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Skin Care

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All about Facial skin care

'Facial skin care' is more a matter of discipline than anything else. A facial
skin care routine is what you need (and you need to follow the facial skin care
routine with complete seriousness). So let's check what comprises an effective
facial skin care routine. Well, very simply, a facial skin care routine can
follow the following 4 steps:

* Cleansing
* Toning
* Exfoliating
* Moisturising

Cleansing is the first thing in facial skin care routine. Cleansing helps in
removing dust, pollutants, grease and extra oil from your skin, thereby
preventing damage to your skin. Just spot your face and neck with a good
cleansing lotion or cream and gently massage it into your skin using upward
strokes. Use a soft face tissue or cotton wool to wipe your face in a gentle
patting fashion (do not rub). Cleansing should be done at least twice a day
i.e. morning (as part of complete facial skin care routine) and evening (on a
standalone basis). Water soluble cleansers are the best for inclusion in your
facial skin care routine.

Toning is the next in a facial skin care routine. However, this is the optional
part of the facial skin care routine. Mostly, proper cleansing can compensate
for toning. Toning helps remove all traces of dirt, grease and excess cleanser.
Instead of making it part of your daily facial skin care routine, you can using
toning occasionally i.e. when you have been exposed to particularly harsh
environment/pollution.

Exfoliation is again, kind of, optional step in everyday routine for facial
skin care. However, exfoliation is necessary at least once a week (or twice,
depending on the skin type and the environmental conditions). Exfoliation finds
its place in facial skin care routine because of the natural tendency of skin to
replenish the skin cells every 3 or 4 weeks. As a facial skin care technique,
exfoliation helps in removing the dead skin cells that block the pores, thus
assisting the skin in the natural process. However, excessive or harsh
exfoliation can cause damage to your skin; so you need to balance it out.

The next thing in facial skin care is moisturising. In fact, moisturising is
the most important part of facial skin care routine. Moisturisers prevent your
skin from getting dry. Dry skin is really undesirable since it cause the upper
layer skin to break, leading to dead skin cells. Again, use light upward
strokes to make the moisturiser more effective. Moisturisers work the best when
applied on warm and damp skin. So do not try to remove all the moisture in the
previous steps of facial skin care routine.

Besides the normal facial skin care routine, you should also exercise the
following for facial skin care:

* Use proper make-up remover instead of just washing it away

* Pay heed to your skin type and the environment, when choosing facial skin
  care products.

* Before you start using a new facial skin care product, test it by applying it
  on a short patch of skin e.g. ear lobes.

* Never rub your skin too hard.

* Use sunscreen lotions for protection against sun.

The importance of caring for your skin

"Packaging is as important as the gift itself" -- it's something that most of
the gift manufacturing companies follow very closely. The same holds good for
you too. Your outer-self i.e. your skin is as important as your inner-self. A
lot of people do realise the importance of skin care. Well, this is one reason
why there are so many skin care products in the market and most of the skin
care products seem to do pretty well. We generally tend to associate skin care
to just good looks. However, there is more to it than just that. There are
multiple benefits associated with a healthy and glowing skin.

Firstly, it has a good effect on you yourself. It makes you feel fresh and
energetic. You are able to do more work and are quicker with everything you do.
More importantly, the freshness adds to your enjoyment and makes your day. So a
healthy skin too plays its part in building confidence. Yes, you can take most
of the credit for having achieved that (however, do leave a little for the skin
care products too).

Moreover, this flow of positive energy is experience by people around you too
and you observe that even they are friendlier with you. You get more respect
from others. They are more responsive to your queries. They themselves
experience the freshness that you are exuding. They love working with you and
for you. Yes, that's how it works. Some people might even go ahead and ask you
about the skin care products you use (you might or might not reveal those
secret skin care products to them). Thus, a healthy skin can be instrumental in
creating a pleasant and friendly environment around you. On the other hand,
carelessness or negligence on this front can make you look unattractive and
dull. You will not only look dull but also feel dull. Your work efficiency is
reduced. Even the people you meet might not be as friendly. In fact, it might
lead to the aging process getting started much earlier.

Thus the importance of skin care cannot be ignored. However, skin care is not
that difficult at all. There are a lot of skin care products available and you
can choose the ones that suit you the best. There are various ways in which
skin care products are classified and the knowledge about these classifications
will help you understand them better and make a selection.

* The first categorisation is based on the skin type -- so you have skin care
products for oily skin, skin care product for dry skin, skin care products for
sensitive skin etc.

* Another way is to categorise skin care products based on their use e.g. you
have moisturisers, cleansers, skin care products for exfoliation, toners etc.

* Then you have skin care products for treatment of various skin dilemmas i.e.
skin care products for acne, skin care products for stretch marks, skin care
products for anti-ageing etc.

* Another classification is based on the ingredients e.g. herbal skin care
products, synthetic skin care products, cosmetic skin care products etc.

However, skin care products are not the only way of skin care. You also need to
build some basic skin care procedures in your day to day life (as we discuss in
the other article on personal skin care).

Top 10 skin care tips

Healthy skin is really one of the most important ingredients for
beauty-enhancement. This article on skin care tips is an effort to bring the 10
best skin care tips to you. The list of skin care tips has been restricted to 10
because anything more that that would not only be difficult to remember, but
also shadow the more important skin care tips. So let's see what these top ten
skin care tips are:

* Knowing your skin type is one of the most important skin care tip. This is
important because not every skin care product suits everyone. In fact, all the
skin care products specify the type of skin they cater too.

* 'Drink a lot of water'. This will not keep your skin moist but will help in
overall upkeep of your health (and in turn your skin). It might seem a bit
awkward to some, however, this is an important skin care tip.

* Cleanse your skin regularly (1-2 times everyday). A very effective skin care
tip that helps in getting rid of the dirt and other harsh elements from your
skin. Cleansing is especially important when you have been out of your house
(and hence exposed to pollutants, dust etc). This skin care tip also advocates
the use of Luke warm water for cleansing (hot and cold water, both, cause
damage to your skin)

* Be gentle, after all it's your skin. Don't scrub/exfoliate too hard or too
often. Similarly, don't apply too much or too many skin care products. A
must-to-follow skin care tip.

* Keep your skin moist at all times. This is one of the most important skin
care tip. Don't let your skin get dry. Dryness causes the outer layer of your
skin to break, leading to a rough and unattractive appearance. Use
moisturisers/ emollients. Moisturisers work best when applied while the skin is
still damp.

* Avoid the use of soap on your face. Soap should only be used from below the
neck. A small but important skin care tip.

* Use sunscreen to protect yourself from sun's harmful UV radiations. You can
use day-time moisturisers that have sunscreen built into them. Use them even
when it's cloudy. UV radiations are known to cause skin cancer, so follow this
skin care tip without fail.

* A bit of exercise and good sleep are essential too, not just for skin care
but for your health as a whole. Lack of sleep can lead to formation of wrinkles
below your eyes and lack of exercise can cause your skin to slack. Moreover,
exercise and sleep also help in beating stress. So besides being a skin care
tip, this is also a health care tip.

* Treat skin dilemmas with care. This skin care tip is about not ignoring any
skin dilemmas. Consult your dermatologist before you go on to use a skin care
product (lest you do end up harming your skin even more).

* Beat the stress. The harmful effects of stress are known to everyone,
however, sometimes stating the obvious is essential too (and hence this skin
care tip found its place here). Yes, stress harms skin too. So, take a break or
indulge in a warm bubble bath or just get good sleep.

Tips for make up and skin care

'Make up and skin care' is generally regarded as women's forte. Men seldom
indulge in 'Make up and skin care'. Many men do care for their skin but make up
is really alien to most men. Treating make up and skin care as different topics
wouldn't make sense; after all, make up will work only if the skin is healthy.
So how do you exercise make up and skin care, together? Here are some tips for
make up and skin care:

* Always have skin care on mind, whether you are buying products for make up or
actually applying them onto your skin after you have bought them. So what you
are buying is a 'make up and skin care' product, not just a make up product.
Check the ingredients to see if it contains things that you might be allergic
to. Also check if it contains high concentration chemicals that can harm your
skin.

