Archive for the ‘Skin Care’ Category

Skin care tips which effective in the long run

Wednesday, June 4th, 2008

Healthy skin is a must for your beauty. It adds the finishing touch to your beauty. There are innumerable skin care tips which you can follow and benefit from. But in this article I would like to talk about the 10 most basic skin care tips. They are so basic tips that people simply tend to ignore them thinking that they will not be benefited from them but in reality these simple things tips are very effective in the long run.

  • If you want to use any skin care product then the first thing you should know is your skin type and hence the most important tip of all is to first be aware of your skin types and its needs because if you are not using the kind of product that suits your skin then you can do some serious damage to your skin. Hence the rule of thumb in your skin care should be to first know your skin type.
  • The best way to keep your skin healthy is to rink lots of water. The water is a natural moisturizer and works better then the artificial moisturizers. So in order to make your skin look healthy and fresh you need to drink lots of water.
  • Make cleansing your skin a habit. Cleansing helps your skin to remove dirt and contaminants and is a must if you have been out in the day. Also, you need to take care that you should use only lukewarm water for cleansing.
  • Sometimes people are over cautious about their skin and this can also lead to trouble. These people have a tendency to take extra care of their skin like unnecessary scrubbing and exfoliating which leads to problems. You must also take care to apply skin care products in proper amount because too much of anything is bad and same goes with your skin care products.
  • Don’t let your skin become dry. Always see to it that your skin remains moist. If you follow the above tip and drink plenty of water then you may not face this problem. But sometimes skin also needs extra moisturizer when it is exposed to harsh conditions like when you are out in the sun all day and at such times a moisturizer comes in handy. But you should take care that moisturizer should be applied in proper sequence and in proper quantities. Moisturizers tend to have the most effect when the skin is warm and damp. So you should apply them when your skin is warm and damp.
  • Many people clean their faces with soap. Do not clean your face with soap. Use a good cleanser instead.
  • When you are going out on picnics, beaches etc make it a habit to apply sunscreen. Sunscreen works as a shield for our skin from the harmful UV rays. These rays can also cause fatal diseases like skin cancer and this is the reason you should make it a habit to apply sunscreen before going out. Now-a-days sunscreens are combined with moisturizers which makes it more easy to apply them as you get both the things from one pack.
  • Although exercise and sleep are not directly related to your skin but still they have a profound effect on your skin health. Improper sleep leads to dark circles and wrinkles at an early age while exercise will help to keep your skin firm and healthy.
  • Don’t be your own doctor. Many people in order to save money and time do not consult a dermatologist when they face a skin problem. Please do not do this because if you treat your skin problems in a wrong way then you will end up spending much more money and time on the same treatment.
  • Stress and tension rob your skin of its freshness and healthy look. So avoid too much stress, I know its not possible in today’s world to have a stress free life but all I am saying is to reduce it to as minimum as possible. Try taking a break from your schedule.

Steps for Facial Skin Care

Tuesday, June 3rd, 2008

Facial skin care is more about setting up a routine and disciplining yourself to follow it. The facial skin care routine consists of basically 4 things:

  • Cleansing
  • Toning
  • Exfoliating
  • Moisturizing

Whether you or at home or work, all the time pollutants, dirt and contaminants continue to collect on your skin and clog the pores of your skin. To prevent this from happening you need to clean your face. To cleanse your face properly you will need a cleansing agent which is very easily available in the market. But not all the cleansers will have the same effect on your skin. You will need to go with the one that will clean your skin with maximum efficiency. You should make it a habit to cleanse your face at least twice a day. The cleansers which you use should be water soluble.

The second step in facial skin care is toning. Toning is not essentially needed. It comes into the picture in case of improper cleansing. If you cleanse your skin in the right way then you may not need toning. The main purpose of toning is to remove the excess dirt and pollutants present on your skin. Toning need to be followed on a regular basis but it should be a part of your skin care schedule when you are exposed to harsh conditions.

Our skin consists of dead skin cells as well as fresh skin cells. The dead skin cells need to be removed so that the new skin cells can take their place. This gives rise to the need of exfoliation. The process of exfoliation basically means to remove your dead skin cells and make way for the new skin cells. The exfoliation process should not be a part of your daily facial skin care. But you should perform this process at least once a week. The process of exfoliation also opens up the pores. If exfoliation is not done in a proper way or if it is done in excess then, it can damage your skin. So you need to be careful with exfoliation.

The next step in facial skin care is moisturizing. This step is the most important step in skin care. Our skin constantly loses moisture. The moisturization process helps to keep our skin moist and prevents it from getting dry. The formation of dry skin should be avoided because it leads to dead skin cells which causes the upper layer of the skin to break. The best time to apply moisturizer is when your skin is damp and warm. Also you should apply moisturizer in proper sequence and after the above steps.

In addition to the above four steps you should also take care about the following things in facial skin care:

  • Do not just wash your make up to remove it. Instead use a proper make up remover to remove your make up.
  • Any skin care product ma6not be necessarily good for your skin. You should choose your skin care products depending upon your skin type and skin needs.
  • When you are testing new skin care products do not test them on your entire skin. Instead try testing them on small parts of your skin like ear lobes.
  • Avoid rubbing your skin.
  • Never go out in the sun without applying sun screen lotion.

