Skin type face and Benefits Fruit

One part of the body that can support your appearance is the face. With a face clean and fresh, you will be more confident. There are many ways to maintain the freshness of the face, one with vitamin use on fruit.The problem depends on one's face with skin type. There was a greasy, with the characteristics of the oil out continuously on the face on the forehead, nose, chin (the term "T"), and cheek bone in the bottom cheeks. In general, this type of skin covered with acne easy. For this type, then the cucumber can help overcome them. This nutritious fruit smooths and relaxes the skin, helps relieve the pores and remove dirt from the skin. Thus acne can be prevented. In addition to cucumbers, tomatoes can also help restore the balance of oil on oily skin, so the face is always fresh and natural.

Type the second skin is dry skin types. Usually the skin looks dull or glossy, sometimes feels tense (interested), flaky, and itchy. Situation biscuits pores often appear withered and rough, and wrinkled, so it looks older than actual age. Fruit is good for consumption for this type of facial skin carrots dalah *. Vitamin A in carrots is required for maintenance of epithelial tissue (tissue that is the skin surface). In carrot carotene also serves to keep skin moist slows wrinkles on the face, and making faces were always lit. In addition, pineapple fruit can also be an alternative for you. Because this fruit contains a substance that functions summarizing the pores so the skin looks smooth.

Another case with normal skin types. In between the two types of skin was, the most ideal is a normal skin types. This type of skin is not oily and not too dry. In addition, the texture is smooth and soft to the touch. For this type of facial skin, an avocado can be your choice. Avocado mask can help care for normal skin types. Therefore, high levels of fat that can moisturize the skin and protects skin from the effects of sunlight.


* Carrots can be consumed in a way menjus raw or cooked carrots

(tips boil vegetables: that vitamins in vegetables remain secure, then before entering the vegetables, salt the cooking water and a little sugar to taste; sugar is useful to keep the vitamins in vegetables stay awake and not discarded with the cooking water.)

Five Super Foods for Healthy and Beautiful Skin

You may spend most of the salaries for the serum and expensive creams that promise beauty skin. But believe me, expensive product that will not help much without supported healthy food that is friendly to the skin. Of course, your skin will reap huge benefits with the appropriate nutrsi, including healthful fat, adequate protein, vegetables and fruit. But there are five types of food outstanding and proven since a long time can make the skin more taut and glowing from within. What are they?Fish
Fatty fish such as salmon, tilapia, and cod are rich in omega-3 fatty acids. And this is how you should look, because our bodies can not produce omega-3 fatty acids. By adding these essential fatty acids into the food, then your skin will thank you for waking the humidity and not easily irritated. Existing scientific evidence benefits of omega-3 fatty acids in the skin strengthening, especially for those who suffer from chronic diseases such as rosacea and atopic dermatitis. In addition, some fish (cod and salmon) rich in vitamin D important for bone. If you do not eat fish for some reason, try to consume eggs lately fortified with omega-3 fatty acids and from plant sources such as walnuts and hazelnuts. For a completely vegetarian diet, may need to add a daily vitamin D supplements.

Green tea
Tea is easily found everywhere at a price not too expensive. You can drink it regularly every day as antioxidant-rich tea is useful for skin health. Drink at least three cups of green tea per day to fight aging and inflammation of the skin itself. A number of studies confirm that antioxidants in green tea can even reduce the risk of skin Anker. So, get rid of soda and started drinking with skin friendly.

Broccoli
Rich in vitamins A, C, and K, these vegetables are super-rich vegetables benefits. Vitamin A decrease in oil production, vitamin C is a potent antioxidant and vitamin C helps prevent bruising.

Sunflower oil
Perhaps the benefits of omega-3 fatty acids are well known, but the omega-6 fatty acids such as linoleic acid found in sunflower seed oil is also important for healthy skin. Like the omega-3 fatty acids, omega-6 fatty acids also prevent skin dryness and inflammation, is also important for the formation of prostaglandins, hormones that maintain all the body cells work properly.

Almond
Almonds must not be forgotten for meningkatkana supan vitamin E in the body, which is also an important antioxidant for skin health. The study confirmed that taking vitamin E orally can increase the humidity levels are on the surface of the vitamins skin. Good news for anyone who tends to have dry skin.

Healthy Skin Tips

Besides the treatment from the outside with cosmetics, to get healthy skin care also needs to come from within the
of vitamins, minerals and nutrients contained in food. Here are the necessary nutrients and how to get it:
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is needed to make collagen, a protein found in skin, bone, blood vessels, and ligaments. Loss of collagen wrinkles sagging skin. Guava is one that contains the most vitamin C.
Vitamin E
Contains antioxidant compounds that help prevent damage to body cells caused by free radicals.
Zinc.
Essential trace mineral that has many roles in the body. Ranging from increased cell reproduction, growth and tissue repair, including the skin.
Water
Hydration is very important for the body, especially the skin. Hydration does not always come from the water. The green and the black is also a good drink. What is important is to drink 8 to 10 glasses of water every day.
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The Natural Skin Solution

The Oily Crisis

Acne is a four-letter word, yet zit, pimple, boil, breakout and blemish are no better. While an effective treatment has been known for fifty years, the pharmaceutical industry is less interested in addressing the core problem than in providing a lifetime of cosmetics, cleansers, and OTC medications. Nor are many dermatologists eager to provide a permanent solution either, since they are paid by the visit not by curing patients.
To treat cystic acne, blackheads, scars, and greasy skin, we may turn to hormones, azaleic acid, Proactiv, dermabrasion, or overdose on zinc, selenium, B5, tetracycline and radiation to no avail. Most over-the-counter are worthless or harmful, or make outrageous promises about magical overnight cures, and products based on benzoyl peroxide, in particular, should not be used by anyone, because they might wipe out bad bacteria but also oxidize Vitamin A in the skin, which not only fails to stop the oil but invites more aggressive bacteria to worsen conditions beyond control.
And oil is the key, since bad bacteria require an anaerobic (oxygen-free) environment, and when excessive sebum pumped out by overactive sebaceous glands backs up inside pores, it supplies a perfect place for them to breed infection. So doctors bring out the big gun, Accutane. It may be harsh, but it does work (at least while you're using it) for it's the only prescription able to restrict oil production and thus evict bacteria from their happy home.


Vitamin A and Acutane image


Accutane is derived from Vitamin A, the very first vitamin discovered by scientists in 1913; however, arctic explorers found out about it the hard way a year earlier. They were running short on food and tried polar bear meat, but unable to stand the stringy flesh, they ate its liver instead. The meal containing up to 3 million IU, causing hair loss, itching, peeling, irritability, headache, vomiting and death. Of survivors, one reported his acne cured. About the same time, Eskimos were beginning to experience a strange plague of skin diseases, since they have strong livers and can store large amounts of the vitamin, yet due to a modern diet, they began to consume much less than their ancestors, leading to larger oil glands and ultimately cystic acne.
Everyone has a different "Minimum Daily Requirement" for Vitamin A, but not unlike the Eskimos, races that had once relied heavily on fatty fishes require high amounts for their skin. Still, the RDA must err on the side of caution to protect the masses, and this had burdened those of us with stronger livers with a poor complexion. Though pharmaceutical companies love to take advantage of our deficiencies, no one can dream of patenting a vitamin, so they invented a slew of Vitamin A derivatives like isotretinoin (Accutane), asking us to believe they're better than the real thing.
By the similarity of the molecules, it should be no surprise that Accutane overdose has identical side-effects to Vitamin A overdose: burning, itching, peeling, scaling, fatigue, headache, fractures, blurred vision, joint pain, dry lips, hair loss and liver dysfunction. This is because Accutane is not really a cure but a quick fix to a lifetime of deficiency, and following up to a year on it, users often find oil and pimples return, requiring a second, third, and fourth treatment but with no lasting relief. Lastly, Accutane's powerful side-effects means the "cure" is worse than acne itself, forcing us to choose between good health and a healthy complexion.

The Skin Solution

As surface oil is not the cause, washing ten times a day will not make a difference, and skin problems will persist unless the internal source can be turned off. Vitamin A derivatives like retinoic acid (Retin-A) are water-soluble for use in quick-drying creams, but they ignore a basic principle that oil and water do not mix, thus they cannot penetrate the skin, being water soluble. Alternatively, our topical Vitamin A Skin Solution is oil-based and easily overcomes the dermal barrier. Plus its self-moisturizing formula minimizes redness, peeling, or the need for lip balm, and thus is gentler on the face than Accutane though equally effective.
Those having merely a oily face or oily nose will notice a visible shine reduction following the first application. Users with mild acne may experience a brief purge depending on how many closed comedones need to be opened, but pimples will heal quickly and become progressively smaller and fewer in number as skin becomes smoother each day. Cystic acne is always the worst case and it can be tenacious, but even the most challenging skin conditions can be clear of blemishes, bumps, scars and discolorations in a matter of months.

Skin Can Warm and Cool You

Your skin can help if you're feeling too hot or too cold. Your blood vessels, hair, and sweat glands cooperate to keep your body at just the right temperature. If you were to run around in the heat, you could get overheated. If you play outside when it's cold, your inner temperature could drop. Either way, your skin can help.

