Skin Care

You know the feeling… When you look at yourself in the mirror one day and suddenly you notice that your skin has started sagging. It may not appear as tight and firm as you thought it was. This moment can be a real shock and it happens to everyone, sooner or later.
Your first line of defense is to replenish the skin to tighten it up again, Many of the products on the market that do this are extremely overpriced and can really put a dent in your budget.
Don’t let this discourage you. You can easily obtain the same results as the expensive products by using easy home recipes for your skin. The ingredients are most likely in your pantry right now.
Let’s take a look at some simple recipes for tightening sagging skin at home:

Egg White Face Mask

This mask works well, because the egg whites tighten the skin, as well as the yogurt. The sugar helps exfoliate dead skin cells. Apply this mask once a week for best results.
For this recipe, you will need:
1 egg
1-2 TB plain yogurt
1/8 tsp granulated sugar
Separate the egg yolk and the egg white. Combine the yogurt with the yogurt and sugar with a whisk or fork until well mixed.
Apply to the face in smooth upward strokes with a fan brush and let dry. For extra lift, lay with your head off the edge of the bed while it is drying.
Once the mask is completely dry and your face feels tight, gently remove it with warm water and a soft washcloth. It’s like getting a mini, non-surgical facelift!

Yogurt And Oatmeal Face Mask

Yogurt contains an array of vitamins and minerals that are beneficial to the skin. These nutrients, such as: lactic acid, calcium, zinc, alpha hydroxy acids and vitamins B2, B5 and B12 can be absorbed into the skin. If your skin is healthy, it will feel firmer and appear more vibrant.
Oatmeal is excellent for all skin types, ranging from sensitive, dry and oily. It is a great soothing agent and also works well as an exfoliator and for closing large pores.
Honey is a wonderful antioxidant and will also give the skin a youthful glow. It is also beneficial for treating acne, due to its antimicrobial properties.
For this recipe you will need:
1 TB plain yogurt
1 TB oatmeal
1 TB honey
Combine yogurt and oatmeal in a bowl and let sit for several minutes to soften the oatmeal. Once the oatmeal has absorbed some of the yogurt, stir in the honey until well mixed.
Apply the mask evenly across the face and neck with your fingers and allow to dry for about fifteen minutes. Gently remove the mask with warm water and a soft washcloth.

Avocado Face Mask

If you have dry skin, this is the mask for you! The natural oils in the avocado will soften, moisturize and plump your skin, creating a more youthful appearance. The olive oil will also help your skin feel deeply hydrated and smooth.
For this recipe you will need:
½ avocado
1 TB plain yogurt
½ TB olive oil
½ TB honey
Smash the avocado in a bowl until smooth, stir in yogurt, olive oil and honey until well mixed. Apply evenly to the face with your fingers and let sit for 15-20 minutes. Gently remove with warm water and a soft washcloth.
Conclusion
Now that you have some easy recipes at your fingertips, you can start using them to firm up your skin and slow down the signs of aging. The money you save from not investing in store bought products can be put to better use.
Don’t forget that incorporating facial exercise into your daily routine is another method of combating signs of aging. You can read more about it here: 10 Minute Facial Exercise That Will Help You Look Younger and How To Get That Non Surgical Face Lift Without Using Product.
Image: Flickr

 

When it comes to skin care, there is no better time to start than now.
Some people may think that you don’t have to start paying attention to your skin until it shows signs of aging. This couldn’t be farther from the truth. Preventative measures, as well as maintenance, are the key components to keeping a youthful and glowing complexion.
It’s never to late to start taking care of your skin. With a proper routine, even the most damaged skin can be improved. Even girls in their teens and twenties can benefit from properly caring for their skin from a young age. Doing so can delay the onset of wrinkling and sagging, as well as uneven skin tone.
Let’s take a look at several skin care methods that can be started immediately at any age:

Stay Out Of The Sun

Most young girls love to be tan, especially in the summer when wearing shorts and bikinis. What they don’t realize is the damage that they are doing to their skin in the process. In short, sun rays literally “eat” the collagen in your skin, causing premature aging.
The most important thing to do is to wear a sunscreen of at least 50 SPF, to prevent any burning or damage. Reapply according to the directions on the bottle.
You can still avoid the sun and get that golden skin tone from spray tanning or by using a body lotion that includes a self tanner.

