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Beauty Tips: Homemade Skincare Recipes

January 6th, 2009    Subscribe To Our Feed

Women go to all sorts of lengths to improve their natural beauty. We apply makeup, style our hair and paint our nails. When it comes to our skin, it is unbelievably important to keep in mind that it is one of the most vital things to care for. Healthy skin provides you with a gorgeous glow that makeup alone can’t provide.

Unfortunately, many of the skin care treatments out there are really expensive. Not only are they pricey, but its often hard to know if you are even getting your money’s worth until it is too late. I have a few ideas for some natural home facial treatments that work and are inexpensive. These beauty tips will help you unleash the full potential of your skin without costing you too much money.

Exfoliating the skin on your face is crucial to help getting rid of the dead skin cells that can create a dull tone on the face. By exfoliating away the dead skins cells, you also encourage new skin cell creation which will keep your skin looking younger longer. One of the best exfoliating scrubs that I have found is one that you can make yourself. The recipe calls for sugar and honey. Simply mix them together in a one to one ratio. Sugar is the perfect exfoliating agent for the face because it is not too harsh. Something like salt could possibly tear the delicate skin on your face. Honey actually has moisturizing qualities so it is really helpful for replenishing the skin.

Maintaining a balance of moisture for your skin is also extremely important. An excellent way to keep this balance is by applying a weekly facial mask. A mask will provide the super deep moisture that your face needs from time to time. Instead of buying an overpriced mask product, try using plain yogurt as an alternative. Just make sure that the yogurt you use doesn’t have extra additives - a whole foods store will most likely have the right kind. Simply apply the yogurt directly to your skin and let it sit for about five to ten minutes. The natural acidophilus in the yogurt will even help kill unwanted bacteria in your skin which can prevent and clear minor acne.

By trying these homemade beauty tips and skincare remedies, you can keep your skin looking amazing without breaking the bank. Improving your natural beauty can make your daily makeup regimen more simple. It can also allow you to get away with wearing less makeup in the first place. Now that’s refreshing!

Avoid Winter Harm to Your Skin - Naturally

January 5th, 2009    Subscribe To Our Feed

Winter brings cold temperatures when it comes. It can also provide us with glistening white snows for sledding and skiing. But, winter weather can dry the skin and damage it if we are not careful. Learn methods for keeping this from happening without resorting to chemicals.

Even the most moisturized skin can tend towards dryness in the winter. We believe that if we wear layers of clothing to keep the wind out that our skin will automatically be protected. That is far from the truth. If we fail to moisturize our skin in the winter, it will become dry, itchy, and red.

1. Get your eight glasses of water“When we lose moisture through our pores, it has to be put back. Our bodies are composed of mostly water and we risk dehydration if we dont replenish. Drinking lots of water is healthy for our bodies inside and out.

2. Night time moisturizing“We dont think to add lotion to our skin at night since we are only going to jump under the covers. But, the moisture barrier we built during the day needs to be rebuilt especially if you shower before bed. Applying a layer of a natural moisturing cream or lotion on your entire body soothes the skin at night. For those tired feet, a balm especially made for rough patches does the trick.

3. Wear sunscreen“Many people dont consider the winter sun to be hot but anytime the sun shines, it is giving off radiation. The harmful radiation of the sun can dry out our skin as well as damaging it on the surface and deeper. Many natural skincare products contain zinc which is a mineral that acts as a natural sunscreen.

4. Add moisture to the air“A humidifier (cool mist or warm) adds moisture to the air in your home. It is not uncommon for air to be too dry for some people. A humidifier prevents drying in nasal passages and keeps the skin supple.

5. Exfoliate your skin“This can be accomplished with skin creams that contain microbeads, a sugar scrub, or by using a loofah sponge. Using gently circular motions, the exfoliant removes dead skin from our body. A weekly scrub allows healthy skin cells to absorb the moisturizers better and the skin can maintain a healthy level of moisture.

6. Take cooler showers“Hot water feels great on tired muscles but it can do a number on our skin. Instead use lukewarm water and shower for less time to keep your skin from drying out. Winter winds can wreak havoc with our skin and leave us irritated. Learn to protect your skin by adding these simple steps to your daily routine.

Winter winds can wreak havoc with our skin and leave us irritated. Learn to protect your skin by adding these simple steps to your daily routine.

Chemicals in Skincare That May Cause Skin Irritations

January 5th, 2009    Subscribe To Our Feed

As organic skin care grows in popularity, people are starting to realize just how unhealthy mainstream make up, lotions and basic heath items are. With this awareness has come a mounting alarm that these products are not FDA regulated and manufacturers can get away with using a lot of additives that pharmaceutical companies cannot. As a result, potentially life threatening chemicals are being placed in everyday items like baby oil, lotions and creams putting consumers at risk.

