never mix

Ingredients You Should Never Mix In Skincare


Hi there my beautiful lovelies! Hope you guys are doing well and staying safe. Today, I want to talk to you about ingredients that you should never mix in your skincare products. If you have very sensitive skin like mine, it will be detrimental to your face skin.

Never Mix

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Benzoyl Peroxide and Retinol: While these ingredients are both used to fight acne, they can cause irritation when layered. They can, however, be used on the same day. Benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid are the biggest acne-fighting ingredient on the over-the-counter market, usually found in cleansers and spot treatments. Using benzoyl peroxide with retinol can lead to them deactivating each other’s potency. On the other hand, salicylic acid and retinol can cause dryness and flaking. Instead, use these acne products in the morning or on opposite nights that you use retinol.

Vitamin C and Alpha Hydroxy Acids: This acidity in these two ingredients can cause an irregular pH balance on the skin, rendering the products ineffective. Although vitamin C is labeled as a vitamin, it still is technically an acid (L-ascorbic), and combining two acidic ingredients can lead to irritations like peeling and dryness. It can also cause vitamin C’s low pH to be altered, leading to redness and inflammation. A good rule of thumb is to use acids like AHAs/BHAs at night since they can make your skin more susceptible to sunburn if used in the morning. Again, using vitamin C in the morning can give added benefits to the skin.

Vitamin B3 (niacinamide) and Alpha Hydroxy Acids: The low pH produced by AHAs can cause vitamin B3 to produce nicotinic acid, which can irritate the skin. Vitamin B3 is most effective when the skin has a neutral pH balance. Moreover, niacinamide consists of high pH levels, which go around 5-7, whereas acids have low pH levels of about 3-4. If they are layered together, niacinamide will increase the pH levels of acids that can turn less effective and cause a problem absorbing into the skin. This combination can also result in flushing and redness.

Vitamin C and Retinol: Retinol is a powerful skin care product that can cause drying of the skin. Therefore, some ingredients simply do not work well with retinol and can cause skin irritation. The ingredients in each of these have different purposes (vitamin C’s pH level is lower), which can work against each other and cause irritations. Vitamin C is an antioxidant, it’s best used in the mornings, while retinol, being photosensitive, is best used at night. That way, retinol can work overtime while you sleep, and vitamin C can give you antioxidant protection when you wake up.

Alpha Hydroxy Acids and Retinol: Some ingredients simply do not work well with retinol. Oftentimes, different hydroxy acids will be used in face washes or exfoliators, and while you can use two different products with these ingredients on the same day, it is not recommended to layer one on top of the other. Adding retinol after acidic skincare can increase dryness and lead to extra irritation. If retinol is a part of your everyday routine, skip out on it on days you use AHAs. But this doesn’t mean you can’t have both in your routine. It is recommended to apply your AHA in the morning and retinol at night, but you should always proceed with caution and take it slow. Dermatologists recommend starting with only one, and once you are stable after a few weeks, consider adding the other. Start by using your retinol once a week, and slowly increase your frequency. Then, add the AHA slowly as well. This also depends on what type of AHA you’re using. Using a cleanser with a bit of glycolic acid vs. a 20 percent AHA/BHA treatment is very different; a cleanser is much more easily tolerated, while a high-potency AHA should only be used once or twice a week.

Please subscribe to this blog or follow me if you have a WordPress account.  Don’t forget to check out my Facebook Page and follow me on Instagram @forevernijAre you on BloglovinAlso please subscribe to my YouTube channel. Let’s support each other. Please follow me and comment below with your information so that I can follow you back.

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No Kid Hungry:

America’s kids need us. The coronavirus is closing schools nationwide, and millions of vulnerable children are losing the school meals they depend on. For some, it’s the only food they’ll receive on a given day. We have a plan to feed kids, but we need your help today to continue our work to ensure every kid gets three meals a day. You can click above to donate to my gofundme page donation going directly to the organization, or you can click on the direct link to the site.

Food Bank of Maryland:

PLEASE DONATE ANY AMOUNT YOU CAN AND SHARE THE POST WITH EVERYONE YOU KNOW.

