FitSugar

Bacne: An Unpleasant Side Effect of Working Out

FitSugar — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 03:05:38 PST

Hey FitSugar,
This is so embarrassing, but I've been training for a half marathon and as my weekly mileage increases I've started to develop terrible breakouts all over my back especially around my bra line. Does anyone have any suggestions for preventing this?
- Baby Got Bacne

I hear ya! Working out is sweaty business. Which is great for detoxing your body, but all that perspiration can be hard on your skin. My best piece of advice on preventing bacne is also the easiest to follow: take off those sweaty clothes immediately after a run and shower right away. Drink your recovery drink in the shower if you must. Now if you are already shedding your wet running togs and still feel plagued by acne here are a few new tricks to try.

Make sure your bra and shirt are made of fabric that wicks the sweat away from your body - cotton is not your friend. In cooler months, I like to wear a thin merino wool shirt on my runs, which naturally wicks the sweat away.
If your routine includes cardio followed by strength training, change your shirt and bra between activities. This may sound like a pain but can really help. If you have a chance, wipe or rinse (much more complicated mid-workout) your back before putting on fresh clothes. This mid-workout break might not only save your skin, it could help you burn more fat.
Use a scrub that contains acne fighting salicylic acid like ACNEdote by Alba Botanical. Use a scrub brush so you can reach all parts of your back, but don't scrub so aggressively that you aggravate the skin even more.
Try over the counter acne medication. The skin on your back is tougher than the skin on your face. After showering try glycolic or alpha hydroxy lotion of about eight or 10 percent strength. Or try 10 percent benzoyl peroxide. Remember, benzoyl peroxide will bleach your clothes.
Stop carrying a heavy backpack, especially if you are trying the regimen above. Backpacks can irritate the skin on your back and promote even more sweating.
If you're really at a loss, make an appointment with a dermatologist and hopefully they will clear things up for you (literally and figuratively).

Whatever you do, don't stop running! Good luck with the half marathon.

Brides and Bacne: What to Do

FitSugar — Wed, 05 May 2010 05:06:37 PDT

Everything is going dreamily. You found the perfect wedding gown for the big day. You've been exercising regularly to make sure it fits just right. The problem is, all that sweating makes you break out, and not just on your face - on your back and shoulders too.

For starters, do not stop working out. All that exercise is great for relieving stress, and there are many things you can do to prevent bacne from ruining your special day.

Always wear clean workout clothes.
Make sure to wear a sports bra and top that are made of wicking fabric to pull moisture away from your skin. Avoid clothes that don't let your skin breathe.
Take a shower immediately after exercising to wash off sweat and bacteria.
When you shower, use Cetaphil or some other antibacterial cleanser on your back. Exfoliating in the shower may also help unclog blocked pores and get rid of dead skin cells. Use either an exfoliating shower scrub once a week or exfoliating bath gloves.
After showering, allow your skin to dry completely and then apply a topical cream that contains either salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide to treat and prevent blemishes. Be careful of bleaching your clothes if you go the benzoyl peroxide route.
If your problem persists or you have severe body acne, make an appointment with a dermatologist.

New brides, pay attention! All week long we'll be bringing you tips on how to prepare your body for the big day. But we want to hear what you've been doing to stay in shape too. Head over to the FitSugar Community and post your wedding workout tips, or, if you're already hitched, how did you get healthy for your big day?

I Love Your ShopStyle: Lincoln Center Essentials

FabSugar — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 03:00:55 PST

ShopStylist styleloverepeat offers up sweet and simple styling solutions for all our Fashion Week wardrobe quandaries. Among these chic staples you'll find a nautical-inspired boatneck top, a must-have camel-hued leather skirt, cool cutout ankle boots, a Proenza Schouler PS1 bag, a Winter-perfect infinity scarf, and a retro felt fedora hat. The key theme here? Each essential will take you from the fashion shows at Lincoln Center to late-night fashionista parties and then, back to the catwalk again.

Don't forget to style up your own Fashion Week-worthy ensemble - just submit here and include "Fashion Week" in the title. We may just feature you on FabSugar!

Mid-length Skirts by Acne
Boots by See by Chloe

Emb Anchor Stripe Top - $40.00	Proenza Schouler PS1 Medium Pony - $2,395.00
Acne Romantic leather skirt - $1,400.00	rag & bone Hampshire Hat in Black - $150.00
Cole Haan - Wooly Cable Tights - $40.00	Wool Blend Infinity Scarf by BOSS Black - Sold Out
See by Chloé Cutout leather ankle boots - $365.00

5 Easy-to-Make Mistakes That Can Ruin Your Skin

Miriam Lacey — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 10:27:40 PST

It's an almost-universal experience: your complexion has been fine for a while, and then one day, almost out of nowhere, you're in breakout city and your skin looks worn out and defeated overnight. You're cleansing and using a daily regimen, so what could be wrong? Well, if it's not stress or hormones, it could very easily be one of several smaller, less obvious culprits. See a list of the usual suspects below.

