Consumers are turning to wholesome and therapeutic elements found in Mother Nature for skin care therapies and beauty treatments. There is an awareness of the potentially harmful effects associated with the long term use of synthetic chemicals found in many formulas. To name a few - 1,4-dioxane, a cancer causing contaminant found in cosmetic products; silicone emollients which coat the skin and trap anything beneath it - not allowing the skin to breathe; formaldehyde, cancer-causing vapor that can cause allergies, irritations to eyes, nose and throat, headaches and chronic fatigue.

Few people realize that skin is a “dynamic tissue”. Up to 60% of the skin products that we apply are absorbed into our bloodstream! Cosmetics, lotions and creams are an important part of life but we need to be aware of the damage chemicals have on our system. The only way to correct this is to find something less harmful. Natural and organic herbal skin care is the answer - grown without synthetic fertilizers, pesticides and genetically engineered seeds.

Vitamins
In the last few years many manufacturers have begun to add vitamins and antioxidants to their formulas. Look for vitamin A to assist in preventing roughness and dryness. C and E are the simplest forms of antioxidants and will help in the prevention of sun damage and in fighting premature wrinkles.

There is some evidence that vitamin C may pass through the skin’s top layer and heal tissue that has been damaged by a burn or an injury. A study recently showed that applying topical Vitamin C, 15 to 30 minutes after UV exposure, sunburn cells decreased and repair to the damage had begun. The one problem of this vitamin is that it is unstable when left open to the air. Research is continuing to optimize this but one consistent way is to use an anhydrous (no water) base cream.

Vitamin D interacts with sunlight to form in our bodies and is considered an antioxidant and an anticarcinogen. Although it can be toxic in large amounts, sunbathing won’t result in an overdose.

Aloe Vera
Aloe vera is a soothing plant and the base of many natural cleansing formulas, offering exfoliation, moisturizing and protection. This “miracle” plant dates back to the time of Cleopatra but was lost for years. It was rediscovered during the Second World War when it was used for treating burn victims. It is now used as an ingredient that will help with antiaging, in the healing of wounds and sun damaged tissue. Apply aloe gel several times a day and watch the redness of a sunburn disappear without peeling.

Topical use of a cream containing 0.5 percent aloe vera extract three times a day for four weeks shows a high cure rate of lesions in psoriasis patients. Further research suggests that this plant may have a mild analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect with no known adverse reactions. The problem of eczema can be addressed with specific ingredients such as aloe vera which provides soothing, cleansing and healing.

A great idea in using natural formulas is to do-it-yourself. To prepare an aloe vera home recipe, take the slippery part from inside the plant, puree in a blender and keep refrigerated. Apply a coat of the gel for 5 minutes and rinse. Over time watch for spots, acne and scars to disappear.

Jojoba Oil
Plant and animal species around the world were being identified and quickly outlawed for hunting and harvesting. The use of products derived from these sources was banned. The endangered sperm whale produced waxes that were greatly valued for their function in cosmetics. During the 60’s and 70’s a liquid wax (jojoba oil) found in the deserts of California, Arizona and Mexico was discovered by scientists. It not only replaced the prohibited wax from the sperm whale but appeared to actually be superior.

This jojoba oil is an excellent moisturizing agent and has spreading and lubricating properties. It leaves a rich non-oily velvety feel and enhances flexibility and suppleness. Studies done at the University of Michigan demonstrated that it is quickly absorbed. Because of this, pores and hair follicles remain open maintaining their proper functioning ability.

Applied directly and as often as required it is known to reduce wrinkles and bring relief to sensitive skin. The desert peoples of Southern California and Mexico had long been using it to treat rashes and cuts because of anti-bacterial qualities.

Many companies and name brands are introducing their all natural skin care lines and in many cases, samples are available to try out their product.

But you, the consumer, needs to realize that any product, natural or chemical based may have side effects. It is most important to read and study the information on your product of interest, know your skin type and what effect you want to achieve.

With so many choices in skin care and beauty products, it becomes confusing as to what is the best value for the money. No one has all the answers. But I do have the time to check out and make myself knowledgeble about what is out there. Many consumers are busy with other things and may not have the time to do the research. I attempt on my sites to give them some answers, or at least point them in the direction that will give them some answers. My sites are http://www.skin-care-n-cosmetics.com and http://www.perfume-n-cologne-shop.com

Share This

Oh goody. You woke up this morning to find a huge zit on your chin, and today’s the day for that big presentation at work. Sounds familiar? We all wake up with those irritating imperfections every now and then. Here is a list of the best skin care products that will help to eliminate these sudden acne outbreaks.

Exfoliate:

Exfoliating is an essential step that should be done at a minimum of 3 times a week. This step eliminates dead skin build-up, which can clog our pores and create blemishes. Exfoliate every morning with a scrub that consists of the best ingredients, which you will find in “Honey Snap Out of It” Scrub by Benefit Cosmetics.

This product contains top exfoliants such as almond meal, which helps clean away dead skin and oil build-up, and honey, a moisturizer known to act as a natural form of alpha hydroxy. This product also has the added feature of being used as a facial mask for added moisture and deep pore cleansing. Men can benefit as well, as this exfoliator prevents ingrown hairs.