* 'Make up and skin care' is also about testing the products before using them.
So, apply the make up on a small patch of skin e.g. earlobes and check how your
skin reacts to it.

* Keep track of expiry date on your make up products and never use them beyond
the expiry date. In fact some products (e.g. vitamin C based products), if not
stored properly, get spoilt much earlier than the expiry date.

* Cleanliness is an important part of make up and skin care procedure. Sharpen
your eye-liners regularly and keep all your makeup equipment clean at all
times. You might fix a date, each month, for overhauling of your equipment. As
part of cleanliness, your make up and skin care procedure should also include
keeping your hair clean at all times.

* Nail care is another important aspect of make up and skin care. Use a good
quality nail polish and always keep your nails clean. Once you are done with
cleaning and polishing your nails, you should rub in cuticle oil at the edges
of the nail.

* If you have deep-set eyes, you should use a liquid eye liner instead of a
pencil one. This will prevent smudging at the deep edges of your eye-lid.

* If you have a skin disorder e.g. acne, you should not apply heavy or chemical
based make up. Consult your dermatologist if you are not sure about the make up
products that you can use while you have acne or other skin disorder. Never try
to squeeze pimples/ acne. Remember that make up and skin care should not
conflict each other.

* Use a mild make up remover (instead of just washing it away).

* Another important 'make up and skin care' procedure is the following golden
rule: "Never sleep with your make up on"

* While applying a deodorant, make sure that you maintain the recommended
distance between the nozzle and your skin (as mentioned on the deodorant pack).

So, make up and skin care should always go hand in hand. Do not try to treat
make up and skin care differently.

Which is the best skin care product?

There is really nothing like a best skin care product. There really can't be
anything like 'The best skin care product', because skin care products work
differently for different people (based on the skin type to some extent). A
product that is the 'best skin care product' for one person might end up being
the worst for another person. So, a more logical question to ask would be 'What
is the best skin care product for my type of skin?'. However, this still is not
completely logical. We tend to segregate people into 4 groups based on their
skin types -- i.e. dry skin, oily skin, normal skin and sensitive skin.
However, this classification is just too broad to be used definitively in
determining the best skin care product. We can say 'best skin care product for
a dry skin' or 'best skin care product for an oily skin' are better statements
than just 'best skin care product'. But really, that is what it is -- 'better';
still not accurate.

So, it really comes to rephrasing the question to -- 'What is the best skin
care product for me'. Yes, this is exactly the question that you should be
asking, and unfortunately there is no easy answer for this. Arriving at the
best skin care product for self will need some effort on your part.

First of all, you need to understand how the skin care products work. This is
simple. You can consider all skin care products to be composed of 2 types of
ingredients -- Active and inactive. The active ingredients are the ones that
actually work on your skin. The inactive ones just help in delivering these
active ingredients to your skin. Both the ingredients need to work for your
skin, in order for the product to be effective (and move on to become the best
skin care product for you).

Besides the ingredients, the way you apply your skin care products is equally
important. In fact, this is even more important. If you do not know how to
apply skin care products, you might forever be hunting for the best skin care
product for yourself, when that has already passed you. Moreover, it's also
important to decide on the frequency of application (of the skin care product).
The environmental factors -- temperature, humidity and pollution level, also
affect the selection of best skin care product. Here are a few rules that you
could use to ensure that your best skin care product is really the best for you:

* Cleanse your skin before applying that best skin care product.

* Use a makeup remover instead of plain water and remove your makeup before
  going to bed.

* The effectiveness of active ingredients is reduced when applied over another
  product e.g. over moisturiser. So apply that best skin care product first and
  then apply a bit of moisturizer if needed.

* Apply the products on moist and warm skin.

* You will have to experiment with a few products before you arrive at the one
  that is the best skin care product for you.

* Do not exfoliate too much or too hard.

* Vary your skin care routine as per the seasons (winter/summer etc), changes
  in environmental factors and changes in your skin type

Note that the best skin care product cannot be determined overnight. It's only
through experiment (and awareness) that you can find the 'Best skin care
product' (for you).

What is Natural skin care?

Put simply, 'natural skin care' is caring for your skin in a natural and
chemical-free way. 'Natural skin care' advocates enabling the skin to take care
of itself (without any assistance from synthetic materials/ chemicals). 'Natural
skin care' is about inculcation of good habits in the way you lead your day to
day life. A lot of natural skin care measures are actually the same as those
for body care in general.

So let's see what these natural skin care measures are.

Well the first and the foremost natural skin care measure is -- 'Drink a lot of
water'. Around 8 glasses of water is a must everyday. Water helps in flushing
out the toxins from the body, in a natural way. It helps in the overall upkeep
of the body and promotes good health for all organs (not just skin).

General cleanliness is another inexpensive way of natural skin care. Daily
shower, wearing clean clothes and sleeping on a clean mattress/pillow are all
part of general cleanliness. After all, clean skin is the key to keeping the
skin disorders at bay.

Regular exercise is the next thing on the cards. Exercise increases the flow of
blood that helps in getting rid of body toxins and keeping you healthy. Exercise
also helps in beating stress which is the worst enemy of good health.

Healthy food and eating habits are also recommended for natural skin care. Some
type of food (e.g. oily food) is know to cause acne and should be avoided as
much as possible. Your diet should be a healthy mix of various nutrient
providing foods. Raw fruits and vegetables are known to provide freshness to
your body and help in getting rid of body toxins.

A good sleep is also instrumental in maintaining good health and in beating
stress. As a natural skin care measure, a good sleep delays slacking of skin.

Beating stress is another natural skin care therapy. Stress causes overall
damage to body and health. Drinking a lot of water, getting a sound sleep and
exercise has already been mentioned as stress busters. Indulging in a warm
bubble bath, listening to music and playing your favourite sport are also good
ways of beating stress. Yoga is yet another way of beating stress; it is fast
gaining popularity amongst the masses.

Avoiding excessive exposure to sun (by wearing long sleeved clothes, hat and
umbrella etc), is another natural skin care strategy. Sunscreen lotions are
also recommended as necessary.

A lot of traditional and home made natural skin care products/ measures are
also known to be very effective. Such measures are not only natural and
easy-to-follow, but also relatively inexpensive.

Besides that, a lot of natural skin care products are available in the
commercial market. These include things like lavender oil, aloe vera etc.,
which don't have any side effects.

'Personal skin care' is a routine

We all know the importance of 'personal skin care'. The opinion on how-to (for
personal skin care) differs from person to person. Some people believe that
going to beauty parlours every other day is personal skin care. Others believe
that personal skin care is just a matter of applying some cream or lotion on
your skin, every now and then. Then there are people who think that personal
skin care is an event that happens once a month or once a year. Still others
busy themselves with 'personal skin care' all the time. However, personal skin
care is not that complicated and neither is it that expensive (considering how
beneficial it is). Personal skin care is following a routine or a procedure for
attending to the needs of your skin.

Even before you start with a routine, you need to determine your skin-type
(oily, dry, sensitive, normal etc) and select the personal skin care products
suitable for it (you might have to experiment with a few personal skin care
products). Here is a routine that should work for most people with normal skin.

The first thing on personal skin care routine is 'Cleansing'. The three main
ingredients of a cleanser are oil, water and surfactants (wetting agents). Oil
and surfactants extract dirt and oil from your skin and water then flushes it
out, thus making your skin clean. You might have to try a couple of cleansers
before you find the one that suits you the best. However, you should always use
soap-free cleansers. Also, you should use Luke warm water for cleansing (hot and
cold water, both, cause damage to your skin). Take care that you don't
over-cleanse your skin and end up damaging your skin in the process.

