Saturday, November 10th, 2007
The holidays are right around the corner and the air is crisp, fresh and dry. While the cooler temperatures and reduced humidity levels are welcome to many, your skin and hair may suffer without some routine maintenance.
By simply browsing your local or online drugstore you’ll find plenty of skin care products designed to protect and moisturize your skin. You might also find some helpful ingredients in your own kitchen cupboard. Take a look at some of the most popular ones:
1) Tea tree oil is absorbed quickly into the skin and contains both anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties.
2) If you’re looking for an all-natural teeth whitener, deodorant or body powder, baking soda comes in handy. Another little-know use involves mixing the soda with water and using to remove buildup from styling products used on your hair… a great alternative to harsh clarifying shampoos that tend to dry out hair.
3) An unlikely treatment, maple syrup can be used on the face as a mask or on hair as a conditioner. Look for pure syrup and get ready to experience fabulous moisturizing results.
One of the most important things you can do this and every winter is to take appropriate steps to protect your hair and skin from the elements. Here are a few tips to keep in mind:
1) Hands need special attention because they have thinner skin than the rest of your body. Take care to use quality hand lotions or creams each time you wash your hands. Also wear gloves when exposed to cold weather or harsh chemicals.
2) Don’t forget to take care of your entire body just because it’s winter-time and you’re covered from head to toe in sweaters and other cold-weather clothing. Exfoliate and moisturize as if every day were shorts and t-shirt weather. You’ll look great when those days are here again!
3) Wear sunscreen always… even in the winter. If you’re outside, you need it. Period.
4) Protect your hair and cut down on static with a rich conditioning product. The type you use may need to change for a few months out of the year.
5) Use a lip conditioning product to keep lips from chapping or cracking. Not only is it painful but also not the most attractive.
Most of all, enjoy the changing seasons and look for ways to modify your skin care routine and get the best look possible year-round. With just a few changes, you can have great-looking skin and hair all year long!
Technorati Tags: skin care, facial skin care, Practical Skin Care Tips For Winter, winter skin care
Ellen writes frequently about health and beauty topics and loves to help others determine the
best skin care product for their particular situation. She truly believes that life is too short not to pamper yourself with the best body, soul and
facial skin care treatments available.
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Friday, November 9th, 2007
Skin care basics aren’t just for women.
A good skin care regimen is essential for men as well. What is the difference between men’s skin care and women’s skin care? The only real difference is that men shave. Otherwise, the basics are pretty much the same. However, not all products are made the same.
Skin care essentials made with natural ingredients are an excellent choice all around.
Some products that are used to clean the skin contain harsh chemicals and can strip the skin of much-needed natural oils and moisture. The chemicals can also leave a detergent film behind which can irritate the skin and cause breakouts.
Men have oilier skin and larger pores than women.
Daily cleansing is vital to healthy skin. A good scrub, one that invigorates your skin without tearing it, is a good choice. Toning and moisturizing after cleansing are the next steps to great looking skin. When considering a toner, choose one with the least amount of chemicals. One that contains around 5% glycolic is best and can be used daily to keep skin firm. This also helps your skin to fight off the effects of the many pollutants in the environment today. The moisturizer you choose should, once again, be one with natural ingredients.
Make sure to hydrate your face and neck on a daily basis.
Moisturizing helps to prevent wrinkles as men age. Vitamin E and Aloe Vera are great natural moisturizers. Don’t miss the area under the eyes, where age will show before anywhere else on the face. Keep Vitamin E capsules on hand and use the pure vitamin E under the eyes for an intense moisturizing treatment.
Every person has a different skin type.
Whether you have oily, normal or dry skin, it is important to ex-foliate regularly to remove dead skin cells. Also, after shaving, men need to apply a moisturizer that doesn’t contain alcohol or has an intense scent. Sensitive skin is especially prone to react negatively if harsh chemicals are used. Go with something that contains chamomile or another soothing natural ingredient. Lip balm with an SPF of at least 15 is a good way to protect and hydrate your lips.
Facials aren’t just for women.
Men benefit just as well from either a home facial or a spa facial. If you go to a spa, the professionals there can tell you how to best care for your skin type. You are never too manly to NOT go to a spa and have a facial done. Everything is based on how you look these days.
