| Friday, December 28, 2007 |
| Great Anti Aging Skin Care And Treatment Advice |
Great Anti Aging Skin Care And Treatment Advice
by: David Maillie
The reality of life is that inevitably our bodies and therefore our skin age. However, with recent advances in the skin care and treatment industry we can slow and maybe even stop or reverse this process. We hear about miracle cures every day on TV and in magazine advertisements. But what really works? Is it really possible to turn back the clock and enjoy 10 or 20 year younger skin? Some say it can’t be done as we are genetically predisposed to the aging process. Doctors, dermatologists and plastic surgeons say it is possible and there are treatments that can actually turn back the clock and reveal younger, rejuvenated skin.
The number one recommendation from dermatologists is to stop smoking. Smoking has been proven to constrict blood vessels and result in a reduction of blood flow to the extremities. Smoking also causes the skin to dry out and will age your skin by 10 or more years. If you want to have younger looking skin you must stop smoking.
Another recommendation is proper hydration. It is recommended that we drink 6-8 glasses of water a day for proper hydration. According to the American Skin Association most Americans are not properly hydrated and this can cause the skin to lose elasticity and its ability to heal and defend against disease. To test for proper hydration pinch and pull the skin between your thumb and forefinger. If it goes right back you are properly hydrated. The longer it takes the more likely you are not properly hydrated. If it doesn’t go back at all you are badly dehydrated. Dehydration and improper hydration can age your skin similar to that of smoking.
Dermatologists recommend exfoliation to remove dead cells, unclog pores and stimulate the skin. This can be done by a variety of methods from masks and microdermabrasion to various skin peels. The most recommended method is also the one used in more dermatologist and plastic surgeons offices than any other treatment, the TCA peel. The TCA peel was made famous by Dr. Obagi whom created the infamous Obagi Blue Peel.
The Obagi Blue Peel is a TCA peel with the addition of a blue or green colored skin dye. This dye colors the skin and indicates what areas have been treated and which have not. The Obagi Blue Peel is a good treatment, but many doctors have found that a pure TCA peel gives better results that last much longer and require ffewer if any follow up treatments. Whereas a Obagi Blue Peel may require 3 to 5 treatments over a years time, a pure TCA peel may only need 1. And at a cost of $300 to $500 or more per treatment that can get very expensive. Recently the TCA peel has been made available for in home use at a great savings.
TCA peels are one of the most effective anti aging treatments due to their ability to exfoliate the skin, unclog pores, restore skin pH, and even stimulate the production of collagen. This production of collagen will plump skin and make it more youthful naturally. The TCA peel should be added to every anti aging skin care regimen.
Another recommendation is stay out of the sun and wear a sun block or lotion with a high SPF (Sun Protection Factor). Damaging UV rays will age your skin, damage skin cells and DNA which can lead to mutated cells and even skin cancer. The rule is every 1 day you spend unprotected in the sun makes your skin at least 10 days older. It won’t seem to matter at first, but it really adds up after a while. Who wants to have old, wrinkled and leather like skin? Sun protection is a must for any anti aging skin care treatment or regimen.
Take the time to properly protect your skin and it will look healthy and younger for a long, long time.
Copyright 2006 David Maillie
About The Author
David Maillie is a chemist with over 12 years experience in biochemical research and clynical analysis. For more information on the Obagi Blue Peel, TCA peel for in home use and great anti-aging products and ideas please visit http://www.bestskinpeel.comLabels: Anti Aging |
posted by Beebee @ 7:02 AM  |
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| Saturday, December 22, 2007 |
| What exactly is Jojoba oil and why is it used so much in skin care products? |
What exactly is Jojoba oil and why is it used so much in skin care products?
by: Glen Jansen
Back in 1822, a small shrub was discovered in the desert near Baja California by a botanist named H. F. Link. Mr. Link named this new plant after a fellow botanist from the U.K. named T. W. Simmonds. The proper named of the Jojoba plant is Simmondsia chinensis. It wasn't until after the U.S. banned whale hunting that this plant started to be cultivated. Up until then, the oil of whales was used in skin care products and cosmetics. After the ban, much research was done to find more suitable replacements for the skin and hair care industries.
