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.

From antiquity, beauty has been a subject occupying the minds of humankind. Now days, the level of the obsession is higher due to the exigencies of the society. Everyone, male or female, young or old, wants to be congratulated for their beauty. To become more attractive, Americans spend billions of dollars each year in beauty products. According to a research published by the YWCA, American women spend in average $7 billion a year on cosmetics and beauty products. Over 80% of people from ages 16 to 50 billions in cosmetics, you can benefit from this article.

Sometimes in developed countries buy beauty and personal care products such as moisturizing cream, lightening cream/lotion, anti-wrinkle cream /lotion, and beauty masks. If you are one of the millions who spend, the use of cosmetics is more than a luxury, but a need. With age, skin’s problems are emerging. At puberty, acne breakouts tend to affect your self-confidence; during pregnancy, stretch marks appear, doing nothing, they will destroy the beauty of your skin; as you age, your skin is invaded by wrinkles. To counteract those imperfections, something must be done. You need to use special personal and skin care products to keep your skin healthy and beautiful.

However, as far as cosmetics, it is difficult to promote a product for all, since everyone has not necessarily the same type of skin. In addition, many internal and external factors such as stress, poor liver or stomach function, hormone disruption, air pollution, and unhealthy or poor diet can affect your skin and beauty. In search of beauty and perfection, many people spend a fortune in plastic surgery, sometimes, resulting in disappointment or even death. To feel good about yourself, you need to tap your beauty in nature, that is, use of 100% natural beauty and personal care products internally (mineral and vitamin supplements to fight free radicals) and externally (cream, lotion, mask, etc.).

The beauty of the skin does not come only from outside or makeup, but also from the interior; that requires healthy diet and lifestyle. In fact, wearing makeup on your face all the times is not good for your skin. Your skin needs to breathe to receive the oxygen and all elements it needs to be healthy. In addition, you must eat a healthy and balanced diet. Avoid, as far as possible, tobacco, sweet and fatty foods. Eat lots of fruits and vegetables, regular consumption of fruit and vegetables could heal major skin problems that cosmetic products fail to reverse. Along with using beauty products, the following is strongly recommended:

Eat Fruit and vegetables – Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, they provide nutrients, not just for your skin, but your entire body. Certain of these fruits and vegetables (carrot, cucumber, etc.) can also be used on the skin as a mask. Some fruits like strawberries and apricots have nourishing and softening effects on your skin, citrus fruits have healing effects on the stretch marks; flaxseed oil and Carrots, rich in vitamin A, diminish complexion and rejuvenate the skin cells.

Drink plenty of fluids – drink about 8 glasses of water a day (plus a few glasses of natural juice) to help your body getting rid of toxins and keep your skin moisturized and fresh. To start your day, in an empty stomach, drink a glass of distilled water; it helps your body eliminate toxins absorbed. Although simple, this action may remediate certain problems of the stomach and other organs such as kidney and gastro-intestine.

Hydrogen Peroxide Baths – to fight free radicals (on your skin) and refresh your skin, you can take a bath in hydrogen peroxide by putting 1 cup of 3% hydrogen peroxide in a tub full of water and remain in it for 15 to 30 minutes. Do this no more than 3 times a week, and at least one hour before going to bed because high level of oxygen in your skin cells can prevent you from falling sleep.