The second thing on the personal skin care routine is exfoliation. Skin follows
a natural maintenance process wherein it removes the dead cells and replaces
them with new skin cells. Exfoliation is just a way to facilitate the skin in
this process. Dead skin cells are not capable of responding to personal skin
care products but still consume these products, hence preventing them from
reaching the new skin cells. Thus removing dead skin cells is important in
order to increase the effectiveness of all personal skin care products.
Generally, exfoliation takes it place just after cleansing. As with any
personal skin care procedure, it's important that you understand how much
exfoliation you need. Exfoliate 4-5 times per week for oily/normal skin and 1-2
times per week for dry/sensitive skin. Exfoliate a couple of times more in hot
and humid weather.

Next thing on personal skin care routine is moisturizers. This is one of the
most important things in personal skin care. Even people with oily skin need
moisturisers. Moisturisers not only seal the moisture in your skin cells, but
also attract moisture (from air) whenever needed. Use of too much moisturiser
can however clog skin pores and end up harming your skin. The amount of
moisturiser needed by your skin will become apparent to you within one week of
you using the moisturiser. Also, applying the moisturiser is best when your
skin is still damp.

The last thing on personal skin care routine is sunscreen. A lot of
moisturizers (day-time creams/moisturisers) come with UV protection -- so you
can get double benefits from them. Such moisturisers are recommended for all
days (irrespective of whether it is sunny or cloudy).

Again, experiment with various personal skin care products and also with the
amount you need to apply. What gives you best results is the best personal skin
care recipe for you. However, if you have some kind of skin dilemma, it is best
to consult your dermatologist before you actually start using any personal skin
care products.

Serious skin care

'Serious skin care' is about maintaining a healthy and glowing skin all through
your life. As you grow older, your body's natural skin care mechanisms become
weaker. So, 'serious skin care' is about responding to the changing needs of
your skin. Thus, 'serious skin care' is about constantly evaluating, analysing
and changing your skin care routines. Your skin care routine should change
based on the environmental conditions, your age and changes in your skin type.

'Serious skin care' is also about awareness. With the technological
advancements and research, more and more facts are being brought to light
everyday. Also, the composition and nature of skin care products seems to be
changing with time. So trying out the new products is also a part of serious
skin care. However, 'serious skin care' advises using a new product over a
small patch of skin (not facial skin) first, just to see how your skin reacts
to it.

'Serious skin care' also means knowing how to use your skin care products. Good
practices include things like applying the moisturizers while the skin is damp,
using upward strokes for better penetration of skin care products, removing the
make up before going to bed, cleansing before moisturising or applying make up,
using the correct amount of skin care products, etc. Thus, increasing the
effectiveness of your skin care products is another focus area of serious skin
care.

Some precautions, like avoiding contact with detergents, are also part of
serious skin care. 'Serious skin care' means being gentle with your skin.
Things like over-exfoliation, use of low quality products, and application of
strong-chemical based products, are all harmful to your skin. Some people have
a wrong notion about serious skin care. For them serious skin care is -- using
large quantities of products as often as possible. However, this really isn't
serious skin care (and that's why awareness is so important).

'Serious skin care' is also about visiting your dermatologist for treatment of
skin disorders. Ignoring the skin disorders can be fatal for your skin and
might lead to permanent damage. So, if the things don't improve with over the
counter medication, you should immediately visit a dermatologist. Self-surgery
e.g. squeezing of acne/pimples is a big no (it can lead to permanent damage of
your skin).

So, seriously serious skin care is more about precautions and preventive
measures (than treatment). Serious skin care is about being proactive as well
as reactive. In fact, we can say that 'serious skin care' is about being
proactive about the needs of your skin so that the need for being reactive is
reduced to a minimum.

Skin care cosmetic -- Useful or harmful?

A beautiful and healthy skin is a big confidence booster. Some people are
naturally beautiful and hence don't use any 'skin care cosmetic'. Then there
are others, who don't use skin care cosmetic due to their laziness. Still some
feel that skin care cosmetic can harm their skin, and hence abandon the use of
any kind of skin care cosmetic. However, there are a large number of people who
do use skin care cosmetic (that's why the business of skin care cosmetic is
prospering).

So, is skin care cosmetic useful, or is it harmful? Well, the opinions seem
divided. However, one thing is for sure -- Looking beautiful is surely nice and
very desirable. Also, too much skin care cosmetic can surely be harmful (as
such, excess of anything is harmful). So, what does one do?

The first thing is to formulate (and follow) a skin care routine that will help
keep your skin healthy and disease-free. The general recommendation is to
cleanse and moisturise everyday, and tone and exfoliate occasionally (as and
when needed).

Next thing is the skin care cosmetics that you would be using additionally (as
beauty enhancers). These skin care cosmetics could either be part of your skin
care routine or be applied only on special occasions (e.g. when attending a
party etc).

The most important thing with skin care cosmetic is its selection. Here is a
set of rules that you should use when selecting any skin care cosmetic:

* The general rule is to use products that suit your skin type. This is true
both for the routine products and for the skin care cosmetic. So check the
label to see what it says e.g. 'for dry skin only' or 'for all skin types' etc.

* Test the skin care cosmetic before using it. This can be done by applying the
skin care cosmetic on a small patch of skin e.g. ear lobes and checking the
reaction of your skin to the product.

* Check the ingredients of the skin care cosmetic for chemicals that you are
allergic to. Do not use products that are very harsh on skin e.g. products with
high alcohol concentrations; such cosmetics might work for once but cause a
long-lasting damage to your skin.

* 'More isn't better'. Ensure that you apply the products in right quantity
(neither less not more). Also, be gentle with your skin and follow the right
procedures for application of skin care products. Rubbing too hard or trying to
squeeze a pimple can lead to permanent damage to your skin.

* Finally, if you have a skin disorder e.g. acne etc, you should consult your
dermatologist before using any skin care cosmetic.

Skincare Concerns

It is probable that most of us will have to deal with some type of skin problem
in our lives. Because skin problems can cause discomfort and even embarrass us,
they should not make us hide ourselves away from the rest of the world. There
are two more common skin disorders that are known and they are acne and eczema.

Acne is mostly found in teenagers and it is very common among adults as well.
It is said that there is one out of every four adults that will have to go
through acne blemishes at some point in their life. However, many wander what
really causes these outbreaks.

Acne can be due to many different factors that include hormones, heredity,
stress, and medications. It is important to know that acne is not caused by any
one factor alone. Many people believe that people with acne are not clean or
they eat too much grease or fat. However this is just a myth.

The fact is that acne has nothing to do with your lifestyle or your skin's
origin. When oil gets trapped below the surface of your skin, it can cause
bacteria to start multiplying. This is what will usually cause your skin to
become irritated while developing pimples and blemishes.

What can we do to fight an unwelcome skin disorder? First of all we need to
recommend that you wash your skin once or twice a day with a good cleanser. You
need to stay away form cleansers that contain harsh acids because this will only
irritate your skin further. To avoid irritation you should never scrub your
face. It is best to use only your fingertips when you are washing and this will
limit the sensitivity in your skin and keep your pores clean.

Another problem with the skin is eczema. This will intrude upon 15 million
Americans and eczema can show up in a many ways. It is usually going to appear
as a dry patch of skin that is red and irritated and it can also lead to
cracking, itching, blisters, and seeping sores.

Eczema is known to be a hereditary condition but it can also be brought on by
other reasons. There are things like irritants such as colognes, perfumes,
detergents, soaps, household chemicals, and of course stress can bring on the
eczema symptoms.

You may wander how you can combat this disorder. The first thing is to avoid
any potential triggers like any of the above. Prevention is the best medicine
for most skin conditions, and eczema is no exception to the rule. If you
already have eczema, you should not get upset. There are many creams and
ointments that are going to help treat the symptoms of it.

