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Bryce Romig

Columnist provides winter skin care advice

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By Bryce Romig

Dry air and frigid temperatures: The perfect recipe for sore, cracked skin. The winter season is notorious when it comes to skin problems. From bright red hands to chapped lips, the cold air affects everyone’s skin.

Here are some skincare steps you can take to help combat the cold the rest of the winter season:

Tip #1: Hydrate

There’s nothing complicated behind staying hydrated.  When the body is dehydrated, skin loses vital moisture that is essential to keeping your skin healthy. Although it may sound gross, drink enough water so that your urine is a yellowish to clear color. This means that you are well hydrated and are drinking enough. If you find it difficult drinking water, try making some green or peppermint tea. These teas are known to help keep your skin looking its best thanks to the natural antioxidants they posses. Although you may not notice immediate results, in about a week you’ll be glad you chugged tons of water.

Fact: Not only does water help combat dry skin and chapped lips, it also helps aid in ridding acne and keeping your skin clear. Drink up!

Tip #2: Lock in Moisture

When you take a step outside and a blast of cold air attacks your skin, it depletes the natural moisture your skin has produced. Sometimes your skin needs a little help, and it is important that you notice when it does. To create a guard against the cold, try an extra moisturizing lotion. This will help create a barrier between your skin and the air, locking moisture into your skin.  Avoid using lotions with fragrances when trying to fix dry skin, as these are known to aggravate already dry skin. Before going to bed, try filling a glove with your favorite lotion and leaving it on until you wake up. You will be amazed at how much softer your hands will feel, and will smile when you notice the redness has disappeared.

“I found a recipe on pinterest for grapefruit lotion. It contained sea salt, sugar, olive oil, and grapefruit. It worked really well,” said junior Emily Shumate.

Fact: Your skin has a natural barrier consisting of cells and protein fibers. Lotion can help repair and strengthen this barrier, resulting in stronger skin.

Tip #3 Save those lips

It’s no surprise that no one likes kissing dry, chapped lips. When the temperatures drop, our lips sometimes need an extra boost of moisture to keep them looking and feeling their best. When in the shower, try using a lip exfoliation scrub to help rid of the dead skin cells sitting on your lips. This creates a smooth and even base for your favorite chap stick, allowing it to retain moisturize better and keep your lips looking their best.  Apply chap stick no more than twice a day, because your lips may become worse if overused.

Fact: If you want to avoid spending money on a lip scrub, try using a toothbrush to lightly scrub your lips while brushing your teeth. This is a quick home remedy to help rid of dead skin cells that pile up on your lips.

Tip #4: Avoid the extremely hot showers

Hot showers are relaxing and can make you feel as though you are at a spa; however they aren’t so great for your skin. Although it may seem counterproductive taking cold showers, the heat in the water can actually break down the lipid barriers in your skin, causing your skin to dry and peel. Instead of taking extremely hot showers, try gradually lowering the temperature each time you take a shower. This does not mean you have to take cold showers, although it is recommended by many dermatologists due to cold water’s ability to close your pores and soothe redness. Try making the water’s temperature as close to room temperature as possible, neither extremely hot nor extremely cold. Your skin will thank you.

Fact: Cold showers help aid in reducing the appearance of acne scars and can even prevent future breakouts. When washing your face, try splashing your face with chilly water after you have wiped off the cleanser. This closes your pores, and reduces bags under your eyes.

Tip #5: Exfoliate, Exfoliate, Exfoliate!

Full body exfoliation is important all times of the year, especially in winter. When you exfoliate, you are gently removing any build up of dead skin cells. Although most dead skin cells fall off thanks to your skins natural shedding cycle, some stick to the skin and build up over time. These clumps of dead skin cells dry skin out even further, and give your skin a scaly appearance. Use a loofah or exfoliating body wash to gently rub all over your body one to two times a week. Avoid over exfoliation by picking one day of the week to exfoliate your full body and stick to it. Over exfoliating can cause your skin to become weak, red, and unbelievably sore.

“I also created a grapefruit sugar scrub. It worked so well and made my skin really soft afterwards,” said Shumate.

Fact: When you exfoliate, you are removing parts of the skins outer layer. Put on your favorite lotion as soon as you are done exfoliating to obtain gleaming, soft skin.

Following these tips can help get you on the path to great looking skin in the winter months. Although it may seem like a lot of work at first, you will be glad when your skin is healthier than it has ever been before.

Bryce Romig, Features

Prom goers share hair, makeup tips prior to this weekends festivities

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By Bryce Romig

Prom: The time when teenager girls fret over their hair, makeup, and apparel. Girls everywhere will be spending time arranging hair appointments, selecting dresses, and picking the perfect hairstyle to finish off their look. While hair sounds like an easy task to care of, many would be surprised how much time and effort is put in to make their hair look as though they just walked off a vogue photo shoot.

The big question each year is should I sport an updo or leave my hair down? While taking pictures before prom is the most essential time for hair and makeup to look nice, during prom leaving hair down could become a major disaster.

