Total Skin Solutions

Facial masks may be relaxing and soothing, and they may even make your skin feel great afterward, but using them too often can actually make your skin worse. Even the most gentle of facial masks strip your skin of natural oils, which causes it to produce more than usual. Used sparingly, this method of cleansing skin care is top-notch; too often and it will just create more problems.

The frequency of use depends on your skin type, but a general rule to follow is: if you have oily skin, an exfoliating mask should be used once a week to deep clean the skin. If you have dry skin, a soothing mask should be used once every other week, or when your skin gets flaky. Masks with lavender and chamomile in them are recommended for dry skin. It’s also important to not wear the mask any longer than the instructions state. For most masks, this is no longer than 30 minutes.

Your face has the most delicate skin on your body, and usually it is the part of the body that is exposed to the elements most frequently.  Exposure to the elements makes skin on the face the most vulnerable to aging, clogging of pores, and pigmentation.  Gentle but thorough skin cleansing at least once each day is recommended.

Skin cleansers emulsify and exfoliate, removing dirt, excess oils, bacteria, and cosmetics and allowing skin cells to breathe.  Toning and moisturizing in addition to cleaning is like taking vitamin and mineral supplements for the skin—these additional skin care steps can only benefit the skin.  Determine your skin type and use products formulated for that specific skin type.  Wash your hands thoroughly before cleansing the face to prevent the transfer of bacteria.  When you rinse your face after cleansing, use cool water—not too hot or cold—because either extreme in temperature can increase broken capillaries or result in flushing.

Getting quality sleep is essential to healthy skin, since the skin is restored during the night from effects of ordinary stresses.  Experts have long contended that 8 hours of sleep per night is necessary for most adults, but the most current research shows that adult women average around seven hours of sleep each night.  In addition to everyday stresses that can weigh on the mind, many women may have their sleep interrupted by children, pets, and any number of other factors. Practicing a consistent skincare regimen before bed with the best skin care beauty products is a good habit to adopt, and will let your body know it is getting close to relaxation time.

Basic steps you can take to promote better sleep include: noise elimination with earplugs, darkening the visual atmosphere with fabric on the windows or an eye mask, cooling the bedroom temperature, getting up at the same time every day (regardless of how late you stayed up the night before!), keeping TVs and computers out of the bedroom, acquiring a large enough mattress to move about comfortably while you sleep, avoiding alcohol, caffeine, and nicotine close to bedtime, and not going to bed on an empty or too-full stomach. 
 

One of the most important skin rejuvenation measures anyone can take is to drink water.  Water is a natural remedy to purify the body, removing toxins and leaving the skin with a healthy radiance.

Cleansing the skin properly is also essential to the appearance of vitality.  Fruit acids present in Alpha Hydroxy Acid (AHA) cleansers have an exfoliating effect when applied to the skin, sloughing off dead cells and reducing the size of the pores.

As the leaves fall, ice melts and temperatures boil, our skin also begins to change, requiring different products for every season. This doesn’t mean you need to alter your entire routine, but you might need to change out a few items. For instance, when winter arrives, your once normal to oily complexion can become drier. Come the summer, however, and you’re constantly running out of blotting papers.

To save dry skin during wintertime, invest in an oil-based moisturizer; and during the summer, for skin that tends to be oily, follow your soap-free cleanser with an alcohol-free toner. Several anti-aging products have the properties you need for perfect skin – no matter the weather.

Varicose veins are twisted, bulging veins, typically found in the legs and feet, and are the result of excess pressure on the veins from prolonged periods of standing. They are typically dark blue to purplish in color, and may itch or throb.

Occasionally, varicose veins can signal a more serious medical condition such as blood clots, ulcers or phlebitis therefore, the sudden appearance of varicose veins should be examined by a doctor immediately.

For many people, removal of varicose veins is a cosmetic decision; the appearance of the veins is unappealing when wearing shorts or skirts. For others, medical conditions may necessitate their removal but in either case, follow these guidelines to delay the appearance of any new varicose veins. Refrain from standing or elevating the feet for prolonged periods of time, wearing support stockings and adopt a daily exercise routine to maintain healthy circulation.

Using concealer or an anti-aging cream with SPF, you can hide varicose veins and continue to have a youthful look to your legs.

“The way your neck ages is about 20 percent genetics… and 80% skin care habits,” writes dermatologist Leslie Baumann, M.D. And what’s a simple, yet powerful anti-aging step in your routine? Slathering on the sunscreen, of course.

Every time you head outdoors, apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen to your neck and dècolletè (and all exposed areas) 20 to 30 minutes before leaving the house.  You can also add a product specifically formulated for the neck and dècolletè areas.

If you’re already noticing sun damage or aging skin, know that many treatment options are available. Because of their exfoliating properties, alpha hydroxy acids, particularly glycolic acid, are ideal for helping damaged skin.

After exfoliating, follow with an anti-aging moisturizer; a rich moisturizer will drench the skin with invigorating antioxidant protection and help restore vitality to lackluster or tired skin.

Known universally as a bright and sunny bitter fruit, lemon is a member of the citrus family along with orange, lime, grapefruit and tangerine. Prized for its acidic quality, lemon has long been a household staple and the lemon’s fragrant essential oil (found in the rind) can be used for cooking, perfumery, cleaning, cosmetics and even healing.

Lemon has many cosmetic uses and can be found in a remarkably large number of skin care beauty products, especially glycolic acid treatments. Containing up to 8 % citric acid, lemon is a potent source of natural glycolic acid, along with apples, grapes, sugar cane and milk, making it an ideal chemical exfoliant and skin smoother.

Using natural anti-aging products offers up more pros than cons.  The synthetic chemicals used in most commercial products will often worsen skin problems.  Many of these products that you find at big box retailers and drug stores that are not organic will contain harsh chemicals, dyes and fragrances that will aggravate the skin.  Using natural products will not harm your skin like many other of their commercial counterparts.

Like the rest of your body, your lips are subject to the years and can be altered over time.  There are some anti-aging techniques you can have for your lips to prolong their youthful looks:

• Protect and plump. Don’t think your lips are somehow immune to sun exposure; they can suffer from sunburn, too. In fact, excessive exposure has been linked to lip cancer. So, shield your lips from the sun year-round by wearing a broad spectrum lip product..

• For creamy, luscious lips. Dry and dull lips a problem? Try moisturizing your lips to prevent dryness and roughness. Some products will also plumps lips to make them look full.

• Boost the good, battle the bad. Experts recommend products that contain vitamins and antioxidants, because they encourage new collagen development to keep lips full and soft. These ingredients also defend against free radicals, which damage skin cells.

• Beauty lift. For an easy trick to create fuller lips, line slightly outside your natural lip with a lip pencil and color in your lips; then apply lipstick and lip gloss. The shine from the gloss reflects light and creates the illusion of fuller lips.