How to Keep Your Face and Skin Young-Looking

October 14, 2009 by admin  
Filed under Anti Aging

youngfaceIt is normal for people, especially women, to want to always look young and wrinkle-free. And the good thing is that a youthful appearance extends to one’s outlook and confidence.  The more one looks vibrant and fresh, the better one feels about himself or herself. Of course, aging is a natural process and is inevitable, but there are ways to postpone the effects and the telltale signs of getting old.

Here are a few tips and facial care advice to help you remain looking young.

Healthy diet. Everything starts with a healthy and balanced diet. Eating the right kinds of food provides you the essential nutrients and anti-oxidants needed in developing a fit body and youthful, glowing skin. Vitamins like A, C and D act as anti-aging agents and help nourish the skin and make it softer and suppler. It would also help if you detoxify your body by eating fresh fruits. In addition, avoid eating food containing harmful preservatives and chemicals.

Proper hydration. Keeping your body hydrated also helps keep your skin youthful and revitalized. Drinking water – ideally at least eight glasses a day – as well as natural fruit juice and tea, plays an essential role in maintaining a healthy skin and a healthy complexion.

Sunscreen. The sun produces ultraviolet rays, which can be very damaging to your skin. In fact, sun exposure is considered by experts as the main factor of skin aging. Harmful effects of sun exposure include wrinkles, sunburns, and discoloration. In extreme cases, it can cause skin cancer. That is why applying sunscreen lotion or cream should be an important part of your anti-aging skin care regimen, especially if you are under the sun a lot or are engaged in active sports.

Natural cleansing. Cleaning your face regularly should also be at the top of your skin care routine. Remember that cleaning is an anti-aging process in itself. This helps remove dirt and dead skin cells that may block your pores. Make sure to use products that are made from natural ingredients, that are gentle on the skin, and that are free from harsh chemicals. When using facial cleansing products, it is also important that you know the type of skin you have – oily, normal, dry, sensitive or damaged – and buy products that are meant for that skin type.

Moisturize. An overly dry skin is prone to wrinkles and other manifestations of aging. That is the reason why using a moisturizer is a must, whatever skin type you have. Moisturizers are beneficial even for oily skin. Just make sure the moisturizer you get is intended for your skin type. However, avoid over-moisturizing your skin as it can clog your pores.

Good-quality makeup. Always pick makeup and other cosmetics carefully. Get makeup from an established cosmetic company as it guarantees good quality. Quality makeup is sure to protect your skin from any harmful conditions brought about by your surrounding environment. Moreover, before applying any newly purchased cosmetic on your face, test it on your wrist and see whether it doesn’t cause irritations, blemishes or rashes. Get makeup that suits your skin type too.  Lastly, never ever forget to remove makeup every night before hitting the bed.

Avoid cigarettes and alcohol. For those who do not know, smoking actually activates photo-aging or premature skin aging. Drinking alcohol may cause severe dehydration. Both nicotine and alcohol also take away our skin’s vitamins and minerals and therefore, expose it to elements in the system that cause wrinkles and other conditions that show aging.

Avoid stress. Studies have proven that chronic stress speeds up the aging process. That is why, it is very important to relax and take things easy. Keep in mind the 3-eights rule: get 8 hours of sleep, 8 hours of work, and 8 hours of rest and relaxation every day. If you find it hard to sleep and relax and to rid your mind of worries, try meditation or yoga. It would also help if you get a massage to relax tense muscles and to improve blood circulation. You can also use essential oils, like lavender and sandalwood, to create a peaceful sensation in your room.

So these are the basic and natural skin care tips to avoid speeding up the aging process and to fight skin sagging and wrinkles. These tips and suggestions are easy to follow and are a lot safer than undergoing cosmetic surgery and other procedures, like botox injections, which are unnatural and expensive. These tips will help you stay young-looking and will help you age gracefully.

