Sulfur Ointment for Acne Review

Sulfur Ointment for Acne

I wanted to make a post just to kind of put this product in the spotlight.

Generally, when it comes down to treating acne. Usually Salicylic Acid, Benzoyl Peroxide also known as BP, and Tea Tree Oil take the limelight.

Rarely, will someone ever mention using Sulfur... unless you specifically search it up.

After developing cystic acne on my cheeks, I tried everything from Salicylic Acid to Tea Tree Oil based treatments. Then I went the all natural route doing all sorts of DIY's. They helped my complexion, and some swelling, but not my acne.

I am grateful for what I had to suffer. Now I can look at products, and base on how well it works on ingredients and not on recommendations.

So I went with what my doctor once suggested years ago. Sulfur.

I bought this little tub of Sulfur Ointment at my Local Grocery store in the medicinal section  where the ethnic/hispanic product shelf was at for $3.99.

Information on Sulfur for acne:

• Has been used for over 50 years. 

• Used back in the ancient times in hot springs where people would bathe themselves in Sulfur to help treat skin aliments.

• Sulfur has a keratolytic effect which is similar to salicylic acid which helps remove/exfoliate dead skin cells

• Believed to be great for mild to moderate acne, black heads, white heads, and acne scarring. 

• It is anti-bacterial

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Lorac 'I'm So Sensitive Soothing Face Primer' Review

Lorac Face Primer Review

2.5/5 Stars

A couple of weeks ago I purchased Lorac's I'm So Sensitive Soothing Face Primer. I had good expectations from Lorac so I expected this primer to work out in my favor. Lorac was having a clear out sale at Sephora, and this being the last primer on the shelf I expected so much more than what I got.

This primer feels like, a light weight moisturizer. It didn't feel like it could create a base for my foundation. I found that I had to shake the tube a bit before each use; leading me to question whether it had a longer shelf life than what I thought it could. 

I did enjoy the size of the tube. It was larger than what most face primers usually are which works well in my favor since I believe that for the price we pay some primers should bring a little more.

This primer labels itself as 'Fragrance free'. Which, infact it is not.  It contains Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract & Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract which are both fragrances. They are listed at the end of the ingredient list so they may not be enough for irritation, but it does make the product a little bit misleading.

At the near top of the ingredient list, it does contain Cetyl Alcohol which is highly comedogenic and irritating. It also contains Ethylhexyl Palmitate as the second ingredient on it's list, which is also moderately/highly comedogenic and mildly irritating. 

I did not pay to much attention to the ingredients, but unfortunately my skin did.

I know that this photo may make you think that I exaggerated. I can assure you.... this was taken a couple of days ago as I am not one to take pictures of my break outs.

 But now just take the one visible bump on my forehead and multiple it by 16. ( Yes I count my blemishes. ) They were all accumulating in that same general area where I concentrate the primer at. I literally believed I was developing hormonal acne. 

It took me awhile to register what was going on. My skin routine was the same, I was using my Luna, I was using a face primer which acts as barrier... what could possibly be breaking me out across my forehead? ( That's where I generally apply the primer the most as that's the driest part of my face. )

Until it finally did click that the primer had something to do with it, I ran straight to Beautypedia. It was given a good rating. So, next I went to my trusty cosdna cheat sheet site. The truth came forward.

I eliminated my face primer, and now my break out is gone. I guess this didn't work out so well for me in the end, and will probably go right back to my BareMinerals face primer and maybe one day indulge in Hour glass, Guerlain, or Laura Mercier.

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DIY Fix + Spray

DIY IT!

MAC FIX+

Don't get me wrong, MAC Cosmetics is an amazing make up company who sells amazing products. But let me cut to the chase..
I would rather save some $$$ to buy something else other than spray!

MAC's Fix + is just glycerin and water. Glycerin is a humectant and can be found relatively cheap at any drugstore. As a skin care freak, I opted for the closet thing possible that wouldn't be harmful to my skin.
Aloe Vera!! ( And it's cheaper, it's in my garden ♥ )


If you use MAC's Fix+ to simply dilute your makeup, you wouldn't even need to use it. Water can do a good job at diluting make up.
Fix + is used for a lot of different things, to make eye shadow colors more vibrant, to apply glitter, some even use it as a refresher spray.

