Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with facial

Are laser treatments a good way to get rid of facial hair?

shelayna — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 03:08:29 -0800

I'm looking for information regarding laser treatments to remove facial hair. I'd like to do something about the hair on my face (I'm female). Until now I've been using depilatory creams, but I'd like a permanent solution. Are laser treatments the way to go? I understand that it's easier than electrolysis, and that I'm an ideal candidate for laser treatments since I'm very fair-skinned with dark hair.

How many treatments are generally needed?

Do I need to let my facial hair grow (i.e. not remove it) to a certain length before starting? (I'd feel very awkward going out and about like that)

Are there any after-effects like pain, burning or redness?

Any personal anecdotes for or against would be much appreciated.

Daytime moisturizer

page123 — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 17:23:45 -0800

The best under-makeup daytime moisturizer with all the ingredients for a normal skin

What is that facial stuff from American Psycho

Citizen Premier — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 15:45:04 -0800

I want to try that stuff you rub on your face and then peel off like a mask. What is it called, what does it do, and is there a cheap brand? I have flaky skin, so it would be cool if it cured that. But honestly I think it would just feel really good.

How realistic do fake beards look?

emperor.seamus — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 21:43:56 -0800

Is it worth buying a fake beard? I'm biologically Female, and largely identify as such. However for as long as I can remember I've felt like there's a masculine, or male identity which I also identify with. I'm not transgendered, definitely not interested in getting a sex change, but I have casually cross-dressed on and off since I was a teenager and recently have started looking into drag kinging.

I've drawn on facial hair in the past, but I'm quite feminine faced, and (as I'm sure you can imagine) the results are less than convincing, and while I'm aware of other kings who trim hair and apply their own, I'm pretty clumsy with my hands and epically lazy. So I was looking into human hair artificial beards which are held on by spirit gum or tape, and while some of them look quite good and they aren't all too expensive, it's hard to find photographs of the ones I'm interested in being modeled, or testimonials of whether they're worth the money or just look silly when worn.

Does anyone have any experience with this area? Not neccesarily the drag kinging, but the fake beards.

ouchless exfoliant?

happy scrappy — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 11:53:15 -0800

I need suggestions for gentle exfoliants. I have pretty good skin (small pores, even complexion), but my face gets dry and flaky in the wintertime. I've been using St. Ives apricot scrub for sensitive skin, but I need something gentler. Lately when I use it, it stings my cheeks, and I'm already seeing early signs of rosacea so I'd prefer not to irritate it too much. But I do want to get the dead skin off.

Thanks in advance for your suggestions.

I'm not paranoid, just curious.

qvtqht — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 12:26:23 -0800

Advanced facial recognition in Reno casinos? I recently spent three days in Reno, Nevada. Since there isn't much to do, I spent at least half an hour in just about every casino. I mostly just walked around, but I played some penny slots too.

At the first casino I entered on my first day there, I was approached by someone in less than 5 minutes and asked for my ID. This didn't happen again, not once, over the next three days!

Was this just a coincidence, or are the casinos cooperatively running some kind of automated facial recognition software that flags people who haven't been IDed yet?

I usually get carded by anyone who checks IDs, and I was dressed in jeans and T-shirt.

Obesity causing skin discoloration?

dlugoczaj — Sat, 17 May 2008 19:21:56 -0800

Can extreme obesity cause facial skin discoloration? This is a bizarre little question that I'm asking out of sheer curiosity.

I work with someone who is extremely obese, at least 300 pounds if not more. He has these strange dark markings on the sides of his face near his eyes--they look like big bruises. I know they aren't actual bruises, however, since I've known him for several months and they do not go away.

Today I met a very obese woman at an event, and I noticed that she had very similar dark facial markings. I think hers were a little lower on her face than his were, but otherwise they were much the same bruiselike marks.

Is this common in obese people? If so, why does it happen?

How to best heal a facial scar?

bahama mama — Thu, 01 May 2008 06:42:23 -0800

ScarFilter: Asking for my sister. My sister fell today while running to the car and smashed her face into the pavement. Nothing broken, but she now has a wide chunk of flesh missing from the area on her nose right between her eyes. It can’t be stitched because it is not a deep cut, it is really just a chunk of missing skin, and the “dent” is very noticeable – it looks like someone scooped out a portion of her skin with a small spoon. (I apologize if that was too descriptive!) What can she do to minimize scarring while it heals? Is there anything that can be done so that skin heals in a way to make the “dent” less obvious? Should she go to a dermatologist or plastic surgeon? Has anyone had any experience with wounds like this? Anecdotes, advice, reassurance would be greatly appreciated! I've read through this and found it helpful but was wondering if there was anything more you might add?

