Skin Care - A Skin Lightening Cream

Organic Face Cream

Organic face cream, along with other organic skin care products, is one of the fastest expanding areas of the beauty industry. Women who are sufficiently health conscious to buy organically grown food are now starting to demand organic products for their skin too.

It makes sense, after all. Using non-organic skin care products a woman is likely to apply over 200 different chemicals to her body every day, on average. Just because it goes on the skin rather than into the stomach does not mean it stays outside the body. A full 60% of this chemical cocktail is absorbed into the bloodstream. So if you eat organic food to avoid polluting your body with chemicals, it is only logical also to seek out organic face creams and body lotions.

In addition, the number of cases of eczema and other skin allergies and complaints is increasing, largely due to the chemicals in our environment. Sensitive skins are likely to be irritated by the chemicals in many mainstream beauty products. Another reason to go organic, in many people's eyes.

"Organic" produce is that which has been grown without chemical fertilizers and pesticides and does not include genetically modified ingredients. If your beauty care product is described as "organic face cream" on the label, it must contain at least 95% organically grown produce. If it says 'made with organic ingredients', however, it need only contain 70% organic material. So read the label carefully.

Organic creams do not keep as long as chemical products because they do not contain so many artificial preservatives, so do not buy huge quantities. Check the date on the label and do not continue to use products after that date or for more than 4 months after opening (or less if indicated by the manufacturer).

An organic face cream is a good choice for anyone with sensitive skin who experiences irritation, rashes or other reactions from exposure to standard cosmetics. The natural substances found in organic beauty products help to renew the skin by replenishing the natural oils that are stripped off our face when we use soaps and harsh chemicals on them. You will find organic products for different skin types such as oily, dry and combination skin. You can also get organic acne skin care products.

All these products will have been extensively tested before being launched on the market and allergic reactions are very unlikely as they are almost always formulated for sensitive skin. If you know that you are allergic to certain chemicals, however, you should check the label as the products will very rarely be 100% organic.

Organic skin care products are not the cheapest on the market of course, but they are not the most expensive either. Prices will vary according to brand and the percentage of organic ingredients that is included, but when you consider the price of some beauty creams you will be pleasantly surprised at what you can get in the organic face cream range.

What is a Non Surgical Face Lift?

The non surgical face lift has become a more and more popular alternative to surgical facelift procedures in recent years. The traditional face lift, where the skin is cut at the ears and jaw and drawn back to give a more youthful appearance to the face, has many disadvantages. Most common complaints are that it can result in a tight look to the face, giving the person a more rigid facial expression, a permanent look of surprise or just 'not looking like myself any more'. But occasionally, as with all surgical procedures, things can go wrong and the result is an excess of scar tissue and a face that looks much worse than ever before. Face lifts are also expensive and will take at least a week out of your schedule while you wait for the pain, scarring and bruising to fade. If you do not want anyone to know that you had a face lift, you may have to take a couple of months' vacation.

Non surgical face lifts offer a range of options that do not involve incisions into the skin. Sometimes the non surgical option is simply a series of moisturizing treatments in a beauty salon. You can even buy products to give yourself a non surgical facelift. Generally you will use a special renovation cream for the area around the eyes, a firming cream for the neck and an intensive moisturizer for the rest of the face. You may want to take the first treatment in a salon to best appreciate the products that are available.

If the products are new to you, test them for a few days on a hidden area of skin to ensure they do not set off any allergic reactions. Then begin your face lift regime. Use more of each product than you normally would (while still following the manufacturer's instructions) and leave it on for 20-30 minutes before wiping off the excess. Most people prefer to do this in the evening so that you do not have to apply makeup immediately after, but leave the skin benefiting from the products that it has absorbed while you sleep. Repeat every day for 7-10 days or until you are happy with the results, then continue to apply the treatment once a week to maintain your newly supple skin.

Alternatively, you may want to seek a non surgical face lift from a physician. In this case, rather than rehydrating the skin, the doctor will give you injections of products to fill out sagging skin and smooth out wrinkles. Botox (R) is used primarily to reduce lines on the forehead and lip area. Then fillers may be injected below the eyes to reduce dark circles, and along the 'smile lines' between the corners of the nose and mouth. It is also possible to non surgically alter the shape of the nose and jaw with these fillers, creating a smoother line to the nose and a more pronounced outline to the jaw.

