April 15, 2007
Cosmetics: Precautions to take when buying and using cosmetics
Cosmetics need to be accompanied with caution when deciding to put on any type of cream or beauty product over the skin. Most women think nothing of the possible undetected allergic reactions and aging problems that come with using cosmetics on both their face and body.
To help alleviate consumers’ concerns though, many products have the term “hypoallergenic” on the packages. They market these products to you as if just because it is “hypoallergenic”, then there is no need to worry about skin problems. The truth is that there is no standardized test or method that can back up a claim like this.
Also be wary of products that state “Dermatologist Approved” or “Allergy Tested”. These marketing labels do not offer any guarantee that your skin will not have adverse reactions from the cosmetics. And of course, the word “natural” is another great way to pull in the consumer into a mindset of false safety.
Below are some helpful guidelines for safe cosmetic use:
1. Always wash your hands and face before applying cosmetics.
2. Eye cosmetics should be thrown away after 6 months.
3. Mascara should be thrown away after 3 months.
4. Do not use the samples of cosmetics that are open when you visit the store. One survey conducted found that almost 6% were infected with contaminants like fungus.
5. Any makeup that smells funny or has lost its constancy should be thrown away.
6. If you discover and eye infection, do not use makeup. Also, throw away all makeup that you used prior the the infection. They may be contaminated.
care, cosmetics, health, skin, skin care
April 9, 2007
You do it everyday – washing, shaving, shampooing, clipping your nails, washing and drying your hair. Personal grooming, for most people, is a series of well-entrenched habits. Have you ever considered whether you are making the most out of these daily rituals? Would you be willing to change your routine if doing so made your skin, hair, and nails look more attractive and created a better-looking you? Most adults whom are over thirty commit one big mistake when it comes to washing: The do too much of it. A shower in the morning, another after the gym, maybe even one before bedtime. The average women spends twelve minutes in the shower. That’s too long. Cut your time in the shower to five minutes for your skin’s sake. Americans especially are personal hygiene maniacs – terrified of missing a daily bath, revolted by the thought of anything but a well-scrubbed, antiseptic body. Too much washing results not just in cleanliness but in itchy, irritated skin, particularly in the winter months. The term “over-washed skin” is used to describe a large subset of people with dry skin whose problem comes from spending too much time in the shower.
Below are bathing tips that many can benefit from: 1. Avoid using a washcloth on delicate areas, especially the mucous membranes. 2. Use medium-warm water in the shower. The cooler the better, but not too cold. 3. If you have normal to dry skin, use Dove Unscented or Basis for Sensitive Skin on your body and either a soap free cleanser or nothing at all on mucous membranes. 4. If you tend to have oily skin, then use a deodorant soap such as Dial, Safeguard, or Lever 2000 on any part of your body that tends to be oily – usually the back or chest. 5. Skin a shower as often as you can. This may not seem like appealing advice but the more time you have in between showers the better. Skip a shower for a whole day once or twice a week, especially in the winter. Allow your skin to produce and maintain its natural oils.
care, health, over washed, personal grooming, skin, skin care
April 2, 2007
How to use essential oils for your skin
Essential oils have been around for thousands of years and are derived from plants. The oils are extracted from the seeds, roots, leaves, and even the skins of the plants. In fact, the oils are what gives plants and flowers its fragrances.
What are found inside these essential oils? Hormones, vitamins, and other natural elements are found within essential oils. The oils vary in concentration when in their natural form. Synthetic oils, by contrast, are man-made but have a more consistent composition. We hear from the experts that synthetic and natural essential oils work equally well.Nobody knows exactly how essential oils work, but we do know that they are absorbed through the skin and into the bloodstream. The best access on the skin to administer essential oils is the eyelids, inside the wrist, and behind the ears. These areas on the skin are thin, which allows for easier absorption. The best essential oils for your skin are: 1. If you have Hormonally or Stress Reactive skin: lavender, geranium, ylang-ylang, and jasmine. 2. If you are interested in using Environmentally Sensitive oils: chamomile, rose.3. For Overexposed or Hearty: geranium, neroli, frankincense.Joni Loughran, in “Aromatherapy for Skin and Hair Care,” recommends these simple strategies for essential skin care: 1. Drop eight to ten drops of essential oil for your skin profile in the bath. Use warm water to relax or cool water to invigorate or calm inflammation.2. Massage your body with essential oil. Add twenty to twenty-five drops of essential oil to two ounces of canola or other vegetable. If your skin tends to break out, rinse with a mild soap-and-water shower after the massage. 3. Make a facial compress: Add two to five drops of essential oil to a basin filled with water, stir, then immerse a clean washcloth. Squeeze out excess water and apply cloth to face.4. Add essential oil to simple moisturizing products, ten to twenty drops for every two ounces.
