Moisturizers

As with any other skin products there are many different moisturizers on the market and they are all formulated to assist in different areas of the skin.

They serve two main purposes and that is to soften the skin and help to keep moisture under the outer layer.

This will make dry skin look more hydrated and in doing so it will make your skin feel better - albeit temporarily.

There are three main areas that moisturizers are used for the face skin and these are for the area around the eyes, the facial skin and the skin on your neck.

All these areas of skin have slightly different characteristics and often one moisturizer isn't suitable for all areas.

The skin around the eyes is the most delicate and for this reason moisturizers for the eyes are lighter in texture than those used for the face.

Most people will use a different eye moisturizer than the one they will use on their face.

If you are using one moisturizer for the whole of your face you will need to be particularly careful to choose one that won't have any ingredients that will irritate your eyes.

As you will be leaving moisturizer on your skin throughout the day you really need to take the time to test samples of various products until you find the one that is most suitable.

There is an enormous array of products, and moisturizers come in all types and formulations.
The range in prices can vary considerably too but it is essential that you buy quality products when selecting a moisturizer.

While many people don't bother using a separate moisturizer for the neck skin there are formulations that are specifically suitable for the neck as this is an area where there are fewer oil glands and the skin can become somewhat drier.

Menopausal Skin

Collagen and Elastin fibers are the structural support that the skin needs to remain youthful.

Collagen production is stimulated by the hormone estrogen and this is necessary for the skin to remain firm and wrinkle free.

The problem with menopause is that this production of estrogen begins to wane and this causes a breakdown in the production of collagen.

The result of the decreased collagen is that the skin becomes slack and more susceptible to wrinkles.

There are other factors that are affected by menopause that also reduce the condition of the skin.

With the skin becoming increasingly fragile with age, the top layers of the skin, the epidermis and the dermis are more easily separated and this leads to the vulnerability to damage more easily.

The skin becomes less durable and more susceptible to cuts that would not have resulted in previous years.
As well as this, there is the problem that when cuts do occur, they take a lot longer to heal.

The same applies to bruises, that are easier to get, and often look somewhat more severe and they will generally take longer to disappear.

Due to the delicate nature of the skin during menopause and as we age there is a need to be a lot gentler than would be expected with the skin of a younger person.

This care even applies to the way that creams and cleansers are used on the skin and particularly the face.

As the skin ages and becomes more fragile it is necessary to avoid pulling the skin when applying skin care products.

By rubbing in creams and toners the skin can easily get 'pulled' and in doing so stretch it causing permanent damage if this is done on a regular basis.
It is better to pat the skin when applying lotions and make up.

Good quality moisturizers applied day and night will assist in maintaining the skin in the best possible condition and will be money well spent.

Laser Vein Treatment

Most broken veins will appear on areas such as the thighs.
It is not uncommon however for people to get spider veins on the face.

While these can look quite unsightly the procedure to remove them is relatively simple.

Rather than trying to hide the veins with clever makeup, it might be time to visit a dermatologist and have them treated with a laser.

The way that the laser treats these veins is through a wavelength of light that it emits.
The laser light increases the heat of the blood inside the vein.
When the heat reaches a certain temperature the blood vessel walls collapse and dissolve.

Is a relatively quick treatment taking approximately 15 minutes and there is very little sensation felt by the patient.

To get the desired results you will often need several treatments spread out over a number of weeks.

There are various different types of lasers used in the treatment and the dermatologist will choose the one most suitable dependent upon the results that are required.

Each of the different types of lasers will emit a slightly different beam and having the choice of the different lasers allows the dermatologist to target the various different types of spider veins that are present.

After a few treatments with the laser light the capillaries will be dilated and virtually invisible.
When this laser treatment is used on the face it is quite easy with the use of light makeup to completely conceal any traces of the veins.

There is very little chance of any side effects from laser vein treatment, with the most noticeable sign that you've had the treatment being slight redness around the area where the veins were.

As with most treatments it is better to get on to the problem as soon as possible while the veins are small and there is less damage to the skin.

LASER RESURFACING

Laser resurfacing involves the removal of the skins outer layer.
In doing so, this procedure can diminish discoloration, fine lines and wrinkles, scars, pigmentation problems, and other skin problems.

Laser resurfacing can also tighten the skin and give the face a firmer and younger appearance.
While this sounds good you'll need to get some expert advice from a good dermatologist before undergoing any of this treatment particularly if you have dark or olive skin.

