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Is Your Daily Skin Care Routine Doing You Any Justice?

December 31st, 2009 "Store" "LowPrices" "Cheap" "Cheap price"

The importance of keeping skin healthy can not be stressed enough. The first thing that people notice about a person is their face so keeping it looking fresh, young and attractive is important. Keeping a skin care routine will keep your skin looking fresh and young if it is the correct regimen for your skin type. It should consist of a cleansing, toning, moisturizing, and plenty of sleep with a balanced healthy diet.

Toning is important for men and women. It is a protective step after cleansing the skin. Cleansing keeps the pores clear and unclogged, healthy, and breathing which makes it easier to nourish with a moisturizer. Skin toners help to keep environmental pollution and debris that are damaging to skin. Keeping up with the regimen will keep skin clear and firm.

As skin ages it loses elasticity and lack of suppleness which can make you look older than you are. Toners can also help with reducing the size of pores and ingrown hair on the face. Skin toners can remove all oils and dirt and make up as well as improve blood circulation that adds to your natural youthful glow.

If you normal, combination, or dry skin us a very delicate and light routine for skin. Never use harsh products in your skin. For oily skin people you should use a slightly strong toner and apply to the more oily areas of the face. Rubbing a piece of potato on the skin and leaving it for 15 minutes can also reduce excessive oil on the skin. Products with vitamin E and wheat oil are very effective for dry skin. If you have sensitive skin you can mash strawberries up and leave on skin for 5 minutes then wash off. This is really great for sunburns too.

As we age our skin also had problems with the skin’s renewal process. Tissue repair and cell regeneration slow down, skin’s moisture reduces, and production of collagen is lessoned as well. Metabolism in skin slows down as well which will cause wounds to the skin to heal slower as well.

The sun is very damaging to the skin as well. There are small benefits of sunlight but there is more negative than positive about having a tan. You get vitamins from the sunlight as well more energy from being in the sun, but too much sun can cause skin cancer, sun spots, wrinkles, sunburn, and premature aging. 

So many products are available for you skin care benefits. Day creams can help protect against the sun. Wrinkle creams penetrate the skin and nourish the skin moisture to help minimize lines and wrinkles. Eye creams are made to moisturize the eyes and are much gentler than other creams because of the sensitive skin. Exfoliating products are made to get rid of dead skin cells and use them only a couple times a week so not to irritate the skin. Sunscreens protect the skin from the sun and most other facial day creams have spf in them. Night creams are heavier than day creams and they are made to soak deep into the skin for extra moisture.

A great product for skin care that is really beneficial is Nourishing Facial Spray by Eniva. It helps protect your skin with antioxidants to get rid of free radicals that diminish elasticity. Refreshes and soothes skin with vitamin E, moisturizes with the proprietary humectants blend, and stimulates collagen and elastin renewal. Nourishing Facial spray is packed with Vitamin E, and C, CoQ10, Lecithin, Copper, Silica, Zinc, and Humectants blend to give your skin the pure nutrients that it needs to be radiant. It nourishes the stressed out and tired skin to restore the balance and tone of your skin. There are no artificial colors or additives, no animal by-products or testing, and its fragrance free. It can be used in conjunction with your normal skin care routine or use in replace of your moisturizer.

A great example of a daily routine for your skin would be to cleanse and tone, spray nourishing facial spray, target wrinkles with special cream and use eye cream. Then apply moisturizer to whole face. Use nourishing facial spray throughout day if needed or for a skin pick me up. Then at night cleanse, tone, use facial spray again, and then apply a night cream. Taking care of your skin will reward you with younger and healthy looking skin for many years.

Steven Johnson is interested in maintaining a vital and healthy lifestyle. For more information on various health products and other life-enhancing nutrients please visit his website Alternative Health Supplements.
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5 Things You Must Know Before Buying Men’s Skin Care Products

December 31st, 2009 "Store" "LowPrices" "Cheap" "Cheap price"

Men have been notorious of being careless with their skin. Their skin care regimens seldom go beyond soap and water.

However, lately there has been increased awareness among men about the needs and requirements of their skin and this has fuelled a market segment consisting of special skin care products for men. There is such an extensive range of men’s skin care products available in the market that it gets difficult sometimes to make a sane choice.

While some prefer to try out a variety of skin care products to see what works for them, others stick to one particular product and hope it does the trick. Choosing skin care products that work well for your particular skin can be a daunting task. This is because there is plethora of options available, all of them claiming to be the best and promising to do wonders to the skin. In midst of all these, how do you know what the best skin care product is for you.

Here are 5 points you should consider while buying skin care products for men.

Know Your Skin Type
Before you go about finding skin care products, you should know what exactly your skin needs. And this can only be assessed by knowing your skin type. Is it normal, dry, oily, combination or sensitive? Skin care products are designed to address the specific requirements of the various types of skin. For example, dry skin needs more moisture, oily skin needs controlled exfoliation, acne prone skin needs bacteria fighting ingredients that heal acne and so on. Determining your skin type will let you know what skin care products best suit you.

Get a Men’s Cleanser
Cleansers are a very important part of the skin care regimen. And since men’s skin is intrinsically different from women’s they need special cleansers designed for their specific gender. Men generally have bigger skin pores than women and accumulate comparatively more dirt and debris. Thus they need a tougher cleanser that can flush out the toxins and clean the skin well.

Include a Toner & Moisturizer in your Regimen
Most people fail to realize the importance of toners in the skin care regimen and prefer not to use it at all. Men’s skin succumbeds to harsh treatments like shaving and this disrupts the pH balance of the skin. Toners not only help balance the pH levels of the skin but also ensure that the skin pores are absolutely clean and no residue of cleanser is left behind.
Additionally, when the skin is stripped ofnatural moistures due to shaving and cleansing, using a moisturizer hydrates the skin and restores the lost moisture. However, if you have oily or acneic skin, use a lightweight oil-free moisturizer. Moisturizers relieve skin dryness and prevent premature aging of the skin and keep wrinkles and fine lines at bay.

Buy Skin Treatment Products
If you have severe skin conditions like acne, anti-aging concerns or so on, make sure you buy specialized skin treatment products rather than general skin care products. This is because treatment products address specific skin concerns, go to the root level of the problem and cure the same.

Obagi Clenziderm M.D. Acne Therapeutic System for Normal to Oily Skin – It is a three step system that identifies and treats the primary causes of acne and help promote a clear skin. The system includes:

Obagi Daily Care Foaming Cleanser (4 fl. oz) – To clean off all the dirt and debris from the skin and reveal brighter skin from within
Obagi Pore Therapy (4 fl oz) – To clean the skin pores of dirt and oil residues
Obagi Serum Gel (1.8 fl oz) – To deep cleanse and treat acne with benzoyl peroxide

Obagi Clenziderm M.D. Acne Therapeutic System for Normal to Dry Skin is the same thing as above but it treats acne concerns on normal and dry skin types. The system includes:

Obagi Daily Care Cream Cleanser (6.5 fl oz) – To remove the excessive oil residues and dirt
Obagi Therapeutic Lotion (1.6 fl. oz.) – To remove acne and prevent further breakouts and inflammations
Obagi Therapeutic Moisturizer (1.7 fl oz) – To moisturize and hydrate your skin

Buy Suitable Shaving Products
Make sure the shaving products that you buy suit your epidermis type and care for your specific skin condition. Shaving products generally are comprised of three major components – Pre-Shave, Shaving Creams and Aftershave. All these products have moisturizing and conditioning agents that hydrate the skin and enhance its quality.

Dr. Marilynn Syrett is a graduate from Western University of Health Sciences. She has authored several articles about antiaging skin care products including many from Obagi and iS Clinical range of skin care products and men’s skin care products.

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Guide to the Best Herbal Remedies for Various Skin Conditions

December 31st, 2009 "Store" "LowPrices" "Cheap" "Cheap price"

Did you know that many, perhaps 75%, of all conventional medications are refinements of herbal medicines? One example of this is the isolation of morphine from opium in 1806. This was the first time that chemical methods were used to extract the active chemical constituents of an herb. The chemical processes used to isolate morphine led to the production of codeine, the widely used cough suppressant. There are countless examples of commonly used medications which come from various plant materials, some of which can often be found right in your own backyard.

Although you should always consult your physician for medical conditions before using any treatment, natural or synthetic, the purpose of this article is to inform you of the various botanically-derived remedies that may be considered for treating some of the most common skin problems. There are many advantages to using herbs rather than the drugs derived from them. A standard medication consists of one, or occasionally two, medically active chemical compounds, plus carrier compounds and a buffer. Herbs and herbal formulas usually contain at least dozens, and in many cases, hundreds, of active ingredients. The many active ingredients act on the body, and on one another, simultaneously. This serves to make the primary active ingredients of the herb more effective. It also serves to prevent the toxic reactions that can lead to side effects. Herbal remedies are more likely to correct conditions without creating additional problems.

