by bulliver
Basic Skin Care
Do you ever wonder what the big secret is to obtaining beautiful skin? How to add life to your dull look? Do you battle with dry or oily skin, acne, wrinkles or cellulite? Well, the secret is simple. Proper skin care! What is proper skin care? Let me share some basic tips on taking better care of your skin!
One common cause of skin problems is unhealthy eating. Maintaining a healthy diet is important for all skin types.
A few healthful tips:
Drink plenty of water to hydrate your skin
Indulge in fresh fruits and leafy green vegetables daily (yep, that means everyday!)
Increase iron and vitamins; especially vitamins A, C & B2
Add more fiber and whole grains to your diet
Consume more natural foods
Try to avoid or cut back on caffeine, fried foods, junk food, processed foods, sugar and alcoholic beverages.
The next step in proper skin care is to identify your skin type. Different skin types require different care. Once you’ve identified your skin type, it’s time to pamper your skin!
Dry Skin
Dry skin, also known as xerosis, has low levels of sebum which results in the inability to retain proper moisture.
A few causes:
Unhealthy diet
Extreme weather
Hot water
Harsh soaps and chemicals
Smoking
Dehydration
If you suffer from dry skin, your skin may sometimes feel tight or itchy. It may feel as though you never apply enough moisturizer.
You may need to alter your daily routine. Avoid bathing in hot water. This strips your skin of moisture. Bathe in warm or even cool water. Cool water is known to lock in moisture. Avoid lengthy baths and showers. After you bathe, pat your skin dry instead of rubbing and immediately apply a moisturizing lotion or oil to lock in the moisture. Look for products that contain natural ingredients. Most importantly, choose products that are made for dry skin.
More Tips For Dry Skin:
Rubbing a small amount of apple cider vinegar to dry spots will help hydrate your skin and restore the skin’s natural PH balance
Use Jajoba oil to restore moisture and elasticity
Look for products containing retinol or fruit enzymes
Be sure to protect your skin in extreme hot or cold weather conditions and always wear sun block
Use essential oils such as carrot seed, lavender, orange, juniper, rosewood, ylang ylang
Oily Skin
Oily skin comes from over active glands which results in too much sebum being produced. Oily skin can clog pores and lead to acne.
A few causes:
Unhealthy diet
Genes
Choosing the wrong cosmetics
Birth control pills
With oily skin you may feel the need to wash your face throughout the day. Rubbing your skin stimulates oil glands and this produces more oil. So limit the number of washes to 1 or 2 times per day.
Avoid using harsh chemicals such as alcohol or products containing alcohol. Alcohol strips your skin of necessary oils. When cleansing your skin it’s best to use hot water. Hot water removes skin oils quicker than cool or warm water. Use oil based cleansers. However, use oil free moisturizers. Look for products that are made for oily skin. When choosing makeup, use a powdered base concealer instead of liquid. Be sure to thoroughly remove make up before going to bed.
More Tips For Oily Skin:
Exfoliate your skin to remove dead skin cells
Massage your face when applying a moisturizer
Use gentle motions when cleansing your skin
Rubbing soap deep into your skin can clog pores
Use essential oils & herbs such as bergamot, cedarwood, lavender, aloe vera, chamomile
Acne
Acne develops more commonly in teens but can develop at any age from infants to adults. Acne can appear on the face, neck, arms and legs.
Acne develops when the skin’s pores become clogged. Within each pore there is a follicle that contains hair and oil glands. When these glands produce too much oil the pores are blocked. Blocked pores create dirt and bacteria. On the surface of your skin pimples or zits (acne) will appear. They can be light in color (whiteheads) or dark in color (blackheads). If they rupture or burst, the oil and bacteria can spread throughout the skin and form cysts which are, most times, painful.
A Few Causes Of Acne:
Unhealthy diet
Natural hormones – menstrual period, pregnancy
Birth control pills
Oily skin
Choosing the wrong cosmetics
Skin care for acne is similar to the care for oily skin. Use mild and natural soaps and cleansers. Keep skin clear of dirt and sweat during hot weather and after exercise. Avoid excessive washing. Too much washing strips the skin of necessary oils. It’s also important to keep your hair clean and pulled away from your face. Look for non greasy creams and water based products. If you wear makeup, be sure to remove it thoroughly each night.
If these basic steps do not work, you may want to try an over the counter acne treatment. Your next step would be to consult a dermatologist.
Wrinkles
Wrinkles are creases in the skin that are mostly associated with aging. Other causes of wrinkles are smoking and excessive sun exposure. To help prevent or minimize premature wrinkles it’s important to wear sun screen. Avoid excessive sun exposure, whether you wear sun screen or not. Too much sun can result in more serious health problems. If your wrinkles are accompanied by spots or are associated with pain, you may want to consult a doctor.
Cellulite
Cellulite is a collection of fat underneath the skin that pushes against tissues. On the outside of the skin it looks lumpy and resembles the appearance of cottage cheese. Cellulite is very common and most women, girls and even some men have it.
Cellulite is more visible on some than others. This will depend on age, body fat, thickness of skin and your complexion. Cellulite is more noticeable on lighter skin. Self tanning products may hide or minimize the appearance of cellulite. While many professionals think it is nearly impossible to permanently remove cellulite, there are plenty of creams and products made to reduce its appearance.
Chemical peel and Microdermabrasion: When to consider either (never do both together)
If you wish to obtain smoother skin and a healthier glow
When dealing with acne
If you want to minimize the appearance of wrinkles
If you experience excessively dry skin
When you have an uneven skin complexion
Chemical Peels
Chemical peels are designed to remove the damaged, outer layers of skin. This process is done with different combinations of chemical solutions. Chemical peels can be performed by a licensed professional or done in the comfort of your own home using over the counter products. If you perform chemical peels at home, be sure to choose the combination that best fits your skin type.
If you are unsure, consult a certified professional to discuss specific concerns, options and to understand possible side effects.
Microdermabrasion
Like chemical peels, microdermabrasion also removes the damaged, outer layers of skin. This process is done mechanically and is known to cause little or no pain unlike chemical peels. And you no longer need to pay a doctor for this procedure. Microdermabrasion home kits are now available over the counter.