While the effect of a surgical face lift can last from 7 to 10 years, non surgical treatments are shorter term. Intensive moisturizing will require regular repetition to remain effective, Botox treatment is effective for around 3 months and filler injections can last for 6-24 months depending on the product used. If you are considering non surgical options for reasons of cost, you may find that it will not save you much money. However there are many other benefits, principally the avoidance of risk from anesthetic and surgery, the lack of scarring, less pain and a more natural look. You also have more control over the process even if you choose injections, because you will not be anesthetized and can be involved in decisions throughout the non surgical face lift treatment.

Natural Face Creams

More and more people are turning to natural face creams and other cosmetic products in our modern world. The onslaught that our bodies suffer from the combination of atmospheric pollution, prescription and over-the-counter drugs, and chemical fertilizers and insecticides in our food, is causing an ever increasing number of the population to develop allergies and rashes. While eczema and similar skin disorders were commonly a childhood problem that kids grew out of in the past, these days they are more likely to persist into adulthood and even begin in adulthood, as well as being generally more common and more severe than they were 100 years ago.

In this climate it is not surprising that people are looking to natural skin care products as well as natural cosmetics, dental and hair care products and organic food to ease the burden that modern life puts on their bodies. As a result of this demand, natural products are no longer available only from small specialist companies. Almost all of the big beauty companies now offer a natural skin care range alongside their standard ranges.

There is a widespread belief that natural products are not so effective as their chemically-based equivalents but in many cases this is not true. While chemically formulated treatments are certainly required for some conditions, many skin problems are better treated with natural hypoallergenic products. Most face creams are predominantly moisturizer and there are plenty of good natural moisturizing ingredients that can go into natural face creams. So unless you have a very specific problem that needs medical attention, you can expect to get good results from natural ingredients.

Natural products also come with an inbuilt 'feel good factor' that can boost your general wellbeing. Treating the body as a whole is now recommended by many physicians as well as alternative health practitioners. Adopting a holistic natural approach to your body care and beauty regime will have benefits for your mind and spirit that go beyond the visible effects of the product itself. While of course a natural face cream will not make these claims on the packaging, you can expect that the act of caring for your body with natural products in a loving way will raise your self esteem and help you avoid depression.

You will find products containing many different natural ingredients but read the labels carefully. A moisturizer whose advertising says 'with aloe vera' may contain the tiniest amount of plant extract while every other ingredient is chemically manufactured. Other common ingredients in natural products include almond oil and cocoa butter for moisturizing, tea tree oil for healing, and witch hazel for toning the skin.

Most products will not be 100% natural and again you will need to check the label. Also, if you have eczema or other skin conditions, do not assume that anything that is natural will suit your skin. Fruit oils especially can cause reactions in some people. So you will still need to test the products on the market or choose natural face creams that are formulated for delicate skin.

Straight Man Skin Care Tips

For the average straight man skin care is not high on his daily list of priorities. Until recently most men believed that looking after the face was something that only women needed to do. If their skin was very dry or irritated they might steal a little face cream from the wife, mother or sister, but otherwise skin was ignored on the principle that if it works, you don't fix it. Men who paid a lot of attention to the way they looked were considered either suspiciously unmanly, or vain.

Another mistaken belief was that skin care takes a lot of time. This is probably because of the amount of time that women seem to spend taking care of their faces. In fact for most of that time, the lady is putting on make-up. Make-up and skin care are two very different things.

Just recently men have become much more aware of skin care and in response, the number of products on the market has mushroomed. This can lead to confusion about what products to buy but the only thing that is essential is a good moisturizer. If you work outdoors, choose one with built-in sun protection. Using sunscreen every day will delay many of the signs of aging on your skin and also help to protect against skin cancer.

When washing the face, use a mild soap, such as one that is formulated for sensitive skin. This will be less dehydrating than strong soaps. Rinsing with cold water helps to tone the skin and close pores. You may want to use a cleanser instead of soap if your skin is dry. This is a lotion that you rub onto the skin and then wipe off with a cotton pad. There is no need to rinse.