Men who care about their skin need to actively protect it from the elements.
Stay hydrated by drinking at least eight glasses of water a day. Exercise is vital to healthy skin since it increases the amount of oxygen traveling to the skin tissues which can ward off premature aging. If you are going to be in the sun for longer periods of time, protect the skin with a block containing at least 15 SPF or higher. You‘ll protect yourself not only from unsightly brown age spots, but skin cancer as well. Sunglasses protect your eyes from overexposure to the sun too.
Skin is affected by our diet and our habits.
Try to stay away from anything in excess. Moderation is the key when it comes to alcohol consumption, smoking, and eating. Stress and fatigue also affect our skin in negative ways. A good night’s rest is important not only to function well, it is great for healthy skin too! Eat foods that are high in Vitamin E and Vitamin C, or take supplements to get your daily recommended dosage. Its time for all men, young and old to start caring for their skin and start today , its never too late!
Technorati Tags: skin care for man, skin care, facial skin care
Kim Snyder, owner
Overall Beauty Great lover of all natural beauty skincare and products. Offering only the neatest in mood nail polish & BB Couture massage candles and gift baskets for men.
Visit her at
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Friday, November 9th, 2007
Cleansing is a vital step in your skin care regime. Proper cleansing with products specific for your skin type will improve your overall appearance. Daily cleansing is important to remove dirt and bacteria, sweat, air pollution, excess oils and in addition cleansing exfoliates the skin surface to promote circulation.Proper cleansing starts with clean hands. This prevents the transfer of bacteria to your face. Apply your cleansing cream at the forehead and then sweep the cleanser over the face, lips, and neck. Massage the cleanser into your skin in a gentle circular motion. Eye make up can be removed with specially formulated eye creams, as some facial cleansers are not suited to be applied to the eye area. Thoroughly rinse your face with cool or tepid water (not to hot or to cold). Extreme hot or cold water can cause flushing and break sensitive capillaries in the skin. Hot water will open the pores and expose these pores to environmental pollution and dirt.
The best cleanser is those that clean the skin without stripping them of the natural fatty oils that protect and waterproof the skin. Removing excess oils in the skin can be accomplished without harsh soaps and strong cleansing creams that dry out the skin. This drying affect leaves the skin exposed to bacteria, cellular damage, and prone to fine lines and wrinkles due to lack of moisture.
Below are easy recipes for various skin types:
Normal Skin
No matter what skin type, choose mild liquid or soap gels for cleansing your face. Soaps made for bath, body and hands tend to be drying no matter what skin type and should be avoided on the face and neck. When buying store bought cleansing creams look for avocado, coconut, or wheat germ. These natural ingredients are suitable for normal skin types. In addition, below is a facial cleanser for normal skin types:
Gentle Facial Cleanser
1/2 cup oatmeal or cornmeal
plain yogurt (add enough yogurt to form a paste)
Mix ingredients to form a paste. With your fingertips and in an upward circular motion, gently massage the paste into your skin. Rinse with warm water and then apply a toner and moisturizer.
Dry skin
First, stay away from hot water when cleansing the face and neck. The hot water opens the pores and extracts the natural moisture quickly. Your cleansing creams should contain non-detergent ingredients that will rinse off easily. When selecting your cleansing cream look for products that contain natural ingredients such as almond, olive or jojoba oils. Below is an easy cleansing recipe for dry skin types:
Honey Cleanser (For Dry Skin)
*Castile soap
1 Teaspoon Honey
Wet face. Pour a little castile soap into the palm of your hand, add honey. Mix honey and soap into a lather, wash face.
*Castile soap is made from vegetable oil as opposed to animal fat like other soaps. Oils used in castile soap include olive, coconut, almond, hemp, and jojoba
Oily skin
Avoid wax-based cleansers, as they are prone to clog pores. An easy recipe for oily skin is as follows:
3 tablespoons oatmeal
2 teaspoons witch hazel
a few drops of water
(more…)
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Thursday, November 8th, 2007
Beauty regimens are normal for ladies for it is one way of maintaining their vivacity and prettiness. Women tend to apply several creams, lotions and use different soaps and beauty care liquids in order to attain their desired complexion or maintain their very own smooth and silky skin.
