Skin care: 4 ways to get rid of blackheads and acne

Blackheads are pimples that don’t have skin on them. The pimples are exposed to air and the top skin layer oxidizes, changing to a dark color. What is the difference between a blackhead and a whitehead?

With blackheads, if the pores are exposed to air, the skin oxidizes and starts forming a dark color (black). Scrubbing your skin does not clear blackheads; it could actually make it worse because your skin is left dry and more oil will be created which means it will make no change to your skin.

Whiteheads are small pimples with white bumps. This acne type is caused when skin oils are produced thus blocking the skin pores. This type of acne is very easy to treat at home. But that’s something for another day.

Today I will give you tips covering how to get rid of blackheads at home in four simple ways.

Trick numero uno

You will need:

Toothbrush

Toothpaste

Water

Here’s how you do it:

Spread some toothpaste on your toothbrush.

Wet the affected areas of your skin; also wet the toothbrush.

Scrub the affected areas gently, using your toothbrush. Don’t apply the toothpaste close to your eyes; it can be very irking. If your nose has blackheads apply a small amount of toothpaste and keep the paste away from your eyes. Ensure you sterilize your toothbrush after doing this.

Do this every day until the affected areas are clear. 

This method is among the easiest.

Trick numero due

I have another method that I also use at home and it has worked well.

 You will need:

 Milk

Petroleum jelly

Here’s how you do it

Apply a little milk on your face

Rub the milk on the skin for approximately for 5 minutes.

Ensure you do this before bed.

Apply petroleum jelly on your face and leave it throughout the night.

In the morning, squeeze the blackheads and they will come out easily.

Lastly, wash your face using cold water.

Trick numero tre: Squeezing the black heads

You will need:

Warm face towel

Place a warm face towel on your face. By doing this, the pores tend to expand; this makes it easy to squeeze the blackhead.

Apply pressure under the blackhead. This method works great if the blackhead is not tightly embedded in your skin. If it gets painful try other methods.

Trick numero quattro

You need:

Exfoliator

Clean face towel

Warm water

Cotton wool

Here’s what you do

Use your exfoliator to remove the dead cells.

Pat your face with a clean, dry face towel.

Place a warm towel gently on your face, to soften the blackhead. It becomes easy to remove.

Gently use your clean towel to wipe your face.

Place cotton wool at the tip of your fingers. It prevents you tearing off your skin, when your hands get slippery.

Gently try removing them off your skin.

So how do you avoid blackheads?

Don’t use harsh cleansers on your face.

Clean your face using natural stuff.

Wear as little makeup as possible.

Wash your pillow case every week to clean the dust, dead cells and dirt accumulated throughout the week.

There you go!

How to apply mascara

We all wish we had this one makeup artist at our beck and call, but I want to do you a favor. I will teach you how to be your own makeup artist. You can keep practicing till you get it right.

Mascara is an important make up essential in any eye makeup session. It makes your eyes stand out by adding thickness and length to your eyelashes. Mascara also adds some fine detail to your eyes as well as giving you that picturesque look. We all want that look, don’t we? If you apply mascara the right way, prepare to have loads of confidence. If you do it the wrong way, it forms lumps on your eyelashes making you appear like you have raccoon eyes. Nobody wants that!

Find the right mascara and please, please apply it correctly. Finding the right mascara specifically suited for you can be hard since there inestimable brands. There innumerable things to consider when choosing mascara, consider the aspects; non-clumping, thickening, lengthening and water proof. Consider the price too. You might get good mascara in a drugstore but you want to spend a little extra on designer mascara. These brands of mascara typically last longer and have no clumps. I have used these brands and I loved them.

Water proof mascara is best for summer time. It lasts longer and you can wear it all day without having messy eyes. It’s hard to remove; you have to remove it using a good conventional remover. Avoid products that will irritate your eyes as you remove the mascara.

Black mascara makes your eyes look pretty and sexy. It sort of opens the look in your eyes and gives them a somewhat fuller look. You can choose other colors, but black gives the best results. If you have thin layered skin and light hair, use black or brown mascara. It will give you thick eyelashes that everyone will envy.

Here are tips on how to apply your mascara correctly

Apply your make up: This includes eye liner, eye shadow, and foundation. If you are scared that your mascara could mess up your eyeliner, stick a card behind your lashes to prevent your eyelashes from being messed up. You can also curl your lashes to give them that extra length before you apply mascara.

Open the mascara and rub off the excess mascara on the mascara applicator, into the mascara tube.

Make sure you are in a well lit room and you are comfortable; having an excellent view of the mirror. Using your hand, place the mascara wand at the root of your lashes. Pull the wand gently, going all the way to the end of your lashes. Repeat this process till you get to every eyelash.

Using an eyelash comb, comb your eyelash roots, as you pull up gently.  You will start observing some change to your eyelashes. Hold your mascara wand vertically. Gently run your mascara wand along your lower and upper lashes, to give some color to the eyelashes.

Remove any excessive mascara with makeup remover. Wipe off the excess mascara using cotton pads and using your eye shadow brush, gently blend it back in.

And there you go, that’s how you do mascara!

Applying gel polish at home

Gel nail polish offers the same bold look as normal nail polish. It has no odor and does not damage your nails. You can have it done at a local salon by a professional or better still, you can do it at home; as long as you have the supplies.