Your body is pretty smart. It knows how to keep your temperature right around 98.6° Fahrenheit (37° Celsius) to keep you and your cells healthy. Your skin can respond to messages sent out by your hypothalamus (say: hy-po-thal-uh-mus), the brain's inner thermometer. If you've been running around on a hot day, your blood vessels get the signal from the hypothalamus to release some of your body's heat. They do this by bringing warm blood closer to the surface of your skin. That's why you sometimes get a red face when you run around.To cool you down, sweat glands also swing into action by making lots of sweat to release body heat into the air. The hotter you are, the more sweat your glands make! Once the sweat hits the air, it evaporates (this means that it changes from a liquid to a vapor) off your skin, and you cool down.

What about when you're ice-skating or sledding? When you're cold, your blood vessels keep your body from losing heat by narrowing as much as possible and keeping the warm blood away from the skin's surface. You might notice tiny bumps on your skin. Most kids call these goosebumps, but the fancy name for them is the pilomotor (say: py-lo-mo-ter) reflex. The reflex makes special tiny muscles called the erector pili (say: ee-rek-tur pie-lie) muscles pull on your hairs so they stand up very straight.
Keep It Clean!

Unlike other organs (like your lungs, heart, and brain), your skin likes a good washing. When you wash your skin, use water and a mild soap. And don't forget to cover scrapes and cuts with gauze or a bandage. This keeps the dirt out and helps prevent infections. It's just one way to be kind to the skin you're in!

Dermis=Lots of Blood Vessels

Your dermis is also full of tiny blood vessels. These keep your skin cells healthy by bringing them the oxygen and nutrients they need and by taking away waste. These blood vessels are hard to see in kids, but you might get a better look if you check out your grandparents' skin. As the dermis gets older, it gets thinner and easier to see through.

The dermis is home to the oil glands, too. These are also called sebaceous (say: sih-bay-shus) glands, and they are always producing sebum (say: see-bum). Sebum is your skin's own natural oil. It rises to the surface of your epidermis to keep your skin lubricated and protected. It also makes your skin waterproof — as long as sebum's on the scene, your skin won't absorb water and get soggy.You also have sweat glands on your epidermis. Even though you can't feel it, you actually sweat a tiny bit all the time. The sweat comes up through pores (say: pors), tiny holes in the skin that allow it to escape. When the sebum meets the sweat, they form a protective film that's a bit sticky.

An easy way to see this film in action is to pick up a pin with your fingers. Then wash your hands well with soap and water and dry them off completely. Now try to pick up that pin again. It won't be so easy because your sticky layer is gone! Don't worry — it will be back soon, as your sebaceous and sweat glands create more sticky stuff.
The Third Layer Is Subcutaneous Fat

The third and bottom layer of the skin is called the subcutaneous (say: sub-kyoo-tay-nee-us) layer. It is made mostly of fat and helps your body stay warm and absorb shocks, like if you bang into something or fall down. The subcutaneous layer also helps hold your skin to all the tissues underneath it.

This layer is where you'll find the start of hair, too. Each hair on your body grows out of a tiny tube in the skin called a follicle (say: fah-lih-kul). Every follicle has its roots way down in the subcutaneous layer and continues up through the dermis.

You have hair follicles all over your body, except on your lips, the palms of your hands, and the soles of your feet. And you have more hair follicles in some places than in others — there are more than 100,000 follicles on your head alone!

Your hair follicles rely on your sebaceous glands to bring on the shine. Connected to each follicle in the dermis layer is a tiny sebaceous gland that releases sebum onto the hair. This lightly coats the hair with oil, giving it some shine and a little waterproofing.

Bye-Bye Skin Cells

These old cells are tough and strong, just right for covering your body and protecting it. But they only stick around for a little while. Soon, they'll flake off. Though you can't see it happening, every minute of the day we lose about 30,000 to 40,000 dead skin cells off the surface of our skin.

So just in the time it took you to read this far, you've probably lost about 40,000 cells. That's almost 9 pounds (4 kilograms) of cells every year! But don't think your skin might wear out someday. Your epidermis is always making new skin cells that rise to the top to replace the old ones. Most of the cells in your epidermis (95%) work to make new skin cells.

And what about the other 5%? They make a substance called melanin (say: mel-uh-nun). Melanin gives skin its color. The darker your skin is, the more melanin you have. When you go out into the sun, these cells make extra melanin to protect you from getting burned by the sun's ultraviolet, or UV, rays.

That's why your skin gets tan if you spend a lot of time in the sun. But even though melanin is mighty, it can't shield you all by itself. You'll want to wear sunscreen and protective clothing, such as a hat, to prevent painful sunburns. Protecting your skin now also can help prevent skin cancer when you get older.The Dermis Is Under the Epidermis

The next layer down is the dermis (say: dur-mis). You can't see your dermis because it's hidden under your epidermis. The dermis contains nerve endings, blood vessels, oil glands, and sweat glands. It also contains collagen and elastin, which are tough and stretchy.

The nerve endings in your dermis tell you how things feel when you touch them. They work with your brain and nervous system, so that your brain gets the message about what you're touching. Is it the soft fur of a cat or the rough surface of your skateboard?

Sometimes what you feel is dangerous, so the nerve endings work with your muscles to keep you from getting hurt. If you touch something hot, the nerve endings in your dermis respond right away: "Ouch! That's hot!" The nerves quickly send this message to the brain or spinal cord, which then immediately commands the muscles to take your hand away. This all happens in a split second, without you ever thinking about it.

your skin.......

You might be surprised to find out it's the skin, which you might not think of as an organ. No matter how you think of it, your skin is very important. It covers and protects everything inside your body. Without skin, people's muscles, bones, and organs would be hanging out all over the place. Skin holds everything together. It also:
protects our bodies
helps keep our bodies at just the right temperature
allows us to have the sense of touch
Don't Miss Your Epidermis

The skin is made up of three layers, each with its own important parts. The layer on the outside is called the epidermis (say: eh-pih-dur-mis). The epidermis is the part of your skin you can see.



Look down at your hands for a minute. Even though you can't see anything happening, your epidermis is hard at work. At the bottom of the epidermis, new skin cells are forming.When the cells are ready, they start moving toward the top of your epidermis. This trip takes about 2 weeks to a month. As newer cells continue to move up, older cells near the top die and rise to the surface of your skin. What you see on your hands (and everywhere else on your body) are really dead skin cells.

What is Skin Cancer?

Cancer develops when DNA, the molecule found in cells that encodes genetic information, becomes damaged and the body cannot repair the damage. These damaged cells begin to grow and divide uncontrollably. When this occurs in the skin, skin cancer develops. As the damaged cells multiply, they form a tumor. Since skin cancer generally develops in the epidermis, the outermost layers of skin, a tumor is usually clearly visible. This makes most skin cancers detectable in the early stages.

Types of Skin Cancer
Three types of skin cancer account for nearly 100% of all diagnosed cases. Each of these three cancers begins in a different type of cell within the skin, and each cancer is named for the type of cell in which it begins. Skin cancers are divided into one of two classes - nonmelanoma skin cancers and melanoma. Melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer.

The different types of skin cancer are:Basal cell carcinoma (BCC): The most common cancer in humans, BCC develops in more than 1 million people every year in the United States alone. About 80% of all skin cancers are BCC, a cancer that develops in the basal cells - skin cells located in the lowest layer of the epidermis. BCC can take several forms. It can appear as a shiny translucent or pearly nodule, a sore that continuously heals and then re-opens, a pink slightly elevated growth, reddish irritated patches of skin, or a waxy scar. Most BCCs appear on skin with a history of exposure to the sun, such as the face, ears, scalp, and upper trunk. These tumors tend to grow slowly and can take years to reach ½ inch in size. While these tumors very rarely metastasize (cancer spreads to other parts of the body), dermatologists encourage early diagnosis and treatment to prevent extensive damage to surrounding tissue.

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC): About 16% of diagnosed skin cancers are SCC. This cancer begins in the squamous cells, which are found in the upper layer of the epidermis. About 200,000 cases are diagnosed ever year. SCC tends to develop in fair-skinned middle-aged and elderly people who have had long-term sun exposure. It most often appears as a crusted or scaly area of skin with a red inflamed base that resembles a growing tumor, non-healing ulcer, or crusted-over patch of skin. While most commonly found on sun-exposed areas of the body, it can develop anywhere, including the inside of the mouth and the genitalia. SCC may arise from actinic keratoses, which are dry, scaly lesions that may be skin-colored, reddish-brown or yellowish-black. SCC requires early treatment to prevent metastasis (spreading).

Melanoma: Accounting for about 4% of all diagnosed skin cancers, melanoma begins in the melanocytes, cells within the epidermis that give skin its color. Melanoma has been coined “the most lethal form of skin cancer” because it can rapidly spread to the lymph system and internal organs. In the United States alone, approximately one person dies from melanoma every hour. Older Caucasian men have the highest mortality rate. Dermatologists believe this is due to the fact that they are less likely to heed the early warning signs. With early detection and proper treatment, the cure rate for melanoma is about 95%. Once its spreads, the prognosis is poor. Melanoma most often develops in a pre-existing mole or looks like a new mole, which is why it is important for people to know what their moles look like and be able to detect changes to existing moles and spot new moles.

