Women Skin Care & Beauty Blog

One of the first signs of aging is the way your skin changes. This change may be in the form of loss of softness, smoothness and firmness. These losses can be hard to take for you, and it’s natural if you are looking everywhere for a solution. While aging is a natural process and age shows on your face too, you may use creams to make the changes less prominent. These creams can also delay the deterioration of your skin due to aging. So, without delay let’s find out how to choose anti-aging creams.

The thing is that contrary to what advertisers say, not all anti-aging creams work. They are also not made equal and can contain a whole host of different substances which have supposed ‘anti-aging’ properties. So, your choice should definitely be based on the ingredients in a particular brand of cream.

Depending on what they are composed of, creams can:

• Reduce wrinkles and fine lines
• Make skin softer and youthful to a certain extent
• Give you mental satisfaction and lessen your worries to a great extent!

Here are some of the better anti-aging creams available these days:

• Creams with cooper peptides. Your skin cells have a natural copper content and these creams can complement what skin cells start losing due to aging. Peptides are proteins which also help in repairing ailing skin cells and increasing the formation of collagen.
• Creams with retinol. Retinol is basically vitamin A1 and is synthesized biologically from carotene. Its action as an anti-aging substance is due to its antioxidant properties. This means that retinol helps your skin get rid of free radicals which expedite aging.
• Creams with alphahydroxy acids. These acids are instrumental in removing dead cells which give aging skin a dull look. They can also help new skin cells grow faster.
• Creams with kinetin. Kinetin is a natural element which helps the growth of plant life. Research has shown that kinetin can also reduce wrinkles and eliminate blemishes on your skin which show up due to aging. It is also helpful for the formation of collagen.
• Creams with coenzyme Q-10. This substance has an influence on cellular behavior and life. It can help reduce fine lines and also prevent skin damage due to sunburns.

These are just some of the best anti-aging solutions and if you trawl the market and the Web you can surely find even more creams to solve your aging worries!

Do you pamper your skin regularly? If not, you need to start doing so immediately. Simply following a basic skincare regime is not enough. Cleansing, toning and moisturizing everyday is not sufficient to remove finer dirt particles from your skin. You need to occasionally pamper your skin in order to rejuvenate and beautify it. And can feel really energizing too! Using face masks is one of the best ways in which you can pamper your skin.

Masks accentuate the effect of cleansing, toning and moisturizing. Face masks are generally a part of all facial treatments given in salons and spas. However you can create your own recipes for masks with the aid of some natural products. They are easy to prepare and usually do not have adverse effects on your skin. This is because masks made up of herbal ingredients and devoid of synthetic chemicals cannot trigger any skin problems usually.

Good skin is common, but if you want to stand out from the crowd, you need to have superior skin. Face masks can help you get just that. Here are some of the most popular facial mask recipes which you surely need to try:

Nourish mask: avocado-banana mask

Ingredients

• Half an avocado
• Half a banana
• 1 tsp olive oil
• 2 tbsp of unflavored full-fat yogurt.

How to prepare and use?

Mash all the ingredients together and mix well. Apply the concoction on your face and neck. Keep it for 20 min and then rinse it with lukewarm water.

Exfoliate mask: lemon-tomato mask

Ingredients

• 1 tsp of instant oatmeal
• 1 over-ripe tomato
• 1 tsp of lemon juice

How to prepare and use?

Put all ingredients into a blender. Once you obtain the mixture, apply it on your face and neck. Keep it on for 20 minutes, and then wash it off with water.

Tighten mask: peach mask

Ingredients

• 1 ripe peach
• 1 tsp unflavored full-fat yogurt
• 1 egg white

How to prepare and use?

Peel the peach and put it in a container. Add the other ingredients to it and crush them together. Apply this mixture on your face. Keep it on for 30 min and then wash it off with cool water.

Smooth mask: almond-honey mask

Ingredients

• ½ tsp almond oil
• 1 tbsp honey
• 1 tbsp yogurt
• 1 egg yolk

How to prepare and use?

Mix all the ingredients together well. Apply this mixture on your face gently. Keep it for 30 min before you wash it off with water.

If you have an oily or sensitive skin, you could also prepare a home-made clay face mask. Ingredients to be used are:

• ½ tsp kaolin clay
• 1 ½ tsp green clay
• 1 tbsp rosewater
• 1 ½ tbsp aloe vera gel
• 2 drops of rose essential oil

Mix the kaolin and green clay. Add rosewater, oil and aloe vera to the mixture. Refrigerate and use the solution for up to 4 weeks. This is a very effective mask for your skin and a must-try!

Now that you know about these great facial mask recipes, make them an integral part of your skin-care regime. The difference will be there for all to see!

