February, 2012

Your child is now a senior, and it’s time to think about the photographic memories that will appear in their high school yearbooks. Most of the time, neither you nor your student has control over what will appear in the album. You do, however, have a choice about the photos you’ll include in the graduation announcements.

Most high schools provide a photographer that comes in and takes a few cap and gown shots from which you can select the one you would like to appear in your yearbook. There are, however, some schools that have begun allowing students to submit senior photos from another photographer. It doesn’t matter if you are given the choice of the school photographer or one of your own choices, you should still hire a professional photographer to take some photos of your graduating senior. A good photographer that specializes in senior photos will meet with you and your child. You will discuss your child’s interest, and those will be taken into consideration during the photo shoot.

These photo shoots will generally run the course of two hours. Your child will be allowed to make wardrobe changes, sometimes giving up to six different options. You will want to consider casual attire in a relaxed setting. Some more elegant shots in a classic setting are also usually taken. These options allow for a wide choice of photos to choose from.

If your child participated in an athletic extra-curricular activity, they will most likely want a few photographs in their athletic uniform. Often times, an outdoor setting will be used for these types of shots. My son was a baseball player and his senior photos were taken on a baseball diamond. We then moved back to the studio for the remaining session.

Naturally, you will want to remember your student in their cap and gown. Make sure your professional photographer has a selection of backgrounds to choose from to accentuate your child’s school colors. Some local photographers invest in backgrounds that display the names of the local schools. With technological advances, it can also be added in the editing phase.

Despite your child’s objections, you will probably want some shots in their “Sunday best.” These classic photos can be taken indoors, or outdoors, in an elegant setting. But don’t forget that your child is also their own individual. Allow the photographer to capture your child in some of their everyday attire, because that allows your child to express their own individuality.

If you are concerned about how the school will handle the senior photos for your child’s high school yearbooks, then call the school and speak with an administrator. Give the school photographer a chance, but if you aren’t pleased with the photos taken, don’t settle. Contact the instructor in charge of the yearbook production and ask if you can submit your own photo for your child. It certainly can’t hurt.

I’m a school principal with a passion for writing about high school yearbook themes.

Healthy skin is what all of us desire. It affects our appearance, and our personality. Harsh though this may sound, those of us who are prone to severe acne, have facial scars or are affected by other skin conditions that require medical treatment want a solution to their problems. Dermatological innovations have advanced our skin concepts. For an extremely damaged epidermis very radical treatments are being offered to repair the damage that we may have afflicted on our facial skin. Cosmetics and cosmetics treatments have become a broad term used for chemical products that we use on our skins; they can be medicated, some are specially formulated for use as facial skincare; and cosmetics are beauty products we use in our daily regimen. Skin conditions and their treatment are an important issue for those who have caused permanent damage to their epidermis than to bacterial infections and acne. Acne as most of us are aware, is the over production of sebaceous glands and dirt that clogs the pores of our skin especially sensitive facial skin. Those of us who have an affinity to breaking out into severe acne have no doubt painstakingly tried to reduce their problem by using medicated products and topical treatment. The solution may be simpler. Contrary to popular opinion that acne is caused by oily skin, for some these spots break out as a result of dry and sensitive skin. The natural oils our epidermis produces are a protective layer for it. Most medicated skin care products reap this natural oil without replenishing it. Care must be taken when using products made with strong chemical ingredients that are harsh. Recently, dermatologists have identified stress for the outbreak of acne. A successful treatment for acne is unique to the patient and uses both topical an oral medication.

“You’re ageing gracefully my friend once remarked quite casually when I met her after a lapse of a few years.” “I went shopping today and came across an essential eye gel for tired eyes and a remedy for the dark circles under my eyes. It gives instant result as it transforms you while the active ingredients work to heal the very delicate skin around the eyes.” After a hard day’s work, you need a little time off to indulge yourself in a leisurely and pleasant way. When it comes to that don’t let the price hinder you from indulging yourself, nothing is worth more than radiant and healthy looking skin.

Ageing skin is something all of us encounter. Aging is a natural process that degenerates our epidermis commonly known as derma. Permanent damage to the epidermis is caused by exposure to harsh substances, chemicals and of course UV radiation from the sun’s rays. As always where there is an ailment there is a cure. Cosmetics have ranged from anti aging agents to therapies and extensive treatments.

