Health and Beauty

We all know the importance of personal skin care. The opinion on how-to (for personal skin care) differs from person to person. Some people believe that going to beauty parlours every other day is personal skin care. Others believe that personal skin care is just a matter of applying some cream or lotion on your skin, every now and then. Then there are people who think that personal skin care is an event that happens once a month or once a year. Still others busy themselves with personal skin care all the time. However, personal skin care is not that complicated and neither is it that expensive (considering how beneficial it is). Personal skin care is following a routine or a procedure for attending to the needs of your skin.

Even before you start with a routine, you need to determine your skin-type (oily, dry, sensitive, normal etc) and select the personal skin care products suitable for it (you might have to experiment with a few personal skin care products). Here is a routine that should work for most people with normal skin.

The first thing on this routine is Cleansing. The three main ingredients of a cleanser are oil, water and surfactants (wetting agents). Oil and surfactants extract dirt and oil from your skin and water then flushes it out, thus making your skin clean. You might have to try a couple of cleansers before you find the one that suits you the best. However, you should always use soap-free cleansers. Also, you should use Luke warm water for cleansing (hot and cold water, both, cause damage to your skin). Take care that you don’t over-cleanse your skin and end up damaging your skin in the process.

The second thing on the this routine is exfoliation. Skin follows a natural maintenance process wherein it removes the dead cells and replaces them with new skin cells. Exfoliation is just a way to facilitate the skin in this process. Dead skin cells are not capable of responding to personal skin care products but still consume these products, hence preventing them from reaching the new skin cells. Thus removing dead skin cells is important in order to increase the effectiveness of all personal skin care products. Generally, exfoliation takes it place just after cleansing. As with any personal skin care procedure, it’s important that you understand how much exfoliation you need. Exfoliate 4-5 times per week for oily/normal skin and 1-2 times per week for dry/sensitive skin. Exfoliate a couple of times more in hot and humid weather.

Next thing on this routine is moisturizers. This is one of the most important things in skin care. Even people with oily skin need moisturisers. Moisturisers not only seal the moisture in your skin cells, but also attract moisture (from air) whenever needed. Use of too much moisturiser can however clog skin pores and end up harming your skin. The amount of moisturiser needed by your skin will become apparent to you within one week of you using the moisturiser. Also, applying the moisturiser is best when your skin is still damp.

The last thing on this routine is sunscreen. A lot of moisturizers (day-time creams/moisturisers) come with UV protection so you can get double benefits from them. Such moisturisers are recommended for all days (irrespective of whether it is sunny or cloudy).

Again, experiment with various products and also with the amount you need to apply. What gives you best results is the best personal skin care recipe for you. However, if you have some kind of skin dilemma, it is best to consult your dermatologist before you actually start using any personal skin care products.

Many people constantly look for ways that will make them look young forever. They wish to remain unaffected by the passage of time. First people opted for plastic surgery and now they go for Botox, where a chemical is injected into the muscles of the face to erase fine lines and wrinkles on the face. People who are beautiful in their youth try to stop ageing and maintain their youthful appearance for a long time.
• Microdermabrasion
Microdermabrasion is like a facial where your face is exfoliated with tiny crystals. It may take a few sessions but it is very effective. Wrinkles and fine lines diminish and even skin that is prone to acne improves. Nowadays, it can be done at home too.
• Hairstyle
Rather than sticking to your high school hairstyle, you can have a more carefree look. You will look much younger this way. If you are really concerned about your hair, you can visit a hairdresser for a makeover.
• Fragrance
A fresh and young scent will make you feel younger. A youthful spice with fragrance will make you feel and perhaps even look at least 5-6 years younger than you actually are.
• Lighting
You will look years younger in unflattering, bright light. Install light dimmers in your home and this will create an environment of love and compassion. This will make you feel younger.
• Makeup
When all else fails, cheat. You may use a makeup primer after applying a moisturizer so that the lines on your face are filled. Skin Doctors Superceutical Face Lift Cream is very effective in treating fine lines and wrinkles. Another cream that has gained reputation in the domain of skin care is Skin Doctors fade away.

Essential oils and herbs offer so many benefits in your skin care regime.  Below are common essential oils and herbs commonly found in skin care products:

Almond and Almond Oil – A great vegetable oil for dry skin.  Commonly used as a carrier oil to blend with other essentials oils.  Easily absorbed into the skin and is an excellent emollient with nourishing properties.  Safety Precautions:  People with nut allergies should avoid almonds and almond oil.

