Face Washing Donts

Here are several things that you should avoid when washing your face. Remember you are trying to make your skin healthier and beautiful.

1. Do not wash face too often. Washing your face doesn't mean you have to wash it every hour of the day... Experts recommend ONLY two or three times per day. Frequent washing might dry out your skin and increase your risk of irritations that may cause acne. Moreover, if the skin is too dry, your glands will produce more oil to compensate for the loss. This means that the risk of getting too much sebum also increases.



2. Do not use harsh soaps and cleansers. Never use bar soaps or bar cleansers. The ingredients that keep these soaps and cleansers in bar form can clog your pores and irritate your skin... plus, they can help foster breakouts. Harsh soap and cleansers can strip off your skin’s natural lipids irritating your skin. Choose cleansers that are mild and non-comedogenic, hypo-allergenic, and soap-free. There are several products like this in the market like Cetaphil, Burt Bee’s or Neutrogena. Dilute your cleanser with enough water when you wash... The less concentrated your cleanser, the gentler it will be.



3. Do not use too much cleanser. Even if you are using mild cleansers, it is best to dilute it with water (a palmful will be sufficient). The less concentrated your cleanser, the gentler it will be for your face.



4. Do not use cleansers containing alcohol. Alcohol will upset your face’s natural ph level, causing it to become irritated. Using toners and astringents may feel wonderful... but over-using these will irritate your skin!



5. Do not just use products. Instead, know your skin type. For dry skin, look for products with cocoa butter or glycerin. For oily skin, look for products with benzoyl peroxide, citric acid or salicylic acid. For sensitive skin, look for aloe vera, almond oil or chamomile.



6. Do not under rinse. Residues left behind can actually clog your pores. Facial cleansers can leave an invisible residue behind which can clog your pores. Rinse three times, then rinse again!



7. Do not exfoliate often. Removing dead skin cells can make your skin less dull but you should not overdo it or you will injure your skin. Too much scrubbing will make your skin dull and flaky. Avoid abrasive facial pads and grainy facial scrubs.

Remember, in everything that you do, simplicity and moderation is often the key. Do not abuse your skin. Be easy and gentle. And put your best face forward.

Thyme For Beautiful Skin?

Looking for a natural and inexpensive way to give your face a fresh look, try thyme. Many celebrities use this herb in their skin care regimen. It seems to have a powerful effect on the skin when applied topically. It also has potent antioxidant properties, while also toning the skin. Holly Robinson Peete steams her face with thyme once a month for its cleansing and relaxing effects on her skin. After boiling a few sprigs in water, Holly pours the steaming water into a bowl, then tents a towel over her head, letting the steam to cleanse her face for just a few minutes. And as clear and beautiful as Holly's skin is, who can argue with the results.

Sex and Ance - Truth or Fiction?

Recently, a friend told me she had read somewhere that hormones are directly related to acne breakouts. She asked me if this were true. Would having sex often equal more pimples? My personal opinion is that acne is caused more by our modern lifestyles. Hormones can play a part, but they don't always. Even if sex does increase hormone production, nobody's sure if that means it'll crater your face. Most experts will tell you the sex/acne combo is a myth, but you know your own skin best.

No, sex does not cause or cure acne. Acne is a buildup of oils on the skin. However, if you are sweating a lot during sex and not showering afterwards, that may account for the breakouts. There is zero connection between acne and sexual activity. If you sweat a lot while your are in "action", try taking a shower before falling asleep from exhaustion. As always, you can treat a mild case of acne with over-the-counter creams containing benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid. You can also see a health care provider about treating more serious cases of acne.
Hope this information helps!
Take care,

Donald

Acne Treatment and Creating Beautiful Skin

by Donald Stevens

Understanding the Facts

Researchers estimate that more than fifty percent of women between the ages of 25 to 58 have some form of acne. Unfortunately, over-the-counter treatments don’t work for about one in four of these women.

The causes are many; smoking, over exposure to the sun, stress, and the passage of time. However, there are ways to combat persistent acne, and give you a clear and flawless complexion.

Start with the Basics

There are five steps that should be performed to keep your skin healthy. Just remember to cleanse, exfoliate, repair, moisturize, and protect. Great skin will follow.

Begin the process by cleansing and exfoliating using a deep cleaning facial scrub product. Then use a treatment cream for acne, oily or dry skin. Finish up with a moisturizing sun block with a minimum SPF of 15.

To reinforce the point; don’t avoid exfoliation. A buildup of dead skin cells can cause itchiness and rashes, especially in unpredictable or dry weather. Scrub daily with a puff, a loofah, or a grainy exfoliator to help sweep rough skin away. Afterward, use a moisturizer to lock in the softness of your new skin cells.

