Wednesday, April 16, 2008

Tips For Daily Skin Care and Health

Tips For Daily Skin Care and Health
by Chris Robertson

Most of us have to work hard to enjoy healthy skin.

This means keeping a daily routine for good skin care and health so our skin is able to renew itself and replenish old, dead skin cells with new, healthy cells.

Skin is exposed to harsh chemicals every day along with harmful sun rays, cosmetics, and possibly other agents in the air depending on the environment in which we live and work.

A daily skin care routine can help your skin look healthy day in and day out.

Before getting started, analyze your current routine (if you have one) for skin care and health.

Is it working? Does your skin have frequent rashes or acne breakouts?

Does your skin seem excessively dry, scaly, or oily?

What types of skin care products do you use and how do they affect your skin's texture?

Once you know how your current routine is working, you can make the necessary changes for healthier skin.

Beware of Some Skin Care Products

Use skin care products with care.

Observe how the products affect your skin's texture and your complexion.

Does the product cause drying, itching, or redness?

Does the product cause your skin to become very oily?

Some skin care products can cause allergic reactions because of the ingredients or chemicals they contain.

Some may contain cancer-causing chemicals or reproductive toxins.

Read labels carefully to be sure you know what ingredients are included.

Opt for Natural Skin Care

Natural skin care and health products are often the best solutions because they usually do not contain harmful chemicals.

A good ingredient to look for is aloe vera.

Aloe vera is probably one of the most effective natural skin enhancers available.

It comes from the aloe vera plant leaf, which has a healing gel inside.

Aloe gel is usually mixed with other ingredients to enhance its skin care and health properties.

Starting a Skin Care Routine

A daily skin care routine should contain three main elements: cleansing, toning, and moisturizing.

It should be done at night before bedtime so your skin can have time to replenish old, dead cells with new ones as you sleep.

Cleansing removes dirt, makeup, and excess oil from the surface of the skin as well as the skin's pores.

Toning helps improve the skin's texture after cleansing, particularly for oily skin. Moisturizing helps replenish water or moisture in the skin.

For a weekly routine, exfoliation can help remove dead skin cells.

Facial scrubs or cloths can be used for exfoliation.

These should be used gently on the skin.

You can also use a facial mask occasionally to help improve your skin.

Some all-natural products that contain aloe vera can be used to perform many tasks in one, such as cleansing, moisturizing, revitalizing, and nourishing the skin.

They can also be used to protect the skin throughout the day from excessive sun exposure or other harmful elements.

Even if using other skin care and health products, aloe-based natural products can greatly enhance these to give you maximum skin health because they contain nutrients the skin cells require.

Tuesday, April 8, 2008

Dry Skin Care - How to Improve Your Skin

Dry Skin Care - How to Improve Your
by Howard L Haines

Dry skin can cause an uncomfortable feeling and is usually unattractive, thus people with dry skin our looking for solutions to their problem.

Dry skin is typically not a serious health problem, however it changes healthy skin cells into withered cells and often produces wrinkles.

Some people have skin disorders categorized as ichtyosis which are severe dry skin conditions that are usually due to heredity.

Dry skin does not have the ability to hold moisture. People with extreme dry skin have cracking signs that are noticeable.

People with dry skin might notice their condition becoming worse when exposed to wind, hot and cold weather conditions, a low humidity environment and air conditioning.

Treatment

For dry skin care doctors typically recommend using moisturizers which reduce the amount of moisture that escapes your skin by providing a seal.

Thick moisturizers are preferred such as Cetaphil and Eucerin.

It is also recommended to purchase cosmetic products that contain moisturizing substances. For those with extremely dry skin you might want to use oil on your skin such as baby oil and apply it while your skin is moist.

For dry skin care, experts recommend that you choose cleansing creams or mild skin cleansing products instead of using soap on your skin.

If you want to use soaps you might want to consider selecting soaps such as Dove or Neutrogena which are milder than basic soaps.

Deodorants can create problems for dry skin as well as anti-bacterial detergent products. When choosing dry skin care products try a variety of products and find the items that help make your skin feel smooth and soft after you apply them.

Showering and Bathing

Dermatologists recommend that you avoid using hot water while showering or bathing since hot water seems to reduce the amount of oil your skin contains.

Also, it is preferable that you take a short shower or bath.

After washing your face or taking a shower pat your skin with a soft towel and proceed to moisturize your skin by applying a cream or oil.

A useful dry skin care recommendation is to use a humidifier in order to prevent hot, dry air from drying out your skin and causing uncomfortable itchiness.

Cotton and silk which are natural fibers are the preferred material when choosing clothes to wear.

These natural fibers provide an opportunity for your skin to breath.

However, wool is a natural fiber you should avoid wearing since it can cause irritation of the skin. Another dry skin care suggestion is to choose a detergent for washing your clothes that does not contain perfumes or dyes.

These are some of the dry skin care suggestions that can improve your dry skin.

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