Jojoba –.Jojoba oil makes a great scalp cleanser and hair conditioner.  Additionally, because of its absorption properties it is commonly used in skin care propducts as a cleaning agent, makeup remover and moisturizer…  It has a great effect on fighting wrinkles, as well as having an anti-bacterial effect on the skin.  Jojoba oil can be used as base carrier oil into which other essential oils can be diluted before applying it to the skin. Safety Precautions: No reports of toxicity

Aloe Vera – Aloe is used externally for skin irritation, burns, sunburn, wounds, eczema, psoriasis, acne, and dermatitis.  Aloe Vera has good astringent qualities.  When used with other ingredients it soothes the skin and stimulates cell regeneration. The oil is combined in massage therapy for its healing and rejuvenating properties. Safety Precautions: When used topically, some individuals may have an allergic reaction and a skin patch test (behind the ear or on the forearm) is advised before use.

Anise – Cooled down tea made from anise can be sponged on the face to help lighten the complexion.   Safety Precautions: On the whole, anise is a safe herb to use but due to its trans-anethole estrogen-like action, it may be best avoided during pregnancy or when suffering from endometriosis or any estrogen dependant cancers.

Avocado – Moisturizes, reduces appearance of age spots, heals sun damage and scars.  Additionally, avocado regenerates and rejuvenates the skin. Avocado increases collagen in the skin and therefore is an anti-aging ingredient in skin care.  Avocado oil has superior moisturizing qualities.  

Carrot – A superb skin-nourishing essential oil, carrot seed helps balance both oily and dry complexions, heals damaged skin, and helps aged skin by reducing age spots and wrinkles. Safety Precautions: Carrot seeds and carrot seed oil should not be used excessively during pregnancy.

Chamomile – Tones all types of complexions. The anti-inflammatory effect of this essential oil applied topically improves skin regeneration, and a cold compress does wonders for puffy eyes. Chamomile is used in facial steams to reduce puffiness and cleanse the pores of the skin. Safety Precautions: Handling fresh chamomile plants may cause dermatitis in some individuals. It should not to be used when using anti-coagulant drugs. Please note that the essential oil is said to stimulate the uterus and should be used with care in pregnancy. Allergic reactions may occur for those that are allergic to daisies.

Green Tea – has an antioxidant effect that helps to keep wrinkles at bay.  External use: Green tea is often included in anti-aging skin care products for the antioxidant properties contained in the herb.  Green tea is a powerful antioxidant, a potent anti-inflammatory agent thereby reducing inflammation in the skin, and having a inhibitory action on collagens – an enzymatic action in the skin where the collagen is broken down, resulting in more firm and elastic skin.  In hair care, it can be used with great success to improve the gloss and shine of the hair.   Safety Precautions: When pregnant or nursing only limited amounts of green tea should be used, and it can also interfere with MAO inhibitors and blood thinning medication.  It should not be consumed together with other medication, as it may interfere with the absorption of such medicine.

Geranium – Wonderful oil for mature and troubled skin and brings a radiant glow and promotes circulation. Safety Precautions: Geranium essential oil is well tolerated by most individuals, but since it helps in balancing the hormonal system, care must be taken during pregnancy.

Ginseng – Ginseng is used in cosmetics for its rejuvenating properties. The vast amount of properties gives Ginseng an almost unlimited use in cosmetics. Its activity makes it useful in nourishing creams, in treating wrinkled and aged skin and in all cosmetic products used to retard the onset of age.  Ginseng may be used in products for weak hair and lotions for preventing hair loss as it stimulates growth and gives strength.  Safety Precautions: May worsen the side effects of stimulants such as coffee, and should best be avoided when consuming alcohol.  Not normally used by pregnant women and is not indicated for use by young children, people suffering from depression, high blood pressure, anxiety or any acute inflammatory disease.  Excess may cause headaches, restlessness, high blood pressure, and nausea.

Honey – Refines pores; tightens skin; moisturizes; retards wrinkles; anti-blemish

Jasmine – On the skin, it is used with great effect to treat dry, stressed and sensitive skins and also helps to increase elasticity. Safety Precautions: Although well tolerated, this heavy scented essential oil should be used sparingly, and specially so during pregnancy.

