What is Natural skin care?

Put simply, ‘natural skin care’ is caring for your skin in a natural and chemical-free way. ‘Natural skin care’ advocates enabling the skin to take care of itself (without any assistance from synthetic materials/ chemicals). ‘Natural skin care’ is about inculcation of good habits in the way you lead your day to day life. A lot of natural skin care measures are actually the same as those for body care in general.

So let’s see what these natural skin care measures are.

Well the first and the foremost natural skin care measure is – ‘Drink a lot of water’. Around 8 glasses of water is a must everyday. Water helps in flushing out the toxins from the body, in a natural way. It helps in the overall upkeep of the body and promotes good health for all organs (not just skin).

General cleanliness is another inexpensive way of natural skin care. Daily shower, wearing clean clothes and sleeping on a clean mattress/pillow are all part of general cleanliness. After all, clean skin is the key to keeping the skin disorders at bay.

Regular exercise is the next thing on the cards. Exercise increases the flow of blood that helps in getting rid of body toxins and keeping you healthy. Exercise also helps in beating stress which is the worst enemy of good health.

Healthy food and eating habits are also recommended for natural skin care. Some type of food (e.g. oily food) is know to cause acne and should be avoided as much as possible. Your diet should be a healthy mix of various nutrient providing foods. Raw fruits and vegetables are known to provide freshness to your body and help in getting rid of body toxins.

A good sleep is also instrumental in maintaining good health and in beating stress. As a natural skin care measure, a good sleep delays slacking of skin.

Beating stress is another natural skin care therapy. Stress causes overall damage to body and health. Drinking a lot of water, getting a sound sleep and exercise has already been mentioned as stress busters. Indulging in a warm bubble bath, listening to music and playing your favourite sport are also good ways of beating stress. Yoga is yet another way of beating stress; it is fast gaining popularity amongst the masses.

Avoiding excessive exposure to sun (by wearing long sleeved clothes, hat and umbrella etc), is another natural skin care strategy. Sunscreen lotions are also recommended as necessary.

A lot of traditional and home made natural skin care products/ measures are also known to be very effective. Such measures are not only natural and easy-to-follow, but also relatively inexpensive.

Besides that, a lot of natural skin care products are available in the commercial market. These include things like lavender oil, aloe vera etc., which don’t have any side effects.

Which is the best skin care product?

There is really nothing like a best skin care product. There really can’t be anything like ‘The best skin care product’, because skin care products work differently for different people (based on the skin type to some extent). A product that is the ‘best skin care product’ for one person might end up being the worst for another person. So, a more logical question to ask would be ‘What is the best skin care product for my type of skin?’

However, this still is not completely logical. We tend to segregate people into 4 groups based on their skin types – i.e. dry skin, oily skin, normal skin and sensitive skin. However, this classification is just too broad to be used definitively in determining the best skin care product. We can say ‘best skin care product for a dry skin’ or ‘best skin care product for an oily skin’ are better statements than just ‘best skin care product’. But really, that is what it is – ‘better’; still not accurate.

So, it really comes to rephrasing the question to – ‘What is the best skin care product for me’. Yes, this is exactly the question that you should be asking, and unfortunately there is no easy answer for this. Arriving at the best skin care product for self will need some effort on your part.

First of all, you need to understand how the skin care products work. This is simple. You can consider all skin care products to be composed of 2 types of ingredients – Active and inactive. The active ingredients are the ones that actually work on your skin. The inactive ones just help in delivering these active ingredients to your skin. Both the ingredients need to work for your skin, in order for the product to be effective (and move on to become the best skin care product for you).

Besides the ingredients, the way you apply your skin care products is equally important. In fact, this is even more important. If you do not know how to apply skin care products, you might forever be hunting for the best skin care product for yourself, when that has already passed you. Moreover, it’s also important to decide on the frequency of application (of the skin care product). The environmental factors - temperature, humidity and pollution level, also affect the selection of best skin care product. Here are a few rules that you could use to ensure that your best skin care product is really the best for you: * Cleanse your skin before applying that best skin care product. * Use a makeup remover instead of plain water and remove your makeup before going to bed. * The effectiveness of active ingredients is reduced when applied over another product e.g. over moisturiser. So apply that best skin care product first and then apply a bit of moisturizer if needed. * Apply the products on moist and warm skin. * You will have to experiment with a few products before you arrive at the one that is the best skin care product for you. * Do not exfoliate too much or too hard. * Vary your skin care routine as per the seasons (winter/summer etc), changes in environmental factors and changes in your skin type

Note that the best skin care product cannot be determined overnight. It’s only through experiment (and awareness) that you can find the ‘Best skin care product’ (for you).

Vitamin C skin care � The challenge

Vitamin C is often regarded as a wrinkle fighter or an anti-aging agent. The main objective of ‘Vitamin C skin care’, in scientific terms, is to increase the synthesis of collagen (a structural protein that is found in skin). The additional benefit of ‘Vitamin C skin care’ is related to its capability of countering free radicals which cause damage to the skin.

Vitamin C skin care, however, faces a major challenge today. This is related to the oxidation tendency of Vitamin C skin care products. On coming in contact with any oxidising agent (e.g. air), the Vitamin C in the Vitamin C skin care products, gets oxidised; thus making the Vitamin C skin care product useless (in fact counter-effective). The oxidised Vitamin C imparts a yellowish-brown colour to the Vitamin C skin care product. This is something that you need to check before buying a Vitamin C skin care product. Even after you buy a Vitamin C skin care product, you need to store it properly and keep checking that it’s still good to use (i.e. it hasn’t attained a yellowish-brown texture).

The manufacturers of Vitamin C skin care products have tried to deal with this (oxidation) problem in multiple ways (and research on Vitamin C skin care products is on the top of their list). One such method of retaining effectiveness of Vitamin C skin care products for a long term is to keep a high concentration (say 10%) of Vitamin C. However, this makes the Vitamin C skin care products even more expensive. The Vitamin C skin care products are already pretty inexpensive and making them even more expensive will throw the product manufacturers out of business. The other way is to use Vitamin C derivatives (like ascorbyl palmitate and magnesium ascorbyl phosphate). These are not only more stable but also inexpensive. Even though the derivatives based products are not as effective as the Vitamin C skin care products, their stability against oxidation is a very desirable feature that makes them very attractive. Moreover, these are known to be less irritating too.

Talking of effectiveness of Vitamin C skin care products, it’s important to mention that not everyone responds to Vitamin C treatments. So it’s not a magic potion in any way. If you don’t see a noticeable difference in your skin, it might be because of your skin not responding to Vitamin C treatment (and the Vitamin C skin care products might not be at fault, at all).

As more research goes on, one can only keep our fingers crossed and wait for a complete solution to the challenges faced by ‘Vitamin C skin care’ today.

Tips for make up and skin care

‘Make up and skin care’ is generally regarded as women’s forte. Men seldom indulge in ‘Make up and skin care’. Many men do care for their skin but make up is really alien to most men. Treating make up and skin care as different topics wouldn’t make sense; after all, make up will work only if the skin is healthy. So how do you exercise make up and skin care, together? Here are some tips for make up and skin care:

* Always have skin care on mind, whether you are buying products for make up or actually applying them onto your skin after you have bought them. So what you are buying is a ‘make up and skin care’ product, not just a make up product. Check the ingredients to see if it contains things that you might be allergic to. Also check if it contains high concentration chemicals that can harm your skin.

* ‘Make up and skin care’ is also about testing the products before using them. So, apply the make up on a small patch of skin e.g. earlobes and check how your skin reacts to it.

* Keep track of expiry date on your make up products and never use them beyond the expiry date. In fact some products (e.g. vitamin C based products), if not stored properly, get spoilt much earlier than the expiry date.

* Cleanliness is an important part of make up and skin care procedure. Sharpen your eye-liners regularly and keep all your makeup equipment clean at all times. You might fix a date, each month, for overhauling of your equipment. As part of cleanliness, your make up and skin care procedure should also include keeping your hair clean at all times.

* Nail care is another important aspect of make up and skin care. Use a good quality nail polish and always keep your nails clean. Once you are done with cleaning and polishing your nails, you should rub in cuticle oil at the edges of the nail.

* If you have deep-set eyes, you should use a liquid eye liner instead of a pencil one. This will prevent smudging at the deep edges of your eye-lid.

* If you have a skin disorder e.g. acne, you should not apply heavy or chemical based make up. Consult your dermatologist if you are not sure about the make up products that you can use while you have acne or other skin disorder. Never try to squeeze pimples/ acne. Remember that make up and skin care should not conflict each other.