The Jojoba plant produces a bean pod and it was discovered that heating the beans caused an oil to be secreted. The desert peoples of Southern California and Mexico had long been using this oil to treat skin conditions and cuts. The Japanese did some research on Jojoba oil and found it to be nontoxic to the human skin. In addition, soon it was known the amazing properties of this oil.
Jojoba oil is actually a wax that is liquid at room temperatures. The 'oil' has similar chemical makeup to the sebum oil that our skin produces naturally. In fact, it is one of the most easily absorbed vegetable oils available today. Because of this, it was soon used to produce all kinds of hair and skin care products.
The oil is wonderful for people who suffer from sensitive skin conditions, including psoriasis and eczema. It helps soften your skin and when applied to your hair will increase its shine. It is also known to help reduce wrinkles and other lines associated with aging. In addition, it helps promote the growth of new skin cells. It even has some anti-bacterial qualities too.
Because of these amazing properties, there is no wonder it is being used in the manufacturing of all kinds of hair products, replenishing skin care products, wrinkle reduction treatments, acne control products and even cosmetics. You can find the oil for sale individually too. A 4 oz bottle can be purchased for as little as $8 and can be used to make your own moisturizing cream at home.
Take your favorite essential oil, such as lavender, and add 40 to 50 drops to a 4 oz bottle. Apply to liberally to your skin and rub until it has been absorbed.
The Jojoba plant was an important and necessary discovery. Its amazing properties help people all over the world look better, feel better about themselves and helps people who suffer from disabilitating skin conditions. If you purchase it, look for organically grown Jojoba oil and make sure it is pressed and not chemically extracted.
About the author:
Taking care of your skin early is the best way to prevent aging of your skin. Our goal is to provide information and resources for you to find anti-aging skin care and wrinkle protection at any age. Visit Anti Aging Skin Care for more information on natural skin care and acne skin care.Labels: Jojoba oil |
| posted by Beebee @ 6:01 PM |
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| Monday, December 17, 2007 |
| Acne Adoloscent Style – How To Deal With It? |
Acne Adoloscent Style – How To Deal With It?
by: Sher Matsen
Adolescent acne is referred to by many names, teen acne, acne adoloscent, and hormonal acne to name just a few. Whatever you want to call it, it can be frustrating, painful, and embarrassing to a teen.
Living with acne over a prolonged period during your teen years can be emotionally devastating, after all this is the age where your appearance is most important. Teen acne is very hard on the ego, often resulting in teasing and razzing from peers. Some teens suffer from not only acne but sever depression.
During the adolescent years almost every teen will have at least an occasional whitehead, blackhead, or pimple. Adolescent acne usually occurs between the ages of 12 and 20, and is usually the result of fluctuating hormone levels. Once the hormones stabilize out the acne will normally disappear.
So what’s the bet way to deal with adolescent acne? The simplest and most important thing a teen can do, is to learn to take good care of their skin, keeping it clean and as oil free as possible. This is not a cure but can help keep acne breakouts to a minimum.
Eating healthy and drinking plenty of water will also help by keeping the skin hydrated and the body flushed. Girls should use oil free cosmetics. Lightly exfoliating once a week will help open pours, and remove dead skin debris.
Milder cases of acne can be controlled by using conventional over the counter medicines that are applied directly to the skin. These medications usually include benzoyl peroxide or retinoic acid as an active ingredient.
Some natural products that can be used to treat acne are tea tree oil or Echinacea. Wash your face twice a day with a mixture of these herbs to reduce the number of break outs. Both have anti-inflammatory and anti-septic qualities.
In more severe adolescent acne a Doctor may try various oral medications such as antibiotics, oral contraceptives or Accutane.
