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Skin Care

5 Ways Vitamin E Is Helpful For Skin Health

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Vitamin E

Vitamin E is an essential nutrient that can do wonders for the skin. Not only does it have anti aging benefits, but it can help nourish and heal the skin as well.

According to this study, Vitamin E has been used for over fifty years in the area of dermatology. It is derived from soybeans and is a grouping of eight fat soluble compounds.

This article reveals that Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant that helps prevent cancers. The oil found in Vitamin E capsules can be applied directly to the skin.

It is a healthy supplement to add to your daily intake, but be sure to consult with your doctor before taking any vitamins or other supplements.

Let’s take a closer look at the ways Vitamin E is beneficial for the skin:

1. An Excellent Moisturizer

The hydrating and moisturizing benefits of Vitamin E will help treat and eliminate dry skin.

Many topical products contain this amazing nutrient because of the healthy effects that it has on the skin.

2. Relieves Itching Of The Skin

Since Vitamin E is such a great moisturizer, it will help to relieve dry, flaking and itching skin. This can be done orally, by taking a supplement or by using topical products which contain the vitamin.

3. Helps Prevent Fine Lines And Wrinkles

Another benefit to having well moisturized skin, is that there is little or no dryness. When our skin is dry, we are more prone to fine lines and wrinkles, which make us appear older than we actually are.

Always keep your skin as hydrated as possible to prevent premature aging.

4. Helps Improve Atopic Dermatitis

This study reveals that taking oral 400 IU of Vitamin E, helps to improve atopic dermatitis. Some of the symptoms of this condition are itching, eczema, dry skin and thickening of the skin.

5. Can Be Used As A Sunburn Treatment

If are experiencing a sunburn, apply topical lotions that contain Vitamin E. This can help speed up the healing of the epidermis layer of the skin and prevent further damage.

Make Sure You Do A Patch Test!

As with anything that you apply to your skin, you should first do a patch test, to ensure that you don’t have any allergic reactions. This is a simple and safe way to protect yourself.

To do the patch test, all you have to do is take a small amount of the Vitamin E oil, or whatever you are testing, and put it on a cotton swab.

Apply it to an inconspicuous place on your body, such as behind you knee or ear. Dab a small amount on the skin and observe it 24-48 hours later. If there is no redness or itching, you are most likely not allergic to it.

Conclusion

In addition to incorporating Vitamin E in your skin care regimen, there are more ways to help create and maintain healthy skin.

The most important thing to do for your skin is to protect it from the ultra violet rays of the sun. To do this, always wear a sunscreen of at least 30 SPF when spending time outdoors. Apply it twenty minutes before stepping outside and reapply as needed.

You should also protect your face not only with sunscreen, but with sunglasses as well. This will help prevent crow’s feet. It is also a good idea to apply a lip balm that has sunscreen in it, to protect the delicate skin on your lips.

For further reading, check out Why Your Skin Has Different Summer And Winter Needs and So Which Is Better To Wash Your Face, Hot Or Cold Water?

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Why Your Skin Has Different Summer And Winter Needs

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summer and winter needs

The summer and winter needs of your skin vary greatly. Each season is full of outdoor activities that can take a toll on our face, as well as the skin on the rest of our body.

This is mostly due to the amount of moisture in the air, as well as exposure to the sun and other elements.

Even if you find yourself spending most of the winter indoors, the heat inside of your home will tend to dry out your skin. When this happens, we become more prone to fine lines and wrinkles.

Let’s take a closer look at the summer and winter needs of your skin:

Protection From The Sun

The most important thing to remember, is to protect your skin from the ultra violet rays of the sun. These rays are extremely damaging and are the main contributor of skin cancer, fine lines and wrinkles.

In the summer months, more of our bodies are exposed to the sun. Therefore, we need to do more to protect our skin overall. The American Academy Of Dermatology recommends that you use a sunscreen that is a minimum of 30 SPF and reapply as directed on the product label.

Once it gets cooler outside and you cover up more, you can concentrate mostly on your face, neck and hands. You may not think that your hands see a lot of sun damage, but they are always exposed to the sun while driving and doing anything outdoors.

Cover your eyes with sunglasses and a large brimmed hat to protect from the sun in any season.

Skin Hydration

Once the weather gets cold, the air becomes dry. When this happens, our skin loses moisture and becomes dry as well.

When we have dry skin, it is a recipe for fine lines and wrinkles to start forming. The best way to combat this is to hydrate your skin. 

