Month: February 2021

Healthy Skin: How To Treat Your Skin After Acne

Published on by Crystal Lee1 Comment

Acne can affect people of all ages at any point in their lives. Some adults need years to clear up acne completely. Unfortunately, getting rid of painful pimples and blackheads isn’t the end of the battle.

Many people have to deal with acne scars and marks. As you can understand, they don’t go away so easily when untreated.

Advertisements

There is some good news, though! First of all, it’s never too late to start taking care of your skin and get rid of dark spots and acne scars. Secondly, the whole process shouldn’t take longer than three months if you do everything right.

If you are ready to start, here is what you need to know about treating your skin after acne:

Home Remedies for Acne Scars

If you only have minor acne scars and dark spots, you should try some home remedies. It goes without saying that before you start any treatment, you need to consult a dermatologist. Some remedies listed below might not be suitable for your skin type.

LEMON JUICE

Lemon juice can help you solve the problem of dark spots, but only if you use it once in a while. Regular usage of lemon juice might lead to a painful chemical burn. Also, there is no research that proves that lemon juice can help get rid of old scars.

If you want to try it out, follow safety guidelines. First of all, mix lemon juice with another ingredient such as yogurt, honey, or oatmeal. Secondly, don’t keep it on your face for too long; five minutes would be enough. It’s important to stay out of the sun the day you apply the mixture.

ALOE VERA

Some studies have shown that aloesin (a compound in aloe vera) can help lighten pigmentation. Aloe vera is safe and effective when used at home. According to PrimalHarvest.com, it can reduce inflammation, increase collagen production, and boost immune response.

Usually, people apply pure aloe vera directly onto the skin. But, you can mix it with honey and lemon juice, or buy a beauty product that contains aloesin.

If you want to incorporate pure aloe vera into your beauty routine, there is nothing to be afraid of since this natural component doesn’t cause side effects.

Using aloe vera won’t help you get rid of acne scars completely, but it will hydrate your skin and fade dark spots.

BLACK SEED OIL

Black seed oil, also known as Nigella sativa, has antiviral and antibacterial properties and can help reduce inflammation as well as make your scars less visible.

Moreover, this natural component can nourish your skin and slow the signs of aging thanks to Vitamin A and amino acids. It’s also worth mentioning that black seed oil can also be beneficial for patients with eczema and psoriasis.

Feel free to apply it on your skin. Test this natural ingredient on a small area of your skin to make sure it doesn’t cause irritation or experience any allergic reactions.

Advertisements

In-Office Treatment for Acne Scars

If you want to see results faster, consider in-office treatments for acne scars. Before you choose any of these treatments, make sure you don’t have any active acne. It’s important to find a reliable provider who will also give recommendations on how to treat your skin after the procedure.

Advertisements

LASER TREATMENT

Laser treatment is one of the easiest ways to reduce the appearance of acne scars on your face, back, neck, upper torso, and arms.

Only your dermatologist can decide whether you are ready for this procedure.

If you are the right candidate for laser treatment, plan for unexpected finances. A single procedure of laser skin resurfacing can cost about $500 per session. You should also take into account the number of procedures you will need as it’s impossible to treat all scars in one sitting.

Advertisements

During the procedure, a doctor will remove the top layer of your skin with a laser. It might sound a bit scary, but there is nothing to worry about. You will not feel any pain after two hours. The only side effect is redness; it can take up to two weeks for it to subside.

Your provider will give you instructions on how to prepare for laser treatment. Two weeks prior to the procedure, you will have to quit smoking and stop using skincare products that contain retinol.

After the procedure, your scars will be less visible, and your skin will become smoother. It’s important to mention that this procedure will not help you get soft baby skin right away, and it will take time for your acne scars to disappear completely with proper care.

MICRONEEDLING

Skin needling can help you get rid of acne scars and the first signs of aging. The science behind the procedure is simple — skin produces more collagen during the skin pricking process. Extra collagen helps increase blood flow, improve skin elasticity and texture. Micro-needling is recommended for patients with depressed acne scars.

After the procedure, you might notice some side effects such as inflammation, redness, and bruising. If you drink a lot of water, protect your skin from the sun, and follow your doctor’s recommendations, side effects will go away within a few days.

Micro-needling could also be used for sun damage, hair loss, surgical scars, and stretch marks.

One session costs around $600. Keep in mind that you might need more than one session in order to see the first results. Choose your provider carefully — only professional dermatologists can perform this procedure.