* Use a mild make up remover (instead of just washing it away).

* Another important ‘make up and skin care’ procedure is the following golden rule: “Never sleep with your make up on”

* While applying a deodorant, make sure that you maintain the recommended distance between the nozzle and your skin (as mentioned on the deodorant pack).

So, make up and skin care should always go hand in hand. Do not try to treat make up and skin care differently.

Top 10 skin care tips

Healthy skin is really one of the most important ingredients for beauty-enhancement. This article on skin care tips is an effort to bring the 10 best skin care tips to you.

The list of skin care tips has been restricted to 10 because anything more that that would not only be difficult to remember, but also shadow the more important skin care tips. So let’s see what these top ten skin care tips are:

* Knowing your skin type is one of the most important skin care tip. This is important because not every skin care product suits everyone. In fact, all the skin care products specify the type of skin they cater too.

* ‘Drink a lot of water’. This will not keep your skin moist but will help in overall upkeep of your health (and in turn your skin). It might seem a bit awkward to some, however, this is an important skin care tip.

* Cleanse your skin regularly (1-2 times everyday). A very effective skin care tip that helps in getting rid of the dirt and other harsh elements from your skin. Cleansing is especially important when you have been out of your house (and hence exposed to pollutants, dust etc). This skin care tip also advocates the use of Luke warm water for cleansing (hot and cold water, both, cause damage to your skin)

* Be gentle, after all it’s your skin. Don’t scrub/exfoliate too hard or too often. Similarly, don’t apply too much or too many skin care products. A must-to-follow skin care tip.

* Keep your skin moist at all times. This is one of the most important skin care tip. Don’t let your skin get dry. Dryness causes the outer layer of your skin to break, leading to a rough and unattractive appearance. Use moisturisers/ emollients. Moisturisers work best when applied while the skin is still damp.

* Avoid the use of soap on your face. Soap should only be used from below the neck. A small but important skin care tip.

* Use sunscreen to protect yourself from sun’s harmful UV radiations. You can use day-time moisturisers that have sunscreen built into them. Use them even when it’s cloudy. UV radiations are known to cause skin cancer, so follow this skin care tip without fail.

* A bit of exercise and good sleep are essential too, not just for skin care but for your health as a whole. Lack of sleep can lead to formation of wrinkles below your eyes and lack of exercise can cause your skin to slack. Moreover, exercise and sleep also help in beating stress. So besides being a skin care tip, this is also a health care tip.

* Treat skin dilemmas with care. This skin care tip is about not ignoring any skin dilemmas. Consult your dermatologist before you go on to use a skin care product (lest you do end up harming your skin even more).

* Beat the stress. The harmful effects of stress are known to everyone, however, sometimes stating the obvious is essential too (and hence this skin care tip found its place here). Yes, stress harms skin too. So, take a break or indulge in a warm bubble bath or just get good sleep.

The recipe for dry skin care

Dry skin cannot be ignored. Dry skin leads to cracking of the upper layer of skin and gives it a real bad appearance. The main causes of dry skin include: dry climate, hormonal changes, too much exfoliation and treatment of other skin disorders. Moreover, dryness could be the inherent nature of one’s skin. Whatever be the cause, ‘dry skin care’ is very important (but not very difficult).

‘Dry skin care’ starts with moisturisers, the most effective remedy for dry skin. Generally moisturisers are classified under 2 categories based on the way they provide ‘dry skin care’.

The first category includes moisturisers that provide ‘dry skin care’ just by preserving the moisture within the skin e.g. Vaseline. These moisturisers are relatively inexpensive and are readily available (even at grocery shops).

The second category includes moisturisers that work by drawing moisture from the environment and supplying it to the skin. This is a very effective way of ‘dry skin care’ in humid conditions. The moisturisers that provide ‘dry skin care’ in this way are also called humectants. For proper dry skin care, you must use a non-greasy type of moisturiser, as far as possible. Humectants fall in this category. The ingredients of humectants include propylene glycol, urea, glycerine, hyaluronic acid etc

‘Dry skin care’ is not about just using moisturisers but also using them properly. The best ‘dry skin care procedure’ is to cleanse the skin before the application of moisturiser. You can make your ‘dry skin care’ even more effective by applying the moisturiser while the skin is still damp (after cleansing). Also, make sure that you use soap-free products (especially on your face, neck and arms). Exfoliation does help in dry skin care, by removing the dead skin cells. However, don’t exfoliate too hard. Your dry skin care procedures/products should also take care of sun protection. Avoid too much and too direct exposure to sun (simply by using an umbrella/hat etc). Use a good sunscreen lotion before going out. A lot of moisturisers provide sun protection too, along with dry skin care.

You also have natural products for ‘dry skin care’ i.e. products that provide ‘dry skin care’ in a natural way (without the use of synthetic chemicals). These dry skin care products supply lipid enhancements to the skin, hence enabling moisture retention within the skin. Another, important thing for ‘dry skin care’ is the temperature of water you use for shower or for washing your face – Use warm water; too hot or too cold water can cause dryness too.

‘Dry skin care’ is also about being gentle with your skin. You should avoid harsh detergents and alcohol based cleansers. Also, after a face wash, do not rub your towel on your face, just pat gently to soak the water off.

On the whole, dry skin care is really simple for anyone who takes that seriously.

Skin Wrinkles

Are you by any chance worried about the aging process? It's completely acceptable if you are. I think most of us ponder this issue as we grow older and skin wrinkles begin to form around our mouths and eye area. This lets us know that we definitely won't stay young forever. On the other hand, it doesn't mean that we have to just acquire countless wrinkles and bare our age like it's no big thing. Chances are it bothers you somewhat. This goes for both men and women. Neither gender loves the aging process. If they did, there would be no anti-aging products on the cosmetic market today. On the contrary, there are oodles of them. Go ahead and take your pick from the vast spectrum of age defiers, youth creams, and wrinkle serums.

Making a choice can be tough. Do you go with the Lancome anti-age moisturizing complex or the Este Lauder Fruition serum? No that's a difficult decision. Lord knows you don't want to choose the one that doesn't work as well. Okay, so you want to battle skin wrinkles, and there's no way of knowing which products to select. You can narrow this down. First of all, what are you willing to spend? If your answer is anything, then you may have a lot of searching to do. However, if your answer is 50 bucks or less, then you've just narrowed it down quite a bit. Now, it's time to get the skinny on skin wrinkles and the products that actually work. Refer to Internet product reviews. This can be very helpful. Although we do have different skin types, you can bet that if 10 individuals rate a product poorly and only one says they like it, it's probably not one to purchase. Get the scoop on the anti-aging products you're interested in. Finally it's time to request a few samples. Head on over to the cosmetics counters and a sk for a sample of anything. Try it for a few days and see what you think. This is the ultimate test.

There's no doubt that skin wrinkles can be discouraging at times. None of us really want to age. We look for numerous ways to avoid or slow the process down. And aside from diet and exercise, cosmetics are our main hope. I don't encourage plastic surgery!

The facts about Oily skin care

To start the discussion on oily skin care, it’s imperative to first understand the cause behind oily skin. Put simply, oily skin is a result of excessive production of sebum (an oily substance that is naturally produced by skin). As is known to everyone, excess of everything is bad; so excessive sebum is bad too. It leads to clogging of skin pores, resulting in accumulation of dead cells and hence formation of pimples/acne. Moreover, oily skin spoils your looks too. So, ‘oily skin care’ is as important as the ‘skin care’ for other types of skin.

The basic aim of ‘oily skin care’ is the removal of excessive sebum or oil from the skin. However, oily skin care procedures should not lead to complete removal of oil. ‘Oily skin care’ starts with the use of a cleanser. However, not all cleansers will work. You need a cleanser which contains salicylic acid i.e. a beta-hydroxy acid that retards the rate of sebum production. Cleansing should be done twice a day (and even more in hot and humid conditions).

Most of the oily skin care products are oil-free; however, it is always good to check the ingredients of the product, before you actually buy it. This is especially important if a product is marked as ‘suitable for all skin types’, instead of ‘oily skin care product’. ‘Oily skin care’ is also dependent on the degree of oiliness, if you aren’t too oily, so some of these ‘suitable for all’- type of products might be work for you too. For extremely oily skin, only oily skin care products are suitable. Your oily skin care routine can include an alcohol based toner (for an extremely oily skin). This can be the second step in your oily skin care routine i.e. just after cleansing. However, excessive toning can harm your skin.