Other nonmelanoma skin cancers: All other skin cancers combined account for less than 1% of diagnosed cases. These are classified as nonmelanoma skin cancers and include Merkel cell carcinoma, dermatofibromasarcoma protuberans, Paget’s disease and cutaneous T-cell lymphoma.

Causes
Sun exposure is the leading cause of skin cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, “Many of the more than 1 million skin cancers diagnosed each year could be prevented with protection from the sun’s rays.” Scientists now know that exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays damages DNA in the skin. The body can usually repair this damage before gene mutations occur and cancer develops. When a person’s body cannot repair the damaged DNA, which can occur with cumulative sun exposure, cancer develops.

In some cases, skin cancer is an inherited condition. Between 5% and 10% of melanomas develop in people with a family history of melanoma.

Who Gets Skin Cancer?
Skin cancer develops in people of all colors, from the palest to the darkest. However, skin cancer is most likely to occur in those who have fair skin, light-colored eyes, blonde or red hair, a tendency to burn or freckle when exposed to the sun, and a history of sun exposure. Anyone with a family history of skin cancer also has an increased risk of developing skin cancer. In dark-skinned individuals, melanoma most often develops on non-sun-exposed areas, such as the foot, underneath nails, and on the mucous membranes of the mouth, nasal passages, or genitals. Those with fair skin also can have melanoma develop in these areas.

Skin Cancer Rates Rising
While Americans now recognize that overexposure to the sun is unhealthy, the fact remains that most do not protect their skin from the sun’s harmful rays. As a result, skin cancer is common in the United States. More than 1 million nonmelanoma skin cancers are diagnosed each year, and approximately one person dies from melanoma every hour.

If current trends continue, 1 in 5 Americans will develop skin cancer during their lifetime. Melanoma continues to rise at an alarming rate. In 1930, 1 in 5,000 Americans was likely to develop melanoma during their lifetime. By 2004, this ratio jumped to 1 in 65. Today, melanoma is the second most common cancer in women aged 20 to 29.

Prevention and Early Detection Key
Sun protection can significantly decrease a person’s risk of developing skin cancer. Sun protection practices include staying out of the sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. when the rays are strongest, applying a broad-spectrum (offers UVA and UVB protection) sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of 15 or higher year-round to all exposed skin, and wearing a protective clothing, such as a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses when outdoors.

Since skin cancer is so prevalent today, dermatologists also recommend that everyone learn how to recognize the signs of skin cancer, use this knowledge to perform regular examinations of their skin, and see a dermatologist annually (more frequently if at high risk) for an exam. Skin cancer is highly curable with early detection and proper treatment.

Skin Cancer

The sun has taken a lot of blame for our increased rates of skin cancers (along with the depletion of the ozone layer), but research uncovered by Dr David G Williams [Alternatives, April 1993; 4: 22] shows that the sun might not be the culprit, and hiding from the sun by using sunscreens can not only increase your chances of skin cancer, but it can increase your chances of all sorts of problems by interfering with vitamin D synthesis.

According to Dr Williams: "Despite what you may have been led to believe, there is not adequate scientific data to support the belief that sunscreens prevent skin cancer (melanomas or basal cell cancers)."
Melanin, Dr Williams points out, was thought to be only the pigment responsible for tanning, however, it has other important roles: it absorbs the UVA’s, UVB’s, and UVC’s in ultraviolet light, and neutralized oxygen free radicals during the invasion of bacteria, fungi, and viruses, and from exposure to light. When you use a sunscreen, the melanocytes are not stimulated to produce melanin, which actually interferes with the skin’s natural ability to protect against the harmful effects of ultraviolet light. Additionally, without melanin, the UVA’s are allowed to penetrate deeper and bombard blood vessels, nerves, and other tissues.

Your primary source of vitamin D comes from the sun. The use of sunscreens interferes with our body’s natural synthesis of this vitamin. The increased use of sunscreens has created such a deficiency of vitamin D that some researchers feel that mother’s milk is nearly devoid of vitamin D and that newborns need extra supplementation to avoid rickets.

In addition to a rise in rickets in America, Dr Williams describes a number of problems associated with vitamin D deficiencies: hearing loss at high frequencies, increased dental cavities, increased hip fractures, increase in colorectal cancer, breast cancer.

From the a few practitioners in the Wellness Directory of Minnesota™, we have discovered another contributor to our rise in skin cancer rates: trans fatty oils or as they are commonly referred to: Partially Hydrogenated Oils. It’s hard to believe that our hospitals are still serving margarine as a safe alternative to butter. The trans fatty oils in margarine (the industry is escalating their use as we write this: frozen foods, cocoas, breads and pastries, canned processed foods, cream soups, and the list goes on; obviously we all must learn to read labels) are responsible for a host of cancers. They stiffen your body’s cells not allowing nutrition to pass in or toxins to pass out. Dr Johanna Budwig’s research has demonstrated that certain wavelengths of sunlight vibrate at the same frequency as the chemical bonds in unsaturated fatty acids (trans fatty oils are unsaturated). This, she feels, leads to early mutations that can become skin cancers. Additionally, Dr Budwig feels that for a free flow of nutrients to your cells and elimination of toxins, your body needs the supersaturated fatty acids (Omega-3 oils) bound to protein (especially bound to protein if your liver is weak). See the section on Dr Budwig and Omega-3s in the article Alternative Cancer Therapies.

Budwig's theories from the fifties have been proven in the nineties. The World Health Organization has published statistics on skin cancer rates of various nations. Take a good look at Mexico. Skin cancer was once virtually unknown there. Today their rates of melanoma are approaching those of the US. We are told to stay out of the sun. The only sun bathers in Mexico, except for the extreme rich (less than 1% of the population) are vacationers. Yet how did their incidence of skin cancer quadruple over night? Ozone layer effect?

The answer is actually quite simple. For centuries Mexicans have cooked in lard. America's advertising is far reaching and the Mexicans, especially along the US border, to be in vogue and tasteful, have bought into our lies and picked up on many of our habits. Lard usage has dropped, margarine usage has risen, and you can graph its rise right along with the rise of skin cancer. The proof lies in the low incidence of skin cancer among the poor in low population density areas away from modern supermarkets. Their skin cancer rates have not increased. They still use lard.

Then how do you protect against the damaging effects of sunlight? Beta carotene and vitamin C seem to give us some protection. Hats and extra (light) clothing will help. And from Dr Williams’s research, you can make a sunscreen from vitamin C. Using vitamin C crystals (the buffered types don’t seem to work), make a 10% solution and spray it on 10 to 15 minutes before going into the sun, and continue to apply it liberally. You can use a liquid solution in a spray bottle, or add the vitamin C it to your favorite Aloe Vera gel (from Simply Natural Products; after six years, our research shows SMP to manufacture the best aloe products, bar none). It seems that this simple 10% solution of Vitamin C in water (or in aloe gel) also helps acne, eczema, and psoriasis. [Alternatives, March 1993; 4:21]

We found another skin cancer remedy in Dr Williams's September issue of Alternatives: the Devil’s Apple (Solanum sodomaeum) which contains the glycoalkaloid, solasodine. A medical researcher and biochemist Dr Bill Cham has been rigorously testing a glycoalkaloid cream he developed, and Dr Willimas points out:Not only was the cream totally free from an biochemical or clinical side effects, it also proved to be virtually 100 percent effective in the prevention and treatment of solar keratoses, basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma.

5 Tips for Natural Skin Care

Tip 1: Give Yourself a Dry Brush Exfoliation
A dry brush exfoliation can be done in the morning before you shower. It eliminates dead skin cells and allows the skin to detox (skin is the largest organ of elimination). Dry brush exfoliation also improves lymph and blood circulation and decreases puffiness. An added benefit is that the gentle pressure is calming to the nervous system. To give yourself a dry brush exfoliation, you'll need a soft, natural bristle brush.
Tip 2: Rev Up Your Digestion
In alternative medicine, good skin is a reflection of a good digestive system. People with skin disorders such as acne, rosacea, and psoriasis often suffer from constipation, imbalanced "good" vs. "bad" bacteria, leaky gut, and other digestive conditions. The two most common sluggish digestion culprits are:
• Culprit #1: Not Enough Water Water bathes cells and eliminates waste products, preventing constipation. 5 Ways to Boost Your Water Intake
• Culprit #2: Not Enough Fiber Most people lack fiber in their diets - the average person eats only 12 g of fiber a day. In 2002, the National Academy of Sciences Food and Nutrition Board established recommended fiber intakes. For men aged 19-50 years, 38 g fiber is recommended, and for men over 50, 31 g fiber is recommended. For women aged 19 to 50 years, 25 g fiber is recommended, and for women over 50, 21 g fiber is recommended.

