The face is the reflection of the soul and the first thing that any other human being sees first before any other part in the body.  There can be many reasons, owing to which, the emergence of acne may be caused.  Levels of stress changes and hormonal imbalances are considered to be the two major possibilities. Unlike what many people may think, acne is not just for the teens and adults may also have it. The statistical figure shows about 70% of the people having acne is aged between 18-30 years of age. Being one of the most common skin disorders, almost more than 30% of the people have the record of visiting Dermatorlogist for seeking solutions to this issue. A bad diet or illness may also lead to this unwanted problem. But it can in no way be the root cause. Acne is majorly known  to have been caused by abnormal hyperactive secretion of androgen hormone. This section forth comes with puberty and is responsible for the aggravated sexual drive, initiating the sebaceous glands to produce even more facial oil than normal course , bring back the skin cells to the surface and causing formation of white heads due to the clogging. Gradually these whiteheads are seen to have transformed into black tips and inflamed reddish pimples. And at times, propioninbacteriumacnes multiply to the formation of  red pimples, which had transformed to form bigger acnes, pain, itching and irritation.

Treatment Options:

There are varied things which can be used as medications or preventive measures to keep you ‘acne worry' at bay, atleast as far as it can stay under control. Some of the steps which can help you soothe your skin during this course of the problem are as follows:

• Wash your face not more than twice.
• Use warm or cool water and  a gentle facial cleanser.
• Use a cleansing brush, baby washcloth for 30 seconds for effective freshness.
• Pat your skin until completely dry.

 Cosmetic and plastic surgeons are the ones involved with treating acne, though there are a few very effective Modern procedures to treat the acne:

1. Laser Skin Resurfacing - A device is used which emits amplified light of high energy that vaporizes a scarred layer, allowing the initiation of the growth of the new cells.
2. Micro-Dermabrasion - The top portion of the scar is scrapped in a gentle way by tiny particles and cleaned with a vacuum tube. Patients with mild scars are applicable for this process. Though for best outcome multiple sessions can be used.
3. Dermabrasion - Sanding of the upper skin layer mechanically to allow new formation of the skin, offering a rejuvenated  appearance.
4. Chemical Peels - Peels are applied  to the affected area and mainly meant for achieving an even tone.

Androgenetic alopecia, commonly called male or female pattern baldness, was only partially understood until the last few decades. For many years, scientists thought that androgenetic alopecia was caused by the predominance of the male sex hormone, testosterone, which women also have in trace amounts under normal conditions. While testosterone is at the core of the balding process, DHT is thought to be the main culprit.

Testosterone converts to DHT with the aid of the enzyme Type II 5-alpha reductase, which is held in a hair follicle's oil glands. Scientists now believe that it's not the amount of circulating testosterone that's the problem but the level of DHT binding to receptors in scalp follicles. DHT shrinks hair follicles, making it impossible for healthy hair to survive.

The hormonal process of testosterone converting to DHT, which then harms hair follicles, happens in both men and women. Under normal conditions, women have a minute fraction of the level of testosterone that men have, but even a lower level can cause DHT- triggered hair loss in women. And certainly when those levels rise, DHT is even more of a problem. Those levels can rise and still be within what doctors consider "normal" on a blood test, even though they are high enough to cause a problem. The levels may not rise at all and still be a problem if you have the kind of body chemistry that is overly sensitive to even its regular levels of chemicals, including hormones.

Since hormones operate in the healthiest manner when they are in a delicate balance, the androgens, as male hormones are called, do not need to be raised to trigger a problem. Their counterpart female hormones, when lowered, give an edge to these androgens, such as DHT. Such an imbalance can also cause problems, including hair loss.

Hormones are cyclical. Testosterone levels in some men drop by 10 percent each decade after thirty. Women's hormone levels decline as menopause approaches and drop sharply during menopause and beyond. The cyclic nature of both our hair and hormones is one reason hair loss can increase in the short term even when you are experiencing a long-term slowdown of hair loss (and a long-term increase in hair growth) while on a treatment that controls hair loss.

The following are the most common causes of women’s hair loss:

Andogenetic Alopecia

The majority of women with androgenic alopecia have diffuse thinning on all areas of the scalp. Men on the other hand, rarely have diffuse thinning but instead have more distinct patterns of baldness. Some women may have a combination of two pattern types. Androgenic alopecia in women is due to the action of androgens, male hormones that are typically present in only small amounts. Androgenic alopecia can be caused by a variety of factors tied to the actions of hormones, including, ovarian cysts, the taking of high androgen index birth control pills, pregnancy, and menopause. Just like in men the hormone DHT appears to be at least partially to blame for the miniaturization of hair follicles in women suffering with female pattern baldness. Heredity plays a major factor in the disease.

