Healthy Skin Care Tips

Healthy Skin Care Tips

Face Products and Care

Face Products and Care

Products & Tips for Skin

Know Your Skin

As it is with everything else, knowing the condition of the different parts of your body is the first step in caring for it. Skin is no different. Knowing your skin type is the beginning of giving your skin the proper treatment to maintain good skin tone and condition. Your skin type is a general description of how your skin feels and behaves. The most common types used for commercial products are normal, oily, dry and combination skin.

Other categories include blemish-prone, sensitive and sun-damaged skin. Convenient as these skin type categories are in choosing products, it is not exactly the best way to know and understand your skin on a level that will really help it. This is perhaps the reason why, even though the “right” products have been used for your designated skin type, you still experience either dryness, oiliness, acne and other problems. Why is this so? First of all, you have to remember, like any part of your body, you skin is never the same all throughout. It goes through all sorts of conditions depending on several factors, some of which include your genes, your lifestyle and habits. Add to this the fact that the problems you are experiencing may not be simply the result of lack of care. There are cases when skin diseases are the reasons.

So from here on end, it will be good for you to forget what beauty magazines, cosmetic salespeople, and aestheticians tell you about the four skin types. It’s about time you go beneath the surface and really know what your skin is about. First off, know the factors that Influence your skin type. This can get tricky since almost everything can influence your skin and the condition it’s in. Just looking and feeling your face is not enough to determine your skin type. To get an effective evaluation of your skin, consider the following.
The first set of factors affecting your skin is those within your own body. Hormonal changes brought on by your body’s development influence your skin to a huge extent. For women, the menstrual cycle can cause drastic changes on the skin. The same goes for periods of pregnancy and enopause. Men are also subject to these influences, especially in the puberty stage as hormones causes the body to develop. Your genes also influence the propensity to acquire a certain skin condition that is characteristic of your parents’ own skin types. However, as their skin is also influenced by different factors, your skin and theirs may not necessarily be the same. Lifestyles and habits also affect your skin and while these may seem external to your body, the way you conduct daily activities such as diet, exercise, smoking and drinking habits influence your body and therefore your skin as well. Other influences affecting your skin lie outside your body such as weather and climate as well as your skin-care regimen of choice. The climates of areas you spend prolonged periods in influence how your body reacts. Cold climates tend to cause dry skin and flaking where as humid areas cause excessive sweating and oil production. The skin care products you choose also affect your skin condition. Using creams or moisturizers that have too much emollients will cause your skin to be oily whereas strong cleansers and ex foliates result in dry, sensitive skin. Now that you know what influences your skin, it is time to know what condition it is in. First of all, don’t evaluate your skin right after you’ve washed your face. This is because your skin is reacting to the water and cleansers you’ve put on it. Wait four to five hours after you’ve washed. This will give your skin time to recover from the cleansing and allow it to resume its “normal” activity. Also try to do this on a day you had not worn any makeup or put on creams so a more accurate evaluation can be made.

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Take a piece of facial tissue and press it on different areas of your face. Hold the tissue against the light and if blotches can be seen, then you have oily skin. This is the reason why you should carry out this assessment when you are not wearing makeup or moisturizers since the oil may be caused by these substances. If the general area of your face appears dry, feels tight and can see patches of skin flakes, then you are dealing with dry skin. On the other
hand, if you observe that some areas are both dry and oily then you have combination skin. Now that you know the degree of oiliness or dryness your skin has right now, you need to know whether or not your skin is suffering from some form of skin disease. Are there areas of redness around your nose and cheeks with red bumps and blemishes but aren’t pimples? Do you see fine lines of capillaries on the surface that are sensitive to the touch? If yes, you may have rosacea. Patches of irritated, dry, red to white scaly and crusty skin around the hairline, nose, eyes and cheeks may be caused by a skin disorder called psoriasis. In both cases you will need to consult with a dermatologist. .

With these evaluations, you develop a more effective skin care routine that will help maintain your skin’s health. But remember that your skin type won’t remain constant for long even with the right choice and use of products. As your own body undergoes development, your skin type will change as well. It is recommended that you perform this simple assessment every 4 to 6 months. With proper attention and care, you can give you skin the right treatment when and how it needs it –something that is far more effective than any repair cream or fancy treatment at a clinic.

The Daily Skin Care

The skin is the body’s protective barrier against the environment. We often take our skin for granted. Most people fail to realize that the skin needs daily care just like brushing one’s teeth. If the skin is not taken care of properly it can become dry, flaky, cracked and inflamed. This can predispose the skin to infection from wart viruses and bacteria. A daily skin care regimen should start as early as infancy and continue throughout one’s life.

