Marketing dan Bisnis Online

TIPS LOLOS SELEKSI WAWANCARA PEKERJAAN

noreply@blogger.com (Career Online) — Sun, 07 Aug 2011 19:33:00 +0000

Dalam proses seleksi melamar pekerjaan, wawancara sering kali dianggap mudah. Namun dalam sesi wawancara beberapa orang gagal mendapatkan pekerjaan yang didambakannya. Untuk itu sesi wawancara harus dipersiapkan dengan sunguh-sungguh.

Berikut tips rahasia sukses wawancara saat melamar pekerjaan;

1. Berapa gaji yang Anda minta?

Jawab: Sebutkan gaji yang besarnya realistis. Lihat mata pewawancara, sebutkan jumlah, dan berhentilah bicara. Jangan bohong tentang gaji yang Anda terima di kantor sebelumnya, bila Anda sudah bekerja. Bila Anda merasa bahwa gaji Anda di kantor yang sekarang terlalu kecil, berikan penjelasan.

2. Apa kelebihan utama Anda?

Jawab: Pilih potensi Anda yang relevan dengan bidang pekerjaan yang Anda lamar. Hindari respons yang generik seperti pengakuan bahwa Anda pekerja keras. Lebih baik, berikan respons berupa, “Saya selalu diperbudak daftar pekerjaan yang saya buat sendiri. Sebab, saya tidak mau pulang sebelum pekerjaan di kantor beres semua.”

3. Apa kekurangan Anda yang paling jelas?

Jawab: Jangan bilang Anda seorang perfeksionis (menunjukkan bahwa Anda sombong). Lebih baik, jujur saja dan sebutkan kelemahan yang kongkret. Misalnya, Anda lemah menghitung di luar kepala, dan karenanya Anda mengatasinya dengan membawa kalkulator. Tapi, kemudian, susul dengan kelebihan Anda.

4. Di mana Anda melihat diri Anda lima tahun lagi?

Jawab: Gambarkan posisi yang realistis. Kira-kira dua-tiga posisi di atas posisi yang Anda lamar sekarang. Jangan sertakan cita-cita yang tak ada hubungannya dengan lamaran pekerjaan Anda, misalnya, ingin jadi bintang sinetron atau jadi novelis. Sebab, Anda akan tampak tidak fokus.

5. Mengapa Anda ingin meninggalkan kantor yang lama?

Jawab: Jangan sampai mengemukakan hal yang negatif. Kalau kenyataannya begitu, ucapkan dalam kalimat ‘positif’, misalnya bahwa Anda tidak melihat ada ‘ruang’ di mana Anda bisa berkembang. Lalu, jelaskan mengapa Anda menganggap bahwa pekerjaan di kantor baru ini memberi kesempatan yang lebih baik.

6. Adakah contoh kegagalan Anda?

Jawab: Ungkapkan kegagalan yang pernah Anda alami, tapi yang sudah terpenuhi solusinya. Supaya, pewawancara tahu bahwa Anda punya usaha untuk mengatasi masalah

7. Apakah Anda punya pertanyaan?

Jawab: Berikan paling sedikit dua pertanyaan yang terfokus pada kantor baru ini. Misalnya, Anda bertanya apakah kantor ini sudah punya website. Atau, bisa juga Anda mempertanyakan kehadiran CEO yang Anda tahu baru saja diangkat – apakah membuat kinerja perusahaan semakin baik, dan semacamnya. Jangan bertanya tentang kepentingan Anda sendiri, misalnya, apakah karir Anda akan berkembang di sana.
Apa yang menjadikan seseorang selalu sukses untuk menggapai impiannya? Tampil beda dan memiliki keunggulan komperatif mungkin salah satu yang menjadikan Anda selalu berada di dalam posisi terdepan!

Termasuk dalam meraih karier dan mengungguli orang lain dalam mencari pekerjaan yang sesuai. Ada beberapa trik atau strategi yang perlu disiapkan agar Anda sukses dalam melewati tahapan untuk mengejar karier yang diidam-idamkan. Modal nekat saja, pasti tak cukup.. Di sini juga anda bisa menemukan beberapa lowongan kerja yang mungkin tak ada salahnya jika anda mencobanya.

Cara Mudah Mendapatkan Uang Dari Blog

noreply@blogger.com (Career Online) — Sat, 06 Aug 2011 19:08:00 +0000

Kali ini saya akan menjelaskan sedikit tentang AdReviewCamp.