Lanolin – Moisturizer; softener; emollient

Lavender – Lavender skin care products are ideal for oily and combination skin. It has antiseptic and stimulant properties.  Lavender is useful in treating skin conditions such as abscesses, acne, allergies, athlete’s foot, boils, bruises, burns, dandruff, dermatitis, earache, eczema, inflammations, insect bites and stings, insect repellant, lice, psoriasis, ringworm, scabies, sores, spots, all skin types, sunburn and wounds. Safety Precautions: Although the essential oil is well tolerated by all skin types, it must be, like all essential oils, used with care – remember essential oils are powerful and very concentrated.

Mud – (including clay, fuller’s earth) reduced large pores; absorb excess grease in oily skin; improves circulation. Safety Precautions: No Toxicity Reported

Nuts – (almonds, cashews, pecans): Scrub to refine pores, combat wrinkles, blackheads and dryness 

Oats – Excellent emollient properties.  Oats have a softening effect on sensitive skin. It helps to reduce the irritation caused on the skin by harsh climatic conditions or on skin with this kind of problem. It plays an important role in the treatment of older skin as well as problem skin.  Safety Precautions: No Toxicity Reported

Patchouli – It can be used for inflamed and itching skin.  The oil promotes cell rejuvenation, tightening of loose skin and heals wounds and sores, while sorting out rough, cracked skin.  Safety Precautions:  The essential oil of patchouli is well tolerated, but its heavy fragrance indicates use in low dosage.

Rose – Astringent and luxurious, rose oils and rose waters are welcome additions to almost any skin care formulation   has an astringent effect on oily skin, reducing puffiness, edema and has a slight tightening effect. The oil most effective for moisturizing and hydrating the skin while having a general stimulant and antiseptic action which is good for all skin types, but especially so for dry, mature and irritated skin. It is used to repair broken capillaries, inflammation, as well as skin redness and is useful in eczema  Safety Precautions: None noted.

Rosemary – Antioxidant properties, and secondly has a remarkable stimulating effect on the skin.  Traditionally used for hair and scalp stimulation, as well as anti-aging products.  Safety Precautions: Rosemary essential oil has a highly stimulating action and may not be suitable for people with epilepsy or high blood pressure. The essential oil should also not be used during pregnancy.

Seaweed – very good cellulite reducing capabilities All seaweeds are rich in compounds that are of specific use in the cosmetic industry 

Yogurt – Cleanser; bleach; for normal and oily skin 

As with any new skin care or hair product, a patch test is recommended.

For skin care recipes, visit Complete Skin Care Therapy

There was a time, not too long back, when it was not considered macho for men to be using skin care products. However, in modern times, it is quite acceptable by men as well as women to be using skin care products because men are equally aware about their skin requirements. Nowadays there is a plethora of beauty skin care products available for both men and women and for all possible skin types, soft, sensitive, rough, dry and even hypoallergenic products. So you will have no difficulty in finding a beauty skin care product which will suit your skin type, whether you are male or female and whatever your skin type may be.

What Kind Of Skin Type Do You Have?

If you do not know what type of skin type you have, you should find out. If your skin feels constantly oily, even a little while after you have washed it, you will know that you have oily skin and so you do not want to use a beauty skin care product which is oil based. If you do, you might just break out with pimples or acne. You will require something which will reduce the oiliness of your skin. On the other hand, if you have a dry skin, you will need a beauty skin care product which will replenish the moisture in your skin and help keep it supple and soft. If you have normal skin you should use a beauty skin care product for normal skin. There are also beauty skin care products which have herbs in them or those which are fragrance free for sensitive skins.
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Seek Help

If you are still confused as to what skin type you have you can check out at your nearest department store or supermarket which has a cosmetic counter. Most people manning these counters or sections know about beauty skin care products and they usually have a wide range of products to choose from. They can guide you after checking your skin type. Most beauty skin care products of good quality are not cheap, so you don’t want to buy something which will not suit your skin type. Alternatively, you can even check out at any beauty or skin care salon that you visit – the staff there will be able to help explain what your skin type is and what health and beauty skin care product you should use.

A Dermatologist Can Guide You

In case you have already been through the above steps are still not satisfied with the results, it would be best to seek the advice of a beauty skin care specialist, a dermatologist who is a medical expert. If you have never been to one then ask your doctor to refer you to one. It is worth spending the money on a dermatologist who will guide you as to your skin type and the best health beauty skin care product which will be ideal for your skin. Beauty may not just be skin deep, but it pays in the long run to take care of your skin and use a good beauty skin care product.

Need a good anti aging skin care guide? Here’s the start. 3 things you shouldn’t do to your skin, and a guide to how good anti aging skin care treatments will improve the look and health of our skin.