The reason people with dark or olive skin need to be particularly careful when using these types of treatments is the fact that they can scar quite easily.

A good dermatologist will give you a thorough evaluation before deciding whether this sort of treatment will be suitable or not.

With a choice of two different types of lasers for resurfacing the dermatologist can choose how deep they need to go to improve the quality of the skin.

Sometimes the dermatologist will recommend medication to prevent the possibility of infection.

By taking advantage of the benefit of having two different types of laser treatments available, the dermatologist can target both light scarring and deeper scaring.

When there is a combination of light and deep scarring in the same area the dermatologist might choose to use an alternative laser that can affect the skin tissues deeper down allowing him to clear those problems at once.

There is a recovery time that can vary depending on the patient and for some people this can be quite a considerable time, particularly those people who have sensitive skin.

In the first few days special care needs to be taken to ensure that the skin doesn't become infected.
After that the skin can peel for up to three weeks by which time it is generally ready to have makeup applied.

One of the benefits of laser treatment is the fact that it stimulates new collagen growth.
This new collagen growth can help the skin to feel tighter and firmer for several months after the initial treatment.

Hyperpigmentation

Hyperpigmentation is a skin problem that affects a large number of people and is one of the most common skin problems that people want to address.

Hyperpigmentation occurs when there are pigment changes in the skin as can be seen when people get freckles on the face and spots on other parts of the body that are most likely to appear on the hands and the chest.

There are two main causes for hyperpigmentation with the most obvious one being over exposure and subsequent damage from the sun.
The face, hands and often the upper areas of the chest are generally those areas of the skin that get the most exposure to the sun and this is why you will see the incidence of hyperpigmentation in those places more often that other places on the body.

Even the sun streaming through the windscreen of the car you drive can be sufficient to cause these changes in the skin pigment.

Another main cause of hyperpigmentation is due to hormonal changes in the body.
The biggest causes of these hormonal changes in women are pregnancy and birth control pills.

Many people have the misconception that melasma, which is pigmentation caused by the sun, is simply age spots.

Certain skin bleaching agents can assist in reducing the impact of these spots but like most things associated with the condition of your skin, covering up in the sun is the best solution to ensure that you don't get these spots in the first place.

If you do have hyperpigmentation then exposure to the sun will only make the condition worse.

While hyperpigmentation that has resulted from hormonal changes is a lot more difficult to cure than that caused by the sun, over time with the correct use of quality skin bleaching products the 'spots' can fade quite significantly.

Laser treatment is also an effective solution for assisting with the reduction of hyperpigmentation.

How to Care for Your Skin

There are three main areas that are most important when caring for your skin.

Those three areas are the cleaning of your skin, the moisturizing of your skin and the protection of the skin.

It all starts with cleanliness, as the other factors can't work as well if the skin is not cleaned properly.

With all the different cleansers on the market there is enough information to fill a book but it is worthwhile saying that you do not have to spend lots of money to get a good quality cleanser.

Makeup will need to be dissolved with oil-based creams before the face can be cleaned properly and then your preferred cleanser will remove any residue that could clog up your pores.

It is important that all traces of makeup are removed before you retire for the night as sleeping with makeup on can cause all sorts of skin problems as it clogs the pores overnight.

A good moisturizer will then help to soften your skin and replace the natural oils that are removed by washing.
This barrier that is created by the moisturizer will help to lock in the moisture that is in your skin.

And finally you will need to protect your skin.
There is nothing that will age your skin more than leaving it unprotected against the elements.

Sunlight is good for the skin but too much will cause damage and even a little too much can cause irreparable damage so always use sunscreen when outdoors.

Many of the moisturizers that are worn during the day have SPF sun protection factors and these are products that you should consider when out and about during the day for additional protection.

Even driving a car in sunny conditions can cause sun damage so these moisturizers are particularly good to use.

Protect your lips with balms to stop them from drying out and becoming chapped and wear sunglasses and eye creams to protect the delicate skin around your eyes.

Your skin is precious so treat is like so.

How Does Alcohol Affect Your Skin?

OK - we're not talking about alcohol on your skin here but the amount that you consume.

Excessive consumption of alcohol is detrimental to your general health but it also affects the condition of your skin as well.

It's not unusual to be able to spot a heavy drinker by the color of their nose and this redness that appears on their nose is associated with broken blood vessels.
While it might take a considerable amount of alcohol to create this condition, every time you drink a little too much alcohol you are adding to the damage that is occurring to your skin.