The next step in your oily skin care routine can be a mild moisturiser. Again, the degree of oiliness of your skin will determine whether you need to include this in your oily skin care routine. If you do decide to include a moisturiser, be sure to use one that is oil-free, wax-free and lipid-free. You could also use a clay mask (say once a week) as an oily skin care measure.

As far as the oily skin care products go, you might need to try out a few before you arrive at the one that is really suitable for your skin.

In case these measures don’t give you the desired result, consult a good dermatologist for advice. He could prescribe stronger oily skin care products like vitamin A creams, retinoids, sulphur creams etc , which can help counter the problems of oily skin.

Skin Care Treatment

Don't neglect your image! Although vanity is never a good thing, we all should strive to find a balance between looking great and becoming a mirror hog. After all, our looks are important to us. We only get one face and body, so it's up to us to take great care of it. Now I'm not condoning plastic surgery, or telling you to get facials every week at the local spa. However, I am suggesting some sort of skin care treatment or regimen. You have to pay attention to your appearance in order to keep it looking nice. This requires a little effort and money on your part. But don't fret, you're worth it.

We all need a skin care regimen. I am a man and I have one. It's probably not the same as a woman's, but it's all I need. I do prefer the finer skin care treatment products, over the drugstore stuff. I can't lie about that. On the other hand, I don't break the bank either. My daily grooming ritual calls for a gentle cleanser, some quality aftershave and moisturizer, and some eye gel. That's pretty much it other than my Mach 3 and some nice shaving cream. Do you think you can handle something like this? I would guess that most women already do handle it and a lot more. I know my wife is never afraid to purchase a quality skin care treatment, regardless of the price. And she definitely takes her sweat old time getting ready each day. I commonly end up waiting for her to come downstairs to eat breakfast. On the other hand, I certainly don't want to knock her daily grooming regimen. She's 38 years old and looks amazing. I just tell her to keep it up.

Are you willing to invest in quality skin care treatment? Think of your face and how it's perceived by the rest of the world. Don't you want it to look fantastic? It can really help your social life and career. Everyone, whether you like it or not, pays attention to the way people look. If you're looking great with a well-kept complexion, you're much more likely to succeed. Not to mention it will boost your confidence. Get the picture? A fine skin care treatment is essential these days. Look your best always.

Skin Blemishes

Any time now there will be a cure for acne. We've only had this skin affliction for a couple millenniums or so. Surely the cure is coming out soon. Ah, who am I kidding? Chances are, there will never be an ideal solution for skin blemishes. And don't tell me it's Proactive Solution. This medication only works for some individuals. I realize that P. Diddy said that it "Made it so he didn't have no more bumps!" However, it did not provide such results for my teenage daughter. This is for one simple reason. We're all different and our skin reacts differently to certain products. If there was only one skin type, much would be solved.

I've learned a few things about acne and breakouts over the years. One is that their caused by certain catalysts. Now, these catalysts can be introduced into your body or they can concern your skin's exterior. One of them is your diet. You'd better believe that what you consume can bring about skin blemishes galore. No, I don't mean chocolate. Unless you're allergic to it, I doubt you'll break out from munching on a Snickers. However, I do mean sugar and fat. These are common culprits. Too much fat and/or sugar can definitely cause you to breakout with skin blemishes. I remember this every time I consume a large portion of sweets and then get up the next morning to see a battlefield of zits on my face. It's never a pretty site. Always keep your diet in mind where acne is concerned. I think you will see quickly how much vegetables and water aid your complexion. You are what you eat after all!

Stress can also cause breakouts or skin blemishes. This concerns your oil glands. They often go crazy when you're stressed out, hence pumping out way too much oil. This results in a catastrophe of pimples. Now, you can fight back with the right products. Even though I can't tell you which treatment will aid you best, I can recommend a few things. Okay, we already said diet, and there's also the regular use of a gentle cleanser. Keep those pores clean and oil free. You may want to cleanse in the morning and at night, but doubtfully and more than this. Use tepid water always to avoid over-drying the skin, and see a dermatologist for prescription medication options.

skin care ingredients

There is a lot a person has to think about when they are buying products to care for the skin. I went last week to find something for my husband, as he had been having problems with dry skin on his face. I stood there for almost a half an hour and still had no idea what I should buy, even though I do know a little about these products. I would guess that I am not the only one who has had this problem. Even worse, I know a little about the skin care ingredients that should be in a product and what can be done without. This did not make my choice any easier.

There are many claims made about what skin care products can do, and some of them are not true. Though collagen is indeed the key to healthy and smooth skin, you can’t get this by applying it to the surface of the skin. If one of the skin care ingredients listed is collagen, that’s all well and good, but it is not going to do much good. Collagen must come from within the body or it’s not going to benefit the skin. Many claim that this helps but you can’t get the benefits from a topical lotion.

Other skin care ingredients can help with dry and wrinkled skin, but the best they can do is moisturize. Even though many have vitamins, even that is iffy. The best skin care ingredients are the ones that moisturize the skin to help it remain moist and supple. Though this might not take care of wrinkles, there really isn’t much yet that can. The best way to avoid these its to take care of the skin from within with a good diet and by drinking plenty of water.

Besides a great moisturizer, you want your skin care ingredients to include something like aloe in some cases. Aloe is great for the skin, and can help sooth a sunburn. If you can find a great skin care lotion that has sun screen in it, this is a plus as well. This can help keep sun from damaging the skin, and that is one way to prevent some wrinkles in the first place. Wrinkles are a fact of life, but some get them worse than others, and some can be prevented. Just remember to see through the hype when thinking about skin care ingredients so you aren’t spending a lot of money on a product that does not do what it claims.

The importance of caring for your skin

“Packaging is as important as the gift itself” – it’s something that most of the gift manufacturing companies follow very closely. The same holds good for you too. Your outer-self i.e. your skin is as important as your inner-self. A lot of people do realise the importance of skin care. Well, this is one reason why there are so many skin care products in the market and most of the skin care products seem to do pretty well. We generally tend to associate skin care to just good looks. However, there is more to it than just that. There are multiple benefits associated with a healthy and glowing skin.

Firstly, it has a good effect on you yourself. It makes you feel fresh and energetic. You are able to do more work and are quicker with everything you do. More importantly, the freshness adds to your enjoyment and makes your day. So a healthy skin too plays its part in building confidence. Yes, you can take most of the credit for having achieved that (however, do leave a little for the skin care products too).

Moreover, this flow of positive energy is experience by people around you too and you observe that even they are friendlier with you. You get more respect from others. They are more responsive to your queries. They themselves experience the freshness that you are exuding. They love working with you and for you. Yes, that’s how it works. Some people might even go ahead and ask you about the skin care products you use (you might or might not reveal those secret skin care products to them). Thus, a healthy skin can be instrumental in creating a pleasant and friendly environment around you. On the other hand, carelessness or negligence on this front can make you look unattractive and dull. You will not only look dull but also feel dull. Your work efficiency is reduced. Even the people you meet might not be as friendly. In fact, it might lead to the aging process getting started much earlier.

Thus the importance of skin care cannot be ignored. However, skin care is not that difficult at all. There are a lot of skin care products available and you can choose the ones that suit you the best. There are various ways in which skin care products are classified and the knowledge about these classifications will help you understand them better and make a selection.

* The first categorisation is based on the skin type – so you have skin care products for oily skin, skin care product for dry skin, skin care products for sensitive skin etc.

* Another way is to categorise skin care products based on their use e.g. you have moisturisers, cleansers, skin care products for exfoliation, toners etc.

* Then you have skin care products for treatment of various skin dilemmas i.e. skin care products for acne, skin care products for stretch marks, skin care products for anti-ageing etc.

* Another classification is based on the ingredients e.g. herbal skin care products, synthetic skin care products, cosmetic skin care products etc.

However, skin care products are not the only way of skin care. You also need to build some basic skin care procedures in your day to day life (as we discuss in the other article on personal skin care).

Skin care treatment for the most common skin conditions

A glowing and healthy skin is an asset. Skin is not all about beauty but also health. So, skin care treatment should be treated with all seriousness. If you develop a skin related dilemma, you need an appropriate skin care treatment. Skin care treatment, for any skin disorder, starts with actions that are aimed at prevention of the disorder (what we can also call as proactive or preventive skin care treatment). Building and following basic skin care procedures is what one could classify as preventive/proactive skin care treatment. Skin disorders can occur even if you have followed this preventive skin care treatment. Preventive skin care treatment just reduces the probability of occurrence. Let’s check the skin care treatment for some of the common skin conditions.

