Natural Beauty Tips

Natural Beauty Tips

Whatever beauty aid you decide to make use of, stick to it and do it regularly to get a lasting benefit.

1. Rub a rind of lemon over your face if you have an oily skin and this will lessen grease and whiten your complexion.
2. Mix the juice of one lemon to two tablespoons of milk or cream. Apply this on your face and neck and massage for a few minutes. Then rinse off. Do this daily before going to bed. It helps to bleach your face and keep your hands soft and supple.
3. Take a teaspoon of limejuice and stir in half a teaspoon of honey and a few drops of milk. Mix well and apply over your face and neck fifteen minutes before you take your bath. This lotion will have a mild bleaching effect on a greasy skin, which because of its excessive oil may be rather sallow.
4. To one tablespoon of cucumber juice, stir in a few drops of limejuice and a dash of turmeric powder. Mix well and apply over your face and neck. Leave it on for half an hour and then remove it with ordinary tap water. This lotion makes an excellent whitener for all types of skin.
5. Cut tomatoes in half and rub over the face. This is useful for toning up and whitening the skin and refining the pores.
6. To cleanse the face, soak a piece of cotton wool in unboiled milk and rub the face with it gently from the chin upwards to the forehead.
7. Mix a teaspoonful of turmeric powder with cream, sandal powder and bengal gram flour and make into a paste and apply once a day for about half an hour before a bath.
8. This is an excellent beauty aid to keep the face fresh and soft.
9. Grate and squeeze juice out of a small piece of watermelon. Apply it on your face and leave it on for about fifteen minutes. Then wash with hot water and splash on some cold water. This lotion not only freshens up the skin but also clears the skin of its blemishes.
10. Grind a few cabbage leaves and extract the juice. Dissolve a little yeast in it and to this add a teaspoon of honey. Mix well and apply it thickly over your face and neck and leave it on for fifteen minutes. Then remove with cotton wool soaked in water. This is an excellent remedy for counter-acting dry skin
11. To close pores that are open, rub ice wrapped in cotton wool gently on the face.
12. Add a little carrot juice and orange juice to a cup of milk. Rub this mixture daily on a face scarred with smallpox marks and they may disappear gradually.
13. To remove dead skin from the face, apply a mixture of glycerine, limejuice and sugar and rub gently.

Organic. All natural. Herbal. Any of these words on the label of our personal care products makes it more appealing. After all, all natural is 搃n� these days. What is not too appealing is the unnaturally high price you pay at the checkout. So, why not avoid the extra cost and make these beauty treatments at home? The result is store bought beauty without the store bought price.

Shampoo, for example, can really get expensive if you are looking for something extra for problem hair, or just to give your hair a little pizzazz. However, if you are on a budget, you may buy the cheaper brands, sacrificing the extra benefits the others provide.

A simple solution is following your usual shampoo with a homemade rinse. For shiny hair, rinse with cider vinegar, one half cup to every quart of water. If natural highlights are what you are looking for, use chamomile tea, or make your own rinse by steeping chamomile flowers in hot water, then strain. Remove build up caused by hair sprays and other products with a rinse of Witch Hazel. Whichever one you use, make sure you catch the liquid in a bowl if you want to rinse your hair more than once.

Another area that can get costly is skin care products. From toners to cleansers, the more they claim to do the more expensive they are. However, it is surprisingly simple to get wonderful results with things you may already have around the house. You might not know it, but an egg makes a good mask. To tone and tighten, use a beaten egg white. Apply to your face and then rinse it off after it dries. To remove excess oil, the egg yolk can be whipped and mixed with six tablespoons of honey to make a peel off mask.

A refreshing facial is as simple as pouring boiling water over chamomile flowers in a bowl. Just hold your face a few inches above the water and let the steam work its magic. (You can do this, and then later use the liquid for your hair.) If you need an astringent after your facial, Witch Hazel is an all-natural one that can still be bought for about one half of what the name brands cost.

For an all over beauty treatment, relax in a tub full of water with one half cup of powdered milk, which acts as a skin softener. To make your beauty bath do double duty, add a cheesecloth or muslin bag filled with your favorite herbs. Soothing herbs are chamomile flowers and rose flowers. For a stimulating bath, you can use basil, bay, rosemary, or thyme. Sage and strawberry leaves relieve aching muscles and joints. On the other hand, you can make a cleansing body scrub with a handful of oatmeal and two teaspoons of sea salt.