Whilst you might expect a lot of voodoo and hype about anti aging skin care, it’s not as difficult as you would think. There are some simple steps you can take to improve the chances of your skin looking good and being healthy right into old age. Combine some basic steps with a good quality anti aging skin care treatment and you’re on your way to slowing the visible effects of aging on your body.

A few simple steps each day should be a good foundation to good anti aging skin care, and there’s also some things you shouldn’t do too. A basic anti aging skin care guide should be easy to follow. It isn’t necessary to spend hours every day, just follow some simple rules and you’re well on your way to healthy good looking skin, and good health in general. Because the 2 go together.

3 Things You Should Never Do To Your Skin.

1. Avoid sunburn, or even overexposure to the sun.

Whilst a suntan might look good it’s one of the worst things you can do to your skin. Sunlight has damaging UV rays that burn your skin if you’re out in strong sunlight for too long, and this ages your skin and damages it severely. Sunburn is one of the worst things you can ever do to your skin.

When we get too much exposure to the sun our skin starts to experience damage to the cells that make up the skin, or dermis, as the scientists call it. This results in the loss of a substance known as hyaluronan. Hyaluronan is a key component of our skin and is responsible for helping our skin repair itself, so we don’t want to burn ourselves, thereby reducing the amount of hyaluronan that is there to repair damage.

That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t go out in the sun, please don’t misunderstand. And any good anti aging skin care guide shouldn’t advocate staying indoors all day. Our bodies need sunlight. Exposure to sunlight helps our body produce vitamin D, and important vitamin. It’s not exposure to sunlight that is dangerous to our skin, it’s over exposure.

So avoid direct exposure to the sun from around 1pm to about 4pm, the most dangerous time, especially in summer. Use a good hat and long sleeved shirt. Use sunscreens sparingly, as they can contain chemicals which themselves can be nasty to our skin and in some cases are suspected of being dangerous.

2. Don’t eat to ruin your skin.

Or your health for that matter. The American diet is one almost designed to age us as fast as possible. Any good anti aging skin care guide should stress the importance of good diet to our skin and overall health. Because remember, the 2 go together.

So when you’re tucking into that next burger or pizza, remember that your diet affects your skin’s health, and your overall health. Focus on a diet rich in fruit and vegetables and in particular leafy green vegetables. Spinach and broccoli are particularly good. Take care of your body with good diet (and exercise) and it will function better and look better.

A diet high in vegetables improves your levels of anti oxidants that combat the effect of free radicals in your body, and skin.

3. Don’t dehydrate your skin.

So many of us don’t have enough fluids in our life. Specifically water.

In any good skin care routine drinking enough water should play a big part. Our body is made up of more water than anything else, and it needs water taken in every day. Our skin is our largest organ and it too needs plenty of water, and doesn’t respond well to dehydration. Drink plenty of water every day. Make sure it’s filtered water, tap water isn’t so great.

There’s 3 simple things you can do to help reduce the effects of aging on your skin, but those 3 on their own aren’t sufficient. A good anti aging skin care guide should also focus on skin care products that work.

Make sure you use a good anti aging skin care treatment.

Unfortunately you’re probably using skin care products now that don’t work. If you’re using mainstream household name products there’s a good chance they won’t do anything. And they probably contain ingredients that could be dangerous as well.

The best skin care treatments are organic skin care products that contain ingredients that come from sources such as plants, rather than the lab.

For example products that contain Phytessence Wakame and CoenzymeQ10 are effective and natural skin care treatments that work, and don’t contain nasty chemicals. Both these ingredients are naturally occurring.

Phytessence Wakame, for example, is extracted from seaweed, and is packed with vitamins and minerals essential to the health of our skin. And it can help our body retain hyraluronic acid, which is very important for skin health.

But don’t be fooled, not all products containing those ingredients are effective, many big companies put very small amounts into their skin care products just so they can list them on the label.

So if you’re looking for a good anti aging skin care guide there’s a good place to start. Eat well, drink plenty of filtered water, avoid too much exposure to the sun, and use a high quality organic anti aging skin care treatment that contains some of the best naturally occurring anti aging and skin health ingredients .

And you won’t find these in your mainstream big name skin care brands sitting on the shelf of your drugstore.

Natural skin care products are top sellers in the skin care market. More and more people are recognizing that the chemicals used in big brand name skin care products are not good for us, or our skin, and turning to natural alternatives, both for skin care products, hair care products and cosmetics.

Here’s 6 skin care tips for getting healthy good looking skin, for free. Because although the best natural skin care and anti aging products are spectacularly effective, there is more that you can do than just using organic skin care products.

