Urban Secrets: A Brand with A Thought-Provoking Concept

Urban Secrets: A Brand with A Thought-Provoking Concept

Urban Secrets: A Brand with A Thought-Provoking Concept

When you think of skin care products that provide content and quality, stray not too far in your imagination as Urban Secrets brand gives life and purpose to that thought. In recent times, Urban Secrets as a brand is fast becoming a household name for quality skincare products that’s got its closest rivals in the cosmetics industry puzzled and probing in the cosmetics industry. Urban Secrets brand has gotten the whole skincare market space buzzing with evolutionary products originating from innovative formulas and unique ingredients that keep the customers wondering ‘what next’? As a dynamic brand, Urban Secrets keep pushing the frontiers of innovativeness in beauty products. Its continually searching for plant-based formulas that will make provision for all skin types and ailments, at an affordable price.

The skincare industry is rapidly evolving. Different products from different brands are persistently flooding the market. Most times, these other cosmetics brands come up with product adverts that will blow your mind, but the application and impact of such product on your skin, in all sense of propriety, leaves a lot to be desired. This is however not the case with Urban Secrets cosmetics brand. They give consideration to everything that goes into the making of their products. At Urban Secrets brand, products are carefully formulated using the best ingredients that will help improve the health and natural beauty of your skin.

A Thought-Provoking Concept for a Healthy Body and Soul

Urban Secrets brand is established on the concept or premise that nature offers the best skincare ingredients. The brand’s line of products is not developed from human or animal exploitation. You might have read “cruelty-free” on some of their products, it simply means that such skincare formula has not been harshly tested on animals for quality check. As much attention is given to several skin ailments and the ideal formula to cure them, Urban Secrets also aim to sensitize people on why sustainability and quality of skincare products outweigh every other reason for producing cosmetic products.

Urban Secrets is a 100% Vegan, Dermatologist tested and Cruelty-free brand.

Urban Secrets is a 100% Vegan, Dermatologist tested and Cruelty-free brand.

A 100 Percent Plant-Based Vegan Brand

Urban Secrets brand inspires all of its skincare products with the power and beauty of nature. Their products are certainly going to nourish your body and your soul as well. Skincare products form the brand is 100 percent vegan, environmentally sustainable and cruelty-free. As a plant-based skincare brand, a considerable number of its products are developed from aloe leaf juice, though other products lines – especially the herbal facial sheet mask line – has water as the primary ingredient.

A Brand with Products You Can Count On

With Urban Secrets brand, you don’t have to worry about your regular visits to your dermatologist as all of their products are dermatologist-tested. That’s not all. Their naturally-derived products make use of ingredients that are 100 percent plant-based, so you don’t have to be bothered about the presence of harsh chemical ingredients or irritants like parabens and sulfates in their products. What distinguishes Urban Secrets brand is their ability to develop formulas with special consideration for different skin types and season of the year.

Let’s take a quick survey of Urban Secrets product categories, especially their line of masks:

  • Peel-off Masks: In this line, you’ll have Metallic masks such as Fresh Blueberry metallic mask, Perfect Peach metallic mask, Pomegranate metallic mask, and Juicy Grape metallic mask.
  • Sheet Masks: In this collection, you’ll have Herbal Facial sheet masks such as Lavender and Chamomile sheet mask, Chia and Violet sheet mask, Rose and Jasmine Sheet mask, and Turmeric and Aloe Vera sheet mask.
  • Tightening Masks: In this line, you’ll get Algae Lightening masks such as Replenishing Rose and Algae masks, Soothing Lavender and Algae masks, Calming Chamomile and Algae masks, and Nourishing Jasmine and Algae masks.

Why You Should Choose Urban Secrets Brand.

