Many people avoid chemical and over the counter medicines in favor of natural skin care products. Non-natural products can contain a lot of confusing ingredients and some people are simply concerned about applying something they know nothing about to their skin. Or you could just beware of the tendency of some products to irritate the skin by containing chemicals like alcohol which are drying and harsh.

There are many natural skin care products being sold both online and offline which are available to those who wish to try alternative ways to care for their bodies. Though the FDA doesn’t regulate the sale of skin care products or cosmetics so you may be buying something that’s too strong or that doesn’t have an allergy warning label on it. It is best before using a product that you rub a small dab on a sensitive area such as the skin of your inner elbow and wait a day or so to see if you’ve developed a reaction to it. A reaction would be itching or red skin. If you have a reaction pass on using the skin care product because you may be allergic to one of the ingredients.

It’s always possible to make your own home skin care products. You can pick up a simple base lotion at the store and add a few drops of essential oils like rose hips, or add some Aloe Vera gel fresh from the plant. Essential oils are very strong so be sure not to add more than a drop or two at most to a full bottle of lotion or cream. You could end up making a product yourself is much too strong for the delicate skin tissue. Many websites have directions for making your own natural products with names like Yummy Tropical Butter and Peppermint Cucumber body cream.

Mrs. Party… Gail Leino is the internet’s leading authority on selecting the best possible party supplies, using proper etiquette, and living a healthy life while also teaching organizational skills and fun facts. Here a place for great deals on Natural Skin Care Products.

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Let’s start out by looking at what hyaluronic acid actually is.

Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a naturally occurring biopolymer, which serves important biological functions in bacteria and higher animals including humans. Naturally occurring, hyaluronic acid may be found in the tissue of higher animals, in particular as intercellular space filler. HA is found in greatest concentrations in the vitreous humour of the eye and in the synovial fluid of articular joints, but is also found in the skin, connective tissue and elsewhere in the body.

Hyaluronic acid was made ‘famous’ by an ABC News report in which Connie Chung visited a Japanese village by the name of Yuzurihara. She found that the people there were living longer, looked younger, and were more flexible and active than their western counterparts. These Japanese villagers, in their 80s and 90s, have smooth wrinkle-less skin, a full head of hair and apparently no need for glasses.

So what is it, that allows these Japanese to be so much more youthful, lead active, productive lives at their advanced age, where as in western countries most people in their 80s and beyond are in old-age homes?

The conclusion drawn in the ABC report was that these people ate ’sticky vegetables’ and that this factor was the secret to their apparent youth. In addition, the oestrogen-like molecules in their diet, fermented forms of soy in miso paste and tofu, seem to play an important role. These molecules, along with natural oestrogen, send a signal to the fibroblast cells to make more hyaluronic acid. But is this the whole answer? - I don’t think so, but I’ll get to this a little later.

Next, let’s look at what Hyaluronic acid does.

According to scientific research by a variety of Universities and researchers, hyaluronic acid is used in the human body to cushion and lubricate joints, eyes, the skin, and heart valves (see http://www.ctds.info/hyaluronic_acid.html for an in-depth look at all the different diseases, syndromes and conditions). Some treatments, which involve the use of hyaluronic acid include: treatment for osteoarthritis and other joint problems, as well as a range of eye disorders, retinal detachment, and some cardiovascular disorders.

However, it is in the anti-aging effect on the skin that we are focusing on in this article and the effect hyaluronic acid seems to have on the skin is at the level of promoting the formation of collagen. These are the fibres that firm the skin. Now, hyaluronidase, an enzyme that breaks down collagen fibres, is produced by free radicals and UV radiation.

These factors breaks down fibres of collagen can cause premature wrinkles and sagging of the skin. Focusing on hyaluronic acid, it would seem reasonable therefore, that reducing the free radicals is a major key to reducing the hyaluronidase enzyme and secondly to promote normal levels of hyaluronic acid in the skin.

Plant substances known as bioflavonoids, contained in foods such as grape seed extract, blueberry, cranberry, citrus bioflavonoids and milk thistle, etc., inhibit the production of hyaluronidase, which helps to achieve the first aim of reducing the free radicals. In addition, reducing processed foods from our diet, increasing the level of exercise and living a more balanced life style will help in promoting natural levels of hyaluronic acid in our system, not just in the skin.

When considering injecting hyaluronic acid into the skin to treat fine lines and wrinkles, we are once again loosing sight of the holistic approach to treating our bodies and thus run a serious risk of introducing factors, which may lead to side effects or other health problems. Further, we also run the risk of creating an imbalance in the chemical composition of the skin and who knows what possible problems await us as a result.

