I don’t know about you, but reading the words “firming body wash” confuses me. How can a body wash make your skin firmer? It only stays on your skin for a minute or two until you rinse off in the shower. That’s not enough time for the ingredients in a firming body wash to penetrate skin and be absorbed into skin cells.

If you stop and think, it doesn’t make sense.

But companies market body wash this way, because they know it increases sales. If you’re holding two body washes and one says “firming” on the bottle and one doesn’t, which one would you choose? A little deceptive advertising is all that’s needed to persuade a consumer to buy one product over another.

If you’re looking for a skincare product with body firming benefits, stay away from firming body wash. Body washes are only for cleaning skin. Instead, you want a natural body firming cream.

Body firming creams are available everywhere. Usually, they are much cheaper than face creams? Why…skin is skin? Well, facial skin is the most sensitive, thinnest, and most exposed to the world; taking care of it requires the highest quality ingredients. The skin on the rest of the body is thicker and often covered up by clothes. As someone who buys skincare products, I understand the emphasis on facial skincare, but I still want the best for the skin on my body.

Body skin ages the same as facial skin, however, the effects of aging (wrinkles, lines, dark circles, stress) show up first on the face. This often causes people to neglect their body skin or settle for using products with mediocre ingredients. Ideally, your natural body firming cream should contain ingredients that fight the primary skin agers.

What are the three major skin agers and how to stop them?

Collagen and elastin loss. These are two very important skin proteins that, unfortunately, we slowly lose with age. You need an ingredient that stimulates your skin cells to produce more collagen and elastin. Collagen regrowth must happen from within; many cosmetic companies list collagen on the label, tricking consumers into believing that collagen can be rubbed into skin.

Hyaluronic acid loss. This acid in skin cells gives collagen and elastin fibers their “stickiness”. Without it, skin becomes saggy and dark circles under the eyes appear. You need an ingredient that blocks the enzyme hyaluronidase from breaking down hyaluronic acid.

Free radical oxidation. Free radicals in the environment are absorbed by your skin everyday. Your body can’t stop them from being absorbed; all it can do is fight them with antioxidants. A powerful antioxidant often found in natural body firming cream is coenzyme Q10. However, it’s often included in a low concentration and in a hard-to-absorb form. You need a smaller form of coenzyme Q10 that penetrates many skin layers and goes to work at the cellular level.

Now you know the three biggest skin agers. What’s your next step? Find out which specific ingredients have the power to stop them. At my website, I discuss the best natural ingredients that stimulate collagen and elastin production, maintain hyaluronic acid levels, and prevent free radical damage. With ingredients like these, your natural body firming cream will be just as effective as any face cream on the market.

Carol Truesdale
http://www.articlesbase.com/skin-care-articles/news-flash-firming-body-wash-products-dont-firm-skin-744877.html

Dry skin happens more often in the winter where the cold air outside and the hot air inside creates a low relative humidity. It’s easy to treat dry skin cheaply, simply, naturally, yet effective, at home. Xeroderma literally means “dry skin”.

Skin consists of loose connective tissue and elastin. The skin is often known as “the largest organ of the human body”. Skin also receives less blood flow and lower gland activity.

The dermis is structurally divided into two areas: a superficial area adjacent to the epidermis, called the papillary region, and a deep thicker area known as the reticular region. The dermis is tightly connected to the epidermis by a basement membrane. The outermost layer of epidermis consists of 25 to 30 layers of dead cells.

The oil glands do not supply enough lubrication to the skin: as a result, the skin becomes dehydrated.

Environmental factors such as exposure to sun, wind, cold, chemicals, or cosmetics, or excessive bathing with harsh soaps, can cause dry skin. Forced-air furnaces make skin even drier. Xeroderma can also be caused by a deficiency of vitamin A, systemic illness, overexposure to sunlight or some medications.

Use bath oils and moisturizers daily. Cosmetics should be used carefully because they may cause allergic reactions like contact dermatitis. Dry your skin gently and thoroughly, patting not rubbing.

Fatty acids are particularly important to people with dry skin. Drink plenty of water, a minimum of a quart a day. Drink freshly juiced carrot juice every day. You want to work from the inside out too. Concentrating on a diet of LOTS of fruits and vegetables (preferably uncooked) and no junk food, should give you an observable improvement within 30 days.