Telogen Effluvium

When your body goes through something traumatic like child birth, malnutrition, a severe infection, major surgery, or extreme stress, many of the 90 percent or so of the hair in the anagen (growing) phase or catagen (resting) phase can shift all at once into the shedding (telogen) phase. About 6 weeks to three month after the stressful event is usually when the phenomenon called telogen effluvium can begin. It is possible to lose handful of hair at time when in full-blown telogen effluvium. For most who suffer with TE complete remission is probable as long as severely stressful events can be avoided. For some women however, telogen effluvium is a mysterious chronic disorder and can persist for months or even years without any true understanding of any triggering factors or stressors.

Anagen Effluvium

Anagen effluvium occurs after any insult to the hair follicle that impairs its mitotic or metabolic activity. This hair loss is commonly associated with chemotherapy. Since chemotherapy targets your body’s rapidly dividing cancer cells, your body’s other rapidly dividing cells such as hair follicles in the growing (anagen) phase, are also greatly affected. Soon after chemotherapy begins approximately 90 percent or more of the hairs can fall out while still in the anagen phase.
The characteristic finding in anagen effluvium is the tapered fracture of the hair shafts. The hair shaft narrows as a result of damage to the matrix. Eventually, the shaft fractures at the site of narrowing and causes the loss of hair.

Traction alopecia

This condition is caused by localized trauma to the hair follicles from tight hairstyles that pull at hair over time. If the condition is detected early enough, the hair will regrow. Braiding, cornrows, tight ponytails, and extensions are the most common styling causes.

Here at Soapbox we have a few vegetarians and vegans on the team. We wanted to do a little bit of research into vegan and cruelty free cosmetics and share our findings with you.

Below is a list of common ingredients that can be in your cosmetics. If you look on cosmetic labels you will be able to see if these are in your lipstick or mascara etc. If you are unsure on any ingredients that aren’t listed here, a simple google search should re-assure you.

BEESWAX (AKA CERA ALBA, CERA LAVA)
 – This is the wax from a bee’s hive. Bees must consume six or more pounds of honey in order to create one pound of wax. It is created by either being secreted by worker honeybees from four pairs of glands on the underside of their abdomens, or by secreting droplets of wax called "scales." It can be found in many forms of makeup, from eye shadow to foundation to lipstick.

CARMINE (AKA COCHINEAL, COCHINEAL EXTRACT, CRIMSON LAKE, NATURAL RED 4, C.I. 75470, E120, CARMINIC ACID)
 – This deep red color is taken from crushed cochineal insects. The color is extracted from the insect’s body and eggs. It is a very common colorant in lipsticks and blushes.

COLLAGEN
 – This is a protein that is naturally produced in the bodies of animals. In order to extract the protein, collagen is taken from dead animals by cooking cartilaginous animal materials, such as bones, connective tissues and skin. Collagen is typically used because of its temporary plumping or firming effect and can be found in lotions, creams or lip sticks.

GUANINE (AKA CI 75170)
 – Guanine is fish scales that have been scraped off dead fish. It is then soaked in alcohol to create a pearly essence that is added to products. In mainstream cosmetics you can find it in the sparkles of your products such as blush, eye shadow and nail polish.

KERATIN
– This is another protein found in mammals. It comes from hair, nails and horns of animals. It is often found in hair products.

LANOLIN – This fat is derived from the grease in a sheep’s hair. It is most often found in lotions and lip balms.

SQUALANE
 – This ingredient can be made from squeezing oil from the liver of a shark. You can find it in all sorts of moisturisers and cosmetics.

If you have ever thought about making the transition to vegan-friendly brands but don’t want to break the bank. Here is a list of amazing drug store brands that provide some vegan and cruelty free options.
e.l.f – All of their the makeup is vegan, but some of their makeup brushes are not.

