Sunday, December 16, 2007

DRY SKIN

Dry skin reacts somewhat differently to normal skin when exposed to the sun.
It tends to burn more easily and when it does burn it also tends to peel.

This will cause the skin to become itchy and this can also be a problem in colder weather too when the skin can become irritated due to dryness.

Where the skin is particularly dry it can become scaly, and sometimes even chapped which will make the skin quite sore.

People with dry skin often have a fair complexion although it is not reserved just for those who are fair as dry skin can be found on people with any other complexion as well.

The areas across the cheeks and the forehead are those more inclined to become dry and the cheeks will also tend to feel tight after having been cleansed.

There are many factors that contribute to skin being dry and any skin will become somewhat drier as we age.
Those factors that can dry the skin can include the weather, the environment that we are living in, the foods that we eat and even the medications that we have.

People with dry skin tend to shed their skin cells in clumps rather than cell by cell as other skin types would do and this is part of the reason why the skin is dry.

It is not solely due to a lack of moisture as many people are lead to believe.
Moisturizers will help reduce the dryness of the skin but you will need to be careful to select a moisturizer that will not inhibit the shedding of the skin, as this is one of the causes of the dryness in the first place.

Gently exfoliating the skin can help the moisturizers do their job better but you will also need to be very careful here as well because this can cause skin sensitivities.

Sunday, November 11, 2007

DOES DRY SKIN CAUSE WRINKLES


Many people are under the misconception that dry skin is the cause of their wrinkles.

While dry skin is not the cause of wrinkles it can make the skin look aged simply because of the complexion of the skin when it is dry.

Having dry skin certainly won't help to keep it looking youthful and the fact that the skin is overly dry means it is lacking something, either in the fact that it needs more hydration or because of a lack of sufficient exfoliating.

The way to make the skin not appear quite so dry, and along with that look younger, is to ensure that it is well moisturized.

It is also vitally important to ensure that it is well hydrated and that must come from within.

The best way to do make sure that your skin is sufficiently hydrated is to drink enough water throughout the course of the day so that your whole body is well hydrated and your skin will become a reflection of that healthy state.

You should be drinking water throughout the day in smaller amounts, rather than trying to meet your daily recommended limit by drinking large amounts at one time.

By getting sufficient water your skin will look translucent and clear.

There is another reason why your skin might appear to look dry even though you might be getting sufficient water to remain hydrated and that is because of the build up of dead skin cells on the surface of the skin.

These dead skin cells can make the skin look dry when in fact it is not dry at all.

By exfoliating your skin and removing the dead skin you will get a better view of the real condition of your skin and this will also allow you to moisturize the skin better.

So a combination of sufficient water intake, good exfoliating of the skin and a good moisturizer can do wonders for your skin condition.

Friday, October 26, 2007

CONTOURING TO CHANGE YOUR FACE


You might like to consider contouring to help change the look of or emphasize the structure of your face.

Contouring is a process whereby you use blushes and bronzing powders to give the contours of your face better definition.

Makeup artists have been using contouring for years particularly in the movie industry and in magazine photo shoots to give the illusion that the faces they are working on have a particular definition that they desire.

It is an art form similar to that of painting where different colors can create shading or highlighting.

It takes a lot of skill and time to create a good job when contouring a face and it is not something that you would like to do every day.

For special occasions however, and provided you have an experienced makeup artist to do the work for you, you could be amazed by the way they can transform anybody to look special for those particular occasions.

An experienced contourer will use a combination of colors in various different shades, and the skillful use of the makeup brush to create the illusion.
By applying shading they can add depth to areas of the face and use lighter colors for highlighting those areas that they want to stand out.

This talented use of color and brush work can create a facelift without the surgery.

Sometimes if the areas on your face that you're not particularly happy with concern you then it might well be worth spending some money to get someone to contour your face one day after discussing with them the look that you are after.

Once they have finished preparing your face to your satisfaction, you can get some simple techniques from them of the basic blending that you can use when applying your own makeup for an improved look.

Sunday, October 7, 2007

CONCEALERS


Concealers can do wonders for covering up many different problem areas of the skin.

They can do wonders for hiding tiny veins and blemishes on the skin for those people who do not or will not have laser treatment to fix these problems.

They are also excellent for hiding the natural shadows that many people have in areas of the face and in particular below the eyes.

Concealers don't actually improve any problems; they just hide them from view.

So you're not likely to get rid of black circles under the eyes by regularly using concealers but they can't do wonders for that area of the face where the skin is particularly thin.

To apply concealer around your eyes place a small amount on your finger tip and then gently dab it on the skin before smoothing it from the outside corner inwards and back again.

Be careful not to stretch the skin in this area as the skin is very thin and easily damaged.
The most important thing about using concealers is to ensure that you blend it in very well.
Concealers can be used either under or over foundation but no matter where you use them they must be blended for a natural look.