Much of the damage to a man's skin is related to shaving. Sensitive skins can react to shaving products and the action of the razor. Hair follicles in the skin can become blocked or infected, causing pimples. Wet the face with hot water before applying shaving cream and use a good sharp double blade. Use after-shave cream instead of liquid. If you prefer an electric razor, use pre-shave lotion to help the razor slide over the skin without causing irritation.

Exercise will help to clear skin pores all over the body, especially if you work up a sweat. It also improves the metabolism which results in a healthier skin.

Diet is another factor in maintaining healthy skin. Eating a lot of fruit and vegetables will boost the body's natural healing processes by adding antioxidants. You can supplement this with a multi-vitamin tablet. Avoid fatty foods including most fast foods. Cut down on coffee and sodas, and drink plenty of water which will both hydrate and cleanse the body. If you drink alcohol, have at least one glass of water between each alcoholic drink. Making these changes to your diet will help you keep a healthy and attractive skin but more importantly, will protect you against many serious diseases. For a man skin care is just one part of maintaining a strong and healthy body.

Choosing an Anti Wrinkle Face Cream

Most every woman and more than a few men will start looking for a good anti wrinkle face cream as they get older. We do not have to be very old before the ageing process begins to show on a close inspection of our skin. Wrinkles (or fine lines, as they are called when they are small) are the most obvious effect of ageing and we will all have them sooner or later. The age that you are when you start to notice wrinkles depends on many factors including your skin type, exposure to the sun, lifestyle, eating and drinking habits, sleep patterns and stress quotient, but inevitably they will come.

Some people undergo cosmetic surgery to treat wrinkles but this is not advised in the early stages. The effects of both surgery and non-surgical procedures such as filler injections are temporary, and the more you have, the more you lose of the natural look of the face. Someone who had their first facelift at 35 and continued having them every 7-10 years would look very strange by age 75. That may not seem important when you are young, but you may be surprised to learn that you will still care how you look when you are in your sixties and seventies! So rather than call a cosmetic surgeon at the first sign of a wrinkle, it is much better to invest in good skin care products.

Anti wrinkle creams are more than simply moisturizers. They cause changes in the skin at the cellular level and reduce wrinkle-causing processes such as glycation. They may contain sun protection factors and sometimes also exfoliants to help peel away the dead dry skin which can add to the aged appearance of the face. Collagen is another common ingredient. This helps the skin retain moisture. GABA is sometimes included to relax the facial muscles, reducing the wrinkles that are caused when skin that is not so supple any more is stretched.

They also contain antioxidants, including vitamin A and its derivatives which can bring about some rejuvenation of the skin, so that you get back your youthful smoothness. Anti oxidants including Idebenone can protect against free radicals which affect the metabolic process and lead to premature ageing of the skin. Hyaluronic acid can help to lubricate the skin and copper peptide assists with healing blemishes.

When you are considering wrinkle treatment creams, you will want to look at the ingredients and consider what is most likely to help your skin type and lifestyle. There is not a cream that is perfect for everybody. If you have lived all your life in a cold, dry climate you will need very different skin care products to someone whose skin is used to sun and humidity.

You should also choose a product that is specific to the area that you want to use it. The area round the eyes, for example, is very sensitive and the skin has different problems than the skin of the neck. If you have wrinkles in both areas you will need two different products. Keep these points in mind and it will not be difficult to find a good anti wrinkle face cream.

Antioxidant Skin Care Products

Modern antioxidant skin care products offer us a level of protection against free radicals in the environment that we cannot afford to ignore. Free radicals are hyper-reactive molecules whose instability brings about change and damage in the cells of our body. Some are generated naturally by our bodies but modern life can lead us to have more than we should, caused by pollution in the air, chemicals in our food and radiation.

Free Radicals

The effect of free radicals is to cause our cells to oxidize. This is similar to what happens to an apple when you cut it in half. The flesh changes color and becomes dry. Internally, free radicals can contribute to many diseases including cancer, and they also cause many of the symptoms of aging. Skin attacked by free radicals becomes thin, wrinkled and dry.

Antioxidants

So it is clear that antioxidants, which can prevent or even reverse this oxidizing process, are very important in protecting skin against the signs of aging. Antioxidants hunt out free radicals and neutralize them. Our bodies produce some antioxidants but others, such as vitamin C and vitamin E, are required from our diet. Other antioxidants available from food include vitamin A, beta carotene, selenium and zinc.