CIRCA – Eva Mendes’ makeup line will be available at Walgreens.
Flower Beauty – The company is 100% cruelty-free—not entirely vegan.
Hard Candy – This brand is sold exclusively at Walmart.
NYX Cosmetics – Most items are vegan. Here’s their official statement: "Most of our products are but a few do have animal derived ingredients and/or could contain gluten. It is best for the customer to view the labels of each product in-person and determine if there is any ingredient that could be derived from animals and/or contains gluten."
Pacifica – Available at Target. This company is completely vegan and cruelty-free.
Physicians Formula – Also 100% cruelty-free and mostly vegan but look at the individual labels.
Pix – This line is cruelty-free with lots vegan options – just be sure to read ingredient labels.
Sonia Kashuk – This line is cruelty-free with vegan options. Available at Target.
Wet ’n’ Wild – This line is cruelty-free with mostly vegan options, but some products contain carmine.
Milani – This bunny friendly beauty line has heaps of vegan options. Our favourites here have to be e.l.f, NYX Cosmetics and Sonia Kashuk. They are really great quality and if you read the labels you can make sure your whole makeup bag is cruelty free and vegan friendly. A lot of products simply have a sign on the packaging so you don’t have to read through a ton of weird and confusing product names. Peta have an amazing in-depth list of not only cosmetics companies, but hair, nail and other personal care products. On this list are all the companies that have signed their agreement and given a statement that they do not test or harm animals. There are also a wide range of similar symbols depending where in the world you are!

After researching into the vegan cosmetics industry – we have come to the conclusion that if you can, you SHOULD be buying cruelty free and vegan cosmetics. There are so many options out there. Do you really want to be brushing your face with the hair of a goat? Technology is changing, for example Tweezerman have just released a line of complete vegan and synthetic makeup brushes.

Unfortunately, many different factors of life can negatively affect a woman’s breast tissue over time, such as weight changes, pregnancy, childbirth, genetics, and gravity. While many women just turn to push up bras to get their breasts back into place, others begin to consider permanently boosting them up through plastic surgery. The breast augmentation procedure is currently the most commonly performed procedure in the U.S. with over 300,000 surgeries per year. If you have started to consider getting breast implants, there are a few things you should think about.

The right time. Before getting implants, many doctors recommend that women should be in good health, not smoke, be at a stable ideal weight, and have fully developed breasts. Some women also prefer to wait until after they are done having children, but this is not necessary. Due to swelling of the breasts during pregnancy and nursing, women sometimes end up with bigger breasts and don’t find the need for breast implants after all. But there is no way to predict if this will happen to you. Think about when would be the perfect time for your breast augmentation.

Do it for the right reasons. It is important that you do this for yourself and not for anyone else. Plastic surgery is a big a deal and should not be done to please anyone but yourself. Before following up with this decision, make sure it is exactly what you want.

Have realistic expectations. It is extremely important to have realistic expectations before getting breast implants. For the first few months and possibly up to a year, your breasts may not look completely natural. They will rest high on your chest for the first few months and it will take time for them to soften up. Do not expect to go from a AA to a DDD. Most patients with minimal breast tissue cannot jump to a huge breast size because the skin’s elasticity may not cooperate, causing stretch marks. Your doctor will help you decide which implant size is right for your body.

Know the risks. Although a breast augmentation is a low risk procedure, there are possible risks that come with this procedure, just like any other type of surgery. Some risks include infection, bleeding, loss of sensation, contracture, and wrinkling of the breast implant. Following all orders from your doctor can help prevent any of these complications from occurring.
Introduction to Breast Augmentation Miami

Breast Augmentation surgery or augmentation mammoplasty, is the surgical procedure used to increase the volume of the breasts and improve their symmetry by using implants. It is also aimed to restore breast volume lost after weight loss or pregnancy. In addition, this procedure can serve as breast reconstruction after mastectomy or injury which can enhance self-image and confidence of the patient.

A smile enhancement doesn’t just brighten up your smile; it also makes you look more youthful and confident. Thanks to modern advances in the field of dentistry, cosmetic procedures that focus on smile enhancement range from simple colour correction and broken tooth repair to missing teeth replacement. Cosmetic dentistry has become more popular now than it was before, and dentists now have access to more modern tools and techniques used in perfecting the look of your smile.

Before you decide to undergo any cosmetic dental procedure, it’s important to know and understand the benefits, risks, and what to expect during the process. Make sure to go to a dentist you trust, who’s both experienced and qualified to perform the procedure you want. During the consultation with your dentist, ask all your questions especially regarding the costs and whether you’ll need any post-procedure maintenance or care.

If you’re interested in enhancing your smile via cosmetic dental treatment, the following are some of the common procedures and services involved.

Bonding

If you have broken, chipped, cracked, discoloured teeth, or gaps in between teeth, bonding can help improve the look of your teeth. This typically involves your dentists applying an etching solution directly to the surface of the tooth that needs bonding. This is followed by the application of composite resins or tooth-coloured materials to fill small cavities or to protect the exposed root if a tooth. Bonding can last for several years, but over time, it is still prone to chipping, staining, and wearing down.

