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Top ten skin-care tips
- Do not use soap on your face. Your skin has a PH factor of 4 - 5
which means it is acidic. This acid mantle is designed to protect your
skin from the elements - wind, rain, sun, etc, - and, in 21st Century
living, from the machinations of central heating and pollution, etc.
Soap is alkaline (right at the other end of the PH scale) and when
you load this stuff on your face, it totally destroys the acidity of
your skin, leaving it vulnerable to those horrors mentioned above.
It then takes 24 hours for your skin to recover its acidic properties,
by which time you will probably have washed your face again!
- Clean or wash your face with a cleanser which is designed for your
skin type. If you like the feeling of washing with a soap-like product,
there are plenty on the high street.
- Use a soft flannel to remove the cleanser, make-up and other unmentionables
from your face
- Pat your face dry with a soft towel. Don't rub madly - your facial
skin is not only sensitive, it tells the world whether you are healthy
or not!
- Cleanser removes make-up and dirt but you then need to use a toner
to close the pores.
- After toner, let the skin dry and then apply a moisturiser which
suits your skin type.
- Skin does not know the difference between day and night so you do
not necessarily have to buy a day cream and a night cream. One product
that suits your skin type will do quite well for both.
- If your skin feels sticky after you have applied your moisturiser,
then you are using too much.
- You do not have to buy the most expensive skin care. Just make sure
you use the correct products for your skin type. For instance, I now
use a moisturiser which retails at £5.99. Before that, I had
a top-name brand which cost around £35 - and it's not a patch
on my cheaper favourite!
- Take all your make-up off before you go to bed - no matter how late
Beauty tips
Here are some beauty tips for your skin, using products that you will
probably already have in the kitchen. If nothing else, they will make
you sit down and relax for 10 minutes (and that has to be a bonus!).
Face mask
Mix 1 egg yolk with 2 tsps almond oil and 1 mashed banana. Apply all
over your face, avoiding the eye area, and relax for 10 minutes. Wash
off with tepid water.
Cucumber eye mask
Mix 1 tsp dried milk powder with 1 tsp cucumber juice. Apply to your
eye area and relax for 10 minutes. Wipe off with damp cotton wool.
Looking after your skin in the sun
The following article is printed in full as I thought it made very interesting
reading and underlined a lot of my own beliefs about looking after your
skin in the sun. The company who sent it to me, Agora Lifestyles Ltd,
usually talk common sense which makes a nice change from the drivel often
written by so-called fashion and beauty editors who preach what is often
utter rubbish to a 'general' audience.
You are not 'general'. You are unique. Don't read anything (including
anything on this website) and take it as gospel truth. Use your common
sense and apply what is appropriate to YOU.
Give your skin the protection it needs
The executives at corporations that manufacture sunscreen products might
have experienced an unpleasant burning feeling when a study released
in June 2004 revealed that sunscreen may not offer protection from the
type of sun damage that could cause skin cancer. Worse than that: the
study also suggests that sunscreen use may actually do more harm than
good.
This is a new twist on two points we've been telling you for some time
here at HSI: 1) Sunscreen lotion isn't the best way to protect your skin,
and 2) For most people, correct nutrition and sensible exposure time
may provide all the sun protection you need.
Meanwhile, millions of sun lovers and people who live in or near tropical
latitudes cover themselves head to toe in sunscreen and spend hours in
the sun, believing they're protected. They may be protecting themselves
from a bad burn, but there are other things going on below the surface
of the skin that could create more serious problems in later years.
Poor defence
Researchers at the UK's Restoration of Appearance and Function Trust
(RAFT) acquired skin samples from consenting patients undergoing surgery
(such as breast reduction). In separate tests, three commercial sunscreens
with high sun protection factors (SPF) of 20 or more were applied to
the skin samples. The samples were then exposed to ultraviolet A (UVA)
light at intensities comparable to that of sunlight.
