Author: VeronikaMarie

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Beauty Wellness

How To Tell If Your Acne Is from Stress.

Stress is a common thing everyone goes through, unfortunately so are breakouts. Almost everyone has experienced acne at some point or another and they probably will experience more in their lives. Unfortunately there are a lot of different things that can cause breakouts whether it be hormones, clogged pores, unhealthy diet or even stress. That’s right, stress not only takes a toll on your mental health but also your skin, which can make stressful times even more stressful than they already are. The worst part about stress breakouts is it can be difficult to figure out whether stress is what’s causing your acne. But luckily it’s not impossible. 

Stress is a very probable reason you’re experiencing breakouts this is because when you’re stressed your stress hormones rise signaling your body to produce more oil in your oil glands. This however is different from hormonal acne caused by your period. Hormonal acne has the same effect on the oil glands. The best way to tell the difference is to track your acne. For example if you’re noticing you get breakouts during a certain time of your cycle every month it’s probably not a stress hormone (unless something stresses you out the same time every month). You can also track if you’re breaking out after using a certain product. It is likely related to that product rather than stress.

There is also another way to spot stress acne. Stress acne typically appears in the cartian spots on the face. If you often experience acne in your T-zone (above your eyebrows on the forehead, and down to nose and chin in a T shape) it is quite possibly related to stress. If pimples in that area are accompanied by blackheads, whiteheads, larger pores, shiny/oily skin, redness or itchiness it’s most likely because of stress as regular acne won’t appear with these symptoms. 

Now that you know what stress acne is it would be useful to know how to prevent it. But before we learn to prevent it we need to understand exactly how stress acne works. As it may seem quite simple, stress acne goes deeper than just stress. As you may know acne is typically linked to hormones the same goes with stress acne. Stress triggers the release of a hormone called cortisol also known as “the stress hormone”. Cortisol in high enough amounts disrupts the hormone levels that control the sebum balance in your skin, which in turn can result in clogged pores which can result in acne. Stress can also cause hormonal changes that simply worsen your acne. 

So finally how can we prevent stress acne? Firstly taking care of your skin and regular acne treatments are a great way to deal with stress acne. Some options to use for acne treatment are topical over the counter treatments such as salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide. It’s important to figure out what works for your skin, if your stress acne isn’t going away it’s important to switch up your routine and figure out what’s going to help. If nothing seems to work, it’s important to talk to a dermatologist to see what you can do.

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Beauty Lifestyle

Can Aloe Vera Treat Acne Scars?

Aloe vera has become a very popular ingredient especially in skincare. Aloe vera is most well known for being a hydrator however it can also be an exfoliant, it has mostly been used for sunburns, dry skin and even eczema. Aloe Vera is great for just about every skin type especially because it doesn’t have an oily consistency. With this alone aloe is a great ingredient but aloe may also be a treatment for acne scars. 

Anyone who’s dealt with acne knows it’s awful, annoying and can be incredibly hard to get rid of. But even worse than acne is acne scars. Acne scars can be even more difficult to get rid of than acne, and can even take weeks or months to go away. Luckily there are a couple of treatments for acne scars one of which is aloe vera. 

But what exactly is aloe vera? Aloe vera comes from the natural aloe plant. It comes in gel like consistency and is quite simple to get straight out of the aloe plant. All you have to do is cut open one of the leaves from the plant and the gel will come out easily. 

There are a couple of benefits aloe has on acne scars one of which being repairing the skin. Like any other scar, acne scars are caused by a breakage in the skin. Luckily aloe vera can help prevent and treat these scars because of its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. As Well as this studies have shown that aloe vera increases growth factors from the cells that make collagen also known as fibroblasts. Aloe vera also heals wounds and inflammation. Which is exactly what acne scars are. This is because aloe vera decreases a chemical called thromboxane which slows down wound healing. It also contains something called magnesium lactate, which decreases histamine (a chemical involved in the anti-inflammatory response) and itching/irritation.  