The best advice for any skin problem is to get help forms a good dermatologist.
The professional help will have the skills and the tools that are needed to
address and treat your skin the right way. Also you can regain your confidence
and get back to a normal life without worrying about your skin breaking out.

UV light and your skin

Having the sun shinning on our body is something that will keep us happy and
healthy. If you are concerned about your skin, you should know that the sun can
do damage on your body too. The UV Index is something that most people have
heard about and know that UV rays can cause skin damage and even cancer in some
people. When you know and understand how the UV index works, you will have a
good idea of the suns effects and what you can do to protect your skin and body
in the best way.

UV rays are also known as ultraviolet rays. They can damage your skin and eyes
and we have to be worried about this so that we wear protective clothing and
use sunscreen and sunglasses to stay safe in the summer and in the winter
months. In the last few decades, the UV index has been included in many of the
weather reports in order to help people see the strength of ultraviolet rays
that come from the sun on any day.

You need to first of all realize that the readings are taken at noon so the
numbers are at their peak. This means that the sun's rays are not always as
harmful as what you see on the weather reports. This does not man that you
should not wear sunscreen all the time. However you should not worry about the
sun so much that you do not even go outside. The sun can be very healthy and
uplifting for our body as well.

The UV index is going to read the sun's effect with numbers and zero is the
lowest. On many days, the UV index will be between zero and ten. A reading that
is higher than ten will mean that it is more dangerous and this would be
especially for anyone with fair skin. Being safe with sunscreen every time you
go outside no matter what the reading is will help protect you. Zero to two is
the "minimal" UV index rating and three or four means the danger is "low".
Having a 5 or 6 will show that "moderate" dangers are present and a seven to
ten is "high" danger. Anything that is above ten is "very high." You need to
think about staying indoors if the reading is going to reach above ten.

The UV index is very useful because it is going to measure not only the heat
from the sun but also the ozone, clouds, haze and pollution in any area on any
day. These things are going to block out some of the dangers in the rays so a
UV index will measure more than just how nice and sunny it is outdoors. You
need to know that it is crucial that you protect your skin from the sun as well
as make sure that you are catching some of the beautiful sunshine as often as
you can.

Vitamin C skin care -- The challenge

Vitamin C is often regarded as a wrinkle fighter or an anti-aging agent. The
main objective of 'Vitamin C skin care', in scientific terms, is to increase
the synthesis of collagen (a structural protein that is found in skin). The
additional benefit of 'Vitamin C skin care' is related to its capability of
countering free radicals which cause damage to the skin.

Vitamin C skin care, however, faces a major challenge today. This is related to
the oxidation tendency of Vitamin C skin care products. On coming in contact
with any oxidising agent (e.g. air), the Vitamin C in the Vitamin C skin care
products, gets oxidised; thus making the Vitamin C skin care product useless
(in fact counter-effective). The oxidised Vitamin C imparts a yellowish-brown
colour to the Vitamin C skin care product. This is something that you need to
check before buying a Vitamin C skin care product. Even after you buy a Vitamin
C skin care product, you need to store it properly and keep checking that it's
still good to use (i.e. it hasn't attained a yellowish-brown texture).

The manufacturers of Vitamin C skin care products have tried to deal with this
(oxidation) problem in multiple ways (and research on Vitamin C skin care
products is on the top of their list). One such method of retaining
effectiveness of Vitamin C skin care products for a long term is to keep a high
concentration (say 10%) of Vitamin C. However, this makes the Vitamin C skin
care products even more expensive. The Vitamin C skin care products are already
pretty inexpensive and making them even more expensive will throw the product
manufacturers out of business. The other way is to use Vitamin C derivatives
(like ascorbyl palmitate and magnesium ascorbyl phosphate). These are not only
more stable but also inexpensive.

Even though the derivatives based products are not as effective as the Vitamin
C skin care products, their stability against oxidation is a very desirable
feature that makes them very attractive. Moreover, these are known to be less
irritating too.

Talking of effectiveness of Vitamin C skin care products, it's important to
mention that not everyone responds to Vitamin C treatments. So it's not a magic
potion in any way. If you don't see a noticeable difference in your skin, it
might be because of your skin not responding to Vitamin C treatment (and the
Vitamin C skin care products might not be at fault, at all).

As more research goes on, one can only keep our fingers crossed and wait for a
complete solution to the challenges faced by 'Vitamin C skin care' today.

The recipe for dry skin care

Dry skin cannot be ignored. Dry skin leads to cracking of the upper layer of
skin and gives it a real bad appearance. The main causes of dry skin include:
dry climate, hormonal changes, too much exfoliation and treatment of other skin
disorders. Moreover, dryness could be the inherent nature of one's skin.
Whatever be the cause, 'dry skin care' is very important (but not very
difficult).

'Dry skin care' starts with moisturisers, the most effective remedy for dry
skin. Generally moisturisers are classified under 2 categories based on the way
they provide 'dry skin care'.

The first category includes moisturisers that provide 'dry skin care' just by
preserving the moisture within the skin e.g. Vaseline. These moisturisers are
relatively inexpensive and are readily available (even at grocery shops).

The second category includes moisturisers that work by drawing moisture from
the environment and supplying it to the skin. This is a very effective way of
'dry skin care' in humid conditions. The moisturisers that provide 'dry skin
care' in this way are also called humectants. For proper dry skin care, you
must use a non-greasy type of moisturiser, as far as possible. Humectants fall
in this category. The ingredients of humectants include propylene glycol, urea,
glycerine, hyaluronic acid etc

'Dry skin care' is not about just using moisturisers but also using them
properly. The best 'dry skin care procedure' is to cleanse the skin before the
application of moisturiser. You can make your 'dry skin care' even more
effective by applying the moisturiser while the skin is still damp (after
cleansing). Also, make sure that you use soap-free products (especially on your
face, neck and arms). Exfoliation does help in dry skin care, by removing the
dead skin cells. However, don't exfoliate too hard. Your dry skin care
procedures/products should also take care of sun protection. Avoid too much and
too direct exposure to sun (simply by using an umbrella/hat etc). Use a good
sunscreen lotion before going out. A lot of moisturisers provide sun protection
too, along with dry skin care.

You also have natural products for 'dry skin care' i.e. products that provide
'dry skin care' in a natural way (without the use of synthetic chemicals).
These dry skin care products supply lipid enhancements to the skin, hence
enabling moisture retention within the skin. Another, important thing for 'dry
skin care' is the temperature of water you use for shower or for washing your
face -- Use warm water; too hot or too cold water can cause dryness too.

'Dry skin care' is also about being gentle with your skin. You should avoid
harsh detergents and alcohol based cleansers. Also, after a face wash, do not
rub your towel on your face, just pat gently to soak the water off.

On the whole, dry skin care is really simple for anyone who takes that
seriously.

Oily Skin

Oily skin is not fun to have. It can show up to be thick and dull looking with
coarse pores and pimples forming. This is due to the oil glands of the skin and
that they are overactive and oil will build up in the skin. This will make it
more assessable to forming blackheads. The skin will look to have a greasy
shine to it and this will make it look coarse. Many do not have oily skin and
instead they have combination skin, which means that in some areas it may be
dry or just normal in others. Oily skin does have its disadvantages and the
main one is that it will age slower than other skin types.

Because of the dry skin, genetics will be more at play in the case of oily
skin. There are other things that will contribute to oily skin conditions and
they will include diet, hormones, cosmetics, pregnancy, contraceptives and
environmental conditions like hotter and humid climates. Because the levels of
hormones are high, especially testosterone, this will make the oil glands over
active, oily skin is going to be more noticeable in the teenage years. The same
reason will be for oily skin conditions in women that are pregnant or in
menopause.

There are regular cleansing routines with hot water and soap that is needed to
prevent oil build up and clogging of skin pores. You need to be careful that
you do not use harsh soaps and other products that will make your skin dry. If
you are using dehydrating products on the skin, the upper layer will go dry and
shrink. This will result in the obstruction with the flow of oil through the
pores. The result is going to clogging of the pores.