CHEMICAL PEEL

If you want to see the results faster, consider trying chemical peels. You can rejuvenate your skin by removing the top layer of your skin with this procedure. A chemical peel is also recommended in case of active acne and clogged pores.

The only challenge is to find the right type of chemical peel.

At-home chemical peels can help you get rid of fading dark spots. If you have pitted acne scars, it’s better to consult a dermatologist before you try anything on your own.

Use glycolic, lactic, salicylic, phytic, mandelic acids for at-home chemical peels. These acids are good for all skin types. Stay away from peels that contain TCA (trichloroacetic acid) since it can damage your skin if used incorrectly. Before and after the procedure, you should avoid using acne-clearing products and Retin-A.

If you do a peel without expert supervision, the results might not meet your expectations. Also, at-home peels are weaker than the ones used at the doctor’s office. An effective deep peel will require throughout skin cleansing and general anesthesia. You might need to have a chemical peel once every 4-6 weeks. But, again that depends on everything so do your research and talk to your trusted dermatologist.

Advertisements

The Bottom Line

Getting rid of acne is just the first step. To win the final battle, you need to remove acne scars and dark spots. Even though it’s never too late to start this process, the earlier, the better, as getting rid of old scars can be more complicated.

Consult a dermatologist to find the best treatment for your skin. They may recommend chemical peel, microneedling, or laser treatment. You can also try different home remedies such as aloe vera, lemon juice, or black seed oil.

Remember, it is possible to get clear, smooth skin. You are halfway there! Find the right option for your skin now and enjoy the results!

PHOTO FEATURE: @jordynwoods

5 Easy Zoom-Ready Hairstyles for Black Women

Published on by Crystal LeeLeave a comment

Don’t get me wrong: work from home life has been great. Working in my pajamas or sweats, eating all day long, and best of all, no bra! Yes, I’ll throw one on for a Zoom meeting here or there along with a work-approved top, but the outfit isn’t the only thing that has to be camera-ready. Let’s be honest: if I’m not leaving the house, my bonnet usually doesn’t leave my head. 

Sure, a lot of women just throw their hair up in a ponytail and keep it moving, but for Black women, it’s a whole process that requires proper planning. If my hair is natural, am I going to do a whole wash and go for a 30-minute meeting? Do I need to have my frontal baby hairs laid to the gods every day? 

One of the most significant benefits of this quarantine is that my hair has grown so much due to the low-maintenance styles I’ve been rocking, and just because I have a Zoom meeting doesn’t mean I’m going to mess that up. Here’s how:

Advertisements

1. Braids/Twists/Faux Locs

Let’s start with the obvious. The OG protective styles: braids, twists, faux locs, etc. The first few months of quarantine, I kept my hair in knotless box braids because with all the stress of dealing with a pandemic, the last thing I wanted to do was my hair. I loved the ease of being camera-ready in literal seconds with no daily styling needed. 

2. Wigs

Yes, wigs can be high maintenance, but hear me out. Make or buy a good quality human hair closure or frontal wig that will last. Style it and keep it on a wig head ready to go. Braid or flat twist your natural hair and rock that when bumming it on the couch. Zoom call in 5 minutes? No problem—grab that wig, slap it on, and boom, you’re ready to go. 

Advertisements

3. Individual Twists

Taking the time to do neat individual twists after washing your hair will pay off in the long run. Twists are no longer a style that is only meant to be taken out. From chunky twists to tiny twists, the style is super cute, protective, and lasts at least a week until wash day. Bonus: consider this a two-in-one style if you choose to wear it as a twist out near the end of the week. 

Advertisements

4. Flat Twist Up-do

Part down the middle for two twists pinned up or do a side part with a couple on each side. The options are endless when it comes to this easy hairstyle. I love that this style is easy and good for your hair while also looking somewhat elegant because it’s an updo. Pair with baby hairs, cute earrings, and Fenty Gloss Bomb lip gloss for the finishing touch. 

5. Classic Puff 

I can’t make a list of easy hairstyles without including the classic go-to: The Puff. I usually like to do this style the day after a lazy wash day where all I did was let my curls air dry without any styling. If your curls are already defined, just grab a spray bottle along with your favorite gel and slick them up (or back, depending on your mood). Don’t forget to tie your edges with a scarf to really slay this look. *chef’s kiss*

Featured Photo: @seraya

11 Tricks to Looking More Photogenic

Published on by Crystal Lee3 Comments

Every time I open up Instagram, I see a perfectly positioned model or influencer showing off their outfit. Without fail, I assume the seemingly perfect photo was effortless to capture. I always take it for granted that the person in the photo is naturally photogenic (and that if I’m not naturally photogenic, I’d never been able to pull off the same photo). But guess what: That couldn’t be further from the truth. Anyone who frequently has their photo taken just knows what works for them, mostly from trial and error.

