Fighting Aging With Anti Aging Facial Masks

Anti aging beauty products are flooding the stores. There is a wave about anti aging and anti aging products. People want to remain youthful forever! In this crowd of anti aging products, anti aging masks are the most common.

Anti aging masks are popular because they provide rigidity and firmness to the drooping and lifeless skin. Anti aging masks may further be of different types. There may be anti aging hydrating masks, anti wrinkle masks, nourishing masks, cleansing masks and others. These tailor-made masks provide suppleness and sheen to your facial skin. Most anti aging facial masks contain rich quantities of kaolin, honey, chocolate and bentone gel. These ingredients help to give you a more youthful appearance. Facial masks must therefore form a part of your skincare program.

Reduction in collagen production causes aging. All anti aging facial masks aim to increase collagen production. Oatmeal makes for a delicious breakfast food but more than that it is a major ingredient of most anti-age beauty products. Avocados and strawberries are also held to be full of anti-aging qualities. Chamomile and primrose are two naturally available anti aging product. Chocolate is another very beneficial element in combating signs of aging. If you have reasons to go in for readymade facial masks, look for only those that contain vitamin E, vitamin B5, vitamin B2, vitamin H, Aloe Vera and chamomile amongst other major constituents. If these elementary elements are present, there are great chances of the mask being effective.

The facial mask must be mashed into a thick batter and applied all over the face and neck. Avoid speaking and gesticulating while the mask is on. At the time of removal, do not rub it off mercilessly. Be patient and go about it slowly. Rinse off the mask with lukewarm water. Later wash the face with cold water. Facial peels are still easier to remove.

Rejuvenating Face Lifts for Aging Skin

A Face Lift is a procedure that most people can benefit from. This may sound too radical but most people feel a need and desire to look their best. When skin creams and lotions, Botox, lasers, chemical peels and fillers fail - face lift may offer the solution that is difficult to resist. Of course, many people are afraid of having surgery and having a “surgical look” but fortunately face lifting techniques have evolved considerably to offer patients less invasive methods that even the most sophisticated patient can find attractive.

How The Technique Is Performed:

Face lift remains one of the most effective rejuvenating methods for the aging face. Its technique varies from simple skin excision to complex procedure including the repositioning of muscles, fat and skin. Recent trends in patients desires of having effective facial improvement while minimizing down-time have led to the development of newer, less traumatic, short scar, less recovery methods. Full understanding of the face and neck anatomy as well as the changes associated with aging process is required by the physician prior to undertaking any face lift procedure.

Two key subcutaneous structures are at the core of face-lift surgery - superficial musculoaponeurotic system (SMAS) and platysma. SMAS is a fibrous interlocking, sometimes ill-defined, structure/sheath deep to the skin fat. It extends from platysma muscle (a thin, fan-like muscle that extends from both collar bones to the jaw line) and reaches cheekbones as well as temple and scalp components. These two structures are utilized and modified in most face lift procedures.

As we age, several facial components undergo significant changes. The skin becomes less elastic that is associated with decrease in collagen support. Furthermore, there is modification of the facial fat with respect to its amount and position. In addition, there is remodeling of facial bones that in combination with fat and skin changes lead to aged facial appearance.

Most of the surgical face lifts procedures today are a variation of two-plane face lift - use of the epidermal-dermal component (full thickness skin) as well as the SMAS-platysma component. Optimal results require modification of SMAS-platysma component through resection, placation and/or suspension. It is this modification that is at the core of most face-lifts. These adjusted deep supporting structures provide durable framework over which skin can be safely re-draped. It is imperative to realize that stretching skin alone will not result in any sustained improvement and can lead to skin death, appearance of “surgical look” as well as significant facial distortion and scarring.