Here is a good example of the difference between using Fix+ and not using it.

Ingredients used:
Water
Aloe Vera
Vitamin E Oil
Tea Tree Oil
Lavender Oil ( Note: Lavender Oil is a skin irritant. I do not recommend it for acne prone skin, skin prone to redness, sensitive or thinned out skin. Definitely use SPF as well.)


I used cheap bottles that I purchased at Target for 0.97 Cents.
I filled up most of it with water, and to my own eye I added each ingredient. The more Aloe Vera or Glycerin you add, the more sticky it can become. Shake well before each use.

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All About My Hair Care!

Products I use

Oil Treatment: One 'N Only Argan Oil Treatment

Mask: MIZANI H2O Intense Strengthening Night-Time Treatment 

Creams: MIZANI Rose H2O Conditioning Hairdress

Conditioners: Tresmme Moisture Rich Conditioner

Not Pictured:

One N' Only Argan Oil Styling Cream  | DIY Hair Treatments ( I will be posting more soon! )

Extras: How to have long, healthy hair. 

My Routine 

My hair is very curly, and when it dries it's about the length of a bob. These products have been part of my hair care regime for awhile. The above pictured products I have been using since I was 12-13 years old. I did stop using hair care products in general for about 2 years, and now that I have started incorporating products into my hair again I have to say that these are still at the top of my list. 

They do carry an expensive price tag, but they are quality products.

Hair Washing:

Because my hair is very curly, the only way for me to style it is through washing it. I don't use shampoo, only conditioner.

I usually apply a generous amount of my conditioner in my hair. I do not wash it all out.. I detangle my hair using a paddle brush. 

I detangle my hair before washing as well. Because I do not rinse out all of my conditioner my hair is rarely tangled. 

I like using Tresmme because of the slip it has for detangling. It also leaves my hair very soft.

After washing: The first product I usually apply is my oil serum. I then follow with either one of the two hair creams listed above.  

Hair Masks:
I use the strengthening mask about every 2 days( As stated in the instructions. ) every night. I do a DIY Hair mask about every 3-5 days and leave it on for about an hour with a shower cap on, so that they heat helps penetrate the product deeper. 

Heat Styling:
I always use a heat protectant serum for my hair. I currently use the one listed above ( My stylist also uses it. ) which leaves my hair very soft and silky. I do flat iron my hair at the highest temperature, and I am saving up for a hair bonnet.

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Caring for dry skin

Dry Skin

Dry skin can be such a hassle at times, but it does take understanding to know how to care for it.
There are so many products out there offering to hydrate your skin, and most of them will only work as long as your skin is hydrated, already.

As a skin care/DIY junkie, I've learned some cool tips and tricks over time on how to take care of dry skin.

Cleanser

This can be so tricky because a majority of the people have oily skin, and usually those with oily skin are a bit more problematic. ( Clogged pores, blackheads, etc. )
So everywhere you look, it's as if out of 10 products only 2 will pertain to dry skin.

Key words you want to look for

Moisturizing, Hydrating, Gentle, Non-Drying, Non-Irritating, Hyaluronic Acid ( HA Attracts needed moisture to your skin, and is 1,000 times it's weight in water. It is found naturally occurring in your skin cells - but as you age the skins ability to produce HA is decreased. )  Ceramides ( Help repair skins barrier ), Alcohol Free, Emollients ( Help soften dry skin ), Non-Foaming, Soap Free, Mild, Fragrance Free, Anti-Bacterial.

Moisturizers

Moisturizers can be pretty tricky to figure out. Most are formulated for oilier skin types. ( if you haven't caught on, it's mostly oily skin that dominates the market. )

It is important to moisturize, more than the usual twice a day.

For dry skin, it is recommended to moisturize at least 4 times a day. You want to pick a strong moisturizer, not the general pretty bottle.

Avoid gels, as they are intended for oily skin. Oils are your best friend and will help seal and moisture ( and can help even out your skin tone. )

Shoot for creams, not lotions. Creams tend to absorb into the skin more than a regular lotion does. 