AdReviewCamp merupakan website tempat bertemunya bloggers dan advertiser dalam membangun sebuah backlink dan mendapatkan penghasilan tambahan dari internet.

Sebagai Paid Review Indonesia, AdReviewCamp merupakan media yang tepat bagi advertiser yang membutuhkan publikasi produknya serta bagi bloggers (publisher) yang membutuhkan posting yang "bernilai" di blognya.

Review bloggers yang disetujui oleh advertiser bakal mendapatkan bayaran yang telah disepakati harganya sebelum transaksi dimulai. Untuk itulah dibutuhkan AdReviewCamp yang mempertemukan kedua belah pihak.

Keuntungan yang dapat diambil oleh advertiser apabila mengikuti program dari AdReviewCamp ini adalah akan mendapatkan pengunjung tambahan yang benar-benar fokus karena sebelumnya sudah mendapatkan review yang diposting oleh bloggers.

Sementara, keuntungan yang diraih oleh bloggers adalah Anda bakal mendapatkan hasil bayaran atas review yang Anda tampilkan pada blog Anda. Anda akan mendapatkan keuntungan yang tidak ada batasnya dengan bergabung bersama AdReviewCamp. Selamat datang dan selamat bergabung dengan AdReviewCamp.com

Dari penjelasan diatas, membuat saya terkesima untuk mencoba hal tersebut. Maka disini saya mengajak semua sahabat blogger untuk mendaftarkan diri atau ikut serta dalam Review ini.

Untuk Mendaftar Silahkan Klik DISINI atau bisa juga dengan langsung klik banner dibawah ini:

REUNI DAN HALAL BIHALAL ALUMNI SMPN 2 ROGOJAMPI Ang. 2003

noreply@blogger.com (Career Online) — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 17:05:00 +0000

REUNI SMP NEGERI 2 ROGOJAMPI ANGKATAN 2003

Mengundang Segenap Alumni SMP Negeri 2 Rogojampi Angkatan 2003 yang akan dilaksanakan pada:

Hari/Tanggal : Sabtu, 3 September 2011
Waktu : 09.00 WIB - Selesai
Tempat : Blimbingsari - Banyuwangi
Acara : Halal Bihalal dan Silaturrahmi

Demikian undangan ini kami buat, atas perhatian dan partisipasinya di sampaikan terima kasih.

KETERANGAN:

* Biaya : Rp. 50.000 / orang
(Meliputi: Makan, Dokumentasi dan Souvenir)
* Pembayaran dan pendaftaran bisa dilakukan mulai hari ini.
dan terakhir tanggal 10 Agustus 2011
* Pembayaran bisa dilakukan secara langsung melalui Panitia:
1). Tusmirati (Tusy): 082 142 430 930
2). Yuliana : 081 234 55 66 75
3). Sri Utari (Tari) : 085 236 831 321
* Atau bisa langsung transfer ke Bank BRI No. Rek: 0007 0104 6452 502
a/n YULIANA

NB:
* Setelah Transfer biaya melalui rekening tersebut, mohon bukti transfer disimpan sebagai bukti pendaftaran.
* Mohon mengirim biodata (Nama Lengkap, alamat dan No. HP) ketika Pendaftaran.
* Pakaian bebas, rapi dan menarik.

BRAINSTORMING: WHAT IT IS AND HOW TO USE IT

noreply@blogger.com (Career Online) — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 15:31:00 +0000

In this week’s blog I’d like to chat about the topic of brainstorming, because it’s a terrific way to generate ideas.

Brainstorming is a technique I use quite often in my job. It’s a process of trying to generate as many ideas as possible and can occur by one individual or a group of people, but is more commonly used with groups. Interestingly, the concept of brainstorming was developed by an advertising executive (A.F. Osborn) in order to increase creativity (Kinicki & Kreitner, 2008, p. 265). The key steps in brainstorming are:

Gather a group together.
Review the problem you’re trying to solve.
Ask each person to silently generate ideas to solve the problem.
Have each person write their ideas on individual slips of paper.
Write all the ideas on a white board, flip chart, or do what I like to do, which is tack each slip of paper on a wall board (because they can then be easily moved around and grouped into categories).
A second session can be held in order to discuss each idea and evaluate the alternatives.