The Latest Techniques:

Latest face lift techniques utilize shorter skin incisions and are primarily designed for patients with mild to moderate jowls and neck laxity. With the recent advancements in local anesthetic and, in particular, the development of tumescent anesthesia, most face lift procedures can be safely and comfortably accomplished without the need for the traditional general anesthesia. These modified procedures have accomplished several things. Shorter incisions and local anesthetic make the recovery from modern face lifts much easier than in the past. In addition, the shorter scar and resulting less significant distortion of hairline make these methods much more appealing for modern men and women.

What Every Patient Needs To Do

As with any aesthetic procedure, pre-operative consultation is an optimal time for defining patient’s motivation for aesthetic improvement and developing plan of action. It is at this time that patient’s desires and fears can be explored. It is important for the patient to ask pertinent questions regarding the expected degree of sustained facial rejuvenation, the length of the scar as well as modification of the temporal and post-auricular hairline. With proper patient selection and optimization of desired procedure, most patients can achieve rewarding sustained results that can benefit most if not all of us at some point in our life.

Protein Rich Diet Helps Aging Skin

Recent studies report that lack of proteins causes skin-sagging and lack of glow on the skin’s surface. True to the facts,  proteins are very important for the regeneration of skin. They have collagen and keratin that make up of the elastin in the skin. Moreover, you don’t have to eat meat to get your daily source of proteins. For instance, red beans, which are highest in protein content are also highest in antioxidants.

Omega3 fatty acids found in fish and poultry also enhance the hydrating effects of the skin. Therefore, it is important to have a good amount of proteins in our diet, which will detoxify our system naturally, purify our blood and fight the aging process by increasing blood supply to the skin.

Since the American FDA doesn’t always follow organic or other industrialized nation’s standards of health and nutrition. I find it more informative to go to articles and studies conducted in countries where food hormones, pesticides and genetically modified foods are illegal and testing results aren’t skewed in favor of Big Business. Here are some excerpts I found from a great site in Australia.

Overview

Proteins are made up of smaller organic chemicals called amino acids. When proteins are digested, they are broken down into their constituent amino acids before being absorbed into the bloodstream. The body then uses these amino acids to build the kinds of proteins it needs to maintain and repair body tissues such as muscles and organs, and to grow.

There are 20 amino acids. Eleven of these amino acids can be made by the body itself, while the other nine (called Essential Amino Acids) must be obtained from food. The classification of an amino acid as essential or non-essential does not reflect its importance, because all 20 amino acids are necessary for health.

The dietary requirement for protein has two components: total nitrogen requirement (represented by essential plus non-essential amino acids), and requirements for essential amino acids. In assessing dietary protein sources, both need to be considered, as the amount of food protein needed to meet the protein requirement will depend not only on its amount and digestibility, but also on its content of essential amino acids.

Plant Sources of Protein

Plant sources of protein alone can provide adequate amounts of the essential and non-essential amino acids, assuming that dietary protein sources from plants are varied and that total calorie intake is sufficient to meet energy needs. Whole grains, legumes (beans), vegetables, seeds, and nuts, as well as commercial meat alternatives, all contain essential and non-essential amino acids.

Some plant foods are low in one kind of amino acid (e.g. grains are low in lysine), while other plant foods are higher in that amino acid (e.g. legumes are quite high in lysine). So by eating a well balanced diet that contains a variety of foods it is possible to obtain all the amino acids that the body requires. Note that while recent research shows that soy contains all essential amino acids, and is therefore a complete protein source, in my opinion it is preferable to have a varied diet and not depend on one food source to meet a particular dietary need.

The American Dietetic Association and Dietitians of Canada state in their Position Statement on Vegetarian Diets:

“It is the position of the American Dietetic Association and Dietitians of Canada that appropriately planned vegetarian diets are healthful, nutritionally adequate, and provide health benefits in the prevention and treatment of certain diseases… Plant protein can meet requirements when a variety of plant foods is consumed and energy needs are met. Research indicates that an assortment of plant foods eaten over the course of a day can provide all essential amino acids and ensure adequate nitrogen retention and use in healthy adults…”

In the past it was widely believed that in order for vegetarians to obtain adequate amounts of protein, all of the essential amino acids had to be ‘balanced’ at each meal. For example, grains and legumes had to be consumed at the same meal. This is referred to as ‘protein combining’. However, more recent research has indicated that, while consuming a proper mix of amino acids is important, it is not necessary to consume them all at the same meal.

