Globusz^® Publishing 

ow you look influences how you feel – physically and emotionally. Physical beauty has always played a significant role in the way people have valued themselves and in the way others have valued them. We are programmed to believe that what is beautiful is also good and true. As a result, those who look neat, well groomed, and appealing to the eye are usually more socially successful and happier than those who do not.

The use of cosmetics is one of the most common methods of achieving a particular image. Put simply, a cosmetic is “an article to be rubbed in, poured, sprinkled or sprayed on, introduced into, or otherwise applied to the human body or any part thereof for cleansing, beautifying, promoting attractiveness or altering the appearance.”

The use of cosmetics to adorn our skin and enhance our appearance goes back to the beginning of time. Skillfully used, cosmetics can change your appearance by adding color, texture, form, and shine. They can add a healthy glow to disguise winter pallor and ashiness, and camouflage minor blemishes and defects. For many women, cosmetics also help build self-confidence and self-esteem.

Cosmetic products, formerly used by only the wealthy, are now available to everyone. What cosmetics you should use is easy: whatever you like, whatever you can afford, and whatever doesn’t cause any adverse reactions or side effects as itchiness, oiliness, or pimples. If you like the look, the feel, the smell, and the price – use it!

There are some general guidelines, however, to help you be a better cosmetics consumer:

• The most expensive cosmetic is not necessarily the best for you. What you pay for when you buy expensive cosmetics is fragrance, the designer’s name, the cost of advertising, and fancy packaging. The expensive products, however, often have greater esthetic and psychological advantage for the buyer who feels that the more costly the better. It is more chic and status-y, it stresses exclusivity, it has more snob appeal, and it gives the buyer a feeling of well being. But remember: the active and useful ingredients in all cosmetics are relatively inexpensive and pretty much the same.

• Don’t be sucked in by the hype that a cosmetic is “pH- balanced,” “dermatologist-tested,” and “hypo-allergenic.” They all are! And as far as “natural” and “organic,” these are meaningless terms intended to impress and confuse you.

• There are no so-called moisturizers or creams that can restore elasticity to damaged skin. And they do not slow down aging. Most moisturizers cause blackheads and whiteheads!

• The best cosmetics are those that are oil-free and water- based.

Cosmetic Safety

If used and stored properly, almost all cosmetics – except mascara that has a “life expectancy” of only 3 or 4 months – can last for about one year. Old cosmetics are risky to use and will never give you the proper results. Homemade cosmetics present problems with bacterial contamination.

If your make-up has changed color or odor, dried out, or separated, get rid of it -- the chances are that it’s contaminated or has outlived its usefulness.

Cosmetic Do’s

• Before you purchase an expensive cosmetic, ask for a sample to try at home.

• Keep the lids and caps of jars, bottles, and tubes tightly closed when not in use.

• Keep your jars, bottles, and tubes scrupulously clean, and store them in well-ventilated places away from excessive heat and cold.

• Clean all your sponges and cosmetic brushes frequently with a mild soap and water.

• Keep your eye pencils clean and freshen them up periodically by sharpening them.

• Change your powder puffs often.

• Always remove your make-up before going to bed.

• To remove your cosmetics, use a tried-and-true product called Albolene.

• Check the expiration date on mascara and other cosmetics.

• Discard your mascara after 3 or 4 months or earlier, if the odor or color has changed. Mascara has a much higher risk of bacterial contamination than other cosmetics. After using mascara, always wipe the brush off with a clean, dry facial tissue.

• If you have a skin or eye infection, your cosmetics can easily become contaminated. Discard any you may have been using, and don’t use any cosmetics until your problem has cleared up.

Cosmetic Don’ts

• Never use anyone else’s cosmetics and never lend yours to anyone. Swapping cosmetics can lead to contamination and can spread infection.

• Never use those so-called “tester” cosmetics from the cosmetic counters. Tester lipsticks can spread the herpes virus and other tester products can spread infection to the skin and eyes.

• Never put make-up on an unwashed face. Use a mild, gentle soap before applying any cosmetic. And do not use deodorant soaps on your face; they leave an irritating residue on the skin.

