Summer Diet and Facial Masks for Beautiful Skin
May 26, 2011 by admin · Leave a Comment
Summer is just around the corner and for those of us who have been cooped up in cold-weather locations, it is a glory to behold. There are so many ways we can treat our body well this season and counter-act the effects of all that rich, heavy food over the holidays that might have not only added a few inches to our waistline but also added some unwanted skin reactions on our face.
BEAUTIFUL SKIN CAN BE YOURS
You have only to try one or two of the hundreds of delicious fruits and herbs that summer offers to get your waistline back and shape and clear that skin in no time. If you don’t want to eat them, then try applying them directly to your skin as a facial mask or body scrub!
First lets looks at some of the seasonal fruits that might still be available, depending on what zone you live in. These fruits are chock-full of 
nutrients and lots of phyto-chemicals to help build collagen and re-build acne-scarred skin.
Nearly everything will be in bloom soon, so you have no excuse to not try at least of some of this delicious harvest or at least experiment with a new facial mask for a more beautiful complexion. Most fruits and vegetables have great propensity to eliminate toxins and flush your system of all those - pore-clogging bacteria and excess oil that creates acne flare ups and breakouts preventing you from having beautiful skin.
Yellow and orange produce items are typically high in beta carotene, potassium and Vitamin C,and thus reduce the impact of aging, prevent against macular degeneration and prostate cancer; they also lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels, and support collagen and bone growth. For really natural, beautiful skin, enjoy orange and yellow peppers, pumpkins, plus acorn, delicara, spaghetti andbutternut squashes to receive these benefits.
BERRIES: berries are the first thing one might think of in the summer - all those delicious colors and fragrances to take in - AND they are excellent for your skin - not only on the inside but on the outside as well. Blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, boysenberries, any berries you can think of - Naturally blue and purple foods contain additional nutrients including the super anti aging reservatol (famousfor itshigh (concentration in redwine) and other flavonoids that fight inflammation and cancer, plus ones that support immune anddigestive function and mineral absorption. Find can find high concentrations of these age-fighting phytonutrients in grapes or purple bell peppers (found at your local farmers’ markets), purple yams or sweet potatoes and pomegranates also have these amazing phyto-nutrients to protect cellular DNA, slow the aging process and heal acne flare ups and scars.
For a direct treatment, simply crush the berry mix into a pulp and add directly to the face for an instant fruit facial mask and anti-acne fruit acid treatment.
These amazing fruits slow the aging process by impeding oxidation, combatting dryness and strengthen the barrier for improved elasticity and long-lasting beauty. Taking in large doses, they can also reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and inhibit the breakdown of elastin that causes sagging. the free-radicals will also help to prevent overall premature aging.
With all these benefits, what have you got to lose?
Get Beautiful Skin with Herbal Facials
May 18, 2011 by admin · Leave a Comment
Whether you suffer from acne, dry skin or aging, wrinkle-prone skin - beautiful skin can be yours if you stick to an herbal regime that allows your skin to heal itself naturally without interference from formulated lab products or toxins.
Many studies have now shown most over the counter acne medication to be harmful to pregnant women - even to the point of causing birth defects! So, use extreme caution when choosing your acne or anti-aging treatment. When in doubt - go for the most natural or herbal method available; treatments like herbal facials and clay-based or herbal based facial masks can do wonders to promote beautiful skin without all the abrasive chemicals.
Acne is caused by inflammation of the oily glands in the skin - they are called sebaceous glands - that contain a fatty material called sebum. When the duct of the gland becomes blocked either by layers of skin, fatty secretions or dirt, a mini-cyst or pimple forms. The cyst can become infected with acne bacteria.
Beautiful Skin With Herbal Facial Masks
Topical prescription products may contain antibiotic ingredients such as erythromycin that help control inflammation but they may also be dangerous to delicate systems. These chemical products are designed to clean the area, dry up the oiliness in acne-prone skin, peel aging skin and eliminate wrinkles or bacteria present, but there are many other herbal options you can choose that do the same thing.