At this moment, not only women are meticulous and particular in their skin tone and looks but also men who are conscious of their appearance and how they will carry themselves and interact with other people.
Nowadays, a face pack does not only cleanse your skin and pores but it also helps in maintaining the tautness and balance of your skin. There are different face packs according to your skin type, so choose the one that suits you.
Dry Skin Pack
The dry skin is usually flaky and dull looking around the eyes and cheeks. That is why it needs to be motorized well. Wash your face with milk and oatmeal instead of ordinary soap since the milk moisturizes and nourishes the skin while the oatmeal acts as an exfoliate agent.
To have extra moisturizer, make a pack with a mixture of ten almonds, two spoons oatmeal, four tablespoons of full cream milk, two spoons china clay, juice of half a lemon and one mashed avocado. Apply it gently on your face then leave for twenty minutes. Dampen cotton wool with cold milk and wipe it off. Finally, splash your face with cold water and apply light moisturizer.
Oily Skin Pack
The oily skin has active sebaceous glands that secrete more oil leaving the skin greasy and dull thus it attracts a lot of dirt which then clogs the pores. It definitely needs a thorough cleansing routine to remove the surface grime and unclogged the pores.
You need a pack that rejuvenates, tightens and exfoliates skin. You can mash six strawberries with a teaspoon of Brandy, two spoons of breadcrumbs, two spoons of fuller’s earth and a few drops of rose water. Mix those well then apply a thick layer on the face and neck and leave it for twenty minutes.
Strawberries have Vitamin C and certain acidic properties they leave the skin sparkling clean. The breadcrumbs help to exfoliate dead skin while fuller’s earth will tighten the pores and brandy would help to add some glow.
Combination Pack
With this type of skin, usually the nose and forehead are oily then the eyes and cheeks are dry. Cleanse the center zone with an astringent while dab the rest of the face with cold milk then apply a pack made of half a cup of powered, dry peas mixed with three spoons of curd, juice of one lemon and half a cup of papaya pulp. Apply it then leave again for twenty minutes, after rinse off with cold water. Better still to rub an ice cube dipped in rose water over the T-Zone.
Always see to it that your face is clean, free from harsh chemicals and radiantly white and flawless. Avoid exposure in different pollutants and always be protected against ultraviolet rays. Take a lot of care and be extra beautiful inside-out!
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Thursday, November 8th, 2007
The skin on your face is exposed to a barrage of toxins and environmental damage on a daily basis. It must withstand pollution, ultraviolet rays, wind, and debris, as well as the harmful chemicals in 99% of all skin care products and cosmetics. The skin on your face is the most delicate skin on your body. Therefore there are many specialty products that have been developed specifically for your facial skin. It can be difficult to decipher which products perform which tasks, and which products would work the best with your skin type. Here’s a primer on the most common facial products available.
A Word About Facial Skin
Before you can select the facial skin care products that would work best for you, you need to determine your skin type. Basically, facial skin is categorized as either normal, oily, dry, sensitive, or combination. If you’ve never had problems with oily skin or dry skin, it’s likely that you have “normal” skin. The pores of normal skin are small and the overall skin tone is even. Oily skin, on the other hand results in medium to large pores that are prone to blockage and breakouts. Oily skin is usually slightly too moderately greasy and is thicker and firmer than normal skin. Dry skin feels tight and itchy, especially in the winter. It is thinner than normal skin and may even be slightly rough to the touch. People with sensitive skin are usually the ones who actually know their skin type. Sensitive skin is prone to rashes and breakouts from any kind of irritants such as sun, perfumes, shaving cream, temperature extremes, and even soap. Avoid products with dyes, per!
fumes, or unnecessary chemical ingredients in all skin conditions. As its name implies, combination skin has both dry and oily patches. Most commonly, combination skin exhibits an oily “T-Zone” (forehead, nose and chin) with dry skin on the cheeks and around the eyes.
Facial Skin Care Products
Facial Cleansers: Soap can be very drying to facial skin. So it is best to use a facial wash or cleanser that is specifically designed for the face.
Skin Toners: Skin toners offer extra cleaning and help to restore the pH balance of your facial skin. However, these products can be quite drying, so if you have dry or sensitive skin, you will not need to use a skin toner.
