Archive for July, 2009

Facial Cleansers For Acne

What’s the worst four letter word you can think of? For some people, that would be A-C-N-E. Whether it is one pimple or many, when faced with acne, people would rather hide than show their faces.

Don’t let acne ruin your life. By following some basic, simple skin care, such as using an acne facial cleanser and acne-medicated products, you can help control acne and make your skin look a lot better.

People make the mistake of scrubbing their faces too hard when they have acne. Perhaps they think they can scrub off their acne. Instead, this can exacerbate your complexion and lead to permanent scarring. The truth is, acne forms below the skin. For whatever reason, excess dirt or sebum clogs your pores. The sebum, which normally moves to the surface, gets trapped. That “gunk” inside acne is a mixture of the bacteria, pus, dead cells, and white blood cells that have come to clear out the infection. So as you see, acne is not like a spec of dirt you can wipe off your face. You need a different game plan that starts with washing your face properly.

A lot of people feel that they should constantly wash their face to get rid of acne. While it is true that people with oily skin might need to wash their face more often than someone with dry skin, that does not mean you need to wash your face each and every hour of the day. In fact, constant face washing might make acne problems appear worse. Instead, wash 2-3 times a day with a facial cleanser specially formulated for acne.

Some common ingredients in acne facial cleansers are salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide. Salicylic acid is effective because it helps get rid of the dead skin cells that are clogging the surface. This process is called exfoliation. It is important to clear off the surface because for one thing, dead skin cells might be one of the components clogging pores and causing breakouts; for another thing, exfoliating the top layer of skin might help acne clear faster. However, as you may have guessed, salicylic acid can cause excessive skin dryness. Over the counter facial cleansers contain 1-2% salicylic acid, but even those concentrations are known to dry out skin.

The other key ingredient in acne facial cleansers, benzoyl peroxide, is said to be less irritating than salicylic acid. It works differently in that it enters pores and kills the bacteria that causes acne. It does not help exfoliate surface cells, though. Products can contain anywhere from 2.5 to 10% benzoyl peroxide. Experts recommend you start at the lowest concentration and slowly work up to higher concentrations in case you experience irritation.

For some people, the “less is more” approach works best. I personally know of several people who switched to using a gentle facial cleanser that was soap-free and fragrance-free. The cleanser was non-drying and helped acne clear up on its own. The use of gentle cleansers for acne-prone skin has been recommended by dermatologists for years.

Beware of products that contain alcohol, menthol, peppermint, or anything that promotes a “tingling experience.” These so-called acne facial cleansers might give you a cool-feeling, but that is just the alcohol evaporating off your skin. As you might guess, the alcohol can cause excessive dryness of your skin, so try to avoid these products.

The cure for acne lies in a combination of things. Try incorporating an acne facial cleanser in your skincare routine, but take it slowly. Sometimes less is more. But if you have serious acne concerns, consult a dermatologist. Some forms of acne are cystic and require special attention. But for everyday acne, follow the above steps, keep your hands away from your face (don’t pick at acne!), and follow a healthy lifestyle. Good luck on your acne-free journey.

Sabrina writes about facial cleansers and other skin care products. She offers opinions and insight into which cleansers work best, and which should be avoided.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/skin-care-articles/facial-cleansers-for-acne-1086812.html

The Best Skincare Contains Amazing Natural Ingredients Which Keeps Skin Looking Healthy and Youthful

What if I told you the best skincare contains natural ingredients. Natural substances which are safe, effective and healthy for your skin. Are you wondering how can they work on your aging skin?

The first thing you should know about is all those harmful, chemical ingredients are a threat to you and your skin’s health. For example:

• alcohols — are very drying the skin. Because alcohols strip away your skin’s natural acid layer, your more susceptible to bacteria. And, it promotes premature aging of skin.

• mineral oils — made from a petroleum by-product that coats your skin to keep in moisture. This harmful synthetic ingredient clogs pores, interferes with your skin’s ability to eliminate toxins and promotes acne and other skin disorders. And, also promotes premature aging of skin.