Cosmetics have evolved through the centuries made from natural ingredients of extracts of plants and essences from flowers and the clay masks applied for their colour and healing properties and has always remained a central feature that defines women. Their availability these days centres on cosmetic counters that are flourishing in every department store. They are, to put it emphatically, the piece de resistance and an essential visit, if not to be extravagant on your beauty tips then to just peruse through the counter and take in what is on offer.

Take your time! There may be a multitude of counters of equal accent in leading cosmetics names but on offer are a variety of cosmetic cleansers, toners, toniques de visage, to suit your palette and not only for those who seldom skirt the counters for the products that go hand in hand to best suit your beauty regimen, but also what they represent. The aesthetic senses appeal to some more than what the products target; fragrances in the products are at times their great attraction for some customers all of them dermatologically tested.

There is more than one type of product available for each skin type. There is a larger, richer base as some products are delightfully fragranced and a more diversified variety of these products are available as the industry for biochemical’s, amino acids and yeast enzyme develops and stems into this market to produce improved emollients to nourish and replenish loss of natural oils and moisture that forms the upper layers of derma. The majority of cosmetics are still by products of giant polymer processes. Distillates of huge hydrocarbon chains of petroleum by products, are used to make the emollient base with active healing ingredients added to make a more potent healing product that also sells well. Last year, investment into this industry was US$300 million and down the production chain cosmetics are important sales for the industry.

The marketing fad is what most of us succumb to eventually. It is a very potent tool for some of the established and leading cosmetics brands that dominate the market. Clinique made its name as a fragrance free brand at a time when the industry had become saturated with fragranced products and the fragrance free feature that is part of their entire product range was celebrated fervently and their sales rose significantly to place them at the same echelon as other leading cosmetics names that have sold equally as well. However, as tastes do change there is room for all brands on the floor. This season, the Chanel counters appear to be the most appealing in what this product line has on offer to its ardent customers and those who prefer this indulgence a little more. The colours of some of the cosmetics are particularly suitable to wear during the day and in the evenings. So, the next time you need to stock up on your cosmetics regimen, take a while to look through some of the best items the counters have on offer. At some point all of us encounter these such is the ubiquity of these products. But this is yesteryear and by today’s standards skims the surface.

Now as we enter the 21st century, we hear or read about skin treatments that go beyond the upper layers of the derma that is often the dead skin cells that we have to continually exfoliate for a clearer complexion and place stress on the deeper epidermis, the regenerative tissues that keep skin looking healthy and radiant. These are a step short of cosmetic surgery, using acid treatments that can take a few weeks to heal until your skin retains its elasticity and colour. Although these are not commercialised, they are available on search at leading cosmetics clinics and only those at the upper end of the market are recommended. Furthermore, expect to spend approximately a $1000 on at least three sessions.

We move from cosmetics counters to cosmetic clinics where skilled medical practitioners and nurses will provide the treatment your skin requires to restore it. Most women would normally take this treatment if they have undergone severe damage to their skin or prolonged exposure to harmful substances and not as an alternative to ordinary cosmetics. The results are outstanding though. After the initial painful stages of burning sensations and swollen face, reported by patients, you end up with a flawless complexion.

An alternative to health clubs are beauty therapy clinics that often promote a particular range of cosmetics that their therapists use in treatments. Some of these treatments can last several sessions, but you do not have to book yourself in for all of them. Some people make these a part of their weekly or fortnightly activity as these clinics are often a place where you can take a break and have a scalp and body massage using aroma therapy oils to either relax or invigorate yourself. This is the very latest addition to beauty and skin care therapy and by far the most indulgent and luxurious. More often than not exclusive, however, these would have been a popular demand in today’s hectic lifestyle for most of us to indulge in over a weekend.

There is a very distinct difference between therapy and treatment. Therapy is used to revitalise and nurture back to life skin and muscle gradually through improving blood circulation. Some of the oils used in therapy are naturally enriched with vitamins and have tremendous healing and nourishing properties. They have also been used as traditional household remedies and have been acclaimed for generations for their ingredients. Deeply replenishing, some of these oils and balms have medicinal properties, are used specially to improve blood circulation and invigorate with their natural aroma and will give a sensation on the skin when applied. Treatment is required when skin or muscle has undergone permanent damage and requires repairing with a little more than just topical therapy. Treatment is often expensive, such as acid treatment and is recommended only under medical supervision and when it is undertaken by an experienced medical practitioner. As this treatment is often given at a private clinic, the expense does not get any medical coverage.