This can be accomplished topically, by using serums, eye creams, masks and moisturizers.

You may not see as much dryness and flaking in the summer months. Although, you should still make sure you keep your skin moisturized, especially after extended exposure to the sun.

Cleansing Of The Skin

In the summer, we spend an extended amount of time in the heat outdoors and our body naturally starts to sweat. When this happens, the pores on our skin get clogged with dirt and oils, often causing breakouts or blackheads. 

To combat this, it is recommended to use a scrub to remove the excess debris and create a healthier complexion. 

In the winter, opt for a more gentle scrub to help remove the dry skin but not remove too much of the natural oil on the surface.

Conclusion

To stay youthful and healthy, taking good care of your skin is a must, no matter what time of year it is.

The seasons will change but that doesn’t have to affect the way we look. If we stay on top of our skincare summer and winter needs, we will keep the fine lines at wrinkles at bay.

Always cleanse your face at the end of the day to remove dirt and oils. Apply a night cream as well for added hydration.

Another great tip for keeping your skin looking its best, is to drink plenty of water. It is recommended to drink half of your weight in ounces on a daily basis. This will help replenish dry skin, as well as flush out toxins that have accumulated in the body. 

For further reading, check out: Forehead Wrinkles, Causes & How To Stop Them and Laugh Lines Diminish With The Help Of These 3 Steps.

Image: Flickr

Facial Tapping – What Are The Benefits And Does It Really Work?

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facial tapping

Facial tapping is becoming quite popular, when it comes to turning back the hands of time.

Integrating facial tapping into your regular skin care has several known benefits, as mentioned in this article.

We all want to look younger, but it inevitable that everyone will show signs of aging on our face, over the years. This is caused by a combination of things, such as: sun damage, poor diet, not using the correct skin care products and the natural pull of gravity.

Let’s take a deeper look into facial tapping and how it can help you:

  • Facial tapping relieves tension caused by stress
  • Facial tapping provides a better sleeping experience
  • Facial tapping delays the aging process

How to do facial tapping:

It may sound like a difficult technique to learn, but facial tapping is actually quite simple.

The first thing you want to do, is choose the facial products that are designated to your specific skin type. You can use this technique with toners, serums, moisturizers or any other skin care product of your choice.

Dot your product across your face in the desired areas, such as around the eyes, lips, forehead, etc.

Gently apply the product to your face using a light tapping motion, until it is fully absorbed into your skin.

You can also use the palms of your hands to apply product to the larger areas, such as the cheeks and the neck.

It is very important to avoid any pulling, smearing or tugging of your skin. Many of us apply our skin care products by using a smearing motion. When this is done, it actually causes more wrinkles and sagging.

Be mindful to only use tapping motions.

Why you should do facial tapping:

Eliminating any unnecessary pulling and only using a tapping motion on the face, will actually improve product absorption.

Your skin will soak up the product and benefit from its ingredients, moreso than if you used a smearing motion to apply it. It only takes a couple of extra minutes to use the facial tapping technique, but the results are well worth the small amount of time.

Facial tapping will also increase blood circulation to the face. This will help your skin look more radiant and will promote a healthy glow. An increase of blood flow will also help promote the production of collagen and elastin, which helps keep the skin looking firm and plump.

Conclusion

Choosing the right products for your skin type and using facial tapping to apply them, will make a noticeable difference in the appearance of your skin.

In addition to facial tapping, there are many other things we can do for our skin to help take the years off of our face:

For the healthiest skin possible, eat a diet that is rich in green, leafy vegetables. Avoid processed foods and refined sugars. The old saying, “You are what you eat” is very true, and it will be obvious, by the look of your skin.

Keep your body well hydrated. When we drink enough water, our skin is plumper and shows less signs of aging, such as fine lines. Skin dryness is also reduced, which will prevent a dull, flaky appearance.

The American Academy of Dermatology recommends using a sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher when going outdoors. This should be applied even if it is a cloudy or overcast day. Wearing sunglasses is also another way to combat crow’s feet around the eye area.

For further reading, check out: Facial Yoga – The Best Exercises For Toning Facial Skin and The Best Anti-Aging Facial Exercises You Can Do At Home.

Image: Flickr

How To Achieve A Healthy Glow Without Getting Pregnant

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healthy glow

A healthy glow can be portrayed by using certain cosmetics, such as dewy foundation and highlighting powders and creams. But covering up dull looking skin won’t make it actually healthier. Put in a little time and effort and you won’t even find yourself reaching for the highlighting brush.