Exfoliation

Dry skin does flake up and exfoliation can help. There is no need to use an abrasive, harmful exfoliant like Apricot Scrubs ( Store brand and St. Ives ). Exfoliation can be both chemical and physical, and both help remove dead skin cells.

Exfoliation is very important because your skin is constantly producing new skin cells. These skin cells are produced at a lower layer and then sent to the uppermost layer. Exfoliation helps remove those dead skin cells, giving your skin a more youthful, healthy look.

It is essential that you are gentle with exfoliation. If you over exfoliate you are putting your skin at a great risk of bacterial infections.

By Over exfoliating, you can remove a protective layer of your skin. This layer is essential for protecting your skin from bacteria. This can cause cysts. premature wrinkles, discoloration, etc. So it is essential to know how to pick out a good exfoliant.

Things to look out for:

Apricot scrubs, or any exfoliant that uses shells. An exfoliators beads should be rounded and smooth - not pointed.
If you use anything with BHA, AHA, Glycolic Acid or even Salicylic acid you are already exfoliating. These are all chemical exfoliants.
T-Sonic devices. The Clarisonic and the Foreo Luna already provide exfoliation, just use a regular cleanser along with them.
Manual face brushes.. The Neutrogena Wave, a simple cheap brush, Olay's Brush, etc also provide exfoliation. They do not yield the same results as the above devices, but you still need to be very gentle with them.
Sugar as an exfoliant. It can be used, yet it needs to be very refined and smooth. I always used to do a honey and sugar scrub. Be very gentle with it.
Jojoba Beads are a very gentle exfoliator. You can either buy them  at any health store ( Whole foods ) or in bulk online. You can mix these with any cleanser of your choice or honey. Neutrogena has a Naturals line which includes a Jojoba Bead exfoliator.
Oatmeal is also an amazing exfoliant and hydrator. View my post here to see how to use it as an exfoliant. 

How I take care of my Dry Skin

As a make up remover I use Cold Pressed Organic Coconut Oil 

Cleanser: I use CeraVe's hydrating cleanser.  Another great alternative would be Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Cleanser. 

Moisturizer: I love my CeraVe Moisturizing Cream.  It applies mattee like, and quickly absorbs into my skin. I apply it generously about 3-4 times a day. 

To seal in my moisturizer I use Rosehip Oil. 

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DIY: How to get rid of and soothe skin redness.

Good Bye Red!

Redness is something common when it comes to skin care. Although more common with those who have a cool undertone, it's just as common for those with a warm undertone.
Use of products with irritants in it ( that cool, tingly feeling is actually very bad for your skin ), as well as - alcohol ( Present in most toners ) and other skin care products, or just touching the face can make it turn a light shade of red.

Well - just as easy as it is to get a red face,  it's also as easy to calm it. 

This is friendly for those with rosacea, as well. 

Oatmeal for redness

Why is oatmeal so good for the skin? Oatmeal helps soothe the skin as well as moisturize it. Oatmeal is also known for it's ability to pull excess oil out from the skin. Here are some interesting facts in regards to oatmeal following a google search.  

Polysaccharides
Oatmeal contains polysaccharides, a type of complex carbohydrate. When polysaccharides mix with water, a gel forms. This gel softens and nourishes the skin. It also protects skin from drying out even after you’ve washed the oatmeal away.
Adding Moisture
Oatmeal contains healthy fats. When they come into contact with your skin, these fats help to add moisture to soften and repair your skin.
Natural Barrier
Your skin is your body’s first line of defense against pollutants. Oatmeal helps to strengthen your skin’s defenses so it can do a better job.
Gentle Cleansing
The saponins in oats help to remove dirt from your pores. This effect, combined with oatmeal’s moisture-adding properties, gives your skin that soft glow after an oatmeal cleanse.
Inside Out
Oatmeal isn’t just good for your skin as a topical treatment. It also helps promote healthy skin as part of your diet. The fiber in oatmeal helps to control the release of insulin and the uptake of glucose, and good insulin regulation helps keep your skin taut and healthy.