Advertisements

For Instagram’s director of fashion partnerships, Eva Chen, it’s her baby giraffe pose, while the Barbie feet pose is a favorite among celebs and models everywhere. It’s no big secret how to produce an amazing outfit photo; it just comes down to knowing your angles.

Everyone has a different angle that works best for them, but try the following tips and you’ll realize that the perfect outfit photo is just a matter of strategy. From paying attention to camera angles to strategically positioning your body, we’re sharing our top tricks to never worrying about how to look more photogenic again. If you’re ready to up your Instagram game, look no further.

Avoid a Low Angle

PHOTO: @ADA_OGUNTODU

Lower angles, while sometimes a cool option, are typically harder to execute well. Position your camera slightly above your eye line. Generally speaking, the higher the camera angle, the better the photo.

Put Your Hand on Your Hip

PHOTO: @AIMEESONG

Any time your arm is slightly away from the rest of your body, it adds interest to the pose.

Advertisements

Sit Up or Stand Up Straight

PHOTO: @ALI_TATE_CUTLER

Paying attention to your posture when taking pictures can make the world of a difference. Hunched shoulders and slumped spines will not elongate your figure. Instead, push your shoulders back stick your back end out slightly. It might seem silly to dramatize good posture, but we promise it will come across well on camera.

Avoid Bulky Clothing

PHOTO: @RAEANNLANGAS

Obviously, you should wear whatever you like and show off your unique style in photos, but bulky clothing tends to distract from the best part of the photo: you! Lightweight, thin fabrics, like silk, are great options for photos.  

Slightly Twist Your Body to the Side

PHOTO: @BADGALRARA_

Again, posing in a unique way adds interest to the photo. Fully to the side or even at an angle both work.

Wear Dark Clothing

PHOTO: @CHRISSYFORD

You don’t have to wear bright colors to make your photo stand out. Case in point: Chrissy Rutherford’s dark-wash denim jumpsuit and black booties.

Add a Filter

PHOTO: @NNENNAECHEM

Going for a darker Instagram filter, like X-Pro II or Mayfair, and adjusting the exposure and light filters can make for a more photogenic image.

Keep Your Chin Up and Out

PHOTO: @LEFEVREDIARY

This trick will elongate your neck and help to avoid any unflattering chin angles. 

Advertisements

Pull Your Shoulders Back

PHOTO: @OUMAYMABOUMESHOULI

Not only will this accentuate your collarbone, but it will also make you look more polished and put-together (if that’s what you’re going for).

Don’t Tightly Press Your Arms to Your Body

PHOTO: @DISCODAYDREAM

Keep your arms slightly away from your body for a better shot. Either put your hand on your hip, brush your hand through your hair, or try keeping your elbow slightly out.

Experiment With Selfies to Find Your Best Angle

PHOTO: @FONGMINLIAO

No shame here—it’s all about finding what looks best for you. A little trial and error will help you find your best angle in photos so you know exactly how to stand to create the best image.

Shop the photogenic wardrobe essentials our editors are loving right now from Fashion Nova:

Advertisements

Leandra Ruched Mini Dress – Lavender, $59.99 USD

You really can’t go wrong with a dress.

Painting Pictures PU Leather Skirtall – Black, $24.99 USD

This skirt is the perfect length.

Charge It Rhinestone Blazer – Black, $69.99 USD

The word “hourglass” is what describes this stylish blazer. Need we say more?

Advertisements

It’s On Deck Bodysuit – Black, $29.99 USD

Square necklines are basically a frame for your collarbones.

Ciao Bella Crossbody Bag – Black, $24.99 USD $16.98 USD

This will make wearing black feel anything but boring.

On My Side Midi Dress – Burgundy, $54.99 USD

Try any silhouette that’s belted to highlight your figure.

Advertisements

Victoria High Waisted Dress Pant- Pinstripe – Black/White, $34.99 USD

Vertical stripes are pretty much guaranteed to garner likes.

Party For Two Contrast Jeans – Black/Blue, $49.99 USD

Always invest in black jeans.

Vivi Maxi Wrap Dress – Mauve, $39.99 USD

There’s a reason wrap dresses have been a classic for decades now—they look so darn good on everyone.

