The story of skincare and stress is a never-ending and tenacious one.  At least for me it is.  I have an excellent poker face in social situations, and my RBF hides feelings like a boss.  But when it comes to stressors in my life, my face doesn’t lie. Fortunately, I skipped the adolescent acne phase, and even now my skin is clear 90% of the time (thank you, genetics). But trust me when I say that when I break out from stress, hell hath no fury.  

Stress breakouts are unique—they’re sporadic, intense and deep-seated. How is this treated? What’s inside these little bumps? Can they be extracted? Do I need to give up pizza? It’s a mystery! These are the kind of breakouts that can’t be “fixed” overnight with something so benign as tea tree oil. They’re commonly associated with the negotiations between you and your skin as you’re groaning at your reflection in the bathroom mirror. You know the one, “Dude, seriously not now. Where did you come from?!” I know I’m not alone in this.

I started to see indicators of stress on my skin during the last few years (my early and mid-twenties), when life, love, and career hit me all at once. Plus, I started to really experience all the happy hour drinks and nasty pollution that Los Angeles had to offer. Surely, my skin worsened when taken into consideration some of my very stressful life events: Pulling all-nighters at work? Breakout. Moving apartments again? Breakout. He wants to take things “to the next level?” Breakout. Until one day I finally realized that my skin just wasn’t invincible and thought to myself, “Sigh…I guess this is a thing now.”

I had to get it together. It wasn’t just a vanity thing—it was a serious health thing.  Coming from a family in the healthcare field, I felt like I was ignoring a crucial part of my personal wellness (sorry, ma!). So, I come here today to be that slightly annoying (possibly endearing?), but much needed reminder to to be your own Beyoncé of stress management—meaning, handle that ish.

We’re in this together, I promise.  In fact, I asked my go-to skin care girl here in LA to school us a little bit about our skin, a la stress.  Meet my girl, Lesley Thornton, Los Angeles-based esthetician and founder of Klurskin.

So tell me, what happens exactly when stress affects our body + skin?
L: Stress mostly affects your nervous system. And this can cause itching, rashy and hive-like skin, breakouts you see on your face, and many times even hair loss.

Eek!  So intense!  Okay, so how do we manage our skin when it reveals all our stress?
L:  Well, start with really pinpointing the cause of stress, and calm down!  Everyone’s skin will react differently depending on stress levels and the length of time you’re dealing with it.  One thing to keep in mind is when you know you’re going to be in a stressful situation, it’s good to avoid caffeine—totally makes your nerves go crazy!  No super hot baths—opt for cool bathing. This regulates body temps, cools your blood, and heals skin.

What is the most common skin issue you have with your clients here in LA?
L:  Women giving up birth control or dealing with hormonal acne.  Not so much “stressed skin.” In terms of skin terminology, that can mean so many things. What is tired skin and stressed skin?  You know, it’s not specifically a real skin condition. But the most common stress-related condition I’ve seen is dryness all over, also in the scalp (remember, it’s still skin, but it’s looked over because it’s covered by hair). So I’d say it takes the greatest toll on our hair, scalp, and metabolism.

So how much of our skincare health would you say is managed by internal factors (like what we consume and eat, hormones, stress levels, etc) vs. our external factors (products we use, topical treatments, our environment, etc)?
L:  I’d say 80% is internal.  Everything starts on the inside.  Another reason why managing stress is so important.

What are some short-term effects of intense stress on your skin?  Long-term side effects?
L:  I’ve seen are flare ups of rashes, hives, blisters, patchy bumps, etc. Almost like an allergic reaction—this comes and goes quickly. But some these side effects are really long-term and can leave deep scarring and severe trauma to the skin which is difficult to reverse. As far as treating this, I can do a lot of things, like rosemary extract, neem oil, MSM, olive stem cells, and cryotherapy treatments.

There are a lot of fitness babes out there who rely on working out as a way to decompress. Do you have any tips for women, maybe managing sweaty pores and build up?
L:  Full body masking is helpful.  Also seaweed wraps, and make sure you hit the steam rooms.

And what about you?  What are your favorite ways to unwind and decompress?
L:  People watching at the Farmers Market, hiking at Griffith Park, browsing memes (I’m totally addicted to memes before bed), and the Korean Spa, obviously.  