Everyone has a natural oil covering their skin. This oil, named sebum, is made by glands in the skin. When the oil is removed by frequent use of drying agents, such as soap, the skin becomes dry which can lead to cracking and flaking. Once cracking occurs the skin is susceptible to inflammation and itching. Everyday factors that may cause drying of the skin include harsh soaps, long hot baths or showers, and frequent bathing or showering. Most people overdo skin cleaning.

Daily Skin Care (15-20 minutes each day):

1. Each day when you take your bath or shower, try to use luke warm water. Hot water dries out the skin. Try to limit your time to fifteen minutes or less in the bath or shower. Bathing should be done no more than once a day. If you bathe too frequently you will remove the natural oils from the skin causing dryness.

2. Avoid using harsh soaps which dry the skin. Recommended soaps are Dove and Basis. Deodorant soaps are often very harsh and drying. Even better than soap are soapless skin cleansers such as Cetaphil Lotion and Aquanil.

3. Limit the use of soap to areas that develop an odor such as the armpits, genital area, and feet.

4. When toweling dry, do not rub the skin. Blot or pat dry so there is still some moisture left on the skin.

5. Next apply a moisturizer to the skin. One that we recommend is Xtend-Life Age-Defense Day Cream. Concentrate on areas of your skin that become dry. Vaseline is good for severely dry skin and Lubriderm for normal skin. If you have oily skin you can skip this step.

6. All areas that are exposed to the sun, such as the face, ears, hands, and back of the neck should have a moisturizer containing sun block or a sun screen of SPF 15 or greater applied daily.

Daily Scalp Care (5-10 minutes each day):

1. The hair of the scalp tends to trap dead skin cells. When these cells build up and fall off they show as dandruff. This can be avoided by shampooing your scalp at least two to three times a week.

2. Thorough scrubbing of your scalp with your fingertips is necessary to loosen the oils and debris.

3. When rinsing the hair always use cool water, both before shampooing and after. This will add more body to the hair. Hot water causes the hair to appear limp.

4. Your choice of shampoo is a personal decision. Consumer Report Magazine found Pert Plus to leave the hair with the best body and shine.

Skin And Scalp Care Tips:

• There is no difference between a moisturizer containing SPF 15 and a sun screen containing SPF 15.
• Some experts believe that sunlight exposure during the first eighteen years of your life is most critical to the later development of skin cancer. Be sure to teach your children about the hazards of sunlight.
• Sunlight causes skin cancer, aging and wrinkles of the skin. Nothing is more important for daily skin care than avoiding sunlight.
• When shampooing, it is best to alternate between two to three different shampoos. Each will remove residue left by others. Our cosmetologist recommends Suave as a good all-purpose shampoo. You should switch shampoos each time you do your hair.

Dry Skin

Dry skin most often occurs on the shins, hands and sides of the abdomen. It is more common during the winter months, when humidity is low. Some people also have a genetic, or hereditary, tendency to develop dry skin. In addition, elderly people tend to have more trouble with dry skin due to the natural changes in skin that occur with age.

Treatment is important because extensively dry skin can lead to dermatitis, a more severe inflammation of the skin.

Dry skin may be prevented or treated by:

• Taking lukewarm baths or showers (instead of hot ones)
• Limiting baths/showers to 5 to 10 minutes
• Applying a moisturizer right after drying off from a shower or washing your hands
• Using a moisturizing body soap and hand soap
• Using heavier creams or ointments during the winter months and lighter lotions in the summer

How Do I know if I Have Dermatitis?

Dry skin is defined as flaking or scaling — which may or may not be itchy — when there is no evidence of dermatitis, or inflammation, of the skin. Some flaking along with redness, however, may be a sign of an underlying dermatitis. There are different types of dermatitis that may cause dry, itchy, flaking skin.

They include:

• Seborrheic dermatitis. This type involves a red, scaly, itchy rash on various areas of the body, particularly those areas that contain many oil glands. Seborrheic dermatitis can occur as scaling on the scalp, eyebrows and sides of the nose.
• Allergic contact dermatitis. This occurs when the skin comes into contact with a substance that causes an immune reaction, such as poison ivy. Allergic contact dermatitis of the hands often causes scaling on the fingers.
• Atopic dermatitis. Also known as eczema, this is a long-lasting type of dermatitis that often runs in families. It also may cause excessively dry, itchy skin.
• Athlete’s foot. In many cases, athlete’s foot, a fungal infection, shows up as dry flaking on the soles of the feet.

Face Care

Many people take their skin for granted. The skin has several basic needs. First, it needs to be kept as clean as possible. Second, the skin needs to be protected from sunlight and other environmental insults. The skin of the face needs even more attention than the rest of the body because the face has more oil glands, especially the central forehead, eye areas, nose and chin. One needs to perform a brief morning regimen for the facial skin and a longer regimen before going to bed. Once you have your skin care regimen down, it will only take five to ten minutes a day.

