Why You Should Consider Natural Skin Care

Posted on June 17, 2010 by admin

Natural skin care products may be the answer if you are concerned about the chemicals in most commercial cosmetic products. Some of these chemicals may be toxic enough to actually accelerate the aging process, which is the opposite of what you are trying to accomplish with your skin care. Even in these days of increased regulation and consumer watchdog groups, there are a number of new products introduced each year that still contain damaging chemicals.

Almost nine hundred toxic chemicals have been found in commercial cosmetic products by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health. The Cancer Coalition has stated that cosmetic and personal care products pose a higher threat of cancer than even smoking cigarettes. Compounding the problem is the vast amount of incorrect information distributed by marketing departments to attract new customers.

Everything that you put on the surface of your skin is absorbed into the pores and gets into the bloodstream. The circulation of the blood distributes the toxins throughout the entire body, causing damage to internal organs as well as the skin. Since all of these products enter your body, you should analyze the labels on your cosmetic products the same way you would with labels on food. Of course, choosing only natural skin care products eliminates the problem of toxins altogether.

Once the toxins get into your bloodstream, it forces your body to work much harder than usual in an effort to get rid of them. The liver is responsible for most of this clean up, but it can only handle so much before health problems will set in. The liver is a key part of the body’s immune system and should be treated with care. Liver problems can cause major health issues such as auto-immune diseases, asthma, continual infections, and allergies.

Using natural ingredients can avoid these toxicity problems. The body recognizes natural skin care products as organic matter to be processed, not as a toxic threat that must be eliminated. Many of these products are made out of plant matter which contains the same basic vitamins and minerals as the ones already present in our bodies. Synthetic chemicals may be seen by the body as toxic and the immune system will react against them.

You can exfoliate with a gentle material such as crushed oatmeal, table sugar, or baking soda. Make exfoliating a regular part of your daily skin care routine and you will see much more life and bounce in your appearance. Other natural substances that may be useful for skin care include honey, egg whites, olive oil, bananas, and avocado. Be creative and use of some of the common items you have in your kitchen to give you softer, smoother skin.

How do you know which natural skin care products are actually safe? Some products are labeled as “100% natural” when they still contain chemicals and toxins. The only way to be completely sure is to look at the list of ingredients on the package. Dyes, fragrances, and synthetic preservatives can all be found in these “natural” skin care products. So make a habit of reading the list of ingredients and buy only 100% natural skin care products, which will not only benefit your skin, but your health, too.

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Homemade Bath Salts Recipes

Posted on May 24, 2010 by admin

Why spend all that money on bath salts when you can make them simply and easily at home.  Plus, if you make them yourself, you can be sure to use ingredients that won’t harm or irritate your skin.

The first ingredient in bath salts is of course, salt!  The most common kind used is Epsom Salt.  This is the same kind of salt recommended by doctors to disinfect and treat skin issues.  Many people swear by Epson salt to remove toxic chemicals from the skin. You can also try using sea salts as well, or mix the two together.  Avoid using table salt because it can dry your skin out.

Essential oils are the next “essential” ingredient for homemade bath salts.  They not only provide moisture for your skin, their scents can provide aromatherapy to relax you, revive you, or help ease you to sleep.  The type of oil you use depends on what kind of mood you’d like to create.  Lavender, vanilla, and eucalyptus are great for a relaxing bath.  While citrus oils will re-energize and refresh you.

If the essential oils you use turn out to be too strong for your skin, try diluting them in vegetable oil before adding to your salts.

You can also try adding herbs instead of (or in addition to) your essential oils.  They have the same aroma therapy effects but you can often find dried herbs more easily than certain essential oils.

In addition to essential oils and herbs, you can also put in other ingredients to soften, moisturize, and otherwise improve your skin.   Adding a few teaspoons of baking soda per jar will help you soften your skin and leave you feeling silky smooth.   If you add citric acid with your baking soda, you can make your bath salts fizz and soften at the same time!

Once you have your ingredients, it’s time to combine everything.  Just add about 10 drops of oil to about two cups of salt and whatever other ingredients you want to include and stir, stir, stir.  The longer you stir, the better the oils and infused into the salt.  Then put everything in a clean, sterilized jar and seal it tight ready for use.

While making your own bath salts is a great way to relax yourself, smooth your skin and save money, you don’t have to save them all for yourself.  Homemade bath salts make great gifts and can even be sold.  Just put them in decorative jars, or add lace or other flair to plain old mason jars to give your friends family, and co-workers a soothing natural treat.