If you take care of the above few things and follow your skin care routine in a disciplined manner than your skin will be fresh looking and you will always look younger than your age.

Dry skin cannot be ignored at any cost

Monday, June 2nd, 2008

Many people ignore their dry skin. But these people should be alert that dry skin cannot be ignored at any cost. When someone has dry skin it forms cracks on the uppermost layer of the skin and gives a bad look to the skin. Dry skin has many causes with some of the major ones being:

  • Dry Climate.
  • Too much exfoliation.
  • Hormonal Changes.
  • Excessive medication of other skin ailments.
  • Hereditary or natural skin type.

It does not matter what is the cause of your dry skin but you need to take great care of your dry skin.

Dry skin is formed due to the lack of moisture. So the first step in dry skin care should include providing sufficient moisture to the skin and compensating for its deficiency in the skin. The moisturizers which can be used for dry skin care are divided into two types which are as follows:

  • The first type of dry skin care moisturizers are those which work on the principle of blocking the moisture that is already present in the skin from draining out. These are very cheap as they do not necessarily provide moisture. They just help in the preservation of moisture. These are easily available and one of the most popular example of this type is moisturizer is Vaseline.
  • The second category of moisturizers for dry skin work on the principle of capturing the moisture from the environment and surrounding and giving it to the skin. These types of moisturizers are most affective in humid conditions and hence are called as humectants. For dry skin, non greasy type of moisturizers are the best. Some of the ingredients of these types of moisturizers are urea, glycerin, glycol etc.

Even the best dry skin moisturizers will be rendered ineffective if you do not follow proper skin care procedures. The correct procedure for dry skin care is as follows:

  • First you will have to cleanse your skin and remove the dirt and pollutants.
  • Then you will have to apply the moisturizer while the skin is damp and warm.
  • After that you will need to exfoliate the skin.

Most of the dry skin care products also take care of protecting your skin from the harmful UV radiations.

Every type of skin care is possible with herbal products. In case of dry skin care, the herbal products supply lipids to the skin which enhance the moisture retaining capacity of the skin. Also, the water which you use for dry skin care should be lukewarm and not too cold and not too hot. If you have dry skin then you should always avoid alcohol based products. Also after washing/cleansing your face instead of rubbing it with a towel you should gently use the towel to soak off the water.

If you actually compare it, dry skin and dry skin care is much more easier to handle than oily skin and oily skin care.

Acne related skin problems and treatment

Sunday, June 1st, 2008

Acne in the most basic terms means skin which is affected by a disease. This disease is affected with oil and hair. The characteristics of this type of skin disease are:

  • Pimples.
  • Black/white heads.
  • Cysts.
  • Reddishness.

The acne is of basically two types and they are face acne and body acne. As the name suggests face acne will spoil your entire look while body acne will make you feel uneasy. Many people are not aware about the effects of acne and hence disregard the whole concept of acne skin care. These people underestimate the effects of acne. On the contrary, acne needs to be treated with utmost care.

The people who know little about acne skin care have the notion that acne skin care starts after the appearance of acne on your face or body parts. This notion is completely wrong. On the contrary acne skin care should start at a much early period. Acne skin care is not the solution or medication of acne but it actually means taking care of the skin in such a way so as to prevent acne. Acne skin care involves following daily skin care procedures so as to prevent yourself from acne.

The first step in acne skin care is to clean your skin. You should wash your skin more than twice a day. Most of the people wash their skin in the morning as well as in the night. Though this is a good routine but try to wash your skin at least once during the day time to remove all the dirt from your skin. The way in which you wash your skin also helps. The best way to wash your skin is to take a shower. Also do not skip a night shower if you live in a humid and dry place.

Acne also occurs in various body parts so just washing your face and taking showers won’t do. You also need to take care about the clothes you wear. They should be clean and free from any contamination in order to prevent body acne. Also take care of your surroundings like use only clean pillows and bed sheets. Avoid wearing tight clothes as those will lead to sweat and dirt and which will eventually lead to body acne. You also need to clean every equipment that comes in contact with your body like your make up kits and brushes etc.

You should also take the help of cleanser to clean your face, neck and hands. There are a variety of cleansers which are available in the market. But not every cleanser is good. You will need to stick to certain specifications while buying a cleanser which are:

  • Mild.
  • Water-Soluble.
  • Soap free.
  • Oil free.
  • And one that suits your skin type.

If you choose the right cleanser and clean your self with it correctly then it will remove the dirt and pollutants from your body which helps a long way in preventing acne. Also another thing you would have to look after in your acne skin care is to remove your make up with a good make up remover before going to bed.

Many people who are already suffering from acne touch it and try to squeeze it. Never ever do that because that may lead to the formation of permanent scars on your skin. If you already have acne then gently cleanse the area using soft cotton. You can also use various creams and lotions available in the market for preventing acne. If you are still not satisfied with your results then contact your nearest dermatologist for acne related problems and treatment.