With a deficiency of the B vitamins that is associated with excessive alcohol consumption, the skin loses some of its condition and this can cause all sorts of problems, from a change in complexion, to a less healthy sallow tone to the appearance of skin spots and discoloration.

The blood vessels in the skin dilate and this is what causes them to break and result in permanent redness in areas such as the nose.

For your skin to remain vibrant you need to remain hydrated and each time you consume alcohol you are dehydrating your body and that includes your skin.

It is not sufficient for you to expect to counter this dehydration by using moisturizers, as these won't address the problem that is happening under the skin and the body as a whole.

The occasional drink of alcohol or drinking in moderation won't have much affect at all but you can expect to age faster if you drink more than a reasonable amount regularly.

A night on the town with a few too many drinks can make for a sorry sight the next morning with puffy eyes due to water retention so try to counter the effects of alcohol but consuming at least an equal quantity of water throughout the night to remain hydrated.

Herbal Skin Care

With people becoming more interested in natural products, herbal skincare has seen a boom in recent years.
This has happened to some extent due to the manufacturers of skincare products realizing that people are interested in natural solutions and by supplying it on a large scale more people can take advantage of herbal skincare.

Prior to the manufacturers getting involved, the only way you could get hold of herbal skincare would be by creating the products yourself or relying on small manufacturers who had to charge a premium to cover their costs.

While a lot of the herbal skincare products that on the market have additional ingredients in them to preserve their shelf life, the majority of the ingredients are still natural and that is what is important to most people.

Many people find these herbal skincare products are a lot easier on the skin although with any product, for people with sensitive skin, it is wise to test samples first.

One of the best natural skincare products is Aloe Vera.
As an extract from the aloe plant, Aloe Vera is often used for healing purposes for cuts and burns.
If you've been over exposed to the sun Aloe Vera is an excellent solution to remove any pain and assist with the healing process.

Many of the top brand manufacturers of skincare products add Herbal ingredients to their products due to the added benefits that can be gained from using natural extracts.

Extracts such as dandelion, chamomile, rosemary and so on are finding their way into more and more top brand face care products.

Essential oils have been used for years in skin care products.
As demand continues to increase for the use of natural ingredients you'll find more opportunity to continue using your favorite manufacturer products while moving towards a more natural approach that can only be good for your skin.

Foundation Textures

Foundation makes the skin look smooth by giving it a healthy natural complexion while helping to make it appear as flawless as possible.

There are various different types of foundation textures on the market and you need to find the one that suits your complexion the best.

Sheer foundations are one of the better choices for helping to give you a more natural look.
Sheer foundations generally contain silicon which helps them to glide easily over the skin without giving you an oily look.
By using this type of foundation sparingly it can appear as though you don't have any foundation on at all.

Oil based foundations are excellent for dry or flaky skin.
As many oil based products can appear to be a little bit heavy, it might be wise to add a few drops of toner to the solution before applying it.

Matt foundations on the other hand dry out extremely fast and they need to be applied rather quickly while taking care to blend them in well at the same time.
These foundations can be good for people with oily skin as they tend to remain matt for longer.

Cream foundations are excellent for people with aged skin as they help to cover surface lines and wrinkles while still maintaining a natural finish.

Light reflecting foundations have specially shaped particles that help to give a youthful appearance by reflecting the light off the skin.

Along with the many different developments that are being made with skincare products you can buy foundation now that is light responsive.
This foundation has special pigments that are receptive to the light and they will change according to the natural light conditions.
There will even change according to electric lights and in doing so will remain a color that looks the same in the various different conditions.

FAKE TANS

For a great way to have that 'healthy' tanned look without the damage that can be expected from sun exposure you should consider using fake tanning products.

These products have come a long way from the days when a person wearing fake tan could be spotted a mile away looking like a carrot with their orange skin.

There are two important areas when using fake tans that you need to consider.

The first one is to choose a coloring that is no more than two shades darker than your natural coloring.
To go any darker than that will look unnatural unless you prefer to look like George Hamilton and appear as though you have been baking under the sun for the best part of your life.

The tan needs to appear natural and if it is too dark it will be obvious that you are wearing a fake tan.

With many products you will need more than one application and where this is so, you should always wait for the tan to dry between applications before deciding whether to apply another layer.

Often the tan will dry slightly darker than anticipated so an additional layer might not be required.

Another area where you will need to be careful is in the application of the tanning products.

The skin needs to be clean before applying the tanning products and care needs to be taken to ensure that it is applied evenly to remain streak free.