A cream concealer will generally be the type most suitable for the majority of people as the liquid concealers are often difficult to work with and a stick concealer risks the possibility of stretching and damaging your skin.

If you're using a concealer to cover up blemishes on your skin it is wise to check throughout the day to see whether additional blending might be necessary as your makeup begins to wear off.

When this happens the areas that have been covered with a concealer become more obvious and that is precisely what you don't want to happen.

Monday, October 1, 2007

COLLAGEN INJECTIONS


Collagen is a liquid protein that is extracted from cowhide.
Collagen treatments are where this protein is infected into the skin with the intention of filling in wrinkles.

It is often used to reduce the appearance of lines from the nose to the upper lip and between the lower lip and the chin.

It is also injected into the lips to give them a fuller plumper look; however you are unlikely to look like Angelina Jolie from collagen injections to the lips.

The treatment is very fast and only lasts about 15 minutes but the results are only temporary, although they can last up to 6 months for some people.

Collagen injections are used more often these days for the treatment of skin irregularities such as scars, marks and indentations that have been caused by problems such as acne.

Collagen is more effective when it is injected into areas of the face where there are fewer muscles and less likelihood of muscles movement.

As some people can have an allergic reaction to collagen an allergy test is usually performed before collagen is injected into the face.

This test is usually done with a small injection of the liquid into the patients arm and if there is no reaction in the form of a rash or redness after a couple of weeks it is generally safe to use on other parts of the body.

When performed by a trained professional, collagen treatments can give a very natural looking result and this combined with the convenience of the treatments and the relatively economical cost is reason enough for many people to consider this as their preferred method of skin treatment.

More people now seem to prefer the use of Botox to reduce their wrinkles and for many it presents fewer problems than collagen treatments.

Monday, September 24, 2007

CLEANLINESS AND YOUR SKIN CONDITION

Cleanliness is essential for maintaining healthy skin.
It is surprising how we can create problems for our skin without ever being aware of what the causes are.

Many people don't realize how many times throughout the day they touch their face with their hands.
If our hands were totally clean throughout the day this wouldn't be so much of a problem but this isn't reasonable.
We touch everything from shopping trolleys to car steering wheels that are never cleaned.
We touch items in the office or in the workplace that don't get cleaned from one month to the next.

All these germs that we pick up on our hands throughout the day get transferred to our face whenever we touch it and from there they get into the pores of our skin and cause irritations, blackheads and similar skin problems.

Sometimes even the cleaners that we use on our face can cause problems, particularly with people who have sensitive skin where many products are too harsh.

Your skin should always be treated with care and handled delicately as constant demands on it will mean changes that are irreversible as you age.

With the face, where the skin is most sensitive on the majority of people you should take extra care and this might mean making simple changes that can have a dramatic effect over a lifetime.

Simply patting your skin to dry it, rather than rubbing it will a towel can reduce stretching, wrinkles and more when the combined actions of doing this are added up over a number of years.

If you find that you are getting breakouts on one side of your face or another, then you will need to consider what might be causing this.
Do you lean on your hand at work?
Do you answer the telephone from that side all the time?
When you answer these questions you might just find what is causing your problem and it could be as simple as having a dirty phone or dirty hand that you always lean on.

Wednesday, September 19, 2007

CLEANING YOUR FACE


You'd think that we would all know how to clean our face; after all we do it every day.

During the course of our daily routines we get a build up of many different impurities on our face that can clog the pores and give us a washed out complexion.

These impurities come from grime, makeup, sunscreen, excess sebum and many other sources.
Some of these are a result of the area we live in and others are a result of the way we live.
Many of us touch our face throughout the day and many impurities that are on our hands get transferred to our face each time we touch it.

We can be in the habit of leaning on our chin at the office or even touching between our eyebrows with the end of a finger as we adjust our sunglasses.

All these actions can lead to a build up of dirt that can block our pores.

For these reasons it is important that we cleanse our skin, and washing it at least twice a day is essential to keep the skin clean and healthy and allow it to breathe.

You will need to get a skin cleanser that suits your skin, as some of them can be too harsh for people with sensitive skin.

It is best to test samples of skin cleansers after checking that you have selected a cleanser that is appropriate for your skin type.

Look at the label of the cleanser and see whether it is recommended for sensitive skin or if it is more suitable for oilier skin types.

Sensitive skin is often drier and a cleanser for oily skin will be too harsh and could cause a reaction.

By using a suitable cleanser each night you will be washing the impurities that have built up during the day from your pores.
This will allow you to sleep with a clean pillow in the night and not allow built up grime to create more problems for your skin.

Friday, September 7, 2007

CIRCULATION FOR YOUR AGED SKIN

It is very important to maintain good circulation of the blood for your skin to remain healthy and your complexion to look well as you age.

