All Natural Skincare Ingredients are Filled with Antioxidants
Monday, July 19th, 2010One of my favorite all natural skincare ingredients is grape seed oil. Let me tell you a little about it.
The oils of grape seeds contain the antioxidants vitamin E and resveratrol. Vitamin E has long been recognized as beneficial to the skin’s health. Most creams and lotions contain the ingredient, but most companies do not use the naturally occurring form. Synthetics are cheaper.
Resveratrol has been written about in scientific journals and talked about on television programs. It is one of the most potent antioxidants that have been found. Some manufacturers list resveratrol as an ingredient.
You never know where that resveratrol comes from if grape seed oil is not listed, too. Much of it comes from China. You may be aware of all of the issues that have been caused by Chinese ingredients. If the manufacturer does not reveal the source of the resveratrol, I would suggest you choose another manufacturer.
Antioxidants are important, because they prevent and reverse free radical damage, at least to some extent. Free radical damage is one of the causes of wrinkles and other visible signs of aging.
Any all natural skincare cream worth buying will contain antioxidants. Ideally, the cream will contain lots of extracts that contain them. Grape seed oil is not my only favorite. I like wakame kelp extract, too. The day cream that I use contains both of those ingredients.
According to scientists, wakame contains compounds that inhibit the activity of enzymes responsible for breaking down the skin’s hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid is one of the compounds responsible for the skin’s firmness and smoothness. The amount present in an older person’s skin is less than what is found in a younger person’s. The cause is a pesky enzyme called hyaluronidaise. Wakame kelp extracts take care of the pest.
I also like an all natural skincare ingredient called avocado oil. My night cream contains it, instead of grape seed oil. There are advantages of each one.
Grape seed oil forms a film that keeps makeup from clogging your pores. I have found that nighttime makeup removal is easier when I remember to use my day cream.
Avocado oil has been shown to increase the skin’s collagen content according to scientists. That’s something that I cannot verify, but I do know that when I use my night cream on a regular basis, my skin feels smoother and firmer. I recommend it to all of my friends.
Shea butter is another good all natural skincare ingredient. It’s also in my night cream. It’s a little too heavy for daytime use.
The well known benefits of Shea butter include a reduced risk of acne and other inflammatory conditions. According to scientific evaluations, that’s because the antioxidants in Shea butter also have anti-inflammatory activity.
All of the ingredients mentioned above feel good going on. They leave no trace of greasiness, not on my face or on my pillow.
If you’re like me, you want all natural skincare ingredients because they are safer. My favorites are also the safest.
What is Rigin?
Sunday, June 6th, 2010What is Rigin? It is a proprietary formula found in some of the better anti-aging masks. You’ll learn more about it and why you need it here in this post.
There are numerous symptoms of aging skin. Wrinkles are the ones that most people are familiar with. Sagging or lost firmness is another. The lost firmness is actually one of the causes of wrinkling.
There are numerous causes of wrinkles. Free radical damage caused by overexposure to the sun is one big problem. Allowing the skin to become excessively dry is another.
Decreased production of the collagen-containing elastic fibers is one of the causes of sagging or lost firmness. This decreased production seems to normally accompany the aging process.
Yet another cause of wrinkles and sagging is chronic inflammation. Chronic inflammation degrades the elastic collagen fibers. Since they are not quickly replaced as we age, the degradation becomes obvious. The skin becomes less firm and less elastic.
If you pull the skin tight, you will see how wrinkles disappear. This is how lost elasticity and firmness contributes to or causes deeper wrinkles. As the skin becomes loose, these creases that would normally be stretched out by the elastic fibers become etched in place.
Understanding the information above will help you understand the answer to; what is Rigin good for. It makes a good ingredient for an anti-aging mask, because of the ingredients it contains.
Each of the ingredients is accompanied by specific benefits to the skin’s health and appearance. Let’s start with glycerin.
Excessive dryness of the skin is one of the biggest problems that people experience as they get older. If a moisturizer is not used on a regular basis, the dryness can lead to more wrinkling.
Glycerin is one of the most effective moisturizers on the market. So, what is Rigin? It is a moisturizing formula.
Steareth-20 is the next ingredient. It is a derivative of palm oil that further enhances the moisturizing benefits. As the skin’s moisture content increases, its firmness increases.
Tetrapeptide-3 is probably the most important ingredient in the formula. It has proven anti-aging benefits that include increased collagen production, reversal of sun damage and reduced wrinkles.
The compound also has natural anti-inflammatory activity. So, it helps to stimulate the production of new elastic fibers and protect them from the degrading effects of chronic inflammation.
Here’s another question. What is Rigin proven to be beneficial for in relation to increasing the skin’s firmness and elasticity?
With continued use, the ingredient has been proven to increase the firmness and elasticity on the cheeks and neck. It is particularly beneficial on the neck. The benefits seen included a 40% improvement in firmness and a 27% improvement in elasticity.
The benefits of the proprietary formula have proven to be greater than those of DHEA, an ingredient found in expensive anti-aging creams. It is often hailed as a youth hormone, although its safety has never been confirmed.
That should answer the questions of what is Rigin and what is it good for. If you want to look younger, you should look for it.
What is Kaolin? Natural Food Grade Clay in Cleansing Facial Masks
Monday, May 31st, 2010
What is kaolin and why is it in some deep cleansing masks? You’ll find the answers to those questions here in this article.
Kaolin or kaolinite is a mineral found in some kinds of clay. It is a layered mineral that contains traces of other minerals include silica and alumina. It is commonly occurring and mined in most countries of the world, particularly in tropical climates.
Like other types of clay, it is used in ceramics and porcelain. Because of its unique qualities, it is used for purposes where other clay could not be used.
It is an edible type of clay. Many native populations consumed it for their health. The rich mineral content would certainly be beneficial for anyone that subsisted largely on a vegetarian or wild game diet.
Because it is edible, it is included in toothpaste, food and some kinds of medication. It is the active ingredient in some anti-diarrhea medications and has been used for centuries to soothe upset stomach.
It is also the safest choice of clay for cosmetics and other skincare products. What is kaolin used for in skincare products?
Clay facials and baths have been popular for decades. The clay particles absorb excessive oils. They have a soothing effect and help to promote healing in acne. Those are the reasons it is found in deep cleansing masks.
Although it might seem to be a good ingredient for a daily cleanser, it is not recommended for daily use, because it could cause excessive dryness. Excessive dryness is one of the many causes of wrinkles and it commonly accompanies the aging process, particularly in women of post-menopausal age due to changing hormonal levels.
Over-cleansing is known to cause or aggravate a number of dermatological problems. It is important to use a very gentle cleanser (or no cleanser at all) on a daily basis.
Every two weeks, you can use a deep cleansing mask containing kaolin. The better masks contain another clay extract called bentone gel, which further enhances kaolin’s cleansing effects.
Unless moisturizers are added to the clay extracts, the masks can dry out on the face, making them difficult to remove. The scrubbing necessary for removal can cause irritation and inflammation, which is another cause of skin aging and worsens inflammatory conditions like acne.
Ideal moisturizers include macadamia oil and Shea Butter. If you choose a deep cleansing mask containing those ingredients, along with kaolin and bentone gel, you can clean and moisturize at the same time.
What is kaolin? It is a good skin cleansing ingredient. But, it should only be used on an occasional basis and works best when combined with other good ingredients.
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