FitSugar

Too Close For Comfort?

DearSugar — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 11:03:06 PDT

I know many couples that do it, but I can say with certainty that you'll never catch me popping anyone's pimples but my own! Call me squirmish if you will, but I happen to think some things should be maintained and taken care of solo, in the privacy of your own bathroom, and popping your zits is one of them. Clearly Rihanna and Chris Brown disagree, so tell me, are you and your significant other pimple poppers or do you prefer to take care of such personal matters alone?

Bauer-Griffin Online

What You Eat Goes to Your Face: The Truth About Acne Quiz

FitSugar — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 08:00:00 PDT

Pimples. Zits. Blemishes. We all get them and we're all on a quest to get rid of them. Take this quiz to see what you know about what causes them and how to prevent them from popping up.

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Take the Quiz

Whole Wheat Bread Beats Acne!

FitSugar — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 02:00:00 PDT

Everyone hates spots, pimples, zits, acne. Not matter what you call them, you don't want blemishes on your face. New research indicates that changing your diet may help! Yep, eating low glycemic foods may help improve the quality of your skin.

Here's the low down on low glycemic foods - they cause a more gradual and sustained increase of glucose (a simple sugar used as energy) in the bloodstream, and include foods such as high-fiber, complex carbohydrates. Low glycemic load diets have been promoted for weight loss and diabetes control since they affect the levels of insulin in the body. Given that high levels of insulin may contribute to acne, it was only a matter of time before this connection was studied.

Although the study followed only men for a 12 week period, one can hope the positive effects of a low glycemic diet will translate to women as well - even though we have hormonal monthly changes that affect our skin. You know what I am talking about!

Bonus: The men on the low glycemic diet also lost weight, showed greater reductions in levels of the male sex hormone androgen and increased insulin sensitivity (which is a good thing).

So if you are prone to pimples eating food low on the glycemic index might just help. You might want to avoid iodine as well. Looking for more immediate relief? Check out these clear colored pimple banishers.

Spring Exercise Tip: Take a Shower

FitSugar — Fri, 20 Apr 2007 17:15:00 PDT

I know it hasn't quite felt like Spring yet, with the East Coast getting that Nor'Easter last week, but I think it's safe to say that She has arrived!

With this exciting warmer weather and sunshiny skies, everyone is getting the itch to get outside and enjoy it. There were hardly any people in my yoga class, and there were no lines for the machines at the gym - everyone's exercising in this amazing weather.

Since the temperature is warmer, you're going to be sweating more. Sweat can cause major problems in the skin department, because bacteria can get into your pores and cause pimples, even if you were never prone to body acne before.

Wearing clothes made out of fabrics that wick away moisture can help, but the best thing you can do is:

Get out of those sweaty wet clothes as soon as you're done working out (we all know that sitting in wet undies is a great way to get a yeast infection). Make sure to wash your workout clothes before you wear them again.
Change into a whole new dry outfit, or better yet, take a shower to wash off all that sweat and bacteria.
If you're prone to breaking out after working out, get yourself some acne-fighting body wash. After the shower, use a lotion that contains salicylic acid on areas where you tend to break out - this can help prevent pimples from starting in the first place.

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Which is MORE Embarrassing?

FitSugar — Sat, 31 Mar 2007 02:45:00 PDT

Being human, there are things that happen to all of us, but they don't make them any less bearable. So, tell me, which is more embarrassing...?

Zit Creams: Which One Works?

FitSugar — Wed, 28 Feb 2007 02:30:00 PST

When I get stressed out, it's inevitable that my face will break out. It happens to everyone, but that doesn't make me feel better. When pimples show up, I want them to disappear ASAP.

At the drug store, there are tons of acne treatments, so what really works? There are 2 main ingredients that you'll see listed on zit creams.

Benzoyl Peroxide - It comes in gels or creams with 2.5%, 5%, or 10% concentration. Research suggests that the 5% and 10% formulas don't work better, and the 2.5% is better tolerated by the skin. It commonly causes dryness and irritation. Some people may be more sensitive to it, and suffer from burning, itching, peeling, or swelling.