If you have sensitive skin, you need to take very good care of it to keep it healthy. You need to monitor not only what cosmetics or face-wash you apply, but also regulate the food you eat and what you drink. Different climates may also adversely impact your skin, as can water replete with iron. Sun rays may also have a telling impact if your skin is sensitive. You can try following the tips that I enlist below because they are the best ones for people with sensitive skin.

First and foremost, do not buy random beauty products available in the market, even they promise a lot. The reason is that your skin may be allergic to certain brands. The ingredients at the back of the product are also non-conclusive, so if you use them and start developing rashes on your skin, throw them immediately. For example, if you have a combinational skin, a normal to oily cleanser will not serve any purpose. It may in fact compound the problem, since you do not know where and when your skin turns oily. Therefore, you may have to do a bit of trial and error, before settling on a range of products which suit you.

You should also exercise restraint while eating. Fresh fruits and vegetables must be a part of your daily diet. That does not however mean that all fruits and vegetables should be consumed. Make sure that the moment you find any fruit or vegetable affecting your skin adversely, you discontinue it. Aerated drinks, alcohol, cigarettes and drugs should not even cross your mind. They can ruin your skin. Oily and deep-fried foods are best avoided. Make sure that you have a healthy diet and couple it with an exercise regime that is not too strenuous. This would ensure that your metabolism remains normal, since irregular metabolism can also damage your skin.

The environment surrounding you can also impact sensitive skin. Presence of moisture in the right amounts, instead of an arid or humid environment can help a lot. Polluted air can also hasten the degeneration of your sensitive skin.

Even the water that you drink or for that matter apply on your face should not be coarse and full of iron particles. It can very easily induce rashes, blotch marks and pimples on your skin.

I would suggest you stick firmly to herbal products only. Not that they guarantee you complete safety, but they are better than conventional cosmetics. For cleansing your face you can try almond and jojoba oil. For a toner you could use a solution of comfrey and water. Grapefruit mixed with oatmeal would make a wonderful scrub for exfoliation of dead cells from your skin. Cucumber and yogurt are excellent ingredients for a face mask. Licorice, green tea and aloe vera would not disturb your skin either.

Perhaps the most important sensitive skin care tip is to protect it in every possible way. I have an aunt who has an extremely sensitive skin. So sensitive, that she cannot stand even sunlight. My uncle has to ferry her in a car that has sunlight-protecting panes to ward the harmful rays from her. This is the kind of effort you may have to put in!

The quality of your skin is a very important facet of your appearance. Whether you want to display a great beach body or make your partner fall in love with you all over again, great skin can help you a lot! But for that great skin all over, you need a good body lotion. It can give your skin the nourishment and moisture it requires after a hard days work and exposure to polluted air. A good body lotion can also serve specific purposes such as reduction of aging signs or hair growth on arms and legs. But the big question is: how to choose a body lotion?

If you are pondering over probable answers then you are definitely not alone. Thousands of others have the same question and are looking desperately for apt solutions. However, to make your job easier, here are some tips:

• Understand your skin type first. Dry skin calls for a lotion with extra moisturizers while oily skins need a lighter lotion which lets your skin breathe. A wrong choice of body lotion may be disastrous for your skin.
• If you have special needs, just another body lotion will not do. For example if you are looking to reduce the signs of aging on your skin, buy a lotion which has antioxidant properties. It may be more expensive than an ordinary body lotion, but serves your purpose nonetheless.
• If you have sensitive skin, consult your dermatologist before buying a body lotion. You may think that baby lotions will be fine, but they may also harm your skin if you have sensitive skin. So, getting medical advice is your best bet.
• Sample testing is always a smart move. Most beauty shops will allow you to check samples for allergies and reactions. If samples are not available, buy a small bottle instead to know whether the lotion suits you at all.
• Some lotions have a really strong aroma. It may be a turn off for people around you particularly if it clashes with your perfume to create a weird smell. Remember that the main purpose of a body lotion is to nourish your skin and not spread unique fragrances!
• Don’t think that the cheapest is the worst and the best ones are exclusive and expensive. This is wrong notion and bargain hunting, with an eye on the ingredients, can help you land a great product.

A good body lotion will help you get that skin of your dreams, so start looking now!

The skin around your eyes is more delicate than most other parts of your face. But it is also true that the quality and texture of this skin can have a huge impact on your appearance. A simple example to illustrate this point: what happens when you have dark circles? You (and everyone else) notice dark circles quickly, because the under eye area is a key part of your face. Of course the easiest way to maintain it is to use under eye creams. But do you know how to choose eye cream?

It is important to know how to buy an eye cream because if you pick up products at random, you may end up with a zero-benefit product and also harm your skin in the long run. Choosing eye cream is about answering two questions:

• What are your specific needs?
• What are the ingredients of the cream?