Manna Food Center, a nonprofit organization, strives to eliminate hunger in Montgomery County through food distribution, education, and advocacy. Millions of children go to bed hungry in America every year, sadly it’s worse now! Today, 14 million children regularly miss meals — three times more than during the Great Recession and five times more than before the pandemic.

Many parents have lost their job during the pandemic. Sadly, that shows no sign of stopping. Your donation can bring relief to the millions worried about where their next meal will come from. It’s even worse for Latino and Black families, whose rates of nutrition insecurity have spiked to 25% and 30%. In the world’s wealthiest country, this is unconscionable.

Even before the pandemic, the U.S. Department of Agriculture estimated 37 million people in America struggled with hunger and nutrition. The Centers for Disease Control reports 76% of people killed by COVID-19 had at least one underlying condition, most of which were diet-related. Diet-related diseases also fuel skyrocketing health care costs, which rose from 5% to 28% of the federal budget in the past 50 years.

Let’s make the world better, kinder, brighter. Every dollar you give will create real change. $1 will feed 5 hungry children here in the US, but $1,000 will feed 50,000 starving children overseas. Be the good in the lives of many by giving right now.

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rashes

Why Does My Face Break Out With Rashes So Easily?


Hi there my beautiful lovelies! Hope you guys are doing well and staying safe. Today, I want to talk to you about something that has been bothering me for the past 4 months at a higher rate than before. It is have breaking out in red and extremely itchy rashes every easily. It’s called dermatitis.

What is Contact Dermatitis – Rashes?

rashes

According to the Mayo Clinic, contact dermatitis is red, itchy rashes caused by direct contact with a substance or an allergic reaction to it. The rashes are not contagious or life-threatening, but they can be very uncomfortable. Many substances can cause such reactions, including soaps, cosmetics, fragrances, jewelry, and plants.

Symptom of Contact Dermatitis

Contact dermatitis usually occurs on areas of your body that have been directly exposed to the reaction-causing substance — for example, along a calf that brushed against poison ivy or under a watchband. The rash usually develops within minutes to hours of exposure and can last two to four weeks. Other symptoms include,

  • A red rash
  • Itching, which may be severe
  • Dry, cracked, scaly skin
  • Bumps and blisters, sometimes with oozing and crusting
  • Swelling, burning or tenderness

When I first had contact dermatitis, it started out at red, extremely itchy rashes on my cheeks and nose. The biggest I made was use light acne medicine. The rashes turned into burning and itchy crusting. The rash is so uncomfortable that I was losing sleep and was distracted from my daily activities. It was then I realized I needed to go to a dermatologist, given that I did not change my skincare routine before that.

Causes of Dermatitis

Contact dermatitis is caused by a substance you’re exposed to that irritates your skin or triggers an allergic reaction. The substance could be one of thousands of known allergens and irritants. Some of these substances may cause both irritant contact dermatitis and allergic contact dermatitis. Rashes are common symptoms.

Irritant contact dermatitis is the most common type. This nonallergic skin reaction occurs when a substance damages your skin’s outer protective layer.

Some people react to strong irritants after a single exposure. Others may develop signs and symptoms after repeated exposures to even mild irritants. And some people develop a tolerance to the substance over time.

Common irritants include:

  • Solvents
  • Rubbing alcohol
  • Bleach and detergents
  • Shampoos, permanent wave solutions
  • Airborne substances, such as sawdust or wool dust
  • Plants
  • Fertilizers and pesticides

What I suffered from each time is was allergic dermatitis. Allergic dermatitis occurs when a substance to which you’re sensitive (allergen) triggers an immune reaction in your skin. It usually affects only the area that came into contact with the allergen. But it may be triggered by something that enters your body through foods, flavorings, medicine, or medical or dental procedures (systemic contact dermatitis).

One may become sensitized to a strong allergen such as poison ivy after a single exposure. Weaker allergens may require multiple exposures over several years to trigger an allergy. Once you develop an allergy to a substance, even a small amount of it can cause a reaction.

