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skincare

How To Figure Out Your Skin Type And The Skincare Services

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We all want to flaunt healthy and glowing skin. A radiant face gives us the confidence to step out and be in the spotlight on every occasion. That’s the reason why many of us engage in a regular skincare routine and partake in skincare services. 

Regular skin care can help keep your skin away from aging signs like wrinkles, marks, spots, etc. Maintaining a skincare routine is also an excellent way to get rid of acne and pimples. But, most individuals find it an enormous task to take care of their skin. Sometimes, they lack time, and other times, they do not know the accurate solution for their skin. 

The first step to skin care starts with knowing your skin type. When you know about the texture of your skin, you can easily figure out what it needs to be healthy. Understandably, many individuals often confuse their skin condition with their skin type. Furthermore, they adopt skincare routines that never work for them. 

You should refrain from false skincare routines and follow those that suit your skin. Let’s start by exploring different skin types. 

 

What are the different skin types for skincare services? 

There are four types of skin – dry, oily, combination, and normal skin. You can identify each type by set characteristics, explained below. 

Dry Skin

The term – ‘dry’ refers to skin that generates less sebum than normal skin. Due to the lack of sebum, dry skin does not have sufficient lipids. These lipids retain moisture in the skin and form a protective layer against external influences.

Lack of sebum results in an impaired barrier function. Dry skin can exist in varying degrees of severity. It could be there in different forms, not always clearly distinguishable.

A higher number of females suffer from dry skin than males. Unfortunately, all skin gets dryer with age. Dry skin problems are quite common, and interestingly, about 40% of visits to dermatologists are because of it. 

How to identify – 

  • You can see dry skin signs like dull & rough complexion, almost invisible pores, red patches, visible lines, and less elastic skin. 
  • The skin can also crack or peel. 
  • It tends to become itchy, irritated, or inflamed. 
  • Very dry skin can be rough and scaly, specifically on the backs of your arms, hands, and legs.

Oily Skin

‘Oily’ skin type is the one with heightened sebum production. You can also understand it as the opposite of dry skin. If you have oily skin, you may notice comedones (blackheads and whiteheads) and different types of acne. 

Light acne formation may lead to a large number of comedones appearing on the face. You may also notice some on the chest, neck, back, and shoulders. 

Individuals with moderate and severe conditions may have to deal with papules – tiny bumps on the skin with no visible black or white head. Pustules also appear at times. They are medium-sized bumps with a yellow or white dot in the center, leaving the skin red and inflamed. 

How to identify – 

  • If you have oily skin, you may notice a few or all things mentioned above. The oil may seem excessive, so much so that you can feel it on wipes or fingers when you touch your face. The frequency of acne and pustule formation may vary for individuals. 
  • Along with that, the symptoms include enlarged pores, dull or shiny, or thick skinned complexion. 
  • There could be blackheads, pimples, or other blemishes.
  • Please consider that oiliness in the skin depends on the weather and a particular time of year. 
  • Stress, puberty, or other hormonal imbalances can affect the oiliness in the skin. 

Normal Skin

Normal skin is well-balanced, and its scientific term is eudermic. This kind of skin involves T-zone (forehead, chin, and nose) that may be oily. However, the sebum and moisture quantity are balanced in the skin. So, overall, the skin is neither too dry nor too oily. 

How to identify – 

  • If you have normal skin, you may not see many imperfections
  • There is no severe sensitivity
  • There are barely any visible pores
  • Individuals with normal skin types have mostly a naturally radiant complexion. 

Combination Skin Type

Individuals often confuse combination skin type with normal skin. The difference between the two may reflect in T-zone and the cheeks. T-zone can significantly differ for both the skins – starting from a slim zone to a large area. 

As the name suggests, the skin combines oily and dry zones. T-zone and some other parts can be excessively oily & while the rest is dry. 

How to identify – 

  • If you have combination skin, pores look slightly larger than usual as they are more open, especially on the nose.
  • You may notice blackheads and shiny skin. 