Some known side effects of hyaluronic acid injection therapy for aging skin include:

• swelling
• infection
• redness
• tenderness
• acne
• lumps
• tissue hardening
• unknown risks when used in combination with collagen

These side effects are serious enough to reconsider using injection therapy of hyaluronic acid as an anti-aging treatment for the skin.

Remember too, that the people in the Japanese village do not use injection therapy… They life an holistic life style incorporating unprocessed foods and physical activity together with a balanced mind-set and life style.

So where can you get a holistic source of hyaluronic acid from?

There are a couple of ways. The first is from “starchy root vegetables” such as the ones mentioned by the village doctor in the ABC report which include: Satsumaimo, a type of sweet potato; Satoimo, a sticky white potato; Konyaku, a gelatinous root vegetable concoction; and Imoji, a potato root.

These vegetables help the cells of the body to thrive and retain moisture. Further, they keep joints lubricated, protect the retina of the eye and keep the skin smooth and elastic by promoting collagen.

Another source of hyaluronic acid, for non-vegetarians, is to eat animal parts known to contain a lot of hyaluronic acid. You could make a broth from fish bones. That is, once you’ve taken off the fillets, boil the rest of the fish, including their head and make a fish stock. Similarly, you can make a meat broth using animal joints, sinews and tendons, then adding a few root and other vegetables to create a healthy, nourishing soup.

In conclusion, at Wildcrafted Herbal Products we do not believe that adding isolated ingredients in elevated concentrations to our natural skin care products is a preferred option. Rather, using a holistically natural approach to skin care and for that matter health care is a far more preferable option.

Skin care is as much about taking care of your skin as it is taking responsibility and care of your overall health and wellbeing. Your skin is not an isolated part of your body and should not be treated as such.

Again I would like to remind you of the Japanese villagers - they do not inject themselves with hyaluronic acid, they do not use hyaluronic acid in isolation, they do however life a healthy, active and mostly balanced life style.

Danny Siegenthaler is a doctor of traditional Chinese medicine and together with his wife Susan, a medical herbalist and Aromatherapist, they have created Natural Skin Care Products by Wildcrafted Herbal Products to share their 40 years of combined expertise with you.

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© Wildcrafted Herbal Products 2005

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The basic structure of a man’s skin is the same as a woman’s, however it has unique characteristics. It is oilier, tougher and richer in collagen and elastin, making it firmer and more resilient. The reason is that the sebaceous glands that produce sebum (oil) are more active. This provides for “natural” moisture and an increased tendency to sweat.

If these glands become overactive and the oil mixes with dead cells, the pores become clogged. The accumulation can result in pockets of infection - acne, sores, boils, and pimples.

If there is a problem with back acne (’bacne’) one solution is to shower before working out. If one sweats “clean” then the salty residue will contain less oil and fewer dead cells and the pores will become less clogged. Gland secretions are the weapon needed to fight infections and toxic agents.

There are good treatments for acne and other skin problems to be found on the Internet and with some good research, there are interactive sites where questions will be answered.

Wrinkles happen when collagen, a constituent forming 75% of the skin, becomes hard. Because it cannot hold water to plump it up, it collapses on itself and binds with other collagen fibres. This forms a mesh below the surface which shows up as wrinkles.

Fine lines, crowsfeet and wrinkles can be addressed by products on the market containing peptide-based formulas. We can’t stop aging however we can to a degree lessen age-lines.

When summer arrives it’s time to throw off the pale-skinned complexion from the winter months and fully embrace the sun. This can be dangerous. Long UVA rays are the primary cause of premature aging and aggressive skin cancers while short UVB rays cause burns. Get used to the idea of applying good sunscreens with the SPF no lower than 15.

Men are more prone to dehydration because of daily or regular shaving during which the natural oils get stripped away. What this now means is the face gets dirtier. So it is very important that the face be cleaned every day. A simple daily routine of cleansing and moisturising will keep the skin looking and feeling healthy. This is the body’s first line of defence against sickness, germs and disease.

Moisturizers come under two categories, occlusives and humectants. Occlusives contain oil or silicone, which are deposited on the outer layer of skin to keep the moisture from evaporating. The humectants on the other hand are typically oil-free and are absorbed into the skin which helps with water retention. Either of these will help to maintain a well-hydrated healthy skin.

There now are some excellent sites catering to men only. There are tips, testimonials and good information available.

Because of the difference in skin makeup, using just any product on the market, especially on the face, may be an unhelpful practice. Look at name brand sites where many now have a line devoted to men’s needs.

I am a work in progress. At the moment I have two sites dealing with beauty and skin care. We discuss men and women’s skin care; formulations and ingredients; skin types and more. I attempt to answer questions that my guests may have - availability of a product, tips and treatments; care of acne and other skin problems; anti aging and sun damage to name a few. My two sites are http://www.skin-care-n-cosmetics.com and http://www.perfume-n-cologne-shop.com

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