Natural Facial Skincare for Men
September 25, 2010 by vivowriter · Leave a Comment
Gone are the days when only women were concerned about their beauty. New age men are extremely conscious about their looks and as much troubled about their wrinkles as women. Today’s men are actively involved in skincare. Men are however blessed with a comparatively thicker skin as compared to women. As a result, the appearance of wrinkles in men is not as prominent as that in women who have highly thin facial skin.
Besides having a thicker skin, men have bigger facial pores. This implies that men get dirty relatively easily and as such they need to indulge in deep pore cleansing almost every day. While most men do not realize the importance of daily facial cleansing, this step towards daily skincare is actually very important. It is also very important that you use natural skin products since they do not cause skin harms.
There is no separate skincare for men and women. The skincare for men remains invariably same as the skincare for women. The only difference is that men must essentially use those beauty products that are especially developed for men. Cosmetic products for women are relatively milder whereas men usually require a strong composition.
Moisturizing gels are available for men. It is very important to use a good quality moisturizer after facial cleansing. Men should feel no embarrassment while consulting a dermatologist. It is not necessary that you see a skincare expert only when you are battling a skin ailment. You may seek an expert opinion on the type of beauty products as well. Men too have different categories of skin types. You must use only such cosmetic products that go with your skin type.
If you have a sensitive skin, you have to be all the more careful and persistent with your skincare. You can’t afford to have a sloppy approach!
Natural Facial Skin Care For You
September 4, 2010 by vivowriter · Leave a Comment
Yearning for beautiful soft and supple skin is very common. There are very few people who are blessed with soft, supple and flawless skin. It is just a routine skin care for such people. Majority of the people do suffer from some skin problem or the other. There is constant search for natural skin products to combat most of the common problems like dryness, pimples and acne. The product made of natural ingredients is safe, mild and extremely effective. The natural ingredient can be used directly if available nearby. The only hitch is the time which people do not seem to have and they find it convenient to buy is from a store. The process involved in making the beauty product takes time and one has no patience to prepare one and use it. Caution is required while buying the natural facial skin care product to see if all the ingredients are truly natural or not.
There are endless benefits in the usage of the natural products for skin care. Using masks is one of the ways to keep the skin soft and smooth. It works very well as an anti aging process as a mask tightens the skin on the face. There are special masks to deal with specific problems. Different compositions of natural elements are used for different problems. It is always useful to educate oneself with the benefit of various products.
Diet and life style affect the skin to a great extent. Many a times it is not realized that a very commonly used home product can cause allergy of the skin and inflammation is noticed. There are foods which can build up the skin resistance. It is best to recognize the cause and then avoid the allergy creating article from the daily life. Take help from a dermatologist to recognize the cause.
Want A Beautiful Skin? Come In The Lap Of Nature!
July 14, 2010 by vivowriter · Leave a Comment
Unhealthy diet and inadequate skincare are the two reasons that lead to unhealthy skin. If you desire a flawless skin, you must pay heed to both diet and skincare.
Natural skincare helps to promote beautiful and healthy skin. There is absolutely no need to spend a fortune on chemical-based cosmetics that are flooding the market. Of course not all of them are ineffective. There are many genuine and unadulterated beauty products available in the market as well. The all-natural beauty and bath products are however unmatched.
There are a numerous creams sailing in the stores with the label ‘natural’. A prospective consumer needs to double-check if the product is genuinely natural or not.
Primarily natural skincare products are made from natural plant oils, herbs, fruit extracts and essential oils. There are many antibiotic and antimicrobial natural products that can work wonders on a damaged skin. These are specifically designed to battle all major skin problems. The right blend of ingredients makes the skin supple, youthful and radiant.
Natural cosmetics are free from all side effects. You will yourself find the difference in your skin texture within a few days of use of natural beauty enhancing natural products.
If your skin is acne prone, you will find 100% natural skincare and beauty products to be even more useful. The regular over-the-counter cosmetic products usually further deteriorate acne skin. Natural products are known to work gently on affected skin.
