How to Get a Flawless Complexion

The best way to get shiny hair that's not greasy is to first start by creating a healthy base, and the same principle rings true for skin. And while it may be tempting to pile on makeup to create the illusion of a better complexion, stop right there. To see how you can enhance your natural glow with tips from Lavette Slater, a licensed makeup artist and key hairstylist for The View, just read more.

• The basics: "Using makeup with SPF is always a must," says Slater. For warm months, she recommends using a tinted moisturizer that's formulated with SPF. Moisturize your skin regularly and remove your makeup properly, too.
• Get pampered: If it's possible and within your budget, consider getting a facial every four weeks, addressing any concerns with your esthetician.
• Avoid: "If you are prone to breakouts when you eat certain foods and carbonated sodas, stay away from them," Slater explains. The same philosophy applies to skin care: if it's not getting the job done, move on to something else.
• A little goes a long way: "Sometimes just a bit of concealer and pressed powder can work wonders," Slater advises. Creamy liquid makeup is great when you use just a bit. Pair with a dusting of loose or pressed powder to set.

Source: Thinkstock

Top 10 Acne Tips Revealed

Benzoyl Peroxide and Salicylic Acid

Sometimes, it's a combo of acne-fighting products that turns out to be the the ideal solution. Readermyhousemd said she's had much success with salicylic acid treatments at night, and benzoyl peroxide during the day.

Take a Holistic Approach

The majority of you said that taking the holistic approach is the way to go. "I wash my face with honey and moisturize with coconut oil," said anonymous reader Pixibell. "If I feel zit coming on I dab cinnamon on it. Once a week I exfoliate by adding baking soda or ground oatmeal to the honey and leaving it on for 10 minutes before rinsing it off."

See a Dermatologist

When it comes down to it, nothing beats a one-on-one visit with a doc. In fact, a recent tretinoin/antiobiotic treatment prescribed by my dermatologist really helped to clear up a major bout of jawline acne I was experiencing. Many of you agreed that heading to the derm is the way to go, as well, especially reader abs0lutelyfab who said, "See a dermatologist, especially if you have cystic acne. The time and money spent on hoping on an over-the-counter cure isn't worth it."

Ice Up

If you're looking for a cheap fix, look no further than your fridge. "Whenever I feel a blemish starting to form I start putting ice compresses on it — ten seconds every few minutes a couple times a day." said Silent Vamp. "It helps keep the inflammation at bay and has ended countless zits before they happen," she added.

Keep Your Brushes Clean

Sure it's a simple step, but it's one that often goes forgotten. Said reader Sykes, "If I go too long without washing my brushes, my skin goes completely out of control. It's so easy to overlook, and I used to panic. Now whenever I breakout . . . I wash my Bare Minerals brushes. Immediately."

Cetaphil

Ultragentle Cetaphil is one of the top-selling facial cleansers around, and there's good reason why. "The best thing I ever did was nix any facial wash that targeted acne. It was too drying, which in turn, was causing my breakouts. Cetaphil ($6) is my new favorite," said miss leanne. (Reader smallbeeseconded that motion.)

Clarisonic

The always popular Clarisonic ($195) secured lots of recommendations, like this one fromLaurasaprincess: "The Clarisonic brush has worked for me better than anything else! Just be sure to clean the brushhead often and replace as needed." Have you tried this gadget, too?

Drink Water

It's time to reach for the old standby, H2O, which has been proven to increase blood flow to the skin. One anonymous reader also suggests to "put lemon wedges in your water every once in a while to clean your body of all the toxins."

Stop Picking!

Perhaps one of the easiest ways to prevent pimples happening is just to simply stop fussing with your skin. Said an anonymous Bella reader, "The best thing I ever did was learn to stop picking. I know how hard this is, trust me. But all it ever did was make them worse and promote acne scarring." Has a hands-off approach worked for you, too?

Stop Stressing

And finally, many of you said to just try to quit all the stressing. "One thing I know that helps for me is to not fret over the breakout. Hard to do I know, but the less you stress over it the faster you can get over the breakout," said lemuse20. "It's like a vicious cycle — when you breakout you stress, the more you stress the more you breakout." I couldn't agree more, so please excuse me while I go meditate . . 

The right sunscreen for your skin type

People today have wrong perceptions regarding the protective power of sunscreen and this confidence can prove to be dangerous if the label is not understood at the right time. People tend to burn their skins due to their careless attitude by forgetting to reapply thesunscreen as recommended for instance right after swimming on their exposed parts. Finding just the correct sunscreen is important because they contain ingredients which can cause allergies. 
Knowing the meaning of fancy words can ease the selection of sunscreen for many consumers.

• Know key points to use sunscreen

The first step is to jot down all the key concerns which one might have regarding the usage of sunscreen. It may include things such as potential allergens which can cause reactions of skin thus resulting in irritations or redness; duration of time till when the sunscreenwill remain effective;  and whether the same label is suitable for all the age groups or not. Babies are an exception; therefore, special notice should be taken if mothers are applying sunscreen to their bodies.

• Read the label of the sunscreen

The next step should be to read the label of the sunscreen lying in your bathroom cabinet and analyze if you are already familiar with any ingredient mentioned on it. Sun Protection Factor (SPF) tells how long it can protect you from the UVB rays. Thus a higher level protects for longer. However, a higher SPF can cause sunburns and premature skin aging too. Zinc oxide and titanium are suitable for sensitive skins as they reflect UV light. If the label states that it protects from UVA and UVB rays, then this combination has chemical blocks. There are questions about its safety because high usage can penetrate in skin augmenting photo carcinogenic properties.

• Broad spectrum sunscreens

Broad spectrum is a term referring to adequate quantity of avobenzene, titanium oxide or zinc oxide for protection againstUVA. Few broad spectrums are better off than the others as some sunscreens are unable to block UVAs appropriately. Many sunscreens carry the title PABA which is included less nowadays as it has been causing rash reactions to many people. Also skin cancer is a typical hazard caused by applying it.

• Water resistant sunscreens

Water resistant sunscreens are good in protecting skins while swimming or doing beach activities. Extracts and scents make sunscreens more edible so it should not be in children’s reach. Child screen is specially made considering theirskin type. Lastly, expiry date should be paid greatest attention to.

• Make an informed choice

Intelligent consumers should make an informed choice. Rather safe tips while buying sunscreen include the avoidance of scented sunscreen. Other alternatives include wearing of broad rim hats, including long-sleeves in clothing and staying indoors at the peak hours of sunshine. Therefore, we should practise secure sun protection.