Remove Makeup

Pores can get clogged when makeup is not cleansed from the face. Repeatedly leaving your skin coated with makeup will prevent your skin from breathing. This can cause breakouts and premature aging.
Wash your face before going to bed with a cleaner designated for your personal skin type. Be sure to apply a moisturizer and eye serum afterwards.

Facial Exercises

When it comes to working out, most people don’t imagine exercising their face. Just as repetitive motions can strengthen the muscles in your body, the same holds true for the face.
This method works to prevent wrinkles and sagging skin on the younger population and improves the look and feel of a person who has already started showing signs of aging.
A program of various facial exercises for different parts of the face is listed here.

Exfoliating

Using an exfoliator will help remove the buildup of dead skin cells that block the new cells from coming through, which makes the face make it appear dull. Your skin will appear much healthier if you use an exfoliator on a regular basis.
This is very important for skin that is aging and dry, but even younger faces will look refreshed after a good exfoliating treatment. The new skin underneath will look healthy and more vibrant.
This can be done with a simple facial scrub using the fingertips or with a rotating facial brush for best results.
Conclusion
It’s obvious that the sooner you start caring for your face, the better. It will pay off in the end and your skin will glow for many years down the road. It’s never too late to begin a facial regimen, and there’s no better time than the present.
By keeping the above points in mind and being proactive and consistent in your skin care routine, you will reap the benefits. The appearance of wrinkles will decrease and the overall texture and elasticity of your skin will improve as well.
Even if you are young, starting facial exercises, avoiding the sun and using the right products will keep your appearance youthful for many years to come.
Check out these articles for further reading on how to improve your facial skin tone and look younger: Top 8 Things To Make You Age Quicker and Hottest Tips For Reducing The Signs Of Aging.
Image: Flickr

There’s nothing worse than dry, cracked lips. Whether it’s a blast of icy winter wind or the blistering summer sun, your lips can take a real beating. Unfortunately most of the time, except for an occasional dot of lipstick, we simply ignore them until they finally cry uncle!
The good news is, it’s not only possible to have soft, smooth lips — it’s easy. Here are six ways to keep your lips in great shape.

Staying Hydrated

No, it’s not your imagination. The skin on your lips is about 75% thinner than the skin on the rest of your face, and lacks the protective body oils, hair follicles and sweat glands that naturally moisturize the rest of your body.
That’s why, even if your lips are already healthy and moist, you need to work hard to keep them that way.
The most important thing you can do is to drink more water. Since your lips draw most of their moisture from the water in your body, every drop you drink, helps keep them soft and hydrated.
Another important line of defense is using a great lip balm. Applying a lip balm or ointment with beeswax six to eight times a day can help lock in moisture, no matter how dry the weather. Even better, use one with natural humectants like shea butter, lanolin or olive oil plus a good sunscreen to keep your lips soft and protected.

Don’t Stress Out Your Lips

Simple things we all do, can seriously stress out our lips. For example, peeling or biting off the dead skin, licking your lips and breathing through your mouth.
When your lips are cracked or dry, peeling or biting off the skin, can pull healthy skin off right along with it, making the problem even worse.
Another culprit? Licking your lips, which actually makes them drier. Why? Because the saliva on your tongue has enzymes designed to begin digesting your food, the moment you taste it. So when you lick your lips, those enzymes go to work breaking down the skin on your lips!  Resist the urge and apply some lip balm instead.
Breathing through your mouth, can also make lips more chapped, which explains why cold-sufferers often have dry, cracked lips.

Getting Rid Of Dry Skin

If your lips are especially chapped, it might be a good idea to do a gentle exfoliation to get rid of that dry skin. Not only are there some terrific products, like Fresh Sugar Lip Scrub to do the job for you, but you can also do it yourself at home with simple ingredients.
Just get yourself a very soft toothbrush and apply a mixture like brown sugar and coconut oil or honey and sugar to your lips, scrubbing very gently with a soft circular motion.
You can also apply a generous amount of lip balm to your lips and use a soft toothbrush to gently exfoliate.

The Re-hydrators

Every time you apply lipstick, you have an opportunity to give your lips the moisture that they crave. Simply substitute a moisturizing lipstick packed with vitamin E, macadamia or almond oil for your matte lip stick, transforming your beautiful color into a spa treatment.