For a mask/exfoliant ( Can be used daily ) * This is messy 

1. Grab a handful of oatmeal, it can be any kind. It can be instant oats or whatever you have readily available.
2. Throw some in the blender and grind it. Why should you do this? I found that using oatmeal without grinding it is a bit abrasive. The reason being is that I exfoliate using oatmeal, which I will explain in further steps how it's done.
3. In a container or bowl, using about a tbsp or more ( to the eye ) of raw organic honey ( it can be regular but you will reap more benefits with organic honey ) mix the two together.
4. Apply the paste to your face.
5. After 15-20 minutes or once the oatmeal hardens, in a GENTLE circular motion, massage your skin as this will make the oatmeal fall off AND exfoliate. If you do not wish to exfoliate simple run water on your face ( in the shower of course. )

As a cleanser

1. Grab a handful of oatmeal, it can be any kind. It can be instant oats or whatever you have readily available.
2. Throw some in the blender and grind it. Why should you do this? I found that using oatmeal without grinding it is a bit abrasive. The reason being is that I exfoliate using oatmeal, which I will explain in further steps how it's done.
3. Put in a container that you will hold your oatmeal in
4. Place some in your hand, closing your fist ( not too tightly ) as to moisten the grinded oats. 
5. In gentle circular motions, massage your skin gently using the oats. ( A good idea is to do this as soon as you shower. I like to leave it on and when I am done showering I will then wash it off so that it's kind of like a mini mask. )
6. In a gentle circular motion, remove the oatmeal. Or simply let the running water remove it from your face as to not exfoliate. 

- You can also replace the honey with aloe vera!!! 

Aloe Vera

Aloe Vera is known for soothing irritated skin and healing wounds. It's something my mom would always apply on my face right after we came from the beach, especially since I love tanning in the summer. She would always go outside in to our garden, and break open the leaf and apply some of the gel the leaf contains on to her burns.  Aloe Vera can help treat all kinds of skin disasters, from flaked and dried up skin to hair & scalp problems and even eczema. 

Here are some interesting facts I found about Aloe Vera

1. It treats sunburn.  

Aloe Vera helps with sunburn through its powerful healing activity at the epithelial level of the skin, a layer of cells that cover the body. It acts as a protective layer on the skin and helps replenish its moisture. Because of its nutritional qualities and antioxidant properties, the skin heals quicker. 

2. It acts as a moisturizer. 

Aloe moisturizes the skin without giving it a greasy feel, so it`s perfect for anyone with an oily skin complexion. For women who use mineral-based make-up, aloe vera acts as a moisturizer and is great for the face prior to the application to prevents skin drying. For men: Aloe vera gel can be used as an aftershave treatment as its healing properties can treat small cuts caused by shaving. 

3. It treats acne. 

Aloe vera gel contains two hormones: Auxin and Gibberellins. These two hormones provide wound healing and anti-inflammatory properties that reduce skin inflammation. Giberellin in aloe vera acts as a growth hormone stimulating the growth of new cells. It allows the skin to heal quickly and naturally with minimal scarring.
Aloe is soothing and can reduce skin inflammations, blistering and itchiness, while helping the skin to heal more rapidly. Additionally, in Ayurvedic medicine, Aloe is used to effectively heal chronic skin problems, such as psoriasis, acne and eczema. 

4. It fights aging. 

As we age, everyone begins to worry about the appearance of fine lines and the loss of elasticity in their skin. Aloe leaves contain a plethora of antioxidants including, beta carotene, vitamin C and E that can help improve the skin's natural firmness and keep the skin hydrated.
5. It lessens the visibility of stretch marks.
The skin is like one big piece of elastic that’ll expand and contract as needed to accommodate growth. But if the skin stretches too far, too fast (due to pregnancy, rapid weight gain or loss) the elasticity of the skin can be damaged. That’s what leaves those unsightly stretch marks. These marks appear due to minor tears in the layers of the skin caused by sudden and excessive stretching. Aloe vera gel can help hide these stretch marks by healing these wounds. 

