Ghoulish Good News for Ghosts Everywhere

A recent study by the AAHGG (The American Association for the Health of Ghosts and Ghouls) uncovered some clinical evidence explaining why phantoms, poltergeists, and other Halloween apparitions avoid the daylight.

"It's because of something called melanin," says, Dr. E. Vile, biochemist at AAHGG. "It is a special kind of pigment produced during the oxidation of the amino acid tyrosine."

How does this relate to our ghostly friends? When exposed to UV radiation, melanin darkens (i.e. causes you to "tan"). Because it also absorbs sunlight, it is believed to protect underlying skin cells.

The implications for the phantom species? Because they don't have melanin, they lack this protective barrier.

Then again, they also lack skin that would necessitate protection...

Stay tuned for forthcoming AAHGG updates. In the mean time, make sure to SCREEN up--unless, of course, you count yourself among the Undead.

Halloween Skincare 101

Halloween is easily my favorite holiday, but between costume-planning, party preparations, and caramel apple-dunking, it's easy to forget about a skincare regimen. To prevent post-Halloween breakouts, follow our tips.

If possible, avoid pore-clogging make-up. (Masquerade mask, anyone?) If your zombie ensemble absolutely requires some cosmetic necrosis--fake blood, rotting tissue--be sure to wash it off as soon as you return from your Halloween festivities. Don't know what to use? CLEAN is a fantastic makeup remover that won't burn your eyes.

Even if you're too old to trick-or-treat, candy is everywhere in October. There is nothing wrong with the occasional piece of chocolate or lollipop, but beware of candy overdose. High sugar consumption has be known to worsen acne. If you do over-indulge, make sure to get your diet back on track before Thanksgiving rolls around!

So You Think You Can Trust that Label?

Marketing can be problematic. Sometimes it makes promises that we can quickly dismiss as hocus pocus: "Lose ten pounds in one week consuming only chocolate and diet coke." Other times, however, marketing claims seem thoroughly plausible.

Many skincare products, for instance, claim that ingredients "won't clog pores." (This same claim sometimes manifests as "non-comedogenic.") While we'd like to believe that everything that makes it onto a label is accurate, this is not always the case. Sometimes you need to flip the bottle over and peruse the ingredient list to determine if the claims are fact or fiction. Acquaint yourself with some of the pore-clogging ingredients below to inform your next shopping venture.

For a list of more skincare and make-up ingredients that clog your pores visit Comedogenic Ingredients -GR8SKN