Many of these items can create adverse skin reactions and rashes that turn men and women off from the use of these otherwise beneficial items.

Below is a list of some of the things you should look out for when purchasing regular skin care products that may cause irritation or be potentially toxic.

Parabens

Parabens are a collective group of preservatives that have been used by the cosmetic and beauty aid industry to reduce bacterial growth in their products. Many Parabens start with the prefix of methyl, ethyl, butyl, or propyl and are extremely hazardous to health as well as irritating to the skin.

Below is a list of some of these parabens as well as other toxic chemicals that can be aggravating to the largest organ of the human body as well as contribute to a host of ailments.

- Color and Fragrance - both of these substances do not provide anything other than an aesthetic or scent related effect, however, both have properties in them that create skin sensitivity. They are also carcinogenic, meaning that they could cause caner.

- DMDM Hydantoin. Another preservative, this chemical has been attributed to the releases of formaldehyde. This harmful byproduct not only causes skin irritation, it creates allergies and joint pain as well as a long list of hormonal problems.

- Triclosan. This chemical has been categorized by the EPA as a chlorophenol, a high level carcinogen. Just a tiny bit can create major health problems and wreak havoc on the body. The continued use of Triclosan has been linked to hormonal imbalances in both men and women.

- Propylene Glycol (PG) - petroleum based preservative this substance has been cited among the many numerous skin irritants in cosmetic and beauty products. It is also so toxic that handlers have to wear safety gear just to touch it.

- Butylene Glycol - also a petroleum based chemical, both butylene and propylene glycol is dangerous and extremely deadly and some cases. Butylene has been linked to cancer and numerous other chronic disorders.

- Mineral Oil - yet another petroleum product, mineral oil clogs pores creating aggravating break outs and rashes in many users. It also interferes with the skin?s ability to renew and repair itself. This can create a host of problems outside of mere acne issues as the skin needs to function properly for other important organs to work efficiently.

On an even scarier note, most baby oil is made up of 100% Mineral Oil!

There are hundreds more chemicals that can adversely affect the skin or cause illness — to find out what they are, you should do further, in depth research on the topic.

Other problems associated with mainstream skin care products

Continued use of over the counter, mainstream skin care products can contribute to hormonal imbalances, allergies, severe skin irritations leading to rashes and dermatitis, disorders like CFS (chronic fatigue syndrome) headaches, depression, mood swings and hyperactivity.

The answer

Using organic skincare products can alleviate some of the risks commonly associated with the use of mainstream beauty products. Be careful in this regard as many manufacturers may claim something is all natural or organic yet have chemicals in them.

Read all skin care product labels and above all, strive to make sure that you replace harmful chemical based products in your home with truly organic purchases. Though a bit more time consumptive, you will be rewarded with a better health and more luxurious and thankful skin.

A 200 Year Old Anti-Aging Cream: Witch Hazel

January 2nd, 2009    Subscribe To Our Feed

In years gone, Indian tribes used Witch Hazel for medicinal purposes. These days, it is one of a handful of medicinal treatments that are allowed to be used by the Federal Drug Administration. Of course, there are other herbal extracts permitted as dietary supplements, but witch hazel is one of just a select few that are still allowed as topical treatments. It was widely used for ailments such as hemorrhoids, insect bites and stings, skin ulcers, tumors, boils and other rashes like chiggers or poison ivy.

Witch Hazel, is native to America and Europe and its medicinal qualities have made it highly valued over the years. Some early treatments involved it’s branches and flowers being steamed and the results mixed with alcohol then used for astringents and topical medication. Nowadays, its uses vary greatly from mouthwashes (using distilled witch hazel) to anti-aging creams and anti wrinkle creams (using witch hazel oil). Some witch hazel formulas have been used by home remedy skin care products, which claim to work as a skin anti-aging process.

Witch Hazel is useful in anti-aging treatments, because it has been found to have capillary constricting properties that reduce inflammation, as well as topical antioxidant properties. It is a safe, and inexpensive home remedy on average witch hazel oil can be found on sale for under a couple dollars in the pharmacy area of most stores. It’s use as an ingredient in many anti-aging creams and anti-wrinkle creams. It is usually in a more concentrated form and, because of this, promotes cell turnover as well as new cell moisturizing because the oil concentrate keep skin cells plump and hydrated.