The higher quality tanning products will generally be a lot easier to apply and there will be less chance of having unsightly streaks after application.

Artificial tanners allow you to wear lightly tinted or transparent foundations and powders.

You can also wear a lightly tinted moisturizer that will enhance the natural look of the artificial tan.

FACIAL OILS

Contrary to popular belief facial oils can benefit any type of skin - even oily skin.

The reason why many women are reluctant to use facial oils is because nobody likes to have greasy oily skin but this is not the case when using facial oils.

As the facial oils are rapidly absorbed into the skin the surface is not left greasy and oily.

With the active ingredients that are in these oils there are many benefits that can be had from using them.

Many of the natural health clinics will use and supply these facial oils and there is nothing quite like having a facial massage from somebody using good-quality facial oil.

There are different types of facial oils for the various skin types and these are all designed to address different problems.

Some people combine these facial oils with aromatherapy.

Most of these face treatment oils use 100% pure plant extracts.
Some of the common essential oils that are used include sandalwood, cardamom, lavender, blue orchid, geranium, lotus extract, and more.

These oils are used to help restore and comfort the skin, while reducing reddening and irritation.

Other oils such as hazelnut help prevent moisture loss and are excellent for anti aging.

Oils are used for normalizing the skin and revitalizing and toning the epidermis.

The best time to use these face treatment oils is at night as an alternative to night cream.

After you have thoroughly cleansed and toned your face you will apply the oil to your face and neck while it is still damp.

Avoid excess oil around the eye area.
Once applied, you can gently remove any excess oil with a soft tissue or face cloth.

It is particularly beneficial to use oils on the forehead, nose and chin.
Massage the oil gently into these areas and also on your cheeks.

If you've never used face oils before you should try as you might be surprised how well you like it.

FACE MASK

Face masks are another treatment used for cleansing and rejuvenating the skin.
There are various types and the most common of these are the clay or mud masks, epidermal treatment masks, non-hardening masks and peel-off masks.

We will look briefly at each type of mask starting with clay or mud masks.
Mud masks are used as a way to remove impurities from the skin including flaking skin, dead skin cells and even excess oil.
While these are only temporary measures they do go someway to cleansing the skin and that can only be good for you.

The mud is applied to the skin and allowed to harden for between 15 and 45 minutes.
After this the mask is washed from the skin along with the impurities.
Depending on the type of mask that you purchase they can have added ingredients that will assist with the cleansing process.

Epidermal treatment masks are somewhat more convenient and for many people more effective.
They consist of sheets that are applied to the skin.
These sheets have ingredients infused in them that assist in face cleansing. These ingredients often include moisturizers, antioxidants and alpha hydroxy acids.
These are good for people who have sensitive skin as they can deliver the required cleansing properties with less chance of irritation.
They are excellent for the removal of blackheads where strips are placed on the affected area and left to react with the dirt and sebum.
When the strip has done its job and is removed from the skin the grime will be removed with the strip.

Non-hardening masks are applied to the area to be cleaned and left for a few minutes before being removed with a cloth along with any impurities.
Non-hardening masks are ideal for people with sensitive skin and can be used more often than the other types of masks.

The final mask in this group is the peel-off mask.
These masks are also very convenient as they come in a tube or a bottle as a gel and can be spread over the skin and once again left for a short while until they dry thereby forming a skin.

This 'skin' is then peeled off the face along with the impurities that were in the pores of the face.
There are various strengths of peel-off masks and while there are many that can be used on most skin types, people with sensitive skin need to test first to see whether a particular brand might be too intense.

FACE CLEANSING TIPS

If you wear makeup often you should get into a good routine of cleansing, toning, and moisturizing your skin every evening.

By getting into a good routine of cleansing you help to hold back the aging clock by maintaining your skin in better condition.

Cleansing will remove all the old makeup that has been on your face throughout the day.
It would also clear away the accumulation of grease and grime that is collected on your face through the day from your working conditions and even from your hands as many people tend to touch the face often throughout the day.

Pull your hair back from your face to ensure that you clean all of the skin right to your hairline.

When cleaning off mascara from around the eyes, be very careful not to stretch the skin.
When working around the eyes use cotton balls or cotton buds to remove the mascara and eye shadow using a quality cleansing lotion.
This is one area that you have to be particularly careful as the skin is most delicate around the eyes.

Over the rest of your face you can apply the cleansing lotion using your hands.
Massage the cleansing cream into the skin particularly those areas where you are prone to blackheads and other skin blemishes are.

