Author: Iskra Banović

Editor’s Note: Origins has discontinued the Mint Wash Cooling Gel Facial Cleanser. Upon its release, users with oily skin raved about the cleanser’s effectiveness, but those with normal to combination skin found it very drying and even painful. When consumers speak, companies listen. The feedback from this particular product wasn’t positive enough, so Origins discontinued it. However, they rebounded with the Zero Oil line, which is formulated for oily, acne-prone skin, but it doesn’t cause nearly as much irritation on normal to combination skin. Origins Mint Wash Cooling Gel Facial Cleanser Review: Unless you have oily skin, and I do…

Some people in their 20s are seasoned pros at taking care of their skin, yet many are new to the idea of a complete facial skincare regime. Let me fill you in on the basics of skincare so you can evaluate what you’re doing now, and what you could be doing better. Good skincare is key to healthy skin, but don’t think it’s going to be overwhelming. You need to use the right products for your skin type and you’ll see the benefits right away. What is Your Skin Type? You’ll first need to see what skin type you fall…

The Piercing Bible Interview with Master Piercer Elayne Angel Author of The Piercing Bible and Master Piercer Elayne Angel is just the person you’d be lucky to meet if you were interested in getting pierced. After all, she’s pierced over 40,000 people in her career and her passion could put anyone at ease. Perhaps it is the tattooed angel wings upon her back (which are registered with the United States Patent and Trademark Office) or her love and respect for the industry that puts her in a league of her own. She’s passionate, educated, and she’s got your back. Elayne…

It’s hard to pinpoint exactly when or how tattoos and body piercings started to enjoy their current popularity. Although they’ve always appealed to the rebel crowd, they became more mainstream as more celebrities started wearing them. Popular stars, not just the obscure, were not only getting tattoos and piercings but were displaying them proudly. Suddenly, the status of body art had dramatically improved and its stigma was fading fast. By the year 2001, the demand for body art had morphed into a virtual frenzy. To this day, it still remains one of the most-searched items on the Internet, and polls…

Body Mods In the Workplace – Corporate BS Meets Ignorance and Prejudice A couple of weeks ago, while checking out at the supermarket, I noticed that the guy who was bagging my groceries was wearing a band-aid on his ear. My first thought was that he had some kind of hideous scab he was trying to cover up until I noticed the captive bead ring underneath it. The band-aid was being used as a “cover-up” of sorts, because apparently employees of the store are not allowed to wear body jewelry while working.I really felt bad for the guy – I’m…

There are several risks of getting a tattoo. Specifically ill-thought out designs, poor placement and even improper aftercare send many people to the pool of regret, rather than the possible enjoyment of body art. Medical Risks Tattoos are permanent and in that way they should always be considered risky. Simply look at the procedure from the medical standpoint and the mere fact that the skin is punctured in order to achieve a tattoo. No matter how talented the tattoo artist, if you don’t follow their proper aftercare instructions you could end up with a ragged, discolored, faded and poorly healed…

If you’re reading this in regard to your child’s new tattoo it’s likely a day late. Odds are you may not even have known your child was getting a tattoo. Despite most state age restrictions and tattoo laws, there are many kids getting tattooed without proper parental consent. Even if your child is of age, that first tattoo can still be a shock. This is how you can deal with your kids’s tattoo. Deal with Emotion First off, it’s OK to cry. You don’t have to do it front of them and you shouldn’t yell, but don’t feel bad if…

Question: Tramp Stamp Do’s and Don’ts I don’t know what to do. I really want a lower back tattoo design but I’m afraid I will be called a tramp because that’s basically what tattoos in this area have been called. Do you have ideas or suggestions for this placement? Should I avoid it to prevent regret? Signed, I’m Not a Tramp Answer: Dear I’m Not a Tramp, I know exactly what you mean. It’s very difficult to answer this question because it really doesn’t matter what I think. If you want a lower back tattoo and are convinced this placement…

Sailor Jerry at Sea: Step right up and I’ll tell you a tale about Sailor Jerry; and his legendary tattoos. Sailor Jerry was in fact, actually a sailor. His style of tattoos are known as old school tattoos but they are really not that old. Sailor Jerry, born Norman Keith Collins in January of 1911, was a sailor and a rugged tattoo artist who spent many wild and partying nights at sea. Booze, stories, and legends made their way onto matey’s arms and legs in tribute to their time spent aboard the merry ship. Norman Keith Collins learned the art…

Steampunk tattoo designs are gaining in popularity as the alternative lifestyle culture continues full steam ahead. Capture the aesthetic of this growing genre in a historical, fantastical or sci-fi inspired design. Gaining inspiration from famous literature greats such as Mary Shelley and Jules Verne, steampunk is an alternative fashion and lifestyle style that combines Victorian, British, Wild West and futuristic influences. From Victorian-inspired jewelry tattoos with mechanical faces to birds with no feathers, but steam-powered wings instead, these ideas are sure to put you on the right punk path. So gather up all your treasures and find a way to…

Military tattoos can serve many different purposes. Whether for memorial and remembrance or for support and a ring of freedom, showing your patriotic pride can be a significant way of coping with the loss of a fallen hero or honoring a lifelong Brotherhood. The United States Armed Forces consists of the Army, Marines, Coast Guard, Navy and Air Force. Second only in size to the People’s Liberation Army of China, the forces encompass a population of over 1,458,697 active military personnel. While the lure of ink can be a rite of passage for anyone enlisting, new regulations greatly restrict the…

For as long as men have been rolling up their sleeves, pin-up girl tattoos have made their way from the big screen and onto their forearms. From sexy starlet Betty Grable to modern interpretations of vintage beauties, pin-up girl tattoos are a traditional form of old school art that can be traced back all the way back to World War II when overseas soldiers opted for these sexy women after lusting over their feminine whiles on calendars and posters that they’d “pin-up” on their walls and inside of tents. Early pin-up girls were glamorous and seductive without revealing too much…