Acne is one of the most common problems. Again, the first type of skin care treatment is to control acne and prevent it from getting worse. So avoid tight clothes; they are known to cause body acne by trapping sweat. Do not touch the blemishes over and over again (rather don’t touch them at all), you might end up aggravating the condition. Also, do not try to scrub too hard or squeeze them. Use of mild cleansers is a recommended skin care treatment for acne. Obtain an over-the-counter skin care treatment for faster treatment of acne.

Skin care treatment of dry skin is generally easy. Moisturisers, applied in the right way and in the right quantity, are the best form of skin care treatment for dry skin. For best results, apply moisturiser while your skin is still damp. Also, do not apply too much or too little moisturiser. In exceptional cases, where you don’t notice any improvements in 3-4 weeks, you might have to visit your dermatologist for skin care treatment of your dry skin.

Brown spots, which appear on sun-exposed areas of skin i.e. face and hands, are caused by over-exposure to UV radiations. As a skin care treatment for brown spots, use a sunscreen lotion which has a high SPF (sun protection factor), say 15. This should be used irrespective of weather – sunny/cloudy. Another form of skin care treatment is covering up the exposed areas with clothing (caps, full sleeved shirts/t-shirts, and umbrella).

Also, if the general skin care treatment or the over-the-counter medication is not working for you, you should immediately consult your dermatologist for professional skin care treatment. You should also inform the doctor about the skin care treatment that you have undertaken till that time. So take the details of the till-date skin care treatment (and products) along with you. Based on the skin condition and the details of your till-date skin care treatment, the dermatologist will prescribe a skin care treatment e.g. oral antibiotics, chemical peels, retinoid etc and you will be on your way to recovery.

Skin care cosmetic � Useful or harmful?

A beautiful and healthy skin is a big confidence booster. Some people are naturally beautiful and hence don’t use any ‘skin care cosmetic’. Then there are others, who don’t use skin care cosmetic due to their laziness. Still some feel that skin care cosmetic can harm their skin, and hence abandon the use of any kind of skin care cosmetic. However, there are a large number of people who do use skin care cosmetic (that’s why the business of skin care cosmetic is prospering).

So, is skin care cosmetic useful, or is it harmful? Well, the opinions seem divided. However, one thing is for sure – Looking beautiful is surely nice and very desirable. Also, too much skin care cosmetic can surely be harmful (as such, excess of anything is harmful). So, what does one do?

The first thing is to formulate (and follow) a skin care routine that will help keep your skin healthy and disease-free. The general recommendation is to cleanse and moisturise everyday, and tone and exfoliate occasionally (as and when needed).

Next thing is the skin care cosmetics that you would be using additionally (as beauty enhancers). These skin care cosmetics could either be part of your skin care routine or be applied only on special occasions (e.g. when attending a party etc).

The most important thing with skin care cosmetic is its selection. Here is a set of rules that you should use when selecting any skin care cosmetic:

* The general rule is to use products that suit your skin type. This is true both for the routine products and for the skin care cosmetic. So check the label to see what it says e.g. ‘for dry skin only’ or ‘for all skin types’ etc. * Test the skin care cosmetic before using it. This can be done by applying the skin care cosmetic on a small patch of skin e.g. ear lobes and checking the reaction of your skin to the product * Check the ingredients of the skin care cosmetic for chemicals that you are allergic to. Do not use products that are very harsh on skin e.g. products with high alcohol concentrations; such cosmetics might work for once but cause a long-lasting damage to your skin. * ‘More isn’t better’. Ensure that you apply the products in right quantity (neither less not more). Also, be gentle with your skin and follow the right procedures for application of skin care products. Rubbing too hard or trying to squeeze a pimple can lead to permanent damage to your skin. * Finally, if you have a skin disorder e.g. acne etc, you should consult your dermatologist before using any skin care cosmetic.

�Personal skin care' is a routine

We all know the importance of ‘personal skin care’. The opinion on how-to (for personal skin care) differs from person to person. Some people believe that going to beauty parlours every other day is personal skin care. Others believe that personal skin care is just a matter of applying some cream or lotion on your skin, every now and then. Then there are people who think that personal skin care is an event that happens once a month or once a year. Still others busy themselves with ‘personal skin care’ all the time. However, personal skin care is not that complicated and neither is it that expensive (considering how beneficial it is). Personal skin care is following a routine or a procedure for attending to the needs of your skin.

Even before you start with a routine, you need to determine your skin-type (oily, dry, sensitive, normal etc) and select the personal skin care products suitable for it (you might have to experiment with a few personal skin care products). Here is a routine that should work for most people with normal skin.

The first thing on personal skin care routine is ‘Cleansing’. The three main ingredients of a cleanser are oil, water and surfactants (wetting agents). Oil and surfactants extract dirt and oil from your skin and water then flushes it out, thus making your skin clean. You might have to try a couple of cleansers before you find the one that suits you the best. However, you should always use soap-free cleansers. Also, you should use Luke warm water for cleansing (hot and cold water, both, cause damage to your skin). Take care that you don’t over-cleanse your skin and end up damaging your skin in the process.

The second thing on the personal skin care routine is exfoliation. Skin follows a natural maintenance process wherein it removes the dead cells and replaces them with new skin cells. Exfoliation is just a way to facilitate the skin in this process. Dead skin cells are not capable of responding to personal skin care products but still consume these products, hence preventing them from reaching the new skin cells. Thus removing dead skin cells is important in order to increase the effectiveness of all personal skin care products. Generally, exfoliation takes it place just after cleansing. As with any personal skin care procedure, it’s important that you understand how much exfoliation you need. Exfoliate 4-5 times per week for oily/normal skin and 1-2 times per week for dry/sensitive skin. Exfoliate a couple of times more in hot and humid weather.

Next thing on personal skin care routine is moisturizers. This is one of the most important things in personal skin care. Even people with oily skin need moisturisers. Moisturisers not only seal the moisture in your skin cells, but also attract moisture (from air) whenever needed. Use of too much moisturiser can however clog skin pores and end up harming your skin. The amount of moisturiser needed by your skin will become apparent to you within one week of you using the moisturiser. Also, applying the moisturiser is best when your skin is still damp.

The last thing on personal skin care routine is sunscreen. A lot of moisturizers (day-time creams/moisturisers) come with UV protection – so you can get double benefits from them. Such moisturisers are recommended for all days (irrespective of whether it is sunny or cloudy).

Again, experiment with various personal skin care products and also with the amount you need to apply. What gives you best results is the best personal skin care recipe for you. However, if you have some kind of skin dilemma, it is best to consult your dermatologist before you actually start using any personal skin care products.

Serious skin care

‘Serious skin care’ is about maintaining a healthy and glowing skin all through your life. As you grow older, your body’s natural skin care mechanisms become weaker. So, ‘serious skin care’ is about responding to the changing needs of your skin. Thus, ‘serious skin care’ is about constantly evaluating, analysing and changing your skin care routines. Your skin care routine should change based on the environmental conditions, your age and changes in your skin type.

‘Serious skin care’ is also about awareness. With the technological advancements and research, more and more facts are being brought to light everyday. Also, the composition and nature of skin care products seems to be changing with time. So trying out the new products is also a part of serious skin care. However, ‘serious skin care’ advises using a new product over a small patch of skin (not facial skin) first, just to see how your skin reacts to it.

‘Serious skin care’ also means knowing how to use your skin care products. Good practices include things like applying the moisturizers while the skin is damp, using upward strokes for better penetration of skin care products, removing the make up before going to bed, cleansing before moisturising or applying make up, using the correct amount of skin care products, etc. Thus, increasing the effectiveness of your skin care products is another focus area of serious skin care.

Some precautions, like avoiding contact with detergents, are also part of serious skin care. ‘Serious skin care’ means being gentle with your skin. Things like over-exfoliation, use of low quality products, and application of strong-chemical based products, are all harmful to your skin. Some people have a wrong notion about serious skin care. For them serious skin care is - using large quantities of products as often as possible. However, this really isn’t serious skin care (and that’s why awareness is so important).

‘Serious skin care’ is also about visiting your dermatologist for treatment of skin disorders. Ignoring the skin disorders can be fatal for your skin and might lead to permanent damage. So, if the things don’t improve with over the counter medication, you should immediately visit a dermatologist. Self-surgery e.g. squeezing of acne/pimples is a big no (it can lead to permanent damage of your skin).

So, seriously serious skin care is more about precautions and preventive measures (than treatment). Serious skin care is about being proactive as well as reactive. In fact, we can say that ‘serious skin care’ is about being proactive about the needs of your skin so that the need for being reactive is reduced to a minimum.