Anyone can achieve radiant skin by following a few simple steps. It isn’t as hard as you may think.

A healthy glow, doesn’t have to be for only the younger crowd. People of any age can look more youthful by taking care of their skin from the inside out.

Let’s take a look at how to easily achieve a healthy glow to your complexion:

Start From Within

Most of us have heard the old saying, “You are what you eat.” Taking that into consideration, if you are eating unhealthy foods, your skin will be sallow and dull.

Avoid processed foods and focus your diet on healthy greens and whole foods. You will see that your skin will look brighter and more vibrant after a short time.

Hydration Is Key

Drinking a sufficient amount of water is very important to achieve glowing skin. The water helps to flush out toxins that have accumulated in the body. It also plumps up the skin cells and gives your complexion a more youthful and healthy appearance.

Facial Massage

This article suggests massaging your face several times a week. Doing so, will increase the blood flow to the skin, which will plump it up, and make it appear more radiant and healthy. The increased blood flow also increases the production of collagen, which will help the skin look younger.

Exfoliate

In order to reveal bright, new skin, you have to slough off the old, dead skin cells on the top layer. This can be done in several ways.

When you cleanse your face, use a scrub once a week. You can amp up the benefits of the facial scrub by using a rotating brush. All of your dry, dead skin will be swept away. Your skin will appear fresher and overall brighter.

Tone

Once your face is cleansed, you should always apply a toner to balance the pH of the skin. This will help in closing the pores of the face as well, making your face look younger.

Serums And Moisturizers

Serums are an excellent source of nutrients that is absorbed by your skin. For instance, if you have dark spots from the sun, serums that contain vitamin C will help eliminate them. This will give your skin a more even color.

You also need to follow up your daily cleansing routine with a moisturizer dedicated to your skin type.

Sun Protection

One of the worst things you can do to your skin is damage it with the sun. The UV rays of the sun will destroy the collagen and elastin in the skin, making it appear wrinkled and aged.

Many people think they have a healthy glow from a sun tan, but it is actually the most unhealthy thing you can do to your skin.

Apply a sunscreen of at least 50 SPF to your face and wear sunglasses to protect your eyes and the delicate skin around them.

Conclusion

Once you put all of the above steps into place on a regular basis, you will start to see your healthy glow shining through. Your fine lines and wrinkles will be less visible and your pores will be smaller. You will also find that your overall skin texture is firmer and more radiant.

If you are looking to also tighten the skin on the face, you can also incorporate facial exercise into your regime. Before you know it, you will have shaved years off of your appearance and you will feel more confident.

For further reading, check out: If You Apply Your Make Up Wrong, You Can Add Years To Your Face – Over 50 and 5 Golden Rules To Take Care Of Your Hands To Reduce Aging.

Why Water Isn’t All You Need To Wash Your Face

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wash your face

Many people think that you can wash your face with water and it will work well. This couldn’t be further from the truth.

Throughout the day, the skin on our face and body attracts dirt and other impurities that cannot be washed away with water alone. If left on the surface of the skin, it will build up and cause irritation, breakouts and other damage.

Let’s take a deeper look at the right way to wash your face :

Remove Makeup

When cleansing the face, the first thing you should do is remove any cosmetics that have been applied throughout the day. Makeup can get embedded in the pores and will clog them, creating pimples and blackheads on the skin. Using water alone will not remove all of the debris that has accumulated.

This article recommends using alcohol free makeup remover wipes. This will prevent the skin from getting dry or irritated.

If you don’t have any wipes, you can alternatively use a cotton pad moistened with toner or micellar water. Just sweep them over the skin and take a look at all of the dirt and makeup that comes off your face.

Use Correct Cleanser

First and foremost, do not use bar soap on your face. The pH level of general bar soap will throw off the pH of the skin, which will cause irritation, breakouts or an overgrowth of yeast.

It is suggested that people with oily skin use foaming face cleansers. Foaming cleansers tend to strip most of our natural oils and are more suited for acne prone skin. If you have dry skin, you should avoid them and stick to gentle cleansing balms.

Gently massage your cleanser onto your face in a circular motion, using you fingertips. It is advised to cleanse the face for no more than thirty seconds. It is very important to wash your face every night before you go to sleep. If your skin is very oily, you may want to wash it in the morning as well to remove any excess sebum that has built up overnight.

Don’t Forget To Exfoliate

No matter what skin type you have, you should never exfoliate on a daily basis. On the other hand, you don’t want to allow dead skin cells to build up on the surface of the skin.