The nominal group technique is very similar to the brainstorming technique in that it’s also used to generate ideas. The main differences are a more structured meeting approach that includes an evaluation process and voting for solution choices. Here are the key steps in the nominal group technique:

Gather a group together.
Explain the nominal group technique process that will occur.
Review the problem you’re trying to solve.
Have each person silently generate ideas to solve the problem.
Going around the table, ask each person to provide one idea from their list and record each on a white board or flip chart. Do not discuss any of the ideas, just continue going around the table with each person offering one idea and capturing the idea on the white board or flip chart.
Once all ideas are captured, discuss them. People can ask questions and clarify ideas they proposed.
Allow each participant 30 seconds “to argue for or against any of the ideas under consideration” (Kinicki & Kreitner, 2008, p. 266) and use the comments to generate additional discussion or ideas.
Allow each participant to vote for their top choices. One easy way to do this is to provide each participant with a certain number of dot stickers, say three to five, and then allow them to vote any way they want to use the dots. For example, they could use one dot each and vote for their top 5 choices, they could use two dots for two items and one dot on another item, or they could use all five dots on their number one choice.
The leader then counts the votes to determine the top choices.
What I like to do at this point is narrow it down to the top three choices, allow group discussion on those three items, and then start fresh with a new vote on the top three choices to narrow it down to the best choice.

Source:

http://www.careerwomaninc.com

SWEET DREAMS OF SUCCESS – AN INTERVIEW WITH SUNNY KOBE COOK

noreply@blogger.com (Career Online) — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 15:25:00 +0000

Like many women, Sunny Kobe Cook had a dream to own her own business. She knew she wanted to be in retail, and loved the idea of a furniture store. However, starting a furniture store proved to be too capital-intensive, so Sunny did what any good businessperson would do – research.

Sunny was able to figure out what made the most money in furniture stores – mattresses – and adapted her business plan to reflect this new profitability. Sleep Country USA was awakened, becoming the Northwest’s largest mattress store now celebrating its 20th year in business.

In 2000, Sunny sold the chain and focused her efforts on sharing her experience and insight as a high-profile speaker and author. This month, she’s celebrating the release of her new book “Common Things Uncommon Ways,” which focuses on how to tap into your employees in order to grow your business.

We spoke with Sunny for this month’s 1:1 with Career Woman Inc., and she offered insightful advice on running a successful business, from the value of networking, to the importance of the customer’s experience and keeping employees motivated. Sunny posits, “Motivating people who represent you with your customers is critical.” And we couldn’t agree more.

When managing a large group of people, or even a small one, it’s not always possible to interface with your customers, so ensuring your employees are on-board as ambassadors of your business is of the utmost importance. One could spend all the time in the world on making the best product or service, but if it’s not presented to the public in a knowledgeable, friendly manner, what’s the point?

For more on how Sunny went from secretary to entrepreneur, read her entire 1:1 feature interview on Career Woman Inc. And, be sure to check out my recent article on Forbes, “The Best Ways to Motivate People (and it isn’t with money)“.

Source:

http://www.careerwomaninc.com

WHAT CAREER WOMEN CAN LEARN FROM OPRAH WINFREY

noreply@blogger.com (Career Online) — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 15:16:00 +0000

Over the years, one of the role models I’ve eagerly observed from afar has been Oprah Winfrey. Her abilities as a female entrepreneur are what inspired me to leave the confines of corporate America and start my own consulting company focused on helping women succeed in their careers. And there are a lot of lessons career women can learn from Oprah.

Ms. Winfrey defied the odds stacked against her in life and used her abilities as an entrepreneur to take Harpo, Inc. from a small, five-person production company to a 430-person multimedia conglomerate. “Today, she is one of a handful of black billionaires across the globe; her net worth estimated at $2.5 billion” (Alleyne, 2008).

Born to unmarried parents, a miner father and a mother who worked as a maid, Oprah’s early years were filled with abuse, loneliness, and heartache. But what she was forced to overcome became a driving force for making Oprah what she is now, an incredible entrepreneur and mentor to women and men around the world.

“Her unprecedented success in American business serves as the undisputed blueprint for many minority entrepreneurs. Her leadership has broken down barriers; her business instinct the stuff of legend; and her innovation unprecedented. She has spent her entire career beating the odds – and has inspired millions of business-minded minorities in the process” (Allyne, 2008).