Natural skincare is especially apt in anti aging. Most anti aging products proclaim to contain collagen. Actually collagen molecules are way too big to seep down into the skin. Instead a person must look out for those products that help to rouse natural collage production.
Natural skincare products undoubtedly stand head and shoulders above all other cosmetic products. Come in the lap of nature and see how Mother Nature works wonders for your skin!
Natural Skincare For A Naturally Glowing Skin
June 16, 2010 by vivowriter · Leave a Comment
You must have often heard of people complaining about synthetic skin creams and other beauty products available over-the-counter. You should not for a moment, think that all readymade facial creams and lotions are allergy causing. Some are, indeed very benefitting but how does one go about searching such ‘skin friendly’ beauty creams? It is always good to be on the safer lane by opting for either herbal beauty lotions/creams or better still homemade or naturally available beauty herbs for skincare.
Not all, but a major chunk of products that pronounce themselves to be ‘effective’ contain irritation causing elements like mineral oil and lanoline. Let alone erasing scars, as harmful elements as these can furthermore worsen your soft facial skin thereby causing rashes, irritation, marks and acne.
Treating your skin in a herbal way can be done either at home or got done from a professional in a beauty salon. If you choose to get it done from somebody else, you must clearly explain it out to the facial doer as to what all elements give you irritation. Howsoever sensitive your skin may be, you can always go in for exfoliating your facial skin once in a while. Proper hydration of skin is necessary, no matter what the kind of skin type is.
Intake of omega 3, zinc, vitamins and proteins will bring a natural radiance on your face. It is, as such, equally important, rather more important to eat well. Natural beauty that comes from deep within has no comparison, without doubt!
Then it is required from you that you take care of your skin as per the season. For example winters, autumn and dry days demand a little more skincare. Proper eating and proper skincare can make you look and feel much younger than what you actually are. Beautiful skin comes from beautiful skincare!
Tone up, Clean up, Get Moisturized!
July 3, 2009 by admin · Leave a Comment
With the chilly winds already bidding adieu it’s time to take out those sporty shorts and T-shirts for a stroll on the beach or a run in the park You’ve done the push-ups and the crunches in anticipation for the skin-revealing days ahead. You want to look your best, and taking good care of your skin is a part of that. So you spent most of the winter indoors, watching too much TV or gaming? Say goodbye to those baggy eye circles and dull skin by treating yourself to a detoxifying skin mask or a facial scrub and gear up for summer!
Men’s skin care products have always been available, but you may not know much about them yourself. Everyone from late night television hosts to media publications bring up skin care topics and recent dermatological advances have made the skincare market even larger and more complicated. Sorry guys, just when you were comfortable with cologne, now you have to exfoliate! With busy lives and building stress, it may be difficult for today’s modern men to retain the facial charm of their younger days.
Keeping that youthful appearance
Our skin is the largest organ of the body and requires special care. As the saying goes, “A healthy mind in a healthy body’” which means paying attention to your skin is essential to overall health. While it’s expected for women to buy skin care products, men are more laid back and seldom pay attention to facial skincare beyond daily shaving or grooming. Factors like pollution, stress, UV- rays and sun burns can cause severe damage to the inner pores which in the long term results in wrinkling, clogging and drying of the skin. As men reach their 30s and 40s, the skin gets dulled due to the daily process of shaving, excessive time outdoors and exposing the skin to different elements that can lead to blotching, which ultimately takes its toll on overall appearance of the face.
If you desire to protect your skin from further damage, right use of skin care products is essential to retain youthfulness. Once you become familiar with the basics; cleansing, toning, moisturizing - it’s not difficult at all, it’s all about setting up a routine.
Facial skin care
Proper skin care depends on the type of skin you have. Our skin can be categorized into many segments such as oily, dry, sun damaged, and sensitive. With the markets offering an ample pool of products to choose from, it’s always a struggle for men to see what suits them best. It’s always good to go organic. Try natural products when possible as the chances of side effects are less and the natural balance of the skin is retained. Before we plunge on to using these products here’s some basic things we can do to keep the aging process delayed.