• padimate-O — found mainly in sunscreens. Because the energy absorbed by the sunscreen turns into cell-damaging free radicals, it may increase the risk of skin cancer!

Those are a few ingredients you don’t want to find in the best skincare products. This is important, especially if you’re looking for anti-aging skin care for treatment of fine lines, wrinkles, age spots and other premature aging signs, because you want substances obtained from natural sources which are safe and proven to work.

What’s the big deal about synthetic products? Nothing, it’s just marketing. The reason why those products are advertised massively on television and on the Internet is due to the fact that they’re pricey which means more money for the big skin care companies.

But the truth is, those products aren’t any more effective than any other beauty cream or lotion you apply to your skin. In fact, sometimes they may even contribute to worsening other skin conditions…that’s why doctors and dermatologists advise you to avoid these products.

However, there are safe, healthy and effective ingredients in the best skincare products. You just have to be aware of ingredients like antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. For example, look for a skin healthy antioxidant called Phytessence Wakame. This natural substance is obtained from Japanese sea algae. It’s rich in minerals and vitamin B complex which are good for our skin. It has the ability to deal with premature wrinkles because it blocks a harmful enzyme in your body called hyaluronidase.

Along with fighting free radicals with antioxidants, look for another natural substance like Cynergy TK. This ingredient enables your body to start growing it’s own collagen and elastin proteins. It improves your skin’s elasticity and moisture retention, plus, it leads to the re-growth of new skin cells.

So there you have it, natural substances found in the best skincare which are safe, effective and healthy for your skin. No more synthetic chemicals just natural ingredients to bring back the glow of your skin, help cure problems like acne and deal with your skin’s aging signs.

Visit my website today to find more amazing natural ingredients found in the best skincare creams and lotions so your skin will continue looking healthy, radiant and youthful.

Marcia is a researcher, consumer and passionate advocate of natural skin care products. Visit her site now to discover cutting edge, anti-aging skin care products she recommends after extensive research: http://www.health-beauty-and-vitality.com

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/skin-care-articles/the-best-skincare-contains-amazing-natural-ingredients-which-keeps-skin-looking-healthy-and-youthful-1084124.html

Monsoon Beauty And Makeup Tips

It is again that time of the year when monsoon is approaching. On one side there is a good feeling that the temperature will go down, on the other hand there are fears of how to take care of your skin in humid & wet rainy season. If you are beauty conscious and take a few simple precautions, you can save yourself a lot of trouble over bad skin.

The biggest skin problem during the monsoon is fungal infections. As fungus is born in humid weather, it easily grows and enters the skin throw wet pores. As a result, one develops itchy, circular, reddish, flaking patches on the body, underarms and around the breast in women.

Foundation should be kept as minimal as possible. Using tinted moisturizer is one of this season’s hottest tips. Dot it along your cheeks, your forehead, on your chin and down your nose and blend outward from your nose for a flawless finish. Of course, pick a brand that gives you SPF 15 for extra protection against summer’s high UVA/UVB rays.

Makeup is a girl’s best friend. Some women use a lot and some use a little, whatever your preference, most of us love it and use it on a daily basis. Unfortunately no one ever teaches us how to apply makeup and makeup 101 is not taught in school, so we may not learn good application habits and tricks that can really make a difference in how the cosmetics look on our face.

Women have different needs, at different ages. A woman of 25 will not need the same coverage as one that is 35 years of age or older. Foundation makeup comes in many forms, including age-defying and lighter coverage types. It is important to choose one that fits your needs.

Also, there is skin type, if you have oily skin choose one that is made for oily skin, for dry skin an extra moisturizing one will work best and will help to prevent the problems commonly associated with different types of skin.

Read About Makeup Tips Read Also About Monsoon Makeup Tips and Exercie During Pregnancy

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/skin-care-articles/monsoon-beauty-and-makeup-tips-1081944.html