Protein Deficiency

Protein deficiency is rare in Western countries but has wide-ranging effects on the body. Dietary protein deficiency in humans occurs principally in children in the form of kwashiorkor, although a similar syndrome is sometimes seen in severely depleted hospital patients with increased protein catabolism.

Kwashiorkor occurs most commonly in areas of famine, limited food supply, and low levels of education, which can lead to inadequate knowledge of proper diet. Early symptoms of any type of malnutrition are very general and include fatigue, irritability, and lethargy. As protein deprivation continues, growth failure, loss of muscle mass, generalised swelling (oedema), and decreased immunity occur. A large, protuberant belly is common. Skin conditions, such as dermatitis, changes in pigmentation, thinning of hair, and vitiligo (loss of skin colour) can also occur.

Protein deficiency among well-fed vegetarians and vegans is rarely a concern. A protein deficiency may be seen when there is also a calorie deficiency, but in such cases many nutrients would be a concern. The other possible scenario of insufficient protein intake would be where a vegan has a very poor diet that is heavily dependant on fruit or refined junk food such as sugary drinks, pastries and chips.

To read more on proteins and vegetarianism, go to http://www.vnv.org.au

Skin Care Ingredients to Look For

Before we have a discussion of specific ingredients, it’s important to educate ourselves a little bit more on skin itself and what makes a product good or poor. Your skin is the largest organ of the body. Anything you put on it can be easily absorbed through the pores. When you use skin care products, they are typically applied all over the face, neck, and body. This covers a lot of surface area and, therefore, a great deal of chemical absorption occurs.

The biggest reason our skin, whether on the face or the rest of the body, develops lines and/or starts to sag, is that the collagen and elastin in our skin begins to break down. Collagen is a protein that is fibrous in nature. What makes collagen different from other kinds of protein is that it possesses great tensile strength, which means, among other things, it provides firmness to the skin.

You don’t need to be a scientist, therefore, to understand that as collagen breaks down due to aging, the firmness of our skin becomes…well, less firm. Wrinkles appear and skin starts to sag.

Elastin, too, is a protein that helps skin stay “flexible” and firm. If your skin is stretched, elastin is the protein that helps it return to its original position.

What all of this means for you as a consumer is you do want to avoid buying products that are nothing more than wrinkle or fine line ‘fillers.’ Some creams will give the appearance of plumper fuller skin while it still sits on the surface, but once absorbed or removed, the illusion is gone. Want you want to look for is a product that actually stimulates new collagen and elastin production in your skin. If you achieve this, you will, in reality, begin to turn back the clock.

Unfortunately, some cosmetic manufacturers will include some great ‘active ingredients’ while filling the majority of the product with inferior filler. Because these active ingredients are beneficial for the skin, they include just enough to be allowed to legally list them on the product label. This way, the typical consumer thinks they are getting a great product of high-quality. But, because these ingredients are expensive, and because, many well known companies spend much of their budget on marketing, the amount of these ‘active ingredients’ is limited to have any real benefit for your skin.

So, when choosing a skin care product, it’s not just about selecting one with good ingredients; it’s also about choosing one with a high concentration of these good ingredients.

•    Collagen

After the brief review of the importance of collagen, you would think that buying a product with collagen in it would be a great thing. And the marketers who sell products that contain collagen know this. But, again sadly, collagen molecules are much too large to penetrate into the skin when applied topically and there presence in a beauty product has no effect whatsoever. To be of any benefit, you must purchase a product with ingredients that have been shown to stimulate your body’s own collagen production.

•    Phytessence Wakame

Phytessence Wakame is an exotic kelp, native to the Japanese Sea. It works by blocking a harmful enzyme in your body called hyaluronidase. Hyaluronidase breaks down hyaluronic acid in your skin. Without hyaluronic acid, the elastin and collagen fibers lose their “glue,” which leads to a loss of youthful appearance and dark eye circles. Hyaluronan is a major component of skin, where it is involved in tissue repair.