As we age our circulation system pumps the blood more slowly throughout the body and along with a reduction in circulation the skin becomes more dehydrated with the consequent degeneration in skin health.

Along with the slowing down of the circulation system the body makes fewer new cells and the cells that we do lose are replaced a lot slower.

Those cells that we do have also lose their ability to adhere to one another.

It makes sense then to try to increase your circulation system and one of the best ways to do this is by getting regular exercise.

Not only will this exercise improve your overall health but also improve your complexion as the increased flow of blood to the skin will also help it to remain hydrated and stave off wrinkles for little bit longer.

Any form of resistance training will also help to stimulate the muscles under the skin and this can have a similar effect to a mild facelift.

We tend tighten the muscles of the face when doing any form of resistance work or training and this helps to firm the face and give it a lift.

Maintaining a happy healthy life will be reflected in your face and will help to make you look considerably younger provided of course that you take care with the correct skin care products and keeping out of the sun where possible.

The older we get the more care we need to take of our skin, not only from the outside but also from the inside and the best way to take care of that is with good healthy blood circulation and remaining well hydrated.

Wednesday, August 29, 2007

BAGGY EYES AND A BROW LIFT


One of the more obvious signs of aging is the excess skin that begins to hang over the eyes.
This skin makes the eyes look more 'closed-in' and can even affect a person's ability to apply eye shadow correctly.

While surgery is one alternative that many people will resort to, there are many people who are still unaware that Botox can also have a very positive affect at giving a person a brow lift without the need for surgery.

By paralyzing the muscles in the brow with an injection of Botox the area above the eyes will begin to lift as the Botox takes affect.
When this happens the skin on the eyelids will also lift and the eyes will become more 'open'

These brow lifts are being sought by an increasing number of people who are looking for suitable alternatives to surgery and the results that can be obtained from Botox injections are really quite outstanding when performed by an experienced specialist.

It is essential that you get an experienced person to perform this if you are considering getting it done as an incorrect procedure can result in the opposite effect with your eyes looking more closed than previously.

With such a fast and virtually painless procedure that results in no requirement for recovery time, Botox brow lifts are becoming the solution of choice for rapid 'rejuvenation' of that youthful look.

First timers should err on the light side until the results of the first injections are visible to see how the process has worked as all people react differently.

It is better to do this in small steps as the convenience of the procedure allows you this option.

In addition to the brow lift, Botox is highly effective for reducing the crow's-feet and fine lines that extend out from the corners of the eye.

Tuesday, August 21, 2007

AS THE SKIN AGES


As we age our skin becomes more fragile and the things that we once took for granted need a little more care.

The care that we have given to our skin when we are younger and the lifestyle that we lead will all have a bearing on the condition and the maintenance of the skin as we age.

Older skin will burn more easily when exposed to the sun and it will lack the elasticity of youthful skin.

This will lead to more facial lines particularly around the eyes, mouth and the forehead.

Often the skin will become sensitive to products that were once suitable and you will need to look at alternative products that will account for these changes.

One of the benefits of aging is that those who were once susceptible to breakouts will not usually experience them any longer but often there will be something else equally annoying that will replace it.
This can be in the form of drier skin and an increase in broken and or unsightly capillaries.

The skin will also tend to lose some of its color and can become blotchy.

For those who have enjoyed a little too much sun in their youth the skin can look quite leathery and this is also due to the increasing dryness due to decreased blood flow and dehydration.

Age spots and broken blood vessels are other signs of age that we can all look forward to and the need for good foundations are necessary to cover these irregularities.

And last but not least is the effect that gravity will have on the skin that has become less elastic over the years.

It's not all bad news as there are many excellent products that can assist in the skin feeling and looking healthy at any age.

It is really just a matter of making changes to the products that you use to allow for these changes and the right choices can only be made by testing and choosing formulations that are designed specifically for your changing skin type.

Monday, August 20, 2007

APPLYING FOUNDATION..( FIRST ADDS-ON TO SKIN )

The first step when applying foundation is to ensure that you shake the bottle well.
This is particularly important when using oil based foundations as they tend to separate.

If you haven't already applied some moisturizer to your face then add a touch of moisturizer to your palm (just a few drops will do) and mix it with the foundation that you will also apply to your palm.

Once this is well mixed, take some of the foundation and the end of your fingers or a small sponge and dot it about your cheeks, chin, forehead and nose.

With sufficient foundation in these areas you can start to smooth it over your face.

Gently blend the foundation over your face in an upward and outward motion.

Be sure that you don't miss any areas and in particular the sides of your nose.
Blend it well where your nose and cheeks meet as it is quite easy in this area to get a build up a foundation that can look quite unsightly.

Other areas that need special attention are under your eyebrows and around the jaw line.

Make sure that you blend the foundation just below the jaw line.