Some suggestions:
1. Add Whole Grains - Choose whole grain products over refined. Have brown rice instead of white or make your own 50:50 combination.
2. An Apple a Day - Have an apple, skin on, as a snack.
3. Eat Cauliflower - Try this delicious Roasted Cauliflower recipe!
4. High-fiber snacks - Snack on nuts, seeds, and dried fruit, such as dates, figs, and prunes.
5. Try a "Prune Power" Smoothie - Prunes are a great source of fiber. Start your day with this tasty Prune Power smoothie.
6. Eat Beans and Legumes - Open a can of your favorite beans or legumes. Rinse them well and add them to your meal.
7. Ground Flaxseeds - For any easy fiber boost, sprinkle ground flaxseeds (available at health food stores) on rice, salads, oatmeal, or any other meal. Store flaxseeds in the fridge.
Tip 3: Invigorate Sluggish Circulation
Do you sit at your desk for hours, only getting up to go to the bathroom? One of the best things you can do for your skin, stress level, and overall health is to get moving! Inactivity may affect skin and promote bloating and puffiness, acne, cellulite, and loss of muscle tone. You'll learn more about exercise in Step 9 of the Wellness Makeover. Here are some quick suggestions:
• Take a quick break to go outside and walk around the block.
• Book a massage therapy appointment.
• Close your door and stretch.
• Go to the gym.
• Start each morning by stretching.
• Get a skipping rope.
Tip #4: Avoid Excess Sugar
Most people do not realize this but excess sugar is considered one of the main causes of premature aging. The more sugar we eat, the more sugar we have entering our bloodstream. Over time, this can result in a process known as glycation, which is when a glucose (sugar) molecule damages a protein molecule by sticking to it. The new molecules formed are called advanced glycation end-products, or AGEs. AGEs damage collagen in skin, cartilage, and ligaments and promote a loss of elasticity. Wrinkles form and skin begins to sag.
• Try This - It may seem impossible to reduce your sugar intake, but it can be done! A gradual approach works best. In the next week, choose one thing you're going to do to decrease the amount of sugar you consume. For example, start by cutting the amount of sugar in your daily coffee or tea by half. Every week, find another way you can decrease your sugar intake. Pretty soon, you'll be surprised at how far you've come!
Tip #5: Eat Some Good Fats
Essential fatty acids are simply fats your body cannot live without. They are needed to make cell membranes, hormones, and other body chemicals. Essential fats are thought to keep your heart healthy, fight inflammation, and possibly prevent cancer. They are also particularly important to people with inflammatory conditions such as eczema and acne, and also for people with dry skin. People with essential fat deficiency sometimes notice bumps on the backs of their arms. Here are my suggestions on getting more essential fats:
• Flaxseed and walnut oil - Use flaxeed oil or walnut oil with balsamic vinegar as a salad dressing. Be sure to keep these oils refrigerated. They should not be heated or used for cooking.
• Cold water fish - Sardines are a good source of essential fats. Salmon is another good source, however these salmon accumulate toxic polychlorinated biphenyls (otherwise known as PCBs) in their body fat during the 95 percent of their lives they spend at sea.
• Supplements - Consider fish oil supplements.

Acne and Facial Skin Problems

Severe acne skin problems can cause serious scarring and emotional problems. Young adolescents developing inferiority complex are less outgoing and terribly shy. They eventually outgrow their acne but some endure the problem up to their 40s and 50s. Women are most likely to have acne until late in life.

Symptoms of acne are whiteheads, pimples, and blackheads. The deep cystic lesions or pimples are often painful and hot to the touch. These blemishes can lead to scarring. Early cure of the condition will prevent scarring and prevent further increase in the facial skin problems.


Acne and Facial Skin Problems

Severe acne skin problems can cause serious scarring and emotional problems. Young adolescents developing inferiority complex are less outgoing and terribly shy. They eventually outgrow their acne but some endure the problem up to their 40s and 50s. Women are most likely to have acne until late in life.

Symptoms of acne are whiteheads, pimples, and blackheads. The deep cystic lesions or pimples are often painful and hot to the touch. These blemishes can lead to scarring. Early cure of the condition will prevent scarring and prevent further increase in the facial skin problems.

Treatment of acne vulgaris can take up to 8 weeks. During treatment the skin problem will get worse before it gets any better. Gentle cleansing with mild soap and water or over the counter medication can ease the acne problem. The regular regimen of proper hygiene and use of benzoyl peroxide lotions can control mild acne, and prevent a new crop of pimples to develop.

When the condition is severe or moderate, the doctor will prescribe oral antibiotics and topical benzoyl peroxide applications. The combined treatment will work better and the results will last longer.

One of the other common skin problems is age spots. Age spots, can be minimized with a regimen prescribed by the manufacturer of the pigmentation repair cream. But before any of these creams can be applied, it is best to get the doctor’s advice. Sometimes these creams can cause severe allergic reactions. Hence it is prudent to have a skin test of the product before applying it to the affected areas.

For skin markings, early treatment for infants is effective, but there are cases when hemangiomas in infants disappear as they grow older – even before they reach school age. Adults can have laser applications but not without a physician’s recommendation.

Skin problems can be serious and symptomatic of other health problems. If you observe a skin problem such as unusual skin growth or protuberances, see a doctor immediately for a medical evaluation. It is better to be safe than sorry.

Natural Skin Care Beauty Tips Made From Natural Ingredients

For natural home cures, kitchen is the great place to start. Natural cures created at home for the smallest of problems from natural ingredients such fruits, vegetables, herbs are catching loads of attention due to its very nature of cure - no or negligible cost, purity, without side effects, dollops of TLC (tender, loving care), simple and no side effects. Sounds too good to be true?

For natural home cures, kitchen is the great place to start. Natural cures created at home for the smallest of problems from natural ingredients such fruits, vegetables, herbs are catching loads of attention due to its very nature of cure - no or negligible cost, purity, without side effects, dollops of TLC (tender, loving care), simple and no side effects. Sounds too good to be true?

- Try this for dandruff problem; soak 1 tbsp of fenugreek seeds overnight. Grind them into a paste. Apply on hair for an hour and wash it off using gram flour paste.

- For dry, flaky skin on your arms and legs, try this concoction. Mix 6 tsp petroleum jelly, 2 tsp each of glycerin and lemon juice. Apply this moisturizing lotion at least twice a week.

- Peel, grate and squeeze the juice of a cucumber. Mix it with ? tsp each of glycerin and rose water. Apply this if you are suffering for sun burns.

- A facemask of egg white and honey gently removes the tan from your face.

- Dip cotton wool pads in chilled mixture of cucumber and potato juice. Keep this on your eyelids for 15 to 20 minutes and gently wash it off. A way out for dark circles.

- Melt paraffin wax; mix it with little mustard oil and apply on the affected area. Leave it on overnight. After 10 or 15 days, your cracked heels will become smooth.

- Mix oats with honey, yogurt and ground almonds. Apply this to your face, leave it for five minutes and wash with lukewarm water.

- Try chocolate mask to make your normal to dry skin, skin smooth. Take 1/3 cup cocoa, 3 tsp of heavy cream, 1/3 cup ripe papaya, ? cup honey and 3 tsp of oatmeal powder. Mix them together. Smooth on your face. After 10 minutes, wash your face with warm water.

- For oily skin, apply a mixture of grapes (softens your skin), lemon (natural cleanser) and egg white (tightens the skin). Leave it for 20 minutes and rinse with warm water.

- Tone and refresh your skin by rubbing the wedge of a cut lemon all over your face. Leave it for about 20 minutes and then rinse off with cold water.

- You can mix 1 tbsp cranberry sauce juice with 2 tbsp of Vaseline for a delicious home made lip balm.


- Mix honey, lemon and vegetable oil for a great home made moisturiser for your dry skin. Apply this concoction for 10 minutes.

- For a glowing skin, heat 4 tbsp of almond oil, 2 tbsp each of lanolin, petroleum jelly and extra virgin olive oil. Blend all these ingredients and massage into your skin.

- Mix a slice of pumpkin with egg yolk and milk. Let this mask set on your face for 30 minutes for a glowing skin.

- Massage your body with a mixture of coconut oil and some of your favourite scented oils like lavender or rosemary. Your skin, besides smelling heavenly, will acquire a silky and supple quality.

- Mix ? cup honey to your bath water for soft and smooth skin.

- Paste of mint leaves and almonds, mixed with warm water and applied all over body till it dries and rinsed off with warm water makes a soothing body pack.

- Buttermilk dabbed on skin for 15 minutes will soak up oil from your skin without drying it.

- Carrot juice applied daily helps blemishes fade.

- For dark underarms and neck - apply lemon juice mixed with cucumber juice and a pinch of turmeric daily. Leave this on for 20 minutes.

- A mix of crushed mint leaves and oats applied for 20 minutes and washed off with warm water will reduce pimples.

- Hair on face - apply a sticky paste of egg white blended with sugar and corn flour. When it dries, gently peel it off. Repeat this three to four times a week.

- Thin apple slices rubbed onto oily skin will help in controlling the oily shine.

- For supple skin, apply a ripe mashed banana on your face for 20 minutes daily.

