Latest news with #confidenceboost
Yahoo
02-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
I'm 45 and noticing old acne scars. Are chemical peels worth it?
I'm 45 and recently saw a photo of my face from the side — gasp! I was most surprised by some old acne scars that I can't see when I look in the mirror straight-on. What is the current advice on chemical peels or something similar? Is it worth scraping off a layer of barnacles at my age? I would be interested in trying it once or twice if it will give me a brief confidence boost, but I don't want to commit to anything regular or too pricey. — Dear Acne Scarred, Ugh. I'm sorry you're dealing with this. I hate it when a younger-me skin issue reappears to haunt my adulthood and make me feel self-conscious all over again — the current problems are enough! I don't need the old stuff too! That said, the best advice I can give you will not unfortunately be immediately gratifying. The reason for this is that the solution you're looking for is not one-size-fits-all: There are actually several different types of acne scars, and each requires a slightly different treatment strategy to achieve the best results. You'll have to visit a dermatologist to find the right plan for you. Once there, you'll most likely be advised to try one of the following nonsurgical, mostly noninvasive in-office treatments, all of which work in some way to resurface your skin and stimulate new collagen production, helping to smooth your complexion and fill in areas damaged by scarring. One big consideration here is your skin tone. Some of these approaches work better for darker skin, some are better for lighter tones. Again, this is a highly personalized treatment plan. Be sure to ask your skin care provider about any risks for your face, especially discoloration. Microneedling: Microneedling is the least invasive requires the least downtime. In this treatment, a technician uses a device with tiny needles to create tiny injuries on your skin's surface, injuries that send your cells into overdrive to produce new collagen and elastin. Several sessions are usually needed and cost between $200 to $700 each time. Chemical peels: This is where a concentrated chemical solution like glycolic acid is applied to skin to remove the top layer of dead cells and reduce the appearance of scarring as it goes. These treatments vary in depth and intensity and cost somewhere in the range of $300 to $3,000 per appointment, depending on a number of factors but mainly potency of the peel. Laser resurfacing: The most expensive (and for many people, the most effective) of the three, laser treatments ring in around $1,000 to $3,000 per session. There are multiple types, including ablative lasers, which remove the top layers of the skin and are best for deeper scars; and non-ablative, which work well for minor scarring and tend to be less damaging to your skin's surface. The best laser treatment for you will depend on a number of factors, including your skin type and tone — and your budget. Your dermatologist may also recommend things like dermal fillers, which can plump the skin around your scarring and create a smoother appearance, or even Botox, if the skin looks puckered. In terms of at-home treatments, depending on the severity of your scars, you could try chemical exfoliants at home for a few months — including those with ingredients like azelaic acid — to see if the condition improves. And, of course, sunscreen is always a must, but it's even more important if you have acne scars because the sun can bring more pigment to already damaged skin and make the scarring appear worse over time. I hope this helps.