Facial Skin Care for the Oily Skin

October 5, 2009 by admin  
Filed under Skin Care

oilyskinHaving to have an oily facial skin is probably one of the most if not the most difficult problem to face especially during teenage life. When excessive oil accumulates in the skin, it clogs up the pores causing pimples and making the pore of the skin look larger. Having an oily skin means more skin problems. More sebum, the oily substance secreted by the sebaceous glands, is secreted in the face making the face look shinier and oilier than usual. It does not only make the teenagers look untidy and conscious, it also lowers down their self-esteem. According to Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, the need for self-esteem is vital for an individual in order to accept or gain self-actualization. One cannot achieve self-actualization without achieving self-esteem first. In a life of a teenager, having facial skin problems is a very frustrating battle that is why there are ways in taking care of an oily facial skin making one look more attractive and confident.

In doing facial skin care for oily skin, proper facial wash must be needed. Using warm water when washing the face will help dilating the pores, when the pores are dilated, the dirt and oil accumulated in the face will be washed away. Numerously washing your face in a day will not help, even if you are feeling that your face is always oily. Using a facial wash that is intended for oily skin will definitely help. After washing your face using a facial wash for oily skin, it is recommended to use an alcohol-free toner after because it tightens up the pores and in addition, helps sweep away dirt residues after washing. Having large pores is one of the major problems for persons having an oily skin so close attention is recommended. Usage of a toner containing alcohol helps in drying the skin but in effect, the skin compensates by producing even more sebum. So it is wise not to use it. Blackheads are also associated to oily skin, especially on the nose area. In the market, there are available pore strips, which will help in the removal of blackheads to control its number. Although eradication of blackheads is impossible  using pore strips, it does definitely help in controlling it and preventing its occurrence. Medicated facial wash with micro beads will help a lot with the problem of blackheads. It will help in removing the blackheads in the skin. Application of facial masks, specifically the clay and mud masks will help in deep cleaning and controlling the oil in your face as well. There are available in the market so find one that suits you best. Another important thing when talking about individuals with oily facial skin is the avoidance of taking supplements of Vitamin E. It is because Vitamin E will somehow increase the production of sebum resulting to a more oily skin. So omitting to take Vitamin E supplements is important for persons having oily skin. Aside from Vitamin E, it is also discouraged to apply facial moisturizer among persons having an oily skin. It is a fact that the application of facial moisturizers among individuals with oily skin will make the face much oilier. In effect, it will impose even more problems instead of trying to control the oiliness of the face.

Aside from the abovementioned measures, having a visit to your dermatologist is also very important. There are a lot of available procedures with regards to facial care that many facial care centres offer. Ask your dermatologist about what procedure suits you best. If you want a medical opinion about your situation of having an oily skin, then a visit to the nearest dermatologist will be the wisest move to make. A balanced diet, proper exercise and adequate sleep are also very important. Adherence to these things will not only help a person look better and have a better facial skin, it will also help in boosting his or her self-esteem and self-confidence. Let us always be reminded that looking good will yield to feeling good. So allow yourself to feel good by looking good through proper diet, adequate rest and proper facial care.

Get Vain With Nature

October 5, 2009 by admin  
Filed under Organic and Natural

natural_beautyFeel good and look good. Look good and feel good. Ever heard about this famous cliché? Vanity is an essential thing for some people. Looking good and having a pleasant personality and appearance in the public is one hell of a big deal. That is of course, if the one’s job is directly connected to customers and clients or perhaps those that belong to the highest social status in the community. They cannot just get caught off-guard by critics looking like ugly ducklings. To suffice this vanity, people tend to rely on beauty products and services such as skin care for the face and the body.

Skin care is important because it does not only make people look young and feel young, but it also protects them from possible skin diseases caused by the sun such as skin cancer and sunburns. The face is the center of attraction for all people out there; thus, proper protection and care are an utmost priority and responsibility.

Facial skin care for most people is essential to boost confidence level and pride. Spending a tremendous amount of money for the sake of facial skin care is nothing in comparison to the exposure in the scorching heat of the sun. Without any amount of protection at all, acquiring skin cancer in later years is probable.

Too bad there a lot of choices in the market as to what type of facial skin care products and services one should avail of. However, one thing is for sure, going natural and organic is the trend in the arena of fashion and beautification.