After trying a few of these beauty boosters, you will feel like you have had the spa treatment, without ever leaving home, and, without your money ever leaving your pocket.

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Skin Protection

Skin Protection

Some ways of protecting your skin:

1. Good Nutrition: a well balanced diet is vital for the health and appearance of the skin
2. Intake of Vitamins & Minerals
   • Vitamins A, C, E and Minerals like zinc, copper and selenium act as antioxidants to trap free radical thereby delaying wrinkles.
   • Vitamin B5 helps in absorption and retention of moisture.
3. Avoidance of internal threats like alcohol, caffeine, smoking, medications and stress.
4. Combating external threats like:
   • extremes of climate – heat, cold, humidity
   • Sun exposure
   • Environmental pollution, i.e. smoke, chemicals etc.
   • 
     

Antioxidant nutrients and skin protection

Free radical damage is one of the principal mechanisms of aging. Free radicals are highly and indiscriminately reactive chemicals that can damage any structure in living cells. The most common source of free radicals is normal burning of fuel that occurs in every cell every minute of every day. (Generally, the more free radicals a species produces, the shorter its life span.) Skin suffers additional free radical damage from sunlight and pollutants.

Topical antioxidants provide some protection against environmental damage to the skin and may be somewhat effective in slowing down the skin aging. However, topical antioxidants are relatively unreliable. Their effect depends on skin permeability, other ingredients in the cream and many other factors. It appears that increasing oral intake of some antioxidants may additionally protect skin from free radicals. Keep in mind, however, that relatively little solid research has been done specifically on skin benefits of oral or topical antioxidants and much of the supporting evidence is indirect.

A very important chemical property for an oxidant is its solubility in water and fat (or oil). Basically, living organisms have two types of internal media, watery extra- and intracellular space and oily membranes that serve as partitions enclosing individual cells and various intracellular compartments. Water-soluble antioxidants are effective mainly in extra- and intracellular fluid, whereas fat-soluble antioxidants protect biological membranes. Both types of antioxidants are needed to create an effective shield against free radicals for the entire body, and skin in particular.

Solubility of antioxidants

Water soluble	Fat soluble	Water and fat soluble
Vitamin C Cysteine Methionine Selenium Glutathione	Vitamin E Vitamin A Carotenes Lycopene Coenzyme Q10	Lipoic acid Melatonin Some polyphenols Some flavonoids

Below we review some of the antioxidant nutrients and supplements which appear the most likely to produce skin benefits.

Vitamin E

Vitamin E is a principal fat soluble antioxidant vitamin in the body. It protects cellular membranes, lipoproteins and other "oily" structures. Skin is high in unsaturated fatty acids ("oily" molecules especially susceptible to free radical damage), and can benefit from vitamin E protection (both oral and topical).

Flavonoids

Flavonoids are a diverse group of plant pigments with antioxidant properties. These substances are responsible for color in many fruits, vegetables and flowers. In addition to providing color that attracts insects or animals, these pigments protect plants from environmental stress. In addition to being potent antioxidants, some flavonoids have antiallergic, anti-carcinogenic, anti-viral and anti-inflammatory activity. Over 4,000 flavonoids have been characterized and classified, but only a few have been researched. As far as skin benefits are concerned, two classes of flavonoids appear to be especially beneficial: proanthocyanins (found in grapes and pine bark) and polyphenols (found in green tea).

Coenzyme Q10, Lipoic acid, Cysteine, Methionine

Coenzyme Q10, lipoic acid, cysteine and methionine are potent antioxidants. But they also play other roles that are at least as important as their antioxidant activity. See also the article about conditionally essential nutrients in this section.

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Facial Skin Care

Facial Skin Care

Facial skin care should be an integral part of your beauty routine. Your basic facial skin care should include cleansing, moisturizing, exfoliating, and treatment. Make sure to choose products that are easy to use and appropriate for your skin type. Everyday facial skin care needs they do the trick naturally and effectively. They key to knowing and selecting natural skin care products, lies in educating yourself on the ingredients and their benefits. On this page we will briefly touch on a few of the more popular ingredients.