• Don’t put make-up on first thing in the morning. Let the puffiness of your face disappear first.

• Never apply any eye make-up while in a moving vehicle.

• If you wear contact lenses, don’t use mascara with fibers.

• Never add anything to your cosmetics. Water and other liquids encourage bacterial growth.

• Avoid cosmetics that contain fragrances.

• And never use any cosmetic that has vitamin E in it! It can only cause allergic rashes on your skin.

A NOTE ON EAR-PIERCING

‘ar ye! ‘Ear ye! Pierced ears are back in vogue, and many teen-agers, as well as adult women, are having it done.

And one of the latest fads – eerie, in a way – is that some young women are having each ear pierced in three or four different places and wear as many as six or eight earrings at one time. And now belly buttons, nipples, noses, lips, and - yes - even tongues!

It may come as a surprise to many, but pierced earrings were common ornaments of men in England up to the seventeenth century! And it was common in the U.S. Navy up to about seventy years ago. There has been a recent revival of this custom in young men who wear single earrings in their left ears.

Yet, harmless as the custom may seem, it isn’t something that should be done casually by friends, relatives, or other unskilled individuals. The ear-piercing procedure itself takes only a few moments, and is relatively painless, but it is best performed by a physician who is aware of proper sterile technique as well as some of the minor hazards that may accompany it.

People with certain diseases, such as those with a history of eczema, rheumatic fever, certain blood disorders, impetigo, the cystic type of acne, and allergies to metals, should not have their ears pierced.

The American Medical Association has warned the public of some of the complications of ear piercing, particularly when done under nonsterile conditions. These include hepatitis and other internal infections (in rare cases leading to death), excessive bleeding which may form a blood tumor, raised scars (keloids), which can occur in susceptible people, and allergies to the metal (usually nickel) in the earrings.

Nickel is a powerful sensitizer, especially in contact with broken skin. Almost all earrings contain nickel. Many people believe that their 14-carat or 18-carat gold earrings are safe to use in pierced ears. Not so! The 14-carat gold jewelry has 14 parts gold and 10 parts nickel; the 18-carat gold jewelry has 18 parts gold and 6 parts nickel – enough nickel to cause and prolong allergies. As a result, there has been a “rash” of skin allergies on earlobes that resemble infection. For the most part this reaction is merely an inflammation.

Occasionally, however, certain bacteria multiply on the raw, broken skin, resulting in a true infection with weeping, oozing, and crusting. If this occurs, you must consult your doctor.

To prevent this type of allergy, purchase trainer earrings made of surgical stainless steel. In addition to being made of stainless steel, these trainer earrings should be the “post” type. I do not recommend hoops or wires until at least three months after the ear-piercing procedure.

Should you have your ears pierced? If you are healthy, if you plan to have your ears pierced in a clean and sterile manner by a physician, if you do not have a history of being allergic to metals, and if you have no raised scars on your skin, the chances are that you will have no complications following your ear-piercing.

Here are some other hints to help prevent infection:

• After having your ears pierced, wear the same earrings continuously for at least six weeks.

• Gently wash the front and back of your earlobes with soap and water at least twice daily. (Do not use alcohol to clean these areas, as the alcohol may dissolve or in some way react with the glue that cements the ball to the post.)

• Twirl (turn) the earrings several complete revolutions two or three times daily.

Some amount of redness and tenderness is normal after ear- piercing. If you experience any unusual pain, swelling, or discharge, call the physician who did the procedure.

For further information about cosmetics & skin care products, log on to: www.aad.org 1-888-462-DERM x22

RECAP

• A cosmetic is “an article to be rubbed in, poured, sprinkled or sprayed on, introduced into, or otherwise applied to the human body or any part thereof for cleansing, beautifying, promoting attractiveness or altering the appearance.”

• To remove your cosmetics, use a tried-and-true product called Albolene.

• The most expensive cosmetic is not necessarily the best for you. What you pay for when you buy expensive cosmetics is fragrance, the designer’s name, the cost of advertising, and fancy packaging.

• If used and stored properly, almost all cosmetics – except mascara that has a “life expectancy” of only 3 or 4 months – can last for about one year.