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.

What to Know Before Going to the Makeup Counter

Real Beauty — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 09:24:27 PST

We're happy to present this article from one of our favorite sites, Real Beauty.

We've all been there. Between the endless aisles of glassy displays and intoxicating wafts of perfume, trying to navigate department store beauty sections can seem more like an Odyssean adventure than a pit stop on a Saturday afternoon.

Awesome beauty gifts inspired by your favorite films

So we spoke to Tawni Hart, Nordstrom's East Coast beauty and fragrance director, to give us the scoop on what to do (and not to do) when trying to score a fast face fix-up on the cheap. See her advice now.

Sweat It Out For Healthy Hair

Zelana Montminy — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 09:26:36 PST

You might think that sweating it out can be harmful to your hair, but you should start thinking of your workout as part of your beauty routine. Most of us know that eating a well-balanced diet helps make for a healthy mane. But it hadn't occurred to me that hair could also reap beauty benefits from working out until celebrity stylist, educator, and fitness buff Natasha Sunshine introduced me to the idea. She's built her career on holistic hair care after witnessing the benefits first hand. Natasha shared five ways that getting your sweat on helps add shine to your hair.

Turn Up Intensity
Natasha reminded me that intense cardio is a great way to rid the body of toxins. This has a direct impact on your sebum, an oily, conditioning substance secreted by skin glands that helps prevent hair from drying out. Natasha says that the release of toxins "directly contributes to purer, healthier and an even more conditioning sebum."

Get Drenched
In addition to intense cardio and other sweat promoting workouts, Natasha advises clients to take a steam or sauna once a week as a "fantastic tool in releasing excess contaminants in the body to maintain a healthy sebum."

Learn more ways your hair benefits from your gym time, after the break.

The Vampire Diaries "Disturbing Behavior": The Good, the Bad, and the Bloody

Shannon Vestal — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 09:40:57 PDT

Maybe it was the absence of flashy '20s flashbacks, but I wasn't quite as excited by this week's episode of The Vampire Diaries. Stefan, Klaus, and Rebecca are still in Chicago, although it appears that their fun time in the Windy City is over. Back in Mystic Falls, Elena and Damon are forced to confront the fact that their attraction to each other is becoming more obvious to everyone around them, whether they're ready to act on it or not.

Caroline's little papa problem also comes to a head this week, as does Jeremy's ghost girlfriend situation, and he spends some weird quality time with Anna while Bonnie also comes back to town. Ready to recap the good, the bad, and the bloody? Just keep reading.

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.

Attack of the Zombie Eyes

Michelle Phan — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 04:30:00 PDT

We're excited to continue our partnership with YouTube star and all-around beauty guru Michelle Phan! Every other week, we'll be bringing you the best from her website, MichellePhan.com. This week, Michelle is sharing some clever, easy home remedies that really work on under-eye circles:

Hi everyone,

These days, many of us spend a good portion of our time staring at screens (computer, TV, phone, etc.), which, if you're not careful, can take a serious toll on your eyes. Straining your eyes can overwork the blood vessels in the sensitive skin underneath the eyes, causing them to look darker and purpler, aka zombie eyes!

See Michelle's gorgeous eyeliner looks for each day of the week

To decrease your chances of developing dark circles, make an effort to take a 15-minute break for every hour you spend on the computer (that goes for gaming too!). You could walk around, or simply stop what you're doing to enjoy some tea or a glass of water. No matter what you decide to do, committing to a 15-minute break for the sake of your precious peepers can make a big difference. However, if the damage is already done, try these simple tricks to soothe and heal tired zombie eyes:

Can This Treatment Stop Runaway Cystic Acne? Let's Find Out

Annie Tomlin — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 06:05:15 PDT

Cyst happens. Unfortunately for me, it happens at least twice a month: Seemingly overnight, a patch of formerly clear skin will erupt into a deep, painful, under-the-skin acne nodule that sticks around for weeks or months. It is as wonderful as you'd imagine. Some women experience this kind of acne with their menstrual cycle while others are genetically predisposed to developing it, but anyone who's experienced it knows how hard it is to battle. Benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid haven't worked on my cysts, and short of getting a cortisone injection for acne or trying Accutane (which I'm not into), nothing has worked. Reader, tears have been shed.