The first question pertains to the fact that different people have different reasons for using eye creams. Some of the most common ones are:

• Puffy eyes, caused by allergic reaction or fluid retention. Puffy eyes are usually a result of sinus or premenstrual problems. Before you use cream on puffy eyes, you should know that the moisturizers in these creams can actually make your under-eyes puffier. You may want to use gels instead, because they dry quicker.
• You have ‘bags’ under the eyes when fat is deposited there. This is different from puffy eyes because puffy eyes are more of a temporary problem. If you want to reduce baggy eyes, you may use creams which can increase elasticity of the skin under the eyes. When this happens your skin stretches out and makes the bags look less prominent. However, keep in mind that no eye cream can help you get rid of this problem completely. That can only be done via a cosmetic surgery.
• Dark circles and common and can occur due to a variety of reasons such as fatigue, sunburns etc. There are hordes of eye creams for dark circles but select the ones which sun protection to prevent pigmentation issues. You can also buy creams with ‘diffusers’ or ‘concealers’ which hide the dark circles as far as possible (similar to hiding blemishes under make up). Creams with vitamin K can prevent the appearance of dark circles.
• For aging related problems such as fine lines and crows feet use creams which contain vitamins A, C, E and antioxidants as well.

Selecting the right eye cream is essential if you want to look good always. So, all the best!

Choosing the right hair products is essential for proper hair care. And so, you must choose the right shampoo, which is something you simply cannot do without. The problem lies in knowing which one can be the best. If you trust the various eye-catching ads you may be taken for a ride more often than not because celebrity endorsed products are not necessarily the best ones around. So, if you are having a tough time selecting a shampoo, you may want to know how to choose a shampoo.

When you think about it, shampoo is something which is primarily meant to clean your hair. So the first thing you need to consider while selecting a shampoo is its cleansing ability. The rest of the functions of shampoo, such as adding luster, volume and bounce to hair, are performed by conditioners present in most shampoos. In other cases, your need may be more specific, such as getting rid of dandruff or lice. There are shampoos which contain medicated ingredients to serve these purposes too.

There are also some brands which claim to be selling you organic or natural shampoo. The truth is that you will find it very difficult to get a bottle of shampoo without a trace of detergent additives. This is because while herbs and natural substances may be good for your hair and scalp, they may not be so effective in cleaning your hair. The cleansing action is still dependent on chemical substances which also create lather.

Moreover, organic shampoos are usually found with high price tags. They are composed of ingredients grown without the use of chemicals such as fertilizers and pesticides. And neither are chemicals added while they are being bottled. So, naturally, you should avoid shampoos claiming to be organic yet seeming quite cheap.

If you are looking for a shampoo which will do miracles for your hair, by strengthening individual strands and changing their texture you may not find one. This is because shampoos do not do this. They can nourish the hair bulbs and scalp. Combined with other things such as diet and lifestyle, you may get better hair, but that takes time to happen.

Keep these tips in mind while choosing a shampoo:

• Look at the label ingredients carefully and reject shampoos with cheap detergents as their main ingredient.
• If you are not comfortable with a shampoo change it. But at the same time if a shampoo is working well for your hair, don’t experiment because you feel that some other product may be better.

Hopefully you now know how to choose a shampoo!

Soap is something which we all use, but rarely put in much thought while buying it. It’s amazing isn’t it, because a life without soap is unimaginable! Yet you may be simply picking up your monthly supply of soaps after a quick glance at the package and price. But that is hardly how you should choose soap. Soap, just like any other product that comes in direct contact with your skin, must be purchased with more care, so that you buy a product which is good for you. And this is more because you usually use soap several times a day for different purposes. So, let’s find out how to choose soap.

Most soap manufacturers strive to give you soaps which look good and smell great. Add to this the numerous ads bombarding your senses throughout the day and you may well be making wrong purchase decisions, because you are influenced. These soaps no matter, what shapes, sizes or colors they come in are more often than not, harmful for your skin if used continuously.

You may ask, why so? The main problem with most soap lies in the way in which they are manufactured. There are certain chemicals which are added to give the soap its cleansing and foam creating ability. These chemicals are harsh industrial grade detergents (such as sodium lauryl sulfate) and are definitely not what your skin needs.

Moreover these soap manufacturers usually eliminate glycerin which is naturally produced during the saponification (chemical synthesis of esters and alkali to create soap) process.  This means that the soap loses an element which keeps your skin soft and moisturized. And this is why soaps make your skin (particularly the face) dry after a wash.

Mass-produced soaps also use cheap tallow or animal fat because it makes the soap harder and produces more bubbles in the foam. However, these fats are not good for your skin.

