Spring Clean Your Complexion with These Skin Care Tips

Carol Belanger

Spring is in the air, and as we put away the bulky sweaters and boots, it is also time to evaluate our skin care products. For instance the moisturizer we have used all winter long may be too heavy for the spring and summer months. Furthermore, your winter moisturizer may not contain enough SPF protection for the spring and summer months. And how about color? Usually our spring and summer wardrobe have a wonderful assortment of different colors. Why not add some color into your makeup bag and introduce new shades of eye shadow, lip tints and blush.

Below are some simple steps to get you glowing for the spring season:

1: Evaluate your moisturizer - Does it contain SPF protection? As the weather gets warmer everyone's complexion tends to get a little oilier. Even if you have a dry or combination skin, you may need a lighter moisturizer. For those with extremely oily skin, keep a few blotting papers in your bag and/or consider Mattifying Gel which will control oily skin for up to eight hours.

2: Exfoliate the whole body - winter months can take a toll on our skin because the skin cells do not rejuvenate as fast, thus leaving behind dry, rough, and scaly skin. Smooth out skin with a whole body exfoliation. Additionally, exfoliation will promote circulation and bring about a natural glow to the skin.

3: Evaluate your skin - Just as you visit the doctor for yearly physicals; it is imperative that you check your skin. Get a skin survey from a dermatologist. The dermatologist will evaluate all moles, freckles, dark spots and variations in skin tone. Most skin cancer is treatable if detected early.

4: Your Skin and food - spring brings a bountiful harvest of fruits and vegetables and offers so much to promote great looking skin. Fruits and vegetables provide antioxidants which fight off free radicals and protects the skin

5: How about this skin care recipe - a hydrating facial mask to relieve winter dryness, below is a simple recipe you can make at home: Ingredients: 1/2 cup unripe papaya, diced 1 teaspoon plain yogurt 1 teaspoon honey Combine all ingredients in a food processor and blend. Apply the mask to your face for eight to ten minutes. Then, rinse with cool water and apply a toner to remove all traces of the mask and restore pH balance. Follow with a moisturizer.

6: What about your beauty products? If you are using a hydrating foundation, consider a light dusting powder, bronzer and light lip gloss. For springtime, it is best to keep it simple and fresh. However, ensure that your moisturizer has SPF protection!

7: Be diligent about sun protection - As the weather gets warmer, make sure you're applying sunscreen to all exposed areas 20 to 30 minutes before heading outdoors, and reapplying every two hours. If you don't own a double-duty product already, consider using a facial moisturizer with SPF, thus avoiding applying several layers of lotion on the face.

8: I can relate to this one! Clean out the makeup bag! Does you makeup bag look like a child went through it with their crayons? How many items do you have in you makeup bag and never use? Maybe it is time to spring clean your makeup bag and make room for wonderful spring products.

9: Don't forget feet and hands - Well manicured toes add so much to that pretty sandal! Your hands and feet need extra care to stay smooth and supple.

About the Author/Author Bio For skin care recipes, great skin care articles and wonderful products and ebooks visit Complete Skin Care Therapy Carol Belanger author of 300+ Skin Care Recipes

Article Source: http://www.articlesphere.com/Article/Spring-Clean-Your-Complexion-with-These-Skin-Care-Tips/185261 Article Tags: beauty, skin care, skin care tips, skin care recipes, moisturizer, spf, exfoliation

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You may be surprised to learn that oatmeal; yes that wonderful cereal we enjoy for breakfast, (or maybe not!), is one of the best natural treatments for dry skin.

Plain rolled oats, can be used to make a gentle and very effective natural skin cleanser, facial scrub, and soothing facial mask. An excellent multi-purpose skin care treatment, oatmeal helps to relieve dryness, restoring natural moisture balance to aid in healing minor irritations due to the many causes and sources of skin sensitivities.