Oatmeal - will help relieve redness and itching and inflammation associated with acne
Rosemary - is a natural antiseptic and anti-bacterial
Lavender - is a natural antiseptic and anti-bacterial and anti-microbial
Yogurt - will lighten and even out dull, patchy skin tones
Chamomile - will soothe redness and inflammation
Aloe Vera - has long been know to be a skin healer and skin cell re generator - it is most often used in its natural plant form and as a gel - to treat burns and heal dry skin
Green Tea - has been found to contain miraculous properties of cellular regeneration as well.
Vitamin A, E, C - all help contribute to your skin’s healing process by providing it with nourishing nutrients.
When in doubt, choose a natural facial mask to help heal acne scars and prevent further breakouts.
Why Should I Look Out For Parabens and Sulfates? (Pt 2 of 2)
November 7, 2010 by admin · Leave a Comment
Many skincare products are unfortunately rushed to market to meet this demand without any real consideration to research and development. Most of the budget may go into the marketing of the product. On the surface everything looks great. The bottles and jars that the creams come in look appealing. The magazine advertisements are glossy, complete with a youthful looking model or a well known celebrity who may not even use the products themselves. But underneath the jar lid, one can typically find un-pronounceable ingredients chemically formulated to “imitate” their natural predecessor.
WHAT ABOUT SULFATES?
Sulfates is another name for a common skincare ingredient called “Surfactants” which are designed to dissolve oils and hold dirt in suspension so it can be rinsed away with water. Mostly used in skin cleansers and shampoos.
Surfactants are compounds that lower the surface tension of a liquid, allowing easier spreading, and lowering of the interfacial tension between two liquids, or between a liquid and a solid. Surfactants may act as: detergents, wetting agents, emulsifiers, foaming agents, and dispersants.
What all this means is sulfates are used to make the product lather or foam. However, that rich “lather” you get from sulfates may not really be good for your hair and skin as they can strip away natural oils. Despite what many been led to believe, the lather or foam does not actually help you get cleaner.
Natural Surfactants.
As is usually the case there are natural alternatives that do the job much better and safer than synthetics. Natural Saponins (foaming agents) gently cleanse the hair and scalp without stripping away the natural oils. These natural surfactants are a core component of any organic skin care regime. Some recommended organic skin care surfactants include, castile soap, yucca extract, soapwort and quillaja bark extract.
According to Skin Deep – the cosmetic ingredient database, www.cosmeticsdatabase.com , Synthetic Surfactants To Avoid Include: Sodium Lauryl/Laureth Sulfate, Ammonium Lauryl/Laureth Sulfate, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Sodium Lauroyl/Cocoyl Sacrosinate, Cocomidopropyl Betaine and Quanternium -7,15,31,60 or Disodium Oleamide which can be a potent carcinogen when mixed with Nitrosamines.
Sodium Lauryl/Laureth Sulfate, Ammonium Lauryl/Laureth Sulfate are the most commonly used in shampoos and lathering types of skincare. They rate around 4 on the scale of 1 to 10. Studies and results are conflicting for potential toxicity, so most err on the side of caution.
Time Saving Tip: This class of toxins is quite easy to pinpoint. They are listed on labels as either ending in -eth (Laureth) or contain the phrase PEG (Poly Ethylene Glycol) or PPG (Poly Propylene Glycol).
According to some sources, while many of these particles are too large to penetrate the skin, they can result in allergies and health problems. Increasing use of Sodium Laural sulfate (SLS) in skin care can cause major skin irritations and even organ system toxicity. Other studies show that chemicals like this clog the skin pores and don’t have any benefit to the skin.
Unfortunately, cosmetics are the lowest priority for the FDA (Food and Drug Administration). Their priority, naturally, has to be the foods and drugs we are consuming. They do not have the funds, staff, or authority to monitor what cosmetics companies are putting in their products. In addition, no ingredient has to be approved for use in products, and according to the FDA website.
There are two major classes of surfactants used in synthetic skin care products:
1) Ethoxylated Surfactants: The chemical reaction required to mix Ethylene and Propylene Oxide together has a serious side effect, that is they can be contaminated with Dioxane‒a potent carcinogen.
