Jan 14

Natural Skin Care Tips

In these lean economic times, we are all cutting back as much as possible. However, our skin is the largest organ of our body and should not be ignored. Well, the good news is that you don’t have to spend a fortune on expensive name brand products to keep your skin looking great. There are a number of natural alternatives to keep your skin smooth and looking younger each day.

Use organic products

Many skincare products contain harmful chemicals that were first sprayed on the plant before it was ever harvested for product purposes. Organic skincare products have no such toxicity. Your deodorant, cleanser, facial toner, sunscreen, shampoo, body wash, perfume, soap, lotion, and massage oil are all things you put directly on your skin. From there they are absorbed into your blood stream. The last thing you want is harmful bacteria entering your body for you to fight off later!

Exfoliate

Many of us keep a bath brush or loofah in our showers, but how many of us actually use them? Gently rubbing away dead skin cells each day allows the skin to detoxify and increases blood circulation. It is also calming to the nervous system as well.

Try homemade products

There are lots of great “recipes” available online for facials and other skincare products that you can make at home with various ingredients you might have in your own kitchen. Since you’ll be making the product yourself, you can be certain that there won’t be any harmful chemicals that will cause your skin undue irritation. Some common ingredients in homemade skincare recipes are honey, pineapple, spinach, carrots, guava, radishes, strawberries, milk, and tomatoes.

Improve your Diet

Your skin often reflects exactly what you eat. Skin disorders like acne, rosacea, and psoriasis are often accompanied by gastrointestinal problems like constipation. The reason for this is sufferers of various skin irritations often don’t get enough water throughout the day and don’t consume enough fiber. Apples, cauliflower, nuts, seeds, dried fruits, beans, legumes, and flaxseed are all great sources of fiber. Also try substituting whole-wheat grains for your usual refined flour. Avoid excess sugar as this actually causes wrinkles. People that suffer from eczema or acne can benefit from essential fatty acid intake. Fish, such as salmon or sardines, are a good source of “good fat.” If this doesn’t suit your tastes, try taking a fish oil supplement instead.

Get Moving

Inactivity can cause puffiness, bloating, cellulite, and lack of muscle tone. So, improve your skin by keeping fit. Take a walk. Get a massage. Join a gym. Take a break and stretch every hour.

These natural skincare tips may not cure every skin problem you might be dealing with, but they’re worth a try. You might be pleasantly surprised with the end results.

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Jan 03

Mankind has for many thousands of years used some kind of skin care regime but it is only in recent times he has had the luxury to choose between natural skin care using herbal products or those devised synthetically by man. The use of synthetic products was something that was bound to occur when chemists started experimenting and mass production became available. Not only have many of the recipes been lost but herbal products are not as popular as they once were as science has gradually changed people’s attitudes towards skin care.

Exposed Acne Treatments

Perhaps it is our fast paced lives and the ease with which we can purchase just about any synthetically produced item that has helped with the decrease in using natural preparations. Of course commercial skin care manufacturers now mass produce herbal skin care products but because they would not last long in storage, they are obliged to add a preservative which unfortunately means they are not as good as those you make in your own home.

It seems that increasing numbers of people are becoming more discerning and using herbal skin care products again from companies that are specializing in making small batches of these products. There isn’t likely to be a revolution against the cheaper mass produced herbal skin care products in the future but just what are these products exactly.

Although one of the more common herbal products, aloe vera has other properties other than just helping sunburn; extracted fro the aloe plant it also hydrates skin and can be sued on cuts as well. Herbs like dandelion, chamomile, lime flowers and rosemary are often used with other herbs like tea and are used as herbal cleansers.

Some herbs possess properties to help stop infection like lavender, marigold, thyme and fennel which are know to have antiseptic abilities but lavender and rose can be added to water to give an excellent skin toner. Even tea can be used to help treat skin that has been damaged by to much UV radiation when formulated into a herbal skin care product.

Other herbal skin care products make use of oils, the level of concentration can vary depending on use; common versions of these are borage oil, primrose oil and tea tree oil for example. Skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis are often treated with other oils extracted from plants and the likes of banana, melon and apple are very good at hydrating the skin which is why these are the most often used in shower gels for instance.

Most herbal skin care products don’t have any side effects; which is the most important reason for preferring them over synthetic products, moreover, herbal skin care products can be easily made at home, hence making them even more attractive. Despite the apparent love for all things herbal, whether mass produced or not, there are occasions when a synthetic skin care preparation may be better than a herbal one.

It pays to look after your skin whether by herbal or synthetic means as it has a major role in protecting us from the elements and sometimes needs a little help.

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Dec 23

People who have problems with acne have to be very careful in choosing the right skincare. Many acne treatments dry out your skin and leave it flaky and itchy. The harsh chemicals not only dry up the excess oil in the skin, but the essential oils that are needed to have a smooth complexion. It is important to find the right products for your skin type. Age also plays a deciding factor into what skincare regimen you should use. It’s no longer just adolescents who have trouble with acne these days. More and more adults are dealing with it thanks to stressful lives, poor diet, and lack of proper skincare.

Best Acne Medicine

The first thing you need is a good facial cleanser, preferably one that contains salicylic acid. This is much gentler on your skin than the common acne-fighting ingredient benzoyl peroxide. Don’t over wash your face. Many people think that by washing your face many times a day you will stave off bacteria and excess oil. This can actually do more damage to your skin. You don’t need to wash your face more than twice a day. When you do wash, do it gently. Too much intense scrubbing can lead to acne becoming open sores and later scars. Whatever you do, NEVER squeeze or pick at your zits! Touching them makes them worse because of the oil and bacteria on your fingers, plus the squeezing will cause scarring later.

If acne treatments have a tendency to dry out your skin, then find a good moisturizer that doesn’t leave your face feeling greasy. It should be light, non-comedogenic, oil-free and contain anti-bacterial agents for acne-prone skin.

Women should be careful in the cosmetics products that you use. Often, the concealers you use to cover up acne merely contribute to causing more of it! Use oil-free foundation and avoid heavy make-up that will clog your pores. If you are uncertain as to whether a product contains oil, try rubbing some on a facial tissue. Come back several hours later and check to see if there is a grease mark on the other side of the tissue. If so, then there is excess oil in the product and should not be used on your skin.

Acne in women is often hormone related. This is why women often experience a flare-up right before their period. This is when estrogen levels drop. Estrogen is very helpful in controlling acne, while progesterone can make it worse.

Acne can result in a loss of self-esteem and make a person very self-conscious about their appearance. In some severe cases a dermatologist may be needed to figure out what treatment plan is right for you. But just remember that it is not your fault if you have skincare problems. It doesn’t mean you’re dirty or eat junk food all the time. Studies have shown that the food you eat actually doesn’t have much effect on acne at all. We can only do the best we can with what God gave us.

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