Urban Secrets brand is one cosmetics brand that gives attention to the smallest detail when making their formula. As the name “Urban Secrets” implies, they strive to maintain an urban mindset when developing their products. Each skin care product comes with unique, timeless, innovative and cutting edge formula that will give your skin that youthful feeling of freshness and radiance. Urban Secrets have also considered the prohibitively expensive nature of skin care products, especially those that boast of quality and content. Their skincare line is everything but expensive, as they believe that everyone has a right to experience the beauty and benefits of quality products at an affordable price.

Be kind to your skin - Urban Secrets - 100% Vegan Brand

Be kind to your skin – Urban Secrets – 100% Vegan Brand

Urban Secrets as a brand believes that caring for the planet by striving to reduce human’s damaging activities on the environment should be a central priority for every individual. However, Urban Secrets brand is making efforts and taking giant strides to prove that everyone can be beautiful even as the beauty of nature is also preserved. Since most of their products are plant-based, cruelty-free and dermatologist-tested, there’s little or nothing to worry about the minute you start using their line of products, as you can look forward to a hydrated, replenished and radiant skin.

Tanning and Skin

Tanning and Skin

Learn About Tanning and Skin

To a number of people, summer suggests the perfect time to hang out at the beach or the pool, soaking up the sun’s rays in search of a wonderful tan. However, before you head to the pool in your bathing suit or pay for a booth in a salon for tanning, there are few things worth considering when it comes to sun exposure and your skin. Some folks believe a healthy glow is the result of tanning, but a tan actually reveals that the body is trying to shield itself from damage through sun exposure. A number of people in truth desire tanning, but do you know what tanning is all about – how skin tans and how tanning occurs?

How Tanning Occurs

The energy emitted through radiation from the sun gets to the earth as Ultraviolet form of rays. The rays of the sun that reach the skin contain ultraviolet radiation in two forms: Ultraviolet A and Ultraviolet B. Although the earth is shielded by ozone in the atmosphere, the past few decades has experienced ozone layer breakdown by UV rays which has made human more vulnerable in recent times, to skin damage due to UV rays. UVB rays burn the skin’s upper layers (the epidermis), and in that way cause sunburns. UVA rays are responsible for tanning in people. UVA radiation penetrates the lower epidermis layer of skin, where melanocytes cells are triggered to produce melanin. The body’s way of preventing skin burn is offered by melanin. Lighter-skinned people tan less than darker-skinned people because the melanocytes of their skin produce less melanin. Tanning is caused by the melanin brown pigment.

Tanning Downsides: Sunburn and Premature Aging

UVA rays don’t just make you tan; they may also bring about serious skin damage. This is because UVA radiation sinks deeper into the human skin than UVB radiation. UVA radiation can go a little bit further, breaking the walls of the protective epidermis of the skin and go all the way to the dermis, where nerves and blood vessels are located. As a result of this, UVA rays may impair the immune system of a person, making it more difficult to fight off skin infections and diseases.

Sunburn

When UV radiation reaches the skin, they interrelate with a natural skin chemical termed melanin. Melanin is the skin’s first line of defense and absorbs UV radiation in order to protect the skin from sun damage; this reaction of UV rays and melanin is what produces tanning for the skin. When you’re exposed to an exceeding amount of UVA rays, the protection provided by the skin melanin is broken and the resulting effect is a sunburn. Exposing oneself to intense solar radiation may also increase the chances of a person developing the deadly melanoma cancer of the skin.

Premature Aging

Cancer is not the only skin problem linked to UVA exposure. The main factor causing premature aging of the skin is UVA radiation. To get firsthand knowledge of the effects of sunlight on the skin, observe the skin of older folks and see how dissimilar it is from your skin. Much of that is not due to the age difference but sun exposure.

Sun Protection for Today and Beyond

You can shield yourself from the rays of the sun and its equivalent damaging effects by staying indoors. However, coming outdoors every now and again is not a bad idea if the necessary precautions are taken against sunburn or sun exposure. To shield yourself from the sun’s ultraviolet radiation when outdoors, consider wearing sunglasses and a hat, make use of sunscreen, and put on protective clothing that will cover as much of the skin as possible. Sunscreen should be an essential inclusion of your routine sun-protection plans. They help protect your skin from UV radiation. Sunscreens come with an SPF number. Generally, the higher the sun protection factor (SPF) number, the more the product provides protection against UV rays.