A diet that is high in fruit and vegetables will provide us with most of these elements, helping to protect us against disease, degeneration and signs of aging. This will help to keep our skin healthy, but it is not enough. Our skin also needs protection from the free radicals in the atmosphere, including pollutants and UV light, and this is where antioxidant skin products can assist.

Rosehip Oil

One element that is frequently found in antioxidant skin care products is rosehip oil. This is claimed to have many rejuvenating abilities including treating premature aging, wrinkles, stretch marks and sun damage. It is high in vitamin A which boosts the natural regenerative abilities of cells and production of collagen and elastin, helping skin to stay firm and smooth.

Grapeseed Oil

The antioxidants in grape seed oil help to regenerate and repair damaged skin tissue, allowing the cells to maintain a healthier moisture balance. Skin care products made from grape seed oil are particularly good for the sensitive skin around the eyes. The oil in pure form can also be used as a moisturizer in pregnancy, helping to prevent stretch marks.

Shea Butter

Shea butter is rich in Omega-6 and Omega-9 Essential Fatty Acids, and is used to protect, heal and soften the skin. It also contains retinol, a form of vitamin A which reduces fine wrinkles, and many other antioxidants and UV light absorbing elements.

Vitamin E

Vitamin E extracted from soy beans is often used as an antioxidant in natural skin care products. It is said to be more beneficial than chemically produced forms of vitamin E and can be found in many antioxidant skin care products.

Anti Aging Skin Care Treatment

Anti aging skin care treatment is best begun early if you want to have clear and healthy skin right into old age. There are many things you can do to improve the quality of your skin. Some of them will be effective quickly but others may take many years to become evident.

The way that skin ages depends on many factors. These include some that are out of our control such as genetic influence but the most important factors are in our lifestyle. Although we are all bound to get older and this will show in our skin, there is much that we can do to prevent premature signs of age.

Regular moisturizing is important if you have dry skin or any dry patches on your skin. Even the oiliest skins become dry as we age. Skin is likely to be dryer in winter or in cold climates with low humidity. Heating in the home also dries the skin. Choose an anti aging skin cream that is designed for your age group and skin type. You can also help the process by using different products for the face, neck and body, as the skin in these areas has different requirements.

Cigarette smoke has a bad effect on skin and smokers will tend to look older more quickly. The effect is mainly external, i.e. it comes from the smoke in the air around us, so this also applies to people who live with smokers. Making it a rule only to smoke outside in the open air will help.

Exposure to the sun is also responsible for aging the skin. Skin can become leathery, develop dark pigment spots and grow very dry. The dryness causes wrinkles and sagging. Protecting the skin against the sun is very important. Over-exposure to sunlight can result in cancer as well as premature aging effects.

Taking regular exercise is a good anti aging treatment. As well as helping muscle tone, it will improve blood circulation. This helps the skin by bringing nutrients and removing toxins.

Avoid alcohol if you want to keep your skin looking good. Alcohol dilates the blood vessels and can damage them permanently. It can cause ugly red patches on the skin, especially on the nose.

You may also want to take up yoga or meditation to lower your stress and anxiety levels, as these can have a wrinkling effect on the skin. Frown lines are caused by a perpetual expression of worry or stress. Try to be aware of your facial expression and make a conscious effort to relax the muscles of the forehead and cheeks whenever you can. This will help to prevent your habitual expression etching lines into your skin. As you can see, there is much you can do in altering your lifestyle to help along your anti aging skin care treatment.

African-American and African Skin Care

African-American and African skin care issues are quite different than those for people with lighter skin. Uneven skin tone is one problem that is very common in dark skin. This is caused by an uneven distribution of melanin, the skin pigment that gives your skin its color. Light-skinned people have melanin in their skin too, but not so much. If they have an uneven distribution of melanin it appears on their skin as freckles. In African-American and other darker-skinned people, melanin distribution can cause larger patches of what looks like discoloration.

The first thing to do if this is a problem for you is protect your face against the sun. This means using high SPF sunscreen every time you go out in the sun. Sunlight increases the amount of melanin in the skin (that's why skin gets darker in the sun) and it often does this in an uneven way. Then, look around for a good black skin care product that will work on regularizing the skin tone. Although this will never create a completely even look, it can certainly help.

