

Our skin ages in two ways: the accumulated physical changes normally associated with the passage of time (chronological aging) and through the accumulated damage cause by exposure to environmental pollutants and UV radiation (accelerated aging).

To prove this point, take a look at the skin on some part of your body that seldom sees the light of day. Compared to our face or hands, skin that is not exposed to the elements will remain clear and rosy, smooth and unwrinkled, soft and resilient. The dry, wrinkled and papery, or the deeply wrinkled, discolored and leathery look is the results of accelerated aging caused by environmental factors.

Chronological Aging:

20 to 30 - Skin changes and damage may begin to accumulate, but do not show yet. Your twenties could be considered "the age of prevention", when most skin care issues start with lack of care. Forgetting to wash your face before bed can lead to clogged pores, whiteheads and blackheads. Squinting in the sun and not