Using electron spin resonance spectroscopy (which determines natural
radiation concentrations), the researchers found that free radical damage
beneath the surface of the skin was reduced by approximately 50 percent
in skin samples treated with sunscreen, compared to unprotected skin.
And while that may seem at first to be effective, researchers determined
that the actual "free-radical protection factor" was only 2.
In other words, the sun protection factor of 20+ held true only with
ultraviolet B (UVB) rays - the rays that cause sunburn. But protection
from the free-radical damage that corrupts DNA and may prompt skin cancer
was judged to be insufficient.
The authors of the study fear that because sunscreen use helps prevent
burning, people feel safe spending many extra hours in the sun. Meanwhile,
those additional hours of exposure may add up to cumulative DNA damage
and skin cancer because a considerable amount of UVA rays are still getting
through.
What your skin wants
Before we go any further, it's important to note that the sun is not
your enemy. On the contrary, sunlight exposure prompts your body to manufacture
vitamin D. Those who live in extreme northern and southern latitudes
are often vitamin D deficient because their exposure to sunlight is too
low. As we've seen with so many other health issues, the key is balance.
The right amount of sun exposure is: not too much, and not too little.
So don't listen to those who tell you to hide from the sun. Sunlight
is not just good for us, it's essential. But excessive exposure leads
to sunburn, which is obviously not good for the skin. Nevertheless, sunburns
do serve a purpose. As US physician Dr Jonathan V. Wright, has pointed
out, a sunburn is nature's way of telling us that we're getting too much
sun. It's sort of like a pop-up thermometer on a turkey. When you start
turning red, you're done - your body has had enough sunlight exposure.
Sunscreen encourages further time in the sun as you ignore or are unaware
of the warning.
But what about those people who have to spend hours in the sun; lifeguards,
builders, traffic police etc.? Writing in his Nutrition & Healing
newsletter last year (June 2002), Dr. Wright discussed what he calls
the
"DNA Repair Group" - the foods and supplements that everyone
(and especially those who get a lot of sun exposure) should be consuming
in abundance.
Vitamins C and E are very important to relieving stress to the skin.
But according to Dr. Wright, folic acid deficiency is "a major contributor
to skin cancer risk." He says, "Folic acid is destroyed rapidly
by heat, cold, and exposure to light, including sunlight. So it's sunlight's
destructive effect on folic acid in the skin, not the actual sun exposure
itself, that accounts for a significant part of the skin cancer problem.
Folic acid (along with vitamin B12 and zinc) is absolutely key to DNA
reproduction and repair."
The best dietary sources of folic acid include spinach and other dark
green vegetables, brewers yeast, lima beans, cantaloupe, watermelon and
liver from organically raised animals. In addition, Dr. Wright suggests
supplementing with 1,000mcg of folic acid per day, and more if you spend
a good amount of time in the sun or have a family history of skin cancer.
Source: Copyright (c) 2004 Agora Lifestyles Ltd
Agora Lifestyles Ltd
11th Floor, The Centre Point Tower,
103 New Oxford St,
London WC1A 1QQ
www.agoralifestyles.com
Agora Lifestyles presents information and research which is believed
to be reliable, but its accuracy cannot be guaranteed. All material in
this article is provided for information only and may not be construed
as medical advice or instruction. No action or inaction should be taken
based solely on the contents of this article; instead readers should
consult their family doctor and other qualified health professionals
on any matter relating to their health and well-being. The information
and opinions provided in this article are believed to be accurate and
sound, based on the best judgement available to the authors. Readers
who fail to consult with appropriate health authorities assume the risk
of any injuries. The publisher is not responsible for errors or omissions.
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But just in case the worst should happen, here's a comprehensive guide
to relieve sunburn:
Sunburn relief recipes - to make at home
by Sandy Shields
Sun Burn Lotion
8 ounces non-medicated lotion
5 drops clove oil
5 drops peppermint oil
2-4 teaspoons powdered comfrey root
2-4 tablespoons aloe vera gel
Mix together thoroughly in a bowl. Chill, if desired.