Although there are many techniques for making herbal remedies, for the purpose of skin and hair treatments and to simplify the process for home remedy use, I recommend purchasing the herb in the form of its essential oil. Essential Oils are highly concentrated extracts of the herb and can be purchased in small dropper bottles at your local nutrition store or online. Just one drop of essential oil is often equal to 1 full ounce of the plant.

Before applying essential oil to skin or hair, you must ALWAYS dilute the oil first. A carrier (or base) is used for this purpose. The carrier can be a natural oil like olive, jojoba, apricot kernel or similar oil. You could also use your favorite unscented lotion or shampoo or conditioner as a carrier base. I often use organic aloe vera gel as a base for treating skin conditions because of the extraordinary healing benefits of the aloe vera plant. I also prefer the use of aloe vera gel because it is not oily or greasy on the skin.

A good rule of thumb for diluting the essential oil into the carrier base for the purpose of treating a skin ailment is to use about 8 to10 drops of essential oil to 1 full ounce of the carrier base. If you are using more than one type of essential oil, then divide the drops evenly to equal 8 to10 drops total of the various essential oils to 1 full ounce of the carrier base.

Below is a list of 40 herbs, each with its summary of healing benefits. Simply choose between 1 to 3 herbs to use for the particular ailment you are treating and add the appropriate number of drops to your carrier base as explained above. Stir it or shake it to blend the ingredients well and store in a tightly sealed container. Apply it to the affected area 2 to 3 times per day.

Aloe Vera:
Greatest natural source of alpha hydroxy acid. Hydrating, soothing, moisturizing and healing for all skin types. Aloe Vera has extraordinary healing properties, is anti-inflammatory and can soothe the skin and help heal cuts, grazes, burns, radiation burns and insect bites.

Angelica:
Good for dull, irritated, inflamed skin, psoriasis, and fungal infections.

Basil:
Conditions the hair and stimulates hair growth, anti-inflammatory, anti-spasmodic, anti-infectious, antibiotic, very good insect repellent and also good for acne.

Bergamot:
Good for eczema, herpes, acne, psoriasis, skin infections, cold sores, blisters, shingles, and chicken pox. Antiseptic, antibiotic, anti-spasmodic, anti-fungal, anti-viral, anti-inflammatory.

Burdock:
Excellent for boils, eczema and chronic skin and hair problems. Prevents body’s own immune system from attacking the skin, kills streptococcus bacteria and many disease-causing fungi that infect cracked skin. Add to shampoo or conditioner as a scalp treatment to improve hair strength, shine, body, and to combat hair loss, itching and/or dandruff.

Calendula:
Excellent skin healing herb, natural anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, antispasmodic, astringent, fungicidal. Excellent for burns, cuts, eczema, oily greasy skin, bruises, soothes skin, inflammations, insect bites, rashes, wounds, cracked dry skin, stretch marks and diaper rash.

Cedarwood:
Cleansing properties, antiseptic, anti-fungal, good for oily or blemished skin, natural astringent used in acne treatments. Relieves eczema, psoriasis, skin inflammation, dandruff, insect bites, hair loss, dry or oily hair, softens the skin.

Chamomile:
Chamomile is excellent for many types of skin conditions as well as severely infected skin. It has an anti-inflammatory effect, good for hypersensitive skin, eczema, skin rashes, acne, rosacea and allergic skin reactions. Brings out natural brightness and highlights in hair when used in a shampoo.

Chickweed:
Chickweed is excellent for sores, abscesses, skin irritations and rashes. Chickweed has an anti-inflammatory action similar to cortisone.

Cinnamon:
Good for infections, antiseptic, antibiotic, anti-fungal, warts, anti-viral

Citronella:
Insect repellent, keeps away mosquitoes, ticks, fleas and other insects.

Clary Sage:
Regenerates skin cells. Good for oily skin and hair, blemishes, mature, wrinkled or inflamed skin, acne, boils and puffy skin.

Cypress:
Natural astringent and antibiotic. Good for mature skin, oily skin and acne. Stimulates cell regeneration.

Comfrey Root:
One of the most valuable plants in both cosmetics and medicine. Regenerates aging tissues.

Eucalyptus:
Antiseptic, antibiotic, anti-fungal, anti-infectious and anti-parasitic. Regenerates skin cells. Good for insect bites and rashes.

Everlasting:
Excellent for acne, scar tissue, mature skin, stretch marks, spots, warts, old scars, dermatitis, broken veins and burns. Antibacterial properties.

Frankincense:
Good for dry, mature, aging skin, acne, scars, reduces wrinkles, balances out oily skin, healing for all skin types. Anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, natural astringent.

Goldenseal:
Excellent anti-fungal with antibiotic properties that fights secondary bacterial infections.

Gotu Kola:
Good for wounds, scarring and psoriasis. Stimulates the regeneration of skin cells and underling connective tissue, beneficial effect on collagen and inhibits its excessive production in scar formation, accelerates the healing of burns and skin grafts and minimizes scarring.

Grapefruit:
Used for acne, athletes foot, tones and tightens skin, antiseptic, disinfectant, detoxifier and anti-infectious. Good astringent for oily skin and hair, aids in hair growth.

Green Tea:
Natural anti-oxidant used in cosmetics expecially to reduce the puffiness around the eyes. Also has astringent properties.

Hibiscus:
Natural source of Vitamin C and malic acid. Used by the to treat wounds, dandruff and stimulate hair growth. Has antibacterial properties.

Hyssop:
Good for acne, bruises, cuts, wounds, dermatitis, eczema, inflammations, scars, and cell regeneration.

Jasmine:
Used for sensitive, mature, aging skin and stretch marks. Beneficial for dry, greasy, irritated skin.

Lavender:
One of the most popular herbs, lavender is excellent for many skin conditions such as dermatitis, eczema, sunburn, insect bites, infections, rashes, infected hair follicles, pimples, black heads and light forms of acne. Antiseptic, analgesic, antispasmodic, tonic, anti-inflammatory, antibiotic, anti-infectious, antitoxin and anti-parasitic

Lemon Balm:
Good for infections, acne, boils, warts; increases shine and growth of hair and nails, antibiotic, astringent, and antiseptic. Beneficial for oily complexions, hair and skin blemishes.

Lemongrass:
Good for infections and acne. Natural astringent, antiseptic, anti-infectious, anti-parasitic and anti-fungal. Also good for enlarged pores.

Myrrh:
Beneficial for inflamed skin, boils, athlete’s foot, chapped skin, mature skin, wrinkles and ringworm.

Neroli:
Scar tissue, improves elasticity and reduces stretch marks. Good facial softener, great for overall skin care, regenerates skin cells and tones mature, dry, sensitive skin.

St. John’s Wort:
Excellent antibacterial and antiviral properties for the treatment of burns, cuts, scrapes, and minor skin irritations. Also may be helpful herpes breakouts.

Palmarosa:
Good for acne, scarring, blackheads, athlete’s foot, eczema and other fungal infections. Antibiotic, anti-viral, anti-infectious, antiseptic, moisturizing, regenerates skin cells, aids in regulating oil production of the skin.

Patchouli:
Natural antiseptic, anti-fungal and antibacterial. Used for dermatitis, athlete’s foot, ringworm, parasites, rejuvenates skin cells, mature and dry skin, scars, eczema, inflamed, cracked skin, acne, eliminates dandruff, repels bugs, and relieves insect bites.

Ravensara:
Natural antiseptic, antiviral, antitoxin, antibiotic and anti-infectious. Beneficial for cold sores, herpes, and shingles.

Rose:
Natural astringent, anti-infectious, antiseptic, astringent, antiviral and emollient. Regenerates cells, heals radiation burns more quickly, good for scarring and for use on all skin types especially mature, dry and sensitive skin.

Rosemary:
Good for infections, acne, skin care and hair care, Natural anti-toxic and antiseptic.

Rosewood:
Anti-infectious, antibacterial, antiseptic and anti-fungal. Good for candida, acne, dry, sensitive, inflamed dermatitis, scars, wrinkles, regenerates cells.

Sandalwood:
Used for scarring, acne, dry, aged, chapped skin, soothing as an aftershave treatment, good for dry and oily hair, and increases water retention of collagen. Natural antiseptic,astringent and emollient. Encourages new cell growth.

Tea Tree:
Tea Tree is an important herb extremely beneficial to various skin conditions such as cuts, wounds, abrasions, rashes, insect bites, nail fungus, dermatitis, ringworm, thrush, head lice, boils, cold sores, acne and infections. Can protect skin during radiation treatment, reduces swelling, heals scar tissue, controls oil on the skin, and dries up pus.