- Try this natural bleach to lighten the tan. Mix orange peels (sun dried and powdered) with milk. Apply this paste for 25 minutes and rinse off.

The reader of this article should exercise all precautions while following instructions on the recipes from this article. Avoid using if you are allergic to something. The responsibility lies with the reader and not the site and the writer.

Serious Skin Care Tips You Need To Know

Get serious about taking care of your skin before it's too late.
Do the words "serious skin care" alarm you? They better be because taking care of your skin is a serious matter. If not taken care of seriously, your skin will suffer from severe damages and before you know it, it's already too late for some remedy.

So don't let this happen. The time to start taking care of your skin is now. By proactively taking care of your skin, you not only get rid of problems on your skin but you also prevent them from happening.

It's really all about prevention - like the onset of the aging process for instance. Aside from looking for ways to fight the aging process if it is already a problem, you should also find ways to help prevent it instead. The idea is not only to combat existing problems but also to make sure skin problems are prevented from happening. And you need to do this every single day.

Serious skin care means everything you do from washing and cleaning your face, getting rid of your makeup to applying various kinds of medication. Remember, you are not just looking for solutions to the problems but for ways to prevent them from occurring.

Skin problems can only be prevented from happening if there is a commitment to serious skin care. Taking care of your skin should be done regularly on a daily basis. You will see great results only if done consistently and not just on the spur of the moment or an impulse like when you feel like it. Without commitment and consistency, skin care will only be useless.

Try aiming at stopping the onslaught of aging and you will see why commitment and consistency are important. Besides, you will only see the results of your effort when you grow old. Perhaps by then you will have maintained a healthy wrinkle-free skin in stark contrast to others who have wrinkles and other skin problems.

Also, serious skin care should be total and complete, meaning taking into consideration all of your skin and not just the skin that you and everyone else can see. This means taking good care of your skin from head to foot without ignoring even those difficult to reach parts of your body.

So don't make the mistake of just taking care of your face while ignoring the other important sections of your body. You must realize that it's not just your face that ages but also every skin inch of your body. You may put more emphasis on taking care of your visible skin but never ignore the ones that are hidden from others.

SKIN CARE

SKIN CARE
Cleansing
Cleansing is the first essential step in your daily skin care routine.
Cleansing the face 2-3 times a day; is adequate for normal skin. If your skin is oily a more frequent cleansing i.e. 4-5 times a day is necessary. If your skin is dry it is best to avoid frequent washing and you may have to use a suitable oil-based cosmetic cleanser instead of soap, which has a dry effect.
There are several alternatives to soap and water cleansing. Cleansers can be in the form of creams, milks, lotions, gels and liquids. All are, a mixture of oil, wax and water which have been formulated to suit different skin types. A cotton -pad dipped in fresh milk available at home, is an equally effective cleanser.
The right way to apply cleansers and creams on your face is in an upward and outward movement. The skin should not be stretched, dragged or pulled. Leave the cleanser on for a minute or two so as to loosen the dirt and make up. Remove it either using a cotton wool or with a tissue paper, again using an upward and out ward movement. Finally rinse with water.
Masks
Basically all face masks have some sort of a cleansing action. Various ingredients are used in the masks, depending on the skin type. Clay, form an important constituent of many face masks. They help to remove dirt, sebum, and dead skin so that the skin looks clean, soft and youthful.
Fullers earth is a special type of clay often used in face packs. It contains aluminium silicate. As it dries on the skin, it absorbs the superficial dead cells and blots up any excessive oil on the skin. It is therefore excellent for an oily skin but should not be used on dry skin. Kaolin is also a fine clay which has been used for tummy upsets because it absorbs toxins from the system. It removes grime, oils and dead cells. Kaolin is also best for oily skin and best avoided for dry skin.
Another ingredient of some of the masks is the peeling or the exfoliating agent-these remove the top layer of dead cells from the skin, leaving behind fresh youthful skin. Oatmeal and bran are the commonly used peelers. Oatmeal is obtained from oats which is rich in Vitamin B and Vitamin E
Also added to many masks are natural ingredients-cucumbers, curds, lemon juice and Brewer's Yeast. It restores the acid / alkali balance of the skin.
Freshening
The skin care products include cosmetics like skin fresheners, toners and astringents which basically contains alcohol and water. These products are used after cleansing the skin to freshen and tone up the skin, they also restore the acid/ alkali balance of the skin. Having cleansed, wipe away any last traces of dirt or oil with a skin freshener or toner (cleansing milk) which suits your skin type. Non alcoholic freshener are for dry and sensitive skin. Those with alcohol (astringent) are for oily skin. People with combination skin should use toner and astringent.

Mosturising
Regular use of a suitable moisturiser benefits your skin. The moisturiser not only replaces the water lost from the skin but also prevents its loss to the surroundings. It protects the skin against the drying influences of the environment such as the effects of the sun, cold and heat. Tinted moisturiser are very helpful under foundation. It always keep the make up moist.
A moisturiser is particularly helpful for dry skins. Oil free moisturisers can be used for oily skins.
There are two types of moisturisers: Oil - in water emulsions and water -in -oil emulsions. The moisturiser you select should suit your skin type. For normal skins, a water based moisturiser containing a little oil is suitable. Sensitive skins and dry skins need moisturisers having a high oil content.
Protecting
The sun, is the environmental factor that is most harmful to the health and appearance of the skin. Ultraviolet radiation from sunlight can cause permanent damage to the skin. It can cause the skin to sag, lose elasticity and form wrinkles. Severe sunburn can even cause skin cancer.
Sunscreen and foundation protects the skin against the damaging ultraviolet rays. It also shields your face from direct contact with dirt or pollutants in the air and helps the skin against loosing its necessary moisture.
Sunscreen's come in lotions and creams. A sunscreen with the sun protection factor (SPF) of number 10 can block most of the sun's ultraviolet radiations before it can damage the skin. The SPF number indicates the length of time, the product will protect the skin. Sunscreen's should be applied at least 10 minutes before you go out in the sun.

Sun and Skin

We all know we need to protect our skin from the sun's harmful rays. Of course, it's impossible to avoid the sun — who wants to hide indoors when it feels so great to get outside and be active? And the sun's not all bad, anyway: Sunlight helps our bodies create vitamin D. So follow these tips when you're outdoors to help manage sun exposure:• Wear sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15, even if it's cloudy or you don't plan on spending a lot of time outdoors. If you sweat a lot or go swimming, reapply sunscreen every 2 to 3 hours (even if the bottle says the sunscreen is waterproof).
• Choose a sunscreen that blocks both UVA and UVB rays. Look for the words "broad spectrum protection" or UVA protection in addition to the SPF of 15 or greater. Select a sunscreen that says "nonacnegenic" or "noncomedogenic" on the label to help keep pores clear.
• The sun's rays are strongest between 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM, so make sure you reapply sunscreen frequently and take breaks indoors if you can. If your shadow is longer than you are tall, then it's a safer time to be in the sun (you should still wear sunscreen, though).
• Apply more sunscreen (with higher SPF) when you're around reflective surfaces like water, snow, or ice.
• We all know that the sun can damage skin, but did you know it can contribute to eye problems, too? Protect your face and eyes with a hat and sunglasses that provide 100% UV protection.
• Some medications, such as prescription acne medications or birth control pills, can increase your sensitivity to the sun, so if you're taking medication, increase your sun protection.
• If you want the glow of a tan, try faking it with self-tanners or salon tanning treatments. Avoid tanning beds, though, because although manufacturers claim that tanning beds are free of UVB rays, they still use harmful UVA rays.

The Basic 4-Step Skincare Regimen Step

1: Cleansing
Simple is key here. You need to find a good cleanser that your skin responds well to, and stick with it. See the best cleansers for your skin type.
You can find a good cleanser at the drugstore. There's no need to spend $40 on a fancy wash. Avoid bar soaps as they tend to dry out the skin. According to Rona Berg, in her book, "Beauty," a French cosmetics executive once told her "soap should only ever touch your skin from the neck down." We agree. Choose instead a creamy cleanser if you have dry skin or a cleanser without oil if you have oily skin.
Be careful not to cleanse too often. Washing at night should do you. While some skincare experts swear you should cleanse skin with creamy cleansers that you wipe off with a tissue, never letting water touch your skin (some hard waters are especially hard on skin), we prefer the water method. In the morning, a splash of lukewarm water is all you need (we find it's great for removing excess oils from your nightly moisturizing). Never wash your face with hot or cold water (both can cause broken capillaries). Also be careful about overcleansing skin, see signs you are overcleansing your skin.

Here's the best way to wash your face: Use warm water to loosen dirt and clogged pores. Use a dime-sized bit of cleanser, then rinse with cool or lukewarm water. You'll also want to take off your makeup with a proper makeup remover.
Step 2: Exfoliate
Exfoliation is the step most people skip in their weekly skincare routine. But trust me, if you start properly exfoliating your skin, you will notice an almost immediate difference. According to Berg, one of the reasons men's skin looks more youthful than women's is because men tend to exfoliate daily when they shave. There are several ways to exfoliate skin: Microdermabrasion, chemical peels and retinoids.
Scrubs work by removing the top layer of dead skin cells that tend to dull your complexion. We find exfoliating skin once a week with a microdermabrasion kit keeps skin glowing year-round. Make sure you use a gentle scrub with tiny grains. Big grains in cheap scrubs can tear skin and cause more harm than good. My favorite microdermabrasion kit is made by Lancome.