There are too many things we can’t control.  I get that, trust me. But the way we handle them? That’s totally in our hands. It’s 2016, ya’ll. These tips aren’t exactly secrets anymore. You know, eat clean, sweat a lot, guzzle water, learn to RELAX.  Nothing new here, right?  Here’s to being proactive about ending our stress stories.  Will it be taking a cue from skin-mapping?  Maybe getting some spin class on? Lighting incense or finding a hobby?

Tell us your stressful skin care stories because that’s usually a result everyone wants to know!

—Mia Reyes

Mia Carina Reyes is a digital marketing and creative consultant. She likes podcasts, pretending she can surf, and fried chicken way too much. She’s based in Los Angeles, but she’s probably the only Angeleno that never really got into yoga and kale smoothies. Follow Mia on Twitter & Instagram: @itsmiacarina

The post How Your Stress Levels Affect Your Skin appeared first on The Klog.

Cicapair and Cica balm are two terms have been popping up like crazy lately in the skin care world. But do you actually know what they mean?

These trendy products contain a blend of compounds found in the medicinal herb Centella Asiatica. They claim to fight acne and soothe redness and inflammation, making them the perfect product for those with sensitive skin.

What is cica balm?

Cica balm is actually a moisturizer-like product that contains centella asiatica and its more concentrated compounds—asiatic acid, madecassic acid, madecassoside and asiaticoside. Centella Asiatica (AKA Gotu Kola or Tiger grass) has been used for thousands of years as a medicinal herb that helps to soothe and repair the skin.

Numerous studies have shown that when applied topically, Centella and its compounds help to increase the healing of burns and wounds by reducing redness and inflammation, as well as increasing collagen production.

What makes cica balm so special is that it uses these different extracts from centella to create a highly concentrated treatment that helps to heal skin quickly and effectively, making it perfect for those with inflamed acne or highly sensitive and reactive skin. I particularly think it would also work well if you have a damaged moisture barrier since the centella extracts will help to repair and reduce inflammation while also deeply hydrating your skin.

Product recommendations:

Despite the similar names of cica balms, not all the ingredients are the same. The Dr. Jart Cicapair Tiger Grass Cream, for example, contains all four compounds of centella, the asiatic acid, madecassic acid, madecassoside and asiaticoside. Along with this centella complex, it contains niacinamide to brighten, panthenol to moisturize, and resurrection plant, houttuynia cordata, and yarrow to enhance and reinforce the skin’s barrier. This balm has a thick, emollient-rich texture, making it perfect for those with drier skin, especially with the dropping temperatures fall and winter bring.

The A’Pieu Madecassoside Cream is another great choice if you’re looking to try out a concentrated cica balm. This one contains 0.1% of madecasside along with 40% centella asiatica leaf water, which work in tandem to treat and soothe acne by speeding up the healing process. It’s also formulated with antioxidant-rich green tea extract, allantoin, and witch hazel to balance the skin. This has a much thinner formula, which would work well for normal to oily skin types.

If balms aren’t your thing, don’t feel like you can’t get in on the cica action. You can also get concentrated centella formulations from a variety of different products. The Klairs Midnight Blue Calming Cream is an excellent treatment that uses centella and guaiazulene extract to hydrate skin and help relieve irritation and redness. The same goes for the Klairs Rich Moist Soothing Serum, which contains centella extract, licorice root, and a slew of calming plant extracts to brighten and soothe the skin. If you’re looking to incorporate cica throughout your skin care routine, the Dewytree Cica 100 Essence and the Neogen Dermalogy Real Cica Pad are great choices as they both work to calm acne, helping blemishes to heal and disappear faster.

Bottom line:

If you suffer from sensitive, acne-prone skin it may be time for you to invest in a cica balm. Not only are they effective at soothing the skin but they also help your acne to heal quicker. What more could you ask for?

The post Why Cica Balms are One of the Best Products for Sensitive, Acne-Prone Skin appeared first on The Klog.

Propolis is a naturally-occurring ingredient made by (not of) animals. “Propolis is a brownish, resinous substance collected by honeybees from tree buds or other botanical sources,”says Craig Kraffert, board certified dermatologist and founder of DermStore and Korean skincare brand Amarte. “It’s used to fill and seal small crevices within the hive for protection from cold weather and invaders.”

Beekeepers harvest propolis by gently scraping it off the frames and lids of hive box, often with a tool that’s made specifically to collect the gooey substance. Propolis can only be naturally created by honeybees (it’s also called “bee glue”) adding one more reason (to an already long list) why these friendly insects are so important to the world.