essential oils, health, information, sinsitive skin, skin, skin care
March 30, 2007
Top 10 reasons why people get chronic chapped lips
Attempting to find out the cause of severely chapped lips is never easy. There are various points of origin that you will have to research on and take notice of the results. Luckily for you, we have listed the ten most common causes of chronic chapped lips that can give you a starting point on identifying the culprit.
1. Although we tend to overlook this one, toothpaste is a very common contributor to chapped lips. Most toothpastes contain what is called guaiazuline, which may cause a contact allergy.
2. Lipstick contains an ingredient called propyl gallate which can also cause a contact allergy.
3. Orange juice or any other juice from citrus fruits can irritate your lips. A photo-toxic reaction can occur that looks like chapped lips.
4. Red dye is in many products that we all use. Candy, lozenges, gum, mouthwash, etc. all contain red dye that may cause allergies.
5. Various other lip care products besides lipstick are also a point of interest when it comes to pin-pointing allergic reactions. Many contain Phenylsalicylate (salol) which may be the cause.
6. Too much vitamin A may also be the culprit behind your peeling lips. It does not matter if the source of your vitamin A comes from whole foods or supplements, if you are taking in more than 25,000 I.U. per day then you might want to take a closer look at this.
7. In addition to excessive vitamin A, your body may be taking in too much Vitamin B12 supplements. What happens is that you develop an allergy to cobalt from taking your B12 supplements and causes crusty and swollen lips.
8. Cinnamon flavoring can also cause lip chapping. This flavoring is found in candy, gum, mouthwashes, etc.
9. Eating too many figs can also cause your allergic reaction due to photo-toxicity.
10. And interestingly enough, metal objects like paper clips and pocket change is a very likely cause of chronic chapped lips. An allergic reaction may show itself on your lips.
chapped lips, lip, lips, skin, skin care
March 27, 2007
Natural remedies for skin rashes and itchiness
Aloe Vera: Widely known for treating burns and sunburns, aloe vera also helps in healing wounds and minor skin irritations such as itchiness and rashes. This plant produces anti inflammatory, anti bacterial, and anti fungal properties. It also contains folic acid, zinc, and vitamins C and E.
The best way to reap the benefits of aloe vera is to use the actual fresh gel from the plant. At the time of application, slice off a portion of the leaf and directly apply the gel to the affected area.
Calendula Cream (Golden marigold): Widely used in Germany, it is used for reducing inflammation and treating diaper rash. Experts say that Calendula works by stimulating the production of white blood cells that aid in destroying harmful microbes. You may purchase the cream form in pharmacies and health food stores. You may also use the actual herb by mixing it with boiling water, one cup of the boiling water to two teaspoons of the herb. Steep for about ten minutes. Once the mixture is cooled, apply to the affected area by using a clean cloth.
Chamomile: Has anti inflammatory properties that soothes and eliminates irritations. Chamomile is also used in treating eczema, psoriasis, and sunburn. People who are allergic to grass and ragweed may acquire an allergic reaction to chamomile.
Jewelweed: Provides relief from poison oak, poison ivy, and poison sumac. To use, crush the fresh leaves and spread over rash.
Wild pansy: Soothes and relieves itching associated with eczema. This is also used for soothing acne.
Witch hazel: Acts as an astringent that relieves itching and minor skin inflammation. Also used for treating sunburns. For maximum benefit, use fresh witch hazel bark. Simmer one ounce of the bark with one pint of water and leave for ten minutes. Strain and cool. Apply with a clean cloth and leave it on for about thirty minutes.
aloe vera, care, health, skin, skin care, skin itchiness, skin rashes
March 21, 2007
Top three ways to deal with sensitive skin
People with sensitive skin require more demanding attention to their skin care routine than those with normal skin. They need skin care products with less chemicals, less fragrance, less additives, and less preservatives. Using these kinds of products can lower the risk of getting an allergic reaction and irritation to your skin. Although it is not very realistic to use only natural ingredients for fear of a breakout, it is possible to enjoy a wide variety of skin care products while reducing the risk of getting a bad reaction and irritation.