But aloe’s benefits don’t stop with just acne scarring. Many people know aloe vera is a great treatment for sun burns or damaged skin but there’s even more than that. Going along with the sun burn treatment one of the benefits of aloe is soothing the skin. As mentioned before soothing the skin is the most popular use of aloe when it comes to skin care. It can be used to soothe itching, burning, and irritation. Another benefit is moisturizing, aloe has been shown to have a strong moisturizing effect however it may not be the best for people who need an extreme moisturizer such as people with eczema.  Aloe can also prevent transepidermal water loss or (TEWL) TEWL is something that happens when the skin gets dehydrated caused by water passing from the body, through the epidermis and into the surrounding air. This can cause irritation and dryness in the skin. Aloe contains something called phytosterols which soothe the irritation caused by TEWL and can also prevent TEWL itself. Lastly aloe vera can cool and hydrate the skin, this helps with the sunburn aspect because while it is actually helping the sunburn it feels nice on the irritated skin as well. This is due to the fact that aloe vera is 99.5% water. 

Now that you know how aloe vera helps to get rid of acne scarring, there are a couple of ways to use aloe so which one is the best for acne scars? There are a number of different ways to use aloe some of which including, gels, drinks and supplements. So far the best way we have found to use aloe for acne scars is gels or topical treatments. Taking aloe vera orally has shown to not have the same effect on healing scarring or other wounds. Whenever you notice acne scarring showing up on your skin you can start applying aloe right away for 1-2 weeks or until you have the results you want. Start your skin care routine normally by washing your face. After you’ve dried your face you can apply a thin layer of aloe to the skin and continue with your skin care routine. This should be done 1-2 times a day. 

With anything skincare products (especially natural ones such as aloe) irritation is a risk. Luckily since aloe is mostly water and not a strong ingredient it doesn’t have much of a risk for bad side effects. However, allergies are always a risk when it comes to natural ingredients. If you’re not sure whether you’re allergic to aloe or not, be sure to spot-test it on your hand or arm before applying it to your face.

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Lifestyle Wellness

10 Simple Ways To Ease Your Mental Health

The state of our mental health plays a huge part in our day to day life. Unfortunately, it’s not always easy to keep a good mental state especially with outside forces affecting our lives. This is why it’s super important to find things you can do to help your mental state. Luckily psychologists have found multiple easy things you can do to keep mentally stable even in some of the toughest times. 

Here are some of the best easy ways to put your mental state at ease. 

  1. Get enough sleep. 

Getting sleep is super important for your body’s overall health but it can especially help your mental state. A bad night of sleep can cause unnecessary stress and your capability to deal with stress, increase anger and can also increase your probability of developing a mental illness such as depression. On the contrary a good night of sleep can increase mental resilience and daily mood this is because while you’re asleep your brain works on repairing not only injuries but also repairs our brains and mental state and consolidates our memories. It’s super important to get a good night’s sleep everyday but especially so, if you’re feeling anxious or depressed. 

  1. Do something you enjoy/something your good at.

This is pretty self explanatory but doing something you enjoy is a great and fun way to boost your mental health. Doing something enjoyable releases good endorphins that help beat stress hormones. As well as this doing something you know you’re good at when you’re feeling down helps boost self esteem and cause you to move your minds of what’s bothering you. 

  1. Learn what helps you cope with stress.

When it comes to dealing with stress everyone does something different, it all depends on what personally works for you. Luckily there are lots of different ways to deal with stress check out our article 15 Things You Can Do To Decrease Stress for ideas on how you cope with stress and anxiety. 

  1. Spend time with people you love.

Human connection is super important for everyone, because humans have always been social animals. Especially if your feeling down a possible cause could be isolation or lack of human connection. Social connection can lower your risk for mental illness, improve self esteem and even boost your immune system. It is important to talk to friends or family that make you feel good. 

  1. Meditate. 

Meditation has been known to be a great way to put your mind in a relaxed and tranquil state. Meditation may seem difficult but it’s quite simple to follow a guided meditation. Studies have shown that only five minutes of meditation a day can be a simple treatment for stress and anxiety. Anxiety can also help with other mental illnesses such as depression, PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder), schizophrenia and ADHD (Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder). Meditation has also been shown to help with pain and other illnesses such as cancer, high blood pressure, heart disease, headaches, sleep disorders and asthma. Next time you’re feeling stressed take a five minute meditation break before resuming with your day. 