What career women can learn from Oprah:

Sometimes it pays not to “over plan” things: Oprah claims not to be much of a strategist; rather, “she asserts that divine inspiration, not strategic planning, is the key to her company’s success: ‘I haven’t planned one thing – ever. I have just been led by a strong instinct, and I have made choices based on what was right for me at the time’” (Allyne, 2008).
Demonstrate a strong work ethic: While Oprah worked as a news anchor she also took on the responsibilities as host of a morning television talk show. Throughout her career, Oprah has never shied away from hard work, she welcomes it.
Don’t be afraid to be an entrepreneur: Her entrepreneurial mind-set and willingness to take risks has paid off by propelling her forward throughout her career. She sought out opportunities as an actress, invested in start-up businesses, such as Oxygen, an independent cable network for women, and most recently, launched the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN).
Create a moral-support network: Oprah created a cheering squad with people such as her best friend, Gayle King, and Stedman Graham, who helped her during difficult and lonely times in her career.
Create a professional-support network: Over the years Oprah has built up a professional network and been able to reach out to some of the most successful business people in the world for help or advice. In turn, she has also given back to others such as helping Barack Obama with his political campaign for president.
Lead and inspire others: Oprah’s leadership style demands that nothing be taken for granted. “I don’t yell at people, I don’t mistreat people, I don’t talk down to people. Treating people with respect is the most important thing to me. It’s not just talk” (Allyne, 2008).

Oprah has been a wonderful role model for myself and for women all around the world because she has demonstrated the key traits necessary to achieve your dreams. She has proven that it does not matter from where you come; what matters is where you want to go, how you get yourself there, and how you treat people along the way. She has shown me that to be a successful entrepreneur takes courage and the ability to try new things, even in the face of uncertainty.

But what I will probably always remember is that she has become more than a talk show host and more than a business woman – she is a mentor to women around the world.

What lessons have you learned from Oprah? Share them in the “Comments” section.

Source:

http://www.careerwomaninc.com

HOW TO BE AN INDEPENDENT YOUNG WOMAN

noreply@blogger.com (Career Online) — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 15:08:00 +0000

Life can be challenging for a young woman. Trying to establish yourself in the world, build a career, manage money, and build healthy relationships are all components of building a full and healthy lifestyle. Becoming independent can instill confidence within a woman and empower her to make her own decisions. Relying on oneself and obtaining financial independence can bring a wonderful feeling of personal success and strength.

Instructions

1. Educate yourself. Go to college or enroll in a trade school in order to obtain a degree or skill that will empower you to obtain a career doing something you enjoy while making enough money to support yourself. Education is the key to building an independent life and becoming self-sufficient. When in school, meet with your financial aid adviser in order to take advantage of financial aid that may be available to you so you can avoid taking out student loans when possible.

2. Apply for a job even while you are in college. This will not only give you an opportunity to have spending money and put money aside, but it will be an opportunity to gain real-world work experience. You can use this experience to help build your resume. Obtaining good work references will help you in your future career.

3. Pay your bills on time every month. Manage your credit cards wisely and avoid maxing them out or spending outside of your monthly budget. These habits will help you attain a good credit score. A good credit score will help you along the way by allowing you to qualify for loans and getting them at a decent interest rate. Taking good care of your credit will help you in the long run.

4. Live a healthy lifestyle by eating healthy foods and exercising. Taking good care of yourself is an important part of being an independent woman. If you do not take care of yourself, you cannot take care of others. Make time for yourself each day no matter how busy your schedule is. Taking up running or an aerobic class, or simply dancing while listening to music are all types of physical activity that will raise your heart rate. In addition to taking good care of yourself, make time to just have fun and let go of stress by doing things you enjoy.

5. Obtain a position in the field of your choosing upon graduating college. You can use the references you made earlier to help land the position. By being polished and professional in the workplace, you will be on your way to building a solid career that will pave the way for you to be an independent young woman. By doing well in your job, you can ask for a salary increase after having been there for a while.

Source:

http://www.ehow.com/how_8260607_independent-young-woman.html

HOW TO BE AN INDEPENDENT CAREER WOMAN

noreply@blogger.com (Career Online) — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 15:03:00 +0000

Career women face unique hurdles that require them to be more aware of their professional goals. From dealing with a "glass ceiling" in the workplace to maintaining work/life balance, the steps to achieving work-related goals are varied, depending on a woman's choice of career and the extent to which she wants to go to achieve success on her chosen path.