HINT: Amounts of comfrey root or aloe vera gel may be increased, but
do not increase the amounts of clove or peppermint oils, as they may
cause skin irritation.
Cucumber Sunburn Lotion
1 cucumber - chopped
1/4 cup glycerin
1/4/ cup rosewater
Squeeze juice out of the cucumber with a lemon-squeezer, and mix with
glycerin and rose-water.
Sunburn Soothing Bath
2-4 cups *Colloidal (not regular) oatmeal
1/2 to 1 cup baking soda
1-2 cups powdered chamomile flowers
1 cup buttermilk, optional
Add all ingredients to bath water, or wrap in cheesecloth and tie to
the tap for adding aroma.
Sunburn Mist
2 fluid ounces of distilled water
9 drops of lavender essential oil
2 drops of peppermint essential oil
1 drop of spearmint essential
Mix all, then mist lightly over sun-burned skin.
Various Natural / HomeMade Remedies
1. Apply undiluted apple cider vinegar to sunburn.
2. Mix 10 ounces non-fat dried milk, 2 tablespoons of salt and 25 ounces
water. Saturate cloth and apply to sunburn for 20 minutes.
3. Apply mayonnaise as a skin cream to sunburn.
4. Use aloe plant, or pure aloe vera gel.
5. Apply peanut oil to sun-burned area(s).
6. Apply thin slices of cold, raw cucumbers, apples, or potato directly
to the skin.
7. Apply cold, plain yogurt, then rinse with cool water.
8. Apply cold, used tea bags to sun-burned eyelids to relieve pain and
swelling.
About the Author:
Sandy is a freelance writer and webmaster of TheFrugalShopper.com. She
enjoys living the frugal life, saving money, and helping others to
do the same. Subscribe to her newsletter to receive more money-saving
ideas and frugal tips. Reprint permission granted with this footer
included. Copyright © TheFrugalShopper.com 1999-2003.
Ancient Indian remedies for sunburn
‘Ayurveda’ is an ancient healing tradition from India, dating
back thousands of years. Translated as ‘the science of life and
longevity’
this practice has some very novel, natural remedies for all kinds of
common ailments.
Here are ways that Ayurvedic physicians would treat sunburn...
- Apply aloe vera cream to the site of the burn. You can also use some
pure aloe vera gel. Or try coconut oil.
- Take a gauze pad, dip it into cool milk and apply it directly to
the sunburn.
- Pulverise some lettuce and apply the pulp directly to the sunburn.
- Make a paste of sandalwood and turmeric by mixing equal amounts of
these herbs with cool water, then applying to the sunburned area. (Beware
that this paste can stain the skin yellow for a few days – and
any clothes it touches.)
Ayurveda expert, Vasant Lad also warns that you can increase your susceptibility
to sunburn if you use large amounts of chemical products on your skin,
such as chemical deodorants, body sprays and soaps. Cough medications
can also weaken the skin, so be extra careful in the sun if you’re
taking them.
The best advice of all is to prevent sunburn by minimising your exposure
to sunlight between 10am and 3pm, the peak hours of the sun’s strength.
Q: How can I get beautiful skin naturally
without using all of the brand name products?
A: Beautiful skin starts from within. It is not about what you slather
onto your skin, but what you put into your body that counts.
The essence of healthy skin begins with a diet containing a balance of
omega-3 and omega-6
essential fatty acids. Flaxseed oil blends the two nicely, but you can
also achieve your own balance by eating foods rich in omega-3, such as
fish and fish oils, and omega-6, like nuts, seeds, and various vegetable
oils. One to two tablespoons of flaxseed oil daily should help if skin
is dry, and adjustments can be made accordingly in the dosage after six
to eight weeks. Always accompany essential fatty-acid supplements with
400 to 800 IU daily Vitamin E in the form of mixed tocopherols and, in
a very few cases, 2 to 5 mg of biotin may be needed as well.