Why natural organic? Simple! It’s cheap, clean, safe, healthy, and environment-friendly. With the increasing number of health risks using artificial skin care products, the awareness on the impact of using natural and organic products for facial skin care has dramatically surged high. Since it is natural and organic, these facial skin care products are made from the nature’s bounty – fruits, vegetables, and herbs.

By organic natural, we mean that these fruits and vegetables are produced in the farm without the aid or contact of any chemical products like pesticides, insecticides, chemical fertilizers, and synthetic chemicals.

By organic natural facial skin care, we mean that during the complete process of making these beauty products, all the ingredients that are added to make these products should also be natural. Any introduction of foreign chemical substance to the process will defeat the purpose of the product’s claim as purely organic natural skin care. Even a slight addition of chemical substances in it will never make it organic natural. One main reason for this is that the chemical in the product might cause an adverse reaction to the user itself. If that happens, then pretty girl will say goodbye to the prom night queen title.

Choosing the right facial skin care products is very critical for those who value their appearance most. Who doesn’t, anyway?

Organic and natural skin care will not give the instantaneous result that commercial products would, but long-term use will support prolonged health and beautify the skin without the toxin build-up at the cellular layers of the skin.

Some companies tend to claim that their products are organic natural; but be wary, check the ingredients list at the back and confirm if it is all natural. Some will just use technical terms that consumers will hesitate to check because it sounds good and trustworthy.

‘Organic’, being the new most-abused terminology used by manufacturers after ‘natural’ in 1990s in the current state of skin care and cosmetics industry, has gained its popularity in the market. Permit in the International labeling laws has aided manufacturers in their claim that their products are organic and/or natural although the product may contain only one such ingredient. Chemicals have been added in order to preserve the product for extended shelf life; thus, making it smooth, lustrous and attractive to innocent buyers. Therefore, many non-organic products are labeled and sold as ‘organic’. Furthermore, they are sold at ridiculously exorbitant prices that most consumers can’t pay.

Before, in the time of the bible, women used nature’s gifts for vanity, today it’s as if history is repeating itself in many sophisticated ways. So let’s go naturals!

Fighting Wrinkles

October 5, 2009 by admin  
Filed under Anti Aging

wrinklesWrinkles are often taken as the first signs of growing older, but it is actually a normal process that everyone goes through.  You can, however, delay the appearance of wrinkles.  Fighting wrinkles involves a combination of maintaining a healthy lifestyle and facial treatment.

A healthy body and healthy skin help in fighting wrinkles.  Frequent exercise can help you have a rosy glow that surrounds your face.  The increased oxygen and better circulation can do wonders to helping you feel and look young.

Eating right can also help you get flawless skin and fair complexion.  Eat food that’s abundant in anti-oxidizing properties.  Blueberries, omega-3 eggs, tomatoes, sunflower seeds, fish oils have been known to be very beneficial in fighting wrinkles.  Moreover, foods rich in Vitamins A, B, C and E are known antioxidants and have also been very helpful in keeping skin young and healthy and in keeping wrinkles away.

Drink more water. Our body needs around 2 to 3 liters of water every day.  That is around eight glasses.  This keeps our body hydrated and our skin healthy.  It also helps you to avoid dry skin, which almost certainly leads to wrinkles.

Stop or avoid smoking and air pollution.  Cigarette smoke has been found to accelerate aging and the appearance of wrinkles.  While air pollution, especially in the ozone, can take away Vitamin E from the skin, which also accelerates both aging and the appearance of wrinkles.

Lastly, sleep adequately.  It is during sleep that our body gets the rest it needs, and it is during this deep rest that our cells rejuvenate and repair itself including our skin.  Typical person needs around seven to nine hours of sleep everyday.

If you have wrinkles, here are some treatments that you can do to help you fight or minimize it:

1. Always cleanse your skin.

Clean skin allows you to have healthy skin.  Remove dirt by using a mild cleanser to make sure that you do not end up with dry skin.  Avoid using soap for your face as it has been known to dry your skin, thereby aggravating your wrinkle problems. Some skin experts say that sometimes, you can just use warm water alone, no soap or other chemicals, to clean the face.