The Case of Sensitive Skin

Sensitive skin and Skin Sensitivity are two different things. However, you may notice that generally, people refer to sensitive skin as a skin condition. 

Sensitive skin is easily affected by various factors that other skin types tolerate. The factors involve the usage of skincare products, cosmetics, etc., or a change in weather. 

Sensitive skin is a permanent condition for some individuals. For other individuals, specific internal and external factors trigger sensitivity. In scientific terms, it occurs when the skin’s natural barrier function is compromised, leading to moisture loss and allowing irritating elements to enter the skin. 

If you have skin sensitivity, you may notice itching, inflammation, and redness in your skin very quickly when you step into the sun or apply a cosmetic. In this case, you have to consult a dermatologist who can suggest reliable skincare products to use. 

Skin Type Vs. Skin Conditions 

You know about the different types of skin. Now, let’s learn about multiple skin conditions. 

The major difference between skin type and skin condition is – skin condition can significantly vary throughout your life, unlike the skin type. Common skin conditions are dehydration, aging signs, rosacea, and frequent acne formation. 

Our skin type tends to change during our lifetime. For example, some may have oily skin in teenage days that may turn dryer during later stages. Fine lines and wrinkles also surface on the skin, & pigmentation may evolve. You must notice these changes and understand your skin condition to take the necessary measures. 

Certain internal and external factors determine skin conditions. 

  • Internal factors can be hereditary when genes pass a condition onto an individual. Wrong medication can also lead your skin to develop a condition. Hormonal imbalances are also responsible for some skin conditions such as pain-causing pustules.
  • Climate change, pollution, and stress are external factors that may result in a skin condition such as dehydration. 

If you notice any such problem in your skin in severity, consult a trusted medical professional. 

Choosing a skin treatment is a viable option if you do not have a severe skin condition that requires a doctor’s attention. However, before choosing a course of skincare services, you must keep in mind that getting in touch with an experienced aesthetician is essential. This is the point where Charene Beauty Services come in.

More About Charene Beauty Services for Skincare Services

Imagine a wide array of beauty services by an experienced professional at highly-reasonable prices – that’s Charene Beauty Services in a nutshell. 

Charene provides beauty solutions that anyone can opt for, except for oncology patients. We offer oncology specific facials with a doctor note allowing service. The list of services includes new-age and advanced skin treatment facials like LED facial, ultrasonic facial, etc. 

If you prefer traditional skincare solutions, you can choose spa or deep cleansing facial and oxygen facial. What more? There are customized options available for a deep cleansing facial. 

You can select from relaxing, therapeutic services like facial massages (gua shu/Kansa/CBD/aromatherapy), infusion jelly mask, etc. 

Charene offers advanced skincare services to address different skin conditions for individuals looking for a specific treatment. The service selection involves the wow anti-aging treatment, acne buster, firming peptide treatment, hi-frequency to sanitize and reduce acne & inflammation, chemical peels, sculplla h2 topical facial filler treatment, and microdermabrasion. Modern and highly-effective skincare services starting from $10. 

Charene Beauty Services do not think of these services as just services. For us, these services are a union of therapy and science. Hence, we aim to provide you with an experience like never before. So book an appointment today!

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clean water helps skin

Do You Know Where Your Bottled Water Comes From?

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Information Source: Consumer Reports

Bottled water reviews

Not all bottled water is the same—here’s what you need to know.

Artesian, spring, purified, and sparkling waters can differ in treatment methods and sources. While labels may feature mountains or glaciers, terms like “glacier water” and “mountain water” have no standard definitions.

Bottled water sales are steadily growing, reaching $7.8 billion between August 2010 and August 2011 across major retail outlets (excluding Walmart), according to market research from SymphonyIRI Group.