Salicylic Acid - Blemishes are formed when skin cells inside hair follicles shed too fast and clump together, which plug up the follicle. Salicylic Acid treats acne by causing skin cells to slough off more readily, preventing pores from clogging up. Use a lotion or pad with this ingredient daily to prevent possible break outs.

Fit's Tips: I recommend trying them both out. Our complexions are so different, and one ingredient may work better for you. They both are meant to dry up the offensive area, so if you notice your skin peeling excessively, cut down on your use.

Petroleum and Mineral Oil: Bad News For Your Skin

FitSugar — Fri, 16 Feb 2007 10:15:00 PST

We all know crude oil, sometimes called petroleum, is a fossil fuel that was produced deep in the earth through a process that took millions of years to complete.

Today, almost all of us come into contact with a derivative of petroleum every day. The world is full of products that come from petroleum - gasoline, Styrofoam, lubricating oils. Did you know that cosmetics contain fossil fuels too.

Mineral oil and petroleum are the basic ingredients in many beauty products today - and both come from fossils fuels (gross).

By locking moisture against the skin, petroleum and mineral oil sit on the skin’s surface and can potentially block pores. This may cause the appearance of pimples because the skin cannot properly breathe.

The use of chemicals such as petroleum can also increase your risk for developing skin cancer.

Fit's Tips: Go ahead - check the ingredients on your foundations, cleansers, and moisturizers. If you see mineral oil or petroleum, you may want to ditch them and look for other products that are crude oil free. Also, propylene glycol, isopropyl alcohol, ceresin, toluene, benzene, petrolatum, and paraffin are all derivatives of petroleum, so you'll want to avoid these as well.

Zit Jewelry: It's Not For the Squeamish

Miriam Lacey — Wed, 25 May 2011 13:40:49 PDT

If you really savor popping zits, so much so that you'd like to immortalize the activity in a piece of jewelry, artist Winona Johnson has just the thing. Her Pimple Popper Raw ring ($163) is handcrafted from sterling silver, copper, and enamel, topped off with a seed pearl. It also looks like a giant whitehead just begging to be exploded. The concept/verisimilitude are extremely high on ick factor, and I didn't want to assault everyone, so to see the pimple popper in all its glory, just keep reading.

Jennifer Aniston Rocks a Bra For a GQ Shoot With Paul Rudd

Katie Henry — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 07:03:51 PST

Jennifer Aniston wore a bra and a skirt to cover the March issue of GQ with her Wanderlust costar Paul Rudd. The issue, which is out on newsstands Feb. 21, was shot by Jen's pal Terry Richardson - see all the pictures of Jennifer Aniston in GQ. Jen and Paul's romantic comedy hits theaters on Feb. 24, though Jen, Paul, and her real-life love Justin Theroux will be side by side for Thursday's LA premiere. Jen and Paul chatted about their film in the accompanying interview, and she also addressed the joys of aging, not being pregnant, and how to make a marriage work. Here are highlights:

Jen on pregnancy rumors: "I’m not having triplets. Not having twins. Nor am I having one baby. [lifts up sweater and gestures to belly; it appears flat] I did not elope . . . You heard it here. I’m not knocked up now."
Jen on marriage: "It’s a growing, literally living thing. There’s going to be growing pains, there’s going to be awkward moments - your lanky phase, your pimpled phase. I think that’s the beauty of a relationship. But if the road starts to [Paul jumps in to say, "diverge"] and one person is growing this way and the other is growing that way . . . Sometimes that can happen and you can stay together, and sometimes you can’t."
On her 40s: "Forty’s great!! . . . Oh, my God, my thirties blew! Forties are great."

How to Conceal a Blemish With Flawless Results

BellaTV — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 10:57:00 PST

Whether you wake up with a big red pimple or you have one that has been around for a while, there's no need to fret; you can easily hide the spot with makeup. We turned to celebrity makeup artist Toby Fleischman to find out her blemish-concealing tips. Watch the video now to see how it's done.