Minor skin irritations can be caused by sensitivities to the ingredients in skin care products, exposure to chemicals found in household cleaning products, exfoliation with the wrong product, excessive scrubbing or rubbing during the exfoliation process, and many other factors.

Cleansing the face with oatmeal helps to soothe skin irritation and reduce discomfort. Oatmeal, when used as a skin cleanser, actually absorbs and removes surface dirt and impurities while providing very gentle exfoliation, leaving skin smooth, soft, and clean, without soap.

As a facial mask, oatmeal deep cleanses pores without irritating and drying out skin. And as a facial scrub, oatmeal gently but effectively removes dead skin cells, to reveal softer, smoother looking skin. In addition, cleansing and exfoliating with oatmeal provides the bonus of a natural, healthy glow.

Five Good Habits to Maintain Our Soft and Flawless Skin

By Ivan Cuxeva Jr

The following good habits are Actually shared by most dermatologists as their best advices for a clear complexion.

Good Habit #1: Avoid Too Many Cosmeceuticals

Numerous experts have said that with more and more beauty potions with alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs), antioxidants, salicylic acids, and retinoids in them, blending a cleanser from one line with a scrub or daytime moisturizer from another, then a night cream from yet another can lead to over-exfoliation as well as irritation. This can no doubt add up to a real dilemma, especially for those women who have olive and darker complexions. This is also possible for women who are more prone to discoloration when their skin is irritated. So, to play it really safe, it is important that you only stick with one line of products. But, only use the line of products which are formulated to work together. It is often said that if for instance you use any prescription products like the famous Renova, the advice of your dermatologist is highly needed. Ask your specialist regarding on how to mix prescription treatments with the over the counter cosmeceutical products. Just don’t overdo beauty products.

Good Habit #2: Consider a Healthy Exercise

Exercise is great for a beautiful skin. So, considering at least twenty to thirty minutes of any aerobic exercise is worth trying. It will give you a glow, as it is often said. One of the supports for this is the fact that exercise boosts blood flow. It is this increased blood flow which will bring more nutrients to the skin. However, it is important to be aware that the accumulation of sebum or oil through perspiration can result in sweatband acne, folliculitis, as well as spiky heat. But, don’t worry; there is a simple solution for this – shower as soon as possible after shaking your booty.

Good Habit #3: Intimate with the Phone?

Don’t Be! Always note that constant rubbing on the mouthpiece may lead to rashes around the chin and mouth. This is what many people have believed, including dermatologists. So, it is important that when talking to somebody on the phone, hold the phone away from those mentioned areas when talking. Also, clean the phone often with a mild soapy solution or perhaps rubbing alcohol.

Good Habit #4: Examine Your Birthday Suit for Spots

When it comes to skin care, any sudden or suspicious-looking mole, bump or other growth on the skin is a reason to see a dermatologist. Nevertheless, as skin cancer rates skyrocketed, having a full body check up by a professional is very crucial. This is especially true for those us living in the baby-oil-and-iodine, pre-sunscreen generation. Also, it is said that those who belong in a high risk group, meaning having a personal or family history of skin cancer, a lot of moles, fair skin, or light eyes or hair, should consult a specialist for a regular check up. The regular examination should start in their teens and probably no later than age 35. However, even if you do not belong in a high risk group, it is still recommended that between the ages of 20 and 40, people must have a cancer-related check up. The check up must include skin exam and must be considered every three to four years. Once you hit your 40s, start undergoing a cancer-related examination with skin exam every year. Aside from that, it is advisable that you do monthly self-exams in order for you to keep an eye out for changes and growths.

Good Habit #5: Eat Healthy Foods

Healthy foods refer to those that help your skin and body fight against the bad forces outside and inside. You must consider antioxidants such as vitamin A, C and E as they are highly potent for sun damage and fight certain cancers, including skin cancer. This is actually the reason that makes antioxidants essential to your health. Along with this, a well balanced diet is highly recommended. This means making yourself comfortable with a diet filled with at least five servings a day of fruits and vegetables, plus a multivitamin that meets the RDA standards.