•    CoQ10

If you look at the ingredient list for some of the better skin care products, you’ll often see CoQ10 listed. CoQ10 is short for Coenzyme Q10, so you may also see it listed this way. CoQ10 is a vitamin like substance that is found in all of our body’s cells and is very important for healthy skin. CoQ10 is a powerful antioxidant. A lot of skin damage and aging comes from free radicals wreaking havoc in our body’s cells. CoQ10’s antioxidant ability can counter these free radicals before damage occurs.

Unfortunately, like many other vital substances, as we age, the amount of CoQ10 in our bodies becomes depleted.

Although CoQ10 is a great ingredient, not all forms are equal. One in particular stands head and shoulders above the rest. This version of it is called Nano-Lipobelle H-EQ10.Most of the CoQ10 you buy in a typical skin care products are not readily usable when applied topically to the skin.

•    Nano-Lipobelle H-EQ10, on the other hand, is a special nano-emulsion form of CoQ10, which penetrates far down into the skin, thereby providing much greater benefits for skin health. In fact, Nano-Lipobelle H-EQ10 has been shown to penetrate seven layers deep into the skin, making it extremely effective at gobbling up free radicals in your skin. The result is a powerful anti-wrinkle effect.

How Skin Works

The first thing one thinks of when they hear the word “organ” in relationship to the body, may be an internal image – one of the lungs, liver or heart, one that helps the body function. You may not consider your skin to be an organ but it is in fact the largest organ of the body. According to a popular encyclopedia, adults carry some 8 pounds (3.6 kilograms) and 22 square feet (2 square meters) of it. This fleshy covering does a lot more than make us look presentable. In fact, without it, we would literally fall apart.The average skin composition is about one-hundredths of an inch thick. Its layers are called the dermis, which contains blood vessels and cells known as fibroblasts. These cells produce collagen, elastin and proteoglycans–the mortar that holds your skin together. The outer component is the epidermis. This contains between twelve and fifteen layers of cells, but as we age, they diminish to nine or ten layers.

Only the very bottom layers of cells divide and replace themselves. They slowly rise to the skin’s surface and as they rise, they lose their neuclei and die. This outer layer, knows as the stratum corneum, is then automatically sloughed off in tiny pieces during everyday activity, which then triggers the bottom layer of skin to create new skin cells all over again. If you are injured, this regeneration rate doubles or triples to compensate for the loss of skin cells and create new skin.

If you are a teenager, the regeneration process will take about two to three weeks. As an adult, this rate slows and cells become less apt to divide and less hydrated. Part of this cycle is mainly due to what are known as “free radicals.” These little guys have been getting a lot of press lately and driving many anti-aging products and supplements. Free Radicals are basically unstable oxygen molecules. They are unstable because they are missing some essential electrons. So, they seek out healthier electrons from other molecules – including our skin cells. The chain reaction they cause is known as oxidation. This effect can also restrain blood circulation and can cause other unsightly results like varicose veins.

The most significant sources of free radicals are cigarette smoke, air pollution and pesticides. All of this contributes to aging skin, creating wrinkles, age spots and sagging. Antioxidant-rich foods that contain vitamin C and E have been found to defend against free radicals by giving them their own electrons and forming a barrier that protects skin cells. You may already know certain behaviors and habits will either help or harm your skin, such as proper diet, exercise, smoking and sun exposure.

Skin acts as a waterproof, insulating shield, guarding the body against temperature extremes, damaging sunlight, and harmful chemicals. It also prevents infection and manufactures vitamin D to converting calcium into healthy bones. Skin additionally is a huge sensor packed with nerves for keeping the brain in touch with the outside world, proving to be an amazingly versatile organ. Treating it right, feeding it healthy, nourishing foods and protecting it from free radicals will ensure beautiful skin for many more years to come.