Vetiver:
Beneficial for acne, cuts, mature skin, oily skin, dry skin, infections, inflammations, regenerates cells, good for sagging skin, softens and moisturizes

Witch Hazel:
Natural astringent that also tones the skin. For all skin types.

If you are interested in a 100% natural, ready-made herbal skin remedy which incorporates many of the herbs discussed in this article, you may want to consider this handmade product by Viterba Naturals called “Herbal Skin Salve”.

Author reference: http://www.viterbanaturals.com

Natalie A. Decker, Founder and Proprietor of Viterba Naturals Holistic Beauty & Wellness Boutique

“As a student of Herbology and Aromatherapy, and as an Usui Reiki Master and Teacher for over 10 years, I have a love for everything natural and holistic.

I began to make herbal healing salves and providing Reiki Healing Sessions for friends and family several years back, and although I had no intention of turning my love into a business…such is life!

The name Viterba comes from the Italian phrase “vita del’ erba” which means “Life of the herb”. My parents were born in Italy and so my love for the language has carried over into the name of my company.

I look forward to having you as my lifetime client and I promise to continue to bring to you the finest natural and organic products available from around the globe.”

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Black Skin & African American Skin Care Products-What To Use for Beautiful Skin

December 31st, 2009 "Store" "LowPrices" "Cheap" "Cheap price"

black skin care products, African American Skin Products

Black Skin & African American Skin Care Products-What To Use For Beautiful Skin

African American and Black Skin Products must have the right ingredients to really work.  Some ingredients should be avoided for black skin or any other type of skin.

 In this article I will show you which ones work and which ones to avoid.  Some ingredients, for example, will cause hyper pigmentation while others will cause de-pigmentation.  Here is what you should avoid and what you should use.

Avoid These  3 Ingredients in Skin Care Products

1. Sodium methyl paraben (any type paraben)
2. Petroleum-based products
3. Chemical bleaching agents

*Sodium methyl paraben – One ingredient that is commonly found in skin care lines is sodium methyl paraben.  It, as well as, all parabens have been found in breast cancer patients. It is best to not use any product containing parabens.  Sodium methyl paraben can result in de-pigmentation that may be permanent.

Products with petroleum content also can cause hyper pigmentation.  Dark spots may appear that do not match other skin tone.  Also propylene glycol and wood-based alcohols have been known to cause darker spots to appear on the skin.  The reason often stated why these ingredients are in black skin care products is that they relieve oiliness.  However, the products most people are using cause the oiliness.  Petrolatum, mineral oil  and other products that are petroleum-based CAUSE the oiliness.

Chemical bleaching agents are often promoted to those who want to lighten their skin tone.  There are safe skin lightening products.  I’ll cover that also in a moment.  Chemical bleaching ingredients can bring much harm to your skin. Avoid them especially if you have black skin or darker tones of skin.

Compounds That Work Safely
-Extra pone nut grass
-CoQ10
- Jojoba
-Natural vitamin E
-Functional keratin
-Wakame kelp

Extra-pone nut grass is a very good ingredient that will even out the skin tone.  It usually doesn’t take much to give a noticeable difference.

Natural vitamin E is an antioxidant.  Since it is an antioxidant it will usually help get rid of hyperpigmentation of  skin. In other words, skin spots.

Sebum – The Natural Moisturizer

Sebum is our natural skin oil that also is our natural skin moisturizer.  However, some of us have either too dry skin or too oily or some range in between.  So skin problems can vary from one person to the next. But skin problems in general have nothing to do with black skin or any other tone.  Skin is skin.  Only the skin tone maybe different, but all skin is composed the same. What the problem usually is, is the product being used on the skin.  Especially if it is petroleum based.  Petrolatum feels good but it can do a lot of subtle harm.  If you use a good moisturizer, like the one I use, you will have 90% of your skin problems solved.

Sebum is produced by the sebaceous glands. All skin, black, white etc have these glands. Sebum is the skin’s natural moisturizer.  Jojoba and passion fruit extract work well with the sebaceous glands.  These two ingredients will help moisturize skin that is very dry.  What is nice about them they will moisturize the skin without causing any skin flareups.

Anti Aging Ingredients

Most anti aging products don’t even come close to working.  Companies take advantage of the popularity of anti aging and promote skin care products that do more harm than anything else.

You don’t need any special african american anti aging product.  Let me tell what you do need.

In my vast searching for some skin care products that really work I found one that I am ecstatic about.  The reason is that it is safe and it works on all skin types and skin tones.  It is called “Functional Keratin”.  When mixed with Wakame Seaweed (Japanese) CoQ10 and Vitamin E it produces new skin cells and fibers.  This results in a younger looking skin because of the skin firmness that is taking place. See my website for more information on this truly amazing skin care ingredient.

Functional Keratin is the most successful and effective of all the antiaging products I researched.  Functional keratin combined with Wakame kelp extract and antioxidants CoQ10 and natural vitamin E promotes the increase of new skin fibers and skin cells.  Wakame helps prevent sagging by increasing skin firmness.

What causes harm to skin cells and other body cells is what is called free radicals.  They basically go on a rampage and hurt other cells.  The antidote is antioxidants found in compounds like vitamin E.  Remember this please, avoid any ingredient ending in paraben, (for black skin especially Sodium methyl paraben).  Avoid all skin care and other products that list petrolatum as an ingredient.  Don’t even think about using a chemical bleaching agent.  Use the ones I recommend.  See my website for my personally tested skin cream. – Thanks, Margaret Bell

 

Please visit http://www.AHealthyRadiantSkin.com for Margaret’s recommended Black Skin Care for African American and all types of skin. A free Health Newsletter and Complete Skin Care Guide is available.

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Skin – Nothing But

December 31st, 2009 "Store" "LowPrices" "Cheap" "Cheap price"


The music video to Skin’s single “Nothing But”.

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Acne Free – Daily Skin Care: Back To Basic

December 31st, 2009 "Store" "LowPrices" "Cheap" "Cheap price"

Thousands of people from all over the world suffer from acne, the skin disorder that affecting 70 to 95% teenagers during puberty period. Sadly to say this skin disorder not only affecting teenagers but also adults between the age of 20 to 50. Imagine if you suffer this skin disorder endlessly until your adult life. It cost you a lot from swollen and sore facial skin, feeling unhappy, gross, depress, less confidence and spending lots of money for skin care product and treatment.

Acne is a skin problem that affects most people during puberty when the hormonal changes occur. A male hormone called Testosterone in both men and women, and insulin-like growth factor are the two hormones most closely linked to acne. Testosterone stimulates the sebaceous glands of the skin to enlarge and produce oil called sebum. Too much sebum and dead skin cells often form a plug, block the pores and provide a breeding place for bacteria causing redness, swelling and bulges out from the skin.

Other factor that cause acne indirectly includes: dust, air pollution, stress, blood impurities, healthy diets, sleep deprivation, organ malfunction, lack of exercise and of course daily skin care habit.

The place where you live might also responsible factor that affecting your skin. When you live in a sub-tropic area or in a four season country, your skin might look better than those who live in a dessert or tropical region.

People who live in a dusty and highly polluted air region tend to suffer moreacne as if you don’t clean your face often, a heap of dirty air particles flying around the air and settling on the skin.

Moreover, dust and air pollution also bring the bacteria. Whenever the pores are clogged with sebum (excess oil) and dead skin cells, bacteria seize the chance and start harvesting in the sebaceous follicle. Before long, the follicle turns into a blackhead or whitehead (in mild cases), or even into pustules or papules (in severe forms of acne).

If you know the trick, having a great skin does not require a lot of time and money. Start with the basic daily skin care routine such as washing your face, hair and body everyday. Choose the right product that matches your skin type.

Most acne-prone skin type is categorized under an oily or mixed skin type. For this type of skin choose a mild liquid soap or for women a cleansing milk with no alcohol and fragrance content. The alcohol and fragrance might irritate your skin and makes your acne worse.

Try using a natural aromatherapy skin care products such as Eucalyptus shampoo, Eucalyptus shower or body gel and/or Eucalyptus body milk if your skin became so dry especially during winter time.

Apply a collagen mask at least twice a week or if you are experiencing severe acne do it three times a week. Make sure that you wash your face first prior applying the mask and set aside the collagen. Don’t waste the collagen as you can apply them to your breast (for women) to keep it firm and soft and other part of the body that tends to dry easily such as your elbow or your heel. The pimples will be dried off and left no scar on the skin, and you will also having a firm and healthy glowing skin.

You can also use a mild soft scrub lotion to clean all the dead skin that might accumulated on the surface of your skin at least once a week. This step is not recommended if you are having severe acne such as pustules or papules as the scrubbing might irritate your skin more and causing more breakouts. Do the scrubbing only when your skin is neither red nor swollen to get rid off your dead skin cells and the deep scar left by the acne.