Apart from cleaning your face, you should also gently exfoliate your skin using a mild exfoliant.  This keeps dead skin cells off your face.

For women who use make-up, you have to check the cosmetics you are using to ensure that you do not clog your pores.

2. Moisturize your face.

Dry skin is one of the leading conditions for wrinkles to appear.  Make sure that you use a facial moisturizer to combat dry skin.   Further, you should avoid sodas and other liquids that rob skin of moisture, and instead drink more glasses of water each day.

Moisturizing your face not only helps you avoid wrinkles, it can also make existing wrinkles less visible.

3. Use sun block.

The sun can severely damage your skin by damaging collagen fibers.  More than 90% of the symptoms that are related to premature skin aging can be directly seen after exposure to ultraviolet rays from sunlight, including wrinkles.  Make sure that you wear sun block to protect it from the harmful rays of the sun.  Sunscreen should be applied 15 minutes to half an hour before going outdoors.  Reapply sunscreen every two hours or more frequently if you are doing some exercise under the sun or when you are swimming.

However, make sure that you get around 10 to 15 minutes of direct sunlight every single day.  Sunlight activates the Vitamin D in your body, which is very necessary in the absorption as well as utilization of calcium.

4. Consult your dermatologist.

For really stubborn wrinkles, you would need stronger treatments.  Visit your dermatologist and find out what facial skin regimen you can use.  More commonly, dermatologists can give you prescription retinoids that help buff fine lines while also enhancing collagen production.  Some retinoids are also thought to reduce wrinkles.

Chemical peels and laser peels can also help in eliminating severe and stubborn wrinkles.

Facial treatment products like collagen implants, fat implants, and topical creams may also be prescribed to you.

Good Facial Care Leads to Beauty

October 3, 2009 by admin  
Filed under Skin Care

faceIn our world today beauty is among the factors that brought up colors to our lives. Way back thousands of years ago, it is evident that humans did not appreciate the beauty as part of their lives. They still don’t have the real perception of beauty. We can see from old pictures that individuals at early times didn’t practice the proper way of grooming and proper hygiene. Humans appreciated beauty at the time when they begin to socialize. People become conscious with their looks when they meet with other individuals. We cannot say when and where beauty was originated because each one of us has our own unique beauty. It will only depend on how we carry ourselves.

As time goes by, beauty was associated with fashion up until it became a part of the most important element of being famous like an actor or actress. Being in a state of beauty involves several parts of the human body. This is the body structure, the way a person act, which involves several body motions, the individuals’ attitude, and the most commonly known which is the facial structure and the facial expression. The facial structure of an individual is what most people are conscious of. This is because the face is the part where an individual is recognized by others.

Despite the facial structure’s good contribution to beauty, it also has a negative part. One of which is through having an acne on the face.  There are now many people who were discouraged of their beauty because of acne. This facial problem is most common in adolescence and young adults around the age of fifteen to eighteen and nineteen to twenty five years old. There are also other factors that can cause acne aside from age and the gender of a person. This is through having a stressful daily life or an inappropriate way of doing facial care. Aside from its occurrence brought about by different factors, individual still has a way to prevent and eradicate the problem.

To further understand about acne let us first discuss some brief background about this facial problem. Acne is an inflammation of the subcutaneous part of the skin where there is an increase secretion of sebum. The cause of inflammation is the blockage of sebum from its pathway causing the growth of bacteria. This bacterium is known as the Propionibacterium acnes which has a beneficial effect to the skin but turned out to be the cause of bacterial growth due to its accumulation. Acnes are commonly found in areas where sebaceous glands are located. It is on the neck, face, chest, shoulders, and the back. Let me ask you some questions. Did you already experience having acne? What were your interventions to solve the facial problem? Most of the individuals having this type of problem were very eager to get rid of the acne. Some were trying different facial products, to the extent that they acquired negative effects of the agents they used.

