Skin Care Talks » Natural Skin Care

Practical Homemade Natural Skin Care

skeenz — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 14:00:08 +0000

Practical homemade natural skin care products are fast finding their way into people's medicine cabinets, or more aptly their refrigerators. The reasons may be simple, aside from being economical, people who make and use their own natural skin care are also assured of using natural ingredients that are pure and devoid of large amounts of harmful chemicals that can make wonders for the skin.

Another attractive reason behind the popularity of homemade natural skin care products is the wide availability of the basic ingredients, with additives commonly available from most pharmacies and markets. Further, most homemade natural skin care products do not need any additives and may be prepared in small portions at a time.

Skin Care in the Cupboard

From A to Z, people are assured to find ingredients right in their cupboards and refrigerators for easily available homemade natural skin care products. Freshly pureed apples and apricots are ideal to treat sunburn, itching, redness and inflammations; basil infusions are ideal pore refining tonics; cucumbers work well to soothe and refresh the eyes.

Honey mixed with water works well with all skin types and are great in treating blemishes to leave skin glowing; boiled mint infusions or boiled mango puree are ideal homemade natural skin care treatments for skin infections and stings. Papaya purees are ideal moisturizers that can improve cracked skin and smooth out fine lines and wrinkles, pineapple puree works just as well.

Equipment Needed for Homemade Natural Skin Care Products

The cost of natural ingredients may indeed be cost-efficient in the long run since most raw materials are widely available at affordable prices. Also, consumers may prepare these homemade natural skin care products depending on use and must be prepared only shortly before use to avoid spoiling. Consumers may still store excess products in their refrigerators or may even actually eat them after use; this is especially true for pureed fruits.

People only need clean, or even better, sterilized equipment like forks to mash ingredients with, a separate food processor container to puree ingredients in, a small pot to boil ingredients with clean water with, and clean containers to store products in. The costs of acquiring all of the most useful equipment are indeed more cost efficient than continuously buying natural skin care products. Other alternative and non-chemical preservatives that can prolong the storage life of homemade natural skin care products are also available from trusted sources that also make their own natural skin care products.

Advantages of Natural Skin Care to Consider

skeenz — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 01:15:04 +0000

A lot of people will readily give their testimonies about the numerous benefits that they get from using natural skin care products. The advantage of natural skin care products are believed to be quite overwhelming for many people. So much so, in fact, that a lot of companies do not need to use advertising to promote their natural skin care products and actually rely on satisfied customers' word of mouth to advertise their products. It is believed that the skin is the body's first line of defense against the harmful substances and toxins normally encountered everyday, which is enough reason as to why the skin must always be kept healthy.

Going Unnatural

Most skin products available on the market today contain different synthetic ingredients that weaken the skin, making it more prone to infection, allergies, and irritations. Researches also have sufficient reason to believe that prolonged use of so-called unnatural products pose dangerous risks to one's skin and one's health and well-being in general. For most people this is enough reason to think of the advantage of natural skin care products have over skin care lines consumers have grown accustomed to through the years.

Why Natural Skin Care Products May be Effective

Reliable companies that produce and sell natural skin care products make use of natural ingredients that are believed and proven to effectively care for the skin. The same companies have spent years in developing products that work well to provide the best advantage of natural skin care for different skin needs.

Natural skin care products contain natural ingredients with no harmful synthetic chemicals, additives, dyes, oils or fragrances, which may well be the best advantage of natural skin care products have over other products. They use plant and fruit extracts, as well as herbs and spices traditionally believed and presently proven scientifically to enhance skin quality by moisturizing, soothing and refreshing skin. Most, if not all natural skin care products are also non-comedogenic and do not clog pores for healthier and younger-looking skin.

An Often Overlooked Advantage of Natural Skin Care

Another advantage of natural skin care products that one might try to consider is how companies strictly adhere not to test on animals, use only recyclable packaging and even just use organically farmed ingredients in producing their products. This is an added bonus for users who advocate environmentally friendly products, and is an even bigger treat for the environment, which may also be one of the reasons behind the steadily increasing popularity of natural skin care.

Why Organic Natural Skin Care Just Might Work

skeenz — Tue, 26 Jun 2007 02:30:08 +0000

Listening and knowing about the benefits of eating organic food and using organic products may be something that people must start getting used to. Eating organic food with fewer toxins, no genetically modified ingredients for more flavor, vitamins and minerals can only do bodies more good, which is essentially the same in using organic natural skin care products. Using these products, that are effective in caring for the skin and leaving a pleasant scent, are also believed to promote healthier and more radiant skin. And since organic natural skin care products contain organically farmed ingredients, they do not release toxic chemicals to the air and water unlike traditional farming practices, which greatly benefits the environment.