There is a natural product out there (ESTEBEL) that works wonder and can help you clean your pimple/acne away from your face and body. Other than skin care products you can also do the detoxification program as recommended from one of the famous e-book: Chris Gibson acne free in 3 days. Though the title seemed to good to be true for those of us who suffers from severe acne and scars, however all the steps mentioned in these e-book make sense and easily to follow, at least within 3 days of practicing the steps you will see the difference on your skin.

Step by step guide to clean/scrub your face:

Clean your face at least twice a day in the morning or night time. Do more if necessary

Men:

Use a liquid Face wash or gel Pump the gel/face wash onto your palm, add a little water and mix it together Apply onto your dirty face, never scrub your face to hard Simply move your index finger or hand on top of the skin with a “flying” motion (if you do it right, you can feel that your skin is not moving. You actually barely touch the skin surface to take off excess oil and dead skin cell). If you push your hand too hard the skin will be irritated more and causing more acne Use a circular spiral movement upward from the middle of your chin to the lower part of the ear. Circular spiral movement upward from the tip of your lips to the middle part of the ear. Circular spiral movement upward from the tip of your nose to the temple. Circular spiral movement from middle of your forehead to the temple. Concentrate more on the area with acne (making sure you only cleaning it with a “Flying” finger motion)

An inward circular movement around your eyes An up and down movement on your nose

When done simply clean your face with a running water Pat it dry and let it dry naturally (avoid using towel, or if you need to use a fresh clean towel) Follow with a skin toner to get back your skin acidity

Note: The step will also make your skin wrinkle-free

Women:

Use a liquid Face wash or gel or cleansing milk If you use a liquid Face wash, follow the step as in Men, if you use cleansing milk than follow the following steps Pump enough cleansing milk onto your palm, make sure your hand is not wet and you have not wet your face with water. Remember oil and water does not mix together Apply onto your dirty face, never scrub your face to hard Simply move your index finger or hand on top of the skin with a “flying” motion (if you do it right, you can feel that your skin is not moving. You actually barely touch the skin surface to take off excess oil and dead skin cell). If you push your hand too hard the skin will be irritated more and causing more acne Use a circular spiral movement upward from the middle of your chin to the lower part of the ear. Circular spiral movement upward from the tip of your lips to the middle part of the ear. Circular spiral movement upward from the tip of your nose to the temple. Circular spiral movement from middle of your forehead to the temple

An inward circular movement around your eyes An up and down movement on your nose

Take away the cleansing milk using a facial tissue downwardly without making any pressure on the skin surface Repeat the steps again until your facial tissue show no trace of make-up or dirt left on your skin Wash your face with a running water Pat it dry and let it dry naturally (avoid using towel, or if you need to use a fresh clean towel) Follow with a skin toner to get back your skin acidity

Note: The step will also make your skin wrinkle-free

Use a Facial scrub at least twice a week (not recommended for a  red and swollen skin or skin with pustules or papules. Wait until all the severe acne gone and you can start using the facial scrub

Step by step guide how to use the collagen mask for Acne-prone skin:

Clean your face accordingly (Follow the step by step guide to clean/scrub your face) Open the collagen mask Set aside the thick collagen from the mask, you can apply them onto the most dry skin part in your body such as heels, elbow or for women you can apply it to your buttock or breast for a smoother supple skin Put the mask onto your face and let it sit for 15-20 minutes Cover your eyes with sliced cucumber After 15-20 minutes, take off the mask Clean your face with a running water Pat it dry and let it dry naturally (avoid using towel, or if you need to use a fresh clean towel) Follow with a skin toner to get back your skin acidity

Note: Use the collagen mask twice a week and your acne will dry off faster and be gone without leaving any scar.

Next, Imagine being able to be happy and get back your smooth, acne free and vibrant looking skin again…Discover the secret to acne free skin.

Irwan Librata, an entrepreneur who turned his hobby into his business and blog owner of Powerhealths, GojiHighlights.com and Immune-boost.com. Irwan graduated with a Bachelor degree in Biomedical Engineering from one of prominent University in US – Case Western University. Since graduation various work experience in the field that are related to his background in the field of Medical technology to unrelated field of CAD/CAM &GIS;Engineering software, CMMS (Computer Maintenance and Management System) Software and Batik cloth manufacture.

His passion in Health and Fitness are tremendous. For the last four years he is passionately learn the correlation between natural products and its affects to human body. He also learns how the never ending air pollution is affecting human’s health and how to anticipate the situation by using a non-harmful natural product available in the market today.

The health of one’s body and mind is the latest issue that Irwan took a passion in.
Do come and visit regularly as we will keep update information on Health related issue, Fitness & Yoga, best natural nutritional supplements, as well as motivation stories.

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Benefits and Uses of Neem, Tulsi, Wheat Grass and Amla On Skin Care

December 31st, 2009 "Store" "LowPrices" "Cheap" "Cheap price"

You might be surprised to know that skin is the largest organ in human body. It is a kind of sheath that separates us from the outer environment. It protects our internal organs from getting exposed to the harsh climatic condition pravelling outside. Any problem in skin or any kind of infection to the skin can causes threat to the internal organs. It helps in keeping our vital organ from hanging outside the body getting infected very easily. It also helps in maintaing body temperature. More importantly it helps us in perceiving sensation of touch.


According to modern sciences skin is made up of three layers. Named epidermis the outer layer, dermis the middle layer and subcutaneous fat the inner layer. Ayurveda believes that skin has six layers.


Epidermis is the outer most layer of the skin and is the part of the skin, which is visible with our normal eyes. This layer of skin keeps on producing new cells, as 30000 to 40000 cells are lost every minute. It contains a very important content name melalin that is a very talked about things now a days. Melalin imparts colour to our skin. More the melalin content darker is the complexion. Actually melanin is a protective device of your skin that helps you to protect from sunburns and very harmful ultraviolet rays or more commonly called UV rays. This is the reason tanning occurs in people who get exposed to sun. But melalin production is not enough to give all round protection to protect skin from dehydration and cancerous cell production. Important thing about epidermis is that it is composed of dead cells hence is non vascular i.e. it does not have blood supply and nervous supply.


Second is the dermis layer that lies below the epidermis. As it is beneath the epidermis hence dermis is not visible. Dermis serves very important function in the protective and perceptive role that skin plays. It serves many functions, as it possesses nerves ending, vascular supplies and glands (both oil or sebaceous glands and sweat glands). Due to presence of these factors we can perceive the touch sensation. Vascularity to the skin initiates in dermis and hence helps in providing proper nourishment to the skin cells. Dermis also contains sebaceous glands or more commonly called oil gland, which helps our skin in lubrication thus helping it from catching any infection. It makes our skin work as raincoats therefore help skin from getting sogged and swelled away in water. Sweat glands play a very important role in our life. Most important of all is that it helps in maintaing our body temperature; secondly it plays an excretory role by excreting out harmful toxins that might have formed in our body; thirdly it helps in protecting our body from microorganism as it possess antibacterial properties.


Third and the most important of all the layers is the subcutaneous fatty layer. Its role is to work as a shock absorber in he body and to maintain body heat from getting transferred to outside temperature. It also helps in holding internal organs tightly as it is present beneath the skin. This also contains a very peculiar feature that only mammals possess i.e. hair follicles. This layer is full of hair follicles out of which hair grows out. Nourishment of hairs depends upon the sebaceous glands, which opens into the hair follicle thus proving it with shine and nutrients.

Types of skins


It is really very essential to know the kind of skin you possess, as right care of skin can help in reducing any skin problems and avoid diseases. There are mainly 5 types of skin: -


1. Normal skin: It not a commonest kind of skin. It is soft, smooth, velvety and evenly textured skin with no flaky dead cells and no pores visible. Proper distribution of oil and moisture is there that makes it a balanced skin i.e. not excessively dry and not excessively greasy. It is clear and free from blemishes


2. Dry skin: Skin is said to be dry, when skin is dull, patchy, reddened and flaky especially around eyes. Dry skin may cause formation of fine lines on cheeks, under eyes and corners of mouth. These conditions happen when oil or sebaceous glands are not supplying good nourishment and lubrication to the skin. If proper care is not given to the skin then it may lead to initiation of wrinkles in early age.


3. Oily or greasy skin: This kind of skin is thick, dull in colour and shiny in appearance. Due to over secretions of oils or sebum through oil gland, makes skin pores open and skin becomes sticky, which attracts dirt and dust from the environment. Due to this tendency, dirt and dust particles blocks the skin pores which are already widely open in oily skin leads to problems like black head, white head, acne and other skin related problems.


4. Combination skin: Commonly seen skin texture which is the combination of two kind of skin i.e. some of the skin area is dry and some of the area is oily. Usually it follows the pattern of “T” i.e. the greasy part is usually the portion which is vertical to nose crossing nose (nose, mouth and chin) and horizontal on fore head and hence referred to as “T-Zone”. The area left i.e. cheeks is comparatively dry.