Where to get my eyebrows back to normal?

AMP583 — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 06:09:41 -0800

My overgrown eyebrows are starting to look ugly and unsightly. On occasion, i've taken to myself to pluck some out. Recently, (many months) i've left the area unattended and now i almost have a unibrow and both brows are really bushy/thick. Where can i go in Chicago to get them worked on? I think my eyebrows are at a point of no return where some 3rd party help is required. I'm male (24y/o) and am worried wherever i go to get them 'waxed' or 'threaded' will lead them to them looking...girly or gay. I just wanted them cleaned up with possibly some styling action ONLY adhering to how they'd naturally look if they weren't so overgrown.

I need recommendations in Chicago - hell i'll even drive out of the city if i have to. The method doesnt really matter though threading sounds less intrusive.

Inexpensive all-day spa near NY or DC?

shivohum — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 05:18:49 -0800

Best inexpensive all-day spa treatment in or near either NY or DC? Needs to have facials, massage, body scrubs, etc. and a "couples" type of treatment where two can be treated side-by-side and not cost a small fortune. Thanks.

Facials in Portland, OR?

oreonax — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 16:06:31 -0800

I'm looking for a spa-type facial that is good for repeating every 4-6 weeks in Portland, OR for under 70usd... Any tips? The meat of it is above, but for any of you aestheticians/dermatologists out there who can help: I've just started (Dec 08) working at a job that requires a lower face mask for part of the day. This mask is making my skin break out in what I've heard described before as milia. The skincare regimens that I've tried in the past (all OTC stuff from the drugstore) haven't really touched them and the only folks who have fixed it for me are the ones who perform facials. Any recommendations?

What can I do to get rid of a deep but tiny scar on my cheek?

gttommy — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 11:12:50 -0800

What can I do to get rid of a deep but tiny scar on my cheek? Around 8 years ago I had what I believed to be a blackhead pimple on my left cheek. The general practitioner made a small incision to make an opening and squeezed the 'Stuff' out. For a long time now that specific area has no pimple problems. For most of my life, my face is usually almost pimple free. Problem is: I have a permanent scar and it looks like a deep pimple hole. Yeah I know, people are starving out there somewhere and I'm worrying about a tiny scar...

Anyways, that doctor has told me I can't cover it up as it will create a blockage, and something to do with 'cist' forming. Any skin experts please advise!

I have considered, 'melting' that area or removing the skin (along with the hole) creating a new bigger scar that is Flat (by medical practitioners of course).

Any advice or recommendations are welcome!

Perfect facial recall, common?

fkeese — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 11:05:59 -0800

Whenever I think of a person out of the past (I'm 67, and have an excellent recall of schoolmates and even casual acquaintances from the distant past) a mental thumbnail photograph of that person always pops into my thoughts. Accurate in every way. I find almost no names in memory without full face photographs, probably thousands of them. My question, is this a rare ability or is it common?

How to Achieve a Clean Face and a Clean Scalp?

WCityMike — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 14:10:09 -0800

I could use some shaving tips, with regards to two specific questions: (i) how to achieve a much closer facial shave; and (ii) tips, anecdotes, etc. on headshaving. First, whenever I shave my face and neck, I always seem to leave a slight stubble behind: enough so that the skin is slightly rough to the touch, and is not colored the same as "normal" skin, but not enough that we're talking outgrown hair. In the area of where a mustache would grow, there sometimes seems to be to be stubble "coloration" without any feeling of stubble. I would instead like to have an utterly clean shave -- in other words, the shaved face resembling the coloration and texture of skin where hair does not grow. How do I go about that?

Second, I have decided I really don't care for where male pattern baldness is taking my hair, and am planning to shave my head clean at some point in the next month. I am wondering if anyone has any advice on this, or any anecdotes. Did you make the same decision? Did you regret it, or did you enjoy it? Good change in your life, or bad? If you decided to "go back," how long did it take you to regrow? How did people react? Minor or major changes in your daily routine? Etc., etc., etc. ... just looking for a primer on the experience, basically.