If you’re paying for something that’s often available for free, it’s worth knowing what you’re buying. Surprisingly, 47% of bottled water sold in the U.S. is simply purified tap water, according to the Beverage Marketing Association.

To make an informed choice, learn about the types of bottled water:

  • Artesian water: Comes from a confined aquifer.

  • Spring water: Flows to the surface naturally.

  • Purified water: Typically tap water filtered through reverse osmosis or distillation.

  • Sparkling water: Contains carbon dioxide for fizziness, either naturally or added.

If you’re concerned about your local water quality but want to avoid the cost and waste of bottled water, consider using a reliable water filter instead. It’s a cost-effective and eco-friendly solution that ensures clean, safe drinking water at home.
 

 

 

More from
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  Artesian Water obtained from a well that taps a confined aquifer, an underground layer of rock or sand that contains water.
Example: Fiji Natural Artesian Water.
  Distilled Water that has been boiled and then recondensed from the steam that the boiling produces. Distillation kills microbes and removes minerals, giving water a flat taste.
Example: Glacéau Smartwater.
  Mineral Groundwater that naturally contains at least 250 parts per million of dissolved solids. All minerals and other trace elements must be present in the water when it emerges at the source.
Example: Calistoga.
  P.W.S. Public water source, also known as municipal water supply, or tap water. Fun fact: Aquafina, one of the top 10 selling domestic brands, used to say “P.W.S.” on its label—but changed that in 2007 under pressure from Corporate Accountability International to make clear that the water came from a public supply and not some pristine mountain spring called P.W.S.
  Purified Water from any source that has been treated to remove chemicals and pathogens according to standards set by the U.S. Pharmacopoeia. Must contain no more than 10 parts per million of dissolved solids. Distillation, deionization, and reverse osmosis are all purification methods.
Examples: Aquafina, Dasani.
  Sparkling Water that contains carbon dioxide at an amount equal to what it contained when it emerged from its source. Carbon dioxide lost during the treatment process may be added back. (Carbonated waters such as soda water and seltzer are considered soft drinks, not bottled waters.)
Example: Perrier.
  Spring Water derived from an underground formation from which water flows naturally to the Earth’s surface. Spring water must be collected at the spring or through a borehole tapping the underground formation (aquifer) feeding the spring.
Examples: Arrowhead Mountain Spring Water (Nestlé), Evian.

 

Please visit the below mentioned knowing everything about your skin, hair, and many more treatments.

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A woman lies peacefully on a spa bed with a white towel wrapped around her head and cotton pads over her eyes. Warm steam rises above her face, creating a soothing atmosphere. The background features a dark, textured surface, enhancing the calm and serene ambiance of the spa treatment.

To Steam or Not To Steam That is the Question! Benefits & Contra indications to Facial Steaming! – Insights by Charene Beauty Salon

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Anyone who has ever had a facial has probably had steam direct at the face or a hot towel draped over the face.  It feels wonderful that is not in question. What are the skin benefits of facial steaming or using hot towels, and who should avoid them?

A History:

While steam was used in ancient times it was not used specifically for the face, it was definitely used for the body.  First made popular by the ancient Greeks and Romans. The origins of the steam bath come from the Roman bath, which began during the height of the Roman Empire. Ancient Roman baths served many community and social functions within Roman society. Everyone in Rome used Roman public baths, regardless of socioeconomic status. These Roman baths were supplied by natural hot springs from beneath the ground.

Public baths originated from a communal need for cleanliness. The term public can be misleading, as some public baths restrict access based on membership, gender, religious affiliation, or other factors. As societies evolved, people replaced public baths with private bathing facilities as they became more widely available. Public baths have also become incorporated into the social system as meeting places. As the title suggests public bathing does not refer only to bathing. In ancient times public bathing included saunas, massages, and relaxation therapies. Members of society considered it as a place to meet and socialize. Public bathing could be compared to the spa of modern times.