5. Sensitive skin: This kind of skin is very sensitive to any change in environmental conditions or any kind allergies, which may be caused due to procedures like bleaching, makeup’s and other external applications.

How to know that what type of skin you possess


It is a very simple method to know that what kind of skin you possess by following procedure mentioned below. Whenever you wake up in morning, wipe your face with dry tissue soon after leaving your bed. If you find oil on that tissue, you possess oily or greasy skin. If you find grease on the center panel then you possess combination skin. If there is no grease at all then you either have dry or normal skin. Now to check weather your skin is dry or normal. Just do one thing, wash your face with non-greasy soap and water. If you are left with the feeling of stretchiness and tightness on skin then you possess dry skin otherwise you have normal skin. If in daily routine you easily get skin allergies, rashes, itches and boils then your skin supposed to be sensitive

Our skin faces mainly three kinds of troubles


1. Firstly disease caused directly to skin from external source. This includes diseases that directly infect the skin from outside for example fungal infection in early stages etc


2. Secondly disease caused due to systemic disorders. This is the second category of the disease, which is caused due to systemic infection in the body. For example leprosy, psoriasis


3. Thirdly it may represent mere symptom of another disease. In this skin is the mere face that represents the symptom of any disease prevailing in the body. For example loosening of skin, which might be caused by dehydration.


How to make skin to happy so that it may remain healthy and glows with shine.


1. Protect your skin from over exposure of sun by using sunscreens

2. Carry an umbrella or a cap with you when overexposed to external environment

3. Don’t smoke and drink excessively

4. Wash your skin gently and with lots of care

5. Moisturize your skin regularly

6. Shave with care and softly. Only shave in direction of hair growth

7. Use of good skin cleansers and toners regularly to open up blocked pores.

8. Drink lots of water and fresh fruit juices

9. Eat healthy food and avoid junk food.

10. Avoid use of chemicals on your skin


Inspite following these measures if you are not able to achieve the healthy and good skin then you must read below.


Here are some herbal remedies that is the answer to all your problems

Benefits of neem on skin


· Neem is a wonder herb. Since early times neem is known for its wonderful properties and marvelous results on skin. It works as blood purifier and is very helpful in eradicating toxins from the blood that are supposed to cause harm to the skin.

· Local application of neem powder or neem oil has miraculous results. It is a famous anti microbial herb, it renders all the microorganisms inactive therefore helping in proper healing of wound without causing any infections and septic conditions

· Good results have been seen on skin problems like acne and blemishes. It helps in disinfecting the hair follicles and helps in eradicating the particle which is the main culprit in blocking the pore

· Taking bath of neem leaves socked water helps our body to counter mild infections, which our body might get in day-to-day activity

· Neem helps in early healing of burns and injuries that might also helps in fading of scars that are left after the any injury

· Tropical application and internal use of neem makes us relieved from eczema and even ringworms

· Neem is very helpful in providing internal glow to the skin by providing natural supplements that are required for good and healthy skin

· Neem is extensively used in hair fall and early graying of hairs with very satisfying results.

· It also find its application in dandruff and in lice growth

· Neem is helpful in lighting dark circles which are usually caused due to life style disturbances

Effects of Tulsi, the holy basil on skin


· Tulsi behave as an anti-bacterial and anti-fungal agent thus helps in eradicating any of the microorganisms developing on the wound and the skin.

· Tulsi is a wonderful blood purifier that helps in eradicating any toxins circulating in blood and helps us from any kind of foreign invasion there fore helps in protecting our skin from acne and other skin infections.

· It helps in normalizing our digestive system thus helpful in treating cause by which dark circles are caused.

· Tulsi is helpful in skin conditioning by improving blood circulation thereby helping each and every cell to get its part of nutrition and oxygen that helps in glowing skin

· Tulsi works as a powerful antioxidant thereby helps in preventing early aging signs and makes the skin young as never before

Wheat grass and its effects on skin


· Wheat grass has been used since ages as it is helpful in providing required vitamins and minerals that are very helpful in nourishing skin and helps it to look healthy

· Due to presence of vitamin E in wheat grass, it helps in preventing aging and also helps in maintaing shine on the skin.

· Vitamin E also helps in preventing dark circles around eyes

· It is a good remedy in any skin disorder, as it possesses the cold potency, which is helpful in curbing skin disease that are of hot potency.

· Super oxide dismutase (SOD) present in wheat grass helps in slowing the aging process of cell thus gives the property of rasayan to wheat grass

· Alanine, an amino acid helps in promoting blood formation there fore helpful in formation of RBC (red blood corpuscles), WBC (white blood corpuscles), blood platelets etc. which are helpful in providing proper nourishment and protection to cell from any foreign invasion

· Vitamins A present in wheat grass is very useful in improving vision of eyes therefore helping in providing proper nourishment to the skin under eyes preventing dark circles and sagging down of skin

· Iron is helpful in hemoglobin production therefore is helpful in increasing oxygen carrying capacity of blood and is helps in imparting pinkish colour to the skin

Amla benefits on skin


· It is very helpful in skin diseases as it has sheet virya (cold potency), it inhibits pitta dosha and thus helps in getting relief from it as all the skin disorders are caused by pitta dominance.

· Regular use of Amla promotes glow on skin and delays wrinkles or loosening of skin. Good results have been found in eczema.

· Its internal use as well as its local application on scalp gives good results in hair loss as it provides nourishment to the skin on head (scalp).

· It stimulates hair follicles thus promoting hair growth and also improves texture of the hair.

· It also prevents premature graying of hairs and dandruff, which is flaking of dead cells of the scalp.

· Indian women generally use Amla to wash their hairs, which act as natural hair conditioner as it helps in providing good nourishment and also helps in normalizing blood supply

· It is helpful in making skin glow and works as an antioxidant therefore prevents wrinkles and loosening of skin.

Aloe vera: a skin specialist herb


Aloe vera is an herb extensively used in enhancing beauty in natural way.

· Aloe vera is known to help in condition known as dermatitis (an inflammatory disease of the skin) therefore helps in relieving from it

· It stabilizes digestive system and therefore is very essential in providing proper nourishment to the skin.

· Being an herb of cold potency, it helps in fighting against any skin diseases that are caused by pitta related disorders

· It works as magic in burn cases and researches have proved its efficacy in healing wounds faster than any thing

· It is helpful in erasing blemishes and dark spots on face generally caused after pregnancy.

· It helps in fighting with acne and other allergic disorders of skin thereby making pores clear and healthy

· Helps in lightening of the skin colour, as it helps in fighting extra amount of melalin that has been produced in body

· It works as an antioxidant therefore helps in fighting with the age related changes that has occurred with growing age

· Helps in slowing down the wrinkles developing on the skin.

· Helps in increasing circulation of blood thus facilitating easier oxygen exchange between the cells thus providing them nourishment

More Details about Benefits and Uses of Neem on Skin Care here. Also read informative Home Remedies Health Forum to discuss your health problems, share your own experience and get the most effective Home Remedies here.


Dr John Anne
http://www.morphemeremedies.com

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Skin Aging

December 31st, 2009 "Store" "LowPrices" "Cheap" "Cheap price"

Numerous variables determine the skin’s quality, particularly the ravages of the external environment and age, which are the most important variables.

Aging is a continuous, universal, progressive, intensive, deleterious, but democratic phenomenon, which is essential to the evolutionary process and of which the skin is not an exception. The older we get, the more wrinkled our skin becomes. In the human skin, factors such as age, sun-exposure, smoking, and endocrinological changes are considered to be important risk factors for wrinkles [1-4].

Concept of skin aging
The skin is a unique organ, which reflects the inevitable changes occurring in the body’s aging process. It is the body’s dynamic interface with the environment and as such its roles include barrier function, mechanical protection, wound healing, immune surveillance, thermoregulation, and sebum production, to mention a few. All these functions decline with age. Aging of the skin is a complex process, associated with morphological and chemical changes, dictated by an inherent genetic program and accelerated by environmental damage to genes and their protein products. Through structural and molecular degradation, aging causes a functional deficit in the skin resulting in clinical changes, including wrinkling, colour changes (dyspigmentation), laxity and no-elasticity [5, 6].

Two independent processes govern skin aging, the intrinsic and the extrinsic aging of the skin.

Intrinsic aging
Intrinsic aging, also known as the natural aging process, is the slow irreversible degeneration of tissue, which affects almost all body organs. Usually beginning in our mid-20’s, intrinsic aging is a continuous process, which by definition, is inevitable and as such is not subject to manipulation through changes in human behaviour. It is genetically programmed and causes structural and functional changes in all layers of the skin. Although it begins in the mid-20’s the signs of intrinsic aging are not usually visible for decades [7-9].

