Women Skin Care & Beauty Blog

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.

Acne 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.

An acne outbreak is a cause of alarm not just because it is painful and hard to get rid of. Perhaps the worst aspect of acne is the scars it leaves behind. These tell-tale signs may take a lot longer than what acne itself takes to disappear! And this can get really frustrating because all you want is your face to look unblemished. If you are finding it hard to get rid of acne scars, reading further may reveal some helpful information.

If your acne scars are spread over a large part of your skin and are deep, it’s best to consult a dermatologist for knowing the right course of action. Experimenting on these scars may aggravate the problem and cause irreparable harm. So, get professional help without hesitation.

On the other hand, moderate to minimal scarring caused by acne can be treated right at home. Yes, you read that right! With a few lifestyle changes and homemade remedies, you can easily ensure that your scars gradually disappear. Here’s what you need to do:

• Drink lots of water regularly, because water can cleanse your system better than any other substance. Not only does water flush out toxins, it also has great rejuvenating properties. You will also find that the number of dead skin cells which remain on your skin reduces drastically once you start drinking water. Removal of dead skin allows new skin to grow faster and this is important for healing scars.
• Take care of your diet, because what you eat and drink has a great impact on how quick your scars can heal. Intake of vitamins and minerals via fruits and vegetables is a must. Fresh juices and organic products may also help you because; chemicals and additives often produce adverse reactions in your body. Oily and fatty food is also best avoided because you should try to decrease the amount of oil in your system as far as possible. Citric juices such as lemon juice, on the other hand, are known to specifically aid the healing of acne scars. So, if you want to scare the scars, watch what you eat.
• For treating scarred areas of your skin, use rosehip seed oil. This oil has been used for centuries to treat skin because it is known to have amazing anti-aging properties. You can easily go to your local department store and buy this oil for massaging scarred areas twice daily.
• Aloe vera gel serves the same purpose as rosehip oil, but it is a relatively newer product. You should buy a brand of aloe gel which has minimum or no added chemicals.
• If you want to use something even easier to do, place slices of tomato on your scarred skin everyday. Tomato is rich in vitamin A, the topical application of which can help scars heal quite quickly. Tomato juice also has excellent antioxidant properties.
• Honey, lavender oil and olive oil can also be great for topical application particularly because they are easily available.

So, if you use some of these ideas you will surely reduce and then eliminate all acne scars soon. All the best!

What causes acne? What are the factors responsible for pimples, blackhead and white head formations? All these questions will be answered once you are through with this article.

Primarily, there are four factors which contribute to the formation of acne and its other cousins (pimples, rashes etc). Explained below in detail, are the four factors.

Overactive Oil Glands

Oil glands or sebaceous glands are located deep inside the skin. Oil glands have features such as:

• Each gland is rooted to a tiny canal that has a hair, called a follicle.
• Oil glands produce sebum (oil) which swims through canals to the surface of the skin lubricating the skin and follicles.
• The opening of the canal with the follicle is the skin pore.

There are varying sizes of oil glands, the bigger ones being associated with visible skin pores. The male hormone androgen (women have it too, but much less in comparison) stimulates the sebaceous glands to produce oil. At times of stress, the adrenal glands increase the production of the hormone androgen causing the oil glands to enlarge further.

But acne formation usually starts with the onset of puberty. During puberty, androgen stimulates the oil glands making them overactive. Acne, pimples, blackheads are what follows.

Inflammation

Inflammation of skin is a condition in which the skin swells, turns deep red, burns incessantly and makes life very discomforting for you. Inflammation of skin is the result of the immune system of your body trying to fend off foreign substances from skin. Acne formation is due to presence of these substances which are generally bacteria along with some other harmful compounds.

Blockage of skin pores

Overactive oil glands, a result of androgen stimulation produces excess oil in skin. So when at times pores through which oil flows from the oil glands to the skin surface become blocked trapping oil in the pores, acne erupts on the skin. Skin cells that get detached from skin pore linings trigger this blockage. But you should know that poor hygiene does not block skin pores, contrary to a common misconception. Because of this pore clogging, acne erupts. Pore congestion also results in:

• Blackheads: These form when clogging is close to the surface of the skin. Blackheads generally do not get inflamed because of their exposure to skin surface. A dark pigment and not dirt, is what gives these blackheads the black look.
• Whiteheads: When the clogging is deeper in the pore, whiteheads are formed. Lack of proper drainage of oil results in these eruptions.
• Pustules: Also known as pimples or zits, these occur when the walls of the clogged follicle ruptures. They are inflammatory.
• Cysts: These are large, red inflamed areas in the skin and are formed as a result of severe infection.