I'm using a Gillette Mach 3 sport razor and Barbasol aloe shaving cream.

What's in your skin care arsenal fellas ?

hboogz — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 13:30:08 -0800

Which are the better facial cleansers for men who have oily skin ? Further to that, which natural ingredients help contain oiliness and maintain a healthy face. I know some may have your home brewed elixirs -- care to share ?

Stop looking so mad all the time!

MayNicholas — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 17:35:29 -0800

I have noticed that over the past few years I have been carrying a lot of facial tension. It causes me to look like I'm either scowling or frowning. Please help me relax my face. I can't afford the botox route so natural, mental, or other free(ish) remedies only please. Thanks!

I have the face of a teenager

Anonymous — Thu, 12 Jul 2007 07:34:45 -0800

Can I have trimmed facial hair for work? I look so young without it and I feel really self conscious when I am clean shaven.... I am in my mid/late 20's and still haven't managed to gain that 'weathered' look that most men seem to have. I tend to combat this with a little bit of facial hair. I couldn't grow a proper beard (probably) but I do have reasonable amount of facial hair in the key areas.
Every once in a while though a business meeting comes up where I've felt like I should be clean shaven. The only trouble is I feel really, really self conscious when I have a clean face. I look pretty young (probably about 19/20) without 'stubble' and I'm very aware that's the sort of age I must appear to whoever I am meeting. I have a junior management position in London and I work with people probably generally 30-40. I'm so self-conscious without it and I can't seem to get around it, knowing that people must be judging my competency on how young I look. It affects the way I feel, speak and conduct myself.
Is some trimmed growth acceptable at work? Can I get away with it or should I just forever more sit, knowing I'm being judged at various meetings and black tie functions?

Facial gone bad...

irishkitten — Sat, 10 Feb 2007 22:30:49 -0800

So I got my first facial on Friday, and it didn't quite have the result I had hoped for. Help! The facial consisted of a number of steps, including a mask that really burned while it was on. I was told this was normal. Extraction wasn't much better, and I was left with blotches and swelling at the end of it. The esthetician told me the swelling/redness would subside by Saturday... and to my dismay, I woke up this morning to find that I had the beginning of some cystic acne, as well as some severe facial burning. So far anything I have tried to use on my face to ease the discomfort has only irritated my skin. Can anyone offer some sort of home remedy to ease the burning sensation?

how do i tell female relative about faical hair problem?

wigmore — Mon, 21 Aug 2006 18:55:51 -0800

A close family female member in her mid 50s has let herself go - I know this isn't 1950s but she has long facial hairs on her chin and her eyebrows are out of control. She does care about her appearance cause she still dresses reasonably well.. do I or do I not tell her about the hair problem? and if so how on earth do I say it without making her feel awful? I feel like a sh*t for asking this but I can't bear to see a smart, lovely woman acting like she is 80 when she isn't.

What relieves facial redness due to accumulated sun damage?

Sallysings — Thu, 16 Feb 2006 12:23:14 -0800

What relieves facial redness due to accumulated sun damage? My bf is in his late 30's. He spent a lot of time outdoors in his youth, and recently (in the past couple of years) his face started flushing. It's a permanent redness that just wouldn't go away.

I've nagged him into wearing sunscreen in the morning (sometimes) and if he's going to spend all day outdoors, but I told him that redness due to broken capillaries in his skin is irreversible; it's like drinking for most of your life and getting that ruddy face from it. BUT barring a fotofacial (which I'm not sure if it works, and it is quite expensive) are there topical creams that can reduce the redness over time?

We also live in TO, so aside from sun, we're also raging against dry, cold winter.

Do facials work?

xo — Mon, 09 May 2005 10:55:07 -0800

Do facials work? I want to look like Isabella Rossellini. I want to be rid of minor blemishes that crop up often enough that I seem to always have some little thing to cover. But I'm wary of using unnecessary 'services'. Can a facial do something for me that I can't do for myself at home? How often would I need to go? Will it cost a million dollars? (Any NYC/southern CT recommendations?)

Shaving and Skin Advice

malpractice — Thu, 11 Dec 2003 14:59:20 -0800

What are some good shaving tips for men? And is there some technique or miracle product for getting rid of blackheads?