1. Improve your diet.
Like it or not, our diet affects our entire body, and our skin. Our skin is an organ of our body like any other organ, and like the other organs our skin can get unhealthy from an unhealthy diet. But as everyone sees your skin it’s a highly visible result of a poor diet.

This applies to all skin types, whether you have oily skin or dry skin or or any skin type, poor diet will affect the health, and look, of your skin. Skip the burgers and pizzas in favor of fruit and vegetables and your skin will look way better, and you’ll be healthier.

2. Avoid big brand name cosmetics and skin care products. These products, including such things as hair care treatments, hair removal treatments, popular cosmetics, many facial  and body care products and more contain chemicals that can both be harmful to your health and also damaging to your skin. Ironically, skin care products and cosmetics can actually cause skin problems. Junk your big brand name products.

The author has personal experience with this. My young daughter was given traditional cosmetics by her ballet studio for her first ballet concert a few years ago, and immediately broke out in a nasty skin reaction. We now use our own (natural) cosmetics for her and there has been no repeat.

3. Make yourself stick to a regular exercise routine. Exercise improves blood circulation, and this is good for your skin, and for your whole body. Exercise has so many benefits it’s hard to know where to start, and this includes improved skin health.

4. Pay attention to getting plenty of beneficial essential oils in your diet. This includes omega 3 which comes from eating fish as well as some other foods. Omega 3 is good for your skin, and your overall health. You can get omega 3 from good (natural) supplements, but if you’re on a budget just find out which foods contain omega 3 and eat those. Do a little research and find a good source of omega 3 essential oil and include this in your diet regularly.

5. Drink plenty of water. Your body, as well as your skin, needs to stay hydrated. If you don’t drink water this will impact your overall health as well as your skin health. Water is important for many things in your body, including skin health.

6. Start dry brush exfoliation. It sounds complicated, but exfoliation is just using a soft, dry brush to gently brush your skin. Why would you want to brush your skin? Dry brush exfoliation helps remove the dead skin cells that all of us have on the surface of our skin.

And you don’t just brush the skin on your face either, you should brush your entire body. It is done by gently brushing in small circles from your feet right up to your face. Dry brush exfoliation also helps improve your blood circulation in your skin, and lymph circulation.

There’s 6 things you can do for free to help improve your skin beauty routine. In fact you can even save some money, for example fruits and vegetables are usually cheaper than burgers and pizzas. And if you regularly do these 6 things they will improve your skin health over time, and you will see the results. And your body will thank you for it with improved health overall.

One last thing. Once you’ve junked your big brand name skin care products and cosmetics and hair and facial and body care products, find some high quality natural skin care products. They work better than the big brand name products (many of which do nothing at all), and they are made from safe non allergenic ingredients. Science is finding answers to skin aging and skin health, and they come from safe plant extracts such as shea butter and natural keratin.

Stay health, stay fit and stay hydrated and your skin will do the same.

Why do a lot of people say that herbal skin care is the best way to take care of your skin? What is so special about it? What is it that makes herbal products better than artificial skin care products? These are some of the questions that you can find a lot of people asking regarding skin care. However, there are so many skin care articles out there in magazines and the Internet that it is difficult to find authentic, valid information. So, let us take a look at some of the facts now.

Why do a lot of people say that herbal skin care is the best way to take care of your skin?

It is indeed the best way to take care of your skin. There are no ifs or buts here. Herbal skin products are way better than artificial skin care products and it is not just a claim, but a fact. This is why a lot of people, including skin care experts from around the globe, suggest using herbal skin products to get better results.

What is so special about herbal treatment for the skin?

First of all, it is more effective. Second of all, it is a lot safer. The reason why herbal skin treatment is far more effective is simple. Organic products are always good for your body. In other words, as they say, anything natural is only good for your health. So, treating your skin with natural skin care products will benefit you immensely and will give you the best results.

Moreover, herbal skin care products have some of the most powerful ingredients known to skin care experts to date. Ingredients like manuka honey, phytessence wakame, functional keratin, and herbal extracts like nutgrass root extracts are considered the most powerful skincare ingredients known to skin care experts to date.

These ingredients have miraculous skin care properties and can get rid of wrinkles, dark spots, saggy skin, dry skin, and many other skin problems. The best part is – they are absolutely safe to use and they can deliver the results in the shortest possible time if you use them properly and regularly. So, a product with these ingredients is certain to give the best results irrespective of your skin type.

What is it that makes herbal products better than artificial skin care products?