Ingredients in Natural Skin Care Products

You cannot flip through a magazine without seeing products featuring vitamin C. Vitamin C does more than keep the colds at bay, it serves to clarify and brighten the skin tone. Grape extract is similar to Vitamin C, while white birch extract and carrot oil help to reduce the look of fine dry lines.

When it comes to supplying hydration nature does not disappoint. Glycerin, shea butter, and borage oil are commonly called 'moisture magnets'. They help attract and draw moisture from the air into the skin. Avocado oil, beeswax, and almond oil also offer deep hydration to the skin.

Wait what about those of us who suffer from an over abundance of oil and breakouts? Seaweed extract is a popular ingredient in oil free moisturizer and treatments. It helps to control excess oil production. Kaolin Clay is often used in masks and blemish products to dry out blemishes. If your skin is red and irritated you may want to try beauty products with licorice root or chamomile. Most of all we can't forget the natural skin care products biggest feature, anti-oxidants. Some of the biggest contenders are vitamin E and green tea extract; they help to protect skin against harmful environmental damage.

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OILY SKIN CARE - RESTORING YOUR SKIN'S OIL BALANCE

OILY SKIN CARE - RESTORING YOUR SKIN'S OIL BALANCE

Oily skin care is a difficult topic to address. On one hand you need a certain amount of oil on your skin to keep it healthy and young looking. Natural skin oils are necessary to prevent problems such as dry skin. Oily skin is also less susceptible to the development of fine lines and wrinkles, discolouration, and freckles.
On the other hand, skin that is oily attracts more dust and dirt to the skin surface and excessive oil build-up can clog pores leading to problems such as acne breakouts. Oily skin leads to the development of larger than normal skin pores (often mistaken as acne scars) that give the skin a rough appearance. Therefore, because oily skin has some advantages, but also disadvantages, proper skincare (especially on the face) is a challenge.


As skin ages, the tendency is for dry skin to be more of a problem. However, skin that is too oily can occur at any age, for any gender, or for any race group. It is a problem that cannot be ignored.


Before discussing skin care for oily skin, it is important to identify your skin type. Is it oily or is it just normal? This is necessary information to know in order to diagnose that you actually have an oily skin problem. You do not want to treat a condition that may not actually exist.


The next step is to examine the causes of oily skin. There are many reasons why skin becomes oily. It could be genetics or diet. Understanding the causes is essential before undertaking treatments, because simply avoiding some of the causes may actually be the only treatment necessary.

When treatments are required, please take note that remedies to restore skin to its natural oil balance can vary substantially. For example, oily skin can be managed by following a set of basic treatments for oily skin care such as proper washing and use of common products for skin that is oily. However, many people prefer all natural remedies in dealing with this problem. Finally, diet and nutrition (what you eat or don’t eat) can play a significant role in a treatment plan.


Proper care of oily skin involves diagnosing your skin type, focussing on the causes, and experimenting with a variety of treatments. Oily skin is generally not a serious problem that requires a visit to a dermatologist (unless more serious complications arise). However, this condition does require proper attention to ensure your skin remains beautiful and healthy

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Dry Skin Prevention Tips

Dry Skin Prevention Tips

Dry skin prevention is the one of the best treatments for dry skin. Dry skin cannot always be prevented because of the many causes, but where possible, why not take steps to prevent dry skin from occurring. Below are some dry skin prevention tips.


Bathing




•take no more than one shower or bath daily
•avoid long bathing times (around 10 minutes is best)
•baths are kinder to the skin that showers, especially when mild unscented bath oils are used
•reduce the frequency of bathing/showering, especially in the winter months
•avoid hot water, use only warm water for proper dry skin prevention
•use a soap with a high fat content or contains glycerin or is a mild unscented moisturizing soap (e.g. Dove or Cetaphil)
•avoid the use of strong anti-bacterial and/or deodorant soaps or bubble baths
•some people will have to limit the use of any soap as much as possible because of extra skin sensitivity
•avoid scrubbing with pads, mitts, or face cloths and pat dry the skin instead of rubbing with a towel
•after shower apply moisturizer with alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) or glycerin or petrolatum while the skin is still wet because moisturizers work better on moist skin
•avoid scented moisturizers or lanolin containing ones

When Outdoors


•cover exposed skin when whether is cold and windy
•in very cold weather, if skin is not covered with clothing, petroleum jelly should be used for protection
•in hot months, use sunscreen with moisturizer to prevent dry skin