Once your salts are ready, it’s time to use them for a relaxing or stimulating bath.  Add a half cup of your salts to a warm bath.  Remember not to use hot water because it can dry the skin.  Then just climb in and enjoy!

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Home Remedies for Dry Cracked Feet

Posted on May 24, 2010 by admin

Dry cracked feet can make you feel uncomfortable and unattractive. And it’s not only a problem during the long winter months, dry feet can creep up on you at any time of the year.

While there are many cures for dry feet at your local drug store, not all of them are natural. That’s why we’ve put together some of the best natural dry cracked feet remedies for you. Get ready to reveal new soft, beautiful, touchable feet!

Vinegar Soak.  Mix about a cup of white vinegar and a small amount of dish soap in a tub of warm water.  Mix and let soak for about ten minutes.

Baking Soda Soak.  Add some baking soda to a foot bath and let soak for about half an hour to help soften dry, hard feet.  This also works great for the rest of your skin and you can even add some to your bath salts.

Milk.  Add a cup of milk to a warm foot bath.  Dairy is a great natural moisturizer and will help soften up hard dry skin on your feet.

Banana.  Mash bananas into a pulp and apply to your heels and other affected areas.  Let sit for about ten minutes and rinse.

Vegetable Oil.  Vegetable Oils have been used as moisturizers for dry skin long before traditional moisturizers were manufactured.  After you’ve tried one of these other treatments, pat your feet dry and rub in a generous amount of oil, then put on thick socks to help keep the moisture in.

While soaks and lotions may help, they don’t get at the root cause of your problems.  While dry weather may aggravate your condition, if you find you’re having to repeatedly treat your aching feet, your problem might be more than just the weather or genetics.  Here are a few other causes you might look into.

Upgrade your shoes.  Poor fitting shoes can cut off circulation to your heels and toes.  If the skin doesn’t get blood, it doesn’t get enough water, nutrients, or water.  Get your feet measured to make sure you’re wearing the right size.

If you’re using an inexpensive brand, you may want to invest in some quality footwear.  They can help your feet, legs, back, and usually last a lot longer too.

Poor hygiene can also be a cause of dry cracked feet.  It can be easy to neglect your feet when you’re scrubbing, but taking the extra time to scrub can be well worth it.  Be sure to moisturize after since soaps can be drying.

While it may not seem like a huge issue, dry cracked feet could actually be a sign of a poor diet. Make sure you’re getting enough water and eating a well balanced diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables.

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Natural Acne Treatment

Posted on May 19, 2010 by admin

If you’ve been trying to treat your acne for a long time, you’ve probably already felt the pain in your wallet.  Acne can make you feel awful and can put a real dent in yourself esteem. This is made even worse when you’re let down over and over again by yet another “miracle” product.

You don’t need to spend a fortune to treat your acne. In fact, many mainstream acne treatments make the problem worse and can even be harmful to your overall health.

Instead try some natural acne treatment options to help alleviate and even get rid of your acne once and for all.

Here are our top tips:

Healthy Diet: A healthy diet is the very best thing you can do for your acne. Sugar is deadly for acne sufferers. It has been proven to cause an inflammatory reaction in the skin which makes acne worse (or even helps it develop in the first instance). Reduce or better yet remove all sugar from your diet and you will see a difference in your skin.

In addition to getting rid of sugar, eat a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables. Opt for an array of colors so that you can get the most antioxidant power in these foods into your system.

Reducing dairy or even removing it altogether will also make a difference to your acne. Many experts believe that a vegan diet is the best way to keep the skin clear from acne. Many vegans swear this is true and have healthy skin to prove it.

At the very least, eat less meat and avoid red meat, excess dairy and caffeine. And although chocolate on its own may not cause acne, it contains caffeine which can make acne worse.

Whole grains will give your body much needed fiber which will help flush out toxins and keep your system running smoothly. And don’t forget to drink plenty of water to help with this process.

Green tea: You can take green tea internally to help relief your symptoms, but you’ll probably have better luck if you apply the tea directly to you acne.  There are green tea creams available over the counter, but if you’re looking for a cheaper, easier way, just brew tea bags, then apply them directly to your acne.

Egg Whites:  Applying egg whites to the face as a masque is a great way to treat your acne and immediately close your pores.  In addition, it also gets rid of redness caused by your acne and can reduce the appearance of scars from previous breakouts.

Tea Tree Oil:  While many people disagree about the causes of acne, or how to treat it, pretty much everyone agrees that it’s an infection.  And tea tree oil has long been used as a natural way to kill bacteria and treat skin infections.

