Category: General Health

Where To Find The Latest Skin Care Information

There is so much skin care information out there today that it can be a bit perplexing to make sense of it all. This article will show you where to look to find the most accurate information and how to use that information to make a decision on your skin care products.

Look at the label on the product itself first. Most of the time, you can find all the information you need right there on the bottle. Cosmetic products are required to list all of the active ingredients and frequently will also list what each ingredient does. If you need more information, you can then research each of these ingredients individually to find out if there are any harmful effects.

To find out if there have been any allergic reactions or consumer problems with a certain product, check any of the skin care information websites on the Internet. Many times, you can find a message board or product review site where people are sharing their own individual experience with the product. Keep in mind that it is often the most dissatisfied customers who post on such sites, not customers who were happy with their purchase. Do not automatically write off a product that has had bad reviews, but you should at least do a little more research before buying.

You can also use the Internet to look up drug interactions or possible side effects. There are many medical websites available for general information. Of course, you should always check with a doctor if you have any preexisting medical conditions that may pose a serious danger. Internet skin care information can still be unreliable and you would not want to take a risk based on some anonymous person’s opinion.

Your friends and family can also be a great source for skin care information. Simply ask around to find out if anyone has stumbled onto a great new skin care product. Pay particular attention to any of your friends who have undergone a major appearance overhaul as it is likely that they have tried out at least one of the skin care products on the market. If the product causes irritation or other side effects, your friend can also pass on her valuable experience and save you some hassle and pain.

If you need expert skin care information, contact a dermatologist. They often have stores of experience with their patients to draw from, so they can tell you if a certain product really works or if it is just marketing hype. They also should know about any dangerous side effects or drug interactions, so it is always a good idea to double-check with a dermatologist before starting any new skin care program.

Always research any new product before beginning to use it, especially if you have any other medical conditions. With all the resources available, there is no reason to take an unnecessary risk because you are uninformed. There is a lot of skin care information out there, it’s just a matter of knowing where to look for it.

What You Need to Know About Organic Skin Care

Because today’s consumers are more conscious of their health and the environment, there are more organic skin care products available than ever before. Other people may have developed allergies to all of the toxins and chemicals used in commercial skin care produts and are looking for a healthier alternative. Some commonly used ingredients in commercial products include fragrances, dyes, and various types of acids.

By contrast, organic skin care products contain natural ingredients such as vitamins A, C, or E, essential oils, antioxidants, or proteins. These are necessary to replace the skin cells lost as we age. As the body gets older, it produces less collagen and elastin, which leads to dry, wrinkled skin. Re-hydrating the cells from the outside is the only way to repair this age-related damage.

You can now find organic skin care products in almost any pharmacy, drug store, or health food and nutrition store. If you do not have access to any of these places, there are many retailers online to choose your natural cosmetics from. Some spas and salons have also added organic products to their inventory, so you may want to look there as well. Most of these products are free of fragrances and dyes and will not cause or aggravate existing allergies.

There are organic products available both men and women. Men can find organic shaving lotion and after-shave, while women usually have more options of cleansers, creams, toners, and gels. Unfortunately, organic products generally cost more than the synthetic version of the same item. It is worth the extra cost to protect your skin and your health from toxic chemicals and preservatives.

An alarming number of mainstream skin care products may contain the wetting agents diethanolamine and triethanolamine, sometimes listed on ingredient labels as DEA and TEA, respectively. These substances by themselves are not considered to be a cancer risk. If the product contains nitrites as contaminants, this may cause a chemical reaction that creates cancer-causing nitrosamines.

Most commercial cosmetic products include some type of bactericides or preservatives. These are necessary to protect the cosmetics from contamination, but may also be dangerous or even carcinogenic. For instance, trace amounts of formaldehyde are found in some products. Formaldehyde is a known carcinogen and is neurotoxic in higher doses.

How can you be sure that your skin care products are really organic? Unfortunately, there is still plenty of room for vagueness in labeling of cosmetic products. Generally, a cosmetic product must follow the same USDA rules as would a food product. The product must contain no less than 95% organic and natural ingredients in order to qualify for the label.

After the 95% threshhold is met, there is a serious lack of additional guidance and regulations. There are no restrictions on the words cosmetic manufacturers can use on their labels, so you many see plenty of products called “organic” or “botanical” even though they may still contain a small amount of synthetic chemicals. Read the ingredient labels carefully to be sure that your organic skin care products are really made of only organic materials.

