Why Should I Look Out For Parabens and Sulfates? (Pt 2 of 2)

Total Freedom from Aging Problems with Natural Products

Aging brings lot of unwanted elements like blemishes, lines, black spots and wrinkles. These things appear prominently on face which can be quite upsetting at times. However, a permanent solution to all such problems has emerged in the form of herbal facial masks. These herbal masks are inclusive of various kinds of natural herbs and organic ingredients. All these natural products are very effective and so there usage has increased tremendously.

A number of anti aging masks is obtainable from market that may contain varied ingredients. They have been specifically designed for all skin types. So, it is vital to select one according to your skin type to ensure desired results. Skin types are normally classified in three different categories such as dry skin, oily skin and normal skin. Although, aging problems are similar to all but there treatment is different due to varied skin textures. An oily skin needs herbal anti-aging treatments composed of herbs with astringent properties, drying and anti bacterial properties.

This is not same for dry skin. Herbal anti aging products for dry skin must be moisture based so that the lost skin elasticity can be regained. Usually, anti acne herbs with moisture based ingredients are used for curing aging problems of all kinds. Last skin type is the combination of oily and dry skin which requires great care. Such individuals face more severe problems which can be treated only with natural herbs. So, if you have a combination skin type, you must choose wisely in order to gain long lasting skin related benefits.

Herbal Anti-Aging products are free from all kinds of chemicals and so are safe to use. They are prepared with essential herbs derived from nature for effective skin care. So, if you are looking for a perfect and natural way to get rid of all kinds of aging problems then the best way is to go for natural aging facial masks and treatments.

Sun Protection to Prevent Premature Aging

Zinc Sun Care and Summer Skin

To protect the skin from harmful sun exposure it is important to use a sunscreen that has both UVA and UVB protection. These sunscreens are commonly known as dual spectrum sunscreens. It is also important to check for ingredients that absorb and block sunrays. Ingredients such as oxybenzo absorb sunrays while zinc oxide actually blocks the rays. It is also important to look for sunscreens that are non comedogenic and non acnegenic which means that the sunscreen will not clog pores or promote acne. A SPF or sun protection factor of 15 or higher is recommended. A generous application is needed in order to attain protection; most people do not apply sunscreen liberally enough.

The SPF indicates how long you can be exposed to the sun before burning. For example, if your skin will burn within 10 minutes of sun exposure with no sun protection you can be exposed to the sun for 150 minutes with a sun protection factor of 15 before burning.

To estimate how long you can be exposed to the sun before burning, multiply the probable time you can be exposed to the sun with no sun protection before burning and multiply it by the SPF on the label of the sunscreen. Multiple applications throughout the day are necessary in order to be protected, and it is recommended to reapply every two hours, as sweating and water activities may rub off the sun screen. Sunscreens do more than just protect skin from burning, so reapplication is necessary to shield the skin from other harmful damage like premature age spots, wrinkles and fine lines.

Regular sunscreen use will protect the skin from burning, premature aging and possible skin cancer. It is important to make sunscreen use as much a part of your daily routine as brushing your teeth. As summer is approaching it is even more important to wear sunscreen as the sunrays are stronger and more harmful during this time of year.

Treatments for Lines and Wrinkles

As we age, the skin droops and develops wrinkles, lines and furrows. Depending on your skin type, you may find your skin to be pre-disposed to wrinkling. But thanks to diligent research and new advances, there are a number of solutions to combat facial lines.

Causes of facial lines

In addition to aging, facial lines can form because of the following:

* Sun damage (Fine lines and wrinkles arise because of irregular thickening of the dermis and because of a decrease in the amount of water held by the epidermis. caused mainly by sun damage.) (Read more at Sun Damage)
* Smoking
* Muscle movement / Dynamic lines (People tend to smile or frown more on one side than the other, or consistently sleep on the right or the left cheek. Crow’s feet around the eyes are due to smiling and activity of the eyelid muscles. Worry lines on the forehead are due to contraction of the muscle when raising the eyebrows)
* Gravity is responsible for folds in the skin

What treatment is available?