2) Amides: These are listed on labels containing the term TEA (Tri Ethanol Amine), DEA (Di Ethanol Amine) and MEA (Mono Ethanol Amine).
Why are these chemicals hazardous? Well, all compounds containing TEA, DEA and MEA undergo nitrosation with other chemicals to form nitrosamines, which are carcinogenic.
So again, it is up to you to be the educated consumer. Understanding what you purchase and how it can potentially affect you and your family.
When in doubt, it is best to choose naturally-based products or wholly organic ones than to use skin care products that contain potentially dangerous preservatives and chemicals, especially ones that are applied directly and/or massaged into the skin.
By Rachelle Dupree
Anti Aging Boosters For All Skin Types
August 3, 2010 by vivowriter · Leave a Comment
When you were a child, you must have taken boosters to make yourself free from all kinds of diseases. It was important as long term effect cannot be obtained with a booster taken at a single point of time. The same concept is applicable to anti-aging. Natural herbal products are required to fight all kinds of skin problems that may arise due to premature aging.
The foremost thing that you forget due to your busy schedules is to go for a morning walk. Sunlight and refreshing morning air are two most important things required for stimulating the growth of skin cells. With regular application of a good herbal sunscreen, you can fearlessly go in the sunlight as adequate skin cover has been ensured. Another substance that can lead to premature aging is sugar. Yes it is true, constant intake of too much sugar in a day causes skin problems. Instead, you must go for natural products like nuts, fruits, proteins and seeds or a quick snack.
A balanced diet is another most essential thing required by human body. A vitamin and mineral rich diet in morning and evening can lead to remarkable changes in your body that will certainly show on your skin too. Lastly, a booster is required in between long working hours. This is a quick snap of fifteen to twenty minutes that can revitalize your energy levels. A stressful working schedule is also considered as cause of aging and so it is important to take some rest in between working hours.
These are some anti aging boosters that can be taken for a glowing skin. In addition, use of natural cleansers, herbal facial masks can also be incorporated in your daily cleaning routine. These boosters will not only make you feel good but will also make your skin free from all kinds of blemishes, wrinkles and other aging problems.
How to Get a Glowing Skin?
July 21, 2010 by vivowriter · Leave a Comment
Who does not want a rosy-cheeked, porcelain complexion? The desire to remain youthful everlastingly is natural in people more so in women.
People who have a normal skin type do not encounter frequent skin problems. It is by and large people with excessive oily and dry skins who are bitten by skin disorders. People with sensitive and combination skin types also suffer from skin problems more often than not. The percentage of people with normal skin type is however really low.
If you have a dry skin, you must make use of such beauty products that contain essential plant and fruit oils. This will help to replenish the lost moisture. Similarly, people who have got an oily skin must avoid excessive washing of facial skin. The generally held belief is that people with oily skin must wash their facial skin pretty often. This is however a very misleading fact. Excessive washing sometimes stimulates the skin oil glands to generate more sebum thereby accelerating acne growth. Combination skin and sensitive skin is difficult to manage. People with such delicate skins must always conduct a patch test before experimenting with any new product.
There are a number of acne, anti aging and other skin products supplied in the beauty marts but it is hard to tell which one is the best. This is where homemade beauty remedies win the show. What’s more? There is a homemade remedy for every skin ailment! For example, potatoes are considered really effective in battling blemishes and pigmentation. Likewise cream and honey serve as effective facial moisturizers.
Skincare is not only dependent on skin type but also on a person’s skin tone. For instance, people with lighter skin complexions are more prone to sunburns and similar skin problems. It is important for a person to follow a disciplined skincare regime in order to get a good skin.
Beautiful Skin with Green Tea
April 20, 2010 by admin · Leave a Comment
What is Tea?
The beneficial properties of tea are attributed to polyphenols. The polyphenols found in tea mainly belong to the subtype called catechins. Polyphenols or catechins are better known as antioxidants that fight free radicals. Free radicals are damaging to skin and body by attacking healthy cells. Green tea has more catechins than black tea; white tea is almost as rich in catechins as green tea but is different in composition and less well studied.