Intrinsic aging produces lines and wrinkles, age spots, splotches and pigmentation problems, broken capillaries, dull skin texture and colour, and other skin flaws. Apart from these, intrinsic aging may cause a previously attractive mole or birth mark to change into an unattractive protrusion or a once unnoticeable scar may become more apparent when wrinkles form around it. The production of collagen within the skin is slowed and elastin, a protein constituting the basic substance of elastic tissue, which enables the skin to snap back into place on pulling, becomes less “springy”. Epidermal turnover (turnover of new skin cells), which takes about 28 days in young adults requires about 40-60 days in the elderly. This slower turnover results in a thinning of the epidermis, which gives aged skin a translucent appearance, as well as adversely affecting skin barrier function and repair, and cell exfoliation. Intrinsic aging causes a decrease in subdermal (beneath the skin) fat tissue, which contributes to wrinkling and sagging of the skin, making the skin more susceptible to trauma and bruising. Although it causes a number of structural changes, the effects of intrinsic aging are mostly functional, with only minor impacts on skin appearance (as previously mentioned) – fine wrinkling, dryness, and thinning. The genetic program of intrinsic aging differs in each individual both in terms of rate and severity of effect [8, 10, 11].

Extrinsic aging
Extrinsic aging is generally caused by external factors introduced to the body, such as smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, poor nutrition, pollution, harsh weather and chronic sun exposure (photoaging). Other factors include repetitive facial expressions, gravity and sleeping positions. Of all these external factors, sun exposure is considered to be by far the most significantly harmful to the skin and according to Baumann (2007) 80% of facial aging is believed to be due to chronic sun exposure [8, 9].

1. Sun exposure (Photoaging)
The human skin is exposed to UV and infrared radiation practically everyday and without protection from the sun’s rays, a few minutes of exposure each day over the years can cause noticeable changes to the skin as the skin loses the ability to repair itself and as such, the damage accumulates. The clinical manifestation of photoaging depends on skin type, skin colour and the history of long-term or intense sun exposure. An individual with fair skin with a history of sun exposure will develop more signs of photoaging than a dark skinned individual. For individuals with the darkest of skins, the signs of photoaging are often limited to fine wrinkles and complexion marked with spots or blotches of different shades or colours. It has been shown that repeated ultraviolet exposure damages the skin by breaking down collagen, impairing the synthesis of new collagen and attacking elastin, thereby causing immense damage. Photoaging is characterised by coarse, deep, severe wrinkling as well as pigmentary changes on exposed areas such as the face, neck and forearm. Losses in skin tone and elasticity, increased skin fragility, and benign lesions are also observed in skin affected by photoaging [8-10].

2. Cigarette smoking
Cigarette smoking is the second causative factor of premature skin aging after photoaging as it triggers biochemical changes in the body, which accelerate the aging process. It has been shown that individuals who smoke 10 or more cigarettes a day for a minimum of 10 years are statistically more likely to develop deep wrinkled, leathery skin than non smokers. Smoking exerts a noticeable effect on the skin such that it is often possible to detect whether an individual is a smoker or not by simply looking at his or her face. Such individuals have more wrinkles and their skin tends to have a greyish pallor compared with non smokers [8, 12-15]. The most serious damage to the skin through smoking is often caused by the following:
a. reduction in the body’s storage of vitamin A, which produces protection from skin damage
b. continual puckering from drawing on a cigarette as well as squinting in reaction to cigarette smoke create deeply wrinkled skin around the eyes and mouth – these are classic signs of “smoker’s face”
c. restricted blood flow through the capillaries thereby preventing oxygen and nutrients getting to the skin
d. restriction of the absorption of vitamin C, which is a vital oxidant for skin protection and health
e. acceleration of the decrease in collagen production, an enzyme vital to the skin’s elasticity.
(Taken from Lifestyle – Ref 14)

3. Facial Expression/ Facial Animation
Each time facial expressions are made, a facial muscle or facial muscles are used. These cause a groove to form beneath the surface of the skin causing it to form lines with each facial expression. As the skin ages and loses its elasticity, it loses its ability to spring back to its “line-free” state and consequently grooves become permanently etched on the face as fine lines and wrinkles (referred to as expressive wrinkles) [8, 16].

4. Sleeping positions
Continually sleeping by resting the face on a pillow in the same way every night for years on end can lead to the development of wrinkles on the face. These wrinkles (also known as sleep lines) eventually become etched on the surface of the skin and no longer disappear when the head is not resting on the pillow [8].

5. Gravity
Naturally, gravity pulls on our bodies; however, the changes related to gravity become more pronounced with age. When the skin loses its elasticity, the effects of gravity become more evident causing drooping of the eyelids and eyebrows, elongation of the ear lobes, formation of jowls and “double chin”, drooping of the tip of the nose, and disappearing of the upper lip whilst the lower lip becomes more pronounced [8, 17].

Prevention of skin aging
Although much cannot be done to halt or reverse the intrinsic aging process, changes associated with extrinsic aging are largely preventable. Preventative measures include,

1. Protection from UV light, which at any age reduces photoaging and decreases the risk of age-related skin diseases. Photoprotective measures include,
? Sun avoidance particularly when the sun’s rays are the strongest (usually between 10am and 4pm.
? Wearing protective clothing (e.g. wide-brimmed hats, long sleeves) when outdoors during the day.
? Applying sunscreen. This should be broad spectrum, offering UVA and UVB protection, and should have a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or higher.
? Avoiding deliberate tanning, including the use of indoor tanning devices.
According to McCullough et al (2006) preventative measures should begin in early childhood since approximately 80% of the damage caused to the skin by the sun is thought to occur by the age of 18 years. McCullough et al (2006) also make mention of the fact that the use of sunscreen is the “gold standard” for protecting the skin from ultraviolet light. It has also been well documented that regular use of a broad spectrum sunscreen can prevent not only sunburn, but also many skin-aging effects, such as wrinkles and pigmentary changes. In association with the implementation of skin-aging treatment, the use of sunscreen and sun protection is also important. It is essential to note that the beneficial effects of skin rejuvenation measures will be minimised or cancelled if unprotected sun exposure continues to induce skin damage [8, 10].

2. The use of antioxidants, which provide another approach for the prevention and treatment of both intrinsic and extrinsic skin aging. The skin has an integrated endogenous antioxidant defence mechanism that scavenges free radicals (which play a pivotal role in the biological events that lead to the clinical manifestations of skin aging) and protects cells from damage. These naturally produced antioxidants are reduced in chronically aged skin and further reduced in sun damaged skin. Taking antioxidants can help augment skin antioxidant levels to enhance defence mechanisms. However, according to McCullough et al (2006) oral supplementation has not been successful in augmenting skin antioxidant levels as a result of physiological processes, which take place in the body. It has however been shown that antioxidants can be delivered via the percutaneous route (through the skin) to directly supplement the skin’s antioxidant reservoir. Antioxidants include vitamins A (retinol), C (ascorbic acid), and E (tocopherol), ?-carotene, and bioflavonoid [10, 18].

3. Quitting smoking, desisting from performing facial exercises or expressions and correcting sleeping positions by not lying face down [8].