Instructions

1. Set a career goal and maintain focus on it. This can be hard, particularly when life gets in the way, as it tends to do. However, the most successful and independent of career women are able to make their professional goals a top priority. Determine your overall mission and come up with a game plan on how to get where you want to be.

2. Develop a skill set that makes you a valuable member of your industry of choice. In many industries, valuable skill sets are centered on those that can generate revenue streams for organizations or those that can spur innovation for companies with a more traditional method of doing business.

3. Learn the latest technologies. Hone your customer service skills. Learn how to sell anything to anyone, be it a product or a service. Make sure your skills are well-rounded; you want to be able to pitch to the president of a major corporation or communicate with the mail room clerk on ways to make mail distribution more efficient, all with the same sense of professionalism.

4. Obtain an education that allows you to pursue career objectives. According to Moneycrashers.com, one of a woman's most important assets as an independent career professional is education. Get the highest level of education you possibly can; if you have the time and the resources, go to the top of your educational limits and obtain a Ph.D in your chosen profession. The more you can manage to do educationally before getting into the crux of your career path, the more valuable a team member you will be.

5. Network with women across various industries. One of the most powerful tools an independent career woman can have is a vast network of people that offer a breadth of experience and know-how. Attend industry functions and join other professional women's organizations.

6. Project confidence in the workplace. As a woman, you may have to be more aggressive to get your point across or make yourself heard. Don't be brash about the way you do it, but don't back down just because you are a female, either. You know you understand how to best do your job; make sure others in your office know it as well.

Source:

http://www.ehow.com/how_7368557_independent-career-woman.html

HOW TO GET RID OF DRY AND CRACKED HEELS

noreply@blogger.com (Career Online) — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 14:53:00 +0000

Dry, cracked feet are never sexy. While this tends to be a summer hazard, it can happen all year-round. If you can't afford a fish pedicure, get rid of dry heel syndrome with this 5-step process I cobbled together and use myself from time-to-time.

You can skip parts of this process if you choose. If you continue to wear the foot mask every night for a week, your problems should be solved.

Difficulty: Easy

Time Required: 15 minutes

Here's How:

Soak feet for 5-10 minutes in a warm foot bath made with 1 cup milk and 5 cups warm water.
Create a homemade foot scrub by putting 4 tablespoons salt or sugar in 1/2 cup oil. Baby oil, sweet almond oil or coconut oil or even vegetable oil works well.
Massage the homemade foot scrub in a circular motion into bottoms of feet.
Scrub bottoms of feet with the pumice stone. Rinse and dry feet.
Before you go to bed that night, try this tip from beauty guru Paula Begoun: rub a Stridex pad over dry areas of feet. Stridex, a product found in the acne section of any drugstore, contains 2 percent salicylic acid so it's a great exfoliant for the feet.
Apply moisturizer thickly on feet (do not wash off Stridex). A super-rich moisturizer like cocoa butter, Eucerin (my favorite) or even Vaseline works best. For even better results, apply a thin layer of Keralyt Gel, an OTC salicylic acid, on your feet along with a dollop of Vaseline.

Pull on socks and keep them on throughout the night for at least 4 hours.

What You Need

1 cup milk
Sugar or salt (either will work)
Baby oil, sweet almond oil or coconut oil
Pumice stone
Stridex, found in the acne section of any drugstore
Thick moisturizer or a salicylic acid cream
Socks

7 ADULT ACNE FACTS AND HOW TO TREAT IT

noreply@blogger.com (Career Online) — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 14:44:00 +0000

If you noticed the acne you had when you were 15 has returned in your 30s, rest assured, you're in good company. One in five women between the ages of 25 and 40 suffer from adult acne. Here are a few facts about adult acne and how to rid your skin of it:

Fact #1: Acne usually begins with blackheads

Blackheads are not dirt, they're actually the result of oil and dead cells getting trapped in a pore where they block the duct and mix with bacteria. They then turn black when exposed to air. Red pimples develop when blackheads become inflamed and they spread when touched with dirty hands. When the pimple becomes infected, it develops a whitehead or pustule. These can break and cause scars.