Regular light exercising, thirty-minute cardio, brisk walks, yoga and other meditation techniques will calm down the adrenaline levels, keeping your skin blemish-free. Eight to ten glasses of water a day aids metabolism and helps your body flush toxins. In a nutshell, an exercise routine is the first step to fight off the signs of aging.
How to Cleanse your Face
I’ve got one thing to say - stop using soap on your face. Many advanced cleansers out there improve your complexion and don’t strip the natural moisture away. Begin with warm water; wash the face with pore refining cleansers that break down the accumulated grits and dirt without drying the skin. Morning is the best time for cleansing, to remove the dead skin and uneven patches that accumulated overnight. Shaving after you shower will reduce rashes, and makes the outer skin layer soft and gives you a smooth finish.
Using Facial Masks
If you have oily or acne prone skin, mud or clay-based masks are great for balancing out your skin. Dry skin will benefit from hydrating masks made from glycerin, honey and oils. Green tea masks are great for soothing skin.
Hydrating and moisturizing
The next most common facial masks are those that either hydrate or moisturize the skin, leaving it feeling silky, smooth and nourished. They will restore the suppleness of your skin by replenishing the water content. Hydrating and moisturizing masks can be used two or three times a week, depending on the dryness of your skin. For those will oilier skin, try a gel based, non-oil mask.
There are no miracle quick-fix homemade solutions. It’s all patience, gracefulness and the right attitude that gets you the results! Reminds me of that comedy ‘The Wedding Crasher’…It all starts with a shave! So, if you want to turn heads with your spiffy new looks this summer – treat your face to the right products.
Ravi Thiagarajan is a freelance writer and intern for Vivoderm Laboratories in Los Angeles, California. He has published numerous articles for the leading newspaper The Times of India, local affiliate Anand Plus.
For more information and latest findings on natural skincare link to http://organicskincareinfo.net or
http://newbeautifulskin.com
Making Face Masks at Home
May 25, 2009 by admin · Leave a Comment
Spending a bomb to buy a facial product with claims of having all natural ingredients for beautiful skin and having drastic results on its usage is very depressing for any beauty conscious woman. We see wide varieties of cosmetics available in supermarkets, department stores, health food stores as well as internet and TV.
Not everybody has the same skin type. What product works on your friend’s skin, might not work for you and vice versa. If you buy a product for your skin type, it could have adverse effect as there could be some chemical or ingredient which could cause a reaction on your skin. Moral of the story - “Not all cosmetic products work well for everyone’s skin”.
Cosmetics labeled as having “natural ingredients” do contain some amount of artificial chemicals or elements. With over priced cosmetics made from natural ingredients, many people have started preparing beauty products at home. Making a facial mask at home with all the ingredients available in the kitchen is quite easy and inexpensive.
- Create a salon like atmosphere while doing a facial at home. Ideally they tie your hair in high ponytail or make you wear a band around head. Choose to do what ever you feel comfortable about.
- Start by splashing tepid water all over your face. Massage your face gently with water. Repeat it twice or thrice and let your face air dry.
- While your face is still damp, massage vitamin E on your face. Let your face soak the oil for 5 minutes or so. Use a mild soap to remove the oil from your face.
- Again splash your face with water at room temperate. Repeat it for 2 or 3 times. Avoid towel drying your face.
- Next make your facial mask. Blend 1 egg white or fresh Aloe Vera juice of same quantity, 2 tsp vegetable oil and 1 tsp pure apple juice in a clean bowl.
- Dip your hands in the facial mask and apply the mask to your skin. Start with your chin, move upwards and then outwards skipping the area around the eyes and lips.
- Now you have to just sit back and relax. Cover your eyes with wet cotton balls or cucumber pieces. The mask has to dry completely. An ideal time for a small nap.
- Mask takes anywhere from 20 - 30 minutes to dry. You feel your skin tightened when the mask is dry. Splash water all over face and gently remove the mask with light massage strokes on your face. Continue doing this till your face is cleared of the entire home made facial mask. Let your face air dry.
