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Many people think that an astringent or toner are the same skin care product. The fact is, these two topical formulas have similar yet different qualities and are used for various reasons.

Both of these products are water based, and they both are designed to remove excess dirt and oil from the skin’s surface. In addition, they also assist in balancing the pH of the skin, which helps to reduce inflammation and redness.

Let’s take a closer look at the differences between an astringent and a toner to help determine which one is best for your skin:

What Is An Astringent?

Healthy skin requires a consistent regimen, using products designed for your specific skin type. Some people may benefit from an astringent, and others may not need one. So, what exactly does an astringent do for the skin?

Astringents work well to tighten enlarged pores on the face. Also, if you have oily or acne prone skin, an astringent would be an essential product to add to your routine.

This article reveals that some of the most common ingredients in astringents are: witch hazel, salicylic acid, alcohol and citric acid. Use caution when using astringents which contain alcohol, because it can tend to over dry the skin.

The use of astringents is not recommended if you have sunburn, sensitive or dry skin, or skin conditions such as eczema or psoriasis.

How to apply an astringent:

• Cleanse your face with a cleanser specific to your skin type, rinse clean.
• Pat your face dry with a clean, soft towel.
• Apply a small amount of astringent to a cotton pad.
• Using a patting motion, apply the astringent to the entire face, or wherever you have excess oil.

What Is A Toner?

The use of toners is more recommended for people who have dry skin. There are a wide variety of toners on the market which can help hydrate and nourish the skin. Avoid any toners that contain alcohol if your skin is dry and lacking oil.

Toners which contain natural ingredients work as a humectant, to replenish lost moisture in the skin.

Like astringents, toners also shrink enlarged pores, giving the face a smoother appearance. When pores are closed, less impurities and dirt can get beneath the skin’s surface.

How to apply a toner:

• Cleanse your face with a cleanser specific to your skin type, rinse clean.
• Pat your face dry with a clean, soft towel.

• Toners can be applied with a cotton pad, gently patted on the face.
• Some toners are available in spray bottles, which can be easily be applied by misting over the face. This method is very refreshing.
• Toner can also be poured into the hands and gently patted on the face.

Conclusion

Individual needs must be taken into consideration when developing your skin care plan. It is always best to check with a licensed esthetician, who will analyze your skin type. Once your skin type is determined, they will be able to direct you to the astringent and/or toner, along with other beneficial products.

If you have more serious concerns about your skin, you should consult with your dermatologist for guidance.

Keep in mind that products alone, will not keep your skin at it’s optimum appearance. You must also incorporate a healthy diet, rich in leafy greens and keep your body hydrated. It is recommended that you drink half of your weight in ounces, to stay at a healthy hydration level.

Always protect your skin from the damaging UV rays of the sun, by using a sunscreen when you are outdoors.

For further reading, check out: These 5 Habits Will Make Your Face Age Faster and The Trick To Applying Eyeliner To Sagging Eye Skin.

Image: Flickr

The most beautiful looking 50 somethings don’t start their skin care routine late in life. It takes years of preventative measures to keep their skin looking youthful and radiant.

By starting to care for your skin early in life, you will reap the benefits as you age. You will notice less wrinkles and sagging, as well as other tell tale signs of aging.

Let’s take a look at how the most beautiful looking 50 somethings, have maintained their youthful appearance:

Don’t Smoke Cigarettes

Cigarette smoking is known to cause premature aging of the skin. This article explains that when one smokes, the blood vessels in the skin are constricted. When this happens, the blood flow is restricted, therefore, oxygen and Vitamin A are not properly delivered to the skin.

The chemicals in cigarette tobacco are also very damaging to the skin. They destroy the collagen and elastin fibers, which keep the skin firm and smooth. These harmful chemicals will cause the face to sag and wrinkle.

Exposure to second hand smoke is also not healthy for the skin. The free radicals and chemicals can also cause premature aging, in the form of fine lines and wrinkles.

Avoid smoking cigarettes, as well as being around others who are smoking.

Don’t Use Alcohol

The dehydrating effects of alcohol will dry out the skin, causing wrinkles to appear sooner than they should.

Always keep your body hydrated by drinking half of your body weight in ounces of water. Your skin will be healthy and any fine lines that you may have, will be plumped up from the hydration.

This article reports that over consumption of alcohol will cause a decrease in Vitamin A. When this happens, cells do not regenerate properly and the production of collagen is reduced. The result is skin that looks lackluster and aged.