Keeping in mind that aside from skin care products, there are several foods and items that can trigger a negative reaction to your skin. The following are suggestions to avoid these problems:
- Keep your surroundings dust free, especially in your home and workplace.
- Try to avoid wearing wool and other synthetic fabrics. Wear cotton instead.
- Wash your face and hands after being close to irritating materials such as pollen or perfume.
Here are three ways of dealing with sensitive skin:
1. As much as possible, try wearing clothes that are made of natural fabrics. People with sensitive skin are more likely to get an allergic reaction to some fabrics. The major culprits are the dyes and formaldehyde that are in the fabric. Here are some tips to avoid this problem:
- Wear loose fitting clothes.
- Wash new clothes at least twice before wearing them.
- Those who are allergic to dyes should steer clear from clothes that are made from nylon, spandex, acrylic, or polyester.
2. Use the dilution method. It is almost impossible to completely eliminate contact with everyday products. But you can use the method of diluting to weaken the amount of harmful chemicals and dyes that contain in these products. Here are some suggestions:
- Add a tablespoon of baking soda and half the amount of shampoo that you use to rinse off waxy buildup from hair conditioners.
- Adding baking soda to your laundry that is not stained can reduce that required amount of detergent by up to fifty percent.
- Dilute your shampoo by using only half the amount and adding water as the other half.
3. Treat your skin as you would treat a baby’s. Just like a baby’s skin, people with sensitive skin needs the plainest products and those that offer the most protection against irritating factors.
health, information, sinsitive skin, skin, skin care
March 10, 2007
Getting rid of those dark circles under your eyes
Do you want to completely eradicate those annoyingly nasty looking dark circles that are under your eyes? Read on…
No other facial flaw is more noticeable to everyone else that is looking at your face than dark circles are. The appearance of dark circles increases how old you look and is a sure sign of someone who is unhealthy, whether by stress or by poor living habits. The culprit is generally a combination of things like sun damage, heredity, allergies, aging, and of course – lack of sleep!
But even if you get enough sleep and are stress free, as you age there is a likelihood that you may develop dark circles anyway. This is a result of the layer of fat underneath your eyes that actually thicken in time and gives the illusion of dark circles when you are in certain lighting.
In addition to that extra fat layer that contributes to dark circles, years of sun damage causes microscopic blood vessels underneath your eyes to loose their stability and add to the problem.
So what can you do about dark circles? Below are 3 simple ways that you can take advantage of to help with your tired looking eyes.
1. For a quick fix try using a concealer. Using yellow will neutralize the blues, purples, and husky hues on the skin. This does not rid the problem, but can build your confidence for the day to alleviate the ‘tired look’.
2. Use tea bags and cucumbers! Yes there definitely is something to seeing those commercials with women having cucumbers and tea bags on top of their eyes. Both tea bags and cucumbers reduce inflammation and decrease swelling. Tea bags are especially good to use for dark swollen circles because there is tannin inside of the tea that helps with eliminating the puffiness.
3. Use more anti-oxidants. Antioxidant treatments help to reduce fluid buildup under the eyes, which decreases the look of the dark circles. Go for treatments that involve a lot of vitamin C and GHK copper peptides. Also, vitamin K is great for restoring stability and strength to the blood vessels under the eyes, which reduces their proliferation.
darc circles eyes, eyes, health, information, skin, skin care
March 7, 2007
The best treatment for nail fungus
In order to cure nail fungus, you are going to have to penetrate the nail plate to reach the infection. Up until recently, the best known solution was to include three systemic prescription anti-fungal medications and one prescription topical therapy. Today, the best known therapy for nail fungus is called Lamisil (terbinafine). What makes Lamisil a superior solution for nail fungus? The answer is that this medication remains in the nail bed. And because of how well the medicine stays in the nail bed, the therapy time is significantly reduced. The time it takes to completely heal the infection compared to a standard prescription is shortened by up to 75%.
Many doctors may prescribe a drug called griseofulvin for nail fungus, which could take up to 2 years to eradicate the problem entirely. With Lamisil, toenails that are infected with fungus require only up to three months of treatment and fingernails require approximately six to eight weeks to be completely healed when using Lamisil. You can obviously see the huge difference in the time it takes.