Activity of normal skin bacteria

Even though bacteria are not directly responsible for acne, they do have a role. Normal skin bacterium P.acne helps protect your skin from harmful bacteria. But, when there is oil clogging in follicles, this bacterium grows in the blocked pore. This in turn produces chemicals which affect the composition of oil causing irritation and inflammation.

Now that you know the scientific reasons behind the occurrence of acne, you can take proper care to ensure that acne stays far from your healthy skin.

One of the primary skincare many of us have to face is acne. No matter how good-looking you are, an outbreak of acne can ruin even the most perfect of looks! Acne can make you hate to look at the mirror and perhaps even step out of the house. This is because; your self-esteem hits a rock bottom. And this is perhaps more harmful than the physical pain caused by acne. Even after you have somehow managed to get rid of them, you are left behind with ugly scars on your face. Thus some useful acne prevention tips can surely help you.

If you are scared of acne, it is best to prevent its outbreak rather than look for cures once it has struck you. If you wish to keep acne and pimples at bay, follow some basic tips which I have enlisted below.

What to do?

• Use ‘noncomedogenic’ and ‘nonacnegenic’ cosmetics: These cosmetics prevent the clogging of skin pores and outbreak of pimples respectively.
• Use cold water and mild cosmetics: Use either cold or lukewarm water on your face. Also use mild cosmetics. Hard water and harsh cosmetics can damage your skin and lead to more acne formations.
• Exercise regularly: This ensures that your metabolism is in place, there is proper blood circulation and adequate oxygen penetration in your skin.
• Drink lots of water: Make sure that you drink at least 64 ounces of water daily. This will detoxify your skin and nourish it as well.
• Wear loose fitting clothes: Tight fitting clothes trap moisture and heat. Also, tight fitting clothes can cause a lot of friction on your skin, which may trigger acne.
• Shower after workouts: Sweat combines with dirt and bacteria in your skin to clog pores. This results in blackheads and pimples. Hit the shower to wash off sweat.
• Clean cosmetic brushes regularly: Remember to clean your brushes along with cleaning your face. Any contamination of bacteria in your brushes can result in acne formations.

What not to do?

• Keep long, unmanageable oily hair: Oil in hair can aggravate oily skin, if you have it. Forehead pimples are often the result.
• Scrub away acne: You may feel tempted to scratch off acne. Do not do so, even by mistake. They leave behind ugly blemishes and spread bacteria. That area may again have acne revisiting it, with increased inflammation.
• Have a stressed mind: Reports suggest that there is a direct link between stress and acne. A stressed mind is more likely to cause acne eruptions. So, ensure that you have a relaxed mind. Also, have a good sleep always.
• Eat oily fried food: They may taste good, but they don’t make you look good at all. Oil in your food intake simply aggravates the oil in the skin. For blackheads and pimples, oily foods are wonderful invitation cards.
• Use ‘concealers’ that are not medicated: Some concealers react with the acne they are concealing and aggravate the problem even more.

If you follow a proper skincare regime and adhere to the dos and don’ts that I have mentioned above, I am sure you can ward off acne. As a bonus, you may also acquire better skin than ever before!

Your face is your window to the world and what people remember you by even if they do not know your name. One of the important aspects of facial beauty is the quality of your skin. And the quality of your skin in general speaks volumes about your health too! Poor health is easily reflected by inferior skin quality and so, it is often not enough to beautify your skin externally. Skin nourishment is only possible if you provide your body with the right vitamins. In case you are surprised, you surely need to keep reading.

Vitamins are not only necessary for physiological well-being, but can also help you enhance your appearance. Do you know the following facts about skin and vitamins?