The earliest public baths

Archaeologists discovered the earliest public baths in the ruins of the Indus Valley Civilization. In Bath, England, restorers have revived historical parts of a spa—Roman, medieval, Georgian, and Victorian—which now operate as a public bath or Thermae. In ancient Rome, Thermae (from Greek thermos, “hot”) and balnea (Greek βαλανείον, balaneion) were facilities for bathing. Thermae usually refers to the large imperial bath complexes, while balneae were smaller-scale facilities, public or private, that existed in great numbers throughout Rome.

A public bath was built around three principal rooms: the caldarium (hot bath), the tepidarium (warm bath), and the frigidarium (cold bath). Some thermae also featured steam baths: the sudatorium, a moist steam bath, and the laconicum, a dry steam bath much like a modern sauna.  A sudatorium is a vaulted sweating room (sudor, sweat).  The whole building comprises a double set of baths, one for men and the other for women.

To generate the intense heat needed, builders lined the entire wall with vertical terra-cotta flue pipes of rectangular section, placing them side by side to channel hot air and smoke from the suspensura to an exit in the roof.

When Arabs and Turks overran the eastern Roman Empire, they adopted and developed this feature in their baths or hammams.  The origin of Japanese bathing is Misogi, ritual purification with water.  After Japan imported Buddhist culture, many temples had saunas, which were available for anyone to use for free.  Native Americans used dry and moist sweat lodges for physical and spiritual ills.

Today, natural steam baths still exist, and often still use similar systems that the Romans used, which contain pipes and pumps that bring water up and into the large pool areas, wherever the natural springs exist. Heaters are also now used to maintain warm temperatures in the baths.

There are many different types of steam baths, which are different than sauna. (Both are hot, but the steam in a sauna is created by throwing water on a stove.

Turkish baths, steam rooms, and steam showers are types of steam baths.

Benefits of Moist (Facial Steaming):

  • Softens the surface layer of your skin (stratum corneum)
  • Helps loosen dirt, sebum, dead skin cells, and bacteria
  • Makes extractions easier
  • Stimulates circulation
  • Increases perspiration (help to sweat out toxins and body waste)
  • Dilates pores
  • Alleviate sinus symptoms

Contraindications of (Moist) Facial Steaming:

  • Rosacea
  • Fungal Infection
  • Skin conditions that sweating and increased blood circulation can aggravate.

How to do Facial Steaming at Home:

Hot Towel:

  • Hand Towel
  • Bowl (Microwaveable)
  • Water (distilled preferred)
  • Few Drops Essential Oil (optional)

After removing makeup and cleansing the face.  Wet towel with water and wring out.  Make it wet, but don’t soak it.  Place a towel in a microwaveable bowl and a heated towel in the bowl in the microwave for a few seconds.  Shouldn’t take very long in the microwave if you start with warm/hot water.   Test the towel on your inner forearm to gauge temperature.   It should be hot but not too hot that it will burn you.  Wrap towel around the face in u shape.  Place the middle of the towel under your chin, bring the ends up to your forehead covering your face, but leaving your nose exposed for air.  Leave the towel on the skin till cool.  May repeat hot towel if desired one more time.

or

Steam from Bowl:

  • Bowl
  • Body Sized Towel
  • Water (boiled till there is steam, distilled preferred)
  • Few Drops Essential Oil (optional)

 

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clean water for clear skin

Keep your Hair and Skin Healthy with a Shower Water Filter! – Insights by Charene Beauty Salon

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I have tried several shower water filters over the years and nothing has worked as well as Aquasana.  Why use shower water filters in the shower?  City water has chlorine, traces of synthetic chemicals, high acid or low alkaline PH.  Well, water can have an excess of iron, calcium, and magnesium.  Aquasana removes 91% of the chlorine in your water, compared to 50% for other water filters, and also reduces synthetic chemicals and enhances pH balance.  They have shower water filters specifically made for well water, but you need to call (866) 662-6885 to order it is not for sale on the website.  I was able to install it like any other shower head no plumber was needed. 
 