Also, consider wearing protective clothing made from built-in SPF fabrics. Contrary to widespread belief, tanning beds are not the “best” way to have a tan. They emit similar UV rays coming from sunlight, so avoid using them. Cover yourself when outdoors with a sunless tanning product. If you prefer the sun-kissed skin tanning products, try the “do-it-yourself” products or the spray-on tan of a salon. However, remember to always use sunscreen and stick to other precautions and protection against UV rays anytime you’re going to be outdoors for a long period of time.

The UV radiation is stronger in the months of the summer. They are also more powerful in areas of high altitude that embrace geographic factors that can amplify the risk of aging prematurely. The sun, as a matter of fact, is inviting and warm, but exposure to UV radiation can be costly. Take the necessary steps highlighted here to prevent the disorder that sun damage can leave your skin with.

6 Steps for Choosing a Clean and Safe Sunscreen

6 Steps for Choosing a Clean and Safe Sunscreen

Many of us are yet to see the light when it comes to protection from the sun. A recent study carried out on adults revealed that nearly 40 percent of people indicated that they don’t use sunscreen while the remaining 60 percent said they only make use of sunscreen occasionally. That stat is frightening, in as much as most of us obtain the greater part of our sun exposure by the way, for instance, while driving our cars or walking around on lunch break. Our exposure to the sun is not necessarily as a result of staying outdoors for long periods, let’s say at the beach or on a picnic. No matter what your reasons are, dermatologists suggest that ignoring the need for sunscreen is the most despicable skin mistake to make. Such detrimental oversight can lead to premature aging of the skin, development of wrinkles and brown spots, and likely skin cancer. Here, you’ll find the crucial steps to adopt while deciding on a clean and safe sunscreen.

Steps for Choosing a Clean and Safe Sunscreen

Here are some essential pointers on how to pick a clean and safe sunscreen:

Always go for a mineral sunscreen.

Sunscreens with mineral ingredients act as physical blockers of UV rays. Once applied to the skin, they sit on the surface of the skin and reflect away the ultraviolet rays when they come in contact with the skin. Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide are the recommended and active sun protection ingredients for mineral sunscreens. When making a demand for mineral sunscreens, look for these ingredients in formulations before making any purchase.

Avoid using a chemical sunscreen.

For absolute protection, go for sunscreens that combine the required active ingredients with natural ingredients. A typical sunscreen functions as a chemical absorber, that is, the active ingredient in the sunscreen penetrates the skin and forms a thin film protective layer that absorbs UV rays. The active ingredients commonly used in chemical sunscreens include octinoxate and oxybenzone. You should, however, try to avoid these chemical compounds.

Consider a sunscreen with antioxidant for added sun protection.

No sunscreen can guard you against all ultraviolet radiation or the free radicals it produces, so dermatologists suggest buying backup sunscreen protection with ingredients like green tea and soy, as well as vitamins C and E. New sunscreens now have added power that comes with these ingredients. If your favorite sunscreen doesn’t have these ingredients, then consider using an antioxidant serum. Choose serums such as creams and lotions and not sprays. Sprays do not have dermatological testing and approval like lotions have. Although you may need to wash your hands after using lotions due to its stickiness, still you can be guaranteed of long hours of protection when applied.

Go for a sunblock with a broad-spectrum.

Broad-spectrum sunblocks protect against both Ultraviolet A and Ultraviolet B rays. Lengthy exposure to UVB rays can result in cancer of the skin. Zinc Oxide comes as the safest broad-spectrum sunblock protecting you from UVA and UVB. Titanium Dioxide is also very helpful with UVB rays and should be applied alongside Zinc Oxide for maximum broad-spectrum UV protection.

