February 28, 2007

Natural Skin Care Products: An Overview

Tip! Even within the range of sensitive skin care products, choose the one that has minimum preservatives, colourings and other additives.

Natural skin care products are chemical free and it is suitable for most skin types.

As we know already, skin is the important sensitive organ of all human beings, which requires constant care for looking younger. It is an important aspect to keep the skin healthy to avoid the occurrence of any skin diseases or irritations.

Although there are numerous products available in the brick and mortar stores for up keeping your skin, you should be careful in selecting the products of skin care. However, when you are not so keen in the selection of the skin care products, you will end up in so many adverse effects on the skin such as allergy, irritations, or even infections.

Tip! Use exfoliating acne skin care products. By exfoliating, you are removing the dead skin cells on your skin that are literally feeding the bacteria on your face.

That’s why, the natural skin products are gaining importance for lessening the risk of getting the side effects. Natural skin care products consist of skin care product, which encompasses natural ingredients in them. These products do not contain any chemicals, thus reducing the risk of any allergic reaction or developing irritation when applied to your skins.

Tip! Use sensitive skin care products only (i.e.

Natural skin care products are available in two forms: viz, oral skin health supplement and topical creams. These natural skin products are considered to be the most powerful skin-mending agents. Natural skin products produce unbelievable results in your skin tone, firmness, clarity and also results in wrinkle reduction. The commonly available natural skin care products are:

Dimethylaminoethanol (DMAE)

This is commonly found in the skin of fish (Wild Salmon) and has such profound healing properties. This will produce firmer skin. This product has achieved collagen support to the outermost layers of skin. In addition to reduce the age spots, it is renowned for its enhancement in memory and concentration.

Retinol

This natural form of vitamin A is effective on sensitive skin due to the non-redness and peeling effect of the sensitive skin. This proves to be very useful in skin regeneration and rejuvenation.

Alpha Lipoic Acid

Free radicals in the skin are the primary factor for aging of skin and loss of skin elasticity. This natural skin care product eliminates the notorious free radicals due to its anti-oxidant property. You can experience the dramatic change in the skin appearance within a matter of just few weeks, when this natural skin product is taken orally as well as applied topically.

Tip! Look for skin care products which are anti aging (those containing the ingredients Vitamin C, retinol and ceramides are very good). Try different anti aging skin care products to see which works best for you and moisturise daily.

Vitamin C

It is worth saying that vitamin C is a miracle cure vitamin! The main action of the vitamin C is reversing the effect of photo damage on the skin thereby protecting the skin from the sun. This also neutralizes the free radicals for protecting the skin from sin damage. Regardless of your skin type, vitamin C is an important must-have in your natural skin care regimen.

Using these natural skin care products in the place of your routine skin care, it will not only produce a noticeable difference in your skin but also fetches comment such as ” Have you been on vacation?” or “wow- what is your skin care regimen?” Use it for few weeks to get better skin and beat comment from your beloved pals.

About The Author
Jerrick Foo has been researching and developing all dry skin care the purpose of offering men and women safe, dry skin care tips. He have created Dry Skin Care Guide to share his 10 years of combined expertise with you. Visit http://www.dry-skin-care-guide.com for essential skin care tips.

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February 27, 2007

Drugstore Brand vs. Professional Skin Care Products

Tip! Use sensitive skin care products only (i.e.

There are so many questions about buying a professional skin care product: Will it work better? What makes it work better? Is it worth the money? Well, I’m here to help you sort through it all - you just need some guidelines to make the right choices.
There some fundamentals that are the foundation to all I have to say on this topic:

There are professional skin care products that work very well and are very inexpensive…there are also some very expensive professional products that are terrible!
With this in mind, let’s break it down so that you are armed with the knowledge you need to make smart purchasing decisions.
What exactly is a “professional skin care product?” Well, there are a couple different ways to consider this. Skincare products fall into four general categories:

Tip! Use natural acne skin care products as well. These will be found on the web and can provide you with the most fundamentally solid way of treating acne in a natural way.

1. Products that an esthetician uses in the salon and does not provide for resale

2. Products that an esthetician may use on you in the salon and does offer them for re-sale

3. Products available at department stores, usually at a premium price

4. Products available at your local drugstore or grocery store

Let’s go through each category and explain. You’ll soon realize that it is ALL ABOUT INGREDIENTS.

Type I - Products used in salons but not available for re-sale. These are not typically sought after by most women, but they do require a short discussion.
When you get a facial, depending on your skin your esthetician may use a product that is much stronger than anything you would (or should) ever use on your own. This is usually a highly concentrated glycolic or salicylic acid peel. These are Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA’s) or Beta Hydroxy Acids (BHA’s) respectively. While you may very well use a product containing an AHA or BHA, you should not be using anything stronger than an 8% solution for AHA or a 5% solution for BHA. Stronger than those concentrations, you may be susceptible to irritation and swelling. The decision to go to a higher concentration should only be left to a qualified skin care professional.
Your esthetician may apply a 20-30% peel in some cases, if you have skin that is very thick or is in desperate need of major exfoliation. Some common reasons would be for severe acne, severely neglected skin, or maybe for a smoker (did I tell you smoking is BAD for your skin, among other things?).
Bottom line is that peels of this strength should NEVER be self-administered. Using this type of professional skin care product is best left to only qualified estheticians.