So how to banish blackheads? Gently, according to San Francisco dermatologist Seth Matarasso in InStyle Magazine. People tend to scrub too hard, which causes inflammation, he says. Instead of a grainy scrub, Matarasso suggests trying an exfoliant with alpha-hydroxy acids. A good one is Lancome Pure Focus Deep Pore Refining Scrub. You can also use a salicylic acid cleanser like Bliss Clog Dissolving Cleansing Milk. These chemical products clean out pores better than scrubs. For a great quick fix, Biore Pore Perfect Strips will get rid of your blackheads.

Fact #2: There are several causes of adult acne

These are: Stress, bad cosmetics, hormones and birth control pills. Stress causes your oil glands to overcompensate. Bad cosmetics lead to bacteria-laden pores. Hormones cause the sebacuous glands to overact and birth control pills with androgen in them can cause breakouts.

To keep breakouts at bay, look for oil-free, non-acnegenic products like Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel and Neutrogena Oil-free Cleanser.

Fact #3: Cheese and chocolate have nothing to do with your acne

Your skin, however, WILL benefit from a good facial. Why? Because acne is not a disease, rather it is a condition of the skin and a good facialist knows exactly what your skin needs: Sulfur, zinc and camphor masks, exfoliation, blackhead extractions and at-home follow-up.

Fact #4: Don't treat adult acne like the teen kind The products you used as a teenager won't work on adult skin. Here's a 2-step program for cleansing and treating your blemished skin:

Step 1: Pick the right cleanser. Look for medicated cleansers with benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid. See my list of the Best Salicylic Acid Cleansers.

Step 2: Exfoliate with a salicylic acid treatment, which will clean out pores. Just don't exfoliate too much or scrub too hard (see the blackhead section above). Two to 3 times a week is perfect.

Fact #5: Treatment systems have completely cleared up skin on many people

Proactiv Solution 3-step System is a classic kit that has worked wonders on many. Mario Badescu Drying Lotion is another program that is highly recommended and my friends with acne personally recommend MD Skincare All-Over Blemish Solution.

Fact #6: The dermatologist will clear your skin up fast

Too many women wait to see a doctor for their skin problems. If you have basic acne, over-the-counter treatments with salicylic acid (there's that magic word again) to unclog pores and benzoyl peroxide to reduce bacteria on skin should do you, but for serious acne, a dermatologist has an arsenal of products to clear up your skin.

Retinoids, antibiotics, azelaic acid and birth control pills are all options usually covered by insurance. You might consider laser treatments, but these are more costly (about $500-$2,400). Severe cases are best cleared up by Accutane, which is a 5-month course that is considered the most effective treatment available. However Accutane is controversial and can lead to a host of side effects including birth defects if taken during pregnancy. Other side effects can include severe depression, Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative colitis. See "Accutane Side Effects" from Drugwatch.com for a full list.

Fact #7: Yes, those new machines that target acne do work

We were surprised to hear this as well, but the reports are out on machines like Zeno Acne Clearing Device and they are good. They won't help blackheads or deep cystic acne, but they do work for your general run-of-the-mill pimples, according to Glamour Magazine.
So how do they work? The Zeno, which is a handheld machine that looks like an iPod, works by driving heat through a pimple. The heat kills the bacteria and supposedly improves blood circulation to the affected area so it heals faster. Clinical trials show 90% of pimples treated with Zeno disappeared or were significantly reduced within 24 hours.

For spot treatments for blemishes try these great tried-and-true products:

Clinique Acne Solutions Spot Healing Gel

Benefit Boo Boo Zap Acne Medication

Neutrogena Rapid Clear Acne Eliminating Gel

Source:

http://beauty.about.com/od/skinflaws/a/adultacne.htm

WHAT TYPE OF SKIN DO YOU HAVE?

noreply@blogger.com (Career Online) — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 11:57:00 +0000

There are five basic skin care types: Oily, combination, sensitive, dry and sun-damaged. Your skin type is determined by how much -- or how little -- oil your skin produces. Genes, diet, stress level, medication and even your skincare regimen all determine how much oil your skin produces.

Rona Berg, in her book, "Beauty the New Basics," details the five different skin types. Here's how to tell what skin type you have.

Berg suggests you take the "skin test." Wash your face, pat it dry, then take a few pieces of rice paper or lens-cleaning tissue paper and press on different spots on your face. If your skin is oily, the paper will stick, pick up oily spots and become translucent. If the paper doesn't stick or pick up any oily spots, your skin is dry. If it sticks in your t-zone (forehead, nose and chin) then you have combination (or normal) skin. About 70 percent of women have combination skin.