Zinc:  Taking a daily multivitamin is a great way to keep yourself healthy and your system in check, but an extra dose of Zinc might be just what your body needs to fight off acne infections.  Zinc helps strengthen your immune system so you’re better able to heal and even prevent your acne.

The best part about natural acne treatments is that they also improve the general quality of your skin without damaging it or drying it out like traditional products can.  And many of them have few or no side effects.

Also, stress can cause acne flare ups. Try meditation or yoga to keep your mood level. This will not only help your acne symptoms but your overall health as well.

Acne can be devastating but by using the tips above and starting a plan of attack you can get rid of it altogether. Use diet as your first weapon, reduce stress and apply a few natural treatments as necessary and you’ll see a difference in the overall health of your skin and body.

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Natural Anti Ageing Skin Care

Posted on May 18, 2010 by admin

It seems like every day there’s a new product on to market to help turn back time.  Truthfully, no matter what any company tells you, there’s no such thing as a fountain of youth, but there are steps you can take to make yourself look and feel younger without surgery or expensive treatments or products.

A well balanced, nutrient rich diet is the best way to keep yourself looking young.  A lot if skin aging is caused by free radicals.  They are damaging chemicals from the air we breathe, the food we eat, and our environment in general. Just like free radicals can hurt us, antioxidants can combat free radicals.

Antioxidants like vitamins A, E, and C are found in many fruits and vegetables.  Try eating a variety of vegetables along with a diet rich in protein, whole grains, and low-fat dairy products.

Just like some foods can help you look younger, other foods and bad habits can speed up the clock.  To stay looking your best, don’t smoke and limit your consumption of alcohol and caffeine.  You should also try to eat fresh (preferably raw) foods daily and avoid a lot of processed foods and preservatives.

Another skin ager is sugar – soft, sticky and deadly – it is not awful for your health in general it’s extremely ageing to your skin. Avoid or reduce sugar as much as possible from your diet and you will see a difference in your skin.

Dry skin, acne, and other skin issues can all make you look older as well, and they can all be helped by drinking plenty of water and eating right.

To supplement your healthy skin diet you can try a few natural products to maximize the effects. Try these at-home ideas that keep you looking young and vibrant.

* To help reduce your wrinkles, mash up a ripe banana, apply to your face and allow to sit for about 15 minutes before rinsing.

* Use lemon juice to remove age spots.  Just apply daily to gradually lighten them away.  If lemon juice is too harsh for your skin, mix it into your daily moisturizer to see results while keeping your skin soft and smooth.

* To reduce eye puffiness, grate a small potato and mix with a small amount of chilled apple sauce.  Place on eyes and cover with a moist towel for 5 to 10 minutes.

* Gently exfoliate your skin daily to help the cells renew themselves and keep the skin looking youthful. Simply use a little natural uncooked oatmeal mixed with a teaspoon of honey and gently rub on your face. Rinse off with cool water. Your skin will look vibrant and soft.

* Use natural vitamin E oil on your face at night. Simply rub on a very thin layer in the areas most prone to wrinkles and let absorb into your skin overnight. In the morning try the exfoliating scrub mentioned above and you’re set to go.

While nothing can stop the clock altogether, healthy, youthful skin is achievable and these easy steps will help you get started.

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Natural Cosmetics

Posted on May 18, 2010 by admin

Natural cosmetics have been making a big boom in the market lately.  While you might be skeptical that they’re just another gimmick, natural products are a healthy alternative to your normal cosmetics.

Traditional cosmetics contain all sorts of unnatural chemicals that build up in your skin, seep into your pores, and sometimes build up in your body. By using natural products you can avoid this.

Another benefit to natural cosmetics is they won’t irritate your skin or cause an allergic reaction. Often, acne and other skin conditions are actually an allergic reaction to chemicals in your make up and other skin care products.

Keep in mind, however, that unlike “certified organic”, the word natural is not regulated.  This means pretty much any cosmetics producer can put the word natural on something, no matter what it contains.  Many mainstream products that are sold as “natural” still contain dangerous artificial chemicals.

To find real natural products, you should look to see if an independent company has verified that the product is natural.  But again, anyone can “certify” a product because there is no government regulation.  Some companies even create their own “certification” to say they have a natural product.  Research different companies that verify natural products to find certifications that you know you can trust.