You need to wash the skin with hot water that is comfortable for you. Hot water
will dissolve the oil better. Do not use cleansing creams. You need to go for an
antibacterial cleansing lotion or a mild medicated soap to do this. When you are
done cleaning, treat the skin with a natural and oil free moisturizer.

If your skin is too oily, and you are under the age of thirty, you should do
four cleanings a day and use little or no moisturizer after cleansing. Use your
fingers to massage your face while you are cleansing.

A clay or mud mask will help you to take care of the oily conditions of the
skin. For sensitive skin, white or rose colored clays are better to use as a
mask. Before putting on makeup, a woman may want to use antiseptic day cream
that will reduce the activity of oil glands.

There are diets that are high in protein but are going to lack the sugar,
fluids and salt that are recommended for anyone with oily skin problems. Eating
vegetables and fruits are defiantly going to help you. You especially want the
ones that are rich in vitamin B2. These will be whole grains, beans, nuts, and
royal jelly. You should use minimum oil in your diet and stay away from
alcohol, soda, sugar filled drinks, chocolate and many other junk food items.
You need to talk to your doctor or dermatologist about your skin conditions and
find out what is best for you.




The facts about Oily skin care

To start the discussion on oily skin care, it's imperative to first understand
the cause behind oily skin. Put simply, oily skin is a result of excessive
production of sebum (an oily substance that is naturally produced by skin). As
is known to everyone, excess of everything is bad; so excessive sebum is bad
too. It leads to clogging of skin pores, resulting in accumulation of dead
cells and hence formation of pimples/acne. Moreover, oily skin spoils your
looks too. So, 'oily skin care' is as important as the 'skin care' for other
types of skin.

The basic aim of 'oily skin care' is the removal of excessive sebum or oil from
the skin. However, oily skin care procedures should not lead to complete removal
of oil. 'Oily skin care' starts with the use of a cleanser. However, not all
cleansers will work. You need a cleanser which contains salicylic acid i.e. a
beta-hydroxy acid that retards the rate of sebum production. Cleansing should
be done twice a day (and even more in hot and humid conditions).

Most of the oily skin care products are oil-free; however, it is always good to
check the ingredients of the product, before you actually buy it. This is
especially important if a product is marked as 'suitable for all skin types',
instead of 'oily skin care product'. 'Oily skin care' is also dependent on the
degree of oiliness, if you aren't too oily, so some of these 'suitable for
all'- type of products might be work for you too. For extremely oily skin, only
oily skin care products are suitable. Your oily skin care routine can include an
alcohol based toner (for an extremely oily skin). This can be the second step in
your oily skin care routine i.e. just after cleansing. However, excessive toning
can harm your skin.

The next step in your oily skin care routine can be a mild moisturiser. Again,
the degree of oiliness of your skin will determine whether you need to include
this in your oily skin care routine. If you do decide to include a moisturiser,
be sure to use one that is oil-free, wax-free and lipid-free. You could also use
a clay mask (say once a week) as an oily skin care measure.

As far as the oily skin care products go, you might need to try out a few
before you arrive at the one that is really suitable for your skin.

In case these measures don't give you the desired result, consult a good
dermatologist for advice. He could prescribe stronger oily skin care products
like vitamin A creams, retinoids, sulphur creams etc., which can help counter
the problems of oily skin.

Skin care treatment for the most common skin conditions

A glowing and healthy skin is an asset. Skin is not all about beauty but also
health. So, skin care treatment should be treated with all seriousness. If you
develop a skin related dilemma, you need an appropriate skin care treatment.
Skin care treatment, for any skin disorder, starts with actions that are aimed
at prevention of the disorder (what we can also call as proactive or preventive
skin care treatment). Building and following basic skin care procedures is what
one could classify as preventive/proactive skin care treatment. Skin disorders
can occur even if you have followed this preventive skin care treatment.
Preventive skin care treatment just reduces the probability of occurrence.
Let's check the skin care treatment for some of the common skin conditions.

Acne is one of the most common problems. Again, the first type of skin care
treatment is to control acne and prevent it from getting worse. So avoid tight
clothes; they are known to cause body acne by trapping sweat. Do not touch the
blemishes over and over again (rather don't touch them at all), you might end
up aggravating the condition. Also, do not try to scrub too hard or squeeze
them. Use of mild cleansers is a recommended skin care treatment for acne.
Obtain an over-the-counter skin care treatment for faster treatment of acne.

Skin care treatment of dry skin is generally easy. Moisturisers, applied in the
right way and in the right quantity, are the best form of skin care treatment
for dry skin. For best results, apply moisturiser while your skin is still
damp. Also, do not apply too much or too little moisturiser. In exceptional
cases, where you don't notice any improvements in 3-4 weeks, you might have to
visit your dermatologist for skin care treatment of your dry skin.

Brown spots, which appear on sun-exposed areas of skin i.e. face and hands, are
caused by over-exposure to UV radiations. As a skin care treatment for brown
spots, use a sunscreen lotion which has a high SPF (sun protection factor), say
15. This should be used irrespective of weather -- sunny/cloudy. Another form of
skin care treatment is covering up the exposed areas with clothing (caps, full
sleeved shirts/t-shirts, and umbrella).

Also, if the general skin care treatment or the over-the-counter medication is
not working for you, you should immediately consult your dermatologist for
professional skin care treatment. You should also inform the doctor about the
skin care treatment that you have undertaken till that time. So take the
details of the till-date skin care treatment (and products) along with you.
Based on the skin condition and the details of your till-date skin care
treatment, the dermatologist will prescribe a skin care treatment e.g. oral
antibiotics, chemical peels, retinoid etc and you will be on your way to
recovery.

Anti aging skin care

One of the most interesting topics on skin care is 'anti aging skin care'. As
one gets older, the natural defence of our skin (and in fact of the whole body)
weakens. 'Anti aging skin care' is about protecting your skin from the negative
effects of aging process. 'Anti aging skin care' helps in maintaining a young
and fresh look for a longer period of time. However, 'anti aging skin care'
doesn't end just here. Besides maintaining your looks (good looks), 'anti aging
skin care' is also about retaining the resistance to disease. Though the
awareness about anti aging has increased over a period of time, still a lot of
people are unable to recognize the aging symptoms (and hence are unable to
determine if they are in need of additional anti aging skin care measures).

Here is a list of visible anti aging symptoms that will help you in the
planning and execution of your strategy for anti aging skin care: baldness,
forgetfulness, graying hair, wrinkle formation, loss of eyesight or hearing
loss and menopause. The occurrence of one or more such symptoms is an indicator
for upping the ante on anti aging skin care. Note that we are talking about
introduction of additional measures for anti aging skin care, we are not
talking about starting 'anti aging skin care' altogether. 'Anti aging skin
care' actually starts much before the symptoms of anti aging appear. Serious
anti aging skin care is building and following a proper skin care routine much
earlier in life (say in your teens). Anti aging skin care doesn't mean adoption
of any special skin care procedure but just following a normal procedure in the
right earnest. Eating a lot of fruits, avoiding stress, drinking a lot of water
and using natural therapies can delay the aging process.

Once the signs of aging start showing up, you should start using some
additional measures in the form of anti aging skin care products. The market is
full of anti aging skin care products. In fact there are so many anti aging skin
care products that they will probably find you even before you find them. Also,
with age, the skin undergoes significant change. So you will need to analyse
your current skin care procedure to check if it still holds good i.e. if it is
still suitable for your skin.

You should remember that aging is a natural process and there is nothing that
can stop it from happening. All these anti aging skin measures can just help in
delaying the aging process.

Anti aging skin care products

Anti aging skin care products remind me of the song '18 till I die'. Indeed,
anti aging skin care products are very popular today; and why not, who doesn't
want to look young for ever?