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Real GHD straighteners will have a hologram sticker on the cord, allowing you to verify the product code on their website. There are other subtle differences you can look for when checking before you buy cheap GHDs – it will save you lots of money in the long run! The real GHDs come with between a 12-24 month warranty, however the fake ones obviously will not!

Here are some ways to verify if your straighteners are fake or fabulous….

Do they have plugs with reset buttons, like you would find on a hairdryer? If not, it may be a fake.

Are they made in China or Korea? If they’re made in China, watch out! The real deal are made in Korea.

Real GHD stylers will not have a hook on the cord to hang up your styler.

Real GHD stylers have domed screws, not flat headed screws.

The booklets that come with the GHD styler should have colored pictures. Some fake stylers have black and white pictures.

Check that 2 DVDs come with your straighteners. Sometimes a fake only has one.

Real GHD stylers have very strong, thick boxes. Fake styler boxes often come beat up and are slightly smaller.

Real GHD stylers have a date code on the inside of the body of the styler. It should have the year, month, then day.

Real GHD’s sensor lights are clear but will light up solid red when the are heating up, and subsequently flash red when ready to use and make a funny beep. Fake ones sometimes do not flash red or are solid red, and don’t flash
If you are buying online, make sure you buy them from a legitimate supplier, like amazon who often have good deals. If you are buying them second-hand (or from an individual seller) make sure you ask them before you pay any of your hard-earned money what the hologram code is. That way you can verify yourself if the styler is real or not.

If you do buy a fake, not only do you have no warranty on the product but it is actually a fire risk, and electricians don’t like to go near them. Your best bet is to buy genuine, at the best price you can find. If you do come across a fake ghd, you can report it to the ghd website so that sellers of fakes can be prevented from selling more.

In 1976, individuals frequenting the American Legion conference in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania began to become sick with an extraordinary type of pneumonia. Throughout the convention, 221 people became ill and 34 visitors died. Prior to the outbreak, the causative bacteria was undiagnosed.

The outbreak was found to be caused from a gram negative bacterium that was dubbed Legionella pneumophila and the disorder become known as Legionnaires’ disease. The bacteria existed prior to 1976, but was not as prevalent. After the outbreak, Legionnaires’ disease began to become more common. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 8,000 and 18,000 people are infected annually in the United States.

Legionnaires’s diseases is more prevalent during the summer and early fall. The symptoms of the diseases mimic other types of pneumonia which makes it difficult to diagnose. The infected person usually exhibits a high fever, chills, and a cough. Muscle aches and headaches also occur. As the disease progresses, people may suffer from gastrointestinal disorders and problems with the nervous system. Symptoms usually begin to manifest in 2 to 14 days after exposure

The physician will usually order a series of chest X-rays and may perform a test on the patient’s sputum, also known as phlegm. The bacteria can also be detected in the blood and urine. A urinary antigen test will detect Legionella bacteria from a urine specimen.

Approximately 5 to 30 percent of the people who contract Legionnaires’ disease will die. Antibiotics can successfully control the disease and most healthy people will ultimately recover.

The Legionella bacteria also causes a milder form of the disease known as Pontiac fever. A patient suffering from Pontiac fever will usually only exhibit symptoms for 2 to 5 days and there will be no pneumonia. Most infected people only experience muscle aches and a headache. Pontiac fever does not usually require medication or any type of treatment.

Legionella bacteria grows best in warm water. It can occur in hot tubs, air conditioning systems (especially large commercial units), hot water tanks, plumbing systems, excavation sites and cooling towers. It also occurs naturally in freshwater creeks, moist soil and ponds. To contract the disease, the person must breath in contaminated water vapor. The disease does not spread from person to person.

In a hospital setting, the Legionella bacteria poses an increased risk because the patients often have a depressed immune system. A hospital’s heating and cooling units can also be an ideal breeding ground for the bacteria. Outbreaks have occurred on cruise ships and at hotels.

Older people — those over the age of 50 — are the most at risk for contracting the bacterial disease. Current smokers, past smokers or those suffering from a lung disease are also at an increased risk. People with a weakened immune system, cancer, diabetes or kidney failure are also vulnerable. Healthy people rarely suffer any danger from the bacteria. Because of the advanced age of its occupants, nursing homes and hospitals should remain vigilant and regularly have their heating and cooling systems checked.