Common allergens include:

  • Nickel, which is used in jewelry, buckles and many other items
  • Medications, such as antibiotic creams and oral antihistamines
  • Balsam of Peru, which is used in many products, such as perfumes, cosmetics, mouth rinses and flavorings
  • Formaldehyde, which is in preservatives, disinfectants and clothing
  • Personal care products, such as deodorants, body washes, hair dyes, cosmetics and nail polish
  • Plants such as poison ivy and mango, which contain a highly allergenic substance called urushiol
  • Airborne substances, such as ragweed pollen and spray insecticides
  • Products that cause a reaction when you’re in the sun (photoallergic contact dermatitis), such as some sunscreens and oral medications

Preventive Measures I Take:

I try to be extra careful about what I put on my skin. I use gentle cleansers and moisturizers. I also try to look for clean products when it comes to makeup and skincare products. I try to identify and avoid substances that irritate your skin or cause an allergic reaction and rashes. I use a mild, fragrance-free soap and warm water, and rinse completely. I also wash any clothing or other items that may have come into contact with a plant and other allergens. Additionally, due to my severe allergy to dust mites, I wear mask when cleaning and furnitures, and home. I also regularly applying moisturizing lotions can help restore your skin’s outermost layer and keep your skin supple.

Treatments

Each time I had allergic dermatitis, I was treated with steroid cream and prednisone. Steroid cream are topically applied creams or ointments help soothe the rashes of dermatitis. A topical steroid may be applied one or two times a day for two to four weeks. Oral corticosteroids are given in severe cases to reduce inflammation, antihistamines to relieve itching or antibiotics to fight a bacterial infection.

The step for me is to go to the dermatology office to do a patch test to see if I am allergic to something. This test can be useful if the cause of the rashes isn’t apparent or if the rash recurs often, which is my case.

During a patch test, small amounts of potential allergens are applied to adhesive patches, which are then placed on the skin. The patches remain on the skin for two to three days, during which time the back is needed to kept dry. The doctor then checks for skin reactions under the patches and determines whether further testing is needed.

My dear beautiful lovelies! Hope you find this post is helpful. I would love to know if you have experienced dermatitis and how did you manage it.

Please subscribe to this blog or follow me if you have a WordPress account.  Don’t forget to check out my Facebook Page and follow me on Instagram @forevernijAre you on BloglovinAlso please subscribe to my YouTube channel. Let’s support each other. Please follow me and comment below with your information so that I can follow you back.

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Follow my Instagram page on @forevernij

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CAUSES CLOSE TO MY HEART

PLEASE DONATE DIRECTLY TO THE ORGANIZATIONS THROUGH MY FUNDRAISING LINKS:

I consider myself fortunate to have good health, a full-time job, and a roof over my head. However, there are still so many people who are struggling to put food on their tables. Please join me to help those who are struggling. If you have good health, full-time jobs, and a roof over your head, please join me to help those who are struggling. Whether you donate $5 or $500, you will make a huge difference in someone’s life.

No Kid Hungry:

America’s kids need us. The coronavirus is closing schools nationwide, and millions of vulnerable children are losing the school meals they depend on. For some, it’s the only food they’ll receive on a given day. We have a plan to feed kids, but we need your help today to continue our work to ensure every kid gets three meals a day. You can click above to donate to my gofundme page donation going directly to the organization, or you can click on the direct link to the site.

Food Bank of Maryland:

PLEASE DONATE ANY AMOUNT YOU CAN AND SHARE THE POST WITH EVERYONE YOU KNOW.

Manna Food Center, a nonprofit organization, strives to eliminate hunger in Montgomery County through food distribution, education, and advocacy. Millions of children go to bed hungry in America every year, sadly it’s worse now! Today, 14 million children regularly miss meals — three times more than during the Great Recession and five times more than before the pandemic.

Many parents have lost their job during the pandemic. Sadly, that shows no sign of stopping. Your donation can bring relief to the millions worried about where their next meal will come from. It’s even worse for Latino and Black families, whose rates of nutrition insecurity have spiked to 25% and 30%. In the world’s wealthiest country, this is unconscionable.

Even before the pandemic, the U.S. Department of Agriculture estimated 37 million people in America struggled with hunger and nutrition. The Centers for Disease Control reports 76% of people killed by COVID-19 had at least one underlying condition, most of which were diet-related. Diet-related diseases also fuel skyrocketing health care costs, which rose from 5% to 28% of the federal budget in the past 50 years.

