Archive for December, 2011

How to Exfoliate Your Face?

Posted in Acne, Health And Beauty on December 10th, 2011 by Skin Care – Be the first to comment
Exfoliating Faces

Exfoliating Faces by stevehicks

One of the best methods used to keep the skin radiant and healthy is through regular exfoliation. This is the process used to remove the dead cells and dirt on your skin. This can be done more often according to the kind of exfoliate used, the skin type and the general skin health of a person. Exfoliating is a skin treatment done to slough off dead skin using a sponge or brush. This process is commonly used in the face to remove the dead cells and oil that cause the pores to get clogged leading to the development of common skin problems such as pimples, whiteheads, blackheads and acne. Dead cells when left unattended would create a problem in the sebaceous gland making your skin look patchy and dull.

Facial Exfoliation

Exfoliation will encourage the growth of new skin cells, making your skin feel smoother and look brighter. This will also speed up the skin flaking, shedding and improve your skin complexion. The process is done by first washing your entire face with a mild cleanser to remove residue of make-up and any impurities present in your skin. Wet the surface of your skin and apply an exfoliating cleanser which is designed only for the face or put a small amount in a brush or sponge. Scrub your face in a circular motion and avoid the area surrounding your eyes as this part of the skin is very sensitive to abrasive products. Rinse your face carefully with lukewarm water and pat dry completely with a clean towel.  Apply an exfoliating mask to make your skin brighter and healthier. Finally, apply a nourishing cream and moisturizer to your skin.

Exfoliating Products

Regular scrubs can be used to treat your skin but the result will not be the same as an exfoliator does. The natural fruit based products and the ones containing oatmeal, kernels, apricot seeds and almond meal can be used as an excellent peel. Exfoliating scrub will help increase blood circulation leaving your skin smooth and youthful without irritation.

Nonabrasive and gel-based products are the most effective exfoliating peels which will moisturize the skin. This is also an excellent treatment for acne because it does not contain abrasive ingredients and irritating granules that can damage your skin. Exfoliating astringents will help control excess oil in the face and this is appropriate to all skin types including acne-prone skins.

Exfoliating mask is also designed to get rid of dead skin cells of the face. They can help refresh your skin with the growth of new cells in the skin. If you want to make a homemade exfoliator, you can combine oatmeal and water into a paste. Regular sea salt can also be use while showering and would provide better results. However, if you already have a dry skin, it is advisable to use a moisturizer after.  Sugar is one of the best natural exfoliator used by many people. You can mix two teaspoons of honey and sugar for a daily exfoliation. Add a little oil to the mixture if necessary.

Care for Dry Acne Prone Skin

Posted in Acne on December 8th, 2011 by Skin Care – Be the first to comment

Acne Free SkinAcne is a skin condition that affects people as they grow up, and is very common since almost everybody has to get in at least once in their lifetime. The most common age for this condition is where people are in their teen age, since at this point there is a lot of hormonal activity. Acne is at times associated with dirty and oily skin, though that is not always the cause of the problem. During this stage, the skin starts to develop pimples, moderate inflammation, severe cysts and starts to break. There are people who however, develop this condition when they are in their adult years.

There are some people with dry acne prone skin, such that they are more likely to acquire the condition as compared to others, and these have to take proper care of their skin so as to reduce the extent to which the skin will be damaged.

For the people with acne prone skin, following some of the steps listed below will help to arrest the situation.

Acquisition of a moisturizer for dry acne prone skin will ensure that your skin is properly moisturized and in good condition. The best moisturizers are those that do not have any oils in them, and those that have anti-bacterial substances. Those that contain benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid are very effective when it comes to clearing the acne sores. In addition, the moisturizer that is light and non-comedogenic reduces the effects of acne.

The people who wear make-up and have a skin that is acne-prone, they must ensure that they use an oil-free foundation. The best facial for acne prone skin is one that does not cover the skin pores, such that they get flared-up because of blockage. The application of make-up should be moderate and the products must be those that help improve the skin.

People with acne at times result to exfoliation, a process where an individual scrubs dead skin from their skin. Exfoliation using rough objects will most likely cause more damage to the skin than good. A gentle cleansing will ensure that the skin will not form ugly scars as a result of the rupturing of sores.