Talking of anti aging skin care products, the first thing that comes to mind is
vitamin C based anti aging skin care products. These products work by enabling
the synthesis of collagen (a structural protein that is found in skin). This
category of anti aging skin care products is related to anti-oxidants. Anti
aging skin care products that are based on vitamin C are, however, posed with
the danger of getting oxidised themselves (as they come into contact with air
during their usage). So some anti aging skin care products are based on the
derivatives of vitamin C, which are more stable and less expensive. However,
the effectiveness of such anti aging skin care is not as much as it is for
vitamin C based ant aging skin care products.

Besides vitamin C, vitamin E and lipoic acid are anti-oxidants too. Vitamin E
is a fat-soluble anti-oxidant that is found in human blood and helps in
building resistance against infection. Vitamin E is also known to inhibit
cancer. Liponic acid is known to combat the signs of aging very effectively by
reversing the skin damage caused by the aging process.

Phytochemicals form the other category of anti aging skin care products.
Phytochemical are special chemicals that are extracted from plants. There are a
variety of phytochemicals that are in use today. Phytochemicals prevent
occurrence of cancer of certain types; these include prostate cancer, breast
cancer and colon cancer. That is why they find their place in anti aging skin
care products.

Some B-vitamins like B5, B6 and B12 are also in use for anti aging skin care
products.

The field of anti aging skin care products is vast and needs a lot of research.
Though the currently available products are effective, they still have
challenges to combat. Hopefully, these challenges will get resolved in due
course and help get better and cheaper anti aging skin care products.

However, anti aging skin care products should be used only as a supplement to
the natural ways of skin and body care. So, drinking a lot of water, getting a
good night sleep, exercising regularly, maintaining healthy eating habits and
keeping stress at bay are essential means of delaying the aging process. No
anti aging skin care product can replace them really.

All about sensitive skin care

'Sensitive skin care' is governed by a few basic rules. However, even before we
delve into the rules for sensitive skin care, it's important to understand what
a sensitive skin is. Sensitive skin is one which is unable to tolerate any
unfavourable conditions (environmental/other), and which easily gets irritated
on contact with foreign materials (including skin care products). For this
reason, some products are especially labelled as sensitive skin care products.
The degree of sensitivity can however vary from person to person (and depending
on that, the sensitive skin care procedures vary too).

Generally, all skin types respond negatively to detergents and other chemical
based products. However, the damage starts generally beyond a defined threshold
(or tolerance level). This tolerance level is very low for sensitive skin types,
leading to skin getting damaged very easily and quickly. Sensitive skin care
products either avoid the potential irritants or keep them at very low
concentrations.

Here are a few tips for sensitive skin care:

* Use sensitive skin care products only (i.e. the products that are marked for
  sensitive skin care only). Also, check the instructions/ notes on the product
  to see if there are specific restrictions/warnings associated with the 
  product).

* Even within the range of sensitive skin care products, choose the one that
  has minimum preservatives, colourings and other additives

* Do not use toners. Most of them are alcohol based and are not recommended for
  sensitive skin.

* Wear protective gloves when doing laundry or other chemical based cleaning.
  If you are allergic to rubber, you can wear cotton gloves below the rubber 
  ones.

* Another important tip for 'sensitive skin care' is to avoid excessive
  exposure to sun. Apply sunscreen lotion before getting out in the sun.

* Avoiding exposure to dust and other pollutants is also important for
  sensitive skin care. So, cover yourself adequately before going out.

* Use hypoallergenic, noncomedogenic moisturizer as a sensitive skin care
  product (if there is none specifically labelled as a sensitive skin care
  product)

* Use soap-free and alcohol free cleansers. Cleanse your face whenever you
  return from spending time out doors.

* Do not scrub or exfoliate too hard. It can cause reddishness and even
  inflammation.

* Do not leave the makeup on for too long. Use hypoallergenic makeup- removers.

So, sensitive skin care is very different from the normal skin care. Sensitive
skin care is more about being careful with your skin (both in terms of
sensitive skin care products and protection against environments atrocities on
skin).

Acne skin care

Acne is defined as a diseased condition of the skin that involves the hair and
oil glands. It is characterised by pimples, black/white heads, reddishness and
cysts. Face acne can spoil your appearance to a great extent and body acne can
really ruin your day by making you very uncomfortable. Considering acne as a
minor problem, some people tend to totally discard the topic of 'Acne skin
care'. However, the importance of 'Acne skin care' cannot be undermined in any
way.

Acne skin care should really start much before the acne actually appears. 'Acne
skin care' is more about being proactive than reactive. Acne skin care is about
being aware of preventive measures. Acne skin care is -- following daily skin
care routines with complete discipline. So let's have a look at how 'acne skin
care' can be applied to our daily routine.

'Acne skin care' starts with the most basic thing -- cleanliness. So morning
showers are the most basic way of keeping the skin clean. In fact, a lot of
people take night showers too (that not only helps in keeping your skin clean
but also provides relaxation to your body and enables a good sleep). If you are
living in a hot and/or humid place, a night shower becomes a must. In fact, a
shower is recommended after any activity that causes high levels of sweat to
develop. It's a very effective 'acne skin care' technique.

However, acne skin care is not about just showers. Acne skin care is also about
wearing clean clothes and sleeping on clean pillows. Moreover, too tight clothes
can cause sweat to accumulate quickly; so soft and comfortable cotton clothes
are recommended, especially if you already have acne. In the same sense, 'acne
skin care' also advocates regular cleaning of your make-up brush and any
equipment that you use on your body.

Besides that, you should also use a mild, water-soluble, oil-free and soap-free
cleanser for keeping your face, neck and arms clean. Cleansing is the most
important part of any acne skin care routine. Cleaners are the easiest and the
most effective way of removing dirt, grease, pollutants and excess oil from
your skin; thus reducing the probability of acne occurrence. Acne skin care
also recommends removing your make up using a make up remover, and this should
happen before you go to bed (not in the morning).

If you already have acne, do not try to touch them or squeeze them; it can lead
to permanent scars. 'Acne skin care' advocates gentle cleansing and cleaning of
the affected area using an over-the-counter medication and a clean/soft cotton
pad. There are various acne skin care creams and lotions available
over-the-counter (a lot of these acne skin care products are actually
cleansers). However, if these 'acne skin care' measures don't give you the
desired results, contact a dermatologist for 'acne skin care' advice and
treatment.

Acne and its treatment

Acne is a menace. However, it's not something that cannot be tackled. There are
loads of acne skin care products around. We can classify acne skin care products
into 3 broad categories:

* Preventive or general acne skin care products

* Over-the-counter, specialised acne skin care products

* On-prescription acne skin care products.

The general acne skin care products are the ones that are used as
acne-prevention measure. These include cleansers, make-up removers and similar
products that help prevent acne. In the real sense, these acne skin care
products are just those that should anyway be part of your daily routine.
However, some of these are more oriented to act like an acne skin care product.
These acne skin care products act against the causes of acne e.g. limiting the
production of sebum/oil and preventing clogging of skin pores. Basically, these
acne skin care products prevent the oil from getting trapped in pores and hence
hamper the growth of bacteria that lead to acne. The general acne skin care
products also include exfoliation products like skin peels. These work towards
removing dead skin cells, hence reducing the possibility of pore-clogging and
bacteria development.

Then there are specialised acne skin care products that are available
over-the-counter i.e. without the need of a prescription. These include
products like vanishing creams which extract the extra oil from the skin. Most
of these acne skin care products are based on benzoyl peroxide and salicylic
acid, both of which are the enemies of bacteria (and hence acne). You should
start with a product that has lower concentration of benzoyl peroxide (e.g. 5%)
and see how your skin responds to it. Alpha-hydroxy-acid based moisturizers are
also popular as acne skin care products. You might have to try a few, before
you zero-in on the acne skin care product that is effective for you. If nothing
seems to work, you should contact a dermatologist.