The best way to tell a quality natural cosmetic is by looking at the first ingredient.  Believe it or not, if water is the first ingredient, that’s a sign to stay away.  Water dilutes the product, meaning you have to use a lot more to get the same effect. But don’t stop looking there, keep reading the list.  If there’s a word that’s long and unpronounceable, that’s a good sign that you should keep looking. If it sounds like an artificial chemical, it probably is.

If you’ve tried natural cosmetics before and didn’t like them, that doesn’t mean you need to give up.  It used to be, there were only a few products that were really natural.  Now the internet has provided us with an outlet to get all kinds of different products from different retailers.  That means not only are prices lower due to competition (many online retailers will even send free samples if you pay shipping), but you can always try a different product if one doesn’t work for you.

If you want real benefit, opt for other natural skin and hair care products as well.  Keeping dangerous chemicals out of your make-up can only help so much if you’re still using traditional moisturizers, face wash, and other personal care products.  There are many recipes and natural alternatives you can make yourself at home as replacement to these store-bought products.

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Natural Dandruff Cure

Posted on May 18, 2010 by admin

While chemical shampoos may temporarily cure your dandruff, they also sit on your scalp and seep into your body.  So why deal with all those synthetic substances when you can get rid of your dandruff safely, effectively, and naturally?

The key to treating dandruff is realizing what it is.  All dandruff is flaky skin from your scalp.  It can be dry or oily, depending on the cause.  The problem with treating it is that you can’t smear lotion medications on your scalp or you’re going to be left with greasy flat hair.

The first step in treating dandruff is to have good hair care habits and hygiene.  Try washing and brushing your hair more regularly.   This promotes good scalp circulation and help slough off old dead skin cells.  While it may mean some extra time getting ready in the morning, it may be all you need to cure your dandruff.

If your dandruff is a little more difficult to get rid of, you can try these natural topical treatments.

* Fenugreek Seed.  Soak the seeds overnight in water.  In the morning, grind the seeds into a paste and apply it to your scalp.  Allow it to sit for about an hour then rinse with soap-nut solution.  This is considered one of the best natural treatments for dandruff.

* Lime.  After you wash your hair, rinse with some freshly squeezed lime juice.  This will not only help dandruff, but will also leave your hair looking shiny and great.

* White beets.  Boil the white beets, drain the water, and store.  Massage this water into your scalp every night before bed.

* Vinegar.  Wash your hair and night and do the final rinse with vinegar.  Shampoo and rinse normally for clean, shiny dandruff free hair.

* Olive oil.  Massage into the scalp at night and rinse it out in the morning.  This is helpful if your dandruff is due to a very dry scalp because olive oil makes a great moisturizer (and works for the rest of your skin too!)  Just be sure to have something to lay your head on at night that won’t be ruined by the oil.

Often, topical treatments aren’t required at all for treating your dandruff.  That’s because they’re treating the symptoms, not the cause.  If you have dandruff, it may be a sign that there’s something wrong with your diet.  Keeping yourself healthy on the inside will help keep your skin and scalp beautiful on the outside.

A balanced diet is essential for healthy skin, including your scalp. Aim for a diet full of fresh, unprocessed foods, including a variety of fruits and vegetables.  In addition to a healthy diet, you should also make sure to drink plenty of water to help keep your skin and scalp healthy and hydrated.

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Natural Remedies for Dry Skin

Posted on May 18, 2010 by admin

If you have dry skin, you know that it’s not just annoying and even unsightly, it can also be incredibly painful. You’ve probably tried all kinds of moisturizers with no real luck. The reason may be that the moisturizers simply makes your skin oily or irritates the problem even further.

The best way to avoid this is by going natural. Here are some easy, natural remedies for dry skin to help moisturize your skin.

Drink plenty of water.  This one is totally simple, but often overlooked.  Your skin needs water to stay soft and smooth.  While putting water on your skin will dry it out, putting it in your body is essential for keeping it hydrated.  Plus, drinking enough water will make you feel better too!

A really good way to get itchy dry skin quickly is to use soap.  Over cleaning your skin is often unnecessary and can really dry it out. Avoid long baths, particularly with very hot water as this is extremely drying to the skin. Quick showers are the better option, for both your skin and environment. Use a natural mild soap sparingly. And follow up with all natural coconut oil to seal in the moisture. You can get 100% natural organic coconut oil which is used both for cooking and moisturizing at most health food stores.

Sometimes the skin on your body is okay but it’s the skin on your face that can be overly dry. For a great natural face wash, mix equal parts yogurt and cooked oatmeal with some cucumber juice.   The yogurt and oatmeal help moisturize and soothe while the cucumber juice closes up your pores.   Just remember that natural washes aren’t foamy like soap, but that doesn’t mean they’re not properly cleaning your skin.