In order to eliminate the level of skin dryness as well as the probability of an increased case of acne, an individual must not wash their face too many times during the day, since this leaves the skin dry and more sensitive. When it comes time to wash the face, using moisturizers that have the qualities of reducing flaking, skin redness and irritation will assist in dropping the high level of acne.

Since acne is worsened by the lack of moisture on the skin and even in the environment where an individual is, using a vaporizer will go a long way in ensuring that acne and its effects are greatly reduced. In addition, keeping the body hydrated will also ensure that the amount of water available in the skin is enough to allow the skin to have enough moisture which prevents dryness of skin.

A dermatologist will give the best advice when it comes to the best products to use for a particular skin type, the best concealed for acne prone skin, the best cleaning practices and the best way to care for the skin.

How to Curl Your Eyelashes?

Posted in Cosmetics on December 7th, 2011 by Skin Care – 1 Comment

EyeCurling your eyelashes could make a difference in the way your eyes would look. It is also one way of emphasizing the shape and size of your eyes. Eyelashes curlers are the best tool to use for curling straight eyelashes and make it more realistic. This usually made from metal, plastic or the heated type in which the effectiveness of the three doesn’t show a significant difference. It can only be determined through the ability of the user and quality of the pads.

The best way to curl your eyelashes

Clean up the traces of old make-ups in your eyelashes to avoid creating a messy appearance. Make sure that the pad is disinfected and free from dirt like the sticky mascara that would easily get into the eyes and cause irritation. For better results, you can heat the eyelashes curler with a hair dryer or hot water. You can either blow it dry or dip the curler in a hot water and make sure the heat wouldn’t be too much when you use it. Gently grab your eyelashes from the roots and squeeze it for a few seconds. See to it that the upper lashes are in between the edges of the curler. Then open the curler completely while releasing it. Repeat the same procedure if necessary. The heat will curl up your lashes easily and would last longer than necessary.

Take a brush, look down in the mirror and slowly stroke your lashes upwards using the tip of the brush and make sure the mascara is just enough to use. Some people would prefer applying mascara after curling and others are doing the other way around. The only drawback of applying mascara before curling is that it may stick on the pads causing the lashes to clump together while doing the curling process. Finally, comb the lashes to remove extra mascara and separate each lashes making it more natural.

Resulting issue for incorrectly used eyelashes curlers

Cleaning the eyelashes curler pad is very important for a person who wishes to achieve better curling results. This can be done effectively with soap and water or eye make-up remover. It is also recommended to change the pad every couple of months. Some eyelashes curlers are designed to have a built-in warming device that enhances its effectiveness. Curling dry eyelashes will also provide better results than using a curler on wet lashes.

Curled eyelashes will add brighter appearance to your face as it makes your eyes wider. Mascara is normally added to improve the look of your tired eyes. It is very important to emphasize those eyelashes curlers if used incorrectly may result to eyelid injury. If it is held closely to the roots, there will be a tendency for it to pinch the eyelid which might cause tissue injury and possible infection. To prevent this issue from happening, a person who has less experience in doing the procedure should avoid doing it closer to the roots.

Quality eyelashes curlers can be purchased in grocery chain retailers, drug stores and your nearest beauty supply stores. Inexperienced in eyelashes curling can learn from demonstrations and instructions from experts in department store cosmetic counters.

The Most Popular Anti-Wrinkle Home Remedies

Posted in Anti-Aging, Supplements on December 6th, 2011 by Skin Care – Be the first to comment

FruitsWrinkles are inevitable part of the aging process. However, with proper skin care, they can be delayed. To make this happen, it is necessary to identify the factors that may lead to or accelerate the entire process. Awareness on these factors, which include aging, production of collagen, fibrous scleroproteins and elastin, smoking as well as sunlight, is helpful to take the right measures to prevent the early occurrence of wrinkles.  With just small efforts and every day commitment, you can keep your skin wrinkle-free and young.

When you go out, use sunscreen and hat to protect your skin from the sun. Keep in mind that your smooth skin will be destroyed easily as you extremely expose it to the sun. You can avail of a lot of sunscreen that health food stores sell. Sunscreens are made of chemicals that won’t make your skin greasy.