• Lack of proper vitamins can make your skin look dull and lifeless.
• Ingesting vitamins is as important as nourishing your skin topically.
• Proper nutrition is the best way to ensure a healthy skin texture and tone.
• More and more skin care products are making vitamins an integral ingredient.
• Most people are ignorant about the role vitamins play in ensuring healthy skin.

So, the key is to nourish your skin with vitamins- through both proper diet and beauty products which contain only beneficial constituents. Here is a brief look at the four essential vitamins which can work together to make you skin look better than ever before:

• Vitamin A protects your skin from damage caused by exposure to pollutants by strengthening the protective tissue. It is also a vital aid against acne, because it inhibits the action of your sebaceous glands and controls the production of sebum. Less sebum means lower chances of having acne. It also repairs tissue that makes up your mucous membrane. Vitamin A is powerful antioxidant which reduces free radicals and flushes out harmful toxins from your body, thus slowing down the aging process and preventing wrinkles from showing up.
• Vitamin B complex which helps to maintain healthy tone and also fights acne. Sometimes if you are under stress, it shows on your face because your skin suffers. This vitamin helps you reduce signs of anxiety and stress by improving circulation and metabolism. It also strengthens your immune system and helps you produce more antibodies than ever before. These antibodies help you cope with diseases better and enhance the rate of recovery.
• Vitamin C benefits your skin by acting as a collagen stabilizer. This helps in easier ‘repair and recovery’ for skin cells, especially in case of wounds. In fact if you lack this vitamin, you may find that even scratches take a long time to heal. If you apply this vitamin topically, you can look forward to a reduction in fine lines and wrinkles. And in case your skin has been sun burnt, vitamin C can help you get your natural complexion back quickly.
• Vitamin E is included in many beauty products because it helps reduce roughness and makes skin softer and moisturized. It is also an antioxidant and has anti-inflammatory properties too.

Hopefully this information about vitamins will help you get healthy and good looking skin like never before. All the best!

Acne is a common skin problem, characterized by painful inflammations on your skin. Acne has been there since times immemorial and a lot has been said and written about it. There has even been substantial amount of research into its causes and possible remedies. What is perhaps really surprising then, is the fact that there are still quite a few misconceptions among people about acne. If you have ever suffered from acne you may have got tips and suggestions which were quite contradictory! Thus, it may be a good idea to know the facts and bust the acne myths.

The following are some of the most popular myths surrounding acne. They have been gaining strength over the years and you may be quite surprised yourself once you read through.

Myth #1: Washing your face frequently is a good way to get rid of acne. The fact is that washing your face frequently is not helpful in clearing acne. This is because acne is not caused by dirt (contrary to what the commercials say) but rather by the walls of skin pores sticking together deep down. Frequent washing will thus, not help in decongesting the blocked pores.

Instead it may actually irritate the pores and make you feel worse. A washcloth is even worse. Your best bet therefore, is to wash your skin gently and not more than twice a day.

Myth #2: Acne is caused by stress. Well, theoretically you may relate acne and stress, because stress causes hormonal imbalance which may cause cane, but there is no concrete evidence to directly link them. Some psychiatric medicines may cause acne as a side-effect, but then that too has got nothing to do with stress directly. So it is much better to stop pondering the relation between stress and acne and spending your time in effectively treating the problem.

Myth #3: Acne can be a result of masturbation or sex. This myth may have originated from the numerous ways in which people try to speak evil of masturbation and keep their teenage children off sex. At least this worked till several years back! But now, research has revealed that there is no way sex or masturbation can trigger acne.

Acne can be caused by extremely high levels of androgen (the male sex hormone) but then, having sex is hardly related to that. A high level of androgen is not something which everyone has and so, it is safe to say that sexual activity and acne are independent.

Myth #4: Exposure to the sun is beneficial for acne treatment. The only logical explanation that comes remotely close to justifying this myth is the fact that sun can help you get a tan which can blend your skin tone with redness caused by the acne marks. But if you think acne will heal faster if you stay out in the sun longer, you may end up with ugly sunburns. Having said this, it is also true that limited exposure to the sun, whether you have acne or not, is good for your skin in general.

So, with these acne tips busted for good, maybe you can now spread the word and raise consciousness among your friends about acne.