The Professionals Guide To Sensitive Skin Care

Sensitive skin care is a challenge for many people, especially those living in difficult climates. There are certain external conditions that should be avoided, as should the chemicals in most commercial cosmetic products. How do you know if you have sensitive skin? Here are a few factors to consider when deciding if you need specialized sensitive skin care products:

* Do you break out or have redness after being exposed to environmental stressors like shaving or weather?
* Do you have tingly or tight skin with no other explanation for it?
* Have you noticed any dryness, irritation, or redness on your skin?
* Does your skin react adversely to household cleaning products or cosmetics?
* After answering the rest of these questions, has your dermatologist ruled out any other skin conditions that could be causing the problem?

Sensitive skin can be even more challenging to deal with in adverse weather conditions. If you live where the weather is extremely cold or hot, you may need to use sensitive skin care products to protect yourself.

Thin skin is generally more sensitive than thicker parts of the skin simply because there is less protection between the blood and the outside conditions. The capillaries are closer to the outside of the skin when it is thin, so the skin becomes sensitive to cold, heat, and wind. Sensitive skin also is more susceptible to sunburn, so wear a higher SPF sunscreen if you much go out in the sun.

Avoid harsh washing products like loofahs, brushes, or cleansing stones. You want something soft to take care of your sensitive skin, not an abrasive brush that will further irritate it. Do not use exfoliants because they may be too rough for your skin and cause inflammation when used.

Stay away from any strong chemicals in your skin care products. Fragrances and dyes in particular may irritate sensitive skin, so look for hypo-allergenic or organic products whenever possible. Use liquid cleansers as they are usually easier on the skin and will not cause the same allergic reactions. Hard-milled soaps also work well for sensitive skin care.

Antibacterial astringents are another key component of a good sensitive skin care program. They come in both cream and lotion form and are used to protect your skin from infectious bacteria. This balances your skin growth and keeps bacterial colonies from forming on the surface. One strong antibacterial is salicylic acid, which can exfoliate and remove the outer layer of accumulated dead skin cells. It also clears out bacteria in hair follicle areas to ensure healthy hair growth.

Be careful when purchasing your sensitive skin care products to make sure that they really are safe for your skin. Many products are labeled as natural or hypo-allergenic when they still contain toxic chemicals. Always check the ingredients listed on the label to see if there are any substances that may aggravate your skin. Similarly, perfume-free products may not always be completely devoid of fragrances so double-check all of your sensitive skin care products before use.

The Best Natural Beauty Recipes

There are a number of natural beauty recipes you can make at home. You do not have to pay for commercial cosmetic products to look your best. In fact, many times the natural solution is healthier and more effective than the chemical-laden makeups you will find at the store.

Here is a great papaya enzyme facial mask that is one of the more popular natural beauty recipes. You will need the following ingredients: 1/2 cup mashed papaya, 1 whipped egg white, and 1 teaspoon of honey. For additional cooling or if you have sensitive skin, add a tablespoon of plain yogurt to your mixture.

Mix all of your ingredients together in a large bowl. Wash your skin before applying the facial mask mixture. Leave the mask on your face for approximately five to eight minutes, giving the papaya enzymes time to exfoliate your skin. Rinse off with warm water first, then with cooler water, patting dry when done.

For hair, this herbal vinegar rinse will restore your hair’s natural pH balance, clean off built up dirt and hair products, and reduce oily hair. Place 2 sprigs of rosemary and 2 sprigs of lavender in 2 cups of water in a clear glass jar. Let the jar sit out in the sun to steep for between two and four hours, then remove the herbs. Add one or two tablespoons of either apple cider vinegar or white vinegar to your water solution, then use the same way you would use shampoo.

Herbal bath salts are another of the top natural beauty recipes you can make at home. All you need is a cup of sea salt and a handful of whatever herbs you have on hand, such as lavender, rosemary, spearmint, or peppermint. Grind the herbs with a coffee grinder until they become a fine powder. Mix with the sea salt and dump into your next bath for a relaxing change of pace.

A similar natural beauty recipe is this refreshing flower-based foot soak. For this one, you again need sea salt, along with some fresh sliced citrus of your choice (limes, lemons, oranges, etc.) and a handful of flower petals picked fresh from your garden. Fill a small basin with lukewarm water and add the salt, flower petals, and fruit slices. Soak your feet in the mixture for ten minutes, then rinse and pat to dry.

This strawberry manicure mask is a great way to pamper your hands naturally. Mash 3-5 ripe strawberries, drain off the juice, and combine with one tablespoon of sugar and a little bit of the light oil of your choice. Apply the resulting mixture to your hands by using a circular motion. This will condition and exfoliate the skin, leaving it soft and smooth.

During watermelon season, this pedicure polish is good for your feet and gives your home a nice aroma of summer. Combine 1/2 cup of mashed and strained watermelon with one tablespoon finely crushed almonds and 1/4 cup of plain yogurt. Apply the mixture by working it in with your hands in a circular motion. Use a tissue to remove, then rinse and pat dry to enjoy this one of our natural beauty recipes.