BeChicMag.com

Tips on managing stress

By Mercedes Sanchez

It’s true. Stress can aggravate sensitive skin. How? Stress hormones increase the amount of oil your skin produces which can lead to clogged pores and zits.

The first way to treat stress and prevent sensitive skin occasions is by washing your face at least twice a day with facial skincare products like Simple Skincare’s Moisturizing Facial Wash, which leaves your skin thoroughly cleansed and nourished. Here are some other ways to manage stress and keep your skin happy:

#1 Treat yourself. Think about something you’ve been wanting to do but haven’t made time for. Whether it’s just a pedicure or manicure or going a little over your budget with your next visit to the shoe store.

#2 Watch something fun. Hit the movie theaters and watch a new film, or browse through my BeChicTV original videos for tutorials and celebrity interviews.

#3 Meditate. Take a walk through your local park or participate in your community to get your mind off whatever is causing you stress.

#4 Sleep more. Get more sleep by cutting back on your night routine a few nights a week and use Simple’s Cleansing Facial Wipes to remove your makeup faster while soothing your skin with pure, skin-loving ingredients.

#5 Spend time with those you love. Whether it’s your immediate family or your friends and family away from home, talk about your projects, goals, love life or your favorite new dress or lipstick!

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Tell us, how do you manage stress?

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This post was created in connection with my appointment as an ambassador in the Simple^® Skincare Program. Visit www.facebook.com/SimpleSkincare to share your story on sensitive skin.

Why, hello there, pimple

By Mercedes Sanchez

I know there are other things in the world to be concerned about, but I have to admit that this new zit came as a surprise! Though it’s disappointing, I’m proud to say this is my first pimple in a whole year!

With my sensitive skin, I’ve been careful with the products I use. However, I have to admit that there’s been a few times I’ve gone to bed without washing my face this month AND I’ve been eating junk, like back-to-back take out, fried foods and soda. What was I thinking?

Starting next week, I’m going to start using a new product for sensitive skin. Stay tuned to my posts.

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Glee’s Naya Rivera on Adult Acne

By Mercedes Sanchez
Naya Rivera’s new partnership with Proactiv reaffirms that Latinas also deal with adult acne. Heck, I even have an entire acne diary on BeChicMag.com.

As she is one of the stars of Fox’s hit show Glee, we can only imagine the pressure Naya has to maintain her skin clear of blemishes.

“I had really bad skin for awhile earlier this year,” Rivera told People.com on Tuesday on the set of her Proactiv shoot. “It sort of just came out of nowhere. It was like adult acne, and I was like, I’ve had great skin my entire life. How am I dealing with this now at 24?”

Girl, I can totally relate. Here’s how I got rid of my adult acne.

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A Different Sort of Scarring Prevention

In my Adult Acne Diary column, I often speak about red scars from old and new zits. However, this morning it looks like I created a new dilemma when my thumb nail literally met my face.

How It Happened

I have a weird habit of sleeping with my head under the pillow. As I slightly turned my body, the pillow fell to the floor. And there! I scratched my face as I tried to save the pillow.

With videos and pictures that often come with the work of a fashion and beauty blogger I almost freaked out. Then I remembered there are bigger things in the world to be worried about and I relaxed.

Yet the scratch is still there. I tried covering it up a bit with my mineral powder foundation before heading to work. But what should I do to prevent scarring from a nail scratch?

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Tell me: What do you suggest I do or try to prevent a nail scratch scar?

By Mercedes Sanchez

Beauty Bloggers at Exhale Spa in the Upper East Side with Olay

First, I should start by saying that I don’t exercise regularly and the last time I practiced yoga was in college with the exception of a pilates class I took when Ana Caban was in town a year ago. I was shy about stretching what I thought were my stiff legs and arms, but I got right back into the downward facing dog, child’s pose, shvanasana and many other positions at the Hot Ki Power Vinyasa class led by Isauro Fernandez.

Though working out has obvious benefits, sweating from exercise can be more than a temporary issue for women who battle adult acne. However, Dr. Diane Berson says that sweat doesn’t cause breakouts. Sweating is the body’s way of cooling down, but when mixed with natural oils, it creates a film that sits on the skin which can clog pores and lead to zits.

Dr. Diane Berson

Did you know?

It turns out that the causes of teen and adult acne are actually the same, but they should not be treated equally. Dr. Berson says that the majority of acne treatments in the market are designed for teenagers meaning that skin care options for women with acne-prone skin are limited because adult skin often has challenges like:

• Combination skin – Alternates between oily and dry patches.
• Slower skin turnover – Makes facial skin susceptible to clogged pores and breakouts.
• Fragile skin barrier – Makes facial skin more vulnerable to the side effects of common acne treatments, including irritation, redness and severe dryness.
• Hormonal fluctuations – Caused by menstruation, menopause, or stress can lead to breakouts.
• Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) – Discolorations of the skin caused by acne lesions and severe or prolonged irritation from harsh acne treatments.
• Aged appearance – Decreases in skin’s elasticity cause visibly enlarged pores.
• Smoking – Associated with an increased risk of blemishes in a recent study.

As if adult women don’t have enough things to worry about, right?

To maintain a strong barrier, Dr. Berson says moisturization is key and recommends the following daily regimen:

The Olay Professional Pro-X Clear Line is a 3-step daily skin care regimen that is designed to treat acne and minimize the appearance of pores and refine texture. Here’s how it works:

• Step 1: Olay Professional Pro-X Clear Pore Clarifying Cleanser: A wash off salicylic acid acne treatment that reduces oil and removes dead skin to help prevent clogged pores, while helping prevent new acne from forming.
• Step 2: Olay Professional Pro-X Clear Skin Clearing Treatment: A full face leave-on salicylic acid treatment designed to bring acne under control and help prevent future breakouts.
• Step 3: Olay Professional Pro-X Clear Complexion Renewing Lotion: A sheer moisturizer that hydrates to help fade the look of spots and redness for an overall renewed appearance.

My Adult Acne Diary Update:

I’ve been sticking to the regimen by dermatologist gave me a year ago with two prescribed acne creams, but I just started to use the Olay Pro-X Clear UV Moisturizer. I put it on over my morning cream and before applying makeup. It’s a light lotion and just takes a few seconds.

Over half of women in the U.S. between the ages of 25 and 58 have some form of acne. The average age for acne patients is on the rise, increasing from 20.5 years to 26.5 years between 1997 and 2007.

Through my experience with treating adult acne, I’ve learned that it’s definitely more about preventive care. So find out what works for you and abide by it.

Do you recognize these beauty bloggers? I’m on the far back in the pink.

What’s your skin care regimen before and/or working out?

Disclaimer: I was not compensated for this post. Beauty bloggers received a complimentary yoga class, Olay Pro-X Clear products and yoga mat.