Organic skin care

“If it can be done naturally, why go for artificial means” - this is the basic premise on which ‘organic skin care’ works. Organic skin care is the most natural way of ‘skin care’. In fact, ‘organic skin care’ was probably the first one to be used by man when it first woke-up to the needs of his skin. ‘Organic skin care’ is not only friendlier to skin, but also inexpensive. If exercised in the right way, organic skin care can prevent the occurrence of a lot of skin disorders and can help keep your skin healthy and young-looking for a much longer time.

Organic fruits and vegetables are the most popular things on organic skin care routines e.g. cucumber is very common in organic skin care routines. Turmeric, apple, papaya, ginger are others that find a wide use in organic skin care routines. These organic materials have a very refreshing and vitalizing effect on your skin. Almost every skin care book/guide has section on organic skin care (including the actions of various fruits and vegetables on skin). So choose the ones that are more suitable for your skin type and start experimenting with them until you finally select the ones that are most suitable for inclusion in your organic skin care routine. It’s important that you use fresh organic fruits/vegetables. Don’t try to utilise the rotten ones for your skin, their only place is the garbage bin.

Milk is known to posses good cleansing properties; in fact, the name of some skin care products contains the word ‘milk’ in them. A combination of milk with ground oatmeal acts as wonderful cleanser.

Ground oatmeal is especially good for oily skins and is a popular ingredient in organic skin care regimen. It is used in various combinations e.g. with egg, honey, milk and fruits, for preparation of organic facial packs.

Wheat germ is another ingredient in organic skin care procedures. It is rich in vitamin E and is known for its exfoliation as well as moisturising properties. Wheat germ, in various combinations with other organic materials, is used to prepare facial masks for normal and dry skin types. Wheat germ oil is another way in which wheat germ is used for organic skin care.

Yogurt and sour cream are other organic materials that are popular for their exfoliation and moisturising properties.

Use of organic honey is also popular in organic skin care procedures. It helps in retention of moisture and helps impart a glowing look to skin.

Rose water takes its place as a toner in organic skin care routines. Lavender water is popular too.

‘Organic skin care’ uses combinations of various organic materials that complement each other and enhance each other’s effectiveness. Moreover, these combinations are also helpful in over-riding the harmful effects (if any) of various organic materials that form them.

Organic skin care is really an art that, once perfected, can give wonderful results in a very cost effective manner.

Men Skin Care

When we think of beautiful skin, most of us don’t think about the male population. However, many men strive to have great looking skin and for them there are certain products that are designed for their special needs. Understanding the different men skin care products can help any man decide what he needs to use to get the best looking skin possible.

A cleanser is arguably one of the most important parts of keeping skin looking healthy. There are many different types of products that can be used to cleanse skin, so it’s important to have an idea about what your special skin conditions are. Some men struggle with dry skin and so they need to find a men skin care product that won’t irritate their skin causing it to dry even further. The same is true of men with oily skin. Finding a cleanser that will help balance out the oil is the goal.

Shaving is another part of almost every man’s routine at least a few times a week. Although many men are apt to purchase the cheapest shaving cream at the store, this may actually be causing damage to their skin. It’s important to use a shaving cream that is full of moisturizer. A good working razor is also crucial as one that is dull can rip the skin. When you view shaving as part of the men skin care regime it’s easy to see why the products you use matter so much.

Moisturizers are usually something that we assume only women use. However, men would do well to invest in a moisturizing product too. This can be applied to the face every evening after cleansing and after shaving. It helps to keep the skin healthy and also works at reducing wrinkles which are something men do suffer with as well.

If a man just wants to use one product that should be a sunscreen. This is true whether the gentleman spends all day working in the sun or he simply walks back and forth to his car. Getting in the habit of using a quality sunscreen can really add a layer of important protection against the sun’s damaging rays. This is a men skin care product that should be used from the time a man is a little boy. Keeping the sun protected is important for everyone regardless of age or gender.

These products certainly don’t have to cost too much. Many brand name products can be purchased in drugstores and they do as good a job as the higher priced men skin care lines do. The key is to experiment with products until you find the ones that work best for you.

Man skin care

‘Man skin care’ would seem like an alien topic to some men. It would have been even more alien a few years back. However, more and more men are now realising the importance of man skin care (and hence you see markets flush with man skin care products too). Even though the male skin is very different from that of a female, ‘man skin care’ is very similar to the skin care for women.

‘Man skin care’ too starts with cleansing. Water soluble cleansers are preferred. Cleansing helps remove the dirt, grease and pollutants from the skin and helps in preventing pore clogging. The inherent oily nature of male skin makes cleansing an important part of man skin care procedure. Cleansing should be done at least once every day, even better if it is done twice a day. Using soap on the face is discouraged.

‘Man skin care’ revolves a lot around shaving. Shaving foam/gel/cream and after shave lotion are one of the most important man skin care products. Serious ‘man skin care’ requires a proper selection of shaving related equipment and products. One of the main considerations in choosing shaving products should be the skin type (since the degree of oiliness differs from person to person). Alcohol-based aftershaves should be avoided. Proper ‘man skin care’ also mandates the use of good quality razors. Here, swivel-head razors are preferred since they are known to reduce cuts. Besides these products and equipment, it is also necessary that you use them properly. Be gentle when using your razor. Do not scratch it against your skin; use a soft and smooth action (after all it’s a matter of removing hair, not the skin itself).

Male skin is generally thicker and oilier, owing to larger pores and more active sebaceous glands. However, due to regular shaving, the skin can get dehydrated quite easily. Hence moisturisers too form an integral part of man skin care. Moisturising gel or cream should be applied after shaving. In fact, some shaving foams/ gel have an in-built moisturising effect too. Moisturisers should be patted gently over the face and massaged gently using upward strokes.

Though a man’s skin is less susceptible to skin cancer caused by UV radiation, using a sunscreen is also an important man skin care measure. You can use a moisturiser that combines sunscreen with the moisturising effect.

Another good option for ‘man skin care’ is to use man skin care products which have natural ingredients like aloe vera, sea salt and coconut etc. Naturally antiseptic oils e.g. lavender, tea tree etc also provide good means for man skin care.

Man skin care is not as difficult as a lot of men think. It just asks for a few minutes every day, in order to give you a healthy skin for present and for future.

Lotions vs. skin care creams

There is no dearth of skin care creams and lotions in the market. Name an ailment, and you will find hundreds of skin care creams, lotions and other products for it. As a result of ongoing research and due to ever increasing demand, the number of skin care products seems to be on the increase. Skin care lotions and skin care creams are the most popular forms in which these products are available, and there always seems to be a debate on which form is better?

Well, there is no definitive answer to this. It seems more like a matter of personal choice. However, greasy creams are surely less popular as compared to the non-greasy (or less greasy) ones. Since the application of skin care creams is easier, they seem to be preferred (over lotions) in cases where the skin care product is not to be removed immediately after application. So, skin care creams seem more popular as moisturisers than as cleansers or toners. For toners, lotions seem to be preferred over skin care creams. There are some skin care creams that acts as toners too, but generally the toners are available in liquid form only. For cleansing, lotions and skin care creams are equally popular; however, the tilt seems more towards lotions.

Creams are known to be most effective in keeping skin moist; hence, the most popular form of skin care creams is moisturisers. Due to the same reason, a lot of people tend to associate skin care creams with dry and sensitive skin. Though it is true to a certain extent, skin care creams are not used only for dry skin, they are also used for making products for oily skin e.g. vitamin A creams and sulphur creams that help reduce the rate of sebum production.

Skin care creams are also used for products that cater to skin disorders especially for disorders that require the application of product over a small localised area. This is again due to the fact that skin care creams are easier to apply (without wastage) on the affected area. However, in cases where skin needs to be washed using a medicine/product, lotion is a better choice. Mostly, the manufacturers too realize this fact, making it easier for you to choose between a lotion and a skin care cream

Eye-creams and anti-ageing creams are other examples where skin care cream is preferred over its lotion counterpart.

Whatever your choice be (cream or lotion), knowing how to use it effectively, is more important than anything else.

Loose Skin from Pregnancy

Pregnancy can wreck havoc on your body, but once the pregnancy portion is over the body side effects certainly are not. You are still left with stretch marks, broken veins, hemorrhoids and loose skin that just will not go away. All of these are included in those little things that no one bothers to tell you about the pregnancy journey, and you can sure be caught by surprise if you end up with them. Of all of them, the loose skin is the most troublesome mainly because it often cannot be hidden.