Use this home made facial mask once or twice a week or depending up on the time you have on hand. You will feel fresh and have much younger looking face all the time.
Skin Rashes - Where Do They Come From?
April 21, 2009 by admin · Leave a Comment
A skin rash shows up as an area of inflammation or change in the texture, and/ or color of your skin. It can be caused by a number of different things including irritation, disease, or allergic/ non-allergic reactions to foods, chemicals, plants, animals, insects or other environmental factors.
So many rashes appear because the skin is an active player in the immune system. Antigens are things like viruses or proteins that we react to. These antigens need to be presented to our immune system in a very controlled way; otherwise we would react to too many things. The skin is the site at which antigen presenting cells introduce the antigens to lymphocytes. These lymphocytes are in a sense the paratroopers of our body. A complicated process of making sure that we are not overreacting takes place. All of this occurs in the skin once these lymphocytes have been activated they produce many chemicals that cause inflammation. When we become allergic to an antibiotic or other drug, the action takes place mainly in the skin as well as in the lymph glands. Viral infections also frequently produce rashes as viral particles are presented to our immune system in the epidermis. In a sense the skin is like the schoolyard which is where many of the fights occur.
Rashes can appear on your entire body or be limited to a specific area, and what it looks like and how it feels can vary depending on the cause and type of rash. Some common types of rashes include:
- eczema (also called atopic dermatitis), which is commonly seen in children. It can cause dry, chapped, bumpy areas around your elbows and knees, and can be very itchy. It can sometimes become very serious causing red, scaly and swollen skin all over your body. (Visit Eczema Guide.ca for more information)
- irritant contact dermatitis, which is caused by your skin coming into contact with something that irritates it, such as a chemical, soap or detergent. This type of rash can be red, swollen and itchy.
- allergic contact dermatitis is caused by your skin coming into contact with something you’re allergic to, such as rubber, hair dye or nickel (which is a metal that is found in some jewelry). A nickel allergy can show up as a red, scaly, crusty rash wherever the jewelry touched your skin. Urushiol, which is an oil or resin that’s found in poison ivy, oak and sumac, can also cause this kind of rash.
If you develop a rash, don’t scratch it! If you do, the rash can take longer to heal and you might develop an infection or scar. There are a wide range of over-the-counter products available to treat rashes, but it’s important to see your doctor first and determine what’s causing the rash and the most effective treatment.
- If the rash is caused by an allergy, then treatment will focus on identifying and avoiding the allergen.
- It it’s caused by eczema, your doctor may suggest special moisturizers (emollients) to help retain the water in your skin; not only will this help to keep your skin soft and smooth, it will help reduce the itching. Short, cool showers are also a good idea because hot showers and baths can dry out your skin more. Also use a mild soap and be sure to apply more emollients after you’ve showered.
- For poison ivy, cool showers and calamine lotion often help and if the rash is severe, your doctor may prescribe an antihistamine to reduce the itching and redness.
It’s important to try to find out what’s causing the rash because the best way to prevent it is to avoid the problem food, substance, medicine or insect. If a poison plant is your problem, learn what it looks like and avoid it. It may also help to wear long sleeves and pants when you go camping or hiking. If insect bites are causing your rash, then consider applying insect repellant before going outside. For eczema, stay away from harsh soaps that may dry out your skin, and make an effort to moisturize with creams or lotions.
By SkinCareGuide.ca
Rosacea Basics
April 21, 2009 by admin · Leave a Comment
Rosacea is a long lasting, non-scarring skin condition of the face that is often misdiagnosed as adult acne. It varies in severity and does not always worsen with time. Typically, you will experience inappropriate flushing that is not usually associated with sweating and/or persistent facial redness. It is common to have broken blood vessels (telangiectasias) on your cheeks. You may also experience bouts of inflammation that cause red papules (small bumps) or pustules. However, comedones (blackheads and whiteheads) are not part of rosacea.
About 50% of those with rosacea suffer eye involvement, including such conditions as conjunctivitis, blepharitis, dry gritty eyes, and recurrent sties. Nose enlargement (rhinophyma) is uncommon but mostly seen in men. It is only very rarely seen in women.