The following is information and news coming from the most recent publication of Medesthetics Magazine (November/December 2006 issue) that I feel is useful to those in the skin care profession as well as the public using skin care products.

Hydroquinone Alert

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is reversing its stance on hydroquinone. In September 2006, it issued notice of a proposed rule that would make it illegal to use the skin-bleaching drug in over-the-counter preparations.

The action is based on new data on the incidence of ochronosis (bluish black discoloration of tissue)caused by hydroquinone use and the potential carcinogenic risk from the drug. The FDA intends to consider all skin-bleaching drug products, whether currently marketed on a prescriptoin or OTC basis, as new drugs requiring an approved new drug application for continued marketing.

For more information, visit http://www.fda.gov

Massage Styles & Techniques

Swedish/European Body Massage:

Techniques used: Kneading, stroking, rubbing, gliding, tapping and shaking.

Beneficial for arthritis, joint stiffness, carpal tunnel syndrome, PMS, sciatica, and sports injuries.

Results: Relieves stress and tension; promotes an overall sense of well being.

Shiatsu:

Techniques Used: Tapping, squeezing, rubbing, applied pressure, assisted stretching and massage strokes.

Beneficial for energy imbalance, arthritis and joint stiffness.

Results: An overall sense of inner peace; improves circulation, energy flow and posture.

Deep Tissue:

Techniques Used: Slow strokes and applied pressure

Beneficial for sports injuries and chronic muscle pain

Results: Relieves pain from the body; releases toxins and tension from the muscles.

Lymphatic Drainage:

Techniques Used: Light rhythmic strokes

Beneficial for soreness, aches, pains, colds, infections and other illness.

Results: Restores lymph system and clears its passages.

Reflexology:

Techniques Used: Acupressure is performed on hands and feet.

Beneficial for stress relief.

Results: Restores normal functioning and health to related organs.

Acupressure:

Techniques Used: Deep finger pressure along different points of body’s meridians.

Beneficial for fatigue, headaches and backaches.

Results: Relieves pain, balances the body and aids in maintaining optimum health.

C. Whitmore, New York State Licensed Clinical Esthetician

Buying cosmetics online is a newfound convenience for many women all over the world. But to others it still is an uncommon way of purchasing their personal care items for various reasons. For one thing, not being able to see up close and touch the product before purchasing is still too risky for many consumers. Also, for those who haven’t really been purchasing anything from the Internet, they can immediately be overwhelmed by the process that’s so unusual for them.

But there are some very simple steps you can try and you’ll be able to enjoy the ease and other advantages of purchasing from the Web. Here are some suggestions to make your online shopping hassle-free.

You need to find out first what type of cosmetics you’re looking for. Use search engines like Google to find out the brands and exact product names that are available today. When searching, use terms that are specific enough to target what you need or want, but not too particular to eliminate possible alternatives that could be better than what you’re thinking of. For instance, you can use the words “liquid foundation,” instead of just “makeup.” The search engine will then generate the latest lines of liquid foundation in different shades, coverage, and other specifications. You can then look at the product descriptions and zero in on the product that you really want to buy.

Product reviews by actual buyers are all over the Internet, too. This is a good tool to help you decide if, indeed, what you’re planning to buy is worth it and if the vendor is trustworthy. Of course, be cautious about referring to online reviews and forums. There’s a good chance that you’ll come across people who pose as customers, but are actually the vendors themselves promoting their goods or trash-talking their competitors.

Buying beauty products online has become attractive to many women, also because of the many generous offers provided by manufacturers and distributors alike. Others have also discovered the satisfaction of consulting price comparison sites, which feature official product distributors. They’re able to know which Internet-based store can give them the best possible price for the product that they want by inquiring on just one website.

One last but important thing: be sure to read all the terms and conditions offered by the vendor from whom you intend to buy. Read everything you can on their site about their payment process, shipping system, privacy policy, and return and exchange guidelines. Make sure you understand all their procedures and policies prior to purchasing. If you need to clarify things, call their customer service number even before you put in any information about yourself.

If you’re buying cosmetics online, check out Get Price. This website has the latest pricing and other necessary information of the best cosmetic brands from respectable dealers. They also feature fragrances, toiletries, and other beauty products online.