So How Is Green Tea Good For My Skin?
There have been number studies of skin benefits of green tea. One of these studies show protection from skin cancer by demonstrating topical green tea formulations can reduce sun damage.(1) Another fascinating study in 2003 was conducted by Dr. Stephen Hsu of the Medical College of Georgia Department of Oral Biology. His findings determined green tea was able to rejuvenate old skin cells at the end of their life cycle.
A quote from Dr. Hsu’s paper explained, “…we report here for the first time, that at certain concentrations, EGCG or a mixture of the major green tea polyphenols stimulated aged keratinocytes to generate biological energy and to synthesize DNA, possibly for renewed cell division.
Therefore, green tea constituents may be useful topically for promoting skin regeneration, wound healing, or treatment of certain epithelial conditions such as aphthous ulcers, psoriasis, rosacea, and actinic keratoses.” (2) Dr. Hsu went on to comment he was “so surprised” to discover EGCG actually reactivated cells that had migrated toward the surface of the skin to ‘die’.
Green tea appears to manipulate sun damage protection by fighting free radicals and reducing inflammation rather than by blocking UV rays. Therefore, green tea enhances sun protection when used in addition to a sunscreen. To boost sun protection, apply a green tea formula under your sunscreen to elevate the level of sun protection. It is best to combine green tea with zinc oxide-based sunscreens because zinc oxide is chemically inert and should not react with green tea (which some chemical sunscreens might do, especially in sunlight).
Topical green tea is also very beneficial for sensitive skin types by reducing inflammation and irritation in the skin. Wrinkles, skin sag and other signs of aging have been shown to benefit from Green tea. The tea’s antioxidant and anti-inflammatory polyphenols slow down signs of premature of aging
Green Tea and Pimples
A green tea and pimples study suggests it to be as good as benzoyl peroxide cream in treating acne conditions with fewer side effects. Scientific research has shown that green tea fights bacteria, inflammation and reduces stress. Perhaps it would be an excellent candidate for treating acne?
In the study, conducted by Dr. Jennifer Gan-Wong from the Memorial Medical Center in the Philippines, 108 participants were divided into two groups. One applied benzoyl peroxide cream and the other green tea extract cream twice daily for 12 weeks. Subjects were examined and photographed each week by dermatologists. The researchers noted the green tea cream seemed to lighten patients’ skin color and improve the overall appearance of their complexion.
The preliminary data suggests that green tea cream causes fewer side effects than benzoyl peroxide. Patients in the green tea group reported fewer cases of dry skin, itching and allergic responses.
Use green tea at home to boost your skins health, appearance and reduce signs of aging by freezing freshly brewed green tea as ice cubes and use them as a toner. Let them start thawing first before applying directly to the face to avoid irritation. You can also drink green tea or take green tea extract in capsules to benefit from the anti oxidant properties. The polyphenols will reach your skin via the bloodstream in sufficient amounts.
Using green tea in your skincare routine has definite proven benefits to slow skin aging, reduce acne and protect your skin from cancer among many others. Just be aware of the products you choose. Like most antioxidants, green tea polyphenols are oxidized and can lose their active constituents when exposed to air.
By Tiffany Oney and Rachelle Dupree
References:
(1) Green Tea Polyphenol Treatment to Human Skin Prevents Formation of Ultraviolet Light B-induced Pyrimidine Dimers in DNA (2000). Santosh K. Katiyar, Anaibelith Perez and Hasan Mukhtar. Clinical Cancer Research Vol. 6, 3864-3869, October 2000.
(2) Green Tea Polyphenols Induce Differentiation and Proliferation in Epidermal Keratinocytes (2003). Stephen Hsu, Wendy B. Bollag, Jill Lewis, Qin Huang,Baldev Singh, Mohamed Sharawy, Tetsuya Yamamoto, and George Schuster. Journal of Pharmacology And Experimental Therapeutics. First published on March 27, 2003; DOI: 10.1124/jpet.103.049734
