Complexion Quandary Number 2: Uneven Skin Tone & Pigmentation

Pigmentation comes in different colors and form. Some have tiny red, bluish gray or brown spots left over from pimples that have already healed. While some have brown patches (more commonly known as freckles) that have resulted from too much unprotected time in the sun. It was learned that these hyperpigmentations, regardless of the color, have taken years to develop, but thanks to technological advancements, there's actually more hope than you know it to erase these pesky marks.

As always, we have to know the enemy.

1. Acne marks' dark complexions take longer to fade when you go outside unguarded by sunscreen.

2. Beach vacations are written all over your face. The sun-kissed "glow" you thought you get after being outside is actually sun-induced injury to the skin. When your tan fades, the skin becomes freckled, mottled and leathery than before.

3. Melasma. It is a hereditary condition but hormonal changes can also trigger it.

4. Rosacea may result in permanent red blotches, especially around the nose and cheeks, and these usually worsend with age if you are frequently exposed to wind and extreme temperature and drink a little too much alcohol.

5. Those with darker skin types (Asian, African, Latin, Indian) are more prone to hyperpigmentation.

WHAT YOU CAN DO?

1. Get protected! Find a good sunscreen. First, it prevents spots from appearing in the first place by staving off damage from ultraviolet light. Second, it stops the sun from further darkening existing marks. Everyone should slick on an SPF of at least 15 before going outside - may it be for simple errands or lounging in the sand under the extreme heat of the sun. And! Be sure to reapply for every two hours of sun exposure. We recommend V&M Naturals Keep Safe Sunblock with SPF 35 for a matte and shine-free finish. Apply after moisturizer and before the primer.

2. Dose up with antioxidants - such as those occuring in green tea and vitamins E and C. They're found to help mop up free radicals generated by sunlight. Free radicals can cause not only freckles and blemishes, but also skin cancer if left unchecked.


3. Choose healthy topical fading products. Good lotions and creams containing natural and healthy ingredients are designed to brighten mottled or spotty skin. V&M Naturals Supernatural Herbal Magic Cream contains just the right amount of alpha hydroxy acid, which is known to properly slough off the top layers of the skin. You should know that though topical fade treatments work to erase these marks, it takes weeks-months of diligent use to show the results you want to achieve. The duration always depends on the severity of the condition.


*Photo Source: Google.com.ph for Green Tea
Reference: Universal Beauty by Cara Burnbaum

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Complexion Quandary Number 1: Acne

Hello everyone!

It's been a while since we last blogged here. If you'll notice, there's a change in the URL of this site. It has been running as vnmnaturals.com for months already. Soon, we will be launching our own website where it's going to be easier browsing through the products and actually buying online! In the meantime, we would like to engage everyone in reading our blog daily! We will be updating this as much as we can with tips, tutorials, anything Healthy Beauty and Skin-related worth sharing with you! We hope you can link us on your own blogs too :)

This July, read FOUR Complexion Quandaries and know how to combat them the V&M Naturals way! :)

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Acne can strike any woman at any point in her life. But, really? What's the first step in keeping blemishes at bay? To know what to do, it's best to understand why these pesky bumps appear in the first place. Step two comes in with finding the right treatment as early as possible to minimize the chance of scarring. :)

1. Distinguish acne from Rosacea. They may not be pimples at all. Rosacea is a condition that often mimics acne. It is believed that it is caused by bacteria and made worse by stress and unlike acne, is exacerbated by certain foods such as chocolate, red wine, hot drinks and anything very spicy.



2. There is NO PROOF that eating chocolates or fried food causes a breakout.



3. Excess oil production is typically triggered by hormonal changes, stress and genetics. If you think acne can only be common during adolescence, think again. Pregnancy, birth control pills and menopause also do wreak havoc with hormone levels.

4. As early as the puberty stage, oil glands start to shed dead skin more rapidly. When it jumbles with the increased amount of sebum (see #3), it becomes a blackhead or a whitehead. Accumulation of these often lead to a skin that's grim and pimply.

5. To complicate matters, bacteria that's normally present in the skin tend to multiply inside clogged sebaceous glands producing substances that irritate the surrounding area. The gland continuous to swell and eventually burst, hence spreading the inflammation to surrounding skin.

This is what causes CYSTIC ACNE - the type most likely to leave long term pigmentation and permanent pockmock scars behind.


WHAT YOU CAN DO?

The *BEST RULE OF THUMB when battling blemishes is to start with the gentler, less invasive options and work up from there. AND because most of these treatments can take weeks or even months to work, remember to be patient. You want the best for your skin, yes?

I cannot agree with that more. The best products to use are the mildest you can find. With the myriad of treatments and products available in the market, sometimes, it can be so hard and tricky to choose the best to use.

We enumerated the possible causes of acne and now allow us to enumerate our recommendations from our line.

1. These facial flushes, which occur mostly around the nose and cheeks can be zapped away by Laser Therapy treatments (Doctor's recommendation).
We say, try V&M Naturals' Emu Oil to relieve the redness and treat the condition. Emu oil is a proven anti-inflammatory and bacteriostatic, meaning that it does not promote the growth of bacteria; a Hypoallergenic, which means it is not known to cause skin irritation or have any side effects; a highly penetrating oil that absorbs without leaving a greasy feel; and a non-comedogenic, meaning that it does not clog pores.

We have seen many people whose lives have changed just by using this oil. Well, it's more than safe to say that it also has benefits to increase one's overall well-being. :)


2. What you can do? Cut it from your diet for a month and see if it will make a difference.

3 and 4. We can't say this enough! Never underestimate the power of scrubbing once or twice a week! Use Clear y Rosy Sugar Scrub, tone every night with Happy Pores (available in Cucumber and Witch Hazel) and our current favorite, Jagermister Pore Suit. Say hello to clearer and smoother skin, without the blackheads/whiteheads/dead skin/grime.



For hormonal problems, it is always best to consult a doctor.

PREVENTION is always better than cure.

BUT what to do if acne is already existent?

Whether your skin is oily-sensitive, oily, normal or dry, we have the skin care routine that's best for you to follow. I would say, don't scrimp on yourself. Use the whole line and see how it can change the current state of your skin. If it works, you can't be any happier! Remember though that every skin has its own way of reacting to products, so don't expect the same results your bestfriend/sister gets (no matter how exactly identical your hair color is, or how you suffer from the same allergens!)

We have just recently launched more soaps - Jagermeister Pore Suit and Rewinding Stems! (both good for any skin type and have additional benefits for the pores), so you might wanna check them out too!


Always do a patch test!

Please do come back for the next Complexion Quandary Articles. Hope this helps! :)


*Source: Thellman-Karcher
Reference: Universal Beauty by Cara Burnbaum