Change Your Habits

Be careful of using different cosmetic lines at the same time. With more and more beauty products containing alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs), salicylic acids, antioxidants, and retinoid, mixing a cleanser from one line with a daytime moisturizer from another, then a night cream from yet another, can lead to over-exfoliation and irritation.

Also, try performing twenty to thirty minutes of aerobic exercise three days a week. Exercise will increase blood flow, which will cause more nutrients to be brought to the skin. This will give your skin a natural glow.

However, shower as soon as possible after your workouts. The extra perspiration can lead to a build up of oil, causing problems of acne to worsen.

Don’t ignore incidental sun exposure. Walking from your car to the mall in the sun may not be as damaging as spending hours baking on the beach. But just a few minutes of exposure here and there can bring on problems just the same. Be sure to use a daily SPF lotion formulated for the face.

Be Consistent

Skin care products are not inexpensive. You can decrease your need for them by looking for natural alternatives. However, these alternatives must be done on a daily basis for them to be effective.

Drinking water is a primary example of a natural alternative that will spare your bank account. If enough water is taken in, the body will be cleansed of toxic elements, reducing the development and spread of acne.

Great looking skin is a very real possibility. It needs to be nurtured with love and care. Give your skin the time and tools it needs to flourish, make good lifestyle changes, and keep at it on a daily basis. Then your skin will reward you for your efforts with a flawless complexion that might make even the biggest celebrity pause with envy.

Don Stevens writes on skin care and related issues. You can learn more by visiting my blog, Celebrity Style Skin Care.
http://celebrity-skin-care.blogspot.com

Become Simply Irresistible By Sweetening Up Your Skin

Peppermint, maple, vanilla and chocolate have always been among the most popular sweeteners and treats. And if you didn't know better, your child will be more interested in these items than you are. But even at your age, you can definitely use these sinfully rich sweeteners and flavorings; only this time, you do so not for tickling your taste buds but rather for a healthy glowing skin!

Peppermint
The word peppermint has been widely associated with flavoring for food or beverages. And on the rare occasion that this plant is thought of as a medicinal herb, its functions are always limited to problems in the stomach or intestines. But are you aware that peppermint can also benefit your skin?
For one, this herb has that cooling effect which can help your skin to relax and heal inflammations. It can also increase blood circulation to your skin and speed up repair of damaged skin tissues. Peppermint has antibacterial characteristics which make it perfect for fighting skin blemishes. And it can normalize or balance the level of oil in your skin, bringing you clearer softer and silkier skin.

Maple
Maple syrup is commonly used for pancakes. But did you know that this humble sweetener is composed of some very important minerals like manganese and zinc? And for those who are not in the know, manganese found in maple can significantly reduce the damaging effects brought by free radicals in your cells. On the other hand, zinc can give your immune system a boost.
Overall, the manganese and zinc elements in maple syrup function as important components of antioxidants in your system. As such, they provide protection for the different organs in the body including your skin by beefing up your immune system. The skin is your first line of defense against harmful invaders.
A strong immune defense system not only creates a sort of protective shield, it also fights off bacteria and viruses that can damage your skin. More importantly, maple sap prohibits the evaporation of moisture from your skin so you get a well-hydrated skin. You can definitely rely on maple syrup for crucial skin repair.

Vanilla
Vanilla has always been linked to happy moods. Being able to inhale it will trigger the surge of endorphins from your brain to the different organs of your body, including your skin. The significance of the endorphin hormone is its ability to give you that feeling of pleasure and improve your overall wellness. As for your skin, this peptide hormone has been found to aid in the removal or shedding of dead outer layers of your skin thereby giving you smoother and even-toned skin.
A research conducted by German skin experts revealed that an increase in endorphin levels in the skin has greatly reduced the depth of lines and creases around the eye area. A consumer survey also indicated that higher endorphin levels in the skin resulted to relaxed, radiant, and fully-regenerated skin.

Chocolate
Dark chocolate for healthier skin? It may sound crazy but this is the latest craze in cosmetics. And before anything else clouds your judgment, consider the facts. Cocoa, the seeds from which chocolate is made, is packed with antioxidants that can strip away free radicals out to ruin your skin. Antioxidants also help in the preservation of important substances like elastin, collagen and other beneficial proteins in your skin.
Also, chocolate has a lot of butterfat, a substance that has been proven to help your skin become smoother and soft. Plus, the flavonoids contained in chocolate increases the blood circulation to your skin, making it look more supple and silky.
Combining these herbs and comfort foods with your daily skin regimen will surely improve the health of your skin. You can also nourish your skin by using products like Rejuvinol. For more information about having that reinvigorated and healthy skin, you can click on http://www.rejuvinol.com/

Sharon Bell is an avid health and fitness enthusiast and published author. Many of her insightful articles can be found at the premiere online news magazine http://www.healthnfitnesszone.com/
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sharon_A_Bell