Advertisements

Two Of A Kind Layered Jacket – Medium Blue Wash, $34.99 USD

A cropped jacket is so versatile.

Essential Faux Leather Moto Jacket – Tan, $39.99 USD $31.99 USD

Again with the belt.

Wine And Dine Velvet Corset Top – Black, $19.99 USD

Throw this on with jeans and sandals in the warmer months, and layer with a blazer in the colder seasons.

Comment below if you would enjoy a Try-On Haul and with what brand! ( Tag them)

Feature Photo: @Saweetie

How to Not MINDFUCK YOURSELF

Published on by Crystal Lee3 Comments

One of the best pieces of advice I was ever given was this: “Stop standing in your way.” And the thing standing in the way of us and our dreams? FEAR. Fear that we won’t succeed, fear that things won’t work out, and fear that we simply aren’t good enough. It is so easy to allow these fears to have control over us. And when we do, fear limits us by keeping us locked in our comfort zones, driving us to self-sabotage, and keeping us stuck.

But as author Zig Ziglar put it, perhaps FEAR has two meanings, one that confines us and one that empowers us:

Meaning 1: Forget Everything and Run

Meaning 2: Face Everything and Rise

Imagine the potential we would unlock if we began to use fear to help us rise to opportunity rather than run from it. Here are a few tips to help do this:

1. Question Your Thoughts

When the voice of doubt, uncertainty, and fear comes into your mind, take a moment to question its authority. Remember that you are not your thoughts; you are simply the observer of them. This means that you have the power to choose whether to trust and act on these thoughts or choose to ignore, replace, and overcome them. When fear tells you, “Don’t do it, you’ll never succeed,” take a deep breath, pause, and replace that thought with one that empowers you. Perhaps you could repeat a positive mantra such as “I am capable of anything I set my mind to.”

2. Be Ok with Discomfort

When fear tells you to “forget everything and run” and you choose to instead “face everything and rise,” you make that wonderful and liberating choice to step outside of your comfort zone. What inevitably accompanies this decision (to varying degrees) is a feeling of discomfort. Remember that your subconscious finds comfort in the familiar, even if that familiar is not something that serves you. So when you decide to rise (step outside of your comfort zone), your subconscious says to you, “What’s going on here? This doesn’t feel right. This isn’t what you normally do.” This creates a feeling of discomfort. At this point, you have another choice to make—do you allow the discomfort to push you to self-sabotage and fall back into old patterns, or do you sit with that discomfort, be OK with it, and keep going for the greater good?

Advertisements

3. Heal the Source

Fear is almost always driven by a culmination of your insecurities, past experiences, and old pain. When you become aware of your fear, you can allow it to guide you to unhealed wounds that need some love, care, and attention so that you can break the fear cycle.

4. Find Your Reason

When fear rears its ugly head, you need a good enough reason to fight it off and move forward. You need to be clear on WHY you should choose not to Forget Everything and Run, but instead Face Everything and Rise. Ask yourself, “What change do I want in my life and why do I want it?” Allow your desire and passion for personal growth to drive you, undeterred by the doubt in your mind.

5. Get Ready

When you start to live a life that is not governed by fear but is fueled by it, your life will transform in every way. So get ready to let go of the past and embrace the endless possibilities ahead of you.

Essentially, what I’m trying to say is this: fears will come into your mind, but see them for what they are—unwelcome visitors. Don’t allow them to control your behavior or dictate what you do or don’t do. Don’t allow them to rule over you and your future. Do not allow yourself to be mindfucked by your fear. Remember that you always have a choice. So choose to take charge, rise above your fears and doubts, step out of your comfort zone, unlock your fullest potential, and manifest the life of your f*cking dreams!

Advertisements

Roxie Nafousi is a self-development coach, manifesting expert, yoga teacher, and host of the podcast “The Moments That Made Me.” Head to her website to book a spot in her next self-development webinar, schedule a one-on-one advice session, or download one of her meditations or affirmation playlists designed to help you on your manifestation journeys. Follow her on Instagram.

The content provided in this article is provided for information purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice and consultation, including professional medical advice and consultation; it is provided with the understanding that BeautyLeeBar, LLC (“Hello Beauties”) is not engaged in the provision or rendering of medical advice or services. The opinions and content included in the article are the views of the author only, and BeautyLeeBar does not endorse or recommend any such content or information, or any product or service mentioned in the article. You understand and agree that BeautyLeeBar shall not be liable for any claim, loss, or damage arising out of the use of, or reliance upon any content or information in the article or any other article that is provided on here, BeautyLeeBar.com.