Let’s make the world better, kinder, brighter. Every dollar you give will create real change. $1 will feed 5 hungry children here in the US, but $1,000 will feed 50,000 starving children overseas. Be the good in the lives of many by giving right now.

SUPPORT ME

Your generous support will help me continue to bring content to you.

AFFILIATION LINKS & COUPON

Toms: Get $20 off your first order at TOMS!

Door Dash: Get $30 off ($10 off each of your first 3 orders)

Uber: Sign Up to Ride. Use promo code
ic0b9 and get a free ride.

Lyft: Get your free ride.

Grubhub: Sign Up and Enjoy. Get $10 off your first order

Ipsy: Sign Up to Get Curated Products to Your Door Step

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rashes

Have A Very Sensitive Skin? This is What I do


Hi there my beautiful lovelies! Hope you guys are doing well and staying safe. Today, I want to take the time to talk to you about something very important to me. It’s taking care of sensitive skin.

What is Sensitive Skin?

So, what is sensitive skin and how do you define it. Well I will use the definition from a special interest group of international experts who defined sensitive skin as:

Using the Delphi method, sensitive skin was defined as “A syndrome defined by the occurrence of unpleasant sensations (stinging, burning, pain, pruritus, and tingling sensations) in response to stimuli that normally should not provoke such sensations. These unpleasant sensations cannot be explained by lesions attributable to any skin disease. The skin can appear normal or be accompanied by erythema. Sensitive skin can affect all body locations, especially the face”.

Misery L, Ständer S, Szepietowski JC, Reich A, Wallengren J, Evers AW, Takamori K, Brenaut E, Le Gall-Ianotto C, Fluhr J, Berardesca E, Weisshaar E. Definition of Sensitive Skin: An Expert Position Paper from the Special Interest Group on Sensitive Skin of the International Forum for the Study of Itch. Acta Derm Venereol. 2017 Jan 4;97(1):4-6. doi: 10.2340/00015555-2397. PMID: 26939643.

My Experience With Sensitive Skin

When my skin contacts household or skincare products, it causes stinging, burning, itchiness, redness, or tightness. As you can see from the picture above if I am not careful about what’s touching my skin, I end up with dry skin patches, red bumps, and just redness. I have a combination dry and sensitive skin. Hence, I have to be very careful about the product I use on my skin. I will give you an example, I tried a new exfoliator which led my skin to the above situation. I also get a similar effect if I use those acne/blackhead removal tools. Basically, exfoliators or any of those skin tools are a big no-no for me.

What Do I Do Take Care of My Sensitive Skin

Cleansing – When it comes to cleansers, I don’t use harsh products. Each person responds differently to different cleansing methods. However, I can tell you for sure that “deodorant” soap or highly fragranced soap are no-nos for me since they contain strong detergents and shouldn’t be used on the face. Soap-free cleansers such as mild cleansing bars and sensitive skin bars along with most liquid facial cleansers have less potential for facial skin irritation than soaps. The same is true for cleansing creams and disposable facial washcloths. I love using Honest Beauty Gentle Gel Cleanser with Chamomile. My skin just loves them. I just use gentle cleansers with my fingertips. I never scrub my face, and just rinse with plenty of warm water, then pat dry. If my skin dries out or gets oily, I just try a different cleanser.

Exfoliating always irritate my skin and I never exfoliate. I always make sure not to use products that have alcohol, soap, acid, or fragrance. Instead, look on the label for calming ingredients like aloe, chamomile, green tea polyphenols, and oats. The fewer ingredients in a product, the happier my skin is.

Moisturizing – One thing that is needed for all skin types is moisturizing. I have a combination and sensitive skin. Half of my face is drier than the Sahara desert, and the other half (namely, my T-zone) is oily and prone to breakouts. on top of that, I have sensitive skin. Hence, when it comes to my skin, I always go for a lightweight, water-based, and oil-free moisturizer. Most of all, apply it while your skin is still damp from washing or rinsing to help seal in moisture. I also try to look for soothing ingredients when it comes to my moisturizer and again less is better.