The Purer the Better

Most skin experts will agree that when it comes to skincare, products that are purer are indeed better for the skin. Aside from not containing artificial additives, dyes, oils and fragrances, organic natural skin care products contain high amounts of natural ingredients that closely match the skin's composition to better support the skin's ability to hydrate, renew, regenerate and protect skin cells. Because certified organic natural skin care products contain the purest ingredients, they are safe to use for even the most sensitive skin and even acne-prone skin, and are less likely to irritate skin or to aggravate the condition.

A Word of Caution on Organic Natural Skin Care

A lot of unscrupulous companies have hopped into the organic bandwagon and have started manufacturing and selling products which are far from organic and natural, which is something that consumers must be constantly on the lookout for. These deceitful companies take advantage of the popularity of organic natural skin care to rake in huge sales and whose products may actually pose serious threats and damages on users' skin.

Consumers are advised to check the labels of skin care products before even buying them to make sure that their skin care product of choice is truly made up of organic and natural ingredients. They must also be aware that organic natural skin care products are subject to government controlled organic agricultural standards that are mandated by accredited firms to assure that these products only contain organic and natural elements that they claim to have.

Once ascertained to contain only organic natural ingredients, organic natural skin care products are awarded a certified organic stamp, which means that the products contain organically farmed ingredients. If a product bears an official 'certified organic' stamp, you can be confident that the majority of its ingredients (at least 95%) have been grown and processed according to strict, government-controlled, organic agricultural standards, and then verified by a third-party certifying body.

Organic agricultural standards do not allow for any use of synthetic pesticides, chemical fertilizers, sewage sludge, or genetically modified organisms (GMOs). They also set strict criteria as regards the treatment of animals and the environment.In addition, if you buy a certified organic product, you can trust that it will not contain any petrochemicals (synthetic ingredients derived from petroleum or oil), have undergone animal testing (unless required by law) and will only have been minimally processed to preserve the integrity of ingredients.

Beware of companies that use the term 'organic' as a marketing ploy – in some cases, organic ingredients may account for less than 1% of the final product. Always check to see if the product bears a 'certified organic stamp' from one of the several organizations worldwide with the power to bestow this. In the US, certification of organic skincare falls under the umbrella of the US Department of Agriculture (USDA). Products with 95% organic ingredients or more are approved to bear the stamp 'USDA Organic'.

Lavera products proudly bear organic certification from the BDIH and ECOCONTROL, two of the worldwide strictest certification bodies in Europe, which set even higher criteria than USDA. Natural products are made from plants and minerals, rather than from synthetic ingredients manufactured in a laboratory. Organic products are also made from natural ingredients, but in accordance with the stricter standards discussed above.

Natural Skin Care Oil Basics

skeenz — Sun, 24 Jun 2007 02:00:04 +0000

Natural oils are a rich and healthy source of hormones, vitamins, and other natural elements that can greatly benefit the skin. Because of their rich vitamin content, they have been steadily gaining popularity as skin emollients. Natural skin care oil is commonly found in plants are responsible for the fragrance and flavor of fruits, flowers, herbs and spices. They are expressed from natural ingredients for distillation which gives natural skin care oil higher concentration, which combined with other ingredients to decrease concentration make for an ideal skin care lubricant.

How Natural Skin Care Oil Works

Natural oils are divided into essential oils and carriers or base oils; both are used as important components in the production of natural skin care oil. Some popular carriers or base oils like almond, sunflower, olive, and walnut oils are used in high concentration and can be applied directly to the skin to nourish, soften and protect skin. Natural skin care oil easily penetrates cell walls to deliver essential vitamins, oxygen and nutrients to stimulate cell metabolism and regeneration process and prevent deterioration, infections and other skin diseases. Many natural skin care oil also contain anti-bacterial properties that may help reduce infections and swelling in sensitive or damaged skin.

Natural Skin Care Oil Uses

More and more people are starting to realize the benefits, uses and flexibility of natural skin care oil over creams and ointments. Sunflower, almond and olive oil are ideal skin cleansers that lift off dirt to remove residues and impurities that accumulate on the skin. Oils rich in fatty acids like sage, lemon and cypress are ideal moisturizers to prevent dryness and help restore balance. Lavender, tea tree and basil oil have anti-bacterial properties that work well on acne-prone skill that lessen redness and inflammation and prevent breakouts. Natural skin care oil from sage, palmarosa and carrot seed have soothing and nutritive properties and are proven effective to prevent wrinkles.

