FitSugar

Brides and Bacne: What to Do

Jenny Sugar — Fri, 18 May 2012 10:30:19 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 you've been doing 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 since exfoliating helps unclog blocked pores and get rid of dead skin cells. Use either an exfoliating scrub or bath gloves once a week.
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.

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.

How to Wear a Bra Top: 3 Ways to Channel Your Inner Kelly Kapowski

Brittney Stephens — Tue, 22 May 2012 10:27:11 PDT

When we first heard that crop tops (and more specifically, bralets) were going to be big for 2012, we had our reservations - it seemed like a look best suited for outdoor music festivals and costume parties - but after seeing the midriff-baring look on the runways at Dolce & Gabbana, Nina Ricci, Prada, and others, we inevitably changed our tune, and are officially smitten with the idea of unleashing our inner Kelly Kapowski. The trend is rooted in '50s-era screen sirens like Sophia Loren, Brigitte Bardot, and Marilyn Monroe, but is also dripping with '90s nostalgia - calling to mind fashion-forward TV characters like Kelly Bundy, Donna Martin, and yes, Ms. Kapowski herself. If you're planning to try the trend this season, here are a few things to consider:

Find the right length for your body (and your confidence level). If you're proud of your tummy, don't be afraid to pick a piece that hits above the belly button. If you're less comfortable showing that much skin, you can still get in on the trend by opting for a top that bares just a sliver of your belly and comes in below your midriff.
Keep it sophisticated. Yes, this trend is inherently sexy and will veer on the side of flirtatious no matter what, but there are ways to go about it that will help you look more retro pinup than '80s video vixen. Wear your crop top with a high-waisted skirt (like we saw at Acne, Prada, and Emilio Pucci), or a navel-grazing pair of jeans or shorts (just see Preen and Proenza Schouler for stylish examples). You can also layer it up with a fitted blazer, sweet cardigan, or cool leather jacket. This will ensure that you keep things classy while staying on the sultry side of things.
Be prepared to turn heads. Whether you pair your bralet with hot pants or a maxi skirt, be forewarned: you will get attention - so be sure to throw your shoulders back and revel in it!
Now that you're up to speed on baring your middle, click through to see three ways to wear the crop top this season.

Thinking About a Juice Cleanse? 4 Ways It Can Cause Weight Gain

Jenny Sugar — Mon, 14 May 2012 13:19:17 PDT

Whether it's to improve energy, clear acne, Spring clean the digestive system, or shed a few pounds, juice cleansing is all the rage now. Even celebs like Gwyneth Paltrow and Nicole Richie are buzzing about the benefits of liquid detoxing. Before you splurge on a juicer or lay down the dough for a liquid detox program, learn how a juice cleanse may lead to weight gain.

Hard-to-measure liquid calories: Since all the calories you're consuming are liquid, if you're not watching your intake, it's easy to consume well over the daily limit. (A pressed juice averages between 100-350 calories per 16-ounce bottle.) Make sure you have a plan to follow and an accurate way to determine how many calories are in each glass or bottle you're drinking. Most retail juicing programs provide calorie counts, but are also pricey to join.
Messes with metabolism: A typical juice cleanse lasts anywhere from three to seven days (or sometimes longer), where you drink 32 to 64 ounces of freshly pressed fruit and vegetable juice each day. When your body doesn't get the all the nutrients (or the amount of calories) it's used to, it stresses out because it thinks it's starving. Often the body reacts to this by slowing down its metabolism, which can make losing weight harder in the future. And while juicing is an easy way to deliver phytonutrients to the body, the fruit-based juices tend to be high in sugar, which can negatively affect insulin levels in the body.

Continue reading for more ways a juice cleanse can cause weight gain.

Defeat Poison Ivy With Tea Tree Oil

FitSugar — Fri, 04 May 2012 17:40:56 PDT

You went for a gorgeous two-hour hike in the woods, brought back some great photos and uh-oh - you also brought back some poison ivy. When you accidentally brush up against this plant, the uroshiol oil rubs onto your skin, and can instantly create redness, raised bumps, blisters, and an insatiable itch. First and foremost, get out of the clothes you were wearing on the hike and wash the oil off your skin using soap and cold water (warm water opens your pores) to prevent the rash from spreading.