When Indoors


•in the cold dry winter months, use a humidifier to raise the relative humidity by a small amount
•high humidity in a house during the winter, although great for the skin and your plants is not recommended for your house (see the chart for recommended settings)
•keep your thermostat at a lower (but comfortable) temperature in the winter months to prevent exposure to a lot of dry heat
•avoid the use of electric blankets because they generate dry heat







Personal Hygiene

•perfumes and antiperspirants should not be overused
•apply a moisturizer (with alpha hydroxy acids or glycerine or petrolatum) to the skin during the day as a daily prevention of dry skin technique

Diet


•avoid caffeine and alcohol consumption since these have diuretic properties
•ensure you are taking in enough water (8 glasses of water per day is generally recommended for good health and preventing dry skin)
•increase omega-3 fatty acids by consuming more cold-water fish, walnuts, and flax seeds or flaxseed oil



In addition to the dry skin prevention tips mentioned above, visit the dry skin causes page for more tips and hints on what can be done to prevent dry skin.

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DRY SKIN CAUSES

DRY SKIN CAUSES

There are many dry skin causes, but what exactly happened to your skin for it to be in this dry, chapped, and unhealthy condition?


Skin contains oil glands (sebaceous glands) that release oil (sebum). There are also other oils or fats (lipids) at work in the skin to help prevent dry skin. The role of the sebum and these other oils is to keep skin moisture at its proper level (about 30%), so that the skin is supple, resilient, and not dry. Basically, the oils form an excellent barrier and prevent water from inside the skin cells from escaping. Water is not soluble in oil and therefore it has difficulty penetrating the fatty layer. An added benefit of these oils is that they create a barrier to external contaminants from entering the body.

Dry skin means that these essential oils and fats have been stripped away from the skin matrix, which means among other things moisture or water loss in the skin.

There are a number of reasons why skin becomes dry or dry skin causes. Sources of the problem can vary widely. Below is a list of dry skin causes.


Inherited or Genetic Factors as Dry Skin Causes


•some individuals are genetically predisposed to dry skin
•specifically they may not be able to produce enough oils as is necessary or their skin may simply be more sensitive to damage

Age


•as a person gets older (especially over 40 years old) there is a natural decrease in the body’s ability to maintain the proper production of oils and fats and this is one of the main causes of dry skin
•there is a loss of sweat and oil glands
•the skin thins, making it more vulnerable to drying and damage
•babies don’t have properly developed oil glands and therefore they are also more vulnerable to dry skin

Work or Other Activities


•any occupation that requires frequent hand washing will dry out skin
•activities such as gardening are problematic because the soil is abrasive and can dry out the hands
•construction or agricultural work, and some types of office work promote dry skin
•constant frictional irritation will lead to the skin becoming dry
•excessive air-travel because the air in airplanes is very dry is a dry skin cause

Frequent Washing or Swimming


•excessive bathing especially in hot water with harsh soaps strips away natural skin oils and is one of the main causes for dry skin
•frequent swimming in chlorinated water also removes essential skin oils and results in dry skin


Repeated Contact with Chemicals

•harsh soaps or antibacterial soaps, detergents, household cleaning products, rubbing alcohol, and solvents are all good oil strippers from the skin and can promote skin dryness
•dry skin can also be due to the use of products containing fragrances (and certain cosmetics) and lauryl sulfates
•overuse of perfumes or antiperspirants

Poor Diet


•vitamin A and the B vitamins promote healthy skin; a deficiency in these vitamins will lead to skin dryness and other skin problems
•a zinc deficiency will reduce the metabolic breakdown of fatty acids and vitamin A which are essential for good skin health
•a fat deficiency (such as not enough omega-3 fatty acids) is a problem because this means that there is not enough fat content in the skin matrix to prevent water loss

Dehydration
•dehydration caused by diarrhea, vomiting, high fever, excessive sweating, or not enough daily water drinking can dehydrate the body and skin


Caffeine, Alcohol, and Drugs


•drugs such as diuretics, antispasmodics, and antihistamines can dry out the skin and be dry skin causes


Smoking


•causes changes in the elasticity of the skin
•some studies have shown that the skin of smokers contains less water content


Weather

•cool windy weather with low humidity, too much sun exposure, or hot and dry climates all are dry skin causes that act quickly


Central Heating and Air Conditioning


•forced air furnaces, wood-burning stoves, and electric heaters all dry out the air and the skin
•poor household ventilation can also lead to dry skin


Thyroid Disorders as Dry Skin Causes


•can lead to reduce activity of sweat and oil glands


Skin Diseases


•allergic reactions of the skin, dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis, seborrhoea, and diabetes are conditions that manifest themselves partly as dry skin

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DRY SKIN CARE

DRY SKIN CARE

Dry skin care treatments must be used when necessary to prevent dryness from robbing skin of its natural beauty and in order to maintain skin in good health.