Rejuvenation of aging skin (Anti-aging procedures)
For individuals hoping to look younger or wondering how to look younger, corrective measures for aging skin are numerous and varied. These include:
1. Topical medications, such as topical retinoids (e.g. tretinoin, tazarotene and adapalene) which are effective in minimising fine lines and wrinkles, as well as improving skin texture and hyperpigmentation [10].
2. Chemical peels, which are quite beneficial in the treatment of wrinkles, skin discolouration and age spots. Depending on the amount of skin damage, a variety of peeling agents are used to produce light, medium or deep chemical peels. On healing, new skin, which is noticeably smoother, fresher and younger in appearance, is generated [11, 18].
3. Botulinum toxin (Botox), a sterile, vacuum-dried purified form of Botulinum toxin type A. It temporarily denervates specific muscles, which are responsible for certain facial wrinkles, including horizontal forehead lines, horizontal neck lines, and crow’s feet. It is injected in very tiny amounts into specific muscles to treat and improve lines, wrinkles and furrows associated with facial expression [11, 18].
4. Soft tissue fillers, which involves injecting filling substances under the skin. A variety of filling substances are available and those successfully used in soft tissue augmentation include bovine collagen, silicone, hyaluronic acid, Fibrel®, Goretex®, to mention a few; all these need to be applied by a skilled dermatologist. They are used to “plump up” or contour and correct wrinkles, furrows and hollows in the face [11, 18].
5. Dermabrasion, a traditional technique, which makes use of a special instrument to remove or abrade the upper layers of the skin and smooth out irregularities in the skin surface. Usually performed to correct scarring, but is used by some physicians to perform dermabrasion for substantial sun damaged skin or skin with pigmentation problems [10-11, 18].
6. Microdermabrasion, which uses tiny particles that pass through a vacuum tube to gently scrape away the aging skin and stimulate new cell growth. Suitable for patients with mild to moderate skin damage and wrinkles [11].
7. Facelift, a well known procedure used to remove sagging and redundant skin in the lower third of the face and under the chin [11].
8. Laser resurfacing, also known as “laser peel” is a relatively new procedure, which uses the newest generation of the carbon dioxide and erbium YAG lasers to remove areas of damaged or wrinkled skin, layer by layer, revealing fresh skin underneath. It is most commonly used to minimise the appearance of fine lines, particularly around the mouth and the eyes. It is also effective in treating facial scars or areas of uneven pigmentation. It is often done in conjunction with another cosmetic operation such as a facelift or eyelid surgery [11, 19].
9. Non-ablative resurfacing: relatively new treatment options used to rejuvenate aging and sun damaged facial skin. They make use of non-ablative laser and intense pulsed light technologies, including electrosurgical resurfacing using electrical energy at low temperature. Non-ablative techniques were developed as a less destructive alternative to laser resurfacing and chemical peels. When used to treat wrinkles and scars, these techniques allow for rapid healing, as well as improving fine lines, and possibly skin tone [11, 18].
10. Light Therapy, which is essentially the use of infrared LED light therapy. This is used based on the fact that the skin has the ability to absorb infrared light and in the process use it as a source of energy to stimulate cellular regeneration. First researched by NASA for use in the U.S Space Program, infrared LED light therapy can reverse and control the visible signs of aging without the use of harsh chemical treatments or invasive surgical procedures. Infrared LED light therapy aids in increasing the production of collagen and elastin, thereby improving the skin’s tone and elasticity. This form of light therapy is gentle, painless, safe, non-invasive and nonabrasive, and its application feels comfortable and relaxing. So straight-forward is its ease of use that it can be used in the comfort of the home.

Recommended Products for Skin Aging

References
1. Ramalho A, Silva CL, Pais AACC, Sousa JJS. In vivo friction study of human skin: Influence of moisturizers on different anatomical sites. Wear 2007; doi:10.1016/j.wear.2006.11.051
2. Brincat MP. Hormone replacement therapy and the skin. Maturitas 2000; 35: 107-117.
3. Cucinotta D. Prevention of pathological aging by comprehensive clinical, functional and biological assessment. Arch Gerontol Geriatr 2007; Suppl 1: 125-132.
4. Seo JY, Chung JH. Thermal aging: A new concept of skin aging. J Dermatol Sci 2006; 2 (Suppl): S13-S22.
5. Venna SS, Gilchrest MD. Skin aging and photoaging. Skin & Aging 2004; 2: 56-69
6. Diridollou S et al. Skin ageing: changes of physical properties of human skin in vivo. Int J Cosmet Sci 2001; 23: 353-362.
7. Leung W-C, Harvey I. Is skin ageing in the elderly caused by sun exposure or smoking? Br J Dermatol 2002; 147: 1187-1191.
8. AgingSkinNet. Causes of Aging Skin. Available from: www.skincarephysicians.com/agingskinnet/basicfacts.html. Accessed on: 11 July 2007.
9. Baumann L. Skin ageing and its treatment. J Pathol 2007; 211: 241-251.
10. McCullough JL, Kelly KM. Prevention and Treatment of Skin Aging. Ann NY Acad Sci 2006; 1067: 323-331.
11. American Society for Dermatologic Surgery Fact Sheet. The ravages of time and the sun. American Society for Dermatologic Surgery. Available from: http://www.asds-net.org/Patients/FactSheets/patients-Fact_Sheet-aging_skin.html. Accessed on: 11 July 2007.
12. Petitjean A et al. Effect of cigarette smoking on the skin of women. J Dermatol Sci 2006; 42: 259-261.
13. Frances C. Smoker’s Wrinkles: Epidemiological and Pathogenic Considerations. Clin Dermatol 1998; 16: 565-570.
14. Lifestyle. Smoking and Skin Aging. Available from: http://lifestyle.simplyantiaging.com/smoking-and-skin-aging. Accessed on: 13 July 2007.
15. BBC News. Smoking ages across the body. Available from: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/6466041.stm. Accessed on: 13 July 2007.
16. Wu Y, Thalmann NM, Thalmann D. A dynamic wrinkle model in facial animation and skin aging. J Visual Comp Anim 1995; 6 (4): 195-205.
17. Mohatta CD. Aging-Why does the skin age? American Chronicle. Available from: http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/viewArticle.asp?articleID=12644. Accessed on: 15 July 2007.
18. Ramos-e-Silva M, da Silva Carneiro SC. Elderly skin and its rejuvenation: products and procedures for the aging skin. J Cosmetol Dermatol 2007; 6: 40-50.
19. American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Skin Resurfacing. Available from: http://www.plasticsurgery.org/patients_consumers/procedures/SkinResurfacing.cfm. Accessed on: 15 July 2007.

Disclaimer

This article is only for informative purposes. It is not intended to be a medical advice and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult your doctor for all your medical concerns. Kindly follow any information given in this article only after consulting your doctor or qualified medical professional. The author is not liable for any outcome or damage resulting from any information obtained from this article.

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Does Skin Care Vary With Skin Color and Type?

December 31st, 2009 "Store" "LowPrices" "Cheap" "Cheap price"

The human world comprises people of many ethnic groups and cultures with each ethnic group having certain general characteristics with respect to eye, hair and skin color.

For example, central and northern Europeans tend more towards fair skin, hair and eye color, while southern Europeans tend to have dark hair, brown eyes and darker, olive skin tones. People of African and Australian aboriginal decent have very dark or almost black skin, usually dark or black hair and brown eyes, whilst people of Asian decent have a yellowish skin tone and can have brown or blue eyes but have mostly dark or black hair. Those of American-Indian decent have more reddish tones to skin and hair with brown eyes. Why do people have different skin colors?

The reason people have different skin colors is because there are three main pigments that give human skin a wide variety of colors: melanin, carotene and hemoglobin. Melanin is mostly located in the epidermis of the skin, carotene is mostly in the dermis and hemoglobin is in red blood cells within the capillaries in the dermis.

Melanin, a naturally occurring sun-block that protects our skin cells from the harmful effects of ultra-violet radiation from the sun, is produced from the amino acid tyrosine by special cells called melanocytes. The production of melanin is controlled by an enzyme called tyrosinase and is stimulated by exposure to sunlight. People whose melanocytes do not produce very much tyrosinase will most likely have fair skin and will not tan easily. Some people inherit an inability to produce melanin because their melanocytes cannot make the enzyme tyrosinase and these people have a condition known as albinism.

How Do Skin Pigments Work?
Carotene, the same pigment that is found in egg yolks and yellow, orange and red vegetables and fruits, is a precursor of Vitamin A synthesis. People of Asian and American-Indian ancestry have more carotene in the stratum corneum and fatty areas of the dermis and subcutaneous tissue.

The epidermis of fair skinned people is translucent, thus the pinkish tones seen in Caucasians is due to the presence of the pigment haemoglobin, an iron-based oxygen-carrying molecule in red blood cells.

The relative proportions of these pigments give us the variations we see in skin colour: more melanin will give darker brown to black skin tones, more carotene is responsible for the yellow to reddish tones and the hemoglobin gives red to pinkish tones.

We know that genetics have a major influence on our skin colour, skin resilience and vulnerability to certain skin problems. In addition, people with a lot of body hair, often have a greater tendency to oily skin and blocked secretory glands resulting in pimples and other similar skin conditions. On the other hand, people with red hair and very fair skin, have less of a problem with oily skin, but tend to burn easily in the sun and thus stand a greater risk of developing skin cancer.

Below are some generalized characteristics of various skin types from different genetic backgrounds:

Skin Characteristics of people with Anglo-Saxon origins

Fair, dry thin-skinned
Scars heal well
Signs of aging appear earlier
Burn easily in the sun
Bruising more obvious
Greater chance of skin cancer

Skin Characteristics of people with Southern Mediterranean origins

Oily, olive dark complexion
Signs of aging appear later
Cartilage tends to droop
Darker, thicker scars more common
Wrinkles appear later and in more localized areas
Skin cancer rare

Skin Characteristics of people with Northern European origins / German and Scandinavian

Fair, blue-eyed, blonde
Thin skin
Scars heal well
Signs of aging appear early
Bruising more obvious
Greater chance of skin cancer

Skin Characteristics of people with Southern European origins

Dark, oily brunette complexion
Signs of aging appear later
Fine wrinkling less common
Bruising lasts longer
Scars may be thicker and darker
Skin cancers less common

Skin Characteristics of people with Northern European/Irish and northern England

Ruddy freckled complexion
Red hair
Scars usually thin
Signs of aging appear later
Bruises easily
Pigmentation problems
Skin cancers most common in this type

Skin Characteristics of people with African origins

Signs of aging appear very late
Very little fine wrinkling
Formation of keloids is possible
Pigmentation changes may occur
Thicker cartilage hard to change
Skin cancers very rare

Genetically, this skin type is less susceptible to damage from UV radiation, although the skin can still get burned.