The Sun
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
I'm a mum but people always think I'm my teen daughter's sister – it's such a boost, we share the same friends too
A MUM has revealed people regularly mistake her and her lookalike teenage daughter as sisters - and even stare in supermarkets. Lisa Johnston said people are often "gobsmacked" when they learn she's 36 and mum to her 18-year-old "built-in best friend" Alicia Johnston. 3 3 The semi-permanent make-up artist was just 17 when she had Alicia and says people regularly stare in the supermarket when they hear her beautician daughter call her 'Mum'. The lookalike pair, often mistaken as sisters on the school run, share clothes, make-up, shoes and even friends with one another. The mum-of-two artist regularly posts TikTok videos with Alicia leaving baffled users scratching their heads as to whether they really are mum and daughter or not - something Lisa sees as a "confidence boost". Lisa, from Glasgow, Scotland, said: "Everybody's a bit gobsmacked. "We've been out a couple of times together at pubs and things like that and everybody can't believe it either. They're like, 'What? Are you friends or sisters?'. "Someone once asked to see my ID because they couldn't believe it in one of the pubs we were at in town. "We could be out doing a food shop or something and maybe Alicia will turn around and say, 'Mum, can I get this?' "And you see people turn around and look as if to say, 'Mum?' They're really confused. "People thought when I was picking Alicia up from school that it was her older sister. I'm a 65-year-old gran but look so young people think I'm my daughter's twin - they're stunned when they hear the truth "People were like, 'You're picking your daughter up? What?' I did used to just laugh it off. "People say I look really young, it's quite nice actually, it's a confidence boost. "It's nice to know that I've actually produced a mini me. A few people have said we're like 'copy and paste'. "The more Alicia is getting older I can now see the big resemblance especially when we're doing the videos and things together. It is kind of like who's who?" Age-defying Lisa credits a healthy lifestyle and avoiding unnecessary stress for her youthful looks. She said: "Fitness and healthy eating is a big part of my lifestyle. I go to the gym five times a week. "I just try not to get too stressed out. I take life as fun, we're all just living life. "I don't get myself too riled up on anything, I think that's a big part as well. "It really is like having a built-in best friend." Youthful Lisa is also great pals with all of Alicia's pals - with daughter Alicia saying she's "part of the friendship group". Alicia said: "My friends love coming over because my mum is like a friend. They'll just chat away to her. "There will be times where I'm minding my own business and I'll get a phone call and they're like, 'I'm out with your mum right now.' "She's part of the friendship group. "I'm never really bothered when people mistake us for sisters, I think it's funny. "I would say this only started when I was about 15. I was just starting TikTok and me and mum were making TikTok videos together sometimes. "As I got older and I looked more like my mum, people were like, 'oh my God, you actually look so similar'. "We've basically got the same make-up routine and everything. So it's actually good sharing make-up shoes, hair products, everything." The pair share the same love of looking glam and Lisa has even taken an eyelash course so she can do her daughter's lashes on a budget. Lisa said: "I ended up showing Alicia how to do them [lashes] as well so that was something that we do together. "It was something I could pass down to her. "I was like, 'as they get older, the girls will want things done and their mum can do it instead of spending hundreds of pounds'." Social media users have been quick to share their confusion with some even questioning if they are really mother and daughter. One user said: "That is not your mummy she looks in her 20s."
Fast Company
31-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Fast Company
Feeling down? TikTok says: Make a fan edit of yourself
Feeling bad about your appearance? Try making a fan edit of yourself. That's the latest advice circulating on TikTok, where users are cutting and stitching together dramatic clips of themselves to the tune of Rasheeda's 2006 track Got That Good. And it seems to work. One viral video, with 10 million views, has people hyping up the creator in the comments. 'WHO IS THAT DIVA?' one wrote. 'Chill out my bf is on this app,' another added. In another video, with 5.6 million views, the creator wrote, 'Feel ugly? Make an edit with yourself to boost your confidence.' Again, the internet responded with compliments, and many saying they are going to try the trend for themselves. 'This was my favorite activity as a high schooler,' one commented. 'Made one yesterday and can't stop looking at it,' another wrote. 'Hold on wait I'm gonna try this but I'm afraid it would raise my ego through the roof.' The trend is meant to boost creators' confidence by giving themselves a fan edit normally reserved for the likes of Harry Styles, Timothée Chalamet, and other beloved celebrities. Fan edits have long been a cornerstone of fandom and online culture. They are also an art form, with dramatic music, flashy transitions, and glowing filters that show the subjects at their most attractive and iconic. But why should celebrities be the only ones who get the fan-cam treatment? It's no secret that social media is a highlight reel. Yet even when we know Instagram is not real life, the constant exposure to filtered photos and curated feeds can take a toll on our self-image. Research backs this up. One 2021 study found that frequent Instagram use is linked to higher rates of body dissatisfaction, a stronger desire to be thin, and lower self-esteem among girls ages 14 to 24.