When you wash your face with just water, there is no way to remove the buildup that has formed. This article states that you should exfoliate your face once or twice a week.

You can use something as simple as a homemade sugar scrub to a commercially made facial scrub designated to your skin type.

Water Temperature Matters

Check the water temperature, when rinsing off the cleanser and after you exfoliate.

Avoid water that is too hot, as it will cause irritation and could cause acne flare ups. Hot water will also strip the natural oil that your skin supplies, which will leave your skin feeling dry and tight. Opt for lukewarm, comfortable water to rinse your skin.

Moisturize

Whenever you wash your face, you should always follow up with a moisturizer. Oily skin, as well as dry skin, requires hydration. Choose one for your skin type and apply daily.

Conclusion

As you can see, when you wash your face correctly, you will give your skin a healthy glow. You won’t have to worry about clogged pores or flaky skin. Your appearance will look cleaner, brighter and more youthful.

If you are unsure about which products are best for your skin type, consult with a dermatologist or an esthetician in your area.

For further reading, check out: If You Apply Your Makeup Wrong, You Can Add years To Your Face – Over 50 and 5 Golden Rules For Taking Care Of Your Hands To Reduce Aging.

Image: Flickr

The Best Fruits And Vegetables For Making Facial Masks

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facial masks

Fruits and vegetables for making facial masks are easy to find and can work wonders on the skin. They are loaded with nutrients and vitamins that will help make your skin look fresh and glowing.

Many store bought facial masks are full of chemicals and other harmful ingredients that can seep into the pores. These chemicals are absorbed by the skin and can contribute to allergic reactions and other unhealthy situations.

Natural ingredients are not only healthier to use, they are also much more cost effective. You can save a lot of money by making your own masks from things in your refrigerator and pantry.

Let’s take a look at several fruit and vegetable masks that you can easily make at home:

Avocados

The rich, creamy and nutrient rich avocado is the perfect choice for an all natural facial. Avocados are loaded with healthy fats and will do an excellent job of hydrating dry skin. This article suggests that it is also good for people who have sensitive skin.

What a great way to use up those over ripened avocados!

Avocado Hydrating Facial Mask

½ ripe avocado

½ cup cooked oatmeal

Mash avocado with fork and mix in cooked oatmeal until smooth. Apply to the face and neck and let sit for 10-15 minutes. Rinse off with lukewarm water and a soft cloth.

Avocado Acne Mask

¼ ripe avocado

1 tsp plain organic yogurt

½ tsp raw honey

Mash ripe avocado with a fork until smooth. Mix in organic yogurt and raw honey until a paste is formed. Apply to face with a small brush or fingertips. Let sit for 10-15 minutes. Rinse off with lukewarm water and a soft cloth.

Carrots

This article suggests using carrot facial masks on normal to oily skin. It works well as a natural toner.

Other hydrating ingredients can be added to boost the moisturizing ability of the carrot mask. Consider adding a little honey, extra virgin olive oil or avocado for extra dry skin.

Carrot Antiseptic Mask

3-4 large carrots

2 TB raw honey

Peel and boil carrots until soft. Mash them in a bowl with a fork until smooth. Slowly add honey, ½ TB at a time until thoroughly mixed in and has reached a smooth and creamy consistency. Allow to cool and apply to face and neck with fingertips. Let sit for 20 minutes and remove with lukewarm water and a soft cloth.

Blueberries

Blueberries are chock full of vitamin C and antioxidants. They work well to even out skin tone and lighten dark spots. They are also great for treating oily or acne prone skin.

Below are some recommended blueberry facial recipes:

Blueberry Skin Brightening Mask:

½ cup steamed blueberries, crushed

½ cup plain organic yogurt

Blend blueberries and organic yogurt together and refrigerate until thickened to a mask consistency. Apply to face with fingertips or small brush. Let sit for 20 minutes. Rinse off with lukewarm water and a soft cloth.

Blueberry Hydrating Mask:

1 cup pureed blueberries (fresh or frozen berries that have been thawed)

½ cup organic whole milk

½ cup oatmeal powder (use food processor)

⅛ cup extra virgin olive oil

⅛ cup raw honey

Conclusion

As you can see, fruits and vegetables are beneficial for the skin when used topically, as well as when ingested. The skin on your face and neck will look brighter, smoother and more youthful if you use these masks on a regular basis.

For further reading check out: 3 Reasons You May Look Unhappy When You Look In The Mirror and Which Facial Exercises Should You Do To Maintain Firmer Skin.