Tip! Use noncomedogenic cosmetics and skin care products. Noncomedogenic products are certified to not cause or aggravate acne.

Type II - Products used by salons and only available for sale at a salon. These products are of many different varieties and require some knowledge to sort through. Here, you MUST know a little bit about reading a label. You may find the same ingredients in VERY EXPENSIVE products, but you may also find them in VERY INEXPENSIVE products. You need to read the label.
Some other things to look for on the labels are sensitizing agents, “natural ingredients,” and various emollients.
Sensitizing agents are anything that may produce irritation. When you see various fragrances and colors added, these may very well cause irritation. They may also make the price go up considerably. Watch out for this - you may be able to get the same cleanser (by ingredient) without the fancy smell and container.
Look out for “natural” ingredients.
“Natural” ingredients tend to show up in salons and also tend to have a high price tag. If you see an ingredient list that includes things like honey extract, almond oil, coconut oil, or grape seed oil, you may well see some nice results. But you may NOT!
What you can be sure of, is that exotic ingredients will make the cost go up considerably.

Tip! The AHA Factor AHA, or Alpha Hydroxy Acid, is a chemical commonly found in moisturizers and other skin care products. If your skin is looking dull, AHA works to get rid of old skin cells and get your skin looking soft and healthy.

Type III - the department store products. These products are the most insidious largely because they are usually the closest thing to drugstore brands. There are THOUSANDS of products out there and MILLIONS of combinations and formulas. “Professional” skincare products sold under prestige names in the department stores are very often no better than those available at your local CVS, although they are MUCH more expensive.

Type IV - Drugstore brands. I have nothing against drugstore brands. Nothing at all. But you do need a word of caution. In my experience, drugstore brands are much more likely to have harsh detergents and other sensitizing agents without the appropriate buffer or desensitizing agent. Just make sure to look out for products like toners that are alcohol based, cleansers that are the classic lauryl/lareth sulfate (a good cleanser, but just too harsh!). There are many drugstore brands that I would match well against many a professional skin care product.

Tip! Look for skin care products which are anti aging (those containing the ingredients Vitamin C, retinol and ceramides are very good). Try different anti aging skin care products to see which works best for you and moisturise daily.

There are also various emollients in professional skin care products that may garner a hefty price tag and others that are a little lower on the food chain. For example, mineral oil is often regarded in negative terms and typically appears in less expensive drugstore brands. But newer research suggests that mineral oil is an excellent emollient (though it may not absorb so well in some products).

Shea butter is another great example. Shea butter is a GREAT emollient and is found in some VERY high-priced Professional skin care moisturizers. Funny thing is…you can find Shea butter in many drugstore brands - just read the label.

Tip! Even within the range of sensitive skin care products, choose the one that has minimum preservatives, colourings and other additives.

Remember, manufacturers are required to print ingredient lists on every cosmetic, in order of concentration. To settle the drugstore brand vs. professional skincare product debate, all you have to to do is - read the label!

Melissa Brooks is the owner of SpartaWorks, Inc. SpartaWorks has been providing massage and skin care services for nine years in the Washington, D.C. area. Melissa is a licensed esthetician and massage therapist. She owns and operates the Facial Skincare Product Guide, where this article first appeared.

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February 26, 2007

Tips For Choosing Man Skin Care Products

Tip! Use sensitive skin care products only (i.e.

Nowadays, men are increasingly taking care of their skin. We have come to realize this is not just about looking good, it’s primarily about health. But realizing this, is just the first step, then the second step becomes a little bit harder. It’s then, when ask the question: What man skin care products should I use?

First you should start getting to know your skin. Man skin care products are special depending on the type of skin you have. Look at shaving creams and face cleaning soaps for example, they have certain types: for sensitive skin, for dry skin, oily skin. Determine which skin type you have, and work from there.

Tip! Use noncomedogenic cosmetics and skin care products. Noncomedogenic products are certified to not cause or aggravate acne.

Other thing you need to keep in mind is your main goal with a product. Man skin care products exist for a variety of applications, from anti-aging creams to pore cleaning products. But remember also that you should take care of all your skin as well. A younger face means not only less wrinkles but an overall healthy look.

I would also recommend to always prefer natural man skin care products. The reason? Just as the name says, it’s natural. You’ll be amazed of the quality of natural products for the skin available for men since ancient ages. Some man skin care products have us so blinded by claims of miracle chemical ingredients, that we often forget the simplicity of natural skin care.

The man skin care product market is just beginning, now that more and more men want these kind of products you’ll see new offers pop up. Don’t get caught on nice packaging and miracle claims, always stick to the facts because is your health what we are talking about here. Finally, remember great man skin care products make you feel great. Listen to your body and you can’t go wrong.

Tip! Look for skin care products which are anti aging (those containing the ingredients Vitamin C, retinol and ceramides are very good). Try different anti aging skin care products to see which works best for you and moisturise daily.

Paolo Basauri, is an expert author who writes for Man skin care products
A site specialized in men skin care information & tips.

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