Another benefit of Lamisil is that the medicine does not react negatively with other medications, if you are taking any. It is also not as hard on your body and has a low risk of systematic effects, such as liver problems. The only common problem that you might experience is diarrhea. However, this is extremely rare as Lamisil has basically been a very well tolerated prescription medication for nail fungus.
care, health, lip, lips, nail fungus, skin, skin care
February 20, 2007
The 5 most important qualities for successful skin care
Achieving a healthy, glowing skin is within reach. It is possible to possess that youthful appearance without having to pay an arm and a leg for cosmetic makovers or even surgery. With all the technologies and know-how that we have these days, it is easier to get the result that you desire.
You can look and feel your best.Before you begin to invest your time, energy, and money on skin care products and procedures, you will need to know certain traits and qualities toward successful skin care. Learning these traits can lead to a better assessment of your skin care goals and save you valuable time and money.
1. Having reasonable expectations. If you are in your late forties, you should not expect to look like someone who is in her twenties. With proper skin and overall health maintenance, a sensible expectation for a woman who is within this age group has likelihood to look ten, or even fifteen years younger. Comparing yourself to actors and actresses in Hollywood or models that you see in magazines is not realistic and can just lead to disappointment and aggravation
.2. Be motivated. What are your bases for looking younger and feeling better? Generally, there is a fundamental reason why people want to enhance their appearance to look and feel younger. Perhaps it is a new relationship, a new job, or maybe for the reason that you feel younger than you look. Determining your motive for improvement can help you create a goal that will enable you to make the right choice. 3. Dedication. Answering the following questions determine your commitment to achieve the look you want. These questions will also give you a better understanding on your skin care routine and behavior.
-To what extent will you go to achieve the outcome you want?
-Do you always think about what your skin looks like and how you can improve it?
-How much money are you willing to spend to enhance the way you look?
-Do you prefer to carry on a daily routine that offers a slow and steady improvement or go for something that offers a quick fix?
4. Patience. Good things take time. Understanding that in order to achieve a healthy, radiant skin, it takes every day protection and caring.
5. Health. Many people underestimate the benefits of healthy living, healthy eating, and vigorous exercise. Combining the right foods with the right amount of positive activities in your life not only does wonders for your body – but for your skin as well.
care, health, skin, skin care
July 28, 2006
Do you ever feel like you know just enough about close shave to be dangerous? Let’s see if we can fill in some of the gaps with the latest info from close shave experts.
Even though shaving is a task that is boring, time-consuming and sometimes frustrating, millions of people are faced with getting rid of unwanted hair, and everyone seems to be in search of how to get a close shave. Getting a close shave is not as easy as one might think. It is not as simple as splashing some water on your skin, lathering up the shave gel, and taking out the razor. The skin must be prepared, the proper shaving gel, cream or lotion must be used and adequate after care must be taken.
Shaving can be traced back to the early Egyptians, who were known for bathing several times a day and removing unwanted body hair using a clamshell. My guess is that they probably weren’t able to get a close shave with such a primitive tool!
For both men and women, it is important to prepare the skin before attempting to remove the hair. After you have chosen a proper shaving gel, this will be one that lathers well and remains on the skins surface; you should massage the gel into the skin instead of just spreading it on quickly. Remember that hair does not all grow in the same direction, so making a few passes over the skin with the razor held in different directions will provide a close shave.
Hopefully the information presented so far has been applicable. You might also want to consider the following:
Professional barbers agree that the number of blades on a razor does not guarantee a better job will be done. If the skin has been prepared correctly, there is no need for a double or triple blade razor, a single blade razor will allow for a close shave.
Once the skin has been shaved, it should be rinsed with cool water. It should never be rubbed, but instead patted dry with a clean towel. Many people in pursuit of a close shave are not aware that the act of shaving not only removes unwanted hair, but can also remove two layers of skin! For this reason, it is wise to apply a balm-like after-shave product, instead of one that is alcohol or perfume based, which are likely to irritate the skin. If you are unfortunate enough to suffer from razor burn or bumps, using a cream that contains 5% benzoyl peroxide should soothe the irritation.
By experimenting with different shaving gels and creams, some people even prefer to use shaving oils, you will be able to determine which one works best with your skin type. Remember to always use a sharp blade, as a dull one will just drag along the skin and cause irritation, and never shave right after waking in the morning. The first thing in the morning your skin tends to be puffy, and a close shave will be near impossible. Waiting approximately 30 minutes after rising from bed will allow the skin to return to its natural, non-puffy state. With a little practice and patience, you to can enjoy a close shave.
This article’s coverage of the information is as complete as it can be today. But you should always leave open the possibility that future research could uncover new facts.
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