Key Features:
- Facial symptoms - burning and stinging
- Facial flushing, blushing evolving to persistant redness
- Inflammatory papules, pustules (pimples)
- Cheeks are not warm
- Telangectasiae, (blood vessel lines)
- Eye involvement
- Soft tissue hypertrophy or skin thickening (rhinophyma)
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| Facial flushing | Telangectasias | Rhinophyma |
Who Gets Rosacea?
This condition is most commonly seen in those who have fair skin and is sometimes referred to as the “Curse of the Celts” or a “Peaches and Cream“ complexion.
Where Does Rosacea Occur On The Skin?
You will usually see rosacea around the central area of your face. It may occasionally be isolated to one patch.
When Does It Usually Start?
Onset usually occurs between 20-40 years of age.
How Does Rosacea Affect Us?
- Rosacea can be very embarrassing, flushing can be a source of social discomfort
- Many may feel that they are perceived as heavy drinkers
- Eyes can be gritty and uncomfortable
- Older men are frequently ashamed if their nose becomes bigger and knobbly
Combination Skin Treatments
Combination skin is characterized by a mixture of oiliness and dryness. Typically, the oily areas tend to be the T-zone, consisting of the forehead, nose and chin. The cheeks are normal to dry. The degrees of oiliness and dryness can vary. Pores may be larger in the oily areas - with pimples, blackheads and breakouts sometimes occurring - and dry areas may feel rough and irritated.
The “tissue test” can help you determine if you have combination skin. Take a tissue and hold/press it against your face. If there’s oil on the tissue where it touched your T-zone, but no oil where the tissue touched your cheeks, you most likely have combination skin.
Causes
Many factors can cause combination skin, including hormones, age, genetics, the way in which lipids are organized in our skin and even the weather. Hormonal changes can lead to changes in skin’s oiliness or dryness. Teens and young adults tend to have oilier skin, especially in the T-zone, but with age, hormones change and the oil production may decrease (but unfortunately, acne is still an issue for many adults). Also, hormones change due to menstruation and the birth control pill, which can make skin oilier in certain areas. Lipids also play a role in combination skin: These proteins affect skin’s softness and feel. When lipids aren’t evenly spread throughout the skin, certain areas will feel drier and rougher, while other areas may feel soft but oily or greasy. The organization of lipids in skin is due to genetics and hormones. Finally, weather can exacerbate combination skin. Dry cold weather can cause skin to dry out and become irritated. Conversely, hot humid weather can increase oil production. This can affect your T-zone as well as your cheeks.
Care Plan
Combination skin requires special care to balance the oily and dry areas of the face. Proper cleansing, treatment, moisturizing and sun protection are all necessary.
• Cleansing: People with combination skin often have difficulty finding a cleanser that works for their unique skin needs. Formulas designed for oily skin may leave combination skin too dry, especially in the cheeks, while formulas designed for dry skin may leave combination skin greasy, especially in the T-zone. It’s best to avoid products that are either too drying or too rich. Instead, use a foaming or gel cleanser to get rid of dirt and oil without causing irritation or dryness. A cleanser to try is one that removes excess oil and impurities while still being gentle and not drying out skin.
You should also exfoliate your skin regularly to remove dry, dead, rough skin cells. These cells may be particularly prominent on your cheeks. They can flake off and block pores, causing blemishes and blackheads. Try a product that might include papaya and pineapple juice, olive derivatives and Ginkgo Biloba
Treatments: Treatment products are another important skincare component, helping to balance your skin. One treatment to try is one which moisturizes dry areas but prevents excess oil, especially in the T-zone. This product also contains antioxidants to prevent aging. Another type of treatment is a mask, and you’ll find an array of products for every skin type. Some experts advise using a hydrating/moisturizing mask on dry areas (cheeks) and a deep-cleaning clay mask on oily areas (T-zone). While using two different masks is certainly an option, you can also use a mask specifically designed for combination skin. If you suffer from breakouts, which may occur around the T-zone, use acne treatment products with salicylic acid. For problem skin, try a blemish serum or a spot treatment.
