Wednesday, September 30, 2009

FOR A PERFECT SKIN: HAVE A GOOD SKIN CARE ROUTINE

You might be surprised to learn that many skin products contain ingredients that scientific studies have deemed 'harmful to our skin' or 'not beneficial'.

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) penetrates the skin and damages its protective barrier function. Formaldehyde can irritate the skin and trigger allergic reactions such as rashes and heart palpitations. It can also aggravate asthma. Parabens DEA and MEA can cause skin and mouth irritations.

Sunscreen should play a starring role in your quest for younger-looking skin. Apply to the parts of your body that age the fastest - face, neck, decolletage and hands. Look for one that is formulated for children or toddlers as these are likely to be fragrance-free and lower in synthetic chemicals.

If you have dry or flaky skin, or wrinkles and premature ageing, exfoliating with a granulated cream or scrub will leave your skin looking and feeling smoother. Don't exfoliate your skin if you have acne or broken skin such as wounds, bites or rashes.

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Saturday, September 19, 2009

FOR A PERFECT SKIN: EAT MOISTURISING FOODS

Certain fats are moisturising to your skin - they moisturise you from the inside out. The good fats include GLA (found in Evening Primrose Oil), EPA, DHA and omega-3 (all found in oily fish and flaxseed).

Omega-3 is particularly good for your skin. It is abundant in cold-water fish such as sardines, trout and herring and although they are acid-forming, salmon and mackerel are good sources, too. Omega-3 is also found in flaxseeds, walnuts and green vegetables.

Omega-6, also found in flaxseeds, walnuts and leafy greens as well as eggs and fish, converts eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) which decreases inflammation and improves skin moisture. It also helps normalise blood pressure, helps with cardiovascular health and can reduce your risk of certain cancers.

If you have dry skin, psoriasis, rosacea, dandruff or premature ageing take an omega-3 fish oil supplement (or flaxseed oil if you are vegetarian) in addition to eating oily fish two or three times a week.

Saturated fats in dairy, meat and fried foods can cause inflammation, dry skin and premature ageing. They can also increase your risk of heart disease, asthma, eczema and acne.

Limit your intake, and increase the amount of foods that help protect from the damaging effects of these fats, including onions, ginger, turmeric, red wine (which contains flavonoids), Vitamin E and selenium.

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Sunday, September 13, 2009

Anti Aging Skin Care: It is All About the Ingredients

by Renee Smallwood

Good skin care is anti aging skin care. There are a plethora of choices, when looking for an antiaging skin cream. The best choice is only as good as the effectiveness of the ingredients. When choosing a product, read the label carefully.

There are things that should be included and some ingredients that you want to avoid.
The other thing to watch for is how the ingredients work together. Ask yourself, why was that ingredient included in the formulation? To do that requires some study on your part, but you will learn things the big cosmetic companies do not really want you to know. And end up with products that meet your anti aging skin care needs.

Do not believe everything that you read. Make up your own mind. Anti aging skin care is not an exact science and there is a lot of conflicting information out there. But if the products you choose have quality ingredients and do not have anything known to be a filler or harmful in them, then the time spent will be well worth it.

Take, for example, a recent article published in a popular health magazine. It went through a four step plan to look younger by reducing fine lines at home. The plan is presented to improve skin health by decreasing the breakdown of collagen and using ingredients to stimulate formation of new collagen and hyalronic acid (helps the skin attract and retain water). The regimen uses several "ingredients" to tone the skin and soften the fine lines. This is what most of us are looking for.

What the article talked about were general concepts and then suggested specific products to use. While it is the easy answer to the question of what products to choose, it is definitely not the best answer. One question that came to mind was, how did the author come up with those choices for anti aging skin care? And what made her qualified to recommend them?(Her title was senior editor) Then, in looking at the ingredients in the mentioned products, each had things that should definitely be avoided.

Where can you investigate the ingredients listed in a product you are considering? Start with the Internet. A great resource is the Environmental Working Group's Skin Deep cosmetic safety guide. It lists the ingredients for over 40,000 cosmetics and personal care products. The data base is huge and continues to grow. These ingredients are then cross referenced against 50 toxicity and regulatory databases.

Some of the major ingredients to avoid in antiaging skin cream are mineral oil, fragrance, and any kind of paraben. Mineral oil is a petroleum by product that coats the skin to keep moisture in. It interferes with the skin's ability to eliminate toxins. Fragrance can have thousands of ingredients, many that are known to be toxic or carcinogenic. And the parabens,used as preservatives, interfere with the endocrine system of the body and may cause cancer. And none of these ingredients promote anti aging skin care. They actually have the opposite effect of doing harm instead of good.