You can apply emu oil to your skin as a means to prevent wrinkles and soften your skin. Emu oil works to nourish your skin better than other oils and creams because they contain triglyceride lipids. Your skin will absorb emu oils easily and will be left looking beautiful, healthy and wrinkle-free. Moreover, you can also take supplements like omega acids which you can get from fish, seafood and nuts. Omega has a high content of antioxidants, which is helpful in removing harmful free radicals. Antioxidants also treat the inner part of the skin.

It is also ideal to form a face mask by mixing equal parts of yogurt and fresh cucumber. Set it for fifteen minutes before your rinse and dry your face. Cucumber is known to have skin cleansing and nourishing properties without stripping the skin of the acids and oils it needs to keep a young tone. Yogurt, on the other hand, contains lactic acid which is helpful in preventing wrinkles and reducing those that are already in your face.

Eradicate toxins from the foods that you consume every day as these will harm your skin and your health generally. These toxins include refined sugar, caffeine, alcohol and tobacco. Drink a lot of water and natural juices that you can get from raw vegetables and fruits. Fluids are helpful in eliminating body toxins that cause skin problems, acne and premature aging. Consuming fresh juice will guarantee that you provide your body with essential minerals and vitamins that it needs to maintain your good health and younger look.

The use of home-made remedies is beneficial to you because they won’t cost you too much. Utilizing them is not the same as going to skin specialists or a beauty salon where you have to use expensive cosmetics to look good. When you apply home-made mixes on regular basis, you can expect to maintain the youthful appearance that you have been wishing for at a price that you can afford. You just need to spend few minutes to apply these preparations and you will see the difference after a few months. Apart from their cheapness as skin treatments, home-made mixes are proven effective in preventing wrinkles and treating those that have started to appear in your skin.

The Best Supplements for Skin

Posted in Supplements on December 5th, 2011 by Skin Care – Be the first to comment

SupplementsMaintaining a healthy, young-looking skin takes more than just a miracle. You will need to consult with dermatologists, take the appropriate formulations and the most efficient and effective way to provide vitamins to your skin. You will also need to utilize the best supplements for the skin available.

Antioxidants keep free radicals from destroying the walls and structures of the skin as well as the DNA. Free radicals are the products of the oxidation of oxygen molecules; however, they can also be formed through exposure to different environmental factors, ultraviolet radiation and smoking. Free radicals also have the capability to accelerate the aging process.

Vitamin E – This vitamin is the most significant body antioxidant that gives protection to cell membranes and prevents destruction to membrane-related enzymes. This can be obtained from vegetables like sunflower oil, whole grains like wheat germ, oats and brown rice as well as dairy products, meats and nuts. According to new studies, vitamin E is helpful in deactivating free radicals. There are also studies that reveal the potential of the topical vitamin E named d-alpha-tocopherol to minimize sunburn cell production, lessen the production of cells that cause cancer and chornic UV-induced damage. Studies in the past showed that typical vitamin E supplements, consumed together with Vitamin A supplements, were related to 70 percent decreased risk of basal cell carcinomas.

Selenium – This mineral is important to glutathione peroxidase, an antioxidant, that helps protect the body from cancers like skin cancer. Selenium also helps in preserving the elasticity of tissues and slows down the hardening and aging of tissues through oxidation. This mineral can be obtained from seafood, whole grain cereals, eggs and garlic.

When selenium is taken orally every day in 50 to 200 micrograms, this mineral protects the skin from the damaging sun rays.  Latest studies made on animals have revealed that when applied topically through L-selenomethionine or orally, selenium showed protection against excessive and daily UV damage with less exposure to burning. The study also demonstrated a delay in the onset and a reduction in the incidence of animal skin cancers.

Vitamin C – This vitamin is the most abundant antioxidant in the skin. This can be obtained from citrus fruits and vegetables. This also repairs free radicals and prevents them from becoming cancers and speeding up aging.  Topical vitamin C prevents consequences of extreme sun exposure which may lead to cancer of the skin. A study made recently showed that the application of topical Vitamin C to the skin, 15 to 30 minutes after exposing the skin to UV rays, will cause a decrease of sunburn cells and start of repair work on the damaged skin. This vitamin is commonly found in L-ascorbic acid, a highly active form of antioxidant that breaks down instantly when exposed to oxygen. This means that this will easily lose its stability and become less effective.

In recent studies conducted on animals, oral vitamin C was shown to minimize UV-reduced tumors while when it is applied topically, it reduces low-level UV-exposure to mouse skin.