When you're finished gently blot your face with a tissue to ensure that there is no excess oil left on your skin.

A good application of foundation should look very natural and not as though it has being plastered on.

In addition to using the correct procedure for applying a foundation you must choose a foundation that is suitable for your skin type and your skin coloring.

If you can't find a foundation that blends well with your skin coloring it might be necessary for you to get two foundations and mix them together for your own custom blend.

As foundation is the base for all your makeup it is essential that you get this step right.

Sunday, August 19, 2007

ANTIOXIDANTS...( FOR SKIN REJUVENATION )

Free radicals are responsible for damaging the skin.
This damage is caused by the degradation of the collagen and the elastin in the skin, thereby reducing the skins ability to renew damaged cells.

Antioxidants help to fight off these free radicals and are naturally occurring substances that are not harmful to the skin.

When applied directly to the skin antioxidants reduce the free radicals and some believe that they can actually reverse mild damage that has occurred over the years.

Skin that has been over exposed to the sun might gain some form of rejuvenation from the use of antioxidants.

The vitamins A, C and E are the most popular antioxidants used in skin care products and these have shown in scientific tests to improve the condition of the skin and help reduce any additional damage from occurring.

One antioxidant that has gained a lot of respect for its properties in recent years is grape seed extract.

Grape seed extract has specific properties that help to reduce inflammation of the skin.
It has also shown to help strengthen the capillary walls and more skin care products are adding grape seed extract due to these positive effects on the skin.

Another natural product is green tea extract and this antioxidant is well worth mentioning here due to the active ingredient catechins.

This ingredient of green tea has been shown in tests to reduce the size of pre-cancerous skin lesions.

Many of the best skin care creams have some form of antioxidants in their ingredients, as the manufacturers are aware of the benefits of including them for their customers.

Vitamin A is often shown on the list of ingredients on skin care products by the derivatives of retinol and retinyl palminate.

You will often see the ingredient retinol listed on the packs of anti acne products, as this is one ingredient that has proven to be affective for reducing acne.

Friday, August 17, 2007

ANTI AGING SKIN CARE

There is no doubt about the fact that we're living a lot longer, and people are becoming interested in anti aging products to ensure that they get more years of enjoyment as they age.

The best solution for anti aging is to take care of your body and health along the way.
The usual list of advice applies here, with regular exercise, good sleep, drinking sufficient water and eliminating stress where possible.

Skincare manufacturers are aware of the ever increasing elderly age group who require good products to help maintain a healthy skin.
With skin becoming more sensitive as people age they need to have the choice of products in their preferred brands that they know they can continue to use without causing irritation.

Usually the changes are made quite gradually where you will notice that a product that you've been using for years is slowly beginning to irritate your skin.
At other times due to various things that are happening in your life you can find a product that was perfectly good for your skin one month is no longer suitable.

Many of the anti aging products on the market are quite mild as they are targeted towards people who are older.
The manufacturers of quality products do a lot of research on people in the older age groups and they know what skin conditions they suffer from and what is needed to assist them in maintaining good skin health.

Many of these anti aging products have a high degree of natural ingredients that are not only milder on the skin but they also have rejuvenating factors that can make a big difference if used on a regular basis.

Anti aging skincare products will protect, maintain, and rejuvenate the skin and many people who have used them for years have seen the benefits in the long-term by looking considerably younger than their counterparts.

Thursday, August 16, 2007

ACNE


Acne is the curse of the teenage face.
For most people the problems that they have as a teenager with acne will disappear as they get older but this is not always the case.

There are large numbers of adults who suffer from acne and this can be very distressing to live with.

There are several reasons why adults can get acne and these range from problems such as stress to hormonal problems that can be made worse by medications.

The cause of acne is when the skin pore or hair follicle becomes blocked.
This blockage is caused by skin cells that are exfoliated but not completely removed from the skin.

The skin cells block the pores and this forms a plug that traps sebum.
This in turn leads to a build up of bacteria and the resultant inflammation of the skin.

There are many more excellent products on the market that can help reduce the incidence of acne in adolescents and adults alike.

The most common treatment is the use of retinoids that are derived from vitamin A.

Retin-A is the most popular of these applications and is a prescription medication but there are other 'over the counter' products such as retinol that are also a suitable solution for many people.

These medications work by removing the stickiness in the cell that causes the discarded cells to remain trapped.

By allowing those cells to be freely exfoliated there is no buildup of sebum and a reduction in the incidence of bacteria buildup.

There are other products on the market that assist in unclogging blocked pores by penetrating to the sebaceous matter and some of these products are used in the better quality cleansers.

While you should not expect results overnight you can bring your skin up to a higher level of health by using these cleansers on a regular basis and after a few weeks you should see a reduction in the occurrence of acne whereby the regular use of these products should maintain a healthy and blemish free skin.