Tips for better Make up and Skin Care

Sunday, June 1st, 2008

Both these things make up and skin care are normally associated with women and men are still discovering these. Make up and skin care cannot be regarded as two different things because your make up will be effective only if your skin is healthy and fresh. But how should you optimize both of these to compliment each other instead of contradicting each other. In this article I will highlight some tips for make up and skin care:

  • You should always keep in your mind that your main aim is skin care even if you are buying make up products or are actually applying the products which you have bought. If you follow this step correctly then the products which you will buy will be for your make up as well as for your skin care instead being for just one purpose. You need to also take care of some other things like is that product allergic to you and does it contain chemicals in excess quantities?
  • Also you need to test products before using them in make up and skin care. Hence it is advisable to test the product son certain small parts then directly applying them on their target areas. You can always test them on parts liken ear lobes etc.
  • Never ever use an expired product. Keep in mind you are dealing with a very delicate and precious thing which is your skin. Some products can even be rendered ineffective due to improper storage techniques. This is especially true with products containing vitamin C.
  • One of the most important parts of your make up and skin care procedures is to clean all the equipments regularly. You will need to sharpen your eye liners from time to time and clean each and every equipment that comes in direct contact with your skin. Also, you should develop a schedule to overhaul and upgrade all your equipment.
  • Nails protect the delicate skin at your finger tips and hence nail care forms an integral part of your make up and skin care. The rule of thumb for nail care is to keep your nails clean. Another thing is to use a good quality nail polish and rub it with cuticle oil at the edges.
  • For those of you who have deep eye sets, a liquid eye liner will be more suitable for you than a pencil liner since it will avoid smudging at the deep edges.
  • If you are suffering from a skin disease or disorder then you should always consult a dermatologist before starting your make up and skin care routine. Also in case of skin related problems like acne you should avoid using too harsh make up and skin care products as they can further damage your skin. Also never ever rub or squeeze the parts of your skin which are affected by acne.
  • Many people just wash their make up off. This procedure is wrong and this process conflicts with your skin care. Instead of just washing your make up off use a mild make up remover.
  • Use must always follow the father of all rules when it comes to make up and skin care and that is “Never to sleep with your make up on.”
  • This may not be known to many but when you apply a deodorant you need to keep some specified distance between your body and the nozzle. Always maintain that distance between your body and the nozzle. You can easily find the specified distance on the deodorant bottle or on the deodorant pack which you are using.

So the next time you apply make up and purchase make up products keep in mind that make up and skin care go hand in hand and you should not treat them separately.

Men are more aware of their skin now then ever

Saturday, May 31st, 2008

Gone are the days when nobody not even men knew that men skin care existed. But times have changed now and people including men are more aware of their skin now then ever. Today the markets are flooded with skin care products for men. Men skin care varies in a lot of ways from female skin care.

The first step in men and women skin care is the same and that is cleansing. Whether you are a man or a woman your skin is bound to accumulate dirt and contaminants and the effect of this is acne and other diseases. So in order to free your skin from such contaminants, you need to at least cleanse your skin once a day. The cleansing procedure is for more prominence to men skin care as compared to women skin care and the main reason for this is that the men skin care is oilier in nature. The things to look out while choosing a cleanser are same for both men and women and these are:

  • Water Soluble.
  • Free from Soap.
  • Use a cleanser that suits your skin.

The next step in men skin care is related to shaving. From here on men and women skin care differ from each other in a variety of ways. Some of the most prominent skin care products for men are:

  • Shaving foam.
  • After shave lotion.
  • Proper shaving equipment.

For choosing the above products the most important consideration should be the oil content of your skin since this varies from person to person. You must use after shaves which are free from alcohol. Another thing which widely influences the quality of men skin care is razor. The razors which you use should be of high quality and standards. You should use swivel head razors because these are known to reduce cuts. Also, after choosing the right products and equipment you also need to take care of the proper procedures. Avoid the rubbing the razor hard against your skin. Always remember you are trying to remove the hair and not the skin itself.

As stated above men skin has more oil content as compared to women skin. The cause of such high oil content is large number of pores and the highly active sebaceous glands. Even though male skin is oilier it tends to loose moisture at a faster pace due to shaving. Hence it becomes necessary to include a moisturizer in your skin care kit and apply it regularly after shaving. Now-a-days combined moisturizers and after shave lotions are also available in the market which will make your work a lot easier. The correct way of applying moisturizer is to rub it gently using upward strokes.

The male skin is more susceptible to UV radiation. But nevertheless it also needs some protection in terms of sunscreens. The easiest way to use a sunscreen is to use a moisturizer which is combined with sunscreen.

You should also try herbal skin care products to see if they suit your skin because if they suit your skin type then they can be very effective. Some of the herbal skin care products are:

  • Aloe Vera.
  • Sea Salt.
  • Coconut Oil.
  • Lavender oils and other natural anti-septic oils.

Many men think that men skin care is a herculean task but it is much easier than that. In fact after following the procedure for a few days you will become habitual to it and taking care of your skin will become your second nature.