A Great Addition

People who may be doubtful about the effects natural skin care oil may have on their skin may try adding a few drops to their favorite skin care products. A few drops of Jojoba oil may be added to creams and lotions to provide added moisture to the skin; lemon oil to cellulite cream to better fight unsightly cellulite; while patchouli to facial creams to minimize scar appearance. Knowing what natural skin care oil can do will help users develop their own skin care products simply by adding a few drops to their favorite skin care product for better results.

Practical Natural Skin Care Treatment

skeenz — Sat, 16 Jun 2007 06:46:04 +0000

There are a lot of different natural skin care treatment products available in the market that commonly cost exorbitantly high prices, and may be a setback for a lot of budget-savvy consumers on the lookout for beauty products. However, consumers must not be discouraged by this, since there are different ways of getting natural skin care treatment products that are friendly on the pocket. Primarily, consumers must also be aware of what they want for their skin based on their skin types and needs before deciding on what natural skin care treatment to get the most out of their chosen products.

Natural Skin Care Treatment Options Right at Home

Consumers who would rather spend their money on other things aside from natural skin care products must be aware that there are other cheaper alternatives found in their own homes that can be used as a natural skin care treatment. Those with dry skin will greatly benefit from the moisturizing properties of mashed bananas applied and left on the face for about 10 minutes before thoroughly rinsing with warm water. Skinned and pureed ripe tomatoes, strawberries or peaches contain natural exfoliants and acids that work well with oily skin.

Skin Type and What Natural Skin Care to Use

Before deciding on what natural skin care treatment to use, one must first determine his/her skin type since skin types are responsible behind the development of the regimens involved in the treatment. Natural skin care treatments for normal skin is designed to maintain the skin's appearance to keep it smooth, healthy and glowing; dry and sensitive skin will benefit from the hydrating, soothing and protecting properties of natural skin care treatments; while skin cleansing is the best treatment for oily skin.

Natural Skin Care Product Samples

Most companies that make and sell natural skin care treatment products commonly offer product samples that are good for one to three uses that consumers can get for free to try the product on before ultimately deciding on buying it. Offering would-be users a chance to experience their natural skin care products is not only an attractive ploy to attract customers but is also an ideal way of showing off what these products can do for one's skin. Natural skin care treatment product samples are commonly available in cosmetic counters, through the mail or through internet sources that would gladly allow consumers to try on these products for free.

Tips on Providing Natural Skin Care for Acne

skeenz — Sat, 02 Jun 2007 08:15:06 +0000

When it comes to treating ailments, so often we focus in on the symptoms and not the causes of those ailments. If we have heartburn we generally end up taking antacids or if we are overweight we go on a diet. But often, in these two instances and other symptomatic occurrences, we fail to understand why we are having these bouts of heartburn or why we are eating so much.

For example, in occurrences of heartburn, we may be experiencing these symptoms because of stress in our life, it may be foods that we are eating, tight fitting clothing, use of tobacco, being overweight, or other more serious conditions, etc.

The same could be said for the symptoms of acne. Often, we apply this product or that product when attempting to get rid of acne or preventing acne from coming back. When, just possibly, acne may be treated in a natural manner. Three such tips on providing natural skin care for acne include exfoliating, giving attention to your diet and becoming active.

Exfoliating

A natural skin care for acne measure consists of exfoliating your skin. So often, the pores of the skin are clogged up by dead skin cells. By taking a soft hand brush, the skin can be treated just prior to washing the face. This measure will help to invigorate the skin and remove dead skin that is just simply there clogging up the pores. This natural skin care for acne will also aid in the circulation of the blood vessels in the face and will decrease swelling.

Diet

Another component that can aid as a natural skin care for acne is thorough attention to one's diet. Two critical dietary features, as part of a natural skin care for acne, include the drinking of copious amounts of water and the inclusion of fiber in an individual's diet. With the ingestion of these two dietary components into a person's diet, there may be a decrease in bad bacteria within the body. Bad bacteria have been identified as part of the manifestation of acne.