See your dermatologist for information about what might work well for you, which could include (Also see treatments for sundamaged skin):

* Topical agents which produce collagen in the skin, Vitamin A acids (Tazarotene, Tretinoin, Adapelene) and Vitamin C or alpha

Hydroxy acids
* Microdermabrasion has a very modest benefit for very fine lines
* Injectionable fillers such as Restylane (Hyaluronic acid)
* Botox for dynamic lines (Check-out www.BotoxFacts.ca)
* Lasers. Traditionally the CO2 and Erbium lasers (ablative) were used to essentially peel off a layer of skin and then allow a new skin to grow in. Results were impressive but the healing time of many weeks and sometimes months of redness has reduced the use of this approach. Patients with darker skin would often end up with darker skin and those with very fair skin sometimes white skin

* Plastic surgery is usually used to improve skin folds rather than fine lines and wrinkles
* The newer non-ablative laser treatments do not have the down time of the older methods nor do they have the degree of improvement. Repeat treatments with lasers that essentially produce a heating of the dermis, which in turn encourages collagen production, Lasers such as the Nd: Yag, V Beam and Smooth Beam may be used.
* The Fraxel laser is a modification of an Erbium laser that just treats multiple small pinpoint areas of skin allowing a quick recovery after a treatment. We will be hearing more of this in the future
* Cosmetic facial surgery

Prevent it before it happens

You can take steps to protect your skin. You’ve heard it before, and it’s worth repeating:

* Avoid excessive time in the sun, and always use a sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher
* Avoid smoking and exposure to second-hand smoke or other pollutants. Smoking increases facial lines and wrinkles and delays skin healing.
* Exercise. It’s good for the skin as well as for your general health.
* Aging skin feels and looks better when moisturizers are applied regularly. These improve the water-holding capacity of the skin. Choose one that feels nice to apply, doesn’t sting or burn or provoke acne
* Use tepid or warm water and a non-soap cleanser to wash your face twice daily
* Drink plenty of water to rehydrate internally. Because moisture content is related to water, not oil or grease, oily-skinned women need to rehydrate as conscientiously as their dry-skinned counterparts
* Eat a balanced diet that includes plenty of fruits and vegetables
* Generally what is healthy for your heart and brain is good for your skin

See your doctor or dermatologist to determine which solutions best suits your experience with facial lines.

Skin Needling Treatments Remove Wrinkles

What is the Derma Roller or Skin Needling?

Recently, while walking around at the 2009 Beauty Expo in Long Beach, CA, I noticed a large number of booths selling these small rolling devices, covered with many short needles. Curious whether these were new parenting tools to scare unruly children or for skincare, I decided to research it further. The cosmetic representatives claimed these new facial rollers could increase collagen production and reduce wrinkles.

The derma roller is a very small rolling device that contains 192 micro points made of surgical steel. While it goes by different names, ‘skin needling,’ ‘dermaroller,’ or ‘meso roller,’ among many others, it appears to be a simple and natural method that promises to prevent skin aging, restore collagen, smooth out scars, pitted skin, and stretch marks - or your money back in some cases.

Research On Skin Needling

The skin needling device is used along with your normal skincare routine to remove acne scars, stretch marks, wrinkles, fine lines. Representatives say it can even help with big pores, black heads, and white heads. This micro needling or skin needling anti-aging technique is also used to perform collagen induction therapy (CIT). Studies show that when this device is rolled over the skin, it creates small puncture wounds which cause the body to produce collagen in an attempt to heal the skin. Our collagen production falls dramatically after about age 35 or so.

How the Derma Roller Works

Published instructions say when you roll this device over the skin it creates small puncture wounds into the top layer of the skin. This puncturing will then cause a type of wound-healing reaction for the dermal layer to begin production of collagen fibers, elastin, and other skin cells that helps to fill in lines, wrinkles, remove stretch marks and fill in deep pitted scars – also allowing the derma roller to be a great acne scar treatment.

In addition, the derma roller allows for optimum absorption of any anti-aging cream you may use afterwards. Each time you use the derma roller, the collagen building effects continue for weeks- smoothing stretch marks, acne scars, fine lines and wrinkles.

Unlike other skin rejuvenating techniques, the derma roller doesn’t require downtime for healing. And, unlike chemical or laser peels, the derma roller can be used safely by women and men of color because it doesn’t affect skin pigmentation.

The Studies

In 1994, Dr. Philippe Simonin, a Swiss Dermatologist, performed a study on 600 people divided into two groups - the skin-aging group and the scar reduction group. Published results found that in the skin aging group there was a 40% significant improvement and an impressive 60% improvement in scar reduction group.

Another doctor, Dr. Andre Camirand, a plastic surgeon from Canada, found that skin needling improved the texture and depression of scars and also improved over-all skin color and texture. He also found this remodeling process can go on up to 12 months from each treatment.

Further study results by plastic surgeons and dermatologists claim in that addition to reducing the appearance of sun damage and wrinkles, (such as crows feet), skin needling can help lessen or remove stretch marks, cellulite, acne scars, surgical scars and smooth out pitted skin and dimpling.