The filter contains two stages.  Stage one copper-zinc oxidation media reduces chlorine and enhances pH balance and stage two coconut shell carbon reduces synthetic chemicals.   The filters need to be replaced about every six months and cost $52.50.  That may sound like a lot of money but if you constantly have dry, itchy skin and dandruff it can make a difference.  Also, remember that your skin is absorbing the contaminants in the water.  You wouldn’t want to drink that, why would you want to shower in it?

 

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beauty tips on enzymes for better skin

Enzymes our Little Exfoliating Helpers, Time to Fight those Free Radicals! – Insights by Charene Beauty Salon

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What are enzymes?  How do they help my skin?

Enzymes are proteins, biochemical compounds or macromolecules, that increase the rate of chemical reactions by acting as catalysts.  Created through various processes within plants, animals, and marine and human life, these are crucial life processes. There are over 3,000 enzymes in our bodies.

Enzymes protect the skin against the effects of free radicals and they enable the skin to generate new cells.  Less specialized cells join together to form specialized cells such as skin cells. Atoms, the basic unit of matter, have become unstable when their structure is changed due to at least one unpaired electron is free radicals.  The unstable atoms cause a chain reaction. Atoms stealing electrons on and on causing a radical reaction damaging the skins cells.   Protease enzymes are used for skincare.  They are able to break down the proteins holding dead skin cells together.  This aids in the accelerated renewal of healthy cells causing cell turnover by breaking down keratin, the main protein of the epidermis, the top layer of skin, thus exfoliating the skin.

By adding an enzyme mask to your skincare routine once a week or every other week if you exfoliate with a facial scrub or use Retinoids or Alpha Hydroxy Acids.   You can not only help exfoliate your skin you can accelerate cell renewal and turnover and decongest the skin and help soften it for extractions.

Cells stained for keratin and DNA: such parts ...

Cells stained for keratin and DNA: such parts of life exist because of the whole, but also to sustain it (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

 

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Juicing to Cleanse & For Your Skin: Good or Bad? – Insights by Charene Beauty Salon

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I started incorporating more cleanses and juices into my diet, and the difference is noticeable—my skin looks and feels better! Drinks with sherbet or sorbet aren’t my go-to; instead, I usually ask for ice or substitute with yogurt. Green drinks used to seem disgusting, but now they’ve become a favorite.

To help you decide if juicing is right for you, I’ve gathered three articles: one highlighting the cons, one focusing on the pros, and a balanced piece presenting both sides.

 

Balanced

Article by: AIMEE BLANCHETTE, Star Tribune

Juicing is big business, thanks to adherents who swear by its cleansing characteristics. But some health experts say the glass is half-empty.

 The thought of consuming nothing but the juice of green leafy vegetables for five days terrified Jamie Hickok, but she couldn’t ignore the promise of more energy, weight loss and a glowing complexion.

“The first day I was like, ‘Oh, dear God,’ because the green juice tastes like what you smell when the lawn has been mowed,” Hickok said. “Now I call it liquid gold.”

Since Hickok’s first “cleanse” in April, the 37-year-old Minneapolis woman has sipped 19 gallons — more than $1,600 worth — of “liquid gold.”

Pulverizing stalks of kale and bunches of spinach into juice is nothing new. Remember Jack LaLanne’s infomercials? But juicing is seeing a resurgence.

Green smoothies are the new Starbucks for celebrities in New York and Los Angeles, where juice bars are a dime a dozen. Wall Street investors are pouring money into companies that promise to take the guesswork out of juice detox programs. Even right here in our own back yard — where new businesses hawk the fresh-pressed nectars by the bottle — juicing is the diet du jour.

Yet some health experts aren’t convinced.

“The intense interest around juicing is concerning,” said Cassie Bjork, a registered dietitian (www.dietitiancassie.com). “There are a lot of good nutrients in the juice, but the problem is, it’s not balanced.”