Herbal skin care products are a lot more effective and a lot safer than artificial skin care products. It is as simple as that. Since I’ve covered the effectiveness aspect in the answer for the last question, let me talk about the safety factor in this answer.

There are a number of highly dangerous chemicals found in artificial skin care products which can cause severe external and internal damage to your body. Even the products from some of the most famous big brands have these chemicals in their ingredients. So, the only way to stay safe is to stay away from artificial skin care products.

Alcohols, phenol carbolic acid, toluene, triclosans, parabens, and artificial fragrance are some of most commonly used dangerous chemicals in artificial cosmetic items. These chemicals are capable of causing very serious health problems like severe rashes, allergic reactions, depression, anemia, paralysis, and even cancer. This is the most important reason why you should choose herbal skin care products over artificial skin care products. Natural skin care products do not contain any of these dangerous chemicals as they only have organic ingredients which are absolutely safe to be used by people with any skin type.

So, did you find the answers satisfactory? Were your questions answered? Now that you have a good idea of herbal treatment for the skin and its benefits, you should make sure you always buy the best organic skin care products and treat your skin with natural goodness.

Do you avoid the skin care cream aisle at the store? Are you stubbornly using the same skin care moisturizer cream from 5 years ago, simply to avoid shopping for a new one? It’s overwhelming to see hundreds of “the best…” skincare products to choose from.

How can you possibly determine which are rip-offs and which actually work? How can you be sure that the 3 oz bottle of skin care moisturizer cream (priced at $34.99) isn’t the same stuff as the $3.99 bottle of Jergens at Wal-mart?

I’ll make it easy for you. Here is a crash-course in skin care cream ingredients. I’ve listed 2 ingredients your skin is crying out for, and 2 ingredients your skin has nightmares about. With just these 4 tips, you’ll be able to weed out 95% of the thorns and come out with a rose.

2 Things Every Skin Care Cream Should Have

Babassu

Babassu is a natural wax that softens and soothes your skin. It’s important because it creates a moisture-barrier around your skin that keeps out dirt and grime, but yet allows the skin valuable “breathing” room. It’s a natural product that comes from the oil extracted from the Babassu palm (in the Amazon). Many manufacturers will attempt to save a dime by replacing Babassu with mineral oil (one of the 2 no-no ingredients listed below).

Vitamin E (in the form of natural alpha-tocopherol)

Vitamin E has a long-proven record of protecting your skin from damaging free radicals found in pollution, UV radiation, poor nutrition, and aging. The best form of Vitamin E found in your skin care cream should be alpha-tocopherol. Most skincare products (including the expensive ones at department stores) use a synthetic form of alpha-tocopherol. Besides being less effective in synthetic form, manufacturers will only put a dash in each skin care cream product (.1% to .2%), making it practically meaningless. It is also a natural preservative that prevents your skin care moisturizing cream from going rancid before you’ve finished using it. Again, many well-known skincare lines will use parabens to preserve their product. Parabens are NOT good for your skin! In fact, they are one of the two ingredients your skin care cream definitely should NOT have in it.

2 Things Your Skin Care Cream Should NOT Have

Parabens – (look on the label for methyl, propyl, butyl, and ethyl parabens)

These chemicals are widely used in expensive (and cheap) skin care creams to give the creams a longer shelf-life. They are super cheap and widely available. Some studies have suggested that they could cause cancer (particularly breast cancer) and affect estrogen levels over long periods of time.

Mineral oil – (also written on the label as liquid paraffin, paraffin wax, or petrolatum)

This petroleum by-product is super cheap and used by companies to coat the skin and “keep in moisture”. Unfortunately, it also keeps in toxins, encourages acne break outs, and strips away the natural oils that prevent premature aging. Even worse, any mineral oil derivative can be contaminated with the cancer-causing PAH’s. Stay young longer by avoiding products using mineral oil or other petroleum by-products.

In evaluating your skin care cream, keep this question in your mind: Could you eat your skin care moisturizer cream? (I’m not suggesting you do, just asking if you could.) If you recoil in horror from putting those ingredients in your mouth, why would you put them on your skin? After all, it’s going to be absorbed and enter your body just as if you had eaten it.

Crack open that cabinet and pull out your skin care cream. Flip it over and look at the ingredients label. If your skin care moisturizer cream is missing those two important ingredients, and if it uses mineral oil and Parabens instead, it’s time to find a new skin care cream.