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Body Oils

By: Tania Jain

Our body is like a machine. A machine needs fuel to run and greasing and maintenance to be in proper shape and perform. Just like any other mechanical device our body needs food to work. At the same time it needs maintenance i.e. care like brushing teeth, bathing and massage etc. And when body massage is concerned, definitely it should be well performed by body oils.

Applying massage to body means giving body the nourishments it needs. This also means using some body oil to perform the task well. Many of us do not know the good property of body oil but we all certainly know it’s greasing nature and so always like to avoid it because of one reason or the other. But you can find oils that are less greasing on your skin.

Once you start using body oils, you would not quit. Applying oil during massage will also give you therapeutic benefits. A number of body oil products are available in the stores, which you can use for body massage on yourself, and gain the physical benefits from it. The body oil makes your body skin smooth and healthy. Since the atmosphere in which you live changes continuously and hence your body skin has to face a lot of difficulties in changing weather conditions.

Different persons have different skins and hence the problem varies individual to individual, but if you are a person of the kind who takes body massages and that too with some body oil, this will help your body skin to look good and healthy. Body oils also works as moisturizers to your skin. However, you are advised to use natural oils for body massage.

The benefit of using natural oil is that these do not contain any artificial fragrance or color. The natural oils are rich in vitamins and minerals, which are essentials to your skin. Taking massage with natural oil makes your body relaxed and gives your body skin the necessary vitamins and minerals. So your body skin always look healthy, young and beautiful.

There are a number of natural body oils available for body massage. Body massage is simple and safe. It is one of the best methods to keep you away from different stress and anxiety. This is useful for all and especially for those who are workaholic. Doing body massage is enjoyable and it has a lot of health benefits like proper blood circulation and lymph drainage, better movements of different joints and tendons, healthy skin and wonderful emotional well being. This also gives amazing calmness to your mind. Now you definitely would like to know, how to do an effective body massage and hence to give maximum benefits to your body.

By knowing the following facts you can get maximum benefits from body massage;

* It is important to know, how to give the body massage treatment to your different body parts like toes, legs, thighs, back, chest, stomach, neck, and even head. Giving individual attention to each body part will boost energy in your body enormously and will improve the individual parts strengthning as well.

* You need to understand the anatomy of your body and its working criterion and accordingly you need to understand the techniques of massaging for different body parts. Doing body massage at a regular basis with a natural body oil will relieve you from back pain, and minimizes the chances of day to day-to-day stress and muscular cramp. So why to wait thinking, indeed go for it!! Tania writes on oils for your body -

http://www.ultimate-cosmetics.com/beauty/body-basics/body-oils.htm. Learn more about genital fordyce spots -

http://www.ultimate-cosmetics.com/beauty/skin_disorders/fordyce-condition.html - and beauty tips here - http://www.beauty-tips.info.

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Summer Skin Survival Guide

Don't let itches, blisters, breakouts, or burns sabotage your summer

Blisters How to Avoid Them: Severe sunburn and tight clothing can cause blisters, but most often the culprits are shoes, so wear a sensible pair. Ha! As if! OK, then. Attaching a small piece of moleskin to the areas of your feet that rub against the most carnivorous parts of your shoes will help. Try Dr. Scholl’s Moleskin Plus Padding ($6 at drugstores), which can be cut to size.

Once You’ve Got Them: An adhesive bandage will stop the friction and create padding (blister bandages are a good option). If you don’t have one, lubricate the area with hand lotion or Vaseline to help the shoe glide over the painful spot. When you get home, soak your feet in a bath of Epsom salts and warm water for 20 to 30 minutes. “If there is fluid in the blister, the salt will draw it out,” says Cary Zinkin, a podiatrist in Deerfield Beach, Florida. Apply an antibiotic ointment, like Neosporin, and put a gauze bandage over the blister to keep the medicine in and bacteria out.