Braces

These days, braces not only benefit children and teenagers, but even adults. Braces apply pressure to the teeth and reposition them over the course of a few months or a few years, depending on the case.

Braces are applied for the following purposes:

• To correct jaw positioning and jaw joint disorders
• To improve the appearance of teeth that are crooked or crowded
• To improve irregular bite

When placing braces, your dentist will bond brackets made of ceramic, metal, or plastic to your teeth. These are followed by wires that go through the brackets, which help keep teeth in their correct positions. In some cases, lingual braces are attached to the backs of the teeth so they won’t be visible. The dentist tightens the braces once they’re attached. Every subsequent visit afterwards, the dentist will tighten the braces. Discomfort for a few days after tightening of braces is common. Regular dental and oral hygiene should be a constant even while wearing braces. After wearing braces, the next phase involves wearing retainers. Retainers help hold your teeth in their new correct position. They can either be removable or permanently bonded behind your teeth.

Aligners are an alternative to traditional braces. Unlike traditional braces, they’re clear, that’s why they’re also called invisible braces. And they can also be removed prior to eating, brushing, and flossing. Aligners are used for minor teeth spacing problems. The dentist reshapes and replaces them every two weeks to move your teeth progressively.

Bridges

Bridges are used to replace missing teeth with artificial teeth. They’re also called fixed partial dentures. Bridges are composed of alloys, gold, porcelain, or a combination. The dentist prepares your teeth for crowns and then anchors the bridge onto surrounding teeth. A false tooth is joined to the crowns and the bridge is cemented onto the teeth. Bridges last depending on the strength of its foundation. Maintaining regular dental and oral hygiene is a must if you want your bridge to last for a long time.

Crowns

Crowns are also called caps. A crown completely covers a tooth and is used to restore its normal shape and appearance.

A crown can be applied for the following purposes:

• cover misshapen, discoloured, or stained tooth
• cover a dental implant, a tooth with a large filling, or a tooth that has undergone root canal procedure
• hold a dental bridge in place
• protect weak tooth
• restore broken, chipped, cracked, or worn tooth

Crowns are typically composed of ceramic, metal, resin, or porcelain fused to metal materials. Note that they are also usually costly, and many dentists only recommend them when other procedures don’t work for you. A dentist can fit you a crown within a single or two dental appointments. The dentist will first prepare the tooth that needs the crown, creates moulds of the tooth or takes a digital impression, and provides you with a temporary crown if your permanent crown needs to be made in a laboratory. Some dental offices can mill crowns within the day. Crowns can last decades especially if you consistently maintain proper dental and oral hygiene.

Implants

Implants are considered a long-term solution for replacing missing teeth. They’re more permanent, stable, sturdier, and even more expensive than bridges and removable dentures. It involves a surgical procedure of attaching the implants into the jaw bone.

Implants are made of 3 parts: the titanium metal that fuses to the jawbone, the abutment that fits over the portion of the implant that sticks to the gums, and the crown, which provides the natural tooth-like appearance of the implants.

1. Getting implants involves several required steps:
2. Comprehensive exam, x-rays, and consultation with your dental surgeon
3. Surgical implantation of the titanium screws
4. Taking impressions of the lower and upper jaws
5. Creating a model for the crowns or dentures
6. Placement of the crown
7. Follow-up consultations

Veneers

Veneers are custom-made shells used to repair teeth that are chipped, cracked, crooked, discoloured, poorly shaped, stained, worn, or have gaps in between. Veneers are composed of porcelain or plastic and cover the front sides of the teeth. They usually have a more superior appearance and last longer than bonding. They’re also less expensive than crowns. Veneers are made in a laboratory, so you’ll need two dental appointments to have them secured to your teeth.

Enamel shaping and contouring

Enamel shaping and contouring is a process that alters the length, position, or shape of the teeth to improve its overall appearance. It can correct chipped or irregular teeth, crooked or overlapping teeth, and minor bite problems. The process involves removing and contouring dental enamel and may also be combined with bonding. To be a suitable candidate for enamel shaping and contouring, you must have normal, healthy teeth with adequate bone between your teeth to support them.

Teeth whitening

Over time, teeth gets discoloured and stained especially due to smoking, consuming food and drinks that stain like coffee, tea, red wine, and some types of medications. Teeth whitening involve bleaching the exterior of your teeth which can be done in two ways. Your dentist can perform an in-clinic procedure, or simply provide you with a teeth whitening kit to use in the comfort of your own home. If you opt for an at-home whitening treatment, your dentist will make a custom mouthpiece tray to ensure that the right amount of whitening solution spreads to your teeth. At-home whitening treatment is usually more convenient, although whitening may take 2-4 weeks or longer depending on the strength of the peroxide used. In-clinic whitening usually takes only one or two 1-hour dental appointments. Keep in mind though, that the effects of teeth whitening aren’t permanent. Your teeth can become stained again if you continue to expose them to the same substances that cause staining and discoloration. Also, teeth whitening products aren’t used to clean teeth. You’ll still need to maintain oral and dental hygiene daily.