As teens get older and hormones stabilize, fewer outbreaks should be seen, however some people do continue to have outbreaks well into adult hood. If the teen acne condition worsens or becomes emotionally debilitating it is important to seek medical help from a dermatologist.
You do not want an adolescent to grow up with skin and emotional scars as a result of acne, so treat not only their physical scars but their emotional scars.
About the author:
M.D Stacener from The Acne Cure has been serving customers for over 20 years, providing valuable information to keep you beautiful and healthy. Please visit us at http://www.acnel.com/Labels: Acne Adoloscent |
| posted by Beebee @ 11:35 PM |
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| Tuesday, December 11, 2007 |
| The Truth About Home Made Facials |
The Truth About Home Made Facials
by: Janice Wee
I started making facial masks after reading several books on natural cosmetics. Common ingredients used in home made facials are eggs, lemon, milk, honey, cucumber, tomato, essential oils and lots more fruits, herbs and other ingredients.
The assumption I had was that home made cosmetics, being all natural and preservative free were much safer than the commercial masks you found in stores. A wrong assumption. You know the saying. Never assume anything. It makes an ASS of U and ME. Did you know some of the deadliest poisons on earth are 100% natural?
There are complaints about preservatives irritating the skin and all that. That may be true especially for a person with very sensitive skin. But preservatives actually make cosmetics safe to use. Preservatives kill or at very least, inhibit the bacteria, mold, viruses and nasty things that would otherwise thrive in the cosmetics we use. Commercial preparations usually contain some preservative or other to make these products safe for use. Some of the very high end cosmetic formulations are packed in sterile capsules to do away with or at least, minimimize, the need for preservatives.
If you make your own skin care for use later in the week, chances are, unless you are anal about sterilizing everything and freezing every batch once it has cooled, thawing it only when you are going to use it, and keeping your cosmetics away from the raw meat in the freezer, eventually, you could find yourself using contaminated home made cosmetics, which could lead to a skin irritation.
I used to make my own skin care but found all the precautions I had to take such a hassle, now I buy mine off the shelves.
Even if you make your facial products for immediate use, you have to be careful about using only the freshest ingredients. A mouldy fruit or anything that is spoilt can lead to disastrous results on your skin.
Then there is the safety of the ingredients used in your skincare products.
I once told a pharmacist about the lemon remedy I was using on my pimples. She was horrified. Lemons are highly acidic. Lemon juice is pH 2. Sulphuric acid is pH 1. Lemons can cause a nasty acid burn if you are not careful.
We had a discussion about this. She told me about a customer who showed up with an acid burn. Turns out, she had a sunburn. Back in Australia, she would soothe that sunburn by rubbing cut cucumber over her skin. The juices would ease the sunburn. This time around, she was unlucky. The cucumber she used was more acidic than the ones she was used to and she ended up with a really nasty acid burn.
Though cucumber is soothing, cucumber contains Alpha Hydroxy Acids as do most fruit and some of the other ingredients used in homemade beauty recipes.
You see, in home made skin care, the exact chemical makeup of the ingredients you use may vary, leading to unpleasant results if you are unfortunate. That is why, everytime you make any facial mask, test it on the inside of your wrist first, before you let that mask touch your face.
I was lucky. The lemon facial I did helped clear my skin by killing the bacteria, without burning my skin. The pharmacist said I was fool hardy. As did my cousin who has been making her own beauty products for years already.
Lemon can thin the skin. It is so acidic. The pharmacist thought the other things, like the almond meal I mixed with the lemon juice helped neutralize the extreme acidity. Also, when I used freshly squeezed lemon juice directly on my face, I would dilute it with water first.
Yet the books I read with home made beauty recipes often include lemon in their recipes. After all, lemon has lightening properties. Lemon juice is often used to lighten freckles. Lemon was even recommended in a book by a former model, for use as a toner.
Not all ingredients are that dangerous though. Oats is an excellent ingredient for use in soothing facials. That was recommended to me by a doctor. For my toddler's rash. Cooked oats in a bag in the bath water is a home remedy to soothe itchy skin. Here is a facial that uses oats and rose water. http://www.womanht.com/facials/RoseOatsFacial.htm .