Another effect of the higher levels of pigmentation in dark skin is a loss of elasticity when compared to lighter skin. The concentration of melanin in the skin makes it thicker, so that it is less supple and stretchy. This means that it is easily irritated and is also more likely to scar. The result of both scarring and irritation is that the skin even thicker and darker too. This is called hyper-pigmentation and sometimes it can have a very minor cause like irritation caused by shaving.

You can often prevent this happening and improve the elasticity of your skin with a good African-American moisturizer. You should easily be able to find a range of effective black skin care products that will moisturize, protect and repair your skin. A good African-American skin cream will also act as a deep moisturizer to maintain your skin's healthy shine and prevent it getting that ashy look that is a sign of very dry skin.

If you suffer from uneven pigmentation or dark scarred skin look for a face cream containing tretinoin. This is a form of vitamin A which is particularly effective in preventing and overcoming hyper-pigmentation. It is important in the regulation and development of healthy skin and bones. As well as helping with patchy skin tone, when it is used as the basis of a face cream it can help treat acne, fine wrinkles and rough skin.

The best thing that you can do for your skin is always to buy products that are researched and designed especially for African skin care.

Acne Treatment Skin Care

There are plenty of acne treatment skin care products on the market and it is not surprising when you consider how many people suffer from acne in some form. It is an almost inevitable part of growing up in western cultures. 85% of American teenagers suffer from it, and for many people it continues well into adulthood, although it usually becomes less severe after the teenage years.

People with acne often suffer from low self esteem because of self consciousness about the acne which is unsightly and sometimes painful. There are many possible treatments including hormonal and antibiotic treatments which may be taken internally. The first thing that you should do if your acne is severe is to visit your doctor who will assess what might best help you. These are some of the treatments that may be indicated.

1. Diet

Acne is rare in non-westernized countries but starts to appear whenever a culture begins to adopt a western diet, so it seems that diet is a very significant factor. Dairy products, high levels of saturated fats and blood glucose imbalances caused by sugar are all thought to contribute, so avoid those foods when you can.

2. Exfoliation

Although acne is not caused by dirt but by blockages in the hair follicles, it can be helpful to wash and exfoliate your skin regularly to clear away the dead tissue that can add to blockages and worsen the appearance of acne. Often this process will also improve the appearance of blackheads. Washing with soap and something that is gently abrasive like a face cloth can be enough to exfoliate the skin, or you can buy cleansers that either contain small beads that abrade the skin or pads soaked in salicylic or glycolic acid. Do not exfoliate too frequently, especially if you are using acid on your skin. You may damage the skin causing redness that can look worse than the acne.

3. Bactericidal Creams, Gels and Washes

Bactericidal products are applied to the areas where outbreaks occur. Most often these are over-the-counter products containing benzoyl peroxide in various strengths. As well as killing the bacteria in acne that has already formed, benzoyl peroxide kills the keratin that clogs the pores, so it helps to prevent future outbreaks. Applied twice a day over several weeks, this has been found to reduce the appearance of acne by around 65%. However it often causes redness, dryness and irritation. You can stop for a while and then try again with a lower strength product if this occurs. A moisturizer formulated for acne-prone skin will also help.

Benzoyl peroxide is a mild bleach and may cause discoloration of hair and clothing. Keep it away from eyebrows and facial hair.

4. Antibiotics

Your doctor or dermatologist may prescribe antibiotic creams (topical antibiotics). Unfortunately the common form of acne is becoming more resistant to antibiotics and they are not as effective as they once were, with the acne reappearing very quickly when treatment is stopped. For this reason oral antibiotics are not as commonly prescribed as in the past, although they can help clear up an outbreak in the short term. Antibiotic cream can be used for longer periods.

5. Phototherapy

Although sunlight often clears up acne in the short term, in the long term it only encourages the skin to produce more oils that blog the pores. Recently however scientists have found that using selective light therapy in the form of visible blue light applied daily can have the effect of reducing acne by up to 65%, and up to 75% if red light is added. You do need special equipment which comes at a cost but compared with the cost of buying other acne products week after week for several years it is not excessive.

Although it may not be realistic to expect acne to disappear completely, there is much that can be done with acne treatment skin care to lessen its severity and make life happier and easier for those who are affected by it.