Here are the five different skin types and their characteristics.

Type 1: Oily Oily skin tends to shiny with enlarged pores, and is prone to blackheads and blemishes. You might experience some tightness.
Type 2: Combination/normal This skin type has medium pores, a smooth and even texture, good circulation, healthy color, may tend toward dryness on the cheeks while being oily in the t-zone.
Type 3: Sensitive Sensitive skin tends to be thin, delicate with fine pores. It flushes easily, is prone to broken capillaries, is frequently allergic and can be rashy.
Type 4: Dry Dry skin feels tight, especially after cleansing. You have a tendency towards fine wrinkles, flaking and red patches. In women of color, skin may appear ashy or dull from dead skin buildup.
Type 5: Aging or sun-damaged This skin also feels tight with visible wrinkles, slack skin tone -- especially around the cheeks and jawline -- with leathery texture and broken capillaries.

Source:

http://beauty.about.com/od/skinflaws/a/skintypes.htm

HOW TO DO THE BASIC AT-HOME FACIAL

noreply@blogger.com (Career Online) — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 11:27:00 +0000

There’s nothing better than getting a professional facial, but they can be expensive. To maintain your healthy skin between professional treatments or to do them yourself, try this basic at-home facial once a week. This basic facial works on oily, dry and combination skin.

And don’t worry, I’m not going to make you whip up a batch of egg-whites and oatmeal, but you will save money if you do your own mask. I list a bunch of organic, natural Homemade Face Mask Recipes for every skin type. But if you don't want to whip up your own, you can buy a great mask at health food stores or even your local drugstore.

Difficulty: Easy

Time Required: 25-30 minutes

Here's How:

Cleanse the skin

You’ll want to wash the face, neck and ears with a good facial cleanser to remove any grime or dirt. I recommend some great options in my list of the best cleansers.

Don't forget to remove makeup with a makeup remover. My hands-down favorite is Clinique, but Neutrogena's eye makeup remover is a great drugstore option.

Exfoliate

Using your fingers, rub a gentle exfoliating facial scrub in a circular motion on your face. Concentrate on the areas around your nose and forehead or if you have combo skin, work harder on the areas that tend to be "greasy." Rinse your face well since exfoliating scrubs tend to be drying.

See my list of the best scrubs or make your own using white sugar mixed in with extra virgin coconut oil.

Steam

There are several ways to steam your face. You can fill your sink with warm water, dip a washcloth in and press to your face repeating 2-3 times or you can take it further by boiling water over the stove, then turning off the stove and putting your head over the water with a towel over your head, letting the steam seep into pores for a good 5 minutes. My favorite steam trick is to actually use my clothing steamer. I turn it on, put a towel over my head and put my face a good foot above the steamer. Works like a charm. But be careful: Do not burn yourself.

The mask

For oily skin, use a clay-based face mask. For dry skin, go for a hydrating gel or cream mask.
Apply the mask, avoiding the areas around the eyes. Keep it on for 10-20 minutes (or, according to the directions on the product). Rinse completely. You can even make your own face mask.

Get recipes for every skin type in 23 Homemade Face Mask Recipes.

Moisturize

Smooth on a soothing, basic moisturizer over your face and neck. See my list of the best facial moisturizers.

Tip: Stay away from strong moisturizers containing retinols or acids. These will over-exfoliate your skin.

What You Need

Gentle cleanser
Exfoliating scrub
Warm water & a washcloth
Clay-based or cream facial mask (based on skin type)
Basic moisturizer

4 BASIC SKIN CARE NEEDS

noreply@blogger.com (Career Online) — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 11:13:00 +0000

"I'm tired of all this nonsense about beauty being only skin-deep. What do you want? An adorable pancreas?" -- Jean Kerr, American author and playwright

There's tried-and-true ways to properly care for your skin, from the right way to cleanse your face, to the best moisturizers and sunscreens.

Before we start with the proper daily 4-step skincare routine, you'll need to know your skin type. How you care for your skin is utterly dependent on the type of skin you have: oily, normal/combination, dry, sensitive or sun- damaged.

The Basic 4-Step Skincare Regimen

Step 1: Cleansing

Simple is key here. You need to find a good cleanser that your skin responds well to, and stick with it.