Propolis has some serious benefits where skincare is concerned. “Propolis has smoothing, moisturizing, and oil control properties,” says Dr. Kraffert, “[It] is rich in flavonoids and phenolic compounds with well-documented antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral properties.” Because it’s such a potent antibacterial and anti-inflammatory, propolis has been proven to “expedite the healing process of wounds and sunburns,” says Dr. Kraffert.

Propolis (and products that contain it) can be used to treat and prevents blemishes, acne, and redness. Since it’s a naturally-occurring antiseptic, it’s a must-have for those with acne-prone skin.  It has regenerative and healing properties, making it a fantastic smoothing and softening agent. In hippie circles, it’s used to soothe sore throats, allergies, and even as a toothpaste booster. It’s a little like honey (except it tastes nowhere as good) in that a slice of the population believes it’s a cure-all (Manuka, anyone?). What’s not in dispute is its sealing, healing power. That’s just real.

You’ll find propolis as an ingredient in a number of products, Korean and otherwise. Bees are trending and so are all things bee-related. Some products only throw in trace amounts, but some bet heavy on bees. For heavy-duty action in a surprisingly light formula, COSRX Natural BHA Skin Returning A-SOL: ($18 for 100mL) A toner that soothes, hydrates and improves skin texture. It contains 60% black bee propolis and is ideal for sensitive, oil and/or acne-prone skin types. And if you prefer to do it in the dark, try Dr Kraffert’s sleeping mask, Amarte Skincare’s Overnight Express Therapy. It’s formulated with propolis and retinol to seriously hydrate and restore skin while you catch zzz’s. This is the kind of product that deserves all the buzz it can get (excuse the pun).

The post Propolis: Where This Trendy New Skincare Ingredient Comes From appeared first on The Klog.

It took a long time for me to recognize that the random splotchy redness that often appears on my cheeks — especially when it’s very hot or very cold out — isn’t acne or just how my skin is. It’s rosacea, a common skin condition that causes redness on the nose, chin, cheeks, or forehead.
Up until recently, I thought rosacea only affected those with very fair or pale skin, but apparently rosacea can happen to anyone, even a brown-skinned Latina like me. A number of things can trigger it from the weather, environmental factors, food or alcohol, to sun exposure, and even stress.
Rosacea doesn’t discriminate but the good news is, once you learn what you’re dealing with, treating and calming it is easier than you’d think. The trick for me has been finding products that cater to super sensitive skin while also bringing down redness. Contrary to popular, or what I’d like to call misinformed belief, K-beauty can do wonders when it comes to rosacea. In fact, I’ve found quite a few products that have been such game changers that on most days, you wouldn’t even know that I have rosacea. 

Cleanser

I’ve been double cleansing for a while but like I always say, not all cleansers are created equal. I noticed a major difference after I switched to an oil cleanser that’s specifically designed for oily and sensitive skin types. I’m obsessed with the Hanskin Pore Cleansing Balm [PHA] ($20). It keeps excess oil away while also calming my skin. A product that contains natural surfactants like the Commleaf Rice Purifying Foaming Cleanser ($29) is great water-based cleanser to follow with. It’s free of alcohol and artificial fragrances, and full of soothing and moisturizing plant-based ingredients.

Toner

These days, most toners aren’t filled with alcohol or harsh ingredients, but if you struggle with rosacea or sensitive skin, you’ll want to opt for an extra gentle formula that’s designed to soothe and calm. The Dr. Oracle A-Thera Toner ($32) works to instantly calm redness and inflammation. It also helps keep skin hydrated while it heals. This is perfect for anyone who struggles with rosacea, acne, or skin sensitivities. 

Masks

If you’re struggling with inflamed skin, I highly recommend using products with aloe vera like the Benton Aloe Soothing Mask Pack ($24). It comes with 10 lightweight sheet masks that are packed with aloe vera and green tea to soothe and repair irritated skin while also providing a generous boost of moisture. I especially love using these when I’ve been out in the sun for a little too long. 
Clay masks are great for detoxing your skin or drawing excess oils or impurities from your skin, but they can be harsh on the rosacea-prone. That doesn’t mean you have to forego clay masks all together though. The RE:P Bio Fresh Mask With Real Calming Herb Mask ($32) is made with kaolin, a gentle mineral clay. This mask is also formulated with gentle herbs like crushed calendula and chamomile that calm irritated skin, reduce redness and inflammation, and aid in helping your skin to quickly recover. I’m 100 percent sold on this one. 

