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Little Things That Made a Big Difference

Little Things That Made a Big Difference

Let's be real. Glowing skin isn't always about fancy stuff or 10-step routines. The slightest adjustments can occasionally have the most profound effects. You know those random tweaks that somehow end up making everything better? Yeah, we're talking about those. You ever seen those jaw-dropping hydrafacial before and after pics? Not filters. Not magic. Just clean, hydrated, and healthy skin like actual results. Skin goes from 'meh' to 'wow' real quick. One treatment and boom pore city disappears. For your face, it's like taking a deep breath. Not even kidding. This stuff isn't hype. It's gentle, super effective, and kind of addictive. You see that glow? That bounce?A lot of people are pursuing that. And the wild thing? You don't need to do too much. Just a few small tweaks. That's it. So if your skin's feeling dull, or just blah lately, let's get into these four game-changers. They're easy. They work. And best of all, they don't wreck your wallet.
Okay, so facials can sound extra. But hear me out. A chill, non-invasive one? Total game-changer. It's not about scrubbing your face raw. Nope. It's gentle. Hydrating. Like a little spa hug for your pores. These facials extract the filth that you were unaware existed. Dirt. Oil. Whatever's clogging things up. Then they pump your skin full of goodness. Think antioxidants, peptides, hydration. Your skin legit drinks it up. After one session, you look rested even if you've been running on iced coffee and three hours of sleep. Do it every few weeks. Keep it simple. Your skin will thank you.
This one's seriously underrated. Like, why isn't everyone talking about Skinvive for lips? Don't confuse it with filler it's not about plumping. Totally different game. Here's how it works: tiny micro-drops (yeah, tiny) get injected to deeply hydrate from within. No scary needles. No puffiness. Just softer, smoother lips that actually feel healthy. Think natural shine without the stickiness. Juicy, but still 100% your lips. Perfect if you wear lipstick. Even better if you're just over the whole chapped, flaky mess. For your pout, Trust Skinvive for lips feels like a big glass of water.
Let's say you've already booked a facial. Cool. But here's a pro tip don't skip the booster add-ons. These tiny upgrades? Huge payoff. We're talking custom serums packed with all the good stuff. Vitamin C. Retinol. Peptides. You name it. Want to brighten dull skin? There's a booster for that. Dealing with fine lines? Yep, booster. Just tired and dry? You guessed it booster. They mix it into your facial like a smoothie blend. Except this one goes on your face. And smells better. Some people see their glow last way longer when they add a booster. Like instead of three days, it lasts a week. Or more. And it's your skin, so why not go all in? Attractive african girl enjoying face massage in spa salon. Closed eyes.
So you had your facial. Your lips are hydrated. You're feeling fresh. Don't mess it up now. Post-care is clutch. What you do after the treatment? That's what really locks everything in. Step one? Skip the heavy-duty products. No scrubs. No harsh stuff. Your skin's chill right now. Keep it that way. Step two? Moisturizer. A good one. Light but hydrating. Seal that glow like it's gold. Step three? SPF. No skipping. Even if it's cloudy. Even if you 'don't go outside much.' UV doesn't care. Seriously, this step makes or breaks it. Protect your glow. Don't fry it. If you're consistent with this routine, your skin just keeps getting better. That's not hype. That's experience.
Alright, let's bring it all together. Here's the deal: HydraFacials glow-up magic. The HydraFacial before and after and after pictures are really self-evident.Skinvive soft, hydrated lips. No duck face, just healthy vibes. Boosters customized, skin boosting extras your face will thank you for. Aftercare not optional. Stick with it if you want results that last. None of this is complicated. Taking good care of your skin is more important than following trends. You don't need fancy filters or a shelf full of expensive jars. Just the right steps, done consistently. That's the secret sauce.
A: Right away. Like, same day. Within hours, you'll be able to see and feel it. Skin just looks… healthier.
A: Yup. Super gentle. No harsh stuff. Just check with your provider if you've got anything going on (rosacea, etc.).
A: Nope. Not the goal. It smooths and hydrates, not plumps. You'll still look like you just fresher.
A: Absolutely. Just make sure your skin's not overwhelmed. Most pros space it out just a bit, though.
A: No exfoliating. No retinoids. No sauna. No sunburn. Treat your face like silk for a couple days.
Look, we all want skin that looks lit from within. But it's not about chasing magic. It's about doing a few things right. Hydrate your face. Treat your lips. Add some boosters when you can. And take care of your glow after. No gimmicks. No filters. Just steps that work over time. The best part? It's still you. Just the glowier version. That's the glow up.
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Is Shea Butter Good for Skin? We Asked Experts
Is Shea Butter Good for Skin? We Asked Experts