You can find a good cleanser at the drugstore. There's no need to spend $40 on a fancy wash. Avoid bar soaps as they tend to dry out the skin. According to Rona Berg, in her book, "Beauty," a French cosmetics executive once told her, "Soap should only ever touch your skin from the neck down." We agree. Choose a creamy cleanser if you have dry skin or a clear cleanser if you have oily skin.

Be careful not to cleanse too often. Washing at night should do you. If you have dry skin, consider cold cream like Pond's, which the French use. Simply apply cream, then wipe off, no water needed (if you have hard water it can be especially harsh on skin). Most women prefer the water method: Use warm water to loosen dirt and clogged pores. Use a dime-sized bit of cleanser, then rinse with cool or lukewarm water. You'll also want to take off your makeup with a proper makeup remover.

In the morning, a splash of lukewarm water is all you need (we find it's great for removing excess oils from your nightly moisturizing). Never wash your face with hot or cold water (both can cause broken capillaries). Also be careful about overcleansing skin, see signs you are overcleansing your skin.

Step 2: Exfoliate

Exfoliation is the step most people skip in their weekly skincare routine. But trust me, if you start properly exfoliating your skin, you will notice an almost immediate difference. According to Berg, one of the reasons men's skin looks more youthful than women's is because men tend to exfoliate daily when they shave. There are several ways to exfoliate skin: Microdermabrasion, chemical peels and retinoids.

Scrubs work by removing the top layer of dead skin cells that tend to dull your complexion. We find exfoliating skin once a week with a microdermabrasion kit keeps skin glowing year-round. Make sure you use a gentle scrub with tiny grains. Big grains in cheap scrubs can tear skin and cause more harm than good. My favorite microdermabrasion kit is made by Lancome.

In the hour it takes to get a chemical peel, you can take off five years from your face. Can't afford the price tag for a monthly peel? Try some over-the-counter peels that work over the course of a month. I prefer MD Skincare's.

Retinoids (such as Retin-A or the more moisturizing Renova) also work by removing the top layer of dead skin cells while also generating collagen in the skin. "Collagen is the skin's structural fiber," dermatologist Dennis Gross said in O Magazine. "As we get older, it breaks down, creating lines and large pores." Skincare experts disagree on all sorts of things, but most of them consider retinoids to be a miracle skin saver. I'm addicted to Retin-A, which I pick up in Mexico on my yearly jaunts.

Should you use a toner? Some people swear by toners, but many beauty experts do not (I once read a skincare expert claim, "toners are only for copy machines"). Toners are meant to remove all remaining traces of oil, makeup and dirt, but a good cleanser should do this. I firmly believe it's up to you. If you like the way your skin feels with a toner. Buy it. Use it. Enjoy it.

Step 3: Moisturize

While I know of at least one famous beauty editor who swore skin doesn't need moisturizer, basically everyone else I've read disagrees and is an adamant believer in it. A basic law of beauty is that everyone, no matter her skin type, should moisturize. Even if your skin is oily, it will benefit from moisturizers. (The only exception is those with acne). Why? Moisturizers seal moisture into skin (Berg calls this the "Saran Wrap effect"). So how much should you moisturize? Your skin will tell you. When your skin is tight, it's crying out for moisture. Be careful not to overmoisturize -- this can clog pores.

Are eye creams necessary? Well maybe. Some beauty experts strongly recommend eye creams. Why? The skin around the eye contains no fatty tissue and is therefore very thin and susceptible to wrinkles. Special eye creams are formulated to "thicken" this area. Yet other experts (including the beauty editors of Allure in their new book) claim your daily lotion works around the eyes just as well.

Step 4: Apply Sunscreen

O Magazine ran an article featuring interviews with several top skin care experts and dermatologists. Every single one of them said sunscreen was the most important part of your skincare regimen. It was the secret they would pass on to their daughters.

The number-1 cause of wrinkles is sun damage, so it's important to use sunscreen from your early years on even in winter and on cloudy days. A great trick is to purchase two moisturizers: One for night and one for day that includes UV protection. Don't use moisturizers with sunscreen at night, the ingredients are not meant to be used 27/7 and can aggravate skin. When choosing a sunscreen, make sure it contains Mexoryl (found in my favorite sunscreen La-Roche Posay) or Helioplex, found in Neutrogena products.