In the hour it takes to get a chemical peel, you can take off five years from your face. Can't afford the price tag for a monthly peel? Try some over-the-counter peels that work over the course of a month. I prefer MD Skincare's.

Retinoids (such as Retin-A or the more moisturizing Renova) also work by removing the top layer of dead skin cells while also generating collagen in the skin. "Collagen is the skin's structural fiber," dermatologist Dennis Gross said in O Magazine. "As we get older, it breaks down, creating lines and large pores." Skincare experts disagree on all sorts of things, but most of them consider retinoids to be a miracle skin saver.

Should you use a toner? Some people swear by toners, but many beauty experts do not (I once read a skincare expert claim, "toners are only for copy machines"). Toners are meant to remove all remaining traces of oil, makeup and dirt, but a good cleanser should do this. I firmly believe it's up to you. If you like the way your skin feels with a toner. Buy it. Use it. Enjoy it.
Step 3: Moisturize
While I know of at least one famous beauty editor who swore skin doesn't need moisturizer, basically everyone else I've read disagrees and is an adamant believer in it. A basic law of beauty is that everyone, no matter her skin type, should moisturize. Even if your skin is oily, it will benefit from moisturizers. (The only exception is those with acne). Why? Moisturizers seal moisture into skin (Berg calls this the "Saran Wrap effect"). So how much should you moisturize? Your skin will tell you. When your skin is tight, it's crying out for moisture. Be careful not to overmoisturize -- this can cause clogged pores.
See our list of the best moisturizers on the market.

Are eye creams necessary? Well maybe. Some beauty experts strongly recommend eye creams. Why? The skin around the eye contains no fatty tissue and is therefore very thin and susceptible to wrinkles. Special eye creams are formulated to 'thicken' this area and keep it sturdy. Yet other experts (including the beauty editors of Allure in their new book) claim your daily lotion works around the eyes just as well.
Step 4: Apply Sunscreen
'O' magazine ran an article featuring interviews with several top skin care experts and dermatologists (check it out here ). Every single one of them said sunscreen was the most important part of your skincare regimen. It was the secret they would pass on to their daughters.

The number 1 cause of wrinkles is sun damage, so it's important to use sunscreen from your early years on even in winter and on cloudy days. A great trick is to purchase two moisturizers: one for night and one for day that includes UV protection. Don't use moisturizers with sunscreen at night, the ingredients are not meant to be used 27/7 and can aggravate skin. When choosing a sunscreen, make sure it contains Mexoryl (found in my favorite sunscreen La-Roche Posay) or Helioplex, found in Neutrogena products.

Tune Up Your Skin With Toner

Skin toners are the next step after a facial cleansing routine.
Skin toners ensure complete removal from the skin of all cleansing preparations. They freshen and tone up the skin and prepare a clean surface for the application of make-up. They also restore the acid or alkali balance of the skin, because they are pH balanced. They are designed to penetrate pores, refresh and cool your skin while clearing away excess oil, impurities and dead skin cells that were not removed with your cleanser.

Toners restore the skin's natural pH balance. When you wash your face, the pH balance of the skin is distorted leading to skin working overtime to restore pH levels; the process of skin restoring the pH levels on its own can take up as much as half and hour or more. By using a skin toner, the pH level of your skin is restored instantly.
Skin toners are the next step after a facial cleansing routine.
Skin toners ensure complete removal from the skin of all cleansing preparations. They freshen and tone up the skin and prepare a clean surface for the application of make-up. They also restore the acid or alkali balance of the skin, because they are pH balanced. They are designed to penetrate pores, refresh and cool your skin while clearing away excess oil, impurities and dead skin cells that were not removed with your cleanser.

Toners restore the skin's natural pH balance. When you wash your face, the pH balance of the skin is distorted leading to skin working overtime to restore pH levels; the process of skin restoring the pH levels on its own can take up as much as half and hour or more. By using a skin toner, the pH level of your skin is restored instantly.

Choose a toner appropriate for your skin type. A wide variety of toners are available. Alcohol dries the skin and harms the soluble collagen below the surface of the skin. It is thus safer to use an alcohol-free toner.

The common herbs used in toners include witch hazel, geranium, honey, lemon, ivy, sage, nettle and burdock. Witch hazel has a tendency to dry the skin.
It is ideal to combine it with moisturizers such as Vitamin E, honey, etc. Rosewater helps keep skin and face moisturized, fresh and balances the pH levels.

Essential oils are the gentlest way of toning up. Rose water for normal or dry/sensitive skin or witch hazel for oilier skins is ideal bases for fresheners. These can be applied with cotton wool, using smooth, gentle upward strokes or sprayed on to the face. Oily skin benefits from juniper or lemongrass whereas drier skins would benefit from rose or sandalwood.

Apply the skin toner to a cotton ball and sweep it gently across your face. The cotton wool should come out relatively clean when toning. If it is not clean it indicates the cleansing has not been done properly. Do not succumb to the temptation to tone the skin whenever you feel it has become dirty. It should be used only after the skin has completed a cleansing routine and not as a substitute for cleansing. So, remember that your toner must function as a toner and not as a cleanser.

Toning is pleasant and refreshing, can act as an additional cleanser on very oily or dirty skin, and is valuable in removing any traces of grease that the cleanser may have left behind. Think of it as the polishing touch in your skin care treatment.

Homemade Toner Recipes

Watermelon Toner
1 cup watermelon chunks, 2 tbsp witch hazel and 2 tbsp distilled water

Purée watermelon chunks in a processor or blender. Strain the liquid and discard the solids. Mix the strained liquid with the remaining ingredients, stir and pour into a glass bottle. Dab on face using a cotton ball. This is rich in sugar and vitamins A, B and cup Watermelon has astringent properties, and the super high water content makes it an excellent skin refresher.

Rose Skin Toner
3 ½ cups of witch hazel, ½ cup dried rose petals and 5 sprigs of fresh rosemary.

Mix ingredients together making sure it is all blended well. Strain the blend and splash on your face after cleansing.

TYPES OF SKIN

Knowing your skin type is the chief way you can ensure your skin feels and looks its best. Many people, however, get confused when trying to figure out exactly what their skin type is. Skin can be divided into various types according to its texture. It is essential to know what skin type you actually have and using the correct products on your face can really make a difference to those problem areas you may have.
Due to our higher levels of collagen, male skin is up to 20% thicker and tougher than female skin . Male skin is also oilier, with larger exposed pores, a richer blood supply, and more of a tendency to break out in a sweat compared with women's skin.
There are five basic skin types. They are
1. Normal skin
2. Dry skin
3. Oily skin
4. Combination skin
5. Sensitive skin
Normal Skin
It has a fine even texture with a supple and smooth surface. It has a proper balance between oil and moisture contents and is therefore moist and neither greasy nor dry. The pores of normal skin are small and the overall skin tone is even. It looks clear and does not develop spots and blemishes. The pores of the skin are fine and barely visible. It reflects good health and needs gentle treatment.
Dry skin
Dry skin has a dry parched appearance and has a tendency to flake easily. It is prone to wrinkles and lines. It is due to the inability to retain moisture as well as the insufficient production of sebum by the sebaceous glands. Dry skin often has problems in cold weather and ages faster than normal or oily skin. Constant protection is very important. It needs a moisturiser during the day and a good cream at night.
Oily skin
As its name implies, oily skin is slightly to moderately greasy. This type of skin is caused by the over secretion of sebum making the skin surface oily. The excess oil on the surface of the skin attracts dirt and dust from the environment. Oily skin is also prone to black heads, white heads, spots, pimples and such skin will never be clear. This type of skin needs to be cleansed thoroughly.
Combination skin
This type of skin is very common. As the name suggests, it is a combination of both oily and dry skin with certain areas of the face oily and the rest dry. Usually there is a Central greasy panel consisting of the forehead, nose and chin and a dry panel consisting of cheeks and the areas around the eyes and mouth. The greasy central panel is referred to as T - Zone. In such cases, each part of the face should be treated accordingly - the dry areas as for dry skin and the central panel as for oily skin and use skin care products made especially for combination skin.
Sensitive skin
This type of skin has a fine texture and is very sensitive to changes in the climate. They show the disadvantage of bleaching, Waxing, threading, perfumes, temperature extremes, soap etc and for men sun, perfumes, shaving cream etc. Avoid products with dyes, perfumes, or unnecessary chemical ingredients that may irritate skin.