On-prescription acne skin care products are the ones that are prescribed by a
dermatologist. This can include ointments that can be applied on the affected
area or oral antibiotics or just any topical treatment. Dermatologist could
also suggest a minor surgical procedure to remove the contents of pustules.
However, never try to squeeze or do this by yourself, it can lead to permanent
damage of your skin. Your doctor could also prescribe a hormone-based treatment
(since hormonal changes are also known to cause acne). Such acne skin care
products are known to be very effective in some cases. So, with all those acne
skin care products, tackling acne is not that difficult.

Are Natural skin care products the answer to all problems?

When it comes to skin care products, you will find that a lot of people are
very particular about using only natural skin care products. They treat all the
synthetic products as harmful to the skin.

So, are natural skin care products the answer to all of our problems? What if a
natural skin care product is not available for the treatment of a particular
skin disorder? Are the synthetic skin care products so harmful that they should
be banned?

Different people have different answers to these questions. However, the
reality is that due to presence of synthetic preservatives, it's really tough
to find a natural skin care product that is 100% natural. There are natural
skin care products that have natural preservatives, but their cost might be
detrimental. Moreover, such natural skin products have a shorter shelf life and
hence are not preferred by the manufacturers of natural skin care products.

Some people carry a wrong notion that since natural skin care products are
natural, they cannot cause any harm to the skin. The suitability of a skin care
product is not based on whether it is synthetic or natural. An unsuitable
natural skin care product can harm you in almost the same way as a synthetic
one. So, use natural skin care products, but be open to synthetic ones too (you
might need them when a natural solution is not available)

Your selection of a natural skin care product should be based on 3 factors:

* The skin type (dry, oily, normal, sensitive) of the person who will use that
  natural skin care product

* The climatic conditions in which it will be used e.g. hot and humid condition
  would warranty the use of oil-free natural skin care products.

* The process for application/use of the natural skin care product. A good
  natural skin care product (in fact any product) can seem useless if not used 
  in the proper way.

You can also make natural skin care products by yourself, by using the recipes
that are readily available on the internet and in the books at book stores.

Use of organic fruits and vegetables is also popular as a natural skin care
procedure. Some essential oils, herbal oils, are useful too and are known for
their moisturising and antiseptic properties

However, using a natural skin care product does not mean that you can exercise
carelessness with other aspects of skin care. Natural skin care products should
be used like supplements to the following 'essential' recommendations: healthy
eating habits (avoiding oily food), regular exercise, drinking a lot of water
(8 glasses everyday), and cleanliness. This will then form a perfect and
completely natural skin care routine that will help maintain a healthy
beautiful skin for longer time.

Antiaging skin care

'Antiaging skin care' is a very poplar concept in today's world. Today everyone
wants to hide their age using antiaging skin care procedures (and a number of
people are successful too). However antiaging skin care is not achieved by any
magic potion. 'Antiaging skin care' is about discipline. It is about being
proactive. Antiaging skin care is retarding the ageing process. Here are a few
tips for proactive antiaging skin care:

1. Maintain healthy eating habits: A well balanced diet is the key to
maintaining a proper body metabolism. Eat a lot of fruits and vegetables (raw),
they are the best source of fibre and have a very refreshing effect on your
body. Avoid oily and fatty food; not only do they lack in essential nutrients
but also cause obesity and other diseases which aid the aging process

2. Beat stress: This is probably the most important antiaging skin care
measure. Stress disturbs the body metabolism and accelerates the aging process.
Sleep, exercise and a relaxing bath, are all good ways of beating stress.
Aroma-therapy is also known to bust stress.

3. Drink a lot of water: Antiaging skin care can't be any simpler than this.
Water helps in flushing out the toxins from the body, hence keeping it clean
and making it less prone to disease. Around 8 glasses of water (per day) is
recommended by all doctors.

4. Regular exercise is a wonderful antiaging skin care procedure. Besides
toning your muscles, it also helps in cleaning the skin by flushing out the
toxins in the form of sweat. Exercise should be followed by a warm shower in
order to completely remove the toxins.

5. Avoid the use of strong, chemical based products on your skin. Natural skin
care products are a good option. Use of organic skin care products (home made
or commercial) can be a very effective antiaging skin care measure.

6. Do not overuse skin care products. Excessive and harsh application, both are
harmful.

7. Do not ignore skin disorders; it can lead to permanent skin damage. Try over
the counter medication and if that doesn't help, immediately visit your
dermatologist and seek his/her advice.

8. Vitamin C based skin care products are very popular means of antiaging skin
care. However, these seem to oxidise very quickly (which makes them harmful for
the skin). So store them properly. If the product turns Yellowish brown, it
means that vitamin c has oxidised and the prodct is no longer suitable for use.

9. Protect your skin against UV radiation ; UV rays are known to speed up the
aging process. So, a good sunscreen lotion should be a part of your antiaging
skin care routine.

Organic skin care

"If it can be done naturally, why go for artificial means" -- this is the basic
premise on which 'organic skin care' works. Organic skin care is the most
natural way of 'skin care'. In fact, 'organic skin care' was probably the first
one to be used by man when it first woke-up to the needs of his skin. 'Organic
skin care' is not only friendlier to skin, but also inexpensive. If exercised
in the right way, organic skin care can prevent the occurrence of a lot of skin
disorders and can help keep your skin healthy and young-looking for a much
longer time.

Organic fruits and vegetables are the most popular things on organic skin care
routines e.g. cucumber is very common in organic skin care routines. Turmeric,
apple, papaya, ginger are others that find a wide use in organic skin care
routines. These organic materials have a very refreshing and vitalizing effect
on your skin. Almost every skin care book/guide has section on organic skin
care (including the actions of various fruits and vegetables on skin). So
choose the ones that are more suitable for your skin type and start
experimenting with them until you finally select the ones that are most
suitable for inclusion in your organic skin care routine. It's important that
you use fresh organic fruits/vegetables. Don't try to utilise the rotten ones
for your skin, their only place is the garbage bin.

Milk is known to posses good cleansing properties; in fact, the name of some
skin care products contains the word 'milk' in them. A combination of milk with
ground oatmeal acts as wonderful cleanser.

Ground oatmeal is especially good for oily skins and is a popular ingredient in
organic skin care regimen. It is used in various combinations e.g. with egg,
honey, milk and fruits, for preparation of organic facial packs.

Wheat germ is another ingredient in organic skin care procedures. It is rich in
vitamin E and is known for its exfoliation as well as moisturising properties.
Wheat germ, in various combinations with other organic materials, is used to
prepare facial masks for normal and dry skin types. Wheat germ oil is another
way in which wheat germ is used for organic skin care.

Yogurt and sour cream are other organic materials that are popular for their
exfoliation and moisturising properties.

Use of organic honey is also popular in organic skin care procedures. It helps
in retention of moisture and helps impart a glowing look to skin.

Rose water takes its place as a toner in organic skin care routines. Lavender
water is popular too.

'Organic skin care' uses combinations of various organic materials that
complement each other and enhance each other's effectiveness. Moreover, these
combinations are also helpful in over-riding the harmful effects (if any) of
various organic materials that form them.

Organic skin care is really an art that, once perfected, can give wonderful
results in a very cost effective manner.

Lotions vs. skin care creams

There is no dearth of skin care creams and lotions in the market. Name an
ailment, and you will find hundreds of skin care creams, lotions and other
products for it. As a result of ongoing research and due to ever increasing
demand, the number of skin care products seems to be on the increase. Skin care
lotions and skin care creams are the most popular forms in which these products
are available, and there always seems to be a debate on which form is better?