Broken blood vessels are also a sign of heavy alcohol use. The face will eventually have an overall red appearance from drinking. This damage is not reversible, and will make the skin appear much older than it actually is.

Protect Your Skin

One of the most damaging things you can do to your skin is overexpose it to the sun. The sun’s ultra violet rays will severely damage the collagen and elastin in the skin. In addition, the skin will develop a leather like texture from sun damage, which will create an aged appearance.

The best way to combat this is to wear a sunscreen of at least 30 SPF. You should apply the sunscreen whenever you are going to be outdoors for a length of time.

If you are going to be in the sun for a long period or if you will be perspiring or swimming, be sure to reapply as directed. A large brim hat and sunglasses work well to protect the face and eyes against wrinkles and sun damage.

Eat A Healthy Diet

Like the old adage says, “You are what you eat”. Ingesting healthy fruits and vegetables will shine through in the way your skin looks.

Avoid processed foods and sugars, as these will have negative effects on the skin. The chemicals will make your skin look dull and will speed up the appearance of aging. Stick to healthy, all natural foods to keep your skin looking the best.

Conclusion

With a little discipline, and determination, you can remove the bad habits in your life, that are causing your skin to age. Focus on eating and drinking healthy and stay out of the sun. If you follow those guidelines, your skin will thank you for it and so will the mirror.

For further reading, check out: The Trick To Applying Liquid Eyeliner To Sagging Eye Skin and Tai-Chi The Ultimate In All Over Skin Care.

Image: Flickr

It’s no secret that bad habits will make your face age faster. Additionally, they are most likely doing damage to your body, as well.

In this day and age, many of us are in a hurry and don’t put as much thought into a healthy lifestyle as we should. Fast food and stress can play a large role in our appearance.

No matter how many how many facials you get or how much serum you apply to your face, your habits will show on your skin.

Let’s take a closer look at several habits that will make your face age faster:

1. Poor Diet Choices

A diet full of processed foods, sugar and no vegetables will not do your body or your skin any justice. Drinking soda and other sugary drinks will cause weight gain, as well as premature aging.

Our bodies require nutrients from green leafy vegetables and a balanced diet of natural foods, to look and feel the best. A healthy diet will provide healthy skin.

Be sure to stay hydrated by drinking half of your body weight in ounces on a daily basis. This will keep your skin soft and supple and will plump up any wrinkling you have, so that it is less noticeable.

2. Sun Damage

One of the most dangerous ways to damage your skin, is by not protecting it from the sun.

When we are over exposed to the ultra violet rays of the sun, it eats away at the collagen and elastin in the skin. When this happens, fine lines and wrinkles will develop, causing the skin to look older. Increased risk of skin cancer is also a factor.

Always wear sunscreen when going outdoors to prevent damage and premature aging.

3. Cigarette Smoking

Not only is cigarette smoking harmful to your lungs and internal organs, but it is also unhealthy for your skin.

According to an article from Mayo Clinic, Dr. J. Taylor Hays reveals that after ten years of cigarette smoking, skin changes are likely to occur. These changes include premature wrinkles.

It also is stated that the longer one smokes, the more extensive the wrinkling will be.

There are over four thousand chemicals in the smoke from tobacco, which wreak havoc on the skin. These chemicals damage the elastin and collagen, which encourages wrinkles.

Cigarette smoke also constricts the blood vessels near the skin’s surface, which deprives the skin of the required amount of oxygen.

4. Alcohol Consumption

Having an occasional drink won’t do any harm to your skin, but heavy drinking on a regular basis will definitely speed up the aging process.

This article states that limiting your intake of alcohol to only one drink per day, will prevent your liver from overworking. It will also help your skin remain hydrated and you will also notice that you sleep better when you drink less alcohol.

5. Stressful Situations

Stress is a major factor in the appearance of aging. If you have a habit of putting yourself in stressful situations, do what you can to avoid them.

When we are stressed out, the cortisol levels in our body increases. When that happens, the collagen and elastin are broken down, which will cause wrinkles to form.

Try meditating, yoga or going for long walks. It will ease your tension and your skin will thank you, too.

Conclusion

By taking the above points into consideration, you should be able to improve the look and feel of your skin. Stay away from the habits that will make your face age faster.

We must learn to prioritize taking care of ourselves. It will keep our bodies healthy from the inside out and our efforts will show on our face.