  1. Take a break from stressful activities.

As obvious as it may seem sometimes we avoid doing the things we need the most, and in this case the thing you need the most could be to simply take a break. Whether it be work, school, friendships or other outside sources, it’s important to take your mental health into account when dealing with these things. 

  1. Eat healthy food.

Eating nutritious and healthy food does not only affect our physical health but also our mental health. This is because stress negatively affects blood pressure and blood flow. Healthy foods also affect blood pressure and blood flow but in the opposite way as stress. Some foods that reduce stress include: 

-Avocado

-Banana

-Tea

-Carrots

-Nuts

-Dark chocolate

-Swiss chard

-Orange

-and more

  1. Exercise. 

Much like healthy food exercise doesn’t only have physical benefits but also mental. Exercise can not only take your mind off any bad emotions you’re feeling, but it also has been proven to release positive endorphins that fight against stress and depression. The endorphins have been associated with “the runner high” because of their antidepressant-like effects. This is likely because exercising can cause cell growth in the hippocampus, which is the area of the brain that affects memory and emotion. People affected by depression have a smaller hippocampus which is why cell growth in that area is an effective antidepressant. 

  1. Treat yourself with kindness. 

As simple as it may seem being kind to yourself has a huge effect on your mental health. Studies have shown more self-compassionate people tend to cope with difficulties and negative feelings better. Aswell as this it can also lessen feelings of anxiety or depression. Self kindness is so effective in helping mental health that a form of therapy has been made called compassion focused therapy.  

  1. Get help from a professional.

Getting help from a professional is a great resource when your mental health isn’t doing well. Therapy has proven to be an effective treatment for many people dealing with mental health issues or mental illness.

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Beauty

Everything About Bacne.

What exactly is bacne? Bacne is short for back acne which is simply acne (similar to the acne on your face) on your back. Just like the face your back carries oil cells, dead skin and bacteria. This can lead to clogged and inflamed pores causing breakouts. The back also easily builds up sweat. Which makes it more susceptible to breakouts. 

There are also different types of bacne. These include whiteheads (a closed pore clogged with oil, dead skin cells, hair follicles or bacteria). Blackheads (similar to a whitehead, a closed pore clogged with oil, dead skin cells, hair follicles or bacteria). Cystic acne (acne that occurs beneath the skin typically red, painful or swollen). Papules (raised bumps on the skin that do not contain pus). Pustules (small bumps on the skin caused by oil, dead skin cells, hair follicles or bacteria typically filled with pus). 

Unfortunately there are a couple different things that can cause bacne. One of the main causes of bacne is hormones or excessive oil. Much like regular acne one of the main causes of bacne is hormones. If you’re going through puberty or on your period you may notice you have more bacne than usual. This is because hormones produce extra oil in the skin which in turn clothes the pores causing acne. 

Clothing can also cause bacne. Friction from the clothes or laundry detergents could be causing you acne. Clothes can also be causing you acne by trapping sweat or dead skin cells on your skin. 

Unfortunately another cause of bacne could simply be genetics. Just like you can inherent acne on your face or in other parts of your body you can inherent acne on your back. 

Lastly is not cleaning your back enough/not cleaning it properly. As mentioned before sweat and dead skin cells are a big cause of acne. This is why washing your skin can help prevent bacne. It is especially important to wash your skin after exercising. 

So how can you prevent and cure bacne? Luckily bacne can be treated and there are a few things you can do to prevent it. To prevent bacne it’s important that you don’t leave on sweaty clothes/shower after doing something that could cause sweat. Wearing breathable clothing especially when exercising is another simple way to prevent your bacne. Much like clothing backpack straps can also cause bacne, when possible avoid backpacks or anything that can cause friction in that area. Another thing to avoid when it comes to bacne is tanning. It may seem like a tan can improve your acne and make it less noticeable however tanning can increase the pigment and leave the scars longer. 