“I curl, and pin my hair into an updo. Last years prom, I left my hair down. After dancing, my hair was a total mess,” said senior Margo Becht.
If you absolutely must leave your hair down to compliment your dress, try buying a light hair spray such as Dove Extra Care & Shine. Hairspray will help set the hair and prolong the life of the waves and curls. Avoid any cheap hairsprays that cause flaking. These don’t hold well and give your hair a moist look. Also, many girls tend to sport a half up half down hairstyle. These type of hairstyles work well with flowing dresses, and compliment pastel colors well.
“My favorite hairstyle is half up and half down. I attended a prom a couple of weeks ago at another school, and I didn’t realize how fast it got hot,” said junior Allison Walker.
Updos tend to be the most popular hairstyle sported at prom. These simple yet sophisticated hairstyles help top off any prom dress to make you look like you just walked off the red carpet. Try to add a braid or small curls to the updo. To avoid any hairs from falling, make sure the bobby pins are tight and secure. Use a heavier hair spray to ensure the braids and curls don’t move.  Updos flatter any dress, but look fantastic when paired with a shorter dress.
“Updos are my favorite. They are the classic prom look, and don’t frizz and fall when it starts to get hot,” said junior Kayla Ashley.
Many people worry about whether they should set up an appointment with a professional, or attempt to create the hairstyle themselves. While styling the hair yourself does allow you more creative control, it can easily become a struggle and leave you wondering why you never set up an appointment with a trained professional.
“If you feel confident in your hairstyle abilities go for it, If not, I would seek a professional,” said Becht.
A professional hairstylist knows exactly how to secure the hair yet still make it look elegant. If you decide to schedule an appointment, tell the hairstylist exactly how you want your hair done. It may help to research online and find a couple examples of hair that you would like to wear.  If you are unsatisfied with the finished style, tell the hairstylist your problems with the hair. Many salons will give refunds and a free restyling if a customer is unhappy with the final look.
Makeup tends to be another big issue when deciding what to wear for prom. Girls fret over whether they should attempt the natural look, or stick with the classical prom colors.  Classical prom colors should consist of an eyeshadow with a color the same as your dress, and a light lipstick color that doesn’t stand out. When deciding which eyeshadow color fits your dress best, make sure to apply it sparingly. Its very easy to overdo eyeshadow, and a little goes a long way.
“I prefer the classical prom look. It’s prom, you should look fun,” said Ashley.
If you want to go the more natural route, try using a light foundation and a darker or flesh colored eye shadow. Apply makeup sparingly and avoid the caked makeup look. Natural makeup should match your skin tone, so avoid tan colors if you are on the paler side. Avoid heavy and darker eyeliners.
“My favorite makeup is usually going natural but I like the smokey eye look when I’m attending prom or going out,” said Walker.
If you want to be tan for prom, avoid tanning beds and try using a sunless tanning lotion. While many believe these will look orange, investing in a good self tanner is a major part of the problem.  When picking out a self tanner for prom, remember that what you pay for is what you get.  Try the St. Tropez one night tanning lotion for a dark yet temporary look.
Christian DiMartino, Features, Peter Hyle

Student Spotlight: Musical Talent inside FC

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By Peter Hyle and Christian DiMartino

For a new personality profile, reporters went behind the scenes and asked Floyd Central’s music teachers who some of the best and brightest they taught were. Click below to hear about sophomore Madeline Coffey and senior Christian Thomas.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_csMYIlrmE]

Blake Dykes, Features

Students find creative ways to ask dates to prom

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By Blake Dykes

Prom is an exciting time for many upperclassmen, but the dance itself is not the only good part. Beyond the planning, preparing for the big day, and making after-prom plans, getting asked to prom makes it pretty high up on the list.

Being asked to prom whether it be by a boyfriend or just friend calls for creativity.

Senior Will Mayberry spent lots of time planning how to ask out his Lanseville girlfriend senior Chelsea Roy. 

“I took her to LaBocca on Valentine’s Day, and I had went to the restaurant the day before and remade one of their menus. The menu said ‘LaBocca Authentic Italian Cuisine,’ on the front, and then on the inside it said, ‘Speciality for tonight… Will you go to prom with me?’I had a check box for ‘yes’ and another for ‘yes’.”

Mayberry said that her reaction was completely surprised and extremely happy because he had thought it out.

However, Mayberry was not the only one who spent some time thinking about how to ask out his date.

Junior Courtney Crombie’s boyfriend, senior Alex Byer, completely surprised her.

“He told me we were going on a surprise date, so he took me to eat at Bravo in Louisville, and then we went to see Safe Haven. After that he made me close my eyes until we got to this empty lot in Plum Hill. He walked me out there and told me to open my eyes. In big letters he had cut out PROM? and stuck them in the ground. He had glued pictures of us on the letters.”

While some people asked their dates to prom outside of school, others decided to pop the question during school hours.

Senior Gavin Horner asked his date, senior Samantha Goode, on their way to study hall Feb 14. Horner brought Goode into the MPR room and had a dozen roses laid out and a Powerpoint. The Powerpoint contained a slide with pictures of them and him asking her to go to prom.

“She is kind of shy, so I didn’t want to embarrass her by asking in front of a lot of people.”

Although most people spend lots of times thinking about unique ways to ask their dates to prom, senior Ted Hartog came up with something only 20 minutes prior to asking.

“I didn’t think I was going to prom at all 20 minutes before I asked her [senior Sarah Taylor]. Then my friend said she needed a date and that I should ask Sarah. Then within 10 minutes I had a plan. Mr. Street let me use a plain white T shirt from the store and I wrote ‘prom?’ with a marker on it. Then I grabbed a jacket and walked into the office to ask her since she’s an office worker. The girl’s distracted her and I walked up and ripped open my jacket.”

Whether someone takes weeks of planning or just a couple of minutes, there are many creative ways of asking.