Heat Rash How to Avoid It: Heat rash, also known as prickly heat, occurs when sweat becomes trapped under the skin. The tiny red bumps feel prickly and often itch, explains Ava Shamban, a dermatologist in Santa Monica. (The blockages also disrupt the cooling effects of sweating and can, in extreme conditions, contribute to heat exhaustion.) To prevent heat rash, use an exfoliant or a washcloth a couple of times a week in the shower to slough off dead skin cells, and try to stay cool and dry.

Once You’ve Got It: If you do develop heat rash, apply Sarna Lotion ($10, www.drugstore.com), a soothing lotion with camphor and menthol; or a 1 percent hydrocortisone cream. You can also take a lukewarm bath with a handful of colloidal (milled) oatmeal or a product that contains oatmeal, such as Aveeno Skin Relief Bath Treatment ($7 at drugstores). With treatment, the bumps should disappear in two to three days.

Sunburn How to Avoid It: You know the drill, but every summer you forget at least once and wind up with a sunburn. Here’s another reminder: Use a high-SPF sunscreen, limit sun exposure, and don’t forget to reapply!

Once You’ve Got It: Taking ibuprofen pills, such as Motrin or Advil, will treat the pain and reduce the inflammation. So will refrigerated aloe gel, which creates a protective barrier over skin. Try Banana Boat Soothing Aloe After Sun Gel ($5 at drugstores) or Propoline After Sun Body Spray With Aloe & Chamomile ($16, www.drugstore.com). “A wet washcloth that has been placed in the freezer for 10 minutes will also help,” says Zoe Draelos, a dermatologist in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Peeling usually occurs a few days after a bad burn, but “don’t pick!” says Renee Snyder, a dermatologist in Austin, Texas. “When you pull skin off before it’s ready, you risk causing scars.”

Written by Elizabeth Schatz Passarella July 2006

Natural Ways to Treat Stretch Marks

by Lori Stryker, B.Sc., B.H.Ec., B.Ed.

Apr 27, 2007

Pregnancy is a wonderful time in a woman's life. One aspect of child-bearing, however, may not be so welcomed. For 75-90% of pregnant women, stretch marks, or striae gravidum, can appear in the later half of pregnancy. Stretch marks do not pose any health risk to either the mother or child, but can cause anxiety over their appearance for those who develop them.

Stretch marks first appear as raised striations which vary in colour from pink, purple or brown, depending on the mother's normal skin colour. Striations develop where fat is stored in the body, such as the abdomen, thighs, hips, buttocks, breasts and arms. Stretch marks develop during pregnancy because of rapid and excessive weight gain in areas such as the lower abdomen or thighs.

As weight increases, the collagen and elastin in the dermal layer of the skin, responsible for retaining shape and firmness, is stretched to the point of breaking. The dermis is the layer beneath the epidermis, or visible layer of the skin. The elastic fibres in the dermis weaken with stretching and increased cortisone levels normally produced in the last trimester. As these fibres separate and the skin stretches, collagen is overproduced to form scar tissue which result in striations.

There is no cure for stretch marks. The scarring process that has occurred in the dermis cannot be reversed, but stretch marks will flatten, fade and lighten over time. Creams which contain steroids such as hydrocortisone, or active agents like tretinoin (retin-A) should not be used during pregnancy, and especially not during the first trimester when the fetus is highly vulnerable. Plastic surgery methods are available to reduce the appearance of stretch marks, such as dermabrasion or laser, but treatments are expensive and results vary. Genetics play a role in whether a pregnant woman will develop stretch marks, but equally influential factors are the condition of the skin and nutrition in determining the onset and severity of stretch mark development.

Well-hydrated and healthy skin stretches more easily, so drinking plenty of fluids and eating foods rich in vitamin C, vitamin E, zinc and silica, a component in collagen formation, are beneficial. Lotions, creams and other topical treatments will not reach the dermis, but they can help relieve the itchiness or dryness associated with stretch marks. Keeping the skin moisturized decreases any discomfort that may be felt and if stretch marks are treated when they first appear, their appearance may be reduced significantly.