There’s also a couple of treatments for bacne, one of the best treatments recommended by dermatologists is acne medicated face/body wash. Some ingredients to look for in these cleansers are salicylic acid/benzoyl peroxide. Both salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide are great treatments for any type of acne. You can also use a treatment with these ingredients if the body wash isn’t for you. 

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Beauty

What is fungal acne, and how to treat it?

Fungal acne is a struggle for many because it’s hard to not only diagnose but also treat. The challenge with fungal acne is that it looks very similar to regular acne. Fungal acne is caused by an overgrowth of yeast also known as pityrosporum folliculitis. This shows on the skin in a form of small bumps similar to pimples. 

So what exactly is fungal acne? Fungal acne is a specific type of papular acne. Although fungal acne can seem very similar to regular acne luckily there are a few ways you can differentiate the two. Firstly fungal acne typically shows up in clusters rather than on its own as well as this typically regular acne shows up in different shapes and sizes while fungal acne typically appears as small uniform red bumps. Fungal acne typically shows up on the back or chest but it can appear on the face. When it is on the face it is typically on the forehead or near the mouth area. It is also typically itchy even more so than regular acne. 

So what exactly causes fungal acne and how do you prevent it? Luckily it’s once you know how it’s quite easy to avoid fungal acne. One of the number one causes of fungal acne is heat and humidity. People who live in hotter climates are more likely to have fungal acne, this is because the yeast that causes fungal acne thrives in humid environments. 

Another big cause of fungal acne is sweat. It’s pretty common knowledge to shower after a workout but your sweat isn’t just making you feel gross it could also be causing fungal acne. Since yeast can be contagious, contact with others who have fungal acne can also cause you to gain it.


Unfortunately, normal acne treatments don’t typically work on fungal acne. The good news is that once you spot it there are a couple of different ways you can treat it. One of the most popular treatments for fungal acne is actually dandruff shampoo. As surprising as it is many people have actually had great results treating their fungal acne by using anti-dandruff shampoo on their faces. This is because most anti-dandruff shampoo includes an ingredient called selenium sulfide. Selenium sulfide has antifungal properties. Another somewhat odd treatment for fungal acne is honey. Honey also has strong anti-fungal properties, putting straight honey on your face in areas with acne is a super-easy way to help fungal acne. Showering/washing your face more regularly can also help to prevent the yeast build-up that causes fungal acne. Other over the counter antifungal treatments are also a great way to treat fungal acne.

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Beauty Lifestyle Nutrition

A Complete Guide To Almond Oil In Skincare.

Almond oil as it seems is an amazing ingredient made from almonds. It is a great ingredient not just for skincare but also for general health. Almond oil has been used for centuries in ancient Chinese culture, primarily for skin care. Almond oil can treat dry skin/soothe skin and clear scars and imperfections in the skin. There are two types of Almond oil, sweet almond oil and bitter almond oil. Sweet Almond oil is the type that is advised for skincare. The difference between the two almond oils is that sweet almond oil is considered to be a fixed oil, meanwhile bitter almond oil is considered an essential oil. 

Almond oil is a great soothing product for the skin. It reduces things like itchiness, scarring, swelling, or even clinical issues such as eczema. Almond oil also contains anti-inflammatory and immunity boosting properties almond oil can also benefit your body’s cholesterol. Cosmetically almond oil can also reduce puffiness, improve complexion/give your skin a glowing look, clear up and prevent acne and reduce the appearance of scars and stretch marks. It can also even be used as a cleanser. This is because almond oil breaks up dirt and makeup and also gets rid of toxins in the skin and opens the pores. 

Almond oil has tons of different nutrients that make it so wonderful for the skin. Almond oil contains Vitamin A which contains retinol helps skin regeneration and production of new skin cells, Vitamin E which helps protect skin against harmful UV rays and prevents skin cell damage, zinc which is great for clearing acne and acne scars which is great because it is less harsh than most acne treatments, and lastly Omega 3- fatty acids which prevent sun damage and premature aging. Although almond oil has little disadvantages it is important to avoid almond oil if you have a nut allergy as putting it on your skin is just as bad as consuming it.  