You can spread effective skin care cream and eat it too. Synthetics not only damage your skin’s health in the long run, they are simply not as efficient in treating your skin in the long run. (But they are cheaper! This is why so many skincare manufacturers use them!)

Babassu and Natural Vitamin E are just the tip of the iceberg. There are a whole host of other ingredients that bring will bring out the best in your skin care cream.

Phytessence Wakame, Maracuja, and Crodamol OP come most immediately to mind. You can find out more about these amazing botanical ingredients (and where to find a skin care cream with them inside) at my website linked below.

How to keep your skin looking great!

Invest some time and care!

Everyone wants to have younger looking skin. Unfortunately, even the most expensive skin care products, with all their claims of ‘reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles’, can’t turn back the years. However, don’t despair! There are steps that we can all take to make sure our skin looks healthy and vibrant and stays wrinkle-free for longer. All we’ve got to do is invest some time and care in looking after it.

It is important to understand the basic function of our skin in order to look after it properly. The skin is our body’s largest organ and comprises three major layers:

The Epidermis: This layer has five sub-layers; the outer layer consists of mainly dead cells which are continuously shed and replaced by cells beneath. The epidermis is also responsible for ‘water proofing’ your skin, protecting your skin from potential invasion of microbes and generate new skin cells which move from the deep layer of the epidermis to the outer layer, where they are eventually shed.

The Dermis: Is the ‘middle layer of the skin and is composed of connective tissue containing collagen and elastin. The dermis is thick in the palms and soles and very thin in the eyelids. It contains blood vessels, nerves, glands, and hair follicles.

The Subcutaneous layer: This layer consists of areolar and adipose tissue. Fibres from the dermis extend down into the subcutaneous layer and anchor the skin to it. The subcutaneous layer, in turn, attaches to underlying tissues and organs.

Aging of the skin

There are several factors influencing how quickly our skin ages, ranging from genetic factors, your natural skin type, as well as external factors such as exposure to sunlight, environmental factors and whether you smoke or not. In general, pale skins wrinkle faster than darker skins, which are protected by increased amounts of pigment and lipids.

Another vital factor is, of course, our age. Our skin looks and functions very differently at 20 as opposed to when we are 60.

Below is a skin care plan of how to look after your skin as the decades go by and how to adapt your skin care regime accordingly.

Looking after your skin in your 20s

Your 20s is a great time for your skin. You’ve left behind the adolescence acne and your skin has a radiant, youthful glow and the epidermis is well toned.

However, this is not the time to be complacent. In your 20s skin cell renewal drops by up to 28 per cent, dead skin cells are not as easily shed and external factors are starting to have a greater impact, leaving your skin slightly duller.

According to dermatologists, 80 per cent of all aging can be directly related to exposure to sunlight. Therefore, it is a good idea to avoid the mid-day sun, or if you have to be out in the heat of the day (especially in countries like Australia), than cover up. Penetrating UVA rays will start to damage collagen fibres and elastin coils in your skin.

Smoking one factor you can control and now would be a good time to quite. Smoking inhibits oxygen getting to the outer layer of your skin and has a premature aging effect. In addition, smoking can cause fine lines around the mouth over the years and this is to be avoided – if you want to keep your good looks.

Looking after your skin in your 30s

By the time you get to your 30s skin cell turnover has slowed. Environmental damage from pollution, smoke and sunlight are starting to take their toll on the dermis, causing collagen fibres to loosen so that skin starts to loose its tone and develop fine lines and wrinkles. When you smile, subcutaneous fat forms ridges and refuse to bounce back as readily as it once did. Your first wrinkles may start to appear.

By now you should have established a daily skincare regime that involves exfoliating (two or three times a week), cleansing, moisturising and sun protection for your skin. In your 30s, it’s important to maintain a balanced diet consisting of fresh fruits, vegetables, grains and fish, which are high in antioxidants such as Vitamins A, B, C and E. These Vitamins counteract free radicals in your body that help the skin to repair itself, produce the enzymes that stabilise collagen production, and stay moist and healthy. For further protection, try using a day crème, such as one that contains vitamin E, for example: Wildcrafted’s Age Defying Essence.

Alcohol should only be consumed in moderation as it deprives your skin of vital nutrients and may cause your facial blood vessels to become dilated leading to permanent, red ‘spider veins’ on your cheeks and in men often across the nose.

Maintaining well hydrated tissues by drinking plenty of water each and every day (3 litres a day is not at all excessive) is vital to retain moisture in your skin. In addition, you should ensure that you get enough quality sleep.