It is likely that most people have at one time experienced a dry skincare problem to some degree either on their hands, face, or other parts of their body. However, how common is this problem? Do we really have to be concerned about dry skin care?


Twenty percent of the population suffers from a dry skin problem. That is one in five people and so, yes, dry skin is quite common. Depending on which part of the world you are from, this percentage may even be greater. It is a non-specific condition, affecting people of all ages. It is not solely a problem associated with skin aging.


Most people tend to ignore or not realize they have dry skin and this leads to the worsening of the condition. How do you know you have dry skin? Well, generally the same symptoms occur in people and this makes it easy to diagnose. The signs are usually obvious. However, the level of severity can differ substantially.
For a look at symptoms of a dry skincare problem - click here.

If you suspect you have a dry skin care problem then the next logical question is how did this happen to my once healthy skin. There are a number of reasons why your skin has become dry and the causes of dry skin are discussed here.

Fortunately, dry skin (also known generally as xerosis) usually is not a serious problem and for the most part can be controlled simply by being aware and using proper dry skincare products.


Prevention is your first weapon. Tips for preventing a dry skincare problem can be found here. Following these dry skin care recommendations is a must if you want to keep you skin healthy, but as we all know, we do not live in an ideal world. Sometimes our day-to-day demands prevent us from practicing dry skin care prevention and next thing you know, your skin is dry.


For minor symptoms, there are many effective dry skin care treatments and dry skin products. These can be pursued without doctor’s advice.

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Dry Skin Treatments

Dry Skin Treatments

Dry skin treatments are really composed of a four-pronged approach. First, you must avoid the dry skin causes or in other words avoid the factors that make the skin become dry.

Second, dry skin prevention is critical as well. Take the necessary steps to avoid dry skin from becoming your problem. Being aware of the causes of dry skin and practising dry skin prevention are important dry skin treatments even if you already have dry skin, because this condition can get much worse than it already is.

The third factor in the dry skin treatment is seeking the advice from your family doctor who may refer you to a dermatologist. When should you seek the advice of a dermatologist? It is always better to be safe than sorry, especially when symptoms seem to be more problematic than just minor irritation. If you are concerned, make an appointment to discuss your dry skin problem.

The fourth factor in dry skin treatments is the use of a moisturizer. The use of a proper moisturizer (in combination with causes/prevention awareness) is an important element in dry skin treatment.

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DRY SKIN SYMPTOMS

DRY SKIN SYMPTOMS

Dry skin symptoms in people are generally the same. Skin is often driest on the arms, lower legs, and the sides of the abdomen. Other areas were dry skin is commonly found are the hands, face, elbows, and heels of feet. However, not everybody suffers from these symptoms to the same degree.

Symptoms vary depending on variables such as:


•age
•health
•geographical location (cold and dry climates producing greater symptoms)
•time spent outdoors.



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There are two categories of dry skin symptoms. Basic dry skin symptoms are due to environmental factors or normal skin aging.


Basic Dry Skin Symptoms

•skin has a rough and dry texture instead of smooth
•a loss of plumpness – skin appears shrunken or dehydrated
•skin is dull in appearance
•after showering, bathing, or swimming the skin feels and looks tight
•flaking, scaling, or peeling of the skin is quite common
•itchy feeling which is sometimes intense (so intense it may interfere with proper sleep)
•calloused (toughened) skin
•normal fine lines or wrinkles in the skin become much more visible
•severe redness, inflamed areas, or tenderness in the skin
•cracks in skin or deep cuts that may bleed which are signs of extremely dry skin.



The other category of dry skin symptoms is due to more serious conditions. These symptoms are more specific to the stated condition.