A home made face mask can be as simple as putting some mash fruit your face. http://www.womanht.com/facials/fruity_facials_tried_and_tested.htm outlines such experiments with fruit.
Different skin types require different ingredients. Dry skin can use richer, nourishing ingredients. Really dry skin would love the moisturizing effect of sweet almond oil or olive oil. Oily skin, on the other hand would break out in pimples if you try massaging these oils on your face. What works for your best friend may be disastrous on you.
The easiest thing to do nowadays is to simply buy a great mask for your skin type off the shelf for your home facial. I use commercial masks these days after some disastrous experiments trying to find new ingredients for new home made facial masks for my site. The successful facials were published at http://www.womanht.com/facials/ .
About the author:
The writer is the writer of the articles in http://www.womanht.com/facials/.Labels: Home Made Facials |
| posted by Beebee @ 8:06 AM |
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| Tuesday, December 4, 2007 |
| Looking Good Doesn’t Have To Cost A Fortune – Buy Estate Jewelry |
Looking Good Doesn’t Have To Cost A Fortune – Buy Estate Jewelry
by: Sher Matsen
When it comes to estate jewelry there is always much discussion about what is and what is not estate jewelry. The definition is really quite simple. Estate jewelry is jewelry acquired from the estate of another person, who can be living or deceased. The simple definition of estate jewelry is jewelry that is previously owned.
Contrary to what many believe looking good doesn’t have to cost a fortune – just buy estate jewelry! And save plenty!!
There is often much confusion with both dealers and consumer. There is some false myths floating around that estate jewelry is antique jewelry. Nothing could be farther from the truth.
Although many pieces of estate jewelry are antique, many pieces are also vintage, retro, or fairly modern. That’s why searching for estate jewelry can result in some terrific buys!
Estate jewelry also does not mean fine jewelry. Estate jewelry can be costume or fine and is found both ways.
Throughout the ages and even today a perfect gift for a woman was a piece of jewelry. There is also a distinction made of women who wear jewelry. It seems to set them a class above other women. Why has never been determined. It’s simply been a cultural norm for centuries.
We often take our clues as to jewelry popularity by watching what the celebrities are wearing. Next time you are watching television take note of how many pieces of jewelry the stars are wearing that are from another era. Celebrities are very fond of estate jewelry!
Antique jewelry is normally classed as jewelry that is pre 1920, while art deco, vintage, and retro are often grouped together and denote the era from the 1920s to the 1950s. Estate jewelry can be from any of these eras.
If you are looking for classic jewelry like your grandmother may have worn consider searching jewelry sites that sell antique and estate jewelry. If you are collecting jewelry you should pay special attention to the estate jewelry sites who have a wide range of designer marked pieces. Collecting can be expensive so make sure to set a budget.
If you are looking to complete your wardrobe and hate looking like everyone else, estate jewelry is an excellent choice. Here you will find variety and beautiful pieces from many different time periods. The chances of finding another wearing the exact same jewelry piece as you are drastically reduced.
You can look unique and stand out from the crowd with estate jewelry. You also can choose between fine jewelry and costume jewelry. The prices are very reasonable and the costume jewelry of past eras has a much higher quality than modern costume jewelry.
The designs and styles were more highly refined and much classier. Costume jewelry of past eras was designed not only for the general population but also for the rich and famous. Many design ideas were inspired from fine jewelry pieces of the era.
So the next time you are looking to add glamour and sophistication to your wardrobe remember to have a quick search on line for estate jewelry. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised with your options!
See I told you looking good doesn’t have to cost a fortune!
About the author:
Sher from Estate Jewelry International has been serving customers for over 20 years, providing fashion, jewelry, and wedding help. Please visit us at http://www.estatejewelryinternational.com/Labels: Estate Jewelry |
| posted by Beebee @ 7:26 PM |
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