Well, there is no definitive answer to this. It seems more like a matter of
personal choice. However, greasy creams are surely less popular as compared to
the non-greasy (or less greasy) ones. Since the application of skin care creams
is easier, they seem to be preferred (over lotions) in cases where the skin care
product is not to be removed immediately after application. So, skin care creams
seem more popular as moisturisers than as cleansers or toners. For toners,
lotions seem to be preferred over skin care creams. There are some skin care
creams that acts as toners too, but generally the toners are available in
liquid form only. For cleansing, lotions and skin care creams are equally
popular; however, the tilt seems more towards lotions.

Creams are known to be most effective in keeping skin moist; hence, the most
popular form of skin care creams is moisturisers. Due to the same reason, a lot
of people tend to associate skin care creams with dry and sensitive skin. Though
it is true to a certain extent, skin care creams are not used only for dry skin,
they are also used for making products for oily skin e.g. vitamin A creams and
sulphur creams that help reduce the rate of sebum production.

Skin care creams are also used for products that cater to skin disorders
especially for disorders that require the application of product over a small
localised area. This is again due to the fact that skin care creams are easier
to apply (without wastage) on the affected area. However, in cases where skin
needs to be washed using a medicine/product, lotion is a better choice. Mostly,
the manufacturers too realize this fact, making it easier for you to choose
between a lotion and a skin care cream

Eye-creams and anti-ageing creams are other examples where skin care cream is
preferred over its lotion counterpart.

Whatever your choice be (cream or lotion), knowing how to use it effectively,
is more important than anything else.

Herbal skin care

Skin care is not a topic of recent times; it has been in practice since ancient
times, when herbal skin care was probably the only way to take care of skin.
However, skin care has transformed in a big way. Herbal skin care routines have
been replaced by synthetic/chemical-based skin care routines. The herbal skin
care recipes which once used to be common place are not so popular today (and
even unknown to a large population). This transformation from herbal skin care
to synthetic, can probably be attributed to two things -- our laziness (or just
the fast pace of lives) and the commercialisation of skin care. Even herbal skin
care products have been commercialised. These commercial herbal skin care
products have to be mixed with preservatives in order to increase their
shelf-life, hence making them less effective than the fresh ones made at home.
However, it seems that things are changing fast and more people are now opting
for natural and herbal skin care routines. But still, none want to make them at
home and hence the commercial market of herbal skin care products is on the rise.

So what are these herbs or herbal skin care mechanisms?

Aloe vera, which is an extract from Aloe plant, is one of the best examples of
herbal skin care product. Freshly extracted aloe vera is a natural hydrant that
helps in soothing skin. It also helps in healing cuts and treating sun burns.

A number of herbs are known to possess cleansing properties. Dandelion,
chamomile, lime flowers and rosemary herbs, are a few examples of such
cleansers. Their herbal skin care properties get invoked when they are combined
with other herbs like tea.

Antiseptics are another important part of Herbal skin care. Lavender, marigold,
thyme and fennel are good examples of herbs that are known to possess antiseptic
properties. Lavender water and rose water also form good toners.

Tea plays an important part in herbal skin care. Tea extracts are used for
treatment of skin that has been damaged by UV radiation.

Oils prepared from herbal extracts present another means of herbal skin care.
Tea tree oil, Lavender oil, borage oil and primrose oil are some popular oils
used in herbal skin care. Some fruit oils (e.g. extracts from fruits like
banana, apple and melon) find use in shower gels (as a hydrating mix)

Homeopathic treatments and aromatherapies also come under the umbrella of
herbal skin care remedies.

Herbal skin care is good not only for the routine nourishing of skin but also
for treatment of skin disorders like eczema and psorasis. Most herbal skin care
products don't have any side effects (the most important reason for preferring
them over synthetic products) Moreover, herbal skin care products can be easily
made at home, hence making them even more attractive. So, herbal skin care is
the way to go. However, this does not mean that you totally discard the
synthetic products. Some people go to the extent of debating with their
dermatologist, if he/she suggests a synthetic product. You should accept the
fact that some skin orders might need usage of clinically proven non-herbal
skin care products.

Choosing a facial skin care product

Talking about skin care, 'facial skin care' seems to top the chart. There are
loads of facial skin care products available in the market. The most common
facial skin care products are the ones that are used as part of daily routine.
These include things like cleansers and moisturizers. Toners and exfoliation
ones are well known too but not many people use them as such.

The general classification of facial skin care products is based on the
following:

* Gender (so there are facial skin care products for men and there are facial
  skin care products for women)

* Skin type (facial skin products for oily skin, facial skin care products for
  dry skin, facial skin care products for normal skin and facial skin care
  products for sensitive skin)

* Age (facial skin care products for old and facial skin care products for
  young)

* Skin disorder (i.e. facial skin care products for treatment of various skin
  orders like eczema, acne etc)

So that is your starting point for choosing a facial skin care product that
suits you. A good way to start is by determining your skin type first. Also
note that the skin type changes with age, so the facial skin product that suits
you today, might not suit you forever and hence you need to constantly evaluate
the effectiveness of your facial skin care product.

The facial skin care products are available in various forms i.e. creams,
lotions, gels, masks etc, and a lot of people try to pit one against the other
in their discussion on which form is best. However, one can't really rate one
form as better than another form. What suits you (and whatever you are
comfortable with) is the best form of facial skin care product for you, really.

However, it's important to note that these products work differently for
different people. So the best thing is to try the facial skin care product on a
small patch of skin (e.g. ear lobes) before actually going ahead and using it.

Another important consideration is the state of your skin. If you are suffering
from a skin disorder of any kind, it is best to seek the advice of a
dermatologist before you actually make your selection and start using a facial
skin care product.

Once you have selected the facial skin care product for yourself, you also need
to ensure that you use the facial skin care product in the right way i.e. follow
correct procedures for application, use the correct quantity and make the facial
product a part of your skin care routine.

Mens skin care

'Man skin care' would seem like an alien topic to some men. It would have been
even more alien a few years back. However, more and more men are now realising
the importance of man skin care (and hence you see markets flush with man skin
care products too). Even though the male skin is very different from that of a
female, 'man skin care' is very similar to the skin care for women.

'Man skin care' too starts with cleansing. Water soluble cleansers are
preferred. Cleansing helps remove the dirt, grease and pollutants from the skin
and helps in preventing pore clogging. The inherent oily nature of male skin
makes cleansing an important part of man skin care procedure. Cleansing should
be done at least once every day, even better if it is done twice a day. Using
soap on the face is discouraged.

'Man skin care' revolves a lot around shaving. Shaving foam/gel/cream and after
shave lotion are one of the most important man skin care products. Serious 'man
skin care' requires a proper selection of shaving related equipment and
products. One of the main considerations in choosing shaving products should be
the skin type (since the degree of oiliness differs from person to person).
Alcohol-based aftershaves should be avoided. Proper 'man skin care' also
mandates the use of good quality razors. Here, swivel-head razors are preferred
since they are known to reduce cuts. Besides these products and equipment, it is
also necessary that you use them properly. Be gentle when using your razor. Do
not scratch it against your skin; use a soft and smooth action (after all it's
a matter of removing hair, not the skin itself).

Male skin is generally thicker and oilier, owing to larger pores and more
active sebaceous glands. However, due to regular shaving, the skin can get
dehydrated quite easily. Hence moisturisers too form an integral part of man
skin care. Moisturising gel or cream should be applied after shaving. In fact,
some shaving foams/ gel have an in-built moisturising effect too. Moisturisers
should be patted gently over the face and massaged gently using upward strokes.

Though a man's skin is less susceptible to skin cancer caused by UV radiation,
using a sunscreen is also an important man skin care measure. You can use a
moisturiser that combines sunscreen with the moisturising effect.

Another good option for 'man skin care' is to use man skin care products which
have natural ingredients like aloe vera, sea salt and coconut etc. Naturally
antiseptic oils e.g. lavender, tea tree etc also provide good means for man
skin care.

Man skin care is not as difficult as a lot of men think. It just asks for a few
minutes every day, in order to give you a healthy skin for present and for
future.


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