Ichthyosis vulgaris (fish scale disease or fish skin disease)

This is a condition when the skin does not shed as it normally should. Instead, skin cells accumulate on the skin surface. The disease can be inherited, but is usually not present at birth, but rather develops after a few years. It may disappear during the adult years, but tends to return as the individual gets older. Symptoms for this condition are:


•dry scales on skin surface which range in colour from white to brown
•commonly found on lower legs where scales are thick and dark
•may cause flaking of the scalp
•may also be present as deep cracks on the palm of the hands and soles of the feet.




Lamellar Ichthyosis

This is a condition that is present at birth and stays with the individual over his/her lifetime. Babies are born encased in a filmy membrane that sheds after 10 to 14 days. For individuals with this condition, it is a very disfiguring dry skin condition that causes a lot of distress. In addition to the characteristics stated above, other symptoms of this dry skin disease are:


•skin is covered in scales which are either fine and white or thick and dark
•more common on legs, but generally found all over body.



Asteatotic Eczema

Symptoms for this condition are:

•skin is dry, scaly, and with deep cracks (like a dry riverbed)
•skin in this condition can become inflamed, itchy and will bleed
•usually occurs on the shins and occasionally on the thighs, hands, and torso.

Psoriasis

Symptoms for psoriasis are:


•red skin that has dry silver scales similar to dandruff
•severe cases have cracked, bleeding skin with pus-filled blisters
•psoriasis is a chronic condition that flares up periodically although an individual may go many years without symptoms
•can occur at any age, but usually between the years of 15 to 35

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Buying Skin Care Products

Buying Skin Care Products

If you don't have time to make your own beauty products or prefer to buy from a shop, you need to know what you're spending your money on. You can pay anything for a cleanser or moisturizer, but is it worth it? In a french study of anti-aging products, a budget vitamin E anti-wrinkle cream came out top for effectiveness, despite its bargain basement price. So, before you buy, always compare prices. Economical products may not come in fancy wrapping but they can have just as many useful properties as their more expensive counterparts.



The best guide to choosing the right product is how it feels on the skin. A moisturizer should be absorbed easily and not leave a greasy film behind. It's a good idea to choose one that gives a longer-lasting effect, and is fragrance- and color-free, as additives may irritate the skin.



Cleansers are available in a bewildering range including creams, lotions, rinse-off gels, and soap-free bars. You can also buy cleansers and toners combined, which saves time and money. Soap and water cleanses off water-soluble dirt, but its alkaline nature can upset the skin's natural pH (acid/alkaline) balance, leaving it dry and tight. Also, it is less effective at dissolving oil-based make-up or removing excess sebum from the skin.



A sign of a good cleanser is that it should easily remove all impurities, such as oil, grime, make-up, and loose skin cells. Also, it should not leave a residue that can clog pores and cause spots. In general, wash off cleansers are best suited to oilier skin types and cream-based ones to drier skins. If you have sensitive skin, avoid products containing soap, fragrance, and color.



Night creams contain more active ingredients than daily moisturizers as the skin is supposedly more receptive and cell renewal more active when we're at rest. They also tend to be richer (or thicker) and this is more acceptable for night-time use. If you have oily or combination skin, your normal daytime moisturizer will probably do just as well, although night creams do have a higher concentration of herbal and vitamin extracts.



When buying skincare products, always study the list of ingredients so you know what the term is intended to do. The following are some of the most commonly used ingredients. They can be highly effective and rarely cause adverse reactions. However, if any product causes inflammation, a rash or any other unpleasent side-effect, stop using immediately and, if necessary, seek medical advice.

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Sensitive Skin Care

Sensitive Skin Care

Women who have sensitive skin find that it usually dry, delicate, and prone to broken capillaries and alergic reactions such as rashes. With sensitive skin, it is important to use products designed for this specific skin type; these products are laboratory tested to eliminate ingredientss that are known to cause allergies and are often termed hypoallergenic.

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Developing A Skin Care Routine

Developing A Skin Care Routine

There are many products on the market these days that promise to give you younger looking skin, to remove wrinkles, and to perform miracles. No skin care product can do this. As it cannot penetrate below the surface of the skin, it cannot remove wrinkles that are already established, and it cannot push back the clock and eliminate any signs of ageing. But this isn't to say that you cannot improve your skin and make it look as good as you possibly can. With this in mind, it is important to develop and maintain a good skin care routine from an early age.