Mineral Makeup

Ever been baffled by the ingredient list on a shampoo bottle or lipstick? Unless you have a degree in chemistry, the oxides and isopropyls might as well be a foreign language. A movement in cosmetics to simplify matters has hit the shelves: mineral makeup. Touting a back to basics ideology, mineral makeup typically advertises "natural" or "organic" ingredients. Ingredients aside, mineral makeup also takes a slightly different application technique, and can be a suitable alternative for certain skin types aggravated by traditional cosmetic lines.For a significant portion of the population, department store cosmetics are not an option. Various skin conditions such as acne, rosacea, and allergies to specific ingredients limit cosmetic product selections. Mineral makeup is often purported to be a solution for those usually unable to wear makeup. The main draw is the lack of chemically altered ingredients, in hope that this will reduce any irritation or allergic flare up. Mineral makeup is also lighter, and can grant a more sheer sensation. Before trying a new mineral makeup product line, a small amount of research should be done to improve chances of success.

Stick with a reputable company for mineral makeup products. A quick check on the Food and Drug Administration website or the Skin Deep safe cosmetic database can help identify potentially sham companies or dangerous ingredients. Be sure to read company provided literature and information on the product carefully. Look for substitutes of "natural" for "organic" and any asterisks leading to notes at the bottom. A big red flag is if there is an exception to a promise or results statement saying it has not been evaluated by the FDA. While most products will not give you any problems, complications from harsh chemicals or mislabeled cosmetics can cause serious harm, especially those used in the eye area.

The color palette available in mineral makeup lines is as varied as the world around you. Hues in bright blues, deep purples, and soft pinks can be found in a variety of products, such as lipstick, eye shadow, and blush. Some mineral cosmetics contain metallic components, which can cause an unintended shine. Look for products promising a matte finish if shine is not the style desired. Color selection is similar to traditional cosmetic color lines, based on a warm or cool skin tone.

Brushes are the recommended applicator for mineral cosmetics. Cosmetic brushes, not sponges or pads, allow the wearer to "tap" off excess before applying, an important step before blending mineral cosmetics. Colors are usually more concentrated, but blending should be more agreeable to the skin than synthetic products. Also unlike heavily processed products, the natural elements of mineral makeup can make it far easier to remove at the end of a long day.

Mineral makeup products are an appropriate alternative for those allergic or sensitive to other cosmetic lines. Just take care to effectively research and educate yourself about any new cosmetic product used on your skin. Because mineral makeup is a smaller movement gaining momentum, it is easier for unscrupulous businesses to hide amongst the legitimate ones. Use online resources to verify credentials and FDA approval. Finally, enjoy the richer coloring and coverage mineral cosmetics can afford, all with a pure feeling many synthetic products can't deliver.

Facial Skin Care

There are various types of treatments for the face that you can see offered in salons and spas. From the rejuvenating facial, purifying facial, European, oxygen facial, balancing, alpha-beta peels, and deep cleansing to the more invasive treatments like laser dermabrasion and such. It may be confusing to decide which one you need since these treatments have different effects on the skin.To figure out what you need, consult a skin care expert on what treatment is to be done. Your dermatologist will be asking you several questions pertaining to the condition of your facial skin as well do some physical checkup. If an expert is not available, some salons ask you to fill out a questionnaire regarding your skin condition and what you want to do about it. The questionnaire will be their guide as to what procedure and treatment they will recommend.

Most of the facial treatments are based on just a few specific processes and principles, which will always lead to a better skin condition and appearance, when used properly. Those functions are:
Facials generally moisturize and hydrate the skin by using steam, masks, humectants and hydrating creams.
To cleanse, facials employ the extraction of blackheads, pimples and whiteheads using a facial clay mask.
For deeper cleansing, extractions are done using a needle and lens. The skin of the face is first relaxed and softened in preparation for extraction. Skin care technicians are learned in doing these procedures hygienically and accurately so there is no danger of complications.
Peeling methods use the help of enzymes, chemicals like glycolic acid, lactic acid and salicylic acid, scrubs and sometimes electric brushes.
Microdermabrasion is a machine is used for procedures that removes dead skin cells using mineral crystals and a vacuum type wand.
Facial masks can also firm the skin, which is usually used for aging skin.
Sometimes, vitamins and antioxidants are added on to the mask mixture to be used for the skin's nourishment.
Skin lighteners such as licorice or hydroquinone are also placed in the mixture to give the face a lighter look.
To complete the whole facial spa treatment, a facial massage may be incorporated into the procedure, with hand and shoulder massages as bonus.

Salon and spa facials can include everything except medical treatments, botox, heavy phenol peels, and collagen injections. Those are done only in medical offices, and with the supervision of a doctor.

Organic Skin Care

You do all of the right things: you limit your fat intake, take your vitamins, exercise daily, drink plenty of water, eat plenty of organic fruits and vegetables, and stay out of the sun. But what about the products you slather on your skin in your quest for moist, wrinkle-free skin? Are you using as much care in selecting skin care products as you do the rest of your life. If you are trying to live a green or vegan lifestyle, organic skin care is an eco-friendly choice that's good for the earth, the animals, and your skin!Earth-friendly natural skin care products are better for the environment because they are made with organic ingredients without pesticides (think herbal and plant-based products), synthetic preservatives, mineral oil, artificial colors and fragrances, or other harmful substances. In addition, companies dedicated to promoting an organic line are generally dedicated to operating "green" businesses. You'll find that the organic skin care industry has embraced green packaging, soy inks, and other eco-friendly business practices.

For those concerned about living a vegan lifestyle, choosing skin care products that do not use animal byproducts or engage in animal testing is important. While not all organic skin care products will pass the vegan test, you'll find plenty of organic choices that do. Read labels carefully to ensure that your organic choices meet your vegan lifestyle. Many organic skin care product lines are 100% vegetarian and vegan-friendly.

Organic skin care products leave a smaller footprint on the earth and leave animals alone but what can they do for you and your skin? By eliminating the synthetic preservatives, fragrances, colors, chemicals, acids, solvents, and other harsh ingredients and using only natural ingredients such as distilled water, safflower oil, seaweed extract, herbal infusions, avocado, and aloe vera, organic products naturally care for your skin using Earth's bounty.

People have been using natural ingredients since ancient times to care for their skin. From the healing and soothing properties of the aloe vera plant to the antiseptic properties of natural astringents such as rosemary and the moisturizing goodness of essential oils, your skin will love it when you make the switch from over-processed, harsh skin care products to pure and natural organics.

The organic movement is growing. Not only can you go to the local supermarket and buy organic bananas and tomatoes, you can now find a variety of natural, organic skin care products ranging from moisturizers, facial toners, masks, eye creams, toners, cleansers, body creams, and topical medicinal products.

Your skin offers the world a snapshot of your overall health. Does your skin look clean and healthy? Or dry and worn out? Many beauty products claim to be the ultimate in science and suggest that they can stop the aging process. There's no such thing as a 'Fountain of Youth" but you can give your skin the care it needs by choosing natural ingredients and shunning the harsh chemical concoctions.

Natural Skin Care

Healthy skin is the result of several factors: a healthy diet, right amount of exercise, good skin care practices, a positive outlook, and a relaxed mind. Lots of people at present are conscious of their health and are deciding on using the natural, or organic approach in dealing with their health issues. They are now making their own personalized products to treat and take care of their skin. They make use of organic materials to mix their own skin solutions. Actually, it is to their advantage that they are the ones to make them because at least they know what goes in it and how their skin reacts to those ingredients. There are several products in the market that causes an allergic reaction on the skin, and even costs really high. By creating your own product, you lessen the risk of allergy formation as well as save money.Eating a healthy diet is also vital to having radiant skin. You should at least eat five servings of fruit and vegetable everyday to cleanse the body of toxins that may affect your metabolism. There are a lot of fruits and vegetables to choose from, each with their own contribution. If you are not used to eating these kinds of food, you can try to look for one that appeals to your palate.

Drinking water is also important to keep the skin healthy, supple and soft. Almost all natural skin care recipes require water for externally cleaning the skin and for regular consumption. It helps a lot when the required amount of water, about eight glasses a day, is followed. After using this therapy for several days, you will be noticing differences in the way your skin feels and how your body functions.

Drinking an herb based tea can help hydrate the skin and at the same time get your daily requirement of vitamins and minerals. There are several examples of teas that greatly promote healthy skin and body function. The examples are black alder, used for skin eruptions, bergamot tea which cleanses the body system, burdock, dandelion, horsetail, nettles, oat straw, sarsaparilla, stevia, and yellow dock.

Herbs for the Skin and Hair:
Black alder (for skin eruptions)
Bergamot tea ( cleanses the system)
Burdock
Dandelion
Horsetail
Nettles
Oat straw
Sarsaparilla
Stevia
Yellow dock

Regular exercise enhances blood circulation necessary to maintain healthy skin. Most people find exercise to be a burden. Try to look for a type of exercise that you can enjoy doing since it will be easier for you to do it regularly. Exercise also relieves stress and helps in having a healthy mental disposition. These are the all ingredients you need for better looking skin.