So, your best bet is to buy natural soaps, which are usually handmade. These soaps are a good choice because:

• They contain essential oils and no chemical additives, artificial colors or aromas.
• They contain saponins which are processed from papaya or guava. Hence they are safer than soaps containing stearates and sulfates.
• The natural oils present in the soap will make your skin softer and smoother, by actually nourishing it. Many of these soaps can give you the benefits of olive oil, jojoba or wheat germ.

Natural soaps may be a tad more expensive than the ones you pick up from the supermarket every month. But perhaps you will choose them now that you know how to choose soap!

Formation of cellulite mars your appearance before it can hamper your health. How does it feel when cellulite makes your previously smooth skin appear lumpy and undulating? Feels awful, doesn’t it? However, there is good news for you in the form of anti cellulite creams. These creams penetrate the surface of your skin and eliminate the deposits of fat gradually. Though they cannot solve the problem of cellulite completely, they can provide visible improvements, you will be more than delighted to have. There are many anti-cellulite creams available these days and it is important that you pick the right one for yourself.

Standing in front a shelf full of the latest anti cellulite creams will not help you in any way other than confusing you further. Instead the following tips can be much more beneficial:

• Your budget is crucial for making the initial shortlist of products. The products available these days, range from cheap to quite exorbitantly priced ones. So, unless money is not a consideration for you, it is important to know the brands which come within your budget, before proceeding further with the purchase decision. There are lots of good creams in the mid-range price bracket and so, splurging may not be necessary.
• Once you have a list of creams you want to know more about, look for reviews on the Web. These reviews are free, unbiased sources of vital information. Ads may be misleading, but reviews are individual experiences and there are a list of pros and cons you will get to know about when you read more reviews. This will help you trim down your list even further.
• Another way of choosing anti cellulite creams is by looking at the ingredients. Many creams may claim to reduce cellulite, but not a lot of them will actually do so. Look for creams which contain caffeine and retinol, two substances which work great against cellulite. A good anti cellulite cream also contains cream also contains moisturizers to make your skin softer and smoother. Vitamins A and E can also help in collagen formation, which smoothens the skin made uneven by cellulite.

Once you have zoomed in two or three products, which offer similar anti-cellulite benefits, take a pick and buy one. However buy a small pack, because you don’t know yet how the product will suit you. If you get results, without side effects after a month or so, then you have chosen the right anti-cellulite cream. Congratulations and happy cellulite-busting!

It is simple logic that in order to solve a problem, you must first know what you are dealing with. So, if you are having skin problems, the first step is to know what type of skin you have. Human skin can be of various types, all of which have their specific pros and cons. Also, the same skin problem may merit different courses of action for different skin types. If you think that you need to visit a dermatologist or beautician, simply to understand your skin type, you may be mistaken. This is because, determining your skin type is something you can do yourself, right at home!

Skin can be broadly classified as normal, oily, dry, sensitive and aging. Though there may be sub-categories within this group, based upon specific characteristics, it is enough for you to know your skin type within these five categories. Knowing this will help you use the right cosmetics so that you do not end up harming your skin unintentionally.

Identifying certain characteristics of your skin will help you understand your skin type. Here’s how:

You have oily skin if:

• Tissue paper sticks to your face even after washing it.
• You have frequent outbreaks of pimples.
• Anytime you feel your skin with your fingers, you pick greasiness.
• After coming back from work or an outdoor trip, your face is really dirty because dirt and dust particles stick to the oil secreted by your sebaceous glands.

You have dry skin if:

• Wiping your face with tissue after you have washed it, does not pick up anything at all.
• Your skin feels tight and dehydrated most of the time, even in summer.
• It appears dull, which is due to the build up of dead skin cells underneath the top layer of your skin.
• Fine lines and wrinkles start appearing at a relatively young age.

You have normal skin in case:

• You find oil only in your T-zone, which comprises of forehead and nose, upon wiping your face with a tissue.
• Your skin has consistent color and texture, irrespective of what season it is.
• You need moisturizers in winter, but in summer your skin doesn’t feel particularly dry.
• Wearing heavy make-up and then taking it off, is not an issue for you.

Sensitive skin is characterized by:

• Sudden changes from dryness to oiliness, corresponding to minor changes in lifestyle, diet, seasons and other variables.
• Tendency of the skin to accept very few cosmetics and being allergic to others and resist any changes or lapses in skin care routine.
• The nature of the skin to get tanned easily even upon limited exposure to sunlight.

And finally, your skin may be aging if:

• You are above forty or are approaching menopause.
• Wrinkles and fine lines have started appearing.
• The natural suppleness is missing and it has become thicker and heavier.

Though most people have normal skin type, there is no need to panic if your skin cannot be classified into this category. The right thing to do is to understand your skin and use products and methods which nurture it in the best possible way.