It just takes motivation, a willingness to try it, and diligent application of coconut oil several times daily and at bedtime to see its benefits. Coconut oil is very inexpensive, therefore, a good, cheap home remedy. Also use a thin layer of coconut oil under your make-up to moisturize your skin all day. Use bath oils and moisturizers, especially coconut oil, at least daily.

Sunlight, water and air play an important role in keeping the skin healthy. Dry skin can be converted into healthy skin using natural home remedies. The skin supports its own ecosystems of microorganisms, including yeasts and bacteria, which cannot be removed by any amount of cleaning.

It’s time to call the doctor when all your home remedies do not relieve your dryness and itching. Go to your skin doctor if dryness and itching are preventing you from sleeping. Make sure to call your dermatologist when you have any open cuts or sores from scratching that won’t heal.

Helen Hecker
http://www.articlesbase.com/non-fiction-articles/new-thinking-on-natural-dry-skin-care-treatment-119657.html

With people all worried about their appearances, the skin care treatment industry has become a worldwide moneymaker, earning billions of dollars each year from people across all demographics.

One of the treatments that is growing really popular is Microdermabrasion, a procedure that removes the topmost layer of the skin, getting rid of the dead skin cells on the surface and bringing back its healthy glow. It also leaves a smoother surface and even stimulates the growth of new calls as well as the production of collagen and elastin, which both plays a role in the development of wrinkles.

For some, a total of six peelings are needed to achieve the best results. Others can get away with less depending on the condition of the skin. Often the procedure is done every one to two weeks. It makes use of aluminum crystals that create a micro-dermabrasion effect that helps peel the skin.

Although the skin is the most common area treated by the procedure, it is also done on the neck, chest, arms, hands or any area that are damaged by the sun. It is also used for skins with irregular pigmentation such as sun spots and melasma; those with irregular and rough skin; and even those with some wrinkles and stretch marks.

Effects of the procedure is said to better than those seen in glycolic acid peels. Another advantage is the longer healing and recovery time compared to other procedures. There is also a shorter treatment time as well very minimal discomfort. It is also said to be very safe for all skin types as well as all races.

Although it is less expensive, it can be expensive on the long run as it requires multiple treatments. So, before having yourself treated, make sure that you have already determined the total cost.

This procedure is similar to some chemical peeling treatment except that it does not burn the skin. There is also less irritation reported as well as allergic reactions to the procedure. One can even apply make-up on the skin that is newly treated.

One of the many benefits of Microdermabrasion is that it has less treatment time. This means that you don’t have to spend so much time in the surgical room. Another pros is the fact that it has less recovery time compared to other techniques that basically do the same treatment.

It is also relatively painless that dermatologists and doctors do not even use anesthesia anymore. Because of this, it is also relatively cheaper compared to other laser skin treatments available. Microdermabrasion can treat a lot of skin conditions such as age spots, acne, pigmentation marks, sun-damaged skin, fine wrinkles and even dull congested skin.

The kind of treatment as well as the duration will depend upon the skin type and the condition. Treatment results will of course vary depending on the condition of the skin before the treatment and of course the severity of the problem. But as mentioned before, with microdermabrasion, there will be shorter recovery time. Patients can already resume their work even hours after treatment.

Before the treatment

There are really no strict requirements before undergoing the procedure. But for safety purposes, patients are advised to not put any retinoid or retinal. There should also be no AHA usage for three days before and after the treatment.

Caring for the treated area

The first thing that should be done is to clean the area and keep it well moisturized. The doctor will also tell you the products that you can put on your skin. Another thing that you should do is to protect it from the sun at all times. Do this by using a sun block with moisturizer, at least SPF 15, to keep the skin moist and supple.

Other treatments includes:

Photorejuvenation – This is another skin treatment in the country. Through the use of laser or broadband light, mild acne scarring can be improved by causing a new layer of collagen to form on the skin. Often, this procedure will require five to six treatments that are performed every three to four weeks.