Along with being good for the skin almond oil also has many benefits for the hair. Much like the skin almond oil has great hydrating benefits for the hair. This helps the hair look shiny and feel soft. It can also help hair grow stronger, become less likely to break and become less prone to split ends. 

Another great thing about almond oil is that it works for all skin types. Almond oil is even good for oily skin. This is because not only is almond oil lighter than most oils but also as stated before almond oil can clean out clogged pores. It is also amazing for dry skin because it is so hydrating and soothing. But that’s not all almond oil is also great for acne prone and normal skin.

Using sweet almond oil is also super easy. Almond oil is great because you can just use it on its own rather than buying a product with the ingredient in it. Using almond oil is as simple as dropping some on your hands and rubbing it on your face when you would use the moisturizer in your routine once or twice a day.

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Beauty

Everything You Need To Know About Benzoyl Peroxide

If you struggle with acne you’ve probably heard of the ingredient benzoyl peroxide before. Benzoyl peroxide is supposed to be a great product for not only getting rid of acne but also preventing breakouts before they even come. In fact benzoyl peroxide works so well that it has become the top skincare product for preventing and removing acne. 

So what exactly is benzoyl peroxide? Benzoyl peroxide is an organic acid in the peroxide family. Benzoyl peroxide can work on all types of acne but it specifically targets inflammatory and cystic acne. These are the more pussy and big types of acne. Although benzoyl peroxide also works to clear acne scars and dark spots on the skin, by peeling away the layer of skin that shows the scaring. Benzoyl peroxide works so well because it contains keratolytic, moderate comedolytic, and antibacterial properties these properties help to fight P.acnes. However if you are struggling from only whiteheads and blackheads benzoyl peroxide may not be the best ingredient for your skin, because it can be drying and irritating.  

The way benzoyl peroxide works is by killing and preventing bacteria from growing, works similarly to an exfoliator by removing dead skin cells and removes excess oil and shrinks your oil glands. Now benzoyl peroxide may seem great however there are some downfalls. Firstly benzoyl peroxide can be very drying especially to people with sensitive or dry skin. This is why its recommended only to use one form of benzoyl peroxide twice a day, although for some it may be better to use it only a few times a week. Benzoyl peroxide can also decrease the effect of Vitamin C in your skincare routine. 

Benzoyl peroxide comes in many different products and forms. The most popular form is in a face wash. Benzoyl peroxide face wash can also be used on other places on the body and not just the face. You can use benzoyl peroxide face wash on your back, arms, bottom or basically anywhere else you have acne. 

Another popular form of benzoyl peroxide is a spot treatment. As mentioned before benzoyl peroxide removes bacteria and excess oil from the skin. Things like oil and bacteria are what feeds acne so removing these can stop acne from getting worse. Aswell as this it also works to unclog pores removing the cause of the acne.  

Benzoyl peroxide also comes in a toner form. One of the plus sides of a benzoyl peroxide toner is that you have more control over where you apply it. You can apply it everywhere which is great  for preventing acne and breakouts before it comes however if you have sensitive or dry skin you can apply similar to a spot treatment only in areas that already have acne. 

You can also apply benzoyl peroxide in a lotion or moisturizer form. The lotion similar to the toner is nice because it can be applied everywhere both preventing and getting rid of acne. This can also be helpful for people with dry skin if the benzoyl peroxide is combined with a moisturizing lotion to help keep moisturized while still removing excess oil. 

So is benzoyl peroxide the best acne ingredient? Benzoyl peroxide has always been a popular ingredient along with salicylic acid. Which one is better is still a debate and the truth is it really just depends on your skin to know which one works best. While benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid are similar they work differently. Salicylic acid exfoliates components that can lead to acne-causing bacteria. Benzoyl peroxide works by killing bacteria that are already there and preventing bacteria from forming. In the end, it is best to experiment with both products and discover which works best for you.