Exfoliator

Just because you have rosacea doesn’t mean you have to skip out on exfoliating. Opt for a gentle chemical one that’s formulated with soothing ingredients as well. I love Neogen’s Dermalogy Real Cica Pad ($20) because it contains PHAs (a gentler alternative to AHAs) and calming centella asiatica. 

Mist

I keep both hormonal acne and rosacea in check with the COSRX Low pH PHA Barrier Mist ($21). It’s formulated with coconut fruit extract and PHAs to help keep my skin’s pH at the optimal level so my skin can fight inflammation. I spray this one daily after cleansing.

The post 6 Korean Skin Care Products That Can Help Calm Rosacea appeared first on The Klog.

When you have sensitive skin, it can seem almost impossible to use any product, let alone an exfoliator that doesn’t irritate your skin. As someone who has extremely sensitive and reactive skin, exfoliators have been the hardest to find.

This isn’t because my sensitive skin can’t handle exfoliators; it just means that I need to be extremely picky with the different types of exfoliators I choose and how often I use them. To take the guesswork out of looking for your next purchase, I broke down the six best exfoliators for sensitive skin.

First, what should you look for in an exfoliator for sensitive skin?

Sensitive skin is all about choosing gentle exfoliators that won’t irritate your skin. This means avoiding traditional exfoliators that contain sugar or other rough granules as they can end up being too harsh on the skin and cause it to become red and inflamed.

Instead, look for ones that contain soft granules like those in My Skin Mentor Dr. G Brightening Peeling Gel. This exfoliator is what people consider a “gommage,” which in French translates to “to scrub,” because as you gently rub it into the skin, it starts to pill and provide a soothing and effective form of exfoliation. This is thanks to natural cellulose that gently removes dead skin cells and impurities so you can see smoother skin right away.

Another tip: Look for exfoliators that feature anti-inflammatory ingredients that exfoliate and soothe at the same time, like the honey, black willow, and hollyhock flower extracts found in this peeling gel.

Another incredibly gentle physical exfoliator is RE:P Bio Fresh Mask With Real Calming Herb. This product is actually a mask but it works double time to exfoliate the skin. Crushed calendula and chamomile are present in the formula and they actually help to reduce inflammation while also providing a gentle exfoliation. This isn’t like your traditional clay mask; this one helps to soothe and draw out impurities while leaving your skin soft and hydrated.

The COSRX One Step Moisture Up Pad is yet another soothing form of exfoliation. These pads are actually soaked with propolis extract, a powerful antiseptic ingredient that helps treat blemishes and calm redness. The formula also contains hyaluronic acid to deeply nourish, making it perfect for those with sensitive skin.

The texture of these pads are actually slightly embossed, making them easy to use for a light form of daily exfoliation that won’t irritate the skin. Just simply cleanse your face and then swipe these over it afterwards for softer, smoother skin.

What about chemical exfoliators?

As someone with extremely sensitive skin that gets irritated by regular skin care products, when I first heard about chemical exfoliators, I avoided them at all costs. This is because I assumed all chemical exfoliators were extremely harsh and would cause my skin to become red and irritated. But if you’re choosing gentle chemical formulations, then you can use these without the irritation.

Just remember to start out slow and use them less often than you think you need. I’ve made the mistake of becoming a little too chemical exfoliator happy, which led to over-exfoliating my skin. Trust me, it wasn’t fun. So to save you the trouble, stick to once or twice a week when you first start using them.

Chemical exfoliators can come in many different forms—from toners to moisturizers—and it’s all about choosing the one that best fits your skin care routine style. If you prefer toners, the Benton Aloe BHA Skin Toner is packed with soothing ingredients like aloe barbadensis leaf extract, beta glucan, and snail mucin, which both calm and moisturize the skin while salicylic acid gets to work exfoliating and de-clogging pores. This toner is extremely gentle—so gentle that you can actually use it on an everyday basis.