Consumption of water and the proper amount of fiber varies according to a person's age, gender and caloric intake. Some studies suggest that the water intake should be the equivalent of 1 ml per each calorie eaten and that fiber eaten should range from 21 grams to 25 grams of fiber for women and 31 to 38 grams of fiber. The range of fiber intake varies in accordance with the different ages for men and women.

In contrast to the addition of water and fiber to the diet, sugar should be avoided. Excessive amounts of sugar eaten have been shown to be a leading cause in the premature aging of the skin. The eating of sugar creates a chemical imbalance in the body that eventually causes damage to collagen. Collagen is the body's natural ingredient that allows for the elasticity of the skin. Also, the imbalance of the body, due to sugar, may cause an increase in the episodes of acne.

Activity

It has also been show that activity is a factor in the natural skin care for acne. Not only will activity help you with stress levels and muscle tone, but activity will help to stimulate the skin.

When the muscles are not stimulated, the skin becomes bloated, susceptible to cellulite and acne. Exercise or activity, therefore, provides a role in the natural skin care for acne.

Natural Cosmetics: Cosmetics That Are Safe To Use?

skeenz — Sat, 26 May 2007 22:45:04 +0000

Natural cosmetics are cosmetics that are made from natural occurring products. But, that does not mean that all of them are good quality products to choose. When you are on the market to purchase cosmetics, it is just a normal thing to gravitate towards products that are healthy for you and are well worth the cost that you will likely pay for them. The good news is that there are several all natural skin care lines including cosmetics that are well suited for natural needs.

What Natural Means

In legal terms, the term natural can be placed on any product that contains natural occurring products. But, the catch is the method in which these natural elements are extracted often uses chemicals making them less natural than you thought they would be. Nonetheless, natural products can be purchased.

To find real products, look at the labels. Ingredients in natural products will have ingredients that are fruits, vegetables, herbs and the like. They are not long, unpronounceable words or derivatives of them. You will be able to tell that the product features natural occurring products in their true form this way.

Do They Work?

True natural products are a great asset. Many of them do work and they work well. In some cases, cosmetics like these are so good that they seem more like the chemical versions rather than anything that came from nature. If you are one that is ready to purchase a natural alternative to cosmetics, look towards those that have organic, real products in them.

You will find a wide range of these products available throughout the web. Most of the time, you will still need to insure that you do not have an allergic reaction to them, as you would any new food that you eat. While most natural products do not produce any side effects, that does not mean those with sensitive skin will be able to handle them. In any case, when purchasing cosmetics, go for natural.

Can You Control Cellulite With Natural Skin Care?

skeenz — Fri, 18 May 2007 12:00:10 +0000

One of the most popular myths is that cellulite is a rare occurrence among women. Actually, this belief is fuelled by the fact that women are always depicted with perfect skin and toned bodies in advertisements and movies.

It is difficult to imagine the imperfection of cellulite marring the beauty of all these women, and therefore the general belief remains that cellulite might be a rare occurrence – unfortunately you are one of the few affected people. The good news is that you can control it with just a few simple steps of natural skin care.

What Cellulite is and how it can be Controlled

Contrary to popular belief, the majority of women have cellulite. You will know you have it when the skin on your thighs or upper arms looks like an orange skin, with a lot of tiny dimples on it. These dimples indicate the existence of a fat layer just under the skin, which presses against the skin causing it to look dimpled.

Today, there are a lot of cosmetics and procedures which are effective in treating this problem, i.e. chemical creams which melt the fat layer, mesotherapy which involves reducing the fat layer with the help of drugs injected directly under the skin, and liposuction where the fat is removed with the help of vacuum suction. There is also natural skin care, which can solve most of your problems.

The best remedy however, is through some simple natural skin care measures that can be undertaken by anyone with the least of effort, not to mention cost. Nutrition has always been known to impact natural skin care. Shift the focus of your diet from high-fat content to vegetables (preferably raw), salads, lean meat (if you cannot leave it altogether), chicken, fish, low fat cheese, lots of curds and eggs. Avoid as much as possible noodles, pasta, and bread.

Intake of water is one of the most neglected features of natural skin care. It is reported that only drinking 8-10 glasses of water can improve your looks drastically taking up to 10 years off your face. However, the best of us drink about 3-4 glasses a day. Besides staying hydrated by drinking as much water as possible, you will need to moisturize and protect your skin with the help of an adequate topical moisturizer.

The cellulite-removing massage is a specialized skill which is exceedingly effective in removing, controlling and preventing cellulite formation. The massage technique is easy to learn and practice.