What quality ingredients should be in a good antiaging skin cream? Things like Coenzyme Q10 which protects against aging caused by UVA rays and reduces wrinkles. There definitley should be antioxidants like natural Vitamin E or grapeseed oil. Also, look for natural emollients like Maracuja (passion fruit extract), which is rich in linolenic acid that helps to revitalize the skin.

For more quality ingredient information visit my website.

About the Author
Renee Smallwood investigates natural, healthy products. To learn more about anti-aging products, using breakthrough natural ingredients go to http://beautifulhealthyskin.blogspot.com

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Sunday, September 06, 2009

FOR A PERFECT SKIN: THINK GREEN AND FRIENDLY

An essential step for beautiful skin involves 'friendly' gut flora, 'green' foods and drinks that have an alkalising effect on the body, and avoiding acid-forming foods.

Some parts of your body should be acidic, such as your stomach when it produces digestive acids. However, in general, your body's tissues and blood should be slightly alkaline.

There are two ways you can find out how acidic you are. Your GP can test your blood pH, or you can test your saliva or urine with pH strips from your local pharmacy.

These are made of litmus paper which changes colour when acidic or alkaline substances come into contact with it. When your body's pH is in balance, this reading should be between 7.0 and 7.5.

'Green' foods such as asparagus have an alkalising effect on the body

There are many types of acid-producing foods and when your body is continually trying to counteract an acidic state, acid can become a poison. The worst offenders are vinegar (except for apple cider vinegar), alcoholic drinks, margarine, pork and beef, salmon and mackerel.

Also acid-forming are coffee and black tea, yellow cheeses, pickles and mustard, chickpeas, most nuts, white rice and high-sugar and white-flour products.

However, you do not have to avoid these foods completely to be healthy. They can be enjoyed in moderation, but limit them to no more than three servings a day. The equivalent of two servings is two glasses of alcohol, or one coffee, and salmon and chickpeas for dinner.

Green drinks - those containing chlorophyll and wheatgrass - are the best way to create good acidalkaline balance. A liquid chlorophyll supplement, available from chemists, can give you an extra dose of vegetables daily. It can help to neutralise acids in the body so your blood is less likely to become sluggish and inefficient.

Alkalising foods include spinach, peppers, courgette, broccoli, carrots, cucumber, cabbage and sweet potatoes - and surprisingly lemons and limes (although the fruit is acidic, it is actually alkalising in the blood). Avocado, asparagus (below), garlic, onions, radishes and uncooked tomatoes are also mildly alkalising.

Other points to good acid-alkaline balance include limiting your caffeine intake, having four alcohol-free days a week, avoiding smoking, and drinking eight to ten glasses of water a day. Encourage friendly gut flora by taking a probiotic supplement.

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Thursday, September 03, 2009

Five Most Common Facial Skin Problems

by Sara Larsen

Having beautiful, clear skin can help keep you looking and feeling your best. Unfortunately, there are some common facial flaws that can mar our skin with unsightly spots, lines, and redness. The good news is that you can treat these problems by adopting a good skin care routine.
Wrinkles

Fine lines and wrinkles come with age; however, there are preventative measures you can take to ward off the signs of aging. Regular use of sunscreen with a minimum SPF of 30 on your face, necks, hands, and other areas exposed to the sun can go a long way in preventing the formation of wrinkles.

Acne

Acne affects men and women in their teens and into adulthood. There are a variety of acne products on the market, including cleansers and toners, medication such as Accutane, and medical-grade treatments such as BLU-Light Acne therapy.

Large Pores

Large pores can be minimized with a regular cleansing and exfoliation routine, or by undergoing IPL phototherapy treatment with a dermatologist or plastic surgeon.

Age Spots

Age, or sun, spots can begin to appear by our 20s or 30s if we do not exercise proper skin safety early on. Daily use of sunscreen will prevent age spots, while professional skin treatments such as chemical peels and microdermabrasion can reduce their appearance.

Dark Under Eye Circles

Dark under eye circles are caused by genetics, as well as dehydration and sleep deprivation. It is important to drink at least eight cups of water per day and get at least eight hours of sleep each night to prevent under eye circles. Treatments for under eye circles include creams and medical-grade procedures such as laser skin rejuvenation.

If you suffer from any of these skin problems, speak to a dermatologist or plastic surgeon in your area for treatment advice. A qualified physician can help you decide if professional treatment is right for you, and discuss the cost and risks of treatment with you.

About the Author
Learn about Dallas plastic surgeon Paul Pin, and Dallas tummy tuck and Dallas liposuction

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