Healthy Skin

It’s pretty well known that different people get different results with the same skin care products. This can be due to variations in body chemistry, but more often than not it is simply because everyone applies skincare products differently.

Of course, if a specific product does not give you the outcomes you expect, it does not always mean you are applying the product incorrectly. Sadly, many products just don’t work as advertised, whatever you do! To top that off, some products may work for some individuals but not for others even if applied properly. Nevertheless, if a product does not work, it may often be because of incorrect application.

Products such as skin creams, gels. or lotions are a mixture of chemicals that have a biological action, applied topically to the skin. So the results depends on whether the active ingredients work, and whether they are absorbed properly into your skin. Your skin’s temperature, hydration, environment and other factors will effect your skin’s ability to absorb the active ingredients in a product. To be sure that you get optimal results of you skincare products:

• Cleanse skin before applying any products. The best time to apply is soon after you come out of a warm shower or bath for the reason that not just is your skin clean, but it is also moist and warm, so it will absorb what ever you apply a lot better. Do not wash with hot water because excessive heat accelerates ageing. Water should be comfortably warm but not hot. However, if you plan to use anything oily that blocks the pores, splash cool water on yourself to close pores. Just pat dry with a towel. Also, use a charcoal shower filter to avoid exposure to the chlorine in the water. You probably drink bottled or filtered water — but you can absorb more chlorine through your skin during a shower than you would get from an 8 oz. glass of water!

• When cleansing your skin, don’t use regular soap or shampoo, they are much too drying. Use a good moisturizing soap, a skin cleanser, or plain warm (not hot) water.

• The top layer of skin is mostly made from dry, dead cells. When this layer becomes too thick, either from ageing or poor skincare skin, the active ingredients of a skincare product have difficulties penetrating. Professional microdermabrasion securely removes that top layer of skin, revealing the healthy, younger-looking skin underneath and allowing skincare products to be better absorbed for greater results. Furthermore, microdermabrasion done repeatedly strengthens the skin by stimulating elastin and collagen production, which helps diminish wrinkles, fine lines, acne scars and several other blemishes.

• Use short, firm strokes to apply skin care products. Do not stretch the skin. Do not rub. After applying, softly massage the products in to your skin by tapping the area with your fingers for 30 seconds or so.

• When using a professional microdermabrasion product at home, it is important to go through the directions and follow them very carefully. Remember, professional microdermabrasion is usually applied with expensive machines and medically-trained professionals. You can save a lot by doing it yourself, but do not be over-eager to get that 10-years-younger look. Apply the sponges softly the first time — let your skin adjust to the application. Add a little more time and pressure each application, about 2 weeks apart, up to a maximum of 3-5 minutes (depending on the sensitivity of your skin).

• If you have sensitive skin or allergies, always test the products you want to use first on a small patch of skin on your underarm (the soft skin on the bottom of your forearm.

DO YOU HAVE SENSITIVE SKIN?

Do you know sensitive skin is very common? Over 40% of people say they’ve it. Its causes include age, heredity, gender, and racial differences. These questions below can help you find out if your skin may be sensitive. Of course, a visit to your skin doctor is the best way to discover!

1. Does your skin get extra dry after you wash it with soap?
2. Does your skin get extra oily and break out after you use specific types of moisturizers?

If you answered Yes to one or both of these questions, you may have sensitive skin.

3. Does your skin get red, itch, burn, or feel tight after coming into direct or indirect contact with perfumes and/or particular shampoos, shaving creams, detergents, dish soaps, hair sprays, cleaning products, or deodorants?

Irritants to sensitive skin include many household and personal products. The fragrances and dyes in just about every household product, and several personal care products, can cause irritation either from direct contact or even from deposits left on your clothes, towels, or bedding. In case you have any of the classic signs and symptoms of sensitive skin in Question 3, try to use hypoallergenic products without ingredients known to cause skin reactions.

4. Does your skin get red, itch, burn, or feel stretched after extended exposure to sunlight, wind, heat, or cold?

Sensitive skin often reacts to extreme weather conditions. Actually, anything in the environment that damages your skin’s natural protective barrier against water evaporation — called sebum — can irritate sensitive skin.

Do you have acne or psoriasis?

People with acne, psoriasis, or skin problems such as eczema often have sensitive skin. These conditions impair immune system functioning and/or kill the skin’s protective barrier. In case you have of these problems, you may have sensitive skin.

We have all heard the old adage, “You are what you eat.” But what about the connection between your food and your face?

Most articles regarding nourishment focus on the role of your diet in maintaining optimum internal health and warding off disease. Such as, many reports talk about how the anti-oxidants found in fruits and vegetables can fight free radical damage to your immune cells, your organs and your DNA.

Well guess what? The same phytochemicals, vitamins, nutrients and minerals that keep your internal parts in the pink are equally important for clear skin, bright smiles, strong nails and clear eyes. If you wish to look your absolute stunning best, keep these diet tips in mind:

* Antioxidants: Present in abundance in colourful fruits and vegetables, these nutrients assist combat signs of aging caused by the oxidation – the rust, if you will, of our cells. Beauty foods that are strong sources of anti-oxidants include: pomegranates, prunes, concord grape juice, blueberries, blackberries, purple cabbage, kale, brussels sprouts, dried plums, kiwis, raspberries, strawberries, raw spinach, oranges, apples and watercress.

* Essential fatty acids: Certain polyunsaturated oils are known as “essential” because they should be included in our diet. EFAs, like omega-3 and omega-6, may reduce inflammation that can clog skin and result in wrinkles. Sources include sea food – such as salmon, sardines, trout and flounder – as well as almonds, walnuts and flaxseed.

* Avoid simple carbs: Some research suggests the insulin spike caused by simple carbohydrates, like bread, pasta and sweets, may trigger a series of metabolic reactions that can lead to breakouts.

* Increase water, moderate alcohol: Water, and lots of it, will help keep your skin hydrated, though alcohol in excess of one 4-ounce drink a day can dry it out. Also, some doctors say alcohol’s dilation of fragile facial capillaries can cause and exacerbate rosacea.

* Healthy fat: While it is crucial to minimize artery-clogging saturated fat, do not shy away from healthy monounsaturated fats, such as olive oil and other liquid, plant-based oils that keep skin emulsified.

* Vitamin C: Ensure you also feed your face with vitamin C to help maintain collagen, the most important component of connective tissue contributing to the underlying foundation of your skin. The best sources of vitamin C includes citrus fruits and juices, broccoli, cauliflower, cantaloupe, strawberries, tomatoes, red peppers and green peas.

* Weight-loss bonus: Pound for pound, vegetables and fruits have fewer calories than other food groups. Plus, they’ve a lot of fiber, so they will help you feel full. Such a fruit-and-vegetable-rich diet helps reduce the chances of cravings by ensuring the body gets the full spectrum of nutrients, minerals, vitamins and phytochemicals it needs to function.

Data from the National Weight Control Registry, which keeps records on more than 3,000 individuals who have had success keeping off a minimum of thirty pounds, suggests that the winning diet for long-term weight loss is a low-fat, complex-carb diet rich in fruits and vegetables.

This data was recently reinforced by an international analysis, conducted by Northwestern University, assessing the diets of more than 4,000 people in the United States, UK, Japan and China. The study found that, with out exception, a diet high in complex carbohydrates, fiber and vegetable protein was associated with low body-mass index.

The bottom line is that there’s nothing more beautiful than vibrant good health, and there is nothing healthier than a regime that includes lots of work out, rest, water, lean proteins, and an abundance of fruits and vegetables.