Looking after your skin in your 40s

In your 40s, collagen fibres decrease in number, stiffen, break apart, and form into a shapeless, matted tangle. Elastic fibres lose some of their elasticity, thicken into clumps, and fray. The result is the skin forms crevices and furrows known as lines and wrinkles. In addition, loss of fat in the subcutaneous layer leaves your skin more fragile, whereas the dermis will continue to lose its elasticity. A rich nourishing night crème, such as Wildcrafted’s rejuvenating night crème, becomes a vital part of your skin care regime.

During this time the stratum corneum (the outer layer of the epidermis) starts to grow even thicker, as dead skin cells hang around for longer. If you are not already using an exfoliant regularly, now is a good time to get into the habit of exfoliating your skin regularly using a facial scrub – 2-3 times a week is all that’s necessary. You could also use a cream containing Rose oil, Jojoba oil or similar, as these contain natural AHA’s (alpha hydroxy acids) and to help remove dead skin cells.

As deeper wrinkles start to form, you may wish to use a complete skin care system, which systematically helps you to nourish and moisturise your skin on all levels. Choose natural skin care products for your daily skin care regime, as you do not want to introduce unnecessary toxins into your system by using products full of unpronounceable chemicals. Quality natural skin care systems, such as Wildcrafted’s range of natural skin care systems should be matched to your specific skin type.

Looking after your skin in your 50s and above

As we reach our 50s and beyond, the hair and nails grow more slowly. Langerhans cells (involved in the immune response, dwindle in number, thus decreasing the immune responsiveness of older skin. Decreased size of sebaceous (oil) glands leads to dry and broken skin that is more susceptible to infection.

In women, after the menopause, decreased oestrogen levels mean that skin lose its plumpness and tone, and it may be left dry, itchy and more sensitive to allergens.

At this stage in your life it is important to take that extra care of your skin’s health. Mature skin is more fragile, prone to injury and infection and bruises easily. As if this was not bad enough, it also takes longer to heal. Taking care of your skin will reduce the aging effect; keep it healthier as well as more resistant to injury and infections. Remember, a face that has a lived in look is much more attractive than a Botox face and character is much more beauty.

Nowadays, people’s concern about green living is beyond the environment issue to personal care and a lot of individuals are now interested in organic skin care. Purifying the workplaces and homes are not enough but you need to cleanse your body as well as your skin. Organic skin care is necessary especially if you want to keep your skin clean and healthy.

A lot of non-organic products in the market contain high percentage of water as the base ingredient. Though water is known to be a natural ingredient, these products are highly diluted, which are not effective in cleaning your skin. In addition, you have to be aware of the fact that many non-natural skin care products use mixtures of artificial fillers and thickeners to make their products creamy and smooth. Others even use chemicals as preservatives that are harmful to the skin and to the overall health. It is recommended to select an organic skin care product and the best way to do this is to read the labels carefully.

Natural skin care products use mineral and plant ingredients that are usually referred as botanical-based. A natural and organic skin care product does not use any chemical or man-made ingredients. Its main focus is the rejuvenation of the skin and stimulation of cell growth, which begins with proper cleansing, gentle toning and then followed by moisturizing. The good thing about organic skin care is that it is not harsh to the skin. Though deep cleansing is necessary for the skin, it must not be done in a method that can strip away the natural oils of the skin.

Nowadays, organic food is becoming an accepted lifestyle and the popularity toward organic skin care is increasing. Each day, more people are getting interested in shifting into organic skin care products. There are a lot of organic skin care products can cleanse, exfoliate, condition, hydrate, nourish, purify and moisturize the skin. Products are certified organic are those that contain materials grown on soil and pesticide-free. You can be sure that organic products are free from insecticides, synthetic pesticides, fungicides, herbicides, and chemical and hormones fertilizers.

It is a fact that using organic skin care products has a lot of benefits. We are all aware that it is hard to trust any product that was manufactured in a laboratory because of the chemicals involved in the process. With this in mind, many individuals are becoming more interested in the numerous benefits of organic and natural skin care products. Though there is a large number of people that benefit from commercial skin care products, it is difficult to ignore the harmful effects with their use.

A busy life and stressful surrounding can greatly affect the skin’s condition and there are countless skin care products in market today that attempt to bring back the main qualities of the skin and try to protect it from the harmful effects of the daily life. Because of the fact that organic skin care products do not utilize chemicals, they carry great advantage of giving harmful effects to the skin. Using organic skin care products is definitely an effective way to keep your skin healthy and more youthful-looking.