Massaging nutrient-rich natural oils such as wheatgerm, jojoba or vitamin E can help heal the epidermis and also increase blood circulation to the affected area, assisting the healing process. Pregnant women should avoid products containing clary sage, basil, cinnamon or thyme, as these might adversely affect the fetus.

Stretch marks eventually fade and become less obvious over time. Maintaining a balanced perspective about stretch marks can keep pregnancy a most precious time for mother and baby.

The Healing Mineral Bath

How To Prepare An Herbal Bath

For Therapeutic Or Beauty Purposes

Exfoliation To Improve The Tone & Texture Of Your Skin.

By: Angie Brannigan

 Exfoliation to improve the tone & texture of your skin. Did you know how important exfoliation is to your beauty regime?

Do you have a beauty regime that includes exfoliation as part of it?

Exfoliation is a technique that removes cells from the skins surface, which, not only give an immediate refreshing appearance to the skins appearance, but also stimulates cell renewal.

The benefits of exfoliation are dramatic, there are a huge variety of techniques available – scrubs, peels, masques dermabrasion to name a few. Everyone exfoliates naturally, thousands of tiny skin cells fall from our body – about a million every minute.

A good exfoliation regimen can help reduce the time that dulling skin cells sit at the surface of our skin to give us a healthier, more vibrant complexion.

A good exfoliation programme helps our body with the natural process, which becomes especially vital as we age. Below are three simple tips to help you exfoliate your skin better.

1. Make sure you get into the habit of exfoliating on a daily basis. This is one of the most important decisions you can ever make regarding health and beauty. Beautiful supple skin can be achieved if you follow a good beauty regime. Exfoliating is one of the most important steps in any good skincare routine.

2. Ensure you buy a good quality exfoliant. If you shop around you will quickly find a quality product to suit your needs and your budget. This is important as there are many types available to suit all types of skin.

3. To get the most of from your new habit of exfoliating on a daily basis, find a good quality moisturiser which suits your skin type. Most manufacturers of moisturising creams provide extensive guides to help you choose the right product for your skin type. Exfoliation is only one part of a beauty regime but, one of the most important steps.

By following the above three steps you can be sure that this part of your skincare regime is well taken care of.

About the Author:

Angie Brannigan is a fully qualified beauty therapist and has trained in alternative therapies over the past ten years. She is an active full time therapist and author.

She writes for the popular website http://www.beautyskills.info

Visit her site to discover all types of beauty skills and beauty tips to help you with your beauty regime. Read more articles by: Angie Brannigan

Article Source: www.iSnare.com

Common Skin Care Myths

How Does Oil & Dirt Get Washed Away With Soap?

By George Grant

We use soap each day in our lives in the form of detergents, shampoo, shower crème, hand soap or bar soap. We are so used to using soap that we rarely stop and wonder how this wonderful compound manages to help us clean ourselves day after day. Have you ever thought about what would happen if there were no soap? How else can we rid the dirt off our bodies or our clothes?

Most of the time, dirt comes in the form of grease or oil which sticks itself onto surfaces and will not come off if only water is just used. This is because oil and grease are non-polar, which means that the oil molecules are not charged and therefore are not attracted to polar substances such as water. Because of this, oil tends to stick with its own molecules or other non-polar substances.

On the other hand, water is a polar substance which is made up of one positive and one negative charge, and therefore is a fragmented substance. With this, water dissolves salt easily because salt is made up of charged ions in which the positive charge will be attracted to the negative ions in water.

Due to the fact of the nature of oil and water, you will see that oil will not dissolve in water but remain clustered on the surface. Also, oil and grease will stick onto plates and cutlery during cleaning, and no amount of water can completely remove it. That’s when soap comes in. All it takes is just one layer of soap with water and the oil will be removed. How does this happen?