6. It's nutrient rich for good health. 

This solid material contains over 75 different nutrients including vitamins, minerals, enzymes, sugars, anthraquinones or phenolic compounds, lignin, saponins, sterols, amino acids and salicylic acid. 

7. It soothes in periodontal disease. 

According to a study published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology, it's extremely helpful in the treatment of gum diseases like gingivitis, periodontitis. It reduces bleeding, inflammation and swelling of the gums. It is a powerful antiseptic in pockets where normal cleaning is difficult, and its antifungal properties help greatly in the problem of denture stomatitis, apthous ulcers, cracked and split corners of the mouth. 

8. It aids in digestion. 

The internal benefits of aloe vera are supposed to be just as amazing. The plant is said to improve the digestion and to relieve ulcers. Some people consider it a laxative, while others attribute that effect to its digestive qualities (which normalize the system and induce regularity). The juice is also prescribed for arthritis and rheumatism. To test any of these claims, steep the cut foliage in water or chew pieces of the fresh leaf.

How to use Aloe Vera: 

It's better off to either get the leaf from a supermarket or have one readily available from being grown. The reason being is that preserved Aloe Vera gel may not be as effective and it's performance is obstructed by the chemicals in it to preserve it and some as well contain irritants, like fragrance for instance. 

1. You can break off the leaf, and then slice it open. Inside will be the clear substance (it does not taste pleasant) in which you can gently massage on your skin.
2. Another fun idea might be to use aloe vera in conjunction with oatmeal! Instead of doing the above mask with honey, try aloe vera.
3. You can apply Aloe Vera after your moisturizer, but aloe vera is a humectant meaning it attracts moisture from the air. It will not work as well if you are using this on a cold, winter day. 

You can also purchase Aloe Vera Juice ( or make it if you know how to ) to use as a toner for your skin as well. 

Photo credit: Shutterstock.com, stockfreeimages.com

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How to: Long hair care

How to help your locks look beautiful, long, and healthy ♥

Hi loves! I'm sure all of you Beautylisher's have seen my piccies of my hair going from medium/short to pretty long.
I'm constantly asked about it, and I do have a post on what treatment I use most but here I'm going to go into more detail about making your hair strong, beautiful and healthy.

First off, understand you cannot change the speed of your hair growth. Obviously, by using heat styling all the time and chemicals won't make it grow at all, but let's put it this way. ( Hypothetically to give an example ) You can run maximum 40 mph, but if you don't take care of your body, run every so often, you will obviously not be able to run as fast. The maximum speed that you run is 40 mph, so obviously you can't go any faster but - you can go slower by not maintaining your health. 
This is how your hair works. You can't make it grow any faster than what your body can make it grow, but by mistreating it - it will fall off, get dry, brittle, and not grow as well.

Secondly, stronger hair means less breakage, which means you can see that your hair is growing. That is not the same thing as 'omg my hair is growing faster'. I'm pretty sure if you mistreated it and it fell off and you kept mistreating it - that it won't grow 'omg so fast'.

Thirdly, your hair length is determined by genetics. Have you seen how some ladies have longer lashes? Same rule applies to your hair. So don't get stressed out if it doesn't grow to the floor. 
And may I also add that short, beautiful, healthy hair is way more appealing than long, damaged hair. 


Since you can't make your hair grow faster, don't fall into any bogus special pills that may sicken you that promise to make your hair grow faster.
To begin with, you want to do is stimulate hair growth and encourage the strength and health of your hair. 

To help you out, here are some bogus answers that many fall victim to and why they should be avoided.

Mane n' tail shampoo/conditioner is not PH balanced for human hair or scalp, over time it begins to dry out your hair and make it brittle (scientifically, and speaking from personal experience with this one.)
The reason people claim Mane n' tail makes your hair grow is because of the heavy amount of wax in it. The wax present in Mane N' tail simply weighs down your hair and this wax can actually cause flakes. The wax in Mane n' tail is the reason for dullness, and dryness that it can cause. The wax builds up on your hair and overtime causes that side effect.  In other words, Mane n Tail is as effective as lard. 