For further reading, check out: The Trick To Applying Eyeliner to Sagging Eye Skin and Tai Chi – The Ultimate In All Over Skin Care.

Applying liquid eyeliner can be difficult, even for the younger ones, but when you start to age, it gets harder. Those perfectly straight lines don’t seem so perfect anymore.

Sagging eye skin can cause the tip of the eyeliner pen or brush to skip. When that happens, you will end up with a dotted line effect. Then, when you try to touch it up, the line will get thicker and thicker. We’ve all been there and it can be absolutely frustrating.

Often, we will find ourselves wiping it off and angrily starting over. Don’t fret. It doesn’t have to be this way.

Applying liquid eyeliner can be a breeze if you just follow a few simple steps:

Cleanse Skin

Make sure the eye area is freshly cleaned and all residual makeup is removed. You also want to ensure that any eye cream products have also been removed. You don’t want to leave any oils on the surface of the skin.

Applying liquid eyeliner to skin that is dirty or coated, will cause an uneven application.

Prepare Skin

You should always use a primer to prepare the skin prior to any makeup application.

This article recommends using a combination of concealer and setting powder as a primer. There are also a number of eye primers available at cosmetic stores or in the aisle of your favorite department store.

Choose The Right Applicator

Liquid eyeliner is available with different applicators. Some have a small brush and others have a felt tip, similar to a marker.

If you have sagging or wrinkling in the eyelid area, then choosing a thin, felt tip is your best bet.

Just Wing It!

When you are starting to show signs of aging around the eye, adding a slight bit of a wing, can give your look a youthful boost.

Avoid over exaggerated eyeliner wings. Instead, focus on a slight upward “flick” of the eyeliner, on the outside corners of the eye. Doing so, will give the illusion that the eye is lifted and more open.

Choose The Right Color

As we age, dark colors will tend to look harsh against our mature skin.

Instead of using the blackest black liquid eyeliner, you may want to consider a soft black or dark gray charcoal liner instead.

Liquid Eyeliner Alternative

If you want to soften up your look entirely, you may want to opt for a different type of eyeliner altogether.

A soft tip eyeliner pencil is a great alternative. Once applied, the line can be softened up by using a flat, short bristled smudge brush.

Gel eyeliner is also an excellent option. It usually comes in a little pot and is applied with a brush. The brush should have an angled sharp point, so you can get close to the lash line. The brush shape will also help you to achieve the slight wing look, as well.

Conclusion

By implementing the ideas mentioned above, you should easily be able to create the look you’ve been looking for, when applying liquid eyeliner.

Keep in mind, that to keep a youthful appearance, you must also take care of your skin. You can do this by using skin care products that are dedicated to your specific skin type and needs.

Eat a healthy diet that is rich in green leafy vegetables and low in refined sugar. Be mindful to drink plenty of water, so that your body stays hydrated.

Stay out of the sun to avoid the damaging ultra violet rays. Always wear a sunscreen when you go outdoors and protect your eye area by wearing UV protectant sunglasses.

For further reading, check out: Tai Chi – The Ultimate In All Over Skin Care and Safest Lightening Creams For Aging Skin.

Image: Flickr

Life lessons can not be taught to you by someone else or by reading a book. You can only truly understand the lessons that have been bestowed upon you, through your individual and unique experiences.

By the time you have reached forty years old, you have most likely been through a number of things, such as love and friend relationships, having children, earning a living and paying for all of the necessary expenses.

Additionally, you may now understand that you need to take care of your skin and your body to maintain health from the inside out. When we are younger, we tend to overlook things like that, until we start to show signs of age.

Let’s dive deeper into the life lessons you will encounter, as you age through your forties:

Lesson 1: The Quality Of Relationships

One of the most important things to remember is to evaluate the quality of your relationships. Think about how much time you invest into each relationship, whether it be family, friends or romantic.

Do you feel that your efforts to create a strong and healthy relationship, match with your loved one’s efforts? If not, then you may want to reconsider their value in your life and focus on people that are on the same playing field as you are.

Lesson 2: Your Overall Health

Getting regular exercise and eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables will improve your overall health. Avoid processed food and stick to natural and organic choices.

Processed food can create a host of health issues, so it is best to stay as natural as you can when it comes to what you ingest.

Foods that are high in saturated fats can cause the arteries in your heart to become clogged. This can lead to heart attacks and other problems. For optimal health, stick to low fat and high fiber foods.