Moisturize: Combination skin needs balance, and part of that balance means moisturizing your skin. Moisturizing is especially important for drier areas of the face, but your entire face needs moisture. Some experts suggest using separate moisturizers - a lightweight one for the T-zone and a deeper one for cheeks. You may choose to use separate moisturizers, but you can also use a single moisturizer designed for combination skin. Try a lotion which balances skin with witch hazel and aloe extract to help skin stay soft. Pay careful attention to dry areas, as they may require more frequent moisturizing than oily areas. Generally, experts recommend moisturizing dry areas twice a day and moisturizing oily areas once a day. Keep in mind that your individual skin has unique needs, so you might want to adjust your moisturizer - how often you use it, where you need it and how much you need.
Sun Protection: Like all other skin types, combination skin needs protection from the sun. UVA and UVB rays can damage skin, so use oil-free sunblock all over your face daily (and on any other exposed areas). Try an oil-free sunlotion or sunblock because it protects your skin from UV rays and won’t make skin greasy.
Natural Treatments
Natural treatments such as aromatherapy oils, home-made exfoliants and masks may help treat your combination skin. For example, try mixing essential oils like chamomile, lavender and ylang ylang (just a few drops) together with your oil-free moisturizer. These ingredients have antibacterial properties and may help to rid skin of dirt or bacteria. However, if your skin is sensitive or easily irritated, or if you’re pregnant, you shouldn’t use these essential oils.
Exfoliating treatments can be made at home by mixing and grinding nuts, seeds or oatmeal along with water. These will slough off dead, dry skin cells - especially common around the cheeks. You can add citrus peels from fruit - like orange or grapefruit - to the mix and apply it to the oily T-zone.
To make a mask for dry areas, use ingredients like yogurt, mashed bananas or avocados to moisturize. On oilier areas, try pureed strawberries and apples.
Skin Care for Men
March 4, 2009 by admin · Leave a Comment
When men start buying skin care products, they may not pay much attention to the ingredients of the product in front of them. Men have been known to glance over the shelves and read general features, such as “anti-aging,” “no more wrinkles”, “bye bye greasy skin” and think that is all they need to know. While these “advertising tags” are beneficial to help pick a skincare product, in recent years another more prominent skin care feature is gaining attention, “organic product.”
Organic skin care or natural skin care refers to the use of all-natural ingredients to take care of our skin. These products are generally made of more than one type of herbs and seeds, that combined are able to bring the same results as a chemical based products. Organic lifestyles and the rediscovery of ancient herbs are making organic skin care increasingly popular in men skin care products, and have put chemical based products under the spotlight.
Chemical skin care became popular thanks to its sometimes incredible results in correcting skin problems. In addition, that was the reason they had a higher price too. However, as years had passed, medical investigations had shown that some of these components are not safe. Components such as Aluminum, Propulene Glycol and Imidazolidinyl urea, have been proved to be harmful to people. Their effects include links with breast cancer, contact dermatitis, ototoxicity, kidney damage and more. Most of the products with these components have been banned, but there are some that not, even with all the research to back that up. There may be also other components not YET found harmful.
Unfortunately, men are in contact with many of these chemicals on a more regular basis than women, due to higher instances of exposure at work or industrial areas. An average woman uses 12 beauty products a day, this adds up 168 chemicals!However, with all that, consumers shouldn’t rely so blindly in organic skin care without more personal experience.
Organic products are notoriously under-regulated and some of these so-called “all-natural” products can contain manufactured chemicals, and chemical processes to blend the components. The best advice here is to know what you are using. Be well informed, once your skin is damaged it is much more difficult to repair it than prevent the damage in the first place. You may think if you are a man, your skin is tougher, but that is not true. Facial skin is more sensitive in men due to constant bad shaving habits. Do a search on Internet
for the ingredients on the product you are about to buy and if possible ask a doctor for advice.