Anti Aging Creams: Facial skin care creams made of antioxidants (particularly vitamins C and E), vitamin A or alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs), are commonly used to help reduce the appearance of wrinkles and restore luster to the skin. These products may make a variety of claims regarding their efficacy and time required to see results. Use caution when reviewing a facial skin care product that claims to be a “miracle cure” to aging.
Eye Creams: Eye creams are specifically made to pamper the delicate skin under and around the eyes. They help to plump and tighten under eye skin and they can reduce fine lines and wrinkles (like crows feet) that develop around the eyes. I recommend “Parfait Visage”
Moisturizers: Moisturizers help to hydrate skin and reduce the effects of aging over time.
Sunscreen: Sunscreen is the most important facial skin care product for the health and protection of your skin. The sun’s rays, even in small amounts can be very damaging to the skin on your face. Protect it with a natural sunscreen of at least an SPF 15 everyday.
Facial Cleansers: The fragile skin on your face needs a gentle cleanser that is designed for facial skin. Facial cleansers may come in liquid, foam, gel, towelette, or bar form.
AHAs: Alpah Hydroxy Acids (AHAs) work wonders at smoothing out the texture of skin and reducing the visibility of fine lines. These products work by sloughing off dead skin cells to unblock and cleanse pores, to improve oily skin or acne, and to improve skin condition in general. The extent of exfoliation that a facial skin care product is capable of depends on the type and concentration of the AHA, its pH (acidity), and other ingredients in the product.
Exfoliators: These facial skin care products utilize a variety of ingredients such as nuts, alpha hydroxy acids, and microcrystals to gently remove dead skin cells and reveal the healthy, radiant skin underneath. They are best used occasionally to restore luster to dull or dry skin.
Sunless Tanners: As their name implies, sunless tanners are used to tan the skin without exposure to the sun. These products vary greatly in quality, time requirements, and ease of application. They should be used with caution. A poor quality or poorly applied sunless tanner will produce unnatural results. These sunless tanners also contain harmful chemicals which can be absorbed by your skin.
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For more information on natural cosmetics and skin care visit:
http://www.skin-care-support.org or
http://www.make-up-cosmetics.com
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Thursday, November 8th, 2007
Just because your face looks clean does not mean that you are doing the right things for it. You may not think that it makes sense or that you have the time to devote to a skin care regimen with your lifestyle but it will be a great thing in the end. It is true that whatever things needed for your bodies to be healthy are the same things that important for your skin. Taking in the tips for healthy skin care will benefit you in more ways than you know.
Before deciding on what to do with your skin, you will need to find out what skin type you have. Some of the products that you can buy are different for everyone. You may have sensitive skin, oily skin, normal, skin, or skin that has damage due to the sun and the heat. You also need to take into account the amount of stress you are under, the diet you have, any medication you are taking, and the history of skin in your family.
The basic skin care regimen should contain these three items: cleaning, exfoliating, and a moisturizer.
Cleaning the skin is one of the easiest things you can do. You will need to find a cleanser that will give you good results without causing your skin to become irritated. If it works for you then you need to keep on using it. Cetaphil is a well-known product because it is easy on the skin and is very mild. Try not to use a bar soap on the face because it can damage the skin layers. You should only be using a bar soap on your neck down to the toes only.
You will need to add a good exfoliate to your regimen. This means that you need a product that will take off the top layer of skin and remove the dead skin cells that are there. Once the old layers of skin are off the face, the face will have a younger looking appearance like before. Professionals will tell you that the skin removed off the face by using a microderm-abrasion kit at least once every week. If you use it more than that, it will cause the skin to peel. Make sure the brush you are using has fine soft bristles.
Hydrating the skin is also important because of the loss of the oils that are essential and sent out by the glands of the outer skin. This is the main reason why the skin may appear to be dry and dull since there is not enough moisture in it. To give the skin the moisture it needs, use a lotion or a cream immediately after you finish your shower. Use only a small amount of the lotion or cream because any large amounts will clog the pores and stop it from giving the skin the air it needs.
It is important to consider that the hints for beautiful skin will be successful for you if you are diligent in following them correctly. You will also want to watch what you are eating because there are so many other things that can help the outside of your skin to become healthy.
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