Cleanse:

Cleansing is a step that should be done daily. Finding a good cleanser is crucial in the skin care process, as they remove the oil that causes blackheads and blemishes. Many foaming cleansers on the market today do not work as expected.

It is known that the foam just gets moved around on your face and does not remove dirt and oil as it should. A cleanser to try is “purity made simple” by philosophy. One dime-sized dab of this silky cream cleanser emulsifies, which means that it dissolves dirt, build-up and even makeup with no foamy residue.

Moisturize:

Moisturizing is an important step to do everyday. If your skin is really thirsty for a top notch moisturizer, here is the best facial quencher. Voted as #1 Best Facial Moisturizer by a leading skincare supplier in 2005, “hope in a jar” by philosophy is an effective moisturizer, which contains lactic acid and beta glucan. These products work together to give your skin a radiant glow, and help your skin look younger at the same time!

In order to eliminate unsightly blemishes, use the best products with top ingredients to receive optimum results. That way, you will not wake up in the morning with those unpleasant surprises on the days when you just don’t need them.

About the author: Maria is an exclusive author of “1st In Acne Skin Care Products” available at http://www.1st-in-acne-skin-care-products.com A great source for Acne Treatments! Find articles and information on acne treatment, and a number of select online skincare companies offering adult acne products, facial cleansers, andblackhead removal items, all in one convenient location.

Share This

Am I a Skin Care Product Junkie? Or Just too Much of a True Consumer to Settle on One Product?

This is a personal story of the myriad of skin care products I’ve tried. Which products disappointed and which ones delivered. Furthermore, which skin care products over delivered? With the thousands of skin products on the market today, all promising to do one thing or another for your skin, from making you look 20 years old again to erasing acne in days, it’s really tough to know when you’re wasting your money. And yet, we all do it! Read on for a true skin care product junkie’s confessions…

Let’s see, where to start. I guess we’ll start with my latest little discovery. The home microdermabrasion kit. Now mind you, I’ve had the real thing done about two years ago for some old acne scarring still left over from my younger acne-ridden days and I absolutely loved the way it made my skin look and feel. Now, the home microdermabrasion kits claim that they can produce very similar results to the real aesthetician administered procedure.

Not to disappoint you too quickly, but they cannot simulate this effect. They do work, and they do add a nice freshly scrubbed look to your face, and clean away a lot of dull dry skin to reveal newer skin, but they do not have the same dramatic effects as real microdermabrasion does.

I will continue to use my home microderm kit though, because I like the fact that I can do it in the comfort of my own home, and for a fraction of the cost of the real office procedure. I also like the frequency it allows me to administer the treatment. There’s no way I could afford the time to visit a doc’s office once a week, nor would I want to squander that much money away!

Now, onto another skin care product I’ve purchased and tried. I purchased Dr. Varon’s liquid mild acid peel kit and tried it approximately ten times. This kit is another home system that advertises as an effective alternative to a popular dermatologist or aesthestician administered skin care treatment, the glycolic acid peel, only it is in a much more diluted version due to OTC regulation.

After several uses, I examined my face several times, very closely mind you, and call me crazy, but I just didn’t see any difference. The only thing I noticed was that my face got mildly irritated and seemed drier and to flake more. Perhaps this was the idea? My skin has always been a little sensitive, so maybe this is not a fair nor “accurate for all” assessment of the home facial peel, but my experience was less than impressive. But of course I will be trying it again - this time probably a higher end, online brand.

Now, onto the next product. The next product I felt certain would take my crows feet away in seconds as shown in the persuasive infomercials I was so gullible to watch for twenty full minutes. The before and after live shots of a fifty- something woman applying this gel to her eyes were nothing short of miraculous! Barely able to contain my excitement for this new “fountain of youth” product, I picked up my phone and frantically dialed the Home Shopping Network number, anxiously awaiting my “special limited time price” since I had acted so fast.

The shipment came in about four days. I opened the first package. Let me explain what this product was before I tell you how it worked. It was primarily made up of hyaluronic acid and another substance whose name escapes me now, but both of the primary ingredients were “skin swellers”. What do I mean by skin swellers?

Skin care product ingredients whose main purpose is to temporarily swell the skin out. The key word is “temporary” here. It did work, and it worked for about two hours, but to my dismay, when I looked in the mirror later on that day, all of my crows feet were just as deep and pronounced as they were before application.

My miracle fountain of youth hopes were dashed to smitherines! How could I be so gullible? I promised myself I would never again purchase another pricy skin care product. Instead I would only limit myself to special visits to a cosmetic dermatologist or spa to get my “real” skin care treatments. After all, they were the only thing that worked, right?

Well - no, not necessarily. I have had some good experiences, which I would like to share also - in another article perhaps? Just try to be as informed as possible about the ingredients in the skin care products you purchase. That’s the moral of the story. Make sure they have some sort of real merit and therapeutic properties to them over the long haul, and are not just some sort of quick fix.

Visit CosmeticsGalore: Skin Care Product Reviews for skin care product reviews. Danna Schneider is the founder of Natural Acne Remedies

Share This