If you have a small amount of human hair weave, you can store it in its original packaging. If you want to store a large amount of human hair weave then I suggest you store it the same way as the human wig. In the original packaging with air holes, in a cloth bag or on hooks. Synthetic hair weave can be stored in it’s original packaging, in a cloth bag or on a hook.

Tips of shampoo hair weave

If the hair is weaved onto your scalp then you can shampoo the hair as you would your own. Try not to shampoo too hard. This will cause the hair weave to loosen. Pay close attention to not only cleaning the hair weave but also cleaning your scalp. If you want to wash and reuse hair weave, simply wash and condition it in a sink. Use a large comb or weave brush to remove any tangles before the hair dries. You can lay it on a large towel to air dry. I do not recommend reusing hair weave if you have excessive dandruff. If you do make sure you are using dandruff shampoo.

Tips of Style Your Hair Weave

Human hair

You can style your human hair weave the same way you would your real hair. You can use hair sprays that are not too harsh or drying. You can hot curl your human hair weave just as long as you do not curl it too much too often. This will vary from person to person depending upon how long a person wants to keep the hair weave looking healthy and natural.

Synthetic hair

Unlike human hair weave, synthetic hair weave can not be hot curled because the synthetic fibers will melt. You can use styling sprays as long as the sprays are not used too often, you can also use sprays on synthetic hair a little bit more and often than you would on human hair.

Combing and Brushing

Human

You can comb and brush your synthetic hair weave in the same manner you would your real hair. Try not to brush too much too often to prevent shedding. You should not brush too hard as this may cause your hair weave to loosen.

Synthetic

You can comb and brush synthetic hair pieces just as you would your real hair. Try not to brush too often to prevent shedding or stretching since synthetic hair has a plastic feel. If the hair you purchase is very curly do not comb or brush. To style use your fingers. If the hair is purchased with loose curls then comb the hair as you would your real hair.

How long should you wear a hair weave?

I feel the same way about hair weave as I do wearing wigs. Your real hair can stand a break. Wearing hair weave too long can cause breakage. When your hair weave gets loose you can take it out and wear your real hair for a little while or when it is time to get a retouch on a perm or hair color I can't see anything wrong with allowing your hair a little time to rest.

Talking of anti aging skin care products, the first thing that comes to mind is vitamin C based anti aging skin care products. These products work by enabling the synthesis of collagen (a structural protein that is found in skin). This category of anti aging skin care products is related to anti-oxidants. Anti aging skin care products that are based on vitamin C are, however, posed with the danger of getting oxidised themselves (as they come into contact with air during their usage). So some anti aging skin care products are based on the derivatives of vitamin C, which are more stable and less expensive. However, the effectiveness of such anti aging skin care is not as much as it is for vitamin C based ant aging skin care products. Besides vitamin C, vitamin E and lipoic acid are anti-oxidants too. Vitamin E is a fat-soluble anti-oxidant that is found in human blood and helps in building resistance against infection. Vitamin E is also known to inhibit cancer. Liponic acid is known to combat the signs of aging very effectively by reversing the skin damage caused by the aging process.

Phytochemicals form the other category of anti aging skin care products. Phytochemical are special chemicals that are extracted from plants. There are a variety of phytochemicals that are in use today. Phytochemicals prevent occurrence of cancer of certain types; these include prostate cancer, breast cancer and colon cancer. That is why they find their place in anti aging skin care products. Some B-vitamins like B5, B6 and B12 are also in use for anti aging skin care products. The field of anti aging skin care products is vast and needs a lot of research. Though the currently available products are effective, they still have challenges to combat. Hopefully, these challenges will get resolved in due course and help get better and cheaper anti aging skin care products.

However, anti aging skin care products should be used only as a supplement to the natural ways of skin and body care. So, drinking a lot of water, getting a good night sleep, exercising regularly, maintaining healthy eating habits and keeping stress at bay are essential means of delaying the aging process. No anti aging skin care product can replace them really.
Phytochemicals form the other category of anti aging skin care products. Phytochemical are special chemicals that are extracted from plants. There are a variety of phytochemicals that are in use today.