The Perfect Fit

We all want soft, smooth, younger looking skin. We tend to loose that beautiful, translucent skin glow that’s so beautiful in our youth as we age. Would it come as a surprise to you that your skin can look younger in two minutes? It can through the magical power of exfoliation.

One of the easiest and most effective ways to get younger looking skin is to remove the dead skin cells on the surface of your skin. This can be done quickly and easily through the process of exfoliation. Here’s how to exfoliate your skin at home:

1. Visit your local skincare store and purchase a special loofah or exfoliation pad designed specifically for the face. You don’t want to use one made for the body as this would be too rough for your facial skin. Pick up an exfoliating cleanser/scrub designed especially for the face.

2. Moisten your face lightly with warm water.

3. Apply a small amount of the exfoliating cleanser/scrub to your exfoliation pad.

4. Gently rub your face with the exfoliation pad using a light, circular motion. This should always be done in a gentle manner to avoid irritating the skin and to prevent the tiny blood vessels under your skin from rupturing. If these vessels rupture, it can result in permanent facial flushing requiring laser treatment.

5. Do 3-5 rounds with the exfoliation pad on your face continuing to use a light, gentle circular motion. Avoid the eye area as the skin is quite thin there.

6. Rinse with warm water and apply a light moisturiser.

7. Admire the glow of your freshly exfoliated face in the mirror.

This one quick, simple procedure can really make your skin look younger. After exfoliating, your skin will have a more radiant look and a smoother feel. You makeup will go on more smoothly. There’s actually some thought that regular stimulation of your skin’s surface through exfoliation may help to promote collagen production which can promote skin firmness and reduce the signs of aging.

How often should you exfoliate your skin?

Most dermatologists recommend once of twice a week. If you have thin, sensitive skin, start by exfoliating once a week. If you tolerate this well, you can try increasing the frequency to twice a week. Always remember to use an exfoliating cleanser/scrub made for facial skin and use gentle hand motions.

You’re going to love your new skin when you look in the mirror.

We all know what a wrinkle looks like and how distressing it can be when you first find one on your own face. Fortunately, we live in a day and age when we can do much to both prevent wrinkles and smooth out ones that have already formed. It’s important to understand what causes a wrinkle to develop so we can better understand what can be done to prevent them.

There are actually two kinds of wrinkles. There are dynamic wrinkles which are only present when the underlying muscle is contracting, resulting in the skin folding over itself due the action of the contracting muscle. These can occur at any age, but are more common in more mature skin. When you hear of someone getting botox injections for wrinkles, you know they are getting treatment for dynamic wrinkles. Botox will paralyze the facial muscle beneath the wrinkle which means the skin doesn’t furrow when you make facial expressions.

The second type of wrinkle is a static wrinkle which is present even when the facial muscles aren’t contracting. Static wrinkles result from a loss of important skin components such as collage and elastin that maintain the integrity of the skin. When these components diminish, the skin is unable to snap back as readily when a facial expression is made. The result is a fixed wrinkle.

How does a static wrinkle actually form?

As we age, our skin decreases the frequency with which it regenerates new skin cells and sheds old ones. The result is a gradual thinning of the surface of the skin. The new thinner skin architecture is structurally changed so that it has a reduced ability to absorb important nutrients. This can result in the skin cells become less efficient. There is also a certain amount of free radical production occurring in these aging cells which results in further damage. Lack of nutrition also results in reduced collagen synthesis. Since collagen forms the structural network of the skin and helps to maintain its integrity, the result is loose, saggy, wrinkled skin. Another factor in wrinkle formation is the gradual loss of elastin, a component that maintains the skin’s elasticity. Elastin allows the skin to bounce back into place when it’s creased. Without the presence of elastin, a static wrinkle will develop.

What causes the loss of collagen and elastin?

Some collagen and elastin are lost gradually during the natural aging process which is partially determined by genetics. The majority of elastin is lost or damaged due to exposure to the sun which illustrates the importance of practicing good sun protection.

How do you prevent a static wrinkle from developing?

It would seem the most important way to prevent the formation of static wrinkles is to reduce the level of sun exposure over a lifetime by wearing a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15. This will help to slow down the loss of collagen and elastin fibers that give support to the skin. You can also use interventions that stimulate collagen production such as the use of prescription strength Retin A which has been shown to stimulate the cells that produce collagen. There are also various over the counter treatments that have been shown to have some wrinkle preventive properties such as AHA’s (alpha hydroxy acids) which are present in many cosmetic product, topical Vitamin C (also found in many skin care products), and topical Vitamin E which helps to reduce free radical damage to skin cells.