The Dr. Oracle A-Thera Tea Tree Peeling Sticks are yet another form of gentle chemical exfoliation. These come packed as pre-soaked cotton swabs that make them super easy-to-use. You can either use them as spot treatments or gently swipe them across your face for an all over exfoliation. The swabs are soaked with lactic and glycolic acid which dive deep below the skin’s surface to slough off dead skin cells and resurface the skin so you can say goodbye to rough skin texture. The formula also contains tea tree, lemon, and bamboo extract which help to further exfoliate without irritating your skin.

If you suffer from dry, sensitive skin, then the COSRX PHA Moisture Renewal Power Cream is the one you should choose. This moisturizer actually contains 3 percent PHA, which is a newer type of chemical exfoliator that is just as effective but less irritating than AHAs and BHAs. PHA acids actually have larger molecules than AHAs and BHAs and this helps to make them gentler.

If the more popular chemical exfoliators cause your skin to become red and irritated, you should try out PHAs. They’re mild enough for the most sensitive of skin. The COSRX PHA Moisture Renewal Power Cream contains PHAs along with 50 percent coconut fruit extract to hydrate and exfoliate.

The Bottom Line:

Yes, it is possible to exfoliate without irritating your sensitive skin…just remember to look for gentle formulations that also contain anti-inflammatory ingredients so you can soothe and exfoliate all at the same time.

+What do you think are the best exfoliators for sensitive skin? Let us know in the comments below!

The post The 6 Best Physical and Chemical Exfoliators for Sensitive Skin appeared first on The Klog.

If you’re a sheet mask addict, there’s a chance you’ve come across Elaine, AKA Maskepedia. Her thorough reviews are well organized and well documented, giving you a great guide to navigating the infinite options out there on the market. Elaine, however, hasn’t always been the masking expert she is today. Here, she shares her skin care journey with us in her own words!
I’m from Singapore but I permanently live in the US now. I was a subscriber of Birchbox and I discovered K-beauty when they collaborated with Charlotte Cho and Soko Glam to curate products for 2016 January’s box. I fell in love with Goodal’s Waterest First Essence and the Tony Moly Delight Tony Tint. So, I decided to dive down the K-beauty rabbit hole and never turned back since.
 

A post shared by Elaine (@maskepedia) on Sep 5, 2017 at 1:32pm PDT

My skin has always been dehydrated, acne-prone, and sensitive. I’m always searching for products to calm down my redness and provide some hydration at the same time. My routine included a makeup remover, cleanser, toner, serum (sometimes), sheet masks (twice a week), moisturizer, facial oil, and the occasional sunscreen.
As a subscriber of a few monthly sampling boxes, I get to try out all kinds of products. A few that I remembered using before K-beauty are: the Garnier Micellar Water, Honest Beauty Cleanser, The Body Shop Tea Tree Cleanser, the Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream, and the Ole Henriksen Sheer Transformation Perfecting Moisturizer.
Then, I had a sudden bout of contact dermatitis in November 2016 from using the products that I’ve always been using. My skin barrier was completely destroyed and replaced with red, itchy, flakey rashes. I got rid of everything I’ve been using, aside from sheet masks since they’re a constant in my life. The irritation got so bad that I had to visit a doctor and was told to cleanse my face with water and apply a hydrocortisone cream for a week.
After doing that, the irritation did subside but it felt really drying and fine lines started to develop on my 28-year-old skin. I was also missing that glow. But I refused to believe that water and hydrocortisone cream was going to be my routine for the rest of my life. I remembered liking the products that Charlotte Cho curated for Birchbox and started doing research on Korean Beauty products via blogs and the Asian beauty subreddit.
Here’s my skin in November 2016:

I was still masking twice a week (it’s the only non-sensitizing relief I get from the dryness). At that time, everyone on the internet was raving about double-cleansing and CosRx products for sensitive skin types. So I started out really simple and purchased the Banila Co Clean It Zero, the CosRx Low pH Good Morning Cleanser, and the CosRx Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence. It felt amazing to be able to cleanse properly again! Not only did my skin not freak out from the products, it also did not feel “stretchy” afterwards.
I stuck to this simple routine for a month and noticed that my fine lines were mostly gone. But I was still missing that glow. I was also missing an eye cream and a sunscreen in my routine. With my skin type, it was very risky to incorporate things with higher concentrations like serums and acids since my skin barrier was still weak. There were times when I did fall into the trap of buying whatever everyone was raving about and eventually my skin suffered from the incompatibility. Rashes started reappearing and I freaked out and went back to my water and hydrocortisone routine. This repeated a few times before I learned to be patient and go slow while my skin barrier strengthens.
Another challenge was not being able to wear makeup and cover up my rash whenever I went out. Eventually I understood that the health of my skin was more important than how I looked.
Here’s my skin today:

I started seeing results a couple months ago, and now my skin barrier is back and healthy. I’m still getting redness whenever I use a harsher product, but the rash has completely disappeared.
My morning routine currently includes: the Thank You Farmer Back to Iceland Cleansing Water, the CosRx Low pH Good Morning Cleanser, the Is N Tree Green Tea Fresh Toner, the Skin1004 Madagascar Centella Asiatica 100 Ampoule, a sheet mask, the Klairs Midnight Blue Calming Cream, and the Clabiane Ultra Daily Sunscreen SPF50+/PA+++.
My evening routine consists of: the Banila Co Clean It Zero, the Is N Tree Pine Needles Enzyme Powder Wash, the By Wishtrend Mandelic Acid 5% Skin Prep Water, the Klairs Freshly Juiced Vitamin Drop or the Klairs Midnight Blue Youth Activating Drop, the CosRx Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence, the Klairs Midnight Blue Calming Cream, and the Huxley Secret of Sahara Cream.
The ingredients I can’t live without are centella asiatica, honey & propolis, and of course, green tea.
Some advice I have for people who want to improve their skin is to start slow and be patient. Educate yourself and understand your skin. Embrace it and give it what it needs. Also, when in doubt, treat your skin as sensitive type. Soothing and calming products are gentle and beneficial to the skin. And don’t forget to eat healthy, exercise often and drink lots of water.

+ What Korean products for contact dermatitis have worked for you? Have your own K-beauty transformation story? Tell us! Send it to letters@theklog.co and comment in the section below!

The post The Two Simple Steps That Helped Rehab My Skin After Contact Dermatitis appeared first on The Klog.

Raise your hand if you ever, despite your very best efforts, got a sunburn during the summer while out for a walk or on a beach. I see you over there, and if I’m being honest, I have to admit that I’m guilty, as well. As someone with very fair skin who lives in the southwestern part of the United States where the sun is particularly harsh, I’m hyper-diligent about liberally applying sunscreen once per hour whenever I go outside. I often wear oversized sunglasses and floppy hats to further protect my skin, and I’m not afraid to keep my cover up on as long as I can just for added protection while at the beach or pool, or even on a short walk or bike ride outside.

With that said, sometimes you miss a spot, and sometimes you have a momentary lapse in judgement and forget to reapply. In these painful, red and splotchy times, your tried and true friend aloe vera is here to help.

A Quick Rundown of Aloe

The aloe plant is a succulent with broad, thick “leaves” that are loaded with a green, watery-meets-gelatinous goop – AKA aloe vera. I’m lucky enough to see the plants growing in the wild where I live, and I always make sure to keep an aloe plant on hand in case of burns. Fun fact: you can actually break off a part of the leaf, squeeze out the green juice, and apply it straight onto your skin to instantly soothe.

Fortunately, for those who don’t have access to the actual plant, there are plenty of aloe vera products that you can buy, as well. Some of these even have the benefit of added ingredients that further soothe, heal and nourish your tender skin.

P.S. While you may think of aloe vera as an ingredient that primarily treats burns, it has also been found to treat skin ailments such as psoriasis. Consider it a might soothing agent that works any time and for many skin types.

Aloe Product Suggestions

Looking for some aloe vera products to add to your beauty cupboards? Let’s start with one of my favorites, SNP’s Cactus 90% Soothing Gel. It comes packaged in an aloe leaf-shaped container, smells powdery and clean, and somehow always seems chilled even when I don’t store it in the refrigerator.

Soko Glam also carries some really top-of-the-line aloe vera products. For example, Benton makes an amazing Aloe Propolis Soothing Gel. This gel moisturizer will save and regenerate your sun-damaged skin with its aloe leaf juice and propolis extract that help to fade acne scars, maintain hydration, and soothe red and irritated skin.