Morning Facial Care:

• In the morning you should clean your face with luke-warm water and a creamy cleanser or purifying gel wash. Avoid bar soap because this strips the natural moisturizing factors from the skin, leaving it feeling very tight and dry. Do not rub the skin dry. Instead, blot it gently with a towel. Your morning facial care can be done in the shower or at the sink.
• Next, you should tone the skin on the face. Toning the skin helps remove any residual cleanser or make-up that may have been left behind. A toner also helps restore the natural pH level of the skin, leaves your skin clean, clear and ready to be hydrated.
• Next, apply a moisturizer or day cream such as Xtend-Life Age-Defense Day Cream. This should be specialized to your skin type. A moisturizer leaves the skin feeling softer and smoother. It also helps smooth away fine lines and dryness. A sunscreen can be applied on top of the moisturizer.
• Next, apply your make-up (if you choose to wear make-up). Your foundation should match your skin tone. Never use a darker foundation than your skin tone; it should look natural.

Evening Facial Care:

• The evening starts like the morning. First, you should clean your face with luke-warm water and a creamy cleanser or purifying gel wash. These skin cleansers will remove your make-up at the same time you wash your face.
• A toner should then be applied. Any trace of make-up remaining will be removed (the easiest way of applying a toner is to put it on a cotton pad).
• Now, while your face is still wet, you should exfoliate. Exfoliating is the process of removing dead skin cells, which cause the face to look dull. The build up of dead cells can also contribute to blockage of the pores causing acne. Also this build up of dead cells will not let the products you are using penetrate the skin and work to their full capacity. Exfoliating will brighten the skin and give it a more healthy glow. Massage gently and rinse well. This can be done every night or 1-2 times a week all depending on the type of exfoliant.
• Finally, apply a moisturizer such as such as Xtend-Life Restorative Night Cream to your face, which is specified for your skin type. A firming eye cream should also be used around the eye area.

Facial Care Tips:

• Never go to bed with your make-up on. Make-up that is left on overnight clogs the pores and prevents the skin cells from shedding, which may cause blemishes and/or blackheads. The skin needs to breathe over night.
• Waterproof make-up is most easily removed with a gel cleanser.
• The most important thing that you can do for your facial skin is to avoid sunlight or use liberal amounts of sunscreen. Sunlight causes the skin to age and causes skin cancer which is the most common malignancy in humans. The most common location for these tumors is the face. If you do not believe that the sun ages your skin, then look at the skin under your upper arm and compare it to the skin on your face and the back of the hands.
• Alpha hydroxy acid applied daily will help prevent acne out breaks if you have acne prone skin.
• If you have acne and the above measures do not help, see your dermatologist. There are many prescription treatments for acne.

Mens Skin Care

#1 Keep it clean.

Men have approximately 15% oilier skin and significantly larger pores than women do. Basically, this means you get dirtier. It is very important; no matter what skin type you have, to clean your face every day. Deep cleansing is important. It keeps pores clear, skin healthy and you looking good.

Cleansing products should be as chemical-free as possible. Deodorant soaps shouldn’t be used on your face. They cleanse with harsh ingredients and leave a detergent film behind. This may irritate your skin and will clog your pores. Go natural.

A good scrub is essential for healthy clean skin. It will remove dead cells and smooth the surface of your face. The scrub should be strong without being damaging. Stay away from scrubs that contain rough elements like ground bits of nut or seed extracts. They will tear and damage the skin. A good scrub will invigorate you, not hurt you.

Moisturizing is a necessity. Again, the product with the least amount of chemical additives is the best. Always use a light moisturizer on your face after cleansing and shaving and don’t forget your neck!

For an intensive moisture treatment use pure vitamin E, or aloe vera oil. It is available in liquid form, or just break open a capsule and apply the oil directly to the skin. This is a great under eye treatment. Remember it is very important to moisturize this sensitive area of the face. It is one of the first places to show age because the under eye skin secretes no necessary oils on its own.

#2 Keep it toned.
Because men are outside more than women are, environmental debris and pollutants are more a factor to their skin’s health. Toning helps keep the skin clear and firm.

As skin ages, it needs to work harder to maintain its elasticity. Astringents and toners with glycolic or alpha hydroxy acids work the best for toning the face. These acids actually can reduce the pore size, and help avoid ingrown hairs. They are aggressive and have quick results. Remember to look for a product that is not photosensitive (sensitive to light).

#3 Treat your skin.
Depending on your skin type (oily, dry or combination) and the time of year, there are different products that treat and enhance your skin. Different treatments will have very different results. It is important to know your skin’s needs.