Skin Characteristics of people with Asian origins

Signs of aging appear late
Fine wrinkling does not usually occur
Pigmentation changes may occur
Eyelid surgery more difficult
Skin cancers very rare

Do these ethnically different skin types require a different approach to skin care?
The answer is ‘to some extent, yes’ but on closer analysis we will see that there is very little difference between black, brown, yellow, red and white skin types!

Within each of these groups, there is a wide range in skin tones and overlap from group to group. For example, white skin may range from alabaster white to deep olive tones; black skin may range from light tan to almost ebony black; Asian skin from light yellow to deep tan; and in American-Indian and Inuit skin, various tones of reddish brown. These differences are caused by the concentration of melanin and proportional contribution of the other pigments in the skin.

People of different races have the same number of melanocytes but they are more active in dark-skinned people. Oil glands tend to be more numerous and large in black skin, and follicles tend to be larger, so black skin tends toward oiliness, although it is less acne-prone. The darker the skin the more protection melanin provides from ultra-violet rays of the sun and from premature aging and stays younger-looking longer.

It becomes obvious very quickly that we are all very different and have various advantages and disadvantages specific to our skin type, depending on our genetic predisposition. However, the overall structures and functions of skin are very similar irrespective of color and are therefore cared for in very similar ways. Knowing your skin’s particular strengths and weaknesses, you can tailor your skin care approach to your particular skin-characteristics.

Classic Skin Type Categories

For the purpose of better understanding the care your skin requires, a ‘Skin Type Classification System’ has been devised and developed over the years. The basic skin types are generally described as oily, dry, normal, sensitive, mature or a combination of these. A brief description of each of the skin types and what you need to be aware of in order to balance your skin is given below to provide you with approaches to natural skin care which help you make the correct choices for your particular skin.

Skin Types: Normal, Dry, Oily, Combination, Dull or Mature

Normal skin type

Normal skin is smooth, finely-textured, soft and supple. If you are lucky enough to possess this skin type, treasure it by using light cleansers and lotions and mild toners and fresheners.

Dry skin type

Dry skin is usually thin and delicate and often flaky and prone to fine lines. It sometimes feels tighter than it should. Extremely rich and greasy creams are not good for it because they block the pores, often enlarging them and so creating an extra problem. Use light oils and lotions when moisturising and choose herbal toners, which are mild and not too astringent. Try to restore the pH or acid-alkali balance with the application of such things as cucumber juice or diluted vinegar so that the sebaceous glands are encouraged to function.

Generally speaking, the emollient and hydrating herbs (chamomile, comfrey, cowslip, elderflower, fennel, marshmallow, orange blossom, rose, violet) are the best to use in lotions and toners for dry skin. But there is no hard and fast rule. Astringent herbs can be good for dry skins, for example, if blended with emollient herbs or oils and gels, and many herbs are suitable for all skin types. If the skin is sensitive as well as dry, see the section on sensitive skin below.

Oily skin type

Oily skin is shiny and coarser-textured, often with enlarged pores. It is prone to blackheads and spots. Don’t use alcohol to reduce the oiliness of the skin, as it will only worsen the problem. Many herbal toners are suitable for reducing oiliness and tightening the pores (see list of suitable herbs below). Egg-white makes a nice mild face-mask. Don’t over-dry the skin; moisturize with a light lotion. Aim to restore your skin’s acid-alkali balance so that the sebaceous glands cease to produce such large amounts of oil.

Astringent and cleansing herbs are generally the best to choose when treating an oily skin. These are: cinquefoil, clary sage, comfrey, cucumber, dandelion, horsetail, houseleek, hyssop, lavender, lemon balm, lemongrass, lemon verbena, marigold, mint, parsley, sage, witch hazel and yarrow. But don’t forget that many herbs are suited to all skin types and that many of the strengthening and anti-inflammatory herbs (chamomile, cowslip, fennel, lettuce, elderflower, orange blossom, rose, violet) are suitable for oily skins.

Combination skin types

The person with this skin type will have to follow two skin-care routines, one for the dry areas, and another for the oily. I think the oily areas balance up more easily in this type of skin than when the whole face is oily, so don’t despair.

Sensitive skin type

This skin is usually fine-textured and often prone to reddish veins and patches. Keep to light oils and lotions for cleansing and moisturising, and mild herbal toners and compresses to soothe the skin and reduce redness and veins. It is usually wise for people with sensitive skins to stay away from the stimulating herbs (lavender, lime-flower, mint, nettle, sage, southernwood, summer savory, thyme).
Dull skin

Dull skin has lost the bloom of vitality and the soft glow of renewal, the acid balance has been lost and it looks matt and lifeless. This condition of the skin often occurs during or following severe illness. If it is oily or large-pored skin use diluted cider vinegar or lemon juice, or cucumber juice to balance it or if dry skin, use buttermilk or cucumber juice, together with a highly nutritious diet.

Mature skin type

It is possible to tone, soften and restore older skin to much of its former freshness. The skin has wonderful regeneration abilities, given the right support. Use a light hand with makeup if you must use it, as this tends to further dry and age mature skin. Of course, exercise, good nutrition, adequate rest/relaxation and a positive outlook on life all help the restoration process.

Other Factors that can influence you skin

The foundation of healthy, beautiful skin is diet. Are you getting sufficient polyunsaturated fats? These are essential to a healthy skin and do not cause facial oiliness. They are found in cereal grains, nuts and cold pressed nut and vegetable oils.

Plenty of vitamin C is fundamental to a beautiful skin, because this vitamin helps to build collagen and elastin, the bonding and structural substances which give tone and resilience. Eat bean sprouts, green and red peppers, black currants, oranges and lemons. Then there are guavas and rosehips, so your diet need not be restricted or dull. There is infinite variety to suit every palate.

Lack of vitamin A can cause dryness of the skin. Eat dandelion, parsley, watercress, carrots, pumpkins, celeriac.

If your skin is unbalanced, either flaky or too oily, or if your lips peel, then check your intake of vitamin B foods. Oats, years, bran, goat’s milk, whole rice, sunflower seeds, sprouted seeds and grains are some of the sources.

Caring For Your Skin on a Daily Basis

Looking after the body’s largest and arguably one of the body’s most complex organs needs to become one of your daily routines.

Firsly, you need to adopt a regular, structured skin care regime of exfoliating, cleansing, toning and moisturizing. There is no way around it.

Secondly, if you have combination skin, you may need to look at two different types of products to treat your different skin types. For example you may have both dry, sensitive skin and oily skin. That simply means you need to treat the sensitive skin with one set of products and the oily skin with a second set of products.

The next thing you need to consider is what you put into your body. Yes, here it comes – diet. Rather than promote any particular diet or tell you whether to eat high protein or low carb or what ever-diet, suffice it to say that if you keep your food as unprocessed as possible, as fresh as possible and as varied as possible – you will have a good diet and the foods you’re eating are helping you to correct the imbalance of your skin type.

The nutrients in your food will be reflected in your skin – eat processed, high fat foods and you guessed it – your skin will reflect ‘what you eat’. This also includes adequate hydration: water is the basic ingredient required for all the chemical reactions that occur in body cells and for effective removal of waste products.

Don’t forget about exercise: swimming, walking, using the stairs instead of the lift at the office and using your feet when using the car is not absolutely necessary. It’s not that hard, it just takes a bit of will power and knowing that increasing your blood circulation by doing those little things regularly will keep you healthier for longer. Even mild exercise, has a beneficial effect on not only blood circulation around the body but also on the lymphatic system. The lymphatic system assists the removal of waste products and excess fluids from the tissues and prevents the condition commonly known as cellulite or ‘orange-peel’ skin.

So there it is…no matter who you are, what skin color or skin type you possess…look after your skin using natural skin care products and it will look after you!

Danny Siegenthaler is a doctor of traditional Chinese medicine and together with his wife Susan, a medical herbalist and Aromatherapist, they have created Natural Skin Care Products by Wildcrafted Herbal Products to share their 40 years of combined expertise with you.

They practice Herbal and Chinese medicine at their Wildcrafted Cottage Clinic.

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Alexz Johnson – Skin

December 31st, 2009 "Store" "LowPrices" "Cheap" "Cheap price"


THE FIRST ALEXZ JOHNSON VIDEO THAT HAS MORE THAN A MILLION VIEWS! THANK YOU SO MUCH! This video I made about a couple of years ago .. it means a lot to me , so i hope u like it (:

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