Archive for the ‘Yummy in the Mirror’ Category
YUMMY IN THE MIRROR
Posted 06.15.08 by annajohnson
PREGNANT SKIN SAVERS; SAVING FACE, WITH CHILD
Whilst pregnant, I was rosier than a Jane Austen heroine and marked by two big brown pigment blotches the size of a penny on each cheek. My nipples turned to chocolate drops and I had dry, dry skin, if well behaved pores. It would have been a great relief to have known that most of these conditions would fade after the baby came. “For every woman who goes through pregnancy looking absolutely radiant, there’s one who suffers from hyperpigmentation, dryness, and flaky skin,” says Rona Berg, beauty guru and best-selling author of “Beauty: The New Basics” and “Fast Beauty: 1000 Quick Fixes” (www.ronaberg.com). Rona’s quick fix for a gentle exfoliator is as follows and it really is the most basic I’ve heard of. “To make your own, sprinkle a few drops of water into a tablespoon of baking soda in your palm, and gently massage into your face,” says Berg. “Leave it on for five or 10 minutes until dry, and rinse with cool water.”
PIGMENTATION
The best salvation against pigmentation is sunscreen and a large hat. Without constant reapplication, sun damage definitely takes place, especially in the incidental moments that we do not consider “sunbaking:” hanging laundry on the line, walking to lunch from the office, getting in and out of the car, and even driving with the window rolled down. Normal melasma will fade after pregnancy, so sunscreen is crucial to keep the process from darkening an already pigmented skin.
When concealing a pigmentation patch, start with a skin perfecting primer (a translucent light reflective base that can be applied to every skin tone) and then apply a concealer only one tone deeper that your natural skin tone. And if you are really freaking for smooth perfect coverage, on top of that, choose an adjustable finish foundation with sun block. Tap it on instead of smearing or rubbing. Finish off with a light dust of bronzer over entire face, throat and neckline for warmth and evenness.
African American skin has a tendency towards fragility, dark scarring and hyper pigmentation, so sun protection, and adequate moisture during pregnancy are vital.
HIGH COLOR
High color is sexy, in an Antoine Watteau rococo maiden sort of way. I love the idea of a being able to blush all day long. But many don’t. Redheads especially think they look like a human radish. The most obvious mistake for covering pink or red toned skin is to reach for a paler foundation, which doesn’t deflect the red very well at all. Instead, find a skin perfecter with a red neutralizer built in. And for goodness sake, no blusher or bright red lipsticks if you’re a redhead. Opt for neutral tones and a dust of bronzer instead.
THICKNESS AND DRYNESS
Skin can feel a little coarse during pregnancy and needs more regular exfoliation than usual. Exfoliation can be simple (a quick massage of upward circular strokes with a warm, wet face cloth), or more ritualistic with a delicate exfoliating mask. Avoid dime store scrubs made from almond husks and the like. That’s way too rough, mama.
Drink more water than you think you need, shield skin from wind, sun and air conditioning with a perpetually active, lightweight moisturiser, and give yourself a weekly mask of avocado or raw natural yogurt to keep skin fresh. Being pregnant, you’re more than likely to eat the leftovers, and that’s good for your skin too!
Sleep, and lots of it, is also critical, not just to your appearance, but to building up the energy reserves needed for birth and beyond. As you enter the third trimester, sleep becomes more difficult. Disturbing dreams, back pain and frequent urination can make night sleep hell, so if you are in position to cat nap through the day, do so! A small, wedge shaped pillow helped me rest my huge belly in the final months, and I also bought many pillows to build a nest around my body. Drifting into dreams, however briefly, is the respite that generates beauty. And having faith that all will be well.
Maternity is a perfect time to start experimenting with herbal, holistic and raw food beauty alternatives. The less chemicals absorbed by your skin now, the better. Look to The Ultimate Natural Beauty Guide by Josephine Fairley (Kyle Cathie Ltd, UK, 2004 for lots of yummy fresh beauty recipes.
PALENESS
Never use a darker foundation to lend color to the skin. Instead, match foundation to skin as exactly as possible (the skin on the inside of your wrists is the best barometer), and then either use an all over complexion enhancer. For Latina and olive skin tones try a sheer bronze powder.
Remember, it’s not darkness you’re after, but a natural lift to your own natural skin tone. African-American skin in the dead of winter or with anemia can take on a grey or ashy tone, so boost the beauty with a foundation that has the right undertone for your complexion (a quick trip to the beauty counter will reveal if you are olive or yellow). Exfoliate weekly and then treat your freshly scrubbed face to a deep moisturizing mask. Also realize that dark skin is prone to sun damage (no matter how much more melanin it has) and needs a 30 SPF protection year round.
For African American skin during and after pregnancy be aware of radical changes in skin texture, oiliness or dryness. Avoid oil based make up and balance out uneven skin tone by using concealer and powder that is transparent or slightly colored to avoid too much shine.
Another way to lift skin that is way too pale is to apply a light reflecting moisturizer under your make-up or to simply take an opposite position and accentuate the somewhat Goth look with deeper lipstick, and rich, berry-tinted accessories and clothes. Not everyone can dunk their head in a bucket of bronzer and look healthy. For a woman of pallor (pregnant or not) white could just be the new white.