This is why, with equal parts skepticism and hope, I tried Renée Rouleau's Anti-Cyst Treatment ($38.50). Specifically designed to combat this kind of acne, it promises to reduce the size of a cyst and speed healing time. Did it work? Find out after the jump.

Happy Women’s Health Week! Do These 7 Things Today

LearnVest — Wed, 11 May 2011 00:15:11 PDT

We're thrilled to present this smart LearnVest story here on Savvy!

Money is only as good as what it can get you: security, independence, freedom. The point of LearnVest isn’t to talk about your money to the exclusion of all else-it’s about using money as a tool to live the life you want.

Yesterday began National Women’s Health Week, and there’s no better investment than in your health. After all, the best investment portfolio ever won’t be fulfilling if you’re not healthy enough to reap its benefits.

(Of course, we do still want you to have a kick-ass investment portfolio. Click here for how to pull it off.)

So, in honor of National Women’s Health Week, we bring you the top 7 things you can do for your health that will save you in the long run:

1. Have The Right Kind Of Health Insurance

First, any kind of health insurance is better than no kind. Going without insurance means you’re totally responsible for all costs if disaster strikes. If, heaven forbid, you got into an accident or needed surgery, you could easily face thousands upon thousands of dollars in debt. Once you’re covered, evaluate your options: If, for example, you’re relatively young and healthy, you may choose a plan with lower regular payments but a high deductible. If you need regular doctor visits and prescriptions, you’ll want a policy that covers all of your needs. For a rundown of the various types of insurance and what’s right for you, click here.

2. Go In For Regular Checkups

Don’t miss crucial checkups each year, since the cost of preventative medicine is way less than the price tag to actually treat your woes (not to mention that it will save you lots of grief). For a rundown of which doctors you should see and how often, check this out. If you’re over age 40, remember to get regular mammograms-they save lives.

Read on for more great health tips.

Start Now to Prevent Achy, Tired, and Sore Feet This Summer

FitSugar — Wed, 18 May 2011 01:23:55 PDT

Whether your feet are sore from a long run or a night on the dance floor, there's one thing for certain - achy, throbbing feet can put a damper on your day, not to mention your workout. With Spring in full swing and Summer fast approaching, chances are you'll be using your feet more and more, whether it's a steady stream of weekend hiking or enjoying the outdoors with longer runs. But before you break out the sandals, check out these tips for making sure you are taking care of those oft-neglected body parts.

Roll with it. Use an ice-cold water bottle or a fuzzy tennis ball (or buy a Rubz ball) to roll on the bottoms of your feet for the perfect remedy after a long hike or run, or even just from standing for too long. Doing this along with a regular stretching routine will help prevent any overuse injuries.
Stop the flop. With the weather warming up, you may find yourself reaching for your flip-flops, but reserve them for the gym shower. Flip-flops lack support for your arches and Achilles tendon, and they also cause your muscles to work overtime in an awkward way. Toes need some air? Check out these feet-friendly sandal options.
Heal your heels. Dry heels can lead to painful heel fissures, which can prevent you from being able to exercise the way you want to (no one wants to endure painful cracked heels while they run!). Summer is prime time for cracked heels since our feet are more exposed to the dry air, so take time and develop your heel healing routine before it's sandal weather.
Groom correctly. Long toenails aren't just gross to look at, they can cause problems while you're running by cutting into skin around it, but short nails can be a hassle too - they can become ingrown and painful, which also limits your exercising capabilities. Make sure you groom your nails carefully before you have to deal with these issues.

Tina Fey Talks Beauty in Her New Book

Allure — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 09:44:31 PDT

We're excited to present this story from Allure!

I'll admit that my girl-crush on Tina Fey has only intensified after reading her new book, Bossypants. It had me laughing like a crazy person on the subway because she's so willing to divulge her nerdy proclivities (as a kid, she relaxed after school by putting on a colonial costume) and her beauty struggles (though, for the record, she's adamant about having all of her "original teeth and face parts"). It's worth reading every page of the book, but here, a few favorite Fey thoughts on beauty.