Scar Revision – This is a surgical procedure conducted to remove acne scars, especially the ice pick and box cars, which are pretty deep. An excision is made during the procedure through a punch. This hole is then closed with sutures that are often about seven days later. Another technique used in this procedure is the subcision, which uses a sharp instrument to undercut the scar being treated.

Laser Treatments – Other forms of skin treatments are the Laser resurfacing (CO2 laser, Erbium Yag laser);
Pulsed dye laser and Laser skin resurfacing.

Low Jeremy
http://www.articlesbase.com/non-fiction-articles/the-latest-in-skin-care-treatment-microdermabrasion-and-other-techniques-102623.html

Women from all walks of life have forever sought endless beauty.  The shift today, however, is that men are also doing the same.  Longevity and beauty have stepped into the limelight as countless numbers of baby boomers begin to “grow” wrinkles.

We no longer just worry about survival, but we also fret about the quality of our health and the manifestation of such to be exhibited outwardly – our appearance.   The biological sciences are making rapid advances in all areas.

If you are in the market for a skin care product, beware.  Know what you’re buying before you buy it. For more details go to: www.info-product-profit-revealed.com
Effective skin care products must include ingredients that protect the skin during the day and repair it at night.

This is the first secret of an effective skin care program; the second is having effective products.  So what is the difference between products that work and products that do not work?

Commercial products that are successful must also be profitable.  Two methods are used to sell skin care products.  The first is to promise something good will happen when the product is used.  This is the “hope in a jar” method.  It requires constant and expensive advertising to suggest the buyer will look just like the woman in the ad if she uses the product.

As long as the commercial runs, the product will sell.  However, cost of the commercials is so high that it is next to impossible to make a quality product for this market.

The second method is to make a quality product and let the product’s performance speak for itself.  Only a certain amount of advertising is needed, and once the product is established, the name will carry future sales.  Many professional products are marketed this way.

Most companies of mass-market products must keep the cost of materials very low, including the ingredients and the packaging.                                                                                   For help visit: www.instant-cd-products.com The ingredients are the key to an effective product – not only the type of ingredients but also the quality.  Most inexpensive products will contain ingredients such as mineral oil, satiric acid, and some alkali to form a soap emulsion.  A little fragrance and color and, voila, you have a skin care product.

Many people are misled that if a product looks good and smells good, it must be good.  Not so.  Actually, it may do your skin more harm than good.

Sometimes these poorly-formulated products will list exotic ingredients on the label to impress the buyer.  Usually, they are in the product at very low levels-at levels that cannot possibly affect any kind of change to the skin.  It is the same as making a pot of tea with only one tealeaf.  It can be called tea, but it is not really tea, or, at least, not very good tea.

The consumer needs to be aware that a good skin care product cannot be made cheaply.  For example, one ingredient in a major skin care product line cost about $3,000 a kilogram, a gram cost $3, so 0.9 grams will cost $2.70 just for that one ingredient.  Consider that a good skin care product may have more than 15 ingredients.  It is easy to see why the cost of skin care products can be so expensive.

On the other hand, the average cheap skin care product contains less than 30 cents’ worth of total active ingredients.  No matter what claims are made for a cheap product, the quality and quantity of active ingredients tell the story.
Whether or not you go out and buy the most expensive skin care product on the market or the cheapest, just be aware that not all skin care products are made equal-read the label carefully and judge accordingly.

sunil
http://www.articlesbase.com/business-articles/secret-of-an-effective-skin-care-program-689879.html

You’re not the only one looking for an anti aging skin cream. The UK and the USA has an aging population, according to National Statistics. With decreased mortality rates and lower birth rates, the percentage of those over 65 in increasing more rapidly than any other age group. With this increase in older adults, the importance of good skin care practices has become apparent – for every life stage. In order to maintain a youthful glow and ageless beauty, more people than ever are looking for an anti aging skin cream that really works.