Beauty Tips

Very few women look great with little effort. Even Supermodels have to drink plenty of water and get their sleep. The following are the top beauty tips every woman wanting to look her best should heed. Drink at least two liters (eight glasses) of water a day. Water helps keep your skin hydrated. It also helps keep your body in good working order including your metabolism and digestive system, and helps to flush toxins from your body. Drinking water is good for internal as well as external beauty.Get enough sleep. Even models will tell you that while they might be able to get away with not eating their vegetables and drinking too much coffee, if they don't get enough sleep, then they pay for it with their looks. Inadequate sleep has been shown to be a risk factor in weight gain, hypertension, and type-2 diabetes. And if that's not enough, your skin will suffer, too. Our bodies use sleeping time to restore dead skin; if you don't get enough of it, your skin will look pale and gray, and you'll probably get black circles under your eyes. It's not called beauty sleep for nothing!

Don't spend too long in the sun. This is a lot easier said than done. With all the sun's positive connotations, it's difficult to acknowledge that it can be harmful. When spending any significant length of time in the sun, always wear a sunscreen with a minimum SPF (sun protection factor) of 30. And always moisturize your skin after you've been in the sun. Remember that a suntan is a sign that your skin has been damaged. And premature aging has never been a good look!

Don't smoke! Where do we start...? Dull, tired skin; premature wrinkles; yellow teeth; nicotine-stained fingers; and foul smelling breath are just a few of the effects of smoking. Quitting smoking is the number one beauty boost any woman can give herself.

Eat a healthy and varied diet. Eating a healthy diet isn't just important where your weight's concerned; your skin, eyes, teeth, nails, and hair can all benefit from foods rich in nutrients. You don't need to spend a fortune on products that claim they will make your hair shine; foods rich in omega-3 fats can do it! Dark green vegetables, flax seed oil, and fish such as tuna and mackerel can all help to give you a head of shiny hair (as well as being good for anyone on a weight-loss diet given the relatively low calories these foods contain).

Get regular exercise. Not only will regular exercise help your body look good, but it will improve blood circulation which in turn will deliver more oxygen and nutrition to your skin cells. Exercise doesn't have to take place in a gym, either -- a brisk 20-minute walk every day is enough to get the blood pumping and deliver results.

Watch your alcohol intake. While alcohol doesn't have to be avoided completely, it's wise to remember that too much of it can leave skin dehydrated, looking dull and puffy. It can also leave toxic by-products in the body resulting in premature aging (not to mention the calories it carries -- one glass of red wine has around 100 calories). The odd glass now and again is probably the best beauty tip where alcohol's concerned.

It's a wise woman who remembers that beauty begins from within. Start from the right place and you can look gorgeous with the minimum of effort and fuss.

Dry Skin Care

Dehydration is the loss of water in the body, sometimes severe enough to cause shock since the human body is composed of seventy five percent water. To address this problem you first need to know its main cause. Several factors like the environment, weather, health situation, or lifestyle is making the skin dry. Some of them are easily remedied and others will take more time and effort.To avoid dehydration, you should drink at least eight glasses of water a day, approximately 64 ounces of water, more in really hot weather. If you do not get enough water in the body, dehydration may set in. The eight glasses do not include other beverages you drink during the day, such as tea, coffee, milk, soda or juice. These beverages should be limited in intake since some of them may further dehydrate your skin and contribute to other skin conditions, such as acne.

Unnatural air conditioning from home or office heating and cooling systems keeps the air dry by removes moisture from your skin. Room humidifiers can be employed to keep air moist. Humidifiers can also be installed on the home furnace to help retain moisture in the atmosphere of the home. Installing such can be a bit expensive but helpful in avoiding dry skin especially in places with dry climate such as the Midwest states. A helpful tip in keeping the house humid is to fill several pots with water and place it in strategic places in the house. They need to be refilled when the level of water becomes low.

Living in a dry climate, such as Colorado, Alaska, Utah, Arizona, and elsewhere. You can't make the air outside more humid, but you can use humidifiers indoors. Fill a pottery crock with water and place several around your house. Refill when the water has evaporated.

Excessive use of exfoliants can also dry out the skin, making it reddish and rough. Treatment is just to decrease the frequency of use of the exfoliant. Use scrub exfoliants with polyurethane beads or cornmeal since this does not dry out the skin. Also, the excessive use of topical medications prescribed for the skin like Retin-A and hydroquinone can also cause inflammation of the skin. Use should be cut down to every three days until the skin becomes normal.

Overuse of topical prescription medications for skin, such as Retin-A, benzoyl peroxide, or hydroquinone. They can make the skin dry, red, and inflamed. Cut back on use to every other day or every third day until your skin normalizes and redness is healed.

Before using any skin care product on yourself, you should try to consult a skin expert or a certified skin technician. Since there are a lot of skin care products in the market today, you should always test what will work best on your skin. If it feels too dry or flaking occurs, then it probably isn't the best product for you. Foundations used either powder or fluid, should nourish the skin, and not cause it to dry up. It will help to know the type of facial skin you have, if either oily or dry, to be able to choose the right foundation for your skin type.

Using foundation or powder that is too drying for your skin. If your skin feels tight at midday, consider switching your foundation or powder to one with more moisture and less oil absorption.

Salon treatments are a delight to indulge in. But too much of a good thing can lead to its destruction. Treatments at a salon should be done every six weeks, at the least, especially for skin peels. Consult your aesthetician for suggestions on the proper skin regimen for you.

There are several medications that can lead to dehydration. If these medications are not really necessary for your body, like if it is just a supplement and not for the cure of an underlying illness, then stop using it. If this is not possible, then just try to avoid other causes of skin dehydration.

Some illnesses can also lead to skin dehydration like flu, and cancer. Flu discourages water retention thus leading to dehydration. Cancer treatments, like chemotherapy and radiation treatments can also dehydrate the skin. The best thing to do is to keep your skin hydrated even when sick by drinking lots of fluids.

Travel by plane can also cause your skin to get dehydrated. Since the cabin air is drier, especially at a height of thirty thousand feet, moisturizer should be applied before the plane takes off. Spritzing your face with a toner solution that contains humectant or much simpler, purified water, can help moisturize your skin during flights.

Pollution also plays a role in skin dehydration. You can either opt to stop pollution or just take care of your own skin by following the proper and prescribed skin regimen for you regularly.

Drinking alcohol also leads to dehydration since alcohol is a diuretic. Diuretics draw water from the body, and lower the water level in the body. A hang over is usually the result of dehydration of the body. If you are prone to dry skin, alcoholic drinks should be avoided. Smoking also produces the same effect on the body. Even if you are just the recipient of second hand smoke, it can still cause dehydration. Therefore to avoid dehydration, stop smoking.

Smoking. Smoking dries out the body both internally and externally. This affects both smokers and people subject to second hand smoke. The only solution is to stop smoking.

Drinking sodas, either the regular kind or the diet ones can result in dehydration. These types of drinks have sodium as their ingredient which causes acidity. Avoid sodas and increase your intake of purified water. Carbonated water has dissolved carbon dioxide in its composition, which is also highly acidic, so avoid other bubbly drinks as well.

A good sleep during the night helps greatly in maintaining moisture in the skin. At least six to eight hours of sleep is needed for the body to function at its peak. Avoid eating starches, white sugar, junk food, french fries, and potato chips since this may also lead to skin dehydration.

There are still several causes that may lead to skin dehydration, all of them seen in our daily routine. If only people are aware of this, then complaints of dry skin can be avoided. Our modern and carefree lifestyle contributes to this skin condition. It is only by changing our regular habits that we can avoid having dry skin. After changing our lifestyle and environment, here are several tips on how to take care of your skin.
Dry Skin Treatment

After you go to work on the lifestyle and environmental changes suggested, it's time to go to work on your skin. Follow these suggestions:

Correcting dehydrated skin begins with faithfully completing your daily skin care ritual. Be sure to cleanse, tone, and moisturize twice a day- morning and evening.

Exfoliate gently and regularly using mild alpha hydroxyl acids to dissolve dead skin cells that buildup in the skin because of its dryness and keratinization. Improvement of the skin's natural moisturizing factor can be achieved by the use of lactic acid, squalene, glycerine, and urea treatments. For special treatment for your skin, a hydrating mask can be applied to make the skin remain moist but make sure that it will not unintentionally dry the skin.

For a special skin treatment, apply a hydrating mask that stays moist on the skin. Be sure your mask isn't intended to actually dry while on the skin.

Use sunscreen with the right sun protection factor and moisturizer when going outdoors. Select a foundation that keeps moisture in place like those that contain glyconucleopeptides, silicone, or silica. Drink fish oil capsules that contain essential fatty acids, or flax seed oil, every day. They will make your skin soft and supple. A dosage of 10 capsules or 2 tablespoons can suffice. Eating five to ten servings of vegetables and fruits daily with each meal also helps in hydrating the skin.

Choose a foundation that seals in moisture, such as one that contains silicone, silica, or glyconucleopeptides.

Take essential fatty acids, those found in fish oil capsules or flax seed oil, every day. Take about 10 capsules or 2 tablespoons. They will make your skin soft and supple. Eat 5 to 10 servings of vegetables and fruits dailt, or at least 2 with each meal.

Electrolytes should also be balanced to help regulate the hydration levels of the body. These can be found in fruits like bananas and oranges instead of so called energy drinks like Gatorade since it is composed of a lot of sugar and artificial ingredients.