If you are looking for a soothing, aloe vera-infused essence or serum, Dewytree’s Ultra Vitalizing Snail Essence Water is my go-to. This lightweight essence is infused with aloe leaf extract, snail secretion filtrate, and adenosine to target redness, irritation, wrinkles, damage and even acne. The Nacific Fresh Herb Origin Serum is also a great serum to have on-hand. This plant-based serum is formulated with aloe leaf water, along with other potent anti-aging ingredients, providing moisturizing and anti-inflammatory benefits your skin will want after a long day out in the sun. Just add a few drops to your daily or nighttime skin routine for a glowing complexion. This serum does tingle on the skin if the skin barrier is compromised, so if you have a particularly rough burn, we’d recommend patch testing before application.

If you want the best of both – sun protection and care – try the Acwell UV Cut SPF 50+PA++++ Waterproof Sun Cream. This long-lasting sunblock contains aloe leaf extract to calm and soothe your skin while protecting sensitive skin from harsh UV rays.

If your go-to is sheet masks for post-sun care, you’re in luck. There are plenty out there that utilize aloe vera. One of my favorites is Benton’s Aloe Soothing Mask Pack. Packed with 48% aloe vera, as well as green tea, this mask will soothe, repair, protect and hydrate, leaving your skin super refreshed.

Good luck out there in the sun, kids, and remember to lather up, cover up, and rest up with some aloe vera.

The post Aloe: Is It Me You’re Looking For? appeared first on The Klog.

Those hard, itchy bumps you hate looking at and touching is known as keratosis pilaris (AKA KP), and they can make anyone pretty self conscious and afraid to bare their arms. A friend of mine has KP on her upper arms and she can’t stand it. She dreads the idea of wearing anything that might put them on display. She’s even been to dermatologists who have prescribed various lotions and creams, and nothing has worked.
But she’s never really been the consistent kind of skin care person. She would use a treatment for a week or two and if she didn’t see any results she’d stop using it instantly. As with any skin care product, you’ve got to give it time to work. I know it sucks, but your body has thicker skin than your face and it takes even more time for products to work. Find out how to truly get rid of kerotasis pilaris for good below.
What is keratosis pilaris and what causes it?
Keratosis pilaris is a skin condition that occurs when keratin (the main building protein for our hair, skin and nails) clogs the hair follicles, leading to patches of bumps with a rough, “chicken skin”-like appearance. It usually occurs most often on the upper arms and thighs but can appear in other places as well.
KP happens for many reasons, including genetics, dry skin, and even as a result of having asthma or eczema, so it isn’t really something you can prevent. Those with dry skin are especially prone because this means their natural exfoliating cycle is slower, leading to more instances for dead skin cells to get trapped and form new bumps. Truth be told, dermatologists don’t have a solid answer as to why this happens but there are several treatment suggestions you can use to keep this condition in check.
How to treat it?
When it comes to KP, exfoliating is a necessity, but don’t go and grab your favorite body scrub. Physical exfoliation tends to irritate keratosis pilaris, causing redness and ultimately making the condition worse. Instead reach for chemical exfoliators since they will help to unclog those pores for smoother skin without any inflammation.
As I mentioned earlier, the skin on our bodies is much thicker and tougher than our face, so to get the best results reach for an exfoliator with 10-15% of acids in it. For those without sensitive skin, try using the Amlactin Daily Moisturizing Body Lotion, which contains 12% lactic acid that will help to speed up the skin’s renewal process while also hydrating the skin.  
Another great option for sensitive skin is the Banila Co Hi Bye Vita Peel Exfoliating Scrub. This exfoliator is packed with AHAs to really deep clean those pores. There are different types of exfoliators like this on the market, but if you notice any peeling or irritation, this is a sign you might be over-exfoliating. Try switching to every other day use so your body has a chance to get used to the product first.
Keep in mind that these acidic lotions will leave you more sensitive to the sun, which means it’s a necessity to layer SPF on afterwards for proper protection.
Bottom line:
There’s no one cure for keratosis pilaris, but using body lotions with chemical exfoliators in them will help to get it under control. This can only be maintained if you consistently use these products on a regular basis (even when the condition has calmed down). With your consistent use, you’ll help your skin to avoid the buildup of dead skin cells so KP doesn’t have a chance to form and return.
For those with severe cases (when these lotions aren’t working after one to two months), head to your dermatologist. She or he will have laser treatments available that can help reduce redness and inflammation, which will help those annoying bumps get treated more effectively.

+ Do you have any treatment suggestions for keratosis pilaris? We’d love to read them in the comments!

The post How To Get Rid of Those Hard, Itchy Bumps on Your Arms, AKA Keratosis Pilaris appeared first on The Klog.