All types of skin need to be exfoliated. This is the removal of dead skin cells that form daily. This is an essential part of skin treatment.

After shaving, you need to moisturize with a product that has absolutely no alcohol in it. Avoid heavy fragrant after-shave products too, as they can irritate the skin.

Skin that is too shiny doesn’t look healthy, just greasy. Blot the excess oils away. Blotting papers or a light powder that will give you a more natural finish, are both good options to try.

Don’t forget about your lips. Find a balm that has an SPF of at least 15 in it. Peppermint oil has a nice feel and keeps the lips looking luscious.

#4 Protect your skin.
Healthy skin is young looking skin. There are preventative techniques that can promote the best skin possible and keep it looking its best longer. Remember that your skin is a mirror of your overall body health.

Is your Black Spot blinding your beauty?

Black spots are a great hindrance in one’s looking beautiful and they may be caused by scars left after pimples or skin infections Excessive suntan or sunburn also leads to the formation of black spots. However, one initially needs to find out the cause for the occurrence of black spots as along with being ugly, they can also be indicators of serious skin problems like skin cancer in its formative stages.

One should try using natural and home made remedies for getting rid of black spots.
The first and foremost requirement is to prevent the formation of black spots and that can be done by preventing your skin from the harmful effects of the radiations of sun. For this, one should apply a sunscreen lotion with minimum SPF of 30 before moving into the sun.

If one is already suffering from black spots, then one can make use of the natural products like Vitamin E oil and Aloe Vera gel which are helpful in treating most of the skin problems. In addition, one can apply a paste of turmeric and curry leaves on the face for about 15 minutes to treat specifically the problem of black spots. Other pastes can be made by grinding dried basil leaf, neem and mint and by adding turmeric powder and rose water in it. This paste should be applied on the specific spots in order to enable their fast healing.

Other natural elements which help in treating skin problems are lemon juice, glycerin and sandalwood. One can make a paste by mixing ½ teaspoon lemon juice and glycerin which should be applied on the entire face. Similarly, one can make a paste of saffron by adding a small amount of honey in it. This can be applied on the face to remove black spots and to make your face free of all spots and blemishes.

We have dreams of summer

Summer time is great. Your skin feels young and alive. But as winter approaches your skin begins to dry and you feel uncomfortably and itchy. What do you do?

1. Drink water …

Hydrate your skin from within by drinking lots of water. Carry a bottle with you when you go outside. Herbal tea is also great when it’s really cold. Your skin will soon have a healthy glow. So drink up and don’t let your skin go thirsty.

* btw check also 5 Practical Tips on Dry Skin Care

2. Humidifier …

One good option would be to put moisture back into the air. A humidifying system can help your skin remain supple instead of cracked and dry. You can buy a system from your local drug store.

3. Exfoliate …

A good boy scrub and facial exfoliant can help remove dead skin cells from your body. Add this to your cleansing routine once a week. Not only will you feel fresh but your skin will be free from all that old dry cells. Now you’re ready to moisturize!

* Read 5 Home-Made Face Masks for Winter Skin Care

4. Oil based moisturizer …

This will help protect your skin from moisture loss. Choose one that comes in an ointment form as it will contain 80% oil. Creams and lotions may tend to dry out the skin rather than keep it moisturized and soft.

* Check also Best Skin Care Products for 20-something Year Olds

5. Sunscreen …

Don’t say goodbye to your sunscreen just because summer is over. Before you leave your house, apply a sunscreen with at least an SPF of 15 or more. This will protect your skin from the elements. Alternatively, choose a product can combines a sunscreen with a moisturizer.

6. Gloves …

It’s simple but it works! Why expose your hands to the cold. Choose a good quality pair that does not irritate the skin. If you’re allergic to wool, wear a cotton mitten underneath. It will help keep your hands dry and warm.

* Check out these Hand Care Tips and Recipes

7. Flaxseed oil …

Although it doesn’t taste very great flaxseed oil can moisturize your body from the inside. Since it is rich in vital fatty acids it can do a lot for your overall health. It is available in oil form as well as in capsule form.

* Other 9 Best Foods for Your Skin

8. Oil bath …

Now how does a jojoba oil or sweet almond bath sound to you? Relaxing isn’t it! You don’t have to keep these for holidays. Nourish you skin by adding a few drops of these oils into your every day bath. It will do wonders for your skin.

9. No blow dry …

Yes, sadly so. The blow drier is not your friend in winter. Try the tousled look or the wavy style this winter. Hot air dries out your scalp and can irritate your skin as well. So give the blow drier a miss this cold season.

10. Don’t lick …

… your lips we mean. If you do, you’ll only chap your lips even more. Keep a lip balm in your purse and apply it when you’re tempted! Or read more advice on .

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