The outcome of treating acne depends on how early you intervene with the problem. The first thing to remember when having acne is to avoid facial irritations. In making sure of the facial products to be used you must first visit a dermatologist to consult the problem and to help you find a better way to solve it. This is very important to those individuals who were not sure of their sensitivity over different facial products. On the other hand, for home management you are just to do some simple task to maintain a healthy and beautiful facial skin. All you have to do is to have a regular facial wash, at least two times a day, one in the morning before going out of the house and one at night before you go to bed. Further more you are also to avoid exposure to dust, and make a time management on daily activities to reduce stress, since it can increase your risk of having acne. Lastly, you should always remember that being beautiful does not cost a lot. Just stay uniquely natural. It’s up to you how you will show the beauty within you.

What You Need to Know About Facial Skin Care

October 3, 2009 by admin  
Filed under Skin Care

facialskincarePrior to starting a daily routine for your face and from the correct way in cleaning your skin, to select the finest sunscreens and moisturizers, you first need to understand the type of skin you have: oily skin, Dry, Sun damaged and combination?

Oily Skin: oily skin is likely shiny with wider pores, as a result it is prone to discoloration and blackheads.

Normal: This skin type has a smooth texture, medium size pores, healthy looking as reflected in color, but inclined to show dryness towards the cheeks’ area.

Sensitive: thin sensitive skin type, with fine delicate pores, you can see broken capillaries and is always allergic.

Dry: this skin type feels tightness, usually after cleaning. As a natural tendency you may develop wrinkles, flaking, redness and the skin may usually appear dull due to the dead skin.

Sun Damaged: Visible wrinkles and sagging skin tone

After identifying your skin type you can follow simple skin care routines:

  1. Cleansing: Begin washing your face with a good cleanser. Get a cleanser that is not too strong for your skin. Normally, when you use soap in washing your face it will make your skin dry. Cleansers, on the other hand, include oil and water among other substances. Cleansers help eradicate dirt and make up efficiently, it can also effectively remove oil. Remember, do not overuse cleansers instead use this at night time before going to bed. In the morning use warm water to remove the oil from your face caused by moisturizers.
  2. Scrubbing: Scrubbing is very useful in taking out the dead skin found in the top layer of your face. Dead skin makes your face look dry. Use a mild scrub with small grains. This keeps your skin glowing for many years. Use scrub at least once a week. You can also use sugar for scrubbing your face if you don’t want to pay for exfoliating cream.
  3. Moisturizing:  Everybody needs a moisturizer          , whatever skin type you have. Even those people with oily skin will benefit from moisturizers. Only those people with acne should refrain from using it. When you feel that your skin is tight, that is your clue that you need to put a moisturizing cream but do not over use it because it can cause clogged pores. No specific brand is recommended you can select any moisturizers available in the market as long as in the label written information should be present such as skin type and many more. Also, an eye cream is needed since the skin within the eye has no fatty tissue it’s thin. Therefore, it is prone to wrinkles.
  4. Sunscreen: The most important skin care is sunscreen. The top reason why you develop wrinkles is sun damage. Therefore, it is very important to use sunscreen even during cold season or cloudy days. When you buy moisturizer make sure it has Ultra Violet protection (UV). You can use the moisturizing cream with UV in the morning and another one without UV in the evening. Longer usage of moisturizer with UV might irritate your skin since this is not designed for you to use all day long. Remember that UV rays of the Sun can affect your skin dramatically, even to the extent of causing a cancer. So it’s important to protect your skin and apply sunscreen. Apply to parts of your body including face.
  5. Smoking: Stop smoking because it prevents the respiration of cells and tightens the blood vessels, this leads to slower blood flow. In addition smoking destroys vitamin C because smoking generates benzopyrene. Smoking is the fastest way to skin aging.
  6. Healthy Foods: In order to maintain great and healthy skin you need to eat a balance diet. Consume vegetables, fruits and vitamins. So you don’t have to pay for expensive cosmetic items.
  7. Facial Mask: Facial mask is also loaded with rich nourishment for your skin health. Even steamed towels gave moisture to your skin and this can also eliminate wastes on your pores.  
  8. Smile: If you don’t want to look older, then stop frowning. You will use many of your face muscles for this depressing facial expression. A simple smile and laughter releases stress and increase the release of happy hormones. A happy hormone helps slow or even prevents the effects of aging.