Well, soap is a unique substance of potassium fatty acid salts, produced through a chemical reaction called saponification. Its molecules are made up of a hydrocarbon chain, which is non-polar, as well as a carboxylate molecule which is polar. Therefore, the non-polar part of the soap – the hydrocarbon chain, is not attracted to water but to oil (lipophilic). On the other hand, the carboxylate molecules which are negatively charged, are attracted to the positively charged water molecules (hydrophilic).

In this case, when soap is applied to oil and grease, the lipophilic parts of soap will attach itself to the non polar molecules of oil. However, the other component of soap, the hydrophilic component, will be left on the surface. When water is applied onto this surface with a sponge, the hydrophilic component will be attracted to the water molecules and is lifted from the surface, together with the oil. This way, both oil and soap is removed with the wipe of the sponge. At the same time, because soap molecules have been combined with oil, other soap molecules will also be attracted to it. This is why you can see clusters of oil that are surrounded by soap within the water that has been used for washing. Of course, once soap has been used up to attract the oil, more soap would need to be added to work on the access oil.

In conclusion, our lives have been made cleaner and easier through the wonders of a simple substance called soap. Without it, we would be having a difficult time removing dirt, oil and grease in our everyday cleaning.

About the Author: Dr. George Grant is an experienced researcher in Bio-chemistry. He has done extensive researches and experiments in the field. He is a visiting faculty for some of the most reputed Science colleges. http://www.chemicool.com

Source: www.isnare.com

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Massage Oil For Massage Therapy

By Caroline Colby

Massage oil is a great addition to any massage experience. It enhances not only the relaxing nature of the massage therapy session, but also adds to the healing benefits of the massage.

The use of massage oil is not a new idea. Homer, Plato, Socrates – all of these men referenced the use of massage oil as an aid for pain relief in their writings. Today, pain relief is one reason for using massage oil. Others include the facilitation of more gliding massage, skin nourishment, and the promotion of good health in general.

How do you choose a massage oil for massage therapy? First, choose an oil that is cold-pressed or expeller-pressed. Both of these have had the least amount of processing and will last longest. Prevent them from spoiling by keeping them in a cool place and adding 300 IUs of vitamin E per pint of oil monthly. In addition, essential oils, or oils that are distilled from various plants, roots, or seeds) can be added. Seek the aid of a professional to advise on a good combination.

Some oils to choose from for massage therapy include:

* Sweet almond oil – Anti-inflammatory, light, and good for most skin types, especially dry skin.

* Apricot kernel oil – Reduces stress, provides balance, and good for all skin types, especially prematurely aging skin.

* Avocado oil – This is a heavy oil best diluted at a rate of 10% in a lighter oil.

* Borage oil – Good for eczema and psoriasis, it penetrates, regenerates, and stimulates.

* Castor oil – A thick sticky oil good for drawing out toxins and for use on scar tissue. Best used in a poultice.

* Coconut oil – A thick, heavy oil that should be warmed before use. Good for cracked skin.

* Emu oil – Anti-inflammatory and used for arthritis, sore muscles, bruising, and eczema. May block pores.

* Grapeseed oil – Non-allergenic and good for all types of skin.

* Jojoba oil – A penetrating, anti-bacterial oil for eczema and acne.

* Kukui nut oil – Anti-bacterial, anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory that is light and has a slight warming effect.

* Olive oil – Has a warming effect and relieves stiffness.

Different skin types will fare better with different types of oil. As such, it will be a good idea to experiment with different kinds for massage therapy. If one doesn't work, try another. Also, some may personally prefer the smell or the effects of one massage oil to another. The selection of massage oils is pretty wide; so there is bound to be a preferred one for just about anybody.

About the Author: Caroline Colby writes on massage therapy, massage techniques, massage chairs, and massage spas around the world. She also has easy recipes for massage oils. Please go to http://www.massage-therapy-central.com

Source: www.isnare.com

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