The most important thing to remember is to use products that are designed for your skin type. Some products, such as astringent toners designed for oily skin, will be much too harsh if used on dry skin, and moisturizers for dry skin will be too much heavy and greasy for oily skin. Once you have chosen your products, it is easy to organize a simple cleansing, toning and moisturizing routine that takes only minutes to perform both morning and night.



Morning Skin Care Routine


Cleansers are formulated to remove surface grime and dirt as well as dissolve stale make-up from the skin.



Cleanse your face thoroughly using a creamy cleanser or cleansing milk. Saturate your cosmetic sponge or a damp cotton wool with a blob of cleanser. Rub in gently using small circular movements to clean up surface grime from facial skin and throat. Cleansing should continue until there are no traces of dirt on your sponge or cotton wool. Follow up your cleansing with a mild complexion bar and water. After rinsing well, pat your face with upward and outward strokes. Blot dry, use a toner to stimulate circulation and remove any traces of leftover dirt, if any. You may now apply a film of moisturizer all over face and neck.



Night Cleansing Regime


Give your skin a chance to breath. Cleanse the face and neck using a cleanser to remove stale make-up, dust, dirt and grease which has accumulated on the skin during the day. A gentle massage will help to float out deep down make-up and other impurities. Cleansing must continue until the damp coton wool comes out clean. Cleanse your neck and remember eye make up too has to be removed very gently, using a specially formulated eye make-up remover. Be gentle while wiping clean the area surrounding the eyes and the mouth. Take care not to stretch, as lines can appear around them. Rinse off with cold water to close pores and for that tingling fresh feeling. Tone your face with a freshner. Cold mineral water is an excellent freshner. Apply moisturizing cream or a rich night cream. Lightly massage onto the skin using circular up and outward movements.



Basic Skin Care Products


Your basic skin care products consists of cleansers, freshners or astringents, face masks, face packs, toners, moisturizers and night creams.



You have a choice between chemical based skin products and off the kitchen shelf products. The latter are low cost and are natural remedies which produce excellent results. Natural remedies should be given two weeks of regular application before you question its credibility.

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For Oily Skin

For Oily Skin

Who does not want to look the best. While everybody knows that the true beauty lies in the heart of the person, one can not deny the fact that facial beauty also to a great extant helps in boasting ones confidence. If your skin is glowing and looking good, the kind of energy your inner self ozzes has no match to anything else. Its very important to give skin the treatment according to the skin type we have. The care of oily skin will be different from the care of the dry skin and like that. So, the first step is to know the kind of skin you have and accordingly give it the treatment it requires. So, here are some very valuable and simple applications that will undoubtedly work best for the oily skin.

For cleaning the oily skin

Don’t use just any other soap on your oily skin. Use mild soap to clean your oily skin. Remember using hard soap can make the skin more dry than you would like it to be.

Using cotton swab, apply rosewater on the skin 2/3 times a day. It’s a good cleanser and make the skin instantly smooth without much efforts.

Take 10-12 table spoon of raw milk (unboiled milk) and 2-3 table spoon of lemon juice. Mix them. The mixture will turn into a curd like consistency. Now take some cotton, soak it in the mixture and rub the same preparation on your face and hands gently. If cotton is not available, use your finger tips and do the same thing slowly and gently. Don’t use force as it may not be good for the skin layer. After applying the same, let it dry for about 15 min or till you start to feel stretch in your skin on drying. Now wash your face and hands with lukewarm water.

The application will make your skin soft and give it a amazing instant glow. By using a cotton swab, this cleanser can be applied on your neck also before bath.

This liquid mixture serves as good quality cleanser for oily Skin. While lemon helps reduce the oiliness, milk gives the skin a glow and makes it soft. This is also good to rejuvenate skin damaged by exposure to sun rays.

For getting smoothness and glow

Take half cucumber and grate it. Squeeze out the same. You will get an ounce of juice from this grated cucumber. In this juice, add 1/2 tablespoons of lemon juice and 1 table spoon of rosewater. Stir nicely. Using cotton swabs apply gently on face and neck. Leave it for about 30 min. Once it dries, wash with lukewarm water first and then with cold water.