But supporters are legion, pushing the practice into the mainstream.

“It’s blown up,” said Arturo Miles, who oversees the Juice Bar at the Wedge Community Co-op in south Minneapolis. “People want to detox, prevent cancer, and juicing is a fast way to absorb nutrients.”

While the juicing industry’s worth is hard to gauge, sales are surging. More than $215 million worth of home juice extractors were sold in 2012, up 71 percent over the year before, according to market-research firm NPD Group. BluePrint Juice Co. grosses more than $20 million a year by delivering prepackaged juices to your doorstep. Individual bottles cost between $8 and $10 at stores such as Whole Foods.

Who’s juicing? Everyone from parents who sneak carrots into their kids’ apple juice to extremists who undergo juice-only detoxes for several days at a time. Proponents claim that when juice is extracted from fruits and vegetables — leaving behind the fibrous pulp — the vitamins, minerals and enzymes are more quickly absorbed. Juicing fanatics claim the benefits include weight loss, elimination of toxins, clearer skin and increased energy.

The Daily Detox with Juice

“Some people think it’s kind of a hippie thing, but I feel better when I’m drinking my veggies rather than eating them,” said Michele Kamenar, 44, of Eagan, who makes a juice for breakfast four days a week, especially when local produce is available. “I get a great boost — feel more alert, less bloated and more satiated.”

Juicing can be a good way to get fruits and vegetables into a diet, but there’s no sound scientific evidence that it’s any healthier than eating whole fruits and vegetables, said Jennifer Nelson, director of clinical nutrition for the Mayo Clinic.

Other nutritionists worry that juicing is being promoted as a quick way to lose weight.

Juicing too much can send a rush of sugar into the bloodstream, Bjork said, which spikes blood sugar levels and is destructive to metabolism. Vegetable-only juicing is a lot better, but Bjork still prefers a balanced smoothie with healthy fat, like avocado.

Skepticism aside, juicing fans continue to replace certain meals — especially breakfast — with green juice.

Tracy Tabery-Weller has given up her usual morning coffee and scones. The 40-year-old Minneapolis woman said juice and smoothies are a good way to mix vegetables into her kids’ diets. When she’s traveling for work, juice bars save her from having to dine out.

“I feel good about putting real nutrients in my body instead of taking vitamins or pills,” she said.

The New Era of Juice

Despite the warnings, new companies are getting into the juicing frenzy, each claiming that their juice is better than the others.

Mike Haugen quietly started his Eden Prairie juice delivery service, the Juice Works, in 2009 for people who want the benefits of juicing but don’t want to do the work themselves. His business has quadrupled and Haugen is now in the process of starting a mobile juice bar to serve his recipes at local health fairs and fitness events.

The newest player in town is Truce, a juice-only store in Uptown started by friends Blaire Molitor and Allie Pohlad. Truce sells six bottled varieties of fresh-pressed juice from its storefront.

At both the Juice Works and Truce, produce is slowly pushed through an industrial-sized masticating juicer. The resulting juice is often referred to as “fresh” or “cold-pressed.” Most home juice extractors are centrifugal, using quick-spinning blades to extract the juice. Some say the heat generated by these more traditional juice extractors destroys nutrients and live enzymes.

“Produce that goes through a centrifugal juicer begins to break down faster — within 45 minutes — versus our fresh-pressed method, which lasts for three days,” Haugen said.

Minneapolis rapper Malik “MaLLy” Watkins is a new convert. For 15 days in April, the 27-year-old drank concoctions of cucumbers, spinach, kale, and pineapple for breakfast and dinner, but ate a regular lunch. His lifestyle change earned him a few razzing from his buddies.

“What rapper do you know who juices and works out every day?” he said.

But Watkins said he feels great while juicing, so he’s not giving it up.

“I’ve turned a whole new leaf,” he said. “I feel inspired. It’s strange — like a new part of my brain has been turned on.”

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