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Is Shea Butter Good for Skin? We Asked Experts

"Doesn't trying so many skincare and makeup products irritate your face?" It's a question I get often, and for a long time, I thought, "Nope, my skin's just made of steel." But I was very wrong, as I discovered my hormonal acne isn't necessarily always to blame for my breakouts. Turn's out, a routine filled with pore-clogging ingredients wasn't making my situation much better. The biggest culprit, I realized while looking over ingredients lists, was shea butter. Anyone with dry, coarse, and/or curly hair knows about shea butter. It's a moisturizing masterpiece. But shea butter for skin is a whole different world, especially if you're acne-prone or sensitive. In fact, aesthetician Madalaina Conti says she consistently sees patients who come in with acne, and she discovers quickly it's because their routines are filled with pore-clogging shea butter. It might not be the initial cause of their breakouts (usually, that's hormones and genetics at play), but it can be what's stunting them from getting clear. "For most acne-prone clients, we want to be strategic about how their hydrating and moisturizing products work with their actives," she says. Shea butter is the fat derived from the nuts of shea trees (which are native to West Africa and where most all shea butter still comes from today). It's essentially a solid oil, just like coconut oil or cocoa butter, that feels like a hard soap but emulsifies when you warm it up. The natural ingredient isn't necessarily new or trendy (it's been a staple for moisturizing hair and skin, predominantly in African households, for more than a thousand years), but it is constantly talked about. Shea butter could be good for your skin, but it all depends on skin type. Generally, shea butter is a fantastic moisturizer and sealant, says Conti. Oils can usually be put in two categories: moisturizing or sealing. Some oils, like almond oil and sunflower seed oil, have a small enough molecular size that they can actually get inside your dermis and moisturize it. But many oils, like rice bran oil and jojoba oil, just can't penetrate your skin. Instead, these oils act as a barrier to keep in all the hydration you do have in your skin (also known as an occlusive), describes Conti. Shea butter is unique because it actually does both. It simultaneously seeps into your skin to hydrate it as it coats the surface to prevent that moisture from escaping, cosmetic chemist Krupa Koestline previously told Cosmo. That's not all, though. Shea butter is loaded with good-for-skin components. It's largely made up of fatty acids—including stearic, linoleic, oleic, and palmitic fatty acids—all of which help strengthen your skin barrier and increase skin's elasticity (key for skin that's bouncy, supple, and smooth). There's also vitamin A, D, and E, plus triglycerides, to even further prevent skin dehydration and dryness. Shea butter is also pretty fantastic for sensitive skin, since it's got allantoin to help soothe irritation. But... Technically, shea butter is thought to be non-comedogenic (meaning it's not likely to clog pores). But comedogenocity ratings aren't always the end-all, be-all for acne-prone skin. Here's the thing: The only thing that firmly determines if something will break you out is genetics. It's why some people could coat their faces with coconut oil in the early aughts with no repercussions, while others (me) would wake up to a face full of acne. Same goes for shea butter. But some general guidelines can help if you're acne-prone and not sure what'll break you out. Conti urges against heavy occlusive moisturizers, like anything with shea butter, which she says she recommends avoiding to her acne clients. If you've already got congested pores filled with bacteria, shea butter can be too occlusive and cause bacteria to fester even more, she explains. As stated, any skin type can use shea butter, but it might be too heavy for oily skin. Conti recommends it mostly for those with very dry skin who don't tend to get acne. This is why shea butter lotions for body are so commonly loved. The skin all over your body isn't as oily or acne-prone (hence why the skin is usually drier than your face). So it's generally less of a risk for