Sure, you can cover up your loose skin with clothing, but you are often left with rolls that show through your pants and shirts making you look lumpy and possibly even still pregnant for awhile! At least with stretch marks and hemorrhoids, while they may be annoying, they are clearly not visible with clothing and cannot be seen by the general population. The loose skin that you are left with after childbirth is similar to that of someone that has lost a great deal of weight fairly quickly, because in essence that is what has been done.

In my cases, I weighed approximately one hundred and thirty pounds before pregnancy. Right before delivery, I weighed about one hundred and eighty pounds with each of my children. That is fifty pounds that I had gained in less than nine months! In both cases, I was back to my pre pregnancy weight within four months, so I had lost fifty pounds of weight very quickly. I was fortunate that I was able to shed the weight, but the loose skin is quite disgusting, especially after the second time around. Luckily with my first the skin became more taut after a few months, but it doesn’t look like I am going to be so lucky this time around.

Unfortunately, it seems as though the only solution is plastic surgery. There are no exercises that make loose skin go away, and loosing more weight will just make the condition even worse. Tummy tucks are pretty expensive, but I am almost certain that I will be getting one. Some women choose to wear their pregnancy after effects as war wounds, but I personally would just like a normal body back! I’m definitely waiting until after our last child to have it done, and I’m sure the situation will just get even worse before it gets better.

Loose Skin from Weight Loss

If there is one thing we all know about our red, white and blue country, it's that we love to eat. Now I don't just mean three proportioned, healthy meals each day. I'm talking about GRUBBING. We Americans eat like there is no tomorrow. We scarf down massive meals and don't pay close attention to the negative aspects. The sad part is that so many of these meals are absolutely loaded with fat, cholesterol, salt and sugar. YUCK! That's what our bodies say anyway. Trust me on this one. Your body doesn't want that stuff, even if your taste buds love it. In the end, we're all stuck with ridiculous diet plans and tough weight loss regimens. And even if we succeed to drop the excess weight we stored up, then we are often left with the aftermath of loose skin. This is not appealing.

Do you watch "Dr. 90210?" This is another one of those reality shows. I know, I know; there are already 6,000,000 of them airing every day. But, this one in particular examines the life of a California plastic surgeon. And WOW is this guy ever CHEESY and ANNOYING. It's like he doesn't even know. Regardless, he's always operating on someone with an image affliction. Maybe it's a girl who wants larger breasts or a man who lost weight and is now stuck with gobs of loose skin. Basically, there are a variety of physical issues he addresses. I watched one episode in particular that had a woman in her 30s, who was afflicted with loads of loose skin around her mid-section. In all honesty, I've never seen anything like this before. It shocked me big time. She pulled off her shirt and loose skin fell everywhere. What would you do if you had lost 100 pounds and your body was stretched out like this? I can definitely see why surgery would be necessary. It's the route I would take if I had loose skin like that. Anyway, th e woman had her surgery, and all was well. The Dr. 90210 cut all that loose skin right off.

Image is such a major deal in our society. We all want to look and feel a certain way. When issues such as weight, breast size, physique, and loose skin come into play, we crave modern-day solutions. Fortunately we have them at our disposal.

Herbal skin care

Skin care is not a topic of recent times; it has been in practice since ancient times, when herbal skin care was probably the only way to take care of skin. However, skin care has transformed in a big way. Herbal skin care routines have been replaced by synthetic/chemical-based skin care routines. The herbal skin care recipes which once used to be common place are not so popular today (and even unknown to a large population). This transformation from herbal skin care to synthetic, can probably be attributed to two things – our laziness (or just the fast pace of lives) and the commercialisation of skin care. Even herbal skin care products have been commercialised. These commercial herbal skin care products have to be mixed with preservatives in order to increase their shelf-life, hence making them less effective than the fresh ones made at home. However, it seems that things are changing fast and more people are now opting for natural and herbal skin care routines. But still, none want to make them at home and hence the commercial market of herbal skin care products is on the rise.

So what are these herbs or herbal skin care mechanisms?

Aloe vera, which is an extract from Aloe plant, is one of the best examples of herbal skin care product. Freshly extracted aloe vera is a natural hydrant that helps in soothing skin. It also helps in healing cuts and treating sun burns.

A number of herbs are known to possess cleansing properties. Dandelion, chamomile, lime flowers and rosemary herbs, are a few examples of such cleansers. Their herbal skin care properties get invoked when they are combined with other herbs like tea.

Antiseptics are another important part of Herbal skin care. Lavender, marigold, thyme and fennel are good examples of herbs that are known to possess antiseptic properties. Lavender water and rose water also form good toners.

Tea plays an important part in herbal skin care. Tea extracts are used for treatment of skin that has been damaged by UV radiation.

Oils prepared from herbal extracts present another means of herbal skin care. Tea tree oil, Lavender oil, borage oil and primrose oil are some popular oils used in herbal skin care. Some fruit oils (e.g. extracts from fruits like banana, apple and melon) find use in shower gels (as a hydrating mix)

Homeopathic treatments and aromatherapies also come under the umbrella of herbal skin care remedies.

Herbal skin care is good not only for the routine nourishing of skin but also for treatment of skin disorders like eczema and psorasis. Most herbal skin care products don’t have any side effects (the most important reason for preferring them over synthetic products) Moreover, herbal skin care products can be easily made at home, hence making them even more attractive. So, herbal skin care is the way to go. However, this does not mean that you totally discard the synthetic products. Some people go to the extent of debating with their dermatologist, if he/she suggests a synthetic product. You should accept the fact that some skin orders might need usage of clinically proven non-herbal skin care products.

Laser Skin Treatment

From day one, it's prudent to care for your skin. Obviously this is the responsibility of your parents for several years, and then it's passed on to you. If I could go back to about age 13, I would start taking better care of my skin early on. I didn't begin until I hit age 18. Fortunately I was never afflicted with bad acne or rosacea. These skin conditions can really take a toll on your complexion. So, how is your mug treating you these days? Or what I should be asking is how are you treating your mug? With care and patience I hope. For those who have had skin conditions in the past, there is contemporary laser skin treatment to better your situation. Are you ready for some resurfacing?

We are very luck in this day and age. There are so many treatments, therapies and remedies at our disposal. If you've got the extra cash, you can get a little pampering. Modern-day laser skin treatment is a primary example of this. This is one of several different ways you can improve your skin's texture. Does it sound like a procedure you may be interested in? All it takes is a trip to the dermatologist. With laser skin treatment, a laser light is used to heal and smooth out problem areas. The difference is astonishing. This goes the same for other new-age treatments such as microderm abrasion and chemical peels. It's imperative to converse with your local dermatologist regarding each of these options, prior to treatment. Maybe the one you're considering is not truly the one you need. Let a professional offer his/her opinion on the matter.

Some of the current facial resurfacing procedures are not as pricey as you may think. With laser skin treatment, you will have to find out what the local rates are. However, in my experience, microderm abrasion commonly runs between 100 and 125 dollars per treatment. This is certainly one of the most highly recommended facial treatments now days. It's virtually safe and has no after effects. You can literally walk out of the clinic or spa looking refreshed and amazing. It's time you took great care of your complexion. You only get one!

Healthy Skin

In today’s world it is difficult to ignore all of the pressure that the media puts on us to look our best. With all of the airbrushing and photoshopping, no one looks real anymore and the effects of this more-perfect-than-human advertising are even showing themselves in men!

Most of us do not have a team of stylists helping us do our hair and makeup in the morning. Most of us have to rely upon a reasonably priced and easy to do beauty routine. We buy what we can afford, what does not make us break out, and we do our best. I think that there are only a few areas that must get attention and the most important is your skin.

Having healthy skin tells others that you take care of yourself. This is very attractive to every type of person. No one wants to be with someone who does not know how to wash their face or someone that simply refuses to do so. Healthy skin can be difficult for some people to obtain but dedication usually is the key.

It is not impossible to have great looking, healthy skin. Washing everyday with an effective yet mild soap is very important. There are many soaps out there that swear they will give you younger looking, healthy skin but they mostly irritate and damage the skin. Be wary of any products that have laundry lists of chemicals. Your skin is a living thing and having healthy skin usually requires that you feed it healthy things.

Drinking lots of water goes a long way when it comes to having healthy skin. Water helps to flush out the pores and leave your skin softer and brighter. Working out on at least a semi-regular schedule will also help your skin clear itself of dirt and impurities. The sweat moves dirt and oil out of the pores and can help cut down on breakouts.

