Uncategorized

Makeup ingredients are probably the last thing on your mind when purchasing that new eye shadow.

The truth of the matter is, there are many cosmetic companies who add a number of very harmful ingredients to their products. Unfortunately, the cosmetic industry is not regulated by the FDA, so toxic chemicals are found in many products on the market.

Protecting your skin by avoiding these makeup ingredients should be a priority. Always look at the labels on the products you put on your skin.

Let’s take a closer look at which makeup ingredients to avoid and what can happen if you don’t:

1. Phthalates

This article reveals that phthalates are found in many cosmetics across the board, such as nail polish, perfume, lotions, hair spray and others.

Phthalates have been suggested to be a carcinogen, meaning it could possibly cause cancer. It has also been linked to the disruption of hormones.

2. Oxybenzone

When looking at the makeup ingredients label, seek out the words “Dibutyl phthalate”, which is a known phthalate.

Oxybenzone is mostly found in sunscreen products. This article reveals that it is one of the most harmful ingredients that can be found in sunscreen.

It can act as estrogen, which can alter the production of sperm in animals. Oxybenzone can also be a precursor for endometriosis in women, as shown in this study.

3. Sodium Laurel Sulfate and Sodium Laureth Sulfate

These harsh sulfates are commonly found in many cosmetic cleansing products. They are known to cause allergic reactions and irritation of the skin.

Sodium Laurel Sulfate (SLS) and Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES) have been linked to the disruption of the endocrine system in the body.

4. Hydroquinone

Some skin lightening products may contain hydroquinone. Those products have been linked to cancer and toxicity of the organs. Avoid using any products that contain this ingredient.

If you want to lighten your skin, stay out of the sun and use products that contain Vitamin C, instead.

5. Parabens

You can find parabens in many cosmetic products. Parabens have been linked to cancer and should be avoided.

There are numerous cosmetics on the market which are paraben free. Opt to using those instead.

6. Mercury and Lead

The United States has not banned the use of lead and mercury in their cosmetics. You can find it in many products, such as makeup and lip cosmetics. These chemicals can be toxic to the reproductive system.

Avoid all use of anything which has lead, mercury, acetate, chromium on the label.

Conclusion

Avoiding the makeup ingredients listed above is just one component of healthy skin. There are also other important points you should keep in mind.

Always wear sunscreen when going outdoors. Apply it to all areas of skin that will be exposed. Many foundations and other products contain sunscreen, but it is best to also add a layer of sunscreen under your makeup.

It is also a good idea to wear sunglasses and a large brimmed hat, to shade your face from the harmful ultra violet rays of the sun.

Removing your makeup at night is very beneficial to the skin. When we neglect taking off our makeup, our pores become clogged. This can cause acne and other skin inflammation.

Once cosmetics are removed, apply a night cream to seal in moisture and deeply nourish the skin overnight.

In the morning, you can cleanse with a cleanser for your designated skin type. Follow up with a toner, serum, eye cream, sunscreen, moisturizer and then your makeup for the day.

For further reading, check out: Acne Breakout? 5 Tips To Clear Your Complexion and 6 Super Foods For Skin Radiating Benefits.

Image: Flickr

Forehead wrinkles can become quite noticeable as we get older. These horizontal lines are a tell tale sign that we are aging and most of us are looking for a way to avoid that at all costs.

So you may be asking yourself, “What are the causes of forehead wrinkles and is there any way to prevent them?”

This article reveals that there are a number of significant factors that contribute to the formation of these notorious lines on our face.

Forehead Wrinkles Causes

Not Avoiding The Sun

The ultra violet rays of the sun highly contribute to forehead wrinkles, because it diminishes the collagen and elastin in the skin. When this happens, the skin becomes less “plump” and then starts to wrinkle as it loses its fullness.

Fine lines will continue to get deeper over time if not treated quickly and appropriately.

Smoking Cigarettes

As reported in this study, smoking can be a major factor in the appearance of premature aging of the skin.

Similar to over exposure to the sun, the chemicals in cigarettes will greatly decrease the collagen and elastin in the skin. This is why many smokers tend to look older than they actually are.

Not Hydrating The Body

When your body is lacking water, so is your skin. When your skin is dehydrated, the wrinkles start to appear and you can start looking older almost instantly.

How To Stop Forehead Wrinkles

Drink Plenty Of Water

A nutritionist featured in this article, suggests that adults should drink half of their body weight in water to be fully hydrated.

Skin that is hydrated will look smoother and more plump when you have consumed enough water. It also will look brighter and overall more healthy.

Avoid the over use of alcohol. Drinking alcohol dehydrates the body and the skin and will cause a rapid increase in the aging process.

Moisturize The Skin

Not only should we internally hydrate our skin, but we should also topically hydrate it as well.

Apply products that enhance and seal in moisture to the skin. This should be in the form of serums, moisturizers and day and/or night creams

Stop Smoking Cigarettes

Quit smoking as soon as possible to reduce the effects that cigarettes have on the skin and your overall health.

Incorporate Facial Exercises Into Your Routine

Facial exercises can be beneficial to alleviating those pesky fine lines and wrinkles. You can target specific areas of the face, such as the forehead.

This article demonstrates how to easily give your face a workout.

Conclusion

As you can see, all hope is not lost and there are ways to help reduce the appearance of wrinkles on your forehead. Put the above mentioned tips into practice in your daily routine and you should start to see an improvement in no time!

For further reading, check out: Laugh Lines Diminish With The Help Of These 3 Steps and So, Which Way Is The Best To Wash Your Face, Hot Or Cold Water?