The above application will make skin smooth and give it a instant glow. Cucumber juice will work great on the skin. This is also good to rejuvenate skin damaged by exposure to sun rays.

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For Normal Skin

For Normal Skin

If you are blessed with normal skin, thank the god first as its relatively easy to take care of the normal skin as compared to the skin care involved in oily skin or dry skin. Its actually the kind of skin which is neither too oily nor too dry. But it certainly does not mean that you can use anything and everything on your face and to clean you face. Whatever be the type of skin, skin care require conscious efforts if you want all time fresh and glowing skin to attract compliments from one and all.

FOR CLEANING

Take some raw milk in a bowl and heat it just enough to make it tepid. Dip cotton swab in this tepid milk and rub on face, hands, neck for about 10 min. Wait for 20 min after application. Thereafter wash with lukewarm water.

The said procedure will clean the skin from deep inside and you will be able to feel the fresh ness yourselves. Its advisable not to use soap after cleaning your skin with the aforesaid application.

FACE MASK FOR NORMAL SKIN

Take about 3.5 ounces of Kaolin Clay (called Multani Mitti in local language) and soak it in water. Leave it soaked for 2 hours. In 2 hours or so, you will see that it would have soaked water completely.

Now mix it with your hands so it will become a thick paste. Remember to mix it nicely so that all the lumps dissolve. Apply this paste all over the face leaving the soft area around you eyes. Please be careful not to let the paste touch you eyes.

In winter, apply this paste on your face smoothly using finger tips. If possible sit in a sunny area for 30 min, thereafter wash with lukewarm water. In summer, apply this mask and sit in shade for 30 min.

Once it becomes dry and you start feeling the tightness of the skin, wash you face with cold water removing the dry mitti slowly. Dry your face using clean and soft towel and feel fresh.

Applying this mask once a week will work wonders for the skin.

The mask of multani mitti not only cleans the skin from deep inside but also makes it instantly feel soft.

Make sure the mitti you get has a pale color as the brownish one in color is not the right one to be used on the skin.

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For Dry Skin

For Dry Skin

Dry skin is most common. In fact rightly said, many people suffer from dry or very dry skin. This is the kind of skin which not only makes the skin look unpleasant but also can cause itchiness. Extra efforts are required to take care of the dry skin. Avoid using any soap on the face if you have dry skin. If at all required, use a soap which is glycrine/milk based. You can also use raw milk anytime to clean the skin. Milk is the best cleanser for the dry skin. Though, it will be advisable to use some home made masks as given below to clean and wash your face.

FOR CLEANING
Take some raw milk in a bowl and heat it just enough to make it tepid. Dip cotton swab in this tepid milk and rub on face, hands, neck for about 10 min. Now wait for 20 min after application. Let it become dry and get completely absorbed into the skin. Thereafter wash with lukewarm water. This procedure will help in cleaning the skin from deep inside.

Boil 1/2 cup milk and leave for 10 min. Once the milk cools down, you will find a thick solid layer deposited on the surface of the milk. Take this solid layer out with the help of a spoon. Use 1 spoon of this solid deposit. Rub on your face. Leave for 10 minutes. Then wash with lukewarm water

If you follow this procedure daily for few days, you will undoubtedly notice that your skin will not be dry anymore and start looking much healthier and younger. This will resolve the problem of dryness of the skin making it soft and silky.

FACE MASK FOR DRY SKIN
Take about 5/6 tablespoon of wheat flour. In it, add 1/8 spoon turmeric powder, 1 spoon almond oil and the rest milk. Keep adding milk till the time it becomes a smooth and thick paste. Apply this paste on your face gently using finger tips or cotton swabs. Leave it for about 10 min. Wait till it become dry and then remove the application by gently rubbing with your hands. Wait for about 20 min and then wash your face with lukewarm water.

Try using this application once every 3-4 days for good results. It offers a valuable treatment for your dry skin. While you are using this mask, avoid using soap for washing your face or else the benefits of the mask will be minimized.

In case the above application looks time consuming and you are tempted to use the soap to wash your face because of lack of time, there is an alternative available. Use paste of 1 spoon Gram flour and 2 spoons of milk. Clean the face with this paste and get instant glow.

Above application will prove to be extremely useful in cold weather when the skin gets dry. Regular use of this mask will get rid of the problem of dry skin and will instead make your skin smooth, silky and fair.

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