Your diet can affect your skin a great deal. Speak with your dermatologist or regular doctor about which foods you may want to avoid in order to keep your skin looking and feeling great. Don’t give up no matter what. All of us at one point or another had to deal with breakouts and horrible-looking skin. For the vast majority of us, it went away on its own once we reached a certain age. You may have to work on it or do a bit of waiting, but just know that it will get better.

Good Skin Care

When we're children, we never ponder things like grooming and taking proper care of our image. All is simple in those days. We hop out of bed, pull on some random clothes, clean or filthy, it doesn't really matter. Maybe we take a bath before going to bed at night and maybe we don't. You've got to love the simplicity of those days. And as far as good skin care goes, it's virtually irrelevant. Our skin is flawless at that age by nature. Not that we appreciate the fact at that time. However, as we grow into our teen years, there's no doubt that we'd love to have that flawless complexion back. Well, just maybe it's an option.

There are things you can do to improve your complexion. This statement applies to everyone, regardless of your skin type. A large part of your skin's clarity and balance concerns your diet. Some foods/nutrients that will benefit your complexion are; prune juice, flaxseed, water, fiber from vegetables, and omega 3. Look for ways you can incorporate these into your regular diet. As far as protein goes, fatty fishes such as salmon are great for skin and hair. This can be your source of omega 3s. On the flip-side, there are several things you should avoid if you're interested in good skin care routines. Americans are notorious for indulging heavily in sugary snacks and high sodium foods. These can truly throw your skin out-of-whack. In fact, those random breakouts you receive are likely linked to your dietary habits. As much as most of us enjoy junk food, we all have to set a limit.

The products you use naturally play a role. Good skin care doesn't always mean doing more. As opposed to scrubbing your face with expensive cleaners three times a day, try washing that mug twice a day max. Our skin has natural oil that keeps it radiant and moisturized. When you cleanse it too often, you wash these oils away, hence making it dry and irritated. Irritated skin can definitely lead to more breakouts. Finally, a few last good skin care tips are to avoid excessive sun exposure, moisturize where needed, and be gentle when applying cleansers, scrubs and treatments. Your face requires a soft touch.

Choosing a facial skin care product

Talking about skin care, ‘facial skin care’ seems to top the chart. There are loads of facial skin care products available in the market. The most common facial skin care products are the ones that are used as part of daily routine. These include things like cleansers and moisturizers. Toners and exfoliation ones are well known too but not many people use them as such.

The general classification of facial skin care products is based on the following:

* Gender (so there are facial skin care products for men and there are facial skin care products for women) * Skin type (facial skin products for oily skin, facial skin care products for dry skin, facial skin care products for normal skin and facial skin care products for sensitive skin) * Age (facial skin care products for old and facial skin care products for young) * Skin disorder (i.e. facial skin care products for treatment of various skin orders like eczema, acne etc)

So that is your starting point for choosing a facial skin care product that suits you. A good way to start is by determining your skin type first. Also note that the skin type changes with age, so the facial skin product that suits you today, might not suit you forever and hence you need to constantly evaluate the effectiveness of your facial skin care product.

The facial skin care products are available in various forms i.e. creams, lotions, gels, masks etc, and a lot of people try to pit one against the other in their discussion on which form is best. However, one can’t really rate one form as better than another form. What suits you (and whatever you are comfortable with) is the best form of facial skin care product for you, really.

However, it’s important to note that these products work differently for different people. So the best thing is to try the facial skin care product on a small patch of skin (e.g. ear lobes) before actually going ahead and using it.

Another important consideration is the state of your skin. If you are suffering from a skin disorder of any kind, it is best to seek the advice of a dermatologist before you actually make your selection and start using a facial skin care product.

Once you have selected the facial skin care product for yourself, you also need to ensure that you use the facial skin care product in the right way i.e. follow correct procedures for application, use the correct quantity and make the facial product a part of your skin care routine.

Celebrity Skin Care

What's the deal with celebrities? Wait a minute! I'll give you the spiel. First of all, they make far too much money. Come on already; do they really work hard enough to make 10-20 million a picture? Please! Second of all, they spend all their free time pampering themselves with ridiculous spa treatments that cost more than your home. Do you realize what that kind of cash could do for the needy? I would feel bad spending a grand on lunch, but somehow it doesn't bother J Lo. And then to top it all off, fans worship them. Worship them for doing what? Did I miss something here? Do celebrities save innocent people or fight in wars? Not that I'm aware of. Most of them just sit around in their luxurious settings, griping about conservatives. And yet, what do you know; people still want to be like them. Well, if you're really down for the financial challenge, you can try to keep your self up like them with celebrity skin care products and a number of other spa treatments.

Much of our grooming comes down to what we're willing to spend. This applies to time and money. How much effort are you willing to devote to making yourself look nice each day? The truth is you can spend as much as you're able to. The prices go up and up. Ever heard of the Golden Gate Spa? This is a fancy one. But, when it comes to celebrity skin care and pampering, the stars go all out. Personally I can only take this to a basic level. Since I'm a man it consists of fine shaving products, some hair wax, and a moisturizer from Jack Black. How's that for celebrity skin care? Uh, it's probably not up to par. I watched a special VH1 program on celebrity skin care and pampering, and it almost made me hurl. J Lo is one of the most ridiculous. She apparently purchases some sort of special moisturizer that's produced according to the lunar cycle. It costs thousands, and she smears the stuff all over her entire body. Give us all a break J Lo. This is absurd.

There are products online that are advertised as those used by celebrities. One thing you can always count on about celebrity skin care is that it's pricey. So don't be shocked if you have to fork out the big bucks to have a complexion like J Lo's or legs like Fergi's.

Environ Skin Care

One thing that appears to be crucial in this world we all share is looking good. Do you look good? Hey, don't take it the wrong way; I'm certainly not judging you. I'm simply making a valid query. I think we should all strive to look our bests. These days this can be taken to whole new levels. I don't really care what you have in mind; you can probably get it done with the right amount of cash. Well, aside from making yourself taller. One thing that can benefit anyone and everyone is skin care. What is your skin looking like now days? Are you completely satisfied with its tone, texture, and overall quality? You can get help with it if you like. This is not such a drastic change or alteration. Nothing like surgery. Have you ever heard of environ skin care? Maybe it's time you had.

With services such as environ skin care, folks can truly enhance the appearance of their skin. Maybe you suffer from acne and require some serious treatments to get a hold on the situation. I have seen this dilemma many times before. My closest friend was one who required professional assistance with his breakouts. He just couldn't get control of it on his own. The more he would treat his pimples, the more they would pop up. It was a no-win situation. Finally he acquired a helping hand from environ skin care. With the aid of laser treatments, he was well on his way to a clearer complexion. Maybe you too are troubled with terrible zits. It's definitely nothing to be embarrassed about. Around 80 percent of our species suffer from some sort of acne. The main thing is how you address and treat the issue. The sooner to seek professional help, the better off you are. Get a grip on your acne before it does any real and permanent damage to your mug.

If you are interested in environ skin care or some other skin care process, hop on your trusty laptop and see what's currently available. The only way you're going to squelch this irksome dilemma is by hitting it head-on. Read up on environ skin care so you have a clear understanding of what they can provide for you. It's all about proper research. That's where the Internet becomes your best friend. Find all you need to know and get the help you need concerning your skin. Contemporary environ skin care solutions are waiting.

Caring for Your Skin after a Wart Removal Procedure

When it comes to wart removal, a large amount of focus is placed on the removal itself. While it is important to focus on the actual removal process, it is also important to keep in mind what will happen afterwards. If you are planning on having one of your warts removed, you are advised to examine the care that is needed, after your wart or warts have been removed.

Perhaps, the first step in caring for your wound, which was likely created after your wart or warts were removed, is to know what you need to do. If you are having your wart professionally removed, by a dermatologist or by your family doctor, you should be provided with detailed information. In addition to detailed information, there is also a good chance that you would also be sent home with supplies. These supplies may include, but are not be limited to, bandages, pads, and antibiotic cream.

Although you can receive the best after removal care advice from a physician, you may not be able to get that information. If you are performing your own at home wart removal, you will need to familiarize yourself with the proper ways to care for your wounds. This can easily be done with the internet. Online, you should be able to find a number of different medical websites. These medical websites are likely to contain information, tips, and advice for those who just had a wart removed. Of course, you are advised to be cautious and consider where you are getting your information from, but if it is from a reliable place, you will want to follow the instructions given to you.

Whether you get information, on caring for your wart wound, from the doctor who performed the removal or the internet, it is likely that you will be provided with similar instructions. Perhaps, the most important instructions to follow is keeping your wounds clean. Depending on the type of wound you have, which will also depend on the wart removal method used, you may have a small wound or scab. If this part of your skin is not properly cleaned, on a regular basis, it may become infected. In most cases, simple soap and water should be enough.