In addition, it allows maximum absorption of your best wrinkle creams or any anti aging creams. Each rolling session can stimulate collagen to reduce wrinkles and scars - like a mini-instant face lift.

Dry Skin and Itching

Many older people suffer from dry skin, particularly on their lower legs, elbows, and forearms. The skin feels rough and scaly and often is accompanied by a distressing, intense itchiness. Low humidity — caused by overheating during the winter and air conditioning during the summer — contributes to dryness and itching. The loss of sweat and oil glands as you age also may worsen dry skin. Anything that further dries your skin — such as overuse of soaps, antiperspirants, perfumes, or hot baths — will make the problem worse. Dehydration, sun exposure, smoking, and stress also may cause dry skin.

Dry skin itches because it is irritated easily. If your skin is very dry and itchy, see a doctor. Dry skin and itching can affect your sleep, cause irritability, or be a symptom of a disease. For example, diabetes and kidney disease can cause itching. Some medicines make the itchiness worse.

The most common treatment for dry skin is the use of moisturizers to reduce water loss and soothe the skin. Moisturizers come in several forms — ointments, creams, and lotions. Ointments are mixtures of water in oil, usually either lanolin or petrolatum. Creams are preparations of oil in water, which is the main ingredient. Creams must be applied more often than ointments to be most effective. Lotions contain powder crystals dissolved in water, again the main ingredient. Because of their high water content, they feel cool on the skin and don’t leave the skin feeling greasy. Although they are easy to apply and may be more pleasing than ointments and creams, lotions don’t have the same protective qualities. You may need to apply them frequently to relieve the signs and symptoms of dryness. Moisturizers should be used indefinitely to prevent recurrence of dry skin.

A humidifier can add moisture to the air. Bathing less often and using milder soaps also can help relieve dry skin. Warm water is less irritating to dry skin than hot water.

Anti aging skin care products

What causes skin deterioration and wrinkles? All aspects of aging, including thin skin, wrinkles and uneven skin tone are the result of free radical damage at the molecular level.  In not-so scientific terms, oxygen molecules are the ‘bad news’ of the anti-aging world. When involved in a chemical reaction, they frequently lose one of their electrons and then bounce around trying to steal an electron from another molecule. This can start a destructive chain reaction of unstable molecules, called free radicals, running around creating more unstable molecules.

Free radical damage is also known as “oxidation.” You can compare it to a little rain shower building to a fierce storm. Rust is the result of oxidation in metal, so when you consider the delicate skin tissue, you can imagine the damage that results.

Fortunately, the skin has amazing regenerative abilities that can help it repair damage (up to a point). Additionally, nature has provided antioxidants in the body, to help calm the storm of oxygen molecules. Antioxidants effectively block free radicals from getting to other healthy stable molecules.

Be aware, there are factors that can accelerate free radical damage to the point that the prevailing winds can shift the balance of power in favor of the oncoming storm. Current accepted wisdom categorizes the factors into lifestyle (meaning where and how you live), the natural aging process and genetics.

Of course, some of these risk factors can be changed and some can’t. As time and science march on, the list of factors which can be mitigated grows longer and longer. Lifestyle changes are frequently possible if you know what to do and are motivated to make the changes.

Thanks to recent scientific findings, the natural aging process of skin can be slowed and even reversed to some extent. That leaves only the genetic factors of skin aging to content with. But don’t go mistaking science as your “get out of jail free card.” There is no substitute for taking good care of yourself; eating healthy foods, drinking lots of water, and reducing alcohol and sugar intake. You body is designed to heal itself – help it do that by providing a foundation from which it can work.

UV protection, in the form of SPF creams, is the first topical step to take for your skin’s health. The second is moisturizing. The third step is assisting the fight against free radical damage with antioxidants. Steps four and five are skin care products that help remove old, dead and abnormal skin cells and those that promote normal skin regeneration. Many ingredients shown to accomplish this destruction and restoration are found in the latest generation of face creams.

In addition to anti-aging treatments that support physical health and beauty, there are also anti-aging skin care creams that address cosmetic concerns like adult acne, uneven skin pigmentation and lines of expression.  While no one dies from these conditions, it is widely accepted that if we look better, we feel better. Therefore, while treatments for skin conditions are generally termed cosmetic, they frequently have a mental health benefit in that they support a healthy self-image and increased self confidence.

Searching for the best facecream?