As you can see, there are some skin care intentions that can reduce the severity of skin wrinkling. Why not give them a try?

Many people are more than willing to go out and spend money on expensive skin creams in hopes of getting smoother skin – but few are willing to change their diet. Designer skin creams do little to change the damage that smoking, too much alcohol, and a poor diet has on the skin – not to mention time spent in the sun without a sunscreen. One vitamin that’s important for smoother skin is vitamin C because it stimulates collagen production which keeps skin looking young and firm. Now a new study shows that another nutrient – lycopene – may help to promote smoother, younger looking skin.

Benefits of Lycopene: Better Skin?

In a study published in the European Journal of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics, researchers gave twenty-five young adults a lycopene rich diet for four weeks followed by a 25 milligram lycopene supplement for another three months. At the end of the four month period, they looked at the participant’s skin using spectroscopy and found they had higher levels of carotenoids, including lycopene and beta-carotene, in their skin. Carotenoids are strong antioxidants that help to reduce inflammation – which may have a positive impact on skin aging. A previous study published in the same journal found that higher skin lycopene levels were associated with smoother skin.

What are Lycopenes?

Lycopenes are a type of carotenoid found naturally in foods that are red. Fresh tomatoes are a source of lycopenes, but the highest levels are found in tomatoes that have been processed into tomato paste, tomato sauce, or ketchup. Red fruits such as watermelon, apricots, pink grapefruits, and guavas are other good sources.

Benefits of Lycopene for Smoother Skin: How Does It Work?

When skin levels of lycopenes are higher, it helps to reduce oxidative damage that occurs from daily exposure to the sun and other environmental pollutants. As a study showed, higher levels of skin lycopenes reduces skin roughness. Higher levels of lycopene in the skin also block ultraviolet rays to some degree – although not enough to make a sunscreen unnecessary.

How Much Lycopene Do You Need for Better Skin?

Most experts recommend getting between 25 to 75 milligrams of lycopene each day. A half cup of tomato sauce has around 22 milligrams of lycopene and one cup of tomato juice has 20 milligrams. With a little planning, it’s not hard to get at least 25 milligrams of lycopene a day without supplements which was the amount the study participants received during the last three months of this study.

Benefits of Lycopene for Smoother Skin: The Bottom Line?

If you want smoother skin, add more processed tomato foods to your diet and supplement them with red fruits such as watermelon and apricots. The secret to better skin? Say goodbye to the expensive skin creams and eat more lycopenes instead.

To maintain a healthful appearance, it’s important to treat your skin properly at the end of the day. Follow these useful tips to be on your way to beautiful skin!

Proper skin care is important if you want to maintain a youthful and healthy appearance. In addition to caring for your skin during the day, there are certain steps you should take at night in order to keep your skin always looking its best.

Make sure to remove makeup: Tempting as it may be at the end of a long day, NEVER go to bed with makeup on your face. Clean your face with a gentle soap, making sure to remove all traces of makeup. Leaving residue can clog your pores and lead to an unsightly breakout.

Moisturise, moisturise, moisturise: This rule applies to facial skin as well as the rest of your body. Make it habit to apply lotion or cream before going to bed. Make sure the type of lotion is appropriate for your skin type and the season. For example, a lighter version of facial moisturiser would be appropriate during the summer as opposed to a heavy-duty winter-type moisturiser. Apply to freshly washed skin. If your skin is still a bit moist, the lotion will soak in more effectively.

Banish breakouts: Overnight is the perfect time to treat any breakouts you might have. After cleansing off all makeup, apply a small amount of spot treatment to the blemish and let the ointment do its work while you rest!

Love the gloves: To keep the skin on your hands looking beautiful and smooth, consider wearing a pair of cotton gloves at night. Apply a hydrating lotion and massage into cuticles before putting on the gloves. When you wake up, your hands will be soft and supple. Another spin on this idea is to wear socks to bed after applying lotion to your feet. Your feet will feel smooth the next morning.

With these simple tips, you’ll be able to maintain skin that looks beautiful at all times of the day.