Do NOT Take Biotin WITHOUT CONSULTING A DOCTOR!!!! I CANNOT STRESS THIS ENOUGH!!
 Biotin is initially meant for those who have a biotin deficiency or a related illness. Taking biotin is not needed as you get enough from your own intake of food.
Biotin can also yield nasty side effects. There are too many horror stories of those who failed to yield the warning. Some symptoms include high fever, vomiting throughout the day, mild to severe acne.. some as odd as getting acne on your legs.
 Biotin is also NOT approved by the FDA. There are foods that contain Biotin already (Peanut butter is a good example.) It is better to look up foods rich in Biotin. And believe it or not, you can make your own Biotin rich smoothie. (A yummy smoothie just for hair growth and no side effects vs a pill not approved by our own sketchy government is enough say for me at least.)
A recipe for a Biotin rich smoothie - courtesy of Luxy Hair 

The 'inversion' method.
Aka weighing down your hair with oils, and then putting yourself in harms way by hanging upside down.
No, your hair will not grow that fast in 5 days. If it sounds too good it probably is. The reason that it looks like it has grown is because oils are basically weighing down your hair. The whole idea of hanging upside down isn't a good idea either. And what happens by hanging upside down is just blood flow & circulation to the head - which you can achieve by massaging your scalp and exercising. A girl argued with me that ' It's good do bend over for 5 minutes upside because doctors do it for back pain'.
Let me clarify this; my dad has about 6-7 herniated disks. What a doctor makes you do is stand up completely straight on some kind of a thick mat. You are strapped down accordingly, and he slowly turns you upside down for a period of time. You are up straight the entire time, not bent over or in some awkward position. I'm pretty sure if you could just bend over to relieve the back pain, a doctor wouldn't put my dad on a $350.00 machine to turn him straight upside down.

Following a healthy diet is essential for hair growth. Take proteins into consideration. Your hair is made up of Keratin which is a protein. 
Your body needs to produce more amino acids to increase hair growth. Proteins can come from eggs, nuts,  beans, fish, etc.

Check with your doctor to make sure you don't have any deficiencies. Iron and zinc play a big component in hair growth as well as nail growth. Cereal, breads, pastas, have a healthy level of iron and zinc. 
Make sure you take enough vitamin C as well ( Lack of such vitamin can cause dry, dull, and weakened hair... Citrus fruits, strawberries, guava, broccoli, kale, peppers, etc.have a good amount of Vitamin C. )
Consume healthy fats such as unsaturated fats and fatty acids such as omega-3's. Fats are indispensable to hair growth.

Exercising, scalp massages, and avoiding stress.  Exercising and massaging your scalp allows blood to flow to your head, and massaging your hair stimulates new hair growth (for at least 5 minutes when you wash your hair or apply a product, massage your scalp.)
Stress causes hair to fall out so avoid stress if you can. 

Hair masks and treatments are a must. Stick to treatments involving Coconut oil. Coconut Oil stimulates hair growth because it penetrates deep into your hair follicles ( and is considered protein. )
Oils work great for hair, for maximum benefits heat them up indirectly. ( Heat up a cup of water in your microwave for two minutes, and in a separate enclosed container with your hair masks, place it in the cup of water to heat it indirectly. )

Avoid heat if you can.
You don't need to get a haircut every x number of months, that just causes it to stay at the same length. 
I once had a hair stylist tell me 'You need to have it cut every 3 weeks'. That's not even a full cycle, and just sounds like a scheme to get me to spend money. ( A simple hair cut because my hair is 'curly and very long' is about $60.00 )
Get a cut if you really need to ( dead ends, split ends, etc ), cutting hair won't just randomly make it grow twice as fast. 

You can wash your hair everyday, it's shampooing you want to stray from because it's very stripping. Shampoo your scalp ONLY.
Don't rinse out all of your conditioner. This helps immensely and when you wash your hair again it will be de-tangled. Stick to moisturizing your hair 100%.
Try to brush your hair outside of the shower with a wide tooth comb. There's also a wet brush meant for wet hair. I find my regular brush to work just as well, but my hair does not get knotted at all so it won't make a difference if I were to use one. Your best bet are your fingers and some conditioner. 

And remember... overall health does contribute to your hair! 

Extras: My hair care rountine

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