What is the best anti-aging cream? If you do a lot of research on the subject, you may have found the answer for yourself. But what if your old face cream isn’t performing the way it used to? Worse yet, what if you are now experiencing a reaction to a cream that used to be fine for your skin? In fact, our faces are so different and the way our body adjusts to chemicals is so different that there is not ONE perfect product out there that will suit everyone. Millions of people want a firming cream that really works. The skin care industry is awash in products that do not live up to their claims. Choosing a good safe product requires knowledge and a little trial and error.

The best products contain natural ingredients. Avoid products that contain fragrances and preservatives. These are not good for your skin and could cause harmful side effects after prolonged usage. A good firming cream does not need any preservatives. If used correctly, a long shelf life is not necessary. Do not be swayed by fancy marketing campaigns.

A firming cream that really works will firm up and moisturize your skin. It is stronger than day cream because it is designed to work all night while you sleep. Many wonder if they can buy an effective over the counter cream from the drugstore. In most cases, I would have to say yes, as long as the ingredients list remains pure. There are still some products available at the drugstore are not the best quality, but in turn, just because a skin cream comes from a famous, expensive label, doesn’t make it any less detrimental or toxic if it is full of the same chemicals.

When searching for an anti-aging cream, look to a product that targets the three main reasons of aging. These three reasons are loss of elastin, loss of collagen and low levels of oxidation and hyaluronic acid. When you are looking at products, read the label to make sure it contains organic and natural ingredients.

If a product indicates that it contains collagen, then that is not accurate. You cannot apply collagen to your skin. It has to be naturally produced by your body. There are natural ingredients that will stimulate the production of collagen, which will help restore the elasticity to your skin.

One of the best natural ingredients designed to stimulate the production of elastin and collagen is Functional Keratin. All that sagging and wrinkling is usually caused by a loss of both elastin and collagen.

In conclusion, when choosing any beauty product, you need to read your lables. The skin is your body’s main source of setoxification. It is also the first place your body absorbs harmuful chemicals - through lotions and pollution and everyday modern contacts. For a healthy, toxin-free body, you should try to reduce the number of chemicals your body has to process. This will also lead to healhier, glowing skin.

Organic Skincare Products

Skin is the armor of the body. It is the outside waterproofing, element-fighting surface that protects our internal organs and skeletal structure from the harsh outside elements. Yet skin, overall is ignored most of the time. Healthy skin is important for a glowing completion of course, but if your body is unhealthy – your skin will be also.

The toxic world of industrialization has finally caught up with us. Producing toxic waste disasters, disease and tons of garbage buried so deep it can never breakdown. All these “modern advancements” have left our food supply as little more than a chemical compound in itself. If you can do ONE thing to give your skin and your body a fighting chance, you would be wise to choose as organic a diet as possible. To maintain a healthy skin, organically grown food is must.

In light of recent organic trends in our food, organic skin care products are also gaining popularity. For healthy lifestyle and healthy skin, limiting the amount of toxins and chemicals you put in your body is a must. If the environment or living “green” is important to you, you should also be aware of companies that produce the products you buy and their manufacturing practices.

Organic Skin Care is the most rapidly developing field in the beauty industry. Now what does Organic mean? Organic refers to anything grown or raised naturally. But more specifically, it means plants are grown on certified natural land without the use of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, genetic modification or irradiation. In many cases, these organic farms are highly regulated by the Federal Food Safety Commission. Organic skin care means protecting your skin from harmful chemicals and using organic products whenever possible.

There are many organic products available on the market today. Most can be found at a local organic specialty stores, food suppliers or a national health food chain like Whole Foods. As organic products become more and more popular, many standard food stores, Like Safeway or Albertsons’ are also providing these products on their shelves. There are also plenty of websites offering organic skin or beauty care products online.

An organic product is preferable for natural skin care balance as it will generally contain far fewer chemical properties then it’s drugstore counterparts and thus have less possibility to cause inflammation or irritation. Of course, even an herbal product can have side effects as they are “chemicals” in their own right, so always be aware of the list if ingredients in the products you buy and the reactions your skin personally has to allergens.

SKIN HYDRATION 101

OILY or DRY?

If you have oily skin, your face may often look shiny, and you should naturally avoid products that feel oily. You will be more vulnerable to acne and breakouts than dry skin types. People with dry skin will notice that their skin feels tight, perhaps irritated or itchy and has a dull color and/or rough texture.

Dryness and oiliness depend primarily on the condition of the skin barrier, the outer layer of skin which helps the skin retain moisture, and the oil (sebum) production itself. I read a great analogy - that “the barrier is like a brick wall, with each brick (or cell) held in place by mortar (fats called lipids).” Harmful ingredients, cold, and dry weather can wear down these fats, eroding the mortar so that the “bricks” are not secured in their proper place. Read more

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