Read labels to ensure you’re buying a sunscreen with UVA protection.

Generally, sunscreens are good at protecting the skin from UVB radiation; those that penetrate the skin and cause burning. In actual fact, the sun protection factor (SPF) represents the period of time you can remain in the sun with no sunburn. Protection against UVA radiation (which sink into the skin and are responsible for premature aging) is where a number of sunscreens fall short. With this in mind, look at the labels of sunscreens and go for those that offer the ideal SPF for maximum protection.

Search for an SPF in the range of 30 to 50 for perfect protection.

When shopping for sunscreens, some folks believe that the higher the sun protection factor, the greater is the protection provided. This is not the case. Any product for sun care needs to carry a sun protection factor of 15 or higher for it to be referred to as a sunblock. Although SPF in the range of 15 to 30 offers some protection, experts recommend sunscreens with SPF of 30 to 50 for adequate sun protection. On the contrary, a sunscreen with an SPF of 100 does not offer more protection than those having SPF 50. Any sunscreen with an SPF greater than 50 offers only minimal effective protection and such labeling is usually a marketing strategy.

 

Sunscreen in recent times is fast becoming one item that a number of folks are giving renewed consideration for daily usage.  So, whether you’re getting ready for a school picnic, a swim play date, or a holiday, your sunscreen should be the first of many items to pack. Although owning and wearing sunscreen is important, not all sunscreens out there in the market will do a good job of skin protection. For that reason, go for a sunscreen that is certified to be clean and safe for use.

SKIN CARE BASICS: GUIDE TO HEALTHY SKIN

SKIN CARE BASICS: GUIDE TO HEALTHY SKIN

Skin care basics

Healthy skin, we all want it? But are we all ready to pay the price for it? Luckily for us, its not that expensive. Healthy skin is simply the sum of some inexpensive day to day decisions that we can all keep when it comes to our skin care routine. I’ll be discussing the different skin care products, their ingredients and skin type, essential info for healthy skin.

 

TYPES OF SKIN CARE PRODUCTS AND HOW THEY SHOULD BE USED

Good skin care basics is more than washing your face, and even washing of the face, is not just soap and water. There are several products that work in different ways to keep your skin supple and healthy. For instance, facial cleansers are to be used twice a day, morning and night to get rid of bacteria, dirt, and pollutants.

  • Exfoliants should be used once or twice a week. They help to take dead skin cells of the surface of the skin and give it a fresh glow.
  • Serums contain antioxidants that combat aging of the skin. They are great for hydrating dry skin and can be used after using your facial cleanser
  • Face oils add an extra layer of protection to build skin resilience, and can be hydrating, especially for those with dry skin. To use them, you only need to add two to three drops to your moisturizer or serum.
  • Sunscreen is one thing you should never leave home without. It protects the skin from UV damage.
  • Moisturizers are probably the most popular in the pack, but there’s no loss in repeating their benefits. They help the skin look younger, and should be used twice daily.
  • Chemical Peels are probably the deepest acting, as they remove the outer layer of dead skin cells. Because they are more intense than exfoliators which do the same thing, they should only be used once every two weeks, and with the assistance of a professional, although DIY versions are available.
  • Toners shrink pores and help to restore normal pH balance (that is, water to oil balance in the skin). They should be used twice a day after the use of a cleanse to remove traces of makeup and other residue on the skin.
  • Face masks, depending on the type, can do everything from hydrating, drying and even brightening. Use them once a week and you’ll notice a drastic change in your skin as breakouts dry up and heal.
  • Eye creams are also important, especially for those dealing with puffiness, wrinkles and dark circles. Used once or twice a day, they penetrate the fine skin of the eye area to deal with these issues.