breakouts to slather your entire bod in shea butter as it would be on your face. Although they might look similar, shea butter and coconut oil are fairly different, says Conti. Both contain fatty acids that help moisturize, but their consistency isn't the same. Shea butter makes products more rich and creamy, while coconut oil, when not in a solid, is much thinner and absorbent. However, the biggest difference is that coconut oil is generally seen as more pore-clogging. It's ranked at a four or five on the comedogencity scale (five is the highest possible, btw). While you could use pure shea butter on your skin, the easiest way to incorporate the ingredient in your skincare routine is with a product that combines it with other ingredients. Shea butter fares really well in moisturizers (especially for body), as well as lip products, since it gives them a luscious consistency. With all occlusive products, Conti actually recommends layering on top of a hydrating serum to lock in even more moisture. One of the first products launched by Hailey Bieber's Rhode, the Barrier Restore Cream uses shea butter, squalane, and peptides to make skin look more plump and firm. It's fantastic for massaging into skin after treatments like microneedling or laser facials. Although I avoid shea butter-based creams for my face, I know they're legit magic for the dry, cracked skin on my hands in the winter. I always keep a tube of this body butter (which mixes shea butter with baobab and jojoba oil) to intensely nourish skin. Consistently named one of the best moisturizers for dry skin, this cream is filled with peptides to increase collagen production, ceramides to boost skin barrier, hyaluronic acid to pull water into skin, and shea butter to lock in hydration. The first time I tried this moisturizer, I knew even before looking at the ingredients that it contained shea butter. It's rich, emollient, and so smoothing on skin—all for less than $25. Both Conti and beauty editor-at-large Julee Wilson agree: Mutha's body butter is freakin' delicious for hydrating your skin from the chest down. 'As someone who lives for luxe, skin-loving moisture, this butter is an absolute dream—rich, velvety, and unapologetically indulgent," writes Wilson. 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Barrier-repairing products are typically occlusive and thick, but not this cream. It has a gel-cream texture that absorbs quickly into skin but seriously hydrates and seals—just like shea butter (but without it). If you want glass skin without the pore-clogging oils, try this treatment from clean beauty brand MARA. It uses niacinamide, salicylic acid, and mandelic acid to gently exfoliate and smooth skin texture, but it's also mixed with a slew of acne-friendly oils that make skin look hella dewy. Listen: Most body creams are packed with shea butter, which is great for cracked heels and dry elbows. But if you want a formula you can comfortably put on your acne-prone chest and back, this O.G. cream from CeraVe hydrates with ceramides and hyaluronic acid. Lip pimples are the worst, which is why Personal Day (founded by acne-prone actress Lili Reinhart) created this acne-friendly lip balm. 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13 children died of malnutrition-related causes in a Darfur camp, a Sudan doctors' group says
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Bio Usawa Biotechnology and Sartorius Stedim Biotech Forge Partnership to Pioneer Biopharmaceutical Manufacturing in Africa
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Bio Usawa Biotechnology and Sartorius Stedim Biotech Forge Partnership to Pioneer Biopharmaceutical Manufacturing in Africa

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Sartorius Stedim Biotech regularly expands its portfolio through acquisitions of complementary technologies. In 2024, the company generated sales revenue of around 2.8 billion euros. More than 9,900 employees work for customers around the globe. Visit our Newsroom or follow us on LinkedIn. Media Contacts: Contact Bio UsawaDaniel LevineLevine Media Group+1 510-280-5405danny@ Contact Sartorius Stedim Biotech GmbHLars HanfHead of BPS Marketing Communications+ in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data

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