Nina Dobrev Channels Her Inner Vegas Cowgirl For Nylon

Katie Henry — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 11:03:08 PST

Nina Dobrev wore an embellished jacket from McQ for her February 2012 Nylon cover. The Vampire Diaries star also modeled looks from Acne, Jeremy Scott, and Ralph Lauren inside the magazine and worked with her stylist Riawna Capri to create a "vintage Vegas cowgirl" vibe. Nina's quickly becoming a favorite for designers to dress, and for her appearance at the People's Choice Awards earlier this month, she chose a green Elie Saab. The dress was not only beautiful, but apparently comfortable too. Nina was still wearing it when she caught a flight back to Atlanta with boyfriend Ian Somerhalder after the show.

8 Money-Saving Beauty Tips

OnSugar Blog — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 04:51:20 PST

In need of a few good tips? Check out this great story from OnSugar blog Beauty and the Budget:

Of course, we'd all love to have a major beauty stash, but sometimes we just don't have all of those cool tools at our disposal. When you're in need of a quick beauty fix, here are a few tips to get you through!

OnSugar Blog: 5 Must Haves For a Clean, Stylish, Happy Baby and Mommy

OnSugar Blog — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 03:15:36 PDT

Lots of moms and mommies-to-be like to think out loud, and Nicole Pearl, the Beauty Girl is one of them. She recently posted about her favorite products for baby and mom on her The Beauty Girl blog.

It's only Tuesday and it's already been a big week of celeb news: Kim K's divorcing and Jessica Simpson's having a baby! Breakups suck, but personal experience proves they make you stronger. Babies, on the other hand, are the biggest gift of love. I can't believe my little man Rex is already 8 weeks old! I admit, the past couple of months have been grueling between the sleepless nights and never-ending bouts of spit up. But they've also been the most rewarding, magical moments of my life.

Jessica's announcement got me thinking about how far I've come as a mom. Like, I went from not knowing what a breast pump was to being able to put the parts together in the dark. And the full five minutes it once took me to change a diaper has been shaved down to seconds. In just two months, I've become fluent in baby from gadgets to products. I still have a lot to learn, and I've been grateful to all the moms who have shared their tips with me. Now, it's my turn to pay it forward. I've listed a few of my favorite finds (more installments to come!). Hopefully these will come in just as handy for baby Simpson and all the future tots-to-be.

Burt's Bees Baby Bee Shampoo & Wash: After washing Rex's hair and body with this, he smells just like a baby should - fresh, clean and yummy all at once. I've been sent a lot of baby bath products from a bunch of different companies and will report back on the others as I give them a try.

Kicky Pants, Ralph Lauren and Splendid onesies: A onesie is the baby equivalent of a dress. Just slip it on and the look is complete. From preppy to hipster, I love dressing Rex up in stylish looks, and I've fallen in love with the fashions from these three brands. Kicky Pants onesies come in fun prints and are made with a bamboo fabric that's so soft, I wish they made clothes for adults. Rex may as well be a model for Ralph Lauren because every other thing he wears is RL baby. From the most precious white nightie to a velour jumper, there's a wealth of adorable options, especially for boys. Splendid wins for creating mini versions of fashions that you'd wear yourself. Like the brand's adult line, the clothes are comfy and cute. Check out Rex in the lower photo with his teddy. He's rocking a Splendid hooded onesie.

Baby Aquaphor: I oil Rex up from head to toe every night. I keep a tub by his changing table and a tube in my diaper bag. I swear by this ointment. It's kept his pretty baby face acne free, has fended off diaper rash and stopped the first signs of cradle cap in its tracks.

Keep reading to see the rest of The Beauty Girl's recommendations.

The Detox Diaries: Hungry Hungry Headaches

Annie Tomlin — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 04:00:32 PDT

Senior Editor Annie is embarking on Dr. Frank Lipman's two-week Cleanse to detox her system. No caffeine, sugar, bread, or booze allowed. Here's how it's going.

Day one of the cleanse started out beautifully. I was motivated! I was taking control of my health! I was . . . hungry. Normally, I eat fruit and a hard-boiled egg before going to the office. On the detox, however, I was allowed only two shakes before lunch. When noon rolled around, I bolted to the local salad place and looked forward to ordering a healthy salad. Unfortunately, that proved harder to do than I'd imagined. Here's why.

Link Time: 10 Compelling Reasons to Wear Foundation

BellaSugar — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 11:05:39 PDT

10 very compelling reasons to wear foundation - Glo
How to freshen your hairstyle for Fall - FashionIndie
How to fix undereye circles - Elle and Blair
Are pearl warts lovely or grody? - Refinery29
Good ways to get rid of bad breath - Beautylish
The best budget-conscious acne products - The Budget Fashionista
Best bet: Bare Minerals Ready eyeshadow - The Cut
Get excited: gray nail polish is back for Fall - All Lacquered Up
See Chanel's gorgeous holiday makeup collection - InStyle
How to make your makeup last all day - Real Simple

Photo courtesy of Greg Kessler

All of Your Most Common Acne Questions - Answered!

Jaime Richards — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 12:07:11 PDT

While 80 percent of teenagers will experience acne at some point or another, it's not uncommon for the condition to afflict women well into adulthood. "The good news is that we have really great treatments, and nobody has to suffer with it," says Dr. Linda Stein Gold, director of dermatology clinical research at Henry Ford Health System in Detroit.

That's why I asked Dr. Stein Gold some of the more pressing acne questions: all the things you want to talk to your dermatologist while you're visiting his office, but either don't have the time to fit in or simply forget to inquire about. So to see Dr. Stein Gold's top acne advice, just keep reading.