Sensitive Skin
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Sunday, June 20th, 2010
Natural skin care products are starting to become more popular according to recent surveys. The traditional versions are still outselling them by a huge margin, but at least people are learning more about reading labels and being picky about what they put on the outside of their bodies.
We owe a debt of gratitude to the Environmental Working Group, the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics and other consumer groups for letting us know about loopholes that allow US cosmetic manufacturers to put unlimited amounts of chemicals in items that are sold as “health and beauty aids”.
Because there is a lack of federal law concerning the subject, a few states stepped in to help out. Washington State recently banned phthalates from skincare products designed for children. California now requires cosmetic companies to report to the state whenever they include an ingredient that can cause cancer or birth defects.
But that type of legislation is slow-moving. Right now, it is up to the consumer to learn about ingredients, read labels and investigate manufacturers.
A lot of people think that by shopping for only natural skin care products, they don’t have to take the time to read the label of ingredients. That is not the case.
Some naturally occurring ingredients are allergens or irritants. They can cause irritation, redness and itching. Essential oils are an example.
When it comes to anti-aging ingredients, the alpha and beta hydroxy acids are naturally occurring acids found in fruit. Salicylic acid is found in certain kinds of tree bark. It is the compound from which aspirin was created.
While those mild acids are naturally occurring and relatively safe, they burn. Feeling the burn might be a good thing for bodybuilders, but it is not good for the skin’s health.
When natural skin care products or the chemical-filled kinds cause burning, the reaction is due to the body’s inflammatory responses. Inflammation is a function of the immune system designed to protect the body. But, the inflammatory chemicals released during the process will degrade the skin’s collagen fibers.
Collagen fibers are responsible for the skin’s firmness and elasticity. They are replaced on a fairly regular basis until we start to get a little older. As the replacement process slows down, we start to see sagging and wrinkles.
Depending on your age, you might not be too worried about those things. But, the sooner you start trying to make an effort to avoid them, the better off you will be.
Some natural skin care products have gentle anti-aging activity. Instead of causing inflammation, they actually prevent it. They feel good going on and as the days go by, they work to stimulate collagen production, instead of causing the collagen you have to degrade.
One of the compounds to look for is called Functional Keratin. You can find it in deep cleansing masks, soothing eye serums, anti-aging facial creams and body lotions.
Just be sure to fully evaluate the so-called natural skin care products on the market before you buy them. Compounds that burn are not good choices.
Natural Skin Care – Creating Healthy Skin from the Inside Out
Wednesday, June 16th, 2010
A natural skin care routine can keep your face free of blemishes, healthy looking and wrinkle-free for years to come. The first step is one that you may have overlooked completely. It all starts with eating right.
Doctors have been saying for years that we are what we eat. Some have been laughed at and discredited. But, scientific researchers continue to provide evidence supporting their conclusions.
If you read the news, you may have seen a report a few months back about how tiny molecules called “AGEs” cause wrinkles. AGEs are actually advanced glycation end-products. They form as a result of a chain reaction that can be initiated when we eat simple carbohydrates.
Asking the average person to cut simple carbs out of their diet is akin to asking a dog to give up his bone. The simple carbs include bread and other baked goods, soft drinks, candy, white potatoes, French fries and white rice…in other words, fast food and restaurant-fare.
Those might be things that you like to it. But, if you would consider cutting back on the simple carbs in your diet, you will enjoy better health as the years go by.
Now, what foods should be included in a natural skin care diet? All fruits and vegetables (except the white potato) should be included. The antioxidants found in fruits and vegetables help to protect the skin against photo-aging…in other words, wrinkles caused by the sun.
You might consider switching from soft drinks and coffee to green tea and water. Drinking lots of water helps to maintain the skin’s moisture balance. The antioxidants in green tea help to protect against photo-aging. Some of the natural skin care products on the market contain green tea extract, but there is little evidence supporting the benefit of applying the extract directly.
Salmon comes highly recommended because of the omega-3 fatty acids it contains. Omega-3 fish oil supplements seem to improve the skin’s firmness and structure according to some research.
Let’s suppose you are eating right and taking some good nutritional supplements. What’s the next step?
Most sources would say that wearing sunscreen is the next step. Even though the latest research indicates that sun-screening compounds are not good for your skin’s health and contribute to the increased incidence of vitamin D deficiency that has been seen in recent times, some dermatologists are still adamant about always wearing sunscreen on your face.
There are going to be some times that you need a sunscreen, like when you spend the day at the beach. When that happens, look for the broad-spectrum sun-block zinc oxide. Some of the better natural skin care cosmetics contain it.
On a daily basis, you should use an anti-aging cream that contains coenzyme Q10. It is the only antioxidant that has been proven to protect against and reverse sun damage.
The form of coenzyme Q10 included in the product makes a difference. The nano-emulsion form is the most effective.
The best natural skin care creams do not contain sunscreens. We just don’t know enough about them to assume they are safe.
People Rate Anti Aging Creams in Their Own Way
Thursday, May 20th, 2010
A person with sensitive skin might rate anti aging creams differently than someone without sensitivities. A person with an oilier complexion would likely see fewer results than someone with excessive dryness. Those are just a few of the things that set us apart.
We are all humans and share many things in common. Yet, there are many differences due to things like sex, genetics or lifestyle.
A woman with excessive dryness that starts using a good moisturizer will see a significant improvement in her skin’s appearance very quickly. Excessive dryness is one of the causes of wrinkles and sagging.
When we are young, there is a large amount of moisture in all of the skin’s cells. There are also more fat cells in the subcutaneous tissue. There isn’t much we can do about the loss of fat cells.
We can replenish the skin’s moisture content. But, in many cases that’s all an anti-aging cream will do. Obviously, that is of no benefit to a person with an oily complexion or no dryness issues.
Dermatologists say that when a person sees an immediate improvement in their appearance (the “wow” factor”), it is due to the moisturizing effect. They might rate anti aging creams highly, because they saw that immediate difference.
The questions are these. Is there a continued improvement? Are there benefits for someone with an oilier complexion?
If you have an oilier complexion, you might not see immediate results. Your skin probably does not look as bad as someone with excessive dryness, anyway. It is always the people with the most damage that see the biggest improvement, at least initially.
When it comes to skin sensitivities, the only solution is to look for non-irritating ingredients. If you have sensitive skin, you will have to rate anti aging creams based on the number of irritants they contain. Luckily, the better products do not contain irritating ingredients.
Men and women don’t have the same problems. Men usually need more help fighting redness, roughness and inflammation. Most of the “sex-specific” products on the market are ultimately the same except for the added fragrance.
When people have several different problems, it becomes even harder to find something that works. Suppose you have some dry spots, some oily spots, a little redness and a few sensitivities. It could make it really hard to rate anti aging creams or make recommendations to other people, if you had all of those issues.
Luckily, the latest and the most effective ingredients are anti-irritants. So, they can be used by people with sensitive skin. They include special compounds like Maracuja that help to balance the skin’s moisture content, fixing the dry spots without making the other spots oilier.
The better companies design products specifically for men, based on a man’s needs. Ingredients like Capuacu butter and witch hazel make the difference.
Compounds like coenzyme Q10, wakame kelp and bioactive keratin work for everyone. It may take longer for a person with an oilier complexion to see a difference. But anyone would rate anti aging creams highly if they contained those compounds. Patience and consistency are the only things required.
The editors have tested almost every anti aging cream on the market, and they recommend just one product line. It is produced by a little known nutritional supplement company that is based in New Zealand, but they ship their products worldwide. Click here to visit the Xtend-Life website to learn more.