By massaging the cleansing cream into the skin it will help to ensure that any buildup of makeup grease and grime will be removed from the pores of the skin and reduce the possibility of further skin problems such as acne.

Once you have thoroughly applied the cleansing cream all over your face you can gently remove it with a tissue or cotton ball in preparation for toning.

Even though you have used a cleansing cream at night it is always wise to get into the habit of washing your face first thing in the morning.
This will ensure that you are starting with a clean foundation in the morning before applying your makeup.

EYE MAKEUP

You can make or break the look of your face by using the right or wrong eye makeup.

The make up that you choose for your eyes should emphasize the natural color of your eyes.
It should also emphasize the shape of your eyes.

If you can afford the time and money then seek some advice from a professional and get them to help you choose the correct colors for your eye makeup as it can make a world of difference.

There is so many things that you can do with your eyes by using the right makeup.

By adding shadowing you can add more depth to your eyes.
You can make tired eyes look lively (but only within reason)
If you're constantly lacking sleep and tired all the time you're going to need some good concealer to cover up the dark circles that you will develop under your eyes.

Here are some tips to change the look of your eyes;

To make your eyes look rounder, add eye shadow to both the upper and lower lids.
Another way to do this is to use an eye liner and outline the base of your lashes.

To make your eyes look more oval draw a line at the base of your lashes thickening the line slightly in the middle.

To make your eyes look further apart start your eyeliner line away from the inner corner of your eye and make it slightly thicker towards the outer edge, extending it in a slightly upward stroke.

To make your eyes appear closer together you are virtually creating the opposite illusion to what you did to make your eyes look further apart.
In this case the eyeliner would be slightly thicker at the inner corner of the eye and you would stop the line at the outer edge feathering it off slightly thinner.

Shadowing and the use of dark and light colors can also make the eye look bigger or smaller depending on your requirements.

EYE CREAMS

Eye creams are one of the most important skin care products that you can buy.
The skin around the eye is the most delicate skin on the face and for this reason extra care is needed when applying products in this area.

It is also necessary to take more time in selecting products that you will be using around your eyes.
Test small samples before making a decision to buy a product.

The skin around your eyes has a tendency to become more 'wrinkled' than other areas of the face and you will often find that this is the area of skin where there will be more blood vessels visible.
These visible blood vessels will appear as dark patches and shadowing under the eyes.

On most people the skin around the eyes will be more sensitive and that means it will be more susceptible to damage.
This is even more of a problem for people who already have sensitive skin.

The skin around the eyes will generally tend to be somewhat drier than the rest of the face and this is because there are fewer oil glands present.

You can see now why taking care to get a good eye cream should be one of the most important purchases for your face care products.

You should look for products that are not only suitable for delicate skin but also offer some form of protection against the sun.

Sunglasses will certainly help to preserve the quality of the skin around the eyes but there will always be times when that skin gets exposed to ultraviolet light.

Look for eye creams that have moisturizing ingredients in them and also, there are many eye creams on the market that have anti-wrinkle properties in them.

These are well worth the money even if you need to save it elsewhere on other products.

EXFOLIATION

One way to keep your skin looking healthier is to exfoliate.
Exfoliating will help to remove the dead skin cells and residue from the surface of the skin.

There are several ways that this can be done but you need to be careful how you handle exfoliating as sometimes it can do more damage than good.

The dead skin, grime and residue that lies on the surface of the skin causes the complexion to look dull and washed out.

By removing this, the skin can look a lot fresher and healthier.

When exfoliating the facial skin you need to be particularly careful that you don't use products that are too harsh and if you have skin that is somewhat sensitive then you will need to check whether there is any reddening of the skin and if so you should stop immediately.

A face cloth will be suitable for most people because it will clean the skin while remaining gentle enough to not cause any problems with all but the most sensitive of skins.

It is not wise to use exfoliating brushes or loofahs on your face as these are more suitable for skin on the rest of your body that can stand a little more abrasion without damage.

An alternative is the use of a chemical exfoliant that doesn't require an abrasive action and will still help to remove the dead skin cells from the surface of the skin.

Even these formulations need to be tested on a small area of the face first as they can still cause reactions with some skin types.

There are also natural exfoliants that are very effective and while they won't give the instant effects of some of the chemical exfoliants and exfoliating brushes they will do an equally good job over an extended period without causing damage to the skin.

The most popular ingredient of the natural products is papaya.