Unfortunately, now you're left with an itchy, bubbly rash. Topical creams like Calamine lotion and hydro-cortizone can keep the itchiness at bay, but when it comes to poison ivy, the quicker it heals, the better. Reach for the remedy, pure tea tree oil. It's all natural, not that expensive, and easy to find at most health food stores. Thoroughly wash and dry the affected areas. Sprinkle a few drops of the tea tree oil directly on the rash and use a Q-tip or cotton ball to spread it around. Apply a few times a day, and you should see the blisters disappearing and the rash clearing up.

Tea tree oil has antiseptic, antifungal, and drying properties, which is why it's so effective against the dreaded poison ivy. This natural remedy can also be used to treat acne, minor cuts and scrapes, athlete's foot, and yeast infections so it's great to keep a bottle in your medicine cabinet.

Source: Flickr User frotzed2

Exclusive! Proactiv Names Jurnee Smollett Its Newest Spokesperson

Jaime Richards — Tue, 01 May 2012 06:00:00 PDT

You might remember her as Michelle Tanner's feisty friend Denise on Full House or as hard-working high school student Jess Merriweather in Friday Night Lights, and now actress, singer, and activist Jurnee Smollett has landed a new role: Proactiv's newest spokesperson. Jurnee, who has battled acne since she was 10 years old, admits she tried just about everything, from facial treatments to doctors appointments to peels, before she had the consistent success she has found with Proactiv.

"It goes back to a few months before I was getting married," she explains. "I was shooting Friday Night Lights in Austin, [and with] the humidity, the great Texas food, the hormones, and the stress of me planning the wedding, my skin was freaking out." Although frustrated, Jurnee felt her complexion issues added a realistic element to her character. "I kept telling myself, "'I'm playing a 16-year-old high student. It's OK; high school students break out,'" she reveals. "But no one wants to break out, whether you're a teenager or not!" See the rest of Jurnee's story now.

6 Ways to Look Better Without Spending a Cent

Annie Tomlin — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 06:56:40 PDT

Looking good doesn't have to cost a lot of money. In fact, it doesn't have to cost a thing. There are plenty of ways to look better without spending a single penny. We talked with top dermatologists, hair stylists, makeup artists, and estheticians to score their secrets for looking your best for the best price of all: free. Read their tips here.

Jessica Visits Fiancé Justin on Set in Georgia

Allie Merriam — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 08:05:06 PDT

Justin Timberlake and Jessia Biel are loved up in Atlanta right now - People
Details on Ashton Kutcher's weird ACM cameo - Lainey Gossip
Alec Baldwin is engaged to his yoga teacher girlfriend - HuffPost Entertainment
Take a peek at Whitney Houston's last project - TooFab
Hilary Duff is working out less than two weeks after her son's birth - Us Weekly
Does Prince Harry really want Chelsy Davy back? - The Daily Beast
What is the "big announcement" coming out tomorrow about Ryan Seacrest? - Hollywood Reporter
20 photos of Justin Bieber getting slimed - BuzzFeed
Take a look at True Blood's fifth season - The Insider
The Hunger Games beat other movies at the box office by how much? - Rotten Tomatoes
Molly Sims craves late-night TV during pregnancy - Wonderwall
The Rock returns to WrestleMania - Lifeline Live
Meredith Vieira is returning to the Today show for the Olympics - Zap2It
Salma Hayek was once severely depressed over her acne - Celebitchy

I Love Your ShopStyle: Boyfriend Chic

FabSugar — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 03:32:26 PST

ShopStylist HarperLeo whipped up an outfit that's equal parts casual, cool, and sleek. The main styling ingredients? A pair of dark wash Current Elliott jeans, a silky boyfriend-inspired button down, a peachy-hued Jerome Dreyfuss saddle bag, and a metallic pair of loafers. The ease in wearing laid-back jeans, flats, and a slouchy blouse is too good to pass up, especially when it looks as chic as this. If you're in a colder climate, add a long camel coat or olive green trench to the mix for layered warmth.

Button Front Tops by Acne
Flats by Dieppa Restrepo

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