When you’re younger and don’t have wrinkles

The signs of aging can begin as early as your twenties and thirties according to UK dermatological studies. And if you were devoted to the sun during your youth, they can be even more noticeable. But if you don’t have any obvious signs of aging, there are several good habits you will want to pick up in order to keep that smooth appearance to your skin and put off aging lines and wrinkles as long as possible:

? Stop smoking – One of the best things you can do for your skin as well as your body is to quit smoking. According to recent findings, those that quit smoking before they are thirty can often have the same health risks at the age of fifty as someone that has never smoked. By quitting smoking, you will also stop the repetitive action of pursing your lips, which can cause wrinkles to your face as well as exhaling smoke that causes damage to the outer layers of the skin.

? Start exercising – By keeping your skin oxygenated, you may be able to put off the use of an anti wrinkle cream for longer than you might have without the extra action in your life. When you exercise, your body is able to oxygenate itself, causing the cells to work more efficiently, replacing themselves and repairing themselves of damage. When your skin cells can work in this way, they can head off wrinkles before they start.

? Wear sun lotion – It’s crucial that you wear sun lotion in order to prevent sun damage. With more than 65 000 new cases of skin cancer in the UK last year, you’re not only doing your skin a favour, but you’re also preventing unsightly lines in the process.

? Eat a healthy diet – Think of good eating habits as a way to apply an anti aging skin cream from the inside. When you fuel your body properly, you will allow the skin cells to regenerate more easily, creating rapid turnover that results in fresh, even skin tone as well as smooth appearance.

Moving into the forties and the fifties

But even with these good skin care habits, you will still need to find an anti aging skin cream for the wrinkles that you can not avoid. However, this is not as difficult as you might think. One of the primary causes of a higher incidence of noticeable wrinkles is a lack of moisture in the skin as you age. Your skin doesn’t produce as many oils in the skin, which lets the skin look wrinkled and lined. To prevent this, here are some easy tips to follow:

? Drink more water – It seems like common sense, but if you’re not taking in enough water, your body probably isn’t getting as much as it needs to keep your skin healthy looking. You can also spray atomised water (i.e. Evian) onto your skin to keep it moisturised from the outside as well.

? Apply an anti aging skin cream at night – When you’re sleeping, your skin isn’t battling the elements of the outside world, making it a perfect time to fight off the appearance of wrinkles and promote skin healing. Try washing your face before bedtime, leaving it slightly moist and then applying your chosen anti aging skin cream. It will work wonders.

? Try eating your moisture – Another consideration (with your general practitioner’s approval) is to take a supplement containing omega fatty acids. This helps the skin retain moisture and a more youthful appearance.

Choosing the best cream for your face

However, not all anti aging skin cream products are made the same or are made for everyone’s face. Here are some of the main categories that you have to choose from:

? Botanicals and all natural products
? Collagens
? Retinols
? Antioxidants

What you might want to keep in mind is that these products all have varying degrees of strength. Things like a collagen boosting anti aging skin cream or a Retinol cream will be harsher to your skin and should only be applied sparingly and if you have deeper wrinkles to battle – they have been shown to reduce deeper lines by an average of 23%. Botanicals and those with antioxidants are gentler on the skin, so they can be used for softer wrinkles that aren’t as noticeable. Look too for the percentage of the ingredients in the anti aging skin cream products that you find so as to compare the strengths of the products and their presumed effectiveness.

Dave Mcevoy
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/an-anti-aging-skin-cream-for-every-age-107371.html

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In this article,  we look at some statements made by an author (whom I will not name) of a skin care book and review how valid these are. Skin care secrets are not secrets at all. Most of the time skin care is simple common sense. Unfortunately common sense is not very common…

Author’s statement – Skin care secret #1: You can clean your skin, but you can’t “deep-clean” it.

Comment: Anyone reading our article on natural facial clays knows the author of the above statement is not a ‘deep-thinker’. Clays draw toxins and other waste materials lodged in the pores of the skin out and are more effective than any water-soluble cleansers. The properties of Green Clay for example are very powerful in drawing toxins, micro-organisms and even bacteria into the clay for easy removal. This is why Green Clay products are often used to treat skin conditions such as acne.

Author’s statement  – Skin care secret #2: Dry skin doesn’t wrinkle any more or less than oily skin.