Zinc is another nutrient that is essential for general skin health. Fifteen
to 30 mg daily of
zinc, offset by 1 mg of copper for each 15 mg of zinc, is usually sufficient.
Likewise, 1 or 2
grams of vitamin C daily to aid collagen formation, and 120 mg daily
of Centella asiatica
(standardised to 40 percent asiaticoside) to enhance connective tissue
development also will be of benefit.
What is Centella asiatica?
Sometimes referred to as Gotu Kola, Centella asiatica is an important
botanical taken
internally to promote skin health. Its use bolsters the development and
maintenance of blood
vessels in connective tissue, and boosts the formation of hyaluronic
acid, chondroitin, and
mucin, while increasing the tensile strength of the dermal layer of the
skin. It also stimulates
collagen-producing skin cells called fibroblasts and enhances the development
of connective tissue.
Where can I get these products?
Flax Seed Oil contains omega-3:
Flax Seed Oil (for the Circulatory and Immune systems). Several
scientific studies show that consumption of omega-3 essential fatty acids
(EFAs) leads to a substantially lower risk of death from coronary heart
disease. Flax Seed Oil is a rich source of these EFAs. It also contains
lignans—substances known to stimulate immune activity—and
linoleic acid, another essential fatty acid. These two fatty acids are
termed “essential” because the body cannot manufacture them.
EFAs are precursors to anti-inflammatory prostaglandins. Until recently,
experts believed the best sources of omega-3 were fish oils. While fish
oils are a good source, flax seed oil contains twice as much omega-3 essential
fatty acids as fish oil products, without the fishy aftertaste. Each
concentrated softgel capsule contains 550 mg omega-3 essential fatty
acids. Take 1–2 softgels with a meal three times daily.
Also available in a liquid for those who desire an easy way to get a
greater concentration. One tablespoon equals approximately 14 softgels.
Take 1 tablespoon one to two times daily.
Super Supplemental Vitamins and Minerals contains
vitamin E, biotin, zinc, copper, and vitamin C:
Super Supplemental (for General nutrition) augments any diet.
Balanced nutrients are often in short supply during periods of physical
stress or convalescence, or in a diet consisting of mostly processed
foods. Supplementing your diet with Super Supplemental can help fill
the void. One tablet contains, vitamin A (beta-carotene) 1,000µg, vitamin
C (ascorbic acid) 125mg, vitamin D 2.7µg, vitamin
E 18mg, vitamin Bl (thiamine) 6mg, vitamin B2 (riboflavin) 4.7mg,
niacin (niacinamide) 15mg, vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) 7mg, folic acid 85µg,
vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin) 25µg, biotin 79µg,
pantothenic acid 34mg, calcium (dicalcium phosphate, citrate, amino acid
chelate) 105mg, iron (gluconate) 7.5mg, phosphorus 66mg, iodine (potassium
iodide) 50µg, magnesium 100mg, zinc (gluconate)
7.5mg, selenium (amino acid chelate) 25µg, copper (gluconate)
0.5mg, manganese 0.75mg and chromium (amino acid chelate) 25µg.
Other ingredients include choline, inositol and PABA. All of this is
contained in a base of alfalfa herb, asparagus powder, barley grass juice,
broccoli powder, cabbage powder, hesperidin, lemon bioflavonoids, rutin,
rose hips, wheat germ and kelp. Take 1 tablet with a meal twice daily
(120 tablets per bottle).
Gotu Kola (Centella asiatica):
Gotu Kola (for the Nervous system) contains no cola or caffeine, as its
name would suggest. This herb is called brain food by many. It contains
many nutrients that support the body's vitality and feed the nervous
system, including vitamins A, B, E and K, and magnesium. It may support
memory function. Ayurvedic medicine calls gotu kola a nerve tonic that
can be used for overall brain and nervous system support. When taken
over time, gotu kola may also support the endocrine system, which may
lead to increased vitality. Each capsule contains 395 mg gotu kola.
Take 2 capsules with a meal twice daily.
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