Image: Flickr

Laugh Lines are also known as nasal labial folds. They are the lines that connect your mouth to your nostrils.

These lines will become more noticeable with age, but younger people can have the as well. Some people say they give you character, but many of us feel insecure about them and would like to make their laugh lines as least visible as possible.

There are several methods of decreasing the appearance of laugh lines. You can take the natural route, the topical route or the invasive route.

Let’s take a closer look at the methods of reducing laugh lines on your face:

1. Invasive Procedures

These methods are the most costly and the most painful. This article reveals that two different invasive methods work well to remove laugh lines.

Botox

This is one of the most popular means of reducing laugh lines. It will relax the muscles around the injection site, causing them not to move. This can be a painful procedure and also leave swelling and / or bruising after the procedure.

Fillers

As we get older, the collagen will decrease in our skin and leave it looking droopy or have fine lines and wrinkles. Losing a lot of weight rapidly, will also cause the skin around the nasal labial area to sag, creating laugh lines.

Fillers can be injected into these lines to help fill up the space where collagen has been lost, and eliminating lines. This effects of this procedure will last approximately a year. Slight swelling, bruising or bleeding is possible.

2. Topical Treatments:

Hyaluronic Acid

Topical products that contain hyaluronic acid will help the skin retain moisture, therefore preventing the development or worsening of laugh lines and other wrinkles on the face.

This article states that hyaluronic acid holds 1000 times it own weight in water. This shows just how hydrating it can be for the skin.

Moisturizers and Serums

Keep your face moisturized with serums and day and night creams that are designated for your skin type. Apply them to a clean face regularly.

3. Facial Exercises:

Facial exercises are an excellent method of decreasing laugh lines. The bonus is that they don’t cost a cent!

Laugh Line Exercise 1

Place your index and middle fingers firmly over your laugh lines. At the same time, slightly open your mouth and smile.

Hold your fingers in place, resisting the muscles that are smiling. Hold this position for five to ten seconds and then repeat the exercise thirty times each day.

Laugh Line Exercise 2

Puff your cheeks out as far as they can go, until you can feel the muscles stretching. Move the air from one side of the face to the other. Hold each side for five seconds then relax. Repeat ten times a day.

Conclusion

No matter which route you take, you will see an improvement in your laugh lines. Just be sure to also take good care of your skin to make the treatments as effective as possible and last as long as they can.

Drink plenty of water and maintain a healthy diet that is rich in green, leafy vegetables. Avoid sugar and processed foods whenever possible.

Always wear a sunscreen of at least 30 SPF when going outdoors. Cover your eyes with sunglasses and wear a large brimmed hat to shade your face from the damaging rays of the sun.

For further reading, check out: Send Your Under Eye Bags Packing With These 5 Tips and So, Which Is The Best To Wash Your Face, Hot Or Cold Water?

Image: Flickr

Under eye bags sometimes appear out of nowhere. One morning, you just look in the mirror and the area beneath your eyes is puffy and you look like you have aged overnight. This can be very shocking, if you aren’t aware of the reasons behind it.

Under eye bags can be caused by a number of things:

This article suggests that one of the main reasons bags under the eyes are formed, is due to the decrease in fat in that area. As we get older, the skin becomes thinner and any fluid that builds up beneath it, is much more noticeable.

Another reason one may suddenly notice under eye bags, is the onset of allergies or a cold. The excess fluid and congestion will settle around the eye area, causing puffiness. Crying will also leave us with puffy eyes.

Lack of sleep also contributes to under eye bags. Smoking has also been linked to this condition, as well.

If you eat a meal high in sodium, you may also notice water retention in your body as well as in your face, especially around the eye region.

Now, that we know the causes of under eye bags, let’s take a closer look at how to eliminate them:

1. Get Enough Sleep

Lack of sleep, definitely contributes to under eye bags. Adults should aim for a minimum of 7-9 hours of sleep per night, according to Mayo Clinic.

If you don’t sleep enough, it will affect the muscles around your eyes, making them weaker. This will contribute to bags. Once you have caught up on your sleep, they should improve.

2. Adjust Your Sleep Position

When we sleep on our side or stomach, the fluid in our face will tend to settle under the eyes. The best way to stop this from happening, is to sleep on your back and put an extra pillow under your head, to prop it up.

3. Limit High Sodium Foods

If your diet consists of food that is high in salt content, such as potato chips, Chinese food or other salty treats, then you may be retaining fluid. This can build up under the eyes and creates puffiness and bags.

By limiting your intake of salt, you should reduce the appearance of under eye bags.

4. Protect Eyes From The Sun

The ultra violet rays of the sun will destroy the collagen in the skin. Collagen is what keeps the skin plump an youthful looking. As we age, the production of collagen slows down and that is one of the reasons we get sagging and wrinkled skin.

The same thing holds true for sun damage. Always protect your eyes from the sun by wearing sunglasses that have UV protection. A large brim hat will also help to shield your face and eyes from further exposure.

5. No More Cigarettes

Smoking cigarettes also contributes to the loss of collagen under the eyes, and other skin on your body. Smokers generally are more prone to under eye bags than non smokers. For your overall health, it is best to completely stop smoking.

Conclusion

By implementing the above tips into your daily lifestyle, you should be able to get control of your uder eye bags.

In addition, be sure to stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water. This will help flush out any toxins in the body, which will also add to puffiness.

Using an under eye serum which contains hyaluronic acid, will also help reduce the appearance of eye puffiness.

For further reading, check out: So, Which Is The Best To Wash Your Face, Hot Or Cold Water? and 5 Skin Care Resolutions You Can Keep This Year.

Image: Flickr