Comment: Dehydration can reduce the water content of the skin from 70.6 to 65.85% (1). Therefore, it stands to reason that as the water is taken from skin cell, they tend to become flaccid and result in wrinkles. Using moisturisers that hold moisture in the skin rather than allowing the moisture to be lost, is definitely sensible and recommended by most dermatologists. In addition, good quality, natural moisturising creams not only help to keep moisture in the skin, but also provide vital nourishment in the form of plant nutrients for the skin to utilise.

Furthermore, dehydration is associated with changes in the appearance of the skin. In mild dehydration the skin may appear flushed, dry and loose, with a loss of elasticity (2,3).  Obviously, loose skin is more likely to appear wrinkled than firm, well hydrated skin.

As I’ve stated in many of my articles, drinking 2-3 litres of water every day is paramount and indeed no moisturiser in the world can substitute for drinking water. In addition, dry skin tends to become irritated and easily inflamed potentially leading to eczema or dermatitis. Using a moisturiser will help to reduce the irritation and itching caused by dry skin and may prevent the complication of developing more sever skin conditions.

Author’s statement – Skin care secret #3: A great number of skin-care problems are caused by the skin-care products used to prevent them.

Comment: Absolutely true. Many commercially available skin care products contain an extraordinary amount of chemicals in them. Many of these are deemed hazardous to our health. I’ve written an article that lists 10 commonly used chemicals in expensive brands of skin care products, all of which science has shown to be potentially harmful to our health. Read Toxic Ingredients in Skin Care Products if you wish to have a look at these ingredients.

Author’s statement – Skin care secret #4: Getting a tan is foolish. If you are exposed to the sun, even for as little as 10 to 20 minutes a day, which includes walking to your car or talking to a neighbor outdoors, that cumulative exposure over the years will wrinkle your skin.

Comment: Rubbish. Your skin needs a small amount of exposure to be able to synthesise Vit. D. In addition, your skin is well armed to handle some limited exposure to the sun unless you are suffering from albumism.

Obviously nobody should spend hours in full sun, especially in summer, without covering their body using some sun protection and keeping well hydrated. However, if you expose your body’s skin to sunlight before 10:00 am or after 4:00pm (during Summer) the intensity of the radiation is much less than during the mid-day hours. If you keep your skin exposure to under 15 minutes during this time, you are not likley to get burned and your skin will have a chance to make that vitamin D you need for you.

So there you have it. The secret to good skin care is simple common sense prevailing over marketing hype, and when combined with a little knowledge you can quickly determine what is right and what it hype.

References

(1) W Bianca. Effects of water deprivation on the water content of cattle skin. Int J Biometeorol 1968;12:153-157

(2) Principles of Human Nutrition. Ed M Eastwood. Chapter 8: Water, electrolytes, minerals and trace elements. London: Chapman & Hall 1997

(3) Kleiner SM. Water: An essential but overlooked nutrient. J Am Diet Assoc 1999;99;201-7

© Wildcrafted Herbal Products, 2008

Dr Danny Siegenthaler
http://www.articlesbase.com/skin-care-articles/skin-care-secrets-part-1-468033.html

As we age, our skin produces less of the natural oil that helps it retain its moisture. Xeroderma, the medical name for dry skin, occurs most commonly on the lower legs, arms, the sides of the abdomen and thighs and is a very common condition.

The epidermis contains no blood vessels, and cells in the deepest layers are nourished by diffusion from blood capillaries extending to the uppermost layers of the dermis. The outermost layer of epidermis consists of 25 to 30 layers of dead cells. The average square inch of skin holds 650 sweat glands, 20 blood vessels, 60,000 melanocytes, and more than a thousand nerve endings.

Dry skin can be due to a genetic condition but it’s not common. Forced-air furnaces may make skin even drier than it already is. Dry skin can also be a sign of an underactive thyroid.

When the oil glands do not supply enough lubrication to the skin, the skin becomes dehydrated. Dry skin can be caused by a deficiency of vitamin A, systemic illness, overexposure to sunlight or some medications. Dry skin happens more often in the winter when the cold air outside and heated air inside cause the humidity to be low.

Eating foods high in omega-3’s is particularly important for people with dry skin or acne. Get 20-30 minutes of sunshine daily on your arms and/or legs; sunshine triggers the body’s production of Vitamin D3, which is essential to having healthy skin. When the skin is dry and dehydrated, dead skin cells remain on the skin which may block pores and promote acne, zits, blemishes, or other breakouts; drink plenty of pure water.