Sunscreen – I cannot say it enough when it comes to any skin type, sunscreen is a must. You will not only protect your skin from cancer but also irritation and sunburn. I wear it every day, even if it’s not sunny and even if it’s cold. 

Makeup Product – I just stick to few products for makeup.

If you have sensitive skin, the American Academy of Dermatology recommends the following:

  • Use face powder, which has few preservatives and minimal risk of skin irritation.
  • Use a silicone-based foundation for minimal skin irritation.
  • Do not use waterproof cosmetics; you need a special cleanser to remove them.
  • Use black eyeliner and mascara; they appear to be least allergenic.
  • Use pencil eyeliner and eyebrow fillers; liquid eyeliners may contain latex and may cause an allergic reaction.
  • Throw out old cosmetics; they can spoil or become contaminated.

Skin Test – Before trying any new product and I try a little bit behind my ear and leave it overnight. I have a dry red patch behind my ears than on my face.

My lovelies! I would love to know what you do to take care of your particular skin type? Please comment below.

Please subscribe to this blog or follow me if you have a WordPress account.  Don’t forget to check out my Facebook Page and follow me on Instagram @forevernijAre you on BloglovinAlso please subscribe to my YouTube channel. Let’s support each other. Please follow me and comment below with your information so that I can follow you back.

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Follow my Instagram page on @forevernij

Follow my Facebook Page on @forevernij

Subscribe to my YouTube channels (two)

Follow my Twitter account @allaboutme3181

Buy From My Closet

Shop from my closet at Poshmark

Shop from my closet at Ebay

CAUSES CLOSE TO MY HEART

PLEASE DONATE DIRECTLY TO THE ORGANIZATIONS THROUGH MY FUNDRAISING LINKS:

I consider myself fortunate to have good health, a full-time job, and a roof over my head. However, there are still so many people who are struggling to put food on their tables. Please join me to help those who are struggling. If you have good health, full-time jobs, and a roof over your head, please join me to help those who are struggling. Whether you donate $5 or $500, you will make a huge difference in someone’s life.

No Kid Hungry:

America’s kids need us. The coronavirus is closing schools nationwide, and millions of vulnerable children are losing the school meals they depend on. For some, it’s the only food they’ll receive on a given day. We have a plan to feed kids, but we need your help today to continue our work to ensure every kid gets three meals a day. You can click above to donate to my gofundme page donation going directly to the organization, or you can click on the direct link to the site.

Food Bank of Maryland:

PLEASE DONATE ANY AMOUNT YOU CAN AND SHARE THE POST WITH EVERYONE YOU KNOW.

Manna Food Center, a nonprofit organization, strives to eliminate hunger in Montgomery County through food distribution, education, and advocacy. Millions of children go to bed hungry in America every year, sadly it’s worse now! Today, 14 million children regularly miss meals — three times more than during the Great Recession and five times more than before the pandemic.

Many parents have lost their job during the pandemic. Sadly, that shows no sign of stopping. Your donation can bring relief to the millions worried about where their next meal will come from. It’s even worse for Latino and Black families, whose rates of nutrition insecurity have spiked to 25% and 30%. In the world’s wealthiest country, this is unconscionable.

Even before the pandemic, the U.S. Department of Agriculture estimated 37 million people in America struggled with hunger and nutrition. The Centers for Disease Control reports 76% of people killed by COVID-19 had at least one underlying condition, most of which were diet-related. Diet-related diseases also fuel skyrocketing health care costs, which rose from 5% to 28% of the federal budget in the past 50 years.

Let’s make the world better, kinder, brighter. Every dollar you give will create real change. $1 will feed 5 hungry children here in the US, but $1,000 will feed 50,000 starving children overseas. Be the good in the lives of many by giving right now.

SUPPORT ME

Your generous support will help me continue to bring content to you.

AFFILIATION LINKS & COUPON

Toms: Get $20 off your first order at TOMS!

Door Dash: Get $30 off ($10 off each of your first 3 orders)

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Lyft: Get your free ride.

Grubhub: Sign Up and Enjoy. Get $10 off your first order

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