In addition to keeping your wound or scab clean, you will also want to keep it covered. This will help, not only to keep it clean, but it should also prevent an infection from forming. When covering the area, it should be enough to use a regular bandage. It may also be a good idea to apply antibiotic cream on the spot. However, it is important to remember that some wart removers, such as some freeze-off wart removal products, caution you against using any skin creams, at least for a certain period of time. It is not exactly sure why this is, but you are advised to follow all direction, especially if you purchase an over-the-counter wart remover.

Once your wound has started to heal, a scab may begin to form and new skin may start to grow. When this occurs, it is important that you leave everything alone. In fact, that is why it is advised that you always keep the area covered. Picking or even touching the area could not only create an infection, but it could also hurt the healing process. If the healing process is interrupted, you may end up developing a permanent scar. With wart removal, there is always a chance that a scar could develop, but it all depends. To lesser your chances of having a scar, you need to refrain from messing with the scab or new skin that begins to develop.

If you notice any complications, such as a wound that will not heal or one that is extremely painful, you may want to consider seeking medical advice. Although the problem may only be temporary or minor, it is still nice to be on the safe side. Not everyone thinks about the complications associated with wart removal. If you do, there will be a better chance of nothing going wrong.

PPPPP

Word Count 682

Black Skin Care

Do you ever consider race as a factor in skin care? Well if not, then you should. The shade of your skin can play a part regarding what products suit you best. Take black skin care for example. Obviously black skin would require less protection from the sun than pale skin. Skin experts found this out long ago. Imagine what red heads go through each summer. Anyway, I found out back in high school that black skin care was not the same as for other races. My buddies who were black would always carry lotion around in their book bags. At first I thought this was utterly bizarre. I always felt that lotion was a girl thing. Then one day when my friend was smearing it on his arms, I asked him about it. He said they needed it so that their skin would not look ashy. Ah ha! Then it hit me. This made total sense.

When I think of black skin care, I tend to think more on the male side. This is what I'm used to and have been exposed to through friends. Probably the largest issue that comes to mind regarding black skin care in my opinion is shaving. I had no idea it was so tough for black men to grapple with the daily scruff. However, I soon learned otherwise. In college I noticed that a couple of my closest friends had terrible razor bumps. I didn't really know why this was. I hardly ever got razor bumps or ingrown hairs. And if I did, it would only be like one or two at the most. I hopped on the web at my college for a little information on black skin care and shaving. I soon discovered that black men have much curlier and courser whiskers than other races. Shaving can cause them to curl up beneath the skin's surface and cause razor bumps. Then I looked online for solutions. I knew that one of my buddies needed one badly because this affliction was damaging his confidence. I came across a product called Tend Skin. This was supposed to remedy this dilemma in no time. I then passed it on to my friend as a gift. These days he has no more razor bumps.

It's not that simple to find black skin care products in this "white society" we all share. Any fool can see that, regardless of their race. However, more and more are coming out now days. Check out the website Mensessentials.com, which caters to men specifically. They actually carry black skin care products that work well.

Best Skin Care Product

Have you ever stopped to consider the number of advertisements that are directed to you everyday about how you look? Some day when you get up start keeping track of the number of commercials and printed ads you see that involve a health or beauty product. The television, radio, newspapers and billboards are filled with advertisings ways that you can look and feel better and younger.

Everyone seems to be seeking the best skin care product and the best way of looking younger. The health and beauty aisle at the store is filled with lotions and potions in every color size and scent. Each one claims to be the best skin care product on the market. Then there are the products that you can only by through a private distributor. These are more expensive and are guaranteed to be the best skin care product that you will ever use.

I have found that as long as I am consistent in using any product they all work about the same. If I do a good job of washing my face and putting on a moisturizer before bed and then put on another application of moisturizer under my make up in the morning, my skin looks and feels good. Occasionally I will use a peel off masque to remove dead skin. I have found that the more lotions and potions I expose my skin to the drier it gets. In my opinion the best skin care product is consistency. People will see an advertisement or will go to a home party featuring beauty products and they will buy lotions and other skin care accessories. Because they have spent so much and have a renewed interest in how they look they will be diligent in their skin care regiment and they will look better. I believe that if they would have taken any product and used it faithfully they would have the same results. As long as you avoid harsh chemicals, which hardly any skin care products contain, you are going to get similar results fr om the various products. I find that if I find a lotion that I like the smell of I am more apt to put it on after my shower to help keep my skin soft. Our skin is the largest organ we have. It pays to be good to it and to keep it healthy. The best skin care product that we can use on a daily basis is protection from the sun. Sun damage not only weakens the skin but it ages it and may cause cancer. Protecting your skin from the sun and cleaning it on a daily basis will help to keep you looking good.

Are Natural skin care products the answer to all problems?

When it comes to skin care products, you will find that a lot of people are very particular about using only natural skin care products. They treat all the synthetic products as harmful to the skin.

So, are natural skin care products the answer to all of our problems? What if a natural skin care product is not available for the treatment of a particular skin disorder? Are the synthetic skin care products so harmful that they should be banned?

Different people have different answers to these questions. However, the reality is that due to presence of synthetic preservatives, it’s really tough to find a natural skin care product that is 100% natural. There are natural skin care products that have natural preservatives, but their cost might be detrimental. Moreover, such natural skin products have a shorter shelf life and hence are not preferred by the manufacturers of natural skin care products.

Some people carry a wrong notion that since natural skin care products are natural, they cannot cause any harm to the skin. The suitability of a skin care product is not based on whether it is synthetic or natural. An unsuitable natural skin care product can harm you in almost the same way as a synthetic one. So, use natural skin care products, but be open to synthetic ones too (you might need them when a natural solution is not available)

Your selection of a natural skin care product should be based on 3 factors:

* The skin type (dry, oily, normal, sensitive) of the person who will use that natural skin care product * The climatic conditions in which it will be used e.g. hot and humid condition would warranty the use of oil-free natural skin care products. * The process for application/use of the natural skin care product. A good natural skin care product (in fact any product) can seem useless if not used in the proper way.

You can also make natural skin care products by yourself, by using the recipes that are readily available on the internet and in the books at book stores.

Use of organic fruits and vegetables is also popular as a natural skin care procedure. Some essential oils, herbal oils, are useful too and are known for their moisturising and antiseptic properties

However, using a natural skin care product does not mean that you can exercise carelessness with other aspects of skin care. Natural skin care products should be used like supplements to the following ‘essential’ recommendations: healthy eating habits (avoiding oily food), regular exercise, drinking a lot of water (8 glasses everyday), and cleanliness. This will then form a perfect and completely natural skin care routine that will help maintain a healthy beautiful skin for longer time.

Arbonne Skin Care

What are you smearing on your face these days? Okay, okay, I realize that this is a rather personal question; but a valid one nonetheless. It's imperative to know that your skin care regime is doing the best job it can possibly do. Now, this means that different skin care products will work for different individuals. This is basically due to the fact that we all have different skin types and various issues to address. Do you know what irks your skin? Are you aware of the conditions you need help with? I can't say for certain, but maybe arbonne skin care is right for you and your delicate mug.

I will be the first to state that there are far too many cosmetic lines and skin care systems floating around these days. The skin care market offers a deluge of treatments, remedies and correctors. Take you pick from thousands. Now, the key is not to use numerous products, nor is it even to find the most expensive ones. The goal at-hand is to discover the cosmetics that really work for you. A few that are well-known are arbonne skin care, Neutrogena, Murad, and Kinerase. All of these work wonders for a variety of people. Of course this doesn't guarantee that Murad or arbonne skin care are the ones for you. However, it does mean that many find these particular lines worthy. If you don't already know your skin type, it's time to get the scoop. Check out your T-zone. Is it oily or normal? How are your cheeks looking? Are they dry most of the time? Do you get breakouts on your chin? These are all questions that may aid you in better understanding your face. If you have some spare time, I recommend that you hop on the web and answer a few questions concerning your skin. This will help you better understand your skin type and what it most likely requires to stay healthy and look wonderful.

To find arbonne skin care, you can pop open Google.com and simply punch in the phrase. Read all about what arbonne skin care has to offer. Furthermore, take full advantage of reviews posted by other buyers just like yourself. See what they have to say regarding arbonne skin care. Maybe it's good and maybe it's bad. The point is to get a personal scoop on the products. This will help you draw your own conclusions.