Introduce exercise in your daily routine. Yoga has been excellent for reducing and controlling cellulite. These exercises could be done anytime during the day for as little as 10-15 minutes at a time, with amazing results. Thus, take care of yourself, and you are sure to have beautiful skin.

A Closer Look at a Natural Skin Care Remedy

skeenz — Thu, 10 May 2007 17:33:47 +0000

Many people consider the skin as the mirror to one's health, providing clues to one's lifestyle and habits. Yet, people must also remember that a lot of people do not have ideal skin tone and texture which may also be the reason behind the use of a natural skin care remedy to more beautiful skin. People turn to a number of sources for their natural skin care remedy. These sources may be trusted stores that sell natural skin care products or their own cupboards and refrigerators for even more natural skin care without having to break the bank.

Natural Skin Care Within Reach

People can simply open their cupboards or refrigerators and perhaps find a natural skin care remedy that may solve their skin dilemmas. Almond oil is commonly available at the baker's section of most supermarkets, and is good in soothing and moisturizing dry skin and also removing scars. Pureed fruits like apples, apricots, mangoes and peaches are high in anti-oxidants and are a great natural skin care remedy to treat inflammation, rashes, itching and even eczema.

Cucumber juice and raw garlic are also no longer typically confined to salads and savory dishes but are also ideal natural skin care remedy to treat pimples. Yogurt and honey are also popular natural skin care remedy to cleanse skin and enhance skin tone for a fair complexion and youthful looking skin.

Natural Skin Care for Acne and Pimples

Acne and pimples is no longer a skin problem that teenagers face; a lot of people from different ages are often faced with unpleasant acne and pimple eruptions that may make their skin unsightly. Aside from hormones, excessive oils, stress, chemicals and dirt accumulated on the face, pimples and acne may also be caused by increased intakes of alcohol, coffee, tea, and spicy, oily and fried foods. People may use different ingredients found in their homes as natural skin care remedy to combat acne and pimples. Some popular remedies include a mixture of turmeric and milk, ground orange peel and water, and fresh red tomato pulp spread onto the face.

Pigmentation and Premature Aging Remedies

The pigmentation and discoloration of the skin may be one of the signs of skin aging that causes skin to be tired-looking. This may be brought about by overexposure to the sun, stress, an unhealthy lifestyle that includes poor diet, insufficient water intake, poor sleeping habits, smoking and drinking. Natural skin care remedies that may be used to combat these signs include a mixture of basil and water, papaya puree or ground almonds spread onto one's face and rinsed with warm water. Thus, there are definitely many natural ways to protect one's skin, and the only dilemma is in choosing the best one.

Natural Cosmetic and Skin Care is Convenient

skeenz — Wed, 02 May 2007 23:45:05 +0000

We are all aware of the benefits of using natural products in all aspects of our lives. The word 'natural' is bandied about in the food, cosmetics and even clothing industry. We are told that going natural is not only good for us but also for the environment. But how do we go about using natural cosmetic and skin care products? Do we have to make our own cosmetics for them to be considered natural cosmetic and skin care products? Fear not, there are natural cosmetics and skin care products available commercially so that you don't have to make your own products.

Convenience in a Bottle

Natural cosmetics and skin care products come packaged the same way that conventional cosmetics and skin care products do. The only difference is what is inside the products. Natural cosmetics and skin care products are safer because the ingredients used to make them contain no synthetic chemicals in these products that could cause cancer or simply inflame your skin.

Many generic products have ingredients such as alcohol that although appear to remedy your skin problems on the surface may actually be causing damage much deeper. Natural skin care products are less harsh on the skin and are less likely to irritate your skin. People with skin allergies would seriously benefit from using these products as most if not all natural cosmetics and skin care products are hypoallergenic. Just be sure that none of the natural ingredients are anything you are allergic to such as nuts and so on.

Socially Conscious

Using natural cosmetics and skin care products is a step in the right direction for your skin that is constantly being exposed to chemicals. Parabens, petrochemicals, dyes and perfumes are all present in your everyday beauty products. These chemicals allow your make up to last longer but at what cost to your health? Cosmetic companies are not being regulated enough when it comes to the additives and preservatives in their products.

Natural beauty products usually have a no animal testing policy and usually there is nothing in these products that would need anything as drastic as animal testing. Many large cosmetics companies carry out animal testing; stopping consumption of products that carry out this barbaric practise will help put a stop to this. The packaging on many of the natural beauty products is also more environmentally friendly. This way you are not only helping yourself but our animal friends and nature.