It was in the 1840’s that Theron Pond learned from the Oneida Indians, the medicinal benifits of Witch Hazel. The shrubs are common in the New York and Connecticut areas and these regions still supply much of the witch hazel on the market today. After years of learning from the Oneida Indians, Theron Pond brought the healing powers to mass market, selling it commercially under the name of Golden Treasure. After the death of Theron Pond, the name of the product was changed to “Pond’s extract”.

The witch hazel production still centers around Connecticut and is one of the leading manufacturers of witch hazel extract still today. Much of the harvesting is still done in Northwestern Connecticut where property owners cut the shrubs every few years, so they can re-branch and sell directly to the distilling distributors, and then sold for pharmaceutical uses.

Witch Hazel has been confirmed as many things. An antioxidant, a radiation protective aa well as an anti-inflammatory. It has been approved as an astringent and external analgesic and has many internal medicinal uses. This is why it is an ingredient in anti aging creams and anti wrinkle creams.

Acne Skin Care To Lift Your Selfconfidence!

December 19th, 2008    Subscribe To Our Feed

When it comes to pimples they have existed for awhile now, especially those big, blosoming red kind of pimples, well you know what we are talking about. So where exactly did the word pimples ever come from? To my knowledge they have always been around.

You may not realize it but eight percent of individuals are being affected by pimples. Acne involves mainly individuals from the age of 12 to about 24 years old. When you take a look around it may seem as if acne has gotten worse in human society as the years have progressed.

Everyone can see unsightly blemishes on your face so self confidence can quickly be deflated by acne. As soon as you walk into a room you feel uncomfortable, because you think they are noticing your acne condition. Many people resort to make up so it will be less noticeable.

Not only is their self confidence eroded but also they experience a great deal of embarrassment. Mistakenly young people try treating acne by pinching and squeezing with increasingly bad results. This is the worst thing you can do, it damages the surrounding tissue, inflames the condition and promotes to acne scars.

The first important step in caring for your acne is, to wash your face gently twice a day with a mild soap or facial cleanser, especially if you wear make up. If your skin is dry just use plain warm water. At one time it was believed you had to scour your skin but DO NOT do this, it will damage the skin and invite scarring.

Do a little research to find a suitable acne treatment. With all the advances there are now lots of things you can use in acne treatment and prevention. A little work and some product knowledge should make it easier to choose the right acne treatment for you.

The truth is that there are a lot of home remedies when it comes to acne scar treatment removal. I believe home remedies can be just as effective as synthetic formulas. The benefits of natural home remedies do not have the side effects that chemical ones do.

If you feel like you’re social life and self confidence are at risk, you may want to try some natural ways. Think about trying some vitamins, essential oils and anti-inflamatories. Talk to a counselor in a natural health store to head you into the right direction with acne skin care.

3 Things to Prevent Adult Acne Breakouts From Exercise

December 13th, 2008    Subscribe To Our Feed

As you know, moderate exercise helps to maintain a healthy body. It is also improve your skin condition by managing your stress levels. You may want to examine your routine if you find your acne is aggravated by regular exercise. This can be happened by something you put on your body rather something you do with it.

You should take action to prevent making your adult acne condition getting worse. There are 3 things which you should know to prevent it from exercise.

Always Wear Sunscreen

Sun protection is extremely important for anyone who have acne problem. Sunscreens and sun blockers should be used regularly and liberally to protect the face. Studies show that prolonged exposure will promotes comedones (clogged pores) and sun damage. Moreover some acne medication makes skin more sensitive to the sun.

Try to look for the sunscreen which have a protection factor of at least SPF 15 for both UVA and UVB rays and oil-free. If you find that chemical sunscreens cause irritation, stinging or worsening of your acne, you might consider using physical barrier sun blocks which contain titanium dioxide or zinc oxide.

Avoid To Wear Synthetic Cloth

Try to wear cloth which made of natural fabrics during exercise especially if you having problem with body acne. Natural fabrics allow the skin to breathe and will not trap the heat and moisture against your skin. This will prevent friction happen. If you’re working up a good sweat and exercising vigorously, you might need to wear the new fabrics designed to wick moisture away from your skin.

Shower Off Immediately

As your movement generates heat when you exercise, the clothing and equipment can cause friction. Before you shower off, heat and moisture which are trapped against your skin will create an ideal breeding ground for the spread of bacteria. Always use a clean towel and blot gently to sweat off your face. You should try to shower off immediately and change into dry clothes once you finish exercise.

If you find it difficult to do so, you may try some acne treatment. Most cases of acne can be improved with over-the-counter products or products that don’t require a prescription from your doctor. There is a wide range of treatments available and there is a good chance one of them will work for you.

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