 

KNOWING YOUR SKIN TYPE

Knowledge of your skin type is important, as it determines what kinds of beauty products you can use, and those you shouldn’t touch with a ten-foot pole. For instance, people with the Normal skin, are probably the freest of all. They can use almost any skin care product they want, without fear of side effects. This skin type does not react negatively to weather or product changes. It also doesn’t demand frequent moisturization or blotting, as it has the right balance of water and oil in the first place.

  1. Oily skin people seem to always be glowing. They frequently need blotting sheets and the women usually find that makeup doesn’t always stay wear its supposed to. People with this skin should stay away from products with ingredients like mineral oil, petrolatum and alcohol. Go for oil- free moisturizers or those labelled ‘non-comodogenic’. They should not over-use face washes as they dry out the pores, and this makes the skin produce even more oil to compensate for the loss.
  2. Dry skin is characterized by a lack of oil in the skin, making it to be flaky, itchy, and sensitive. If fine lines appear on your skin whenever it pinched together, then you’re probably the dry skin type. People with this skin should keep a lookout for water-based products. Your dry skin may be caused by a lack of oil, but oil-based products are not the solution, trust me. In fact, they will make things worse. You should also make sure you drink a lot of water.
  3. Sensitive skin people have to exercise the greatest degree of care in adopting and changing a skin care regime. At times, they can feel a burning sensation after using a skin care product. They also react negatively to fragrances, have frequent rashes and bumps, and patches of dry, irritated skin. People here should avoid products that have fragrances or irritants like alcohol and antibacterial ingredients; instead, go for gentle creams and soaps. They should also look out for products that have fewer additives and have calming, healing or anti-inflammatory properties.

 

INGREDIENTS YOU SHOULD LOOK OUT FOR SKIN CARE PRODUCTS

  • Aloe Vera is quite common in beauty products, and for those who don’t know, it come from the leaf of the aloe plant. Aloe in a beauty product will help to heal sunburns, burns and cuts. It also reduces the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, scars and stretch marks.
  • Caffeine, surprising as it might sound, is also an important beauty product, especially for eye creams. It helps to reduce puffiness and redness. It also repairs skin damaged by UV light.
  • Citric acid, as the name suggests, is gotten from citrus fruits such as lemons and limes.  It helps to exfoliate dead skin cells and restore skin elasticity.
  • Dioic acid is gotten from vegetable fats and oils. It fights hyperpigmentation, aging and acne-prone skin.
  • Hydrogen Peroxide in beauty products helps lighten dark spots on the skin.
  • Lavender not only gives a sweet fragrance, it also alleviates acne, eczema and dermatitis.
  • Mica is a mineral derived from the earth. In beauty products, it serves to diminish the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

 

Now, you can combine your knowledge of skin care  basics with different skin care products, the essential ingredients and your skin type, to kickstart your healthy skin journey.

Five Ways to Care for Your Skin Before and After a Swim

Five Ways to Care for Your Skin Before and After a Swim

You may have once been to a pool or the sea for a swim and experienced awful skin issues, post-departure. Who knows, maybe that one awful experience and perhaps a second trial, made you vow to not ever step into such habitat again!

Ha-ha! Chill, for you aren’t alone in this!

Every new swimmer – like myself that didn’t have complete swimming education – once thought the frequent, unceasing entry of people into such habitat, is responsible for a ‘bacterium’ that later haunts subsequent swimmers in the form of body itches, paleness, and dryness.

LOL, ignorance is really a bitch!

FYI, post-swimming skin issues are a direct aftereffect of the varying component and constituents in the water. So, am I saying you should stop swimming altogether? No way!

Do we request the pool owners stop adding harsh chemicals to their pool? Never, since it’s for our collective benefit. What’s the way out then?

Follow me on this serene, refreshing adventure to discover how to blot out red, dry, itchy and varying skin issues, post-swimming!

JUST BEFORE YOU SWIM

  1.  Include Herbal Tea in your diet

Herbal teas like green, Moringa tea are renowned for their rich, high antioxidant contents, which work on your skin. It’s therefore not entirely a bad idea to include herbal teas in your diet to help relieve the stress of oxidative damage on your skin. The antioxidants supplied help you neutralize free radicals – howsoever they may have gotten on your skin – that can wreak havoc on your skin.