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Lifestyle Wellness

Benefits Of Lavander Essential Oil.

Essential oils have been used since around 4500 BC but they have been trending more recently, because of their many different health benefits. Lavender essential oil is one of the more popular essential oils. Lavender not only smells amazing but has many different benefits too. 

  1. Promotes good sleep

Sleep is super important to a healthy lifestyle. Some people find it hard to fall asleep at night, no matter what they do. If you’re one of those people or anyone having a hard time falling asleep at night try lavender oil before bed.This happens because lavender communicates with the neurotransmitter to help induce calm and quiet in the brain. Helps ease headaches and migraines

Lavender is a super easy and quick way to ease headaches and migraines. Studies show that just a few quick whiffs of lavender oil can put headaches at ease.

  1. Reduces stress/treats anxiety

Lavender has been mainly known for its anxiety easing benefits. Similar to how it increases sleep quality, smelling lavender actually stimulates the nose to send a message to your brain to calm down. Lavender is a great way to calm down when you’re feeling stressed.

  1. Treats fungal infections

Lavender had antioxidant, antimicrobial and antispasmodic properties all in which are good for treating fungus and fungal infections. Lavender oil and other essential oils like it damage the cell membrane of the fungus. 

  1. Wound healing

If you have a burn, bite, cut or scrape lavender is a great way to treat it. Lavender has anti-inflammatory properties as well as this it promotes growth of skin tissue. However keep in mind when using lavender on the skin and especially on wounds, be sure to dilute it with a carrier oil.

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Lifestyle Movement

15 Minute Ab Workout

When it comes to doing ab workouts there are so many different exercises and moves you can do to work your core. This is great because it means everyone can find a way they like to get their core workout in, but the downside is it’s hard to know which moves are best and come up with a routine. Although everyone is different this is my favorite ab workout. 

My tip every ab workout is to engage your core, so that you’re really working your muscles. While this sounds complicated or maybe even confusing, it’s quite simple. All you have to do is suck in your stomach. This is a similar motion to what happens when you laugh, so if you’re confused next time you laugh take note of how your stomach feels. 

15 minute ab workout routine

  • High plank 30 sec
  • Low plank 30 sec
  • Spiderman plank/knee to elbow plank 10rep on each side
  • Standard crunch 20 rep
  • Russian twist 10 rep 
  • Bicycle crunch 10 rep
  • Standard crunch 20 rep
  • In and out 10 rep
  • Bicycle crunch 10 rep
  • Hip dips 20 rep
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Lifestyle

8 Things You May Not Realize Are Causing You Stress

Stress is unfortunately very common for most people. Sometimes getting rid of stress feels impossible so before you try to release stress, try changing or removing these 8 things that may be causing you extra stress without you even noticing or realizing it. 

  1. Lack of movement

Working out has more benefits than just getting in shape. It can actually decrease feelings of stress and anxiety by producing endorphins in the brain, which act as natural pain killers. When you’re feeling anxious it may be a sign to get in a workout or even just go for a walk.

  1. Caffeine 

Unfortunately your daily cup of morning coffee may be doing more harm than good. Studies have shown that caffeine increases cortisol, the stress hormone.

  1. Too much time of a computer or phone

It’s not news that social media can cause tons of extra stress and anxiety but this isn’t the only down to online time the blue lights in phones and computers can even add extra stress.

  1. Dehydration

This one is probably not a surprise for most. Water is super important for all kinds of bodily function and too little of it causes the body to produce extra cortisol. 

  1. Lack of sleep

Sleep is extremely important, studies have shown that even the slightest bit of sleep deprivation and bad quality sleep can cause extra stress.  

  1. An unclean work space

A clutter and mess especially in your work space leads to many issues. Clutter makes it hard to relax and focus on what we need to be working on. 

  1. Uneven diet

Food is another key component in a healthy lifestyle. Eating too much junk food or cortisol increasing foods such as sugar and caffeine can increase stress. 

  1. Not enough time outside

Similar to working out getting time outside releases endorphins and can immediately put stress at ease.