Getting your gel polish done at home is quite convenient because it saves you money, time and the energy you would spend getting to the beauty parlor. Gel nail polish lasts about three weeks or ten days without peeling or chipping. In this period, it remains shinny and glossy. Gel polish requires more attention than enamel polish when it comes to applying. Assuming you want to clean your nails you will need to clean them with gel nail cleanser.

To start off you will need:

• Cuticle oil

• Primer

• Nail cleanser

• UV light drier

• Fine nail buffer

• Gel nail polish

• Cuticle pusher

Start by cleaning your nails and removing the old nail polish. Gel polish should be applied on clean nails. Remove the old polish using the procedure demonstrated earlier on in a previous article.

Trim your nails using a nail cutter to a manageable length. Smoothen the edges using a nail file to give your nails shape.

Apply some cuticle oil using a cotton pad. Gently try to push your cuticle on each finger using a cuticle pusher. Ensure you soak your hands in warm water for a few minutes before pushing your cuticles back. Warm water makes it easy to push your cuticles back because they become wet and soft. Wash your hands and dry them to prepare them for the primer.

Buff your nails lightly using a nail buffer. Make sure you do it on the top layer of the nails. It ensures your gel polish won’t peel off after you apply.

Apply the primer, it gets rid of the remaining oils and moisture from your finger nails to prepare them for the gel nail polish. Apply a thin coat of primer using a brush, do this from the cuticle to the topmost part of your finger nail. Wait for a few minutes for your primer to dry.

Using a UV nail gel, apply an even coat of gel polish on each nail. Cover the nail completely, make long strokes. If you happen to apply excessive polish on your fingers, you can remove using nail cleanser. Cover your finger nails under a UV light drier, if you’re done with applying all your nails. Give it 3 minutes which is actually the normal drying time.

Apply the second coat of the gel nail polish and put your hands under the UV light drier and wait for them to dry. The second coat normally takes a longer time to dry, give it about 4 minutes.

If the second coat is dry, then apply the third coat. With the third coat, cover the thin spots and ensure your nails have an even color before letting them dry completely. If the gel nail polish is not applied evenly, your nails will neither look neat nor even. Place your hands on the UV light drier once more and let them dry for 5 minutes. The greater the amount of gel you apply, the more time it takes to dry.

Buff your nails using a nail buffer as it shapes your nails and makes them look even.

Lastly, wash your hands and apply some lotion to keep them moisturized.

And you’re good to go!

How to remove gel nail polish

I am incredibly passionate about good looking nails. I love my nails; I hate to see my nails unkempt. I was a user of the usual nail polish until a friend introduced me to gel nail polish. Gel polish happens to be a type of nail polish that is fixed using UV light in order to toughen the nail lacquer.

   Gel polish is long-lasting and very convenient; it lasts about 10 days or approximately 3weeks. Salons that offer gel polish services, probably also offer removal services. You don’t have to walk to the salon to have your gel polish removed. You can remove the gel polish at the convenience of your home without damaging your nails.

Here are the items you will need:

• Pure acetone

• Nail file

• Cotton pads

• Nail buffer

• Foil

Find a bowl and fill it with acetone. Acetone is a substance that reacts with the gel polish to loosen and free it from your natural nail. Acetone is typical nail polish remover but to remove gel polish you need a more concentrated acetone. It will eliminate gel nail polish effectively. Cover your bowl of acetone with foil. Hold the foil with a rubber band to keep it in place.

Mix the acetone with warm water in a bowl; it makes your work much easier when removing the gel polish. Give the acetone a few minutes to settle.

Warning! Be careful, acetone is flammable. Keep this solution away from direct heat.

Apply some petroleum jelly on your fingers to protect your skin. Acetone can damage your skin, so it’s best to use lots of petroleum jelly or better still, use some lotion. Dip your cotton pad in the petroleum jelly; use it to rub the petroleum jelly on the edges of the nails.

Don't apply too much petroleum jelly on the nails because acetone’s main purpose is to dissolve the gel.

Cover your finger nails with the acetone. Dip a cotton pad in the acetone to soak it in completely, and then hold the cotton pad against your nail. Wrap the cotton pad in a strip of aluminum foil. Repeat the same process with the other nails. Leave your nails soaked in the acetone for about 30 minutes. You can dip your finger nails, directly into the acetone solution if and only if, you know it will not irritate you. Don’t soak your fingernails for more than 30 minutes; the solution could damage your skin.

Remove both the foil and the cotton ball from one nail. The gel will come off together with the cotton pad. Repeat the same procedure with the rest of the fingers. Try to peel off the gel slowly and avoid damaging your nails in the process. If the gel is not coming off, repeat the same procedure but soak your nails for 10 minutes.

Rinse your nails of the acetone and file your nails using your nail file. Using a nail buffer; buff your nails in order to remove the uneven edges of your nails. Apply some moisturizing lotion on your hands to keep them moisturized. File the nails in one direction and be careful not to damage your nails.

Acetone can dry your hands and finger nails; therefore, you need to treat them with care. Wait for a week before applying some more gel polish.

Next time I will show you how to apply gel polish. Thank you!