  1.  Shower! Shower! Shower

Showering before diving into a indoor or outdoor pool is very important, as it makes a whole lot of difference to your skin’s health. When chlorine mixes with our bodies organic matters, it can create more toxic agents called HBPs. This is why its important you shower to remove sweat, lotions, sunscreen, bacteria and organic matter that may otherwise be stuck on the skin.

  1.  Fortify your skin with a barrier cream

Chlorine and other chemicals are present – naturally provided in the sea, ocean – or added to pools to forestall mold and bacterial growth. Depending on which water mass you are swimming in, the presence of one or all of salt, chlorine and other pollutants, will sure put your skin in a miserable condition, which is why barrier creams are important

Products with oils, petrolatum or glycerin or dimethazone    form a seal between the scaly-mermaids and your delicate skin, protecting you from post-swimming skin reactions. Not to forget, the hypoallergenic natural sunscreen with active ingredients of zinc oxide and titanium dioxide also avails you skin adequate protection from the sun’s ray!

But do remember that not all pools allow moisturizers to be worn by swimmers, due to their potent interference with the disinfecting chemicals. Check the pool rules before lathering up.

  1. Sip-in lots of water to zip your skin

Your skin is somewhat like a sponge, meaning that there is only so much water it can take in. So, as long as it is moisturized, it’s not going to absorb excess amounts of chlorine in the pool you want to dive into. To ensure this, keep sipping on some water while you swim to make the skin stay properly hydrated. Consuming enough water throughout the day keeps your skin properly hydrated and prevents it from trying to make up for lack of moisture by absorbing chlorinated pool water.

WHAT NEXT AFTER SWIMMING

Once you are done in the pool, there still remains some cogent steps you need take to prevent short or long-term skin discomfort.

  1.  Shower and moisturize ASAP

Deciding to get home before you shower post-swim, is an extremely bad idea for your skin. You do your skin a great disservice! Dr. Kristina Goldenberg, board-certified dermatologist in New York City, warns by saying you should not let the chlorinated water sit on the skin for a long period of time” as it damages your skin.

Not only that, showering after swimming in a(n) (un)natural waterbody helps reduce the risk of contracting rashes and infections, as it strips you of bacteria that might have clung to your skin.

Post-swimming, it’s best to shower in warm or cool, instead of hot water.

  1.  Keep the Moisturizers coming

According to the American Academy of Dermatology, you could go a notch higher by using a mild, hydrating cleanser or body wash – to restore the skin’s pH balance from the pool chemicals, immediately you leave the pool. Wash such off while showering, and then apply a moisturizer to restore proper skin hydration.

  1. Don’t sun or air dry just after swimming!

Just after a pool dip, a strong temptation to just lie on your towel and let the sun do the drying job, may envelope you. But you need to fight it off, as it’s not the best idea. To prevent skin dryness, it’s better to first rinse off with warm, clean water and then towel-dry yourself. Getting back to sunning – after applying more SPF, of course – then becomes advisable.

  1.  Keep applying ointments

If your skin still remains dry/flaky on arrival at home, you could switch to a thicker ointment or moisturizer. Whichever works best for you, keep at it!

  1.  Spray up your skin with Vitamins

Just like mothers do for their babies, you should treat your skin to a spray of Vitamins as they potently neutralize whatever chlorine may be left on the skin. Vitamins such as Vitamin C and Vitamin E bind to the Chlorine that is left on the skin to make it inactive in causing skin damage.

You could opt for the various topical vitamin spray available in the market or DIY by mixing the following in a spray bottle:

Vitamin C Powder – 1 cup

Rose Water / Filtered water – 2 cups

Congratulations! You may now resume your recreational diving activities without fear or apprehension! Enjoy yourself as you do!