Lesson 3: Take Care Of Your Skin

If you want to stay on top of your appearance and reduce signs of aging, you must take care of your skin.

Always protect your skin from the ultra violet rays of the sun, by wearing a sunscreen when you go outdoors. The sun’s UV rays can be very damaging to the skin, causing premature aging, hyper pigmentation, as well as possible skin cancer.

In addition to sunscreen, choosing the appropriate topical products for your skin type is paramount. Avoid using products for dry skin if you have oily skin and vice-versa.

Use cleansers and serums that will improve any skin condition that you are concerned about.

If you are unsure what products to choose, don’t hesitate to ask your esthetician or dermatologist for recommendations.

Lesson 4: Invest In Your Future

Now that you have reached the age of stability and maturity, it is important to plan for your future. You have many years left to live and you want to make sure you can be as comfortable as possible when you retire.

This article suggests saving twice as much as you spend. Be cautious of overspending on items and watch for sales. Don’t be tempted and impulse buy when you want something.

Take a few minutes to think about whether you really need to make that purchase or if it is just a split second satisfaction.

Lesson 5: The Time Is Now

This article recommends not procrastinating if you have been wanting to do something in your life. Possibly, you have always wanted to go to another country or perhaps you want to experience skydiving.

There is no better time than the present! Make the necessary arrangements and fulfill your dream.

Conclusion

By taking the above points into consideration, you should create a strong foundation to grow on. Your future will be more stable and you will feel more secure in your health, wealth and appearance.

For further reading, check out: Tai-Chi -The Ultimate In All Over Skin Care and Island Holidays – Potecting Your Skin From The Elements.

Image: Flickr

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Tai Chi is an ancient Chinese art that benefits the entire body. The mind, body and spirit work in conjunction with one another, to create an overall state of well being.

When most of us think of the term “Tai Chi”, we think of bodily exercise or movements. We can also use the same principals and techniques for the face as well.

Before we dive deeper into the facial aspect, let’s take a closer look at Tai Chi as a whole:

What Is Tai Chi?

According to this article, Tai Chi is based on slow and controlled movements, paired with proper breathing and a sense of mindfulness. There are actually a wide variety of Tai Chi styles, but each of them encompass the same, overall principals.

When proper breathing and movements are performed, along with stillness of the mind, an energy will be created. This energy, which is also called “life force”, is what we want to flow through the body. When the energy flows freely, our inner self connects with our outer self, creating an overall sense of harmony and peace.

How Does Tai Chi Help The Skin?

Performing Tai Chi on a regular basis will significantly reduce stress in the body and mind. We feel more relaxed. When we are not stressed, there is less cortisol released in our body.

This article states that when stress levels are running high, the it can really take a toll on the skin. Things like increased oil, will create inflammation and acne. Psoriasis, eczema and rosacea are also common with high cortisol levels. Some may also find that hives or cold sores will appear during times of stress.

When we are stressed out, we also tend to acquire more fine lines and wrinkles. Additionally, our diets often wane, when life gets thrown off kilter, which also causes more skin issues.

Facial Qigong

Facial Qigong is an incredible way to stimulate blood flow to the face, neck and head. Increased blood flow will promote healing and bring more oxygen to the skin cells. This makes the skin appear to have a healthy glow.

Facial quigong movements that are shown here, will also relax the face and the body, which will in turn, greatly reduce the stress level.

Conclusion

The overall health benefits of Tai Chi are astounding. The fact that this practice has been around for nearly 2000 years, speaks volumes. Incorporating it into your lifestyle can help keep you feeling and looking more youthful. You will have a greater peace of mind and a healthier state of being, in doing so.

There are also other factors that you should also keep in mind to care for your skin.

Always protect your skin from the ultra violet rays of the sun. You can do this by applying a sunscreen to exposed skin, every time you go outdoors. Another way to combat sun induced skin damage, is to wear sunglasses with a UV protection on the lenses and a wide brim hat to cover your face.

Our bodies should always stay hydrated to be at peak performance and appearance. Strive to drink half of your weight in ounces of water on a daily basis. This will ensure that you are fully hydrated and that all the toxins are being flushed out of the body.

Diet also plays a large role in obtaining healthy and younger looking skin. Eat a diet rich in greens and other vegetables. Limit your intake of alcohol, sugars and processed foods for optimum health, as well.

For further reading, check out: Island Holidays – Protecting Your Skin From The Elements and The Best Face Lifting Massage For Aging Skin.

Image: Flickr