Quick Lip 911

For lips that are in tough shape, dermatologist Jeffrey Fenton recommends using treatment balms that contain hydrocortisone. Another promising treatment uses new lip balms containing ceramides, which according to studies, showed improvement in up to 90% of dry-lipped participants.

It’s Just Irritating

Have you tried hydrating and exfoliating only to find that nothing works? You might just be dealing with an allergy or irritation rather than chapped lips. Here are a couple of common culprits:

• Toothpaste with artificial flavors or sweeteners
• Lip balms with strong ingredients like eucalyptus, menthol and camphor or plant-based oils can also cause irritation. So if you’re sensitive to any of those ingredients, you might want to try Vaseline or Aquaphor for a while until your lips heal.
• Your facial cleanser, especially if it contains drying or exfoliating ingredients like salicylic acid. Try applying lip balm before cleansing and see if the problem improves.

The most important thing you can do to keep your lips smooth and kissably soft, is to pay attention to them. At the first sign of dryness, apply humectant-rich balms and ointments and, if your lips are already dry and chapped, consider using exfoliants or heavy duty treatments packed with ceramides to get your lips back on track.
Following these simple guidelines can help your lips stay healthy no matter what the environment tries to throw your way!
Besides keeping your lips rich and hydrated, doing facial exercises regularly can help in giving you a more youthful look. You can find different types of facial exercises, on our website.

Image: tommerton2010 

If you’ve been reading articles about skincare routine, you’ve probably come across a product called facial toner.  
A water-based liquid, a facial toner is usually included in a skincare regimen as its ingredients can target specific skin issues. It helps in removing debris like oil, dirt, and makeup and helps in keeping the skin smooth. Regular use of a good quality facial toner can help in reducing skin blemishes and redness. 

Are you doing it right? 

Like many skincare products, you can only make the most of a facial toner if you use it right. If you’ve used or tried using a toner before, you probably have been taught to drench a cotton pad in a toner and apply it across the skin, in no particular order. While the use of a cotton pad part is correct, there is a more effective way of using a toner. 
With two pads dipped in a toner, start the application in the middle of your forehead. Using both of your hands, move the pads outward, towards the side of your face. Use the same inward-outward technique as you apply the toner on your nose and chin areas.  
Another common mistake when applying a toner is spraying it directly on the skin. This may seem logical if the toner is packaged in a spray bottle. This may be a convenient way of applying a toner but doing so can keep you from reaping the benefits of your toner. 
When you spray the toner directly on your skin, you can’t effectively get rid of the residue as well as the salts and chlorine from the water that may dehydrate your skin.  

Other Considerations When Using a Toner 

Applying your toner requires some TLC (tender loving care). To prevent scraping your face with the pads, skincare experts recommend drenching the pads with water before you apply the toner. This helps in keeping the pads soft and less abrasive on the skin.  
The under-eye skin is very sensitive and hence, must be avoided when applying your toner. Too much pressure on this area can contribute to the development of fine lines. 

Choosing the Right Toner 

Not all facial toners are created the same. Some can cause you more harm than good. This is why it’s equally important to know how to choose the right facial toner for your skin type. 
If you haven’t tried a facial toner before or if you’ve tried and failed a couple of times, the following tips can help you find the most suitable toner for your skin type. 
For dry skin 
The problem in having dry skin is that you often feel your skin tight and taut after every wash. Thus, the most suitable toner for this skin type is one that hydrates or one that has a moisturizing effect.  
For normal and combination skin type 
A normal or combination skin type is neither too dry nor too oily. If you have this skin type, you’ll need a toner that will depend on the weather conditions. It simply means using a refreshing skin toner on hot days and a moisturizing one during cold and harsh seasons like winter. 
For oily skin 
If you have an oily skin type, you have to be careful in choosing a toner as most you can find in the market have moisturizer content. Using this type of toner can lead to breakouts. 
The type of toner that you have to look for is a refreshing toner with AHAs and salicylic acid. These ingredients can help in keeping blemishes at bay. 
For sensitive skin 
Having a sensitive skin can be tricky especially that it’s vulnerable to a number of skin issues. If you have this skin type, make sure that you avoid alcohol-based toners and opt instead for those with witch hazel extract. This ingredient is good for your delicate skin and has antibacterial properties that will help protect your skin from acne.