Do you want younger, more youthful looking skin? If so, it may be time to reassess your diet. In the quest for better looking skin, many people are more than willing to spend money on the latest skin creams that promise to turn back the hands of time, while completely ignoring what they put into their body. High sugar, processed diets; fast food; and alcohol can all take their toll on skin health, resulting in a loss of skin resiliency and the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Some people add further insult by smoking cigarettes and lying in the sun. The good news?  You can substantially improve the appearance of your skin by simply changing your diet. Here are the most important types of foods and nutrients needed to keep skin looking young.

Keep skin looking young: Vitamin C

Vitamin C is an antioxidant vitamin that plays an important role in wound healing and  maintaining the skin’s support structure. It does this by enhancing the synthesis of collagen, a protein that gives skin its firmness and resiliency. When collagen starts to break down due to sun damage and lack of vitamin C, skin loses its firmness and starts to sag. Vitamin C also functions as an antioxidant to counteract the free radical damage that can cause the skin to age. Studies have demonstrated its positive effect when applied topically to the skin and it’s just as important to get it through diet. Some foods that are unusually high in vitamin C include papaya, broccoli, strawberries, oranges, and cantaloupe. Combine them all into a delicious smoothie and drink it every day to keep skin looking young and vital.

Keep skin looking young: Vitamin E

This is another important antioxidant vitamin. Even if you wear sunscreen religiously, your skin is exposed to free radicals on a daily basis from the effects of the environment and vitamin E can help to counteract some of the damage. Good dietary sources of vitamin E include almonds, sunflower seeds, spinach, leafy vegetables, and blueberries. Did you know that applying vitamin E to the skin has even been shown to protect against sun damage?

Keep skin looking young: Omega-3 fatty acids

Omega-3’s are essential, polyunsaturated fatty acids that have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory properties. Omega-3’s help to protect against sun induced antioxidant damage which can cause breakdown of collagen, leading to wrinkling and laxity of the skin. A study also showed that omega-3’s can help to rebuild the skin by activating certain skin proteins such as pro-collagen. To keep skin looking young with omega-3’s, eat more fatty fish such as salmon, walnuts, and flaxseed. If you don’t eat these foods on a regular basis, talk to your doctor about taking a fish oil supplement.

To keep skin looking young, eat less packaged, processed foods and replace them with whole grains, vegetables and fruits. These foods have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that help to protect skin against aging. These simple dietary changes can give your skin a more youthful appearance if eaten on a regular basis.

When you wake up in the morning do you head to the shower to shampoo your hair? Many people do, but for some hair   types, it may not be smart to use shampoo every day. Frequent shampooing can quickly dry hair out – leading to frizziness, flyaways, and hair static which can be difficult to tame. Daily shampooing also dries the scalp out and can reduce hair’s natural shininess as it strips away oils especially if you use ordinary shampoo containing sodium lauryl sulphate and paraben. What’s the solution?

If you have extremely oily hair, you may need to use shampoo every day – but that doesn’t mean you have to put it on your entire head. Concentrating shampoo around the scalp and rinsing the rest of the hair with water still remove excess oil, but is kinder and gentler to the drier ends. Even people who have an oily scalp usually have dry ends if their hair is longer. Why punish the ends every time you shampoo?

If you have dry hair and you usually shampoo hair every day, try skipping a day and see how your hair looks. Your hair will probably have more shine and vitality because you’re not constantly exposing it to harsh chemical – which most shampoos contain. Even shampoos made for dry hair strips oil from hair and reduces shine. Using shampoo every day is particularly bad for colour treated hair since it causes colour to fade or oxidize so that blonde hair looks brassy. Anyone who colours their hair should use a shampoo specifically made for colour treated hair and should resist the urge to shampoo every day.

There are some situations where you may need to use shampoo on a daily basis. If you swim in a chlorinated pool, it’s important to wash out the chlorine since it can dry out hair and alter hair colour. If this is the case, choose a shampoo without sulfates - which more companies are making these days due to concerns about the health risks of sodium laureth sulfate. Always follow up with a conditioning treatment if you’re using shampoo every day.

For people with normal or dry hair who don’t swim in chlorinated pools, daily shampooing reduces hair’s natural shine and contributes to fading hair colour. If you still feel the need to shampoo every day, use a detergent free shampoo and apply it to the scalp only. Another option is to use a dry shampoo or simply brush corn starch through your hair to remove the excess oils. Think of all the time you’ll save when you’re not washing and blow drying every day!