If you use moisturizers, use the thick, oily-type which work better for dry skin. Apply cool compresses to any itchy areas. Use bath oils and moisturizers, or better yet, coconut oil, daily.

Apply coconut oil to irritated or chapped lips as well; it’s edible, so it’s safe and so healing to the lips. Coconut oil is the best healing, soothing, and moisturizing treatment I’ve found for dry skin; in fact all types of skin conditions, skin eruptions, pimples, acne, milia, irritations, cuts, burns, fungus, etc. If you have acne, eczema or any type of dermatitis coconut oil will treat and quickly heal these skin conditions too.

Dry skin contributes to fine lines and wrinkles; coconut oil helps prevent the onset by keeping the skin soft and supple. I buy coconut oil by the gallon; it’s cheaper for a whole gallon of coconut oil than a small jar of department store, name-brand moisturizer.

Functions of the skin are disturbed when it’s not clean; it becomes more easily damaged, the release of antibacterial compounds decreases and it’s more prone to develop infections. Many skin conditions can be converted into clear, healthy skin by using natural home remedies.

If your dry skin lasts for a long time and is itchy or feels hot when you touch it, see your doctor. Call your skin doctor if dryness and itching are preventing you from sleeping. Following some of the above treatments, your dry skin should be well on its way to recovery.

Helen Hecker
http://www.articlesbase.com/non-fiction-articles/fast-healing-natural-dry-skin-care-treatments-131087.html

Eye skin care secret #1 is to wear good sunglasses. They should be large enough to protect the area from UV rays. Good UV blocking sunglasses help prevent eye wrinkles and cataracts. Eyes are the first things that people see when they meet you. So, you want them to look their best. Keep reading and you will see four more helpful skin care secrets.

Secret #2 Gentle Massage

Stimulating the tiny capillaries under the eyes with gentle massage can help reduce fluid build up that causes bags, puffiness and dark circles. As part of a complete eye skin care routine, take a few moments when you wake up in the morning, use the smooth part of your index fingers and massage the area gently. Use small circles, so as to avoid pulling or stretching the skin. Excessive pulling or stretching increases your risk of developing eye wrinkles. You should be aware of that when you are applying makeup, as well.

Secret #3 Try an Anti-Wrinkle Pillow

The best one was developed by an ophthalmologist for patients to use when they were recovering from surgery. Only later did she realize that this pillow, which supports the neck and the forehead, without putting pressure on the face or eyes, could help prevent eye wrinkles, bags and dark circles. Some are sold at discount stores as less expensive copies but usually are no good. Some people suggest sleeping on higher pillows, to prevent fluid build up, but that can cause neck pain during the day and interfere with a good night’s sleep.

Secret #4 Sleep Well & Use a Nourishing Night Cream

Since we were children, we were told that we needed to get at least 7 or 8 hours of sleep every night. We all lead busy lives, so that’s difficult to do. However we must really try.

An important part of any eye skin care routine is to apply a nourishing cream, before you go to sleep. Be sure that it is free of artificial preservatives and added fragrances, since they can irritate the eyes, causing you to rub them in your sleep. There are several good ingredients to look for. Shea butter and avocado oil are two of them.

Secret #5 Use the Right Gel Around Your Eyes Everyday

Two ingredients, EYELISS and HALYOXY, have proven benefits for reducing eye wrinkles, bags, puffiness and dark circles. When applied on a daily basis, the majority of volunteers felt that their appearance had improved greatly in less than two months, in some cases, sooner.

The active components of the ingredients are antioxidants that stimulate circulation and promote capillary health. When combined with another ingredient, CYNERGY TK, the area under the eyes begins to rejuvenate, looking younger and becoming less fragile.

For the rest of your face antioxidant ingredients are important. It is believed that free radical damage is the major culprit that causes all of the signs of an aged appearance. The only way to prevent it is with antioxidants. There you have it, five secrets for eye skin care. I guess they aren’t really secrets, anymore.

Margaret Bell
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/skin-care-secrets-for-beaming-eyes-686720.html