If you have especially dry skin on your face, the best treatment is also probably the simplest and least expensive one around: honey.  Honey has been used for centuries to moisturize, and you really don’t need anything else.  Just apply honey to your face like a masque, let dry for 30 minutes, then rinse off.  Your face will feel fresh, clean and healthy.

When it comes to moisturizing dry skin, you can usually skip all the fancy moisturizers and use good old fashioned oil.  Just massage in daily to smooth, soft skin.  While most oils will work, coconut oil and extra virgin olive oil are great for moisturizing and treating a variety of skin conditions.  You can even mix in some honey (you can heat it to soften and help it mix) for added moisturizing power.

Remember that natural remedies are about fixing the cause as well as treating the problem.  It’s best to protect your skin from damage rather than treat it afterwards.  Be sure to protect your skin from dry, cold winter conditions by using scarves, gloves, and avoid long exposures to severe cold when possible.

If nothing seems to be working for your dry skin, it may not caused by something you can tackle on your own.  There may be an underlying condition or nutrition deficiency that is causing your problem. If these treatments don’t seem to help, try visiting your doctor or natural health practitioner.

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Natural Treatment for Acne Scars

Posted on May 18, 2010 by admin

Acne medications may get rid of current acne breakouts, but most of them don’t do anything to help with acne scars or other skin issues left behind after the acne clears.  There are plenty of procedures you can go through to get rid of scars, but they are expensive and often painful.  And do you really want to go through skin grafts and other surgeries to get rid of your scars?

Natural products and recipes may not only help clear your acne, they can also help get rid of your acne scars and improve the general health of your skin.  Plus, they don’t expose you to dangerous chemicals or procedures.

Here are some natural, at-home cures to help get rid of your acne scars (and often your acne).  Plus, many of them will improve the general quality of your skin as well.

Turmeric: Turmeric is one of the home remedies to cure acne which ia an anti bacterial herb. It also brightens the skin and fades scars. A great mask to use is a mixture of rice flour, yogurt and a pinch or natural turmeric powder. Apply generously and leave on for about half an hour. You can do this everyday and within a week you see a brighter, firmer, more radiant complexion.

Aloe Vera Juice.  Apply directly to scars with a cotton ball or towel.  Let it soak for 10-15 minutes and rinse.  Aloe is also known to treat burns and ease itchy dry skin.

Tomato.  Lay down and put tomato slices directly onto acne scars.  Allow to sit for a few minutes, then rinse clean.  The nutrients in the tomatoes will not only help remove scars, but also help soothe inflamed skin.

Lemon Juice.  Apply with cotton ball or towel.  Allow to sit for abut ten minutes and rinse with water.  The acid in the juice helps slough off skin damaged by acne so new, healthy skin can shine through.

Lavender.  Massage Lavender oil into the skin at bedtime.  Rinse it off when you wake up in the morning.  Plus, Lavender has and aromatherapy effect that will help relax you and help ease you to sleep.

Cucumber.  Apply the juice to your scars and let sit for 15 minutes, then rinse.  This will help close up pores and slowly reduce scars.  You can also combine the power of tomato and cucumber together in a paste to make a masque that has double power to remove your scars.

Olive oil.  Instead of your regular facial moisturizer, try massaging some quality extra virgin olive oil into your face.  This will help soothe inflammation, moisturize, and reduce the appearance of acne scars.

Honey.  Whether you have acne scars or not, honey is one of the best natural moisturizers you can use.  Helping remove the scars is just one of the added benefits.

Egg whites.  After you separate out the yolk, apply egg whites to your face and allow to dry for about 15 minutes.  Rinse off and you’ll find not only that scars and overall redness disappear, but it also closes pores in just one use.

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Beauty Diet: Eat Yourself Beautiful

Posted on May 18, 2010 by admin

Your mom always told you that you are what you eat.  And just like countless other times, mom was right!  What you put into your body determines what you look like on the outside.  Dryness, puffiness, and discoloration of skin and dry lifeless hair can all be a sign of a poor diet.  Here is a beauty diet that will help you have beautiful, healthy skin and lusturous, silky hair.

Water.  This is the most essential part of any diet, and a beauty diet is no different.  Your skin is made up of cells and all cells work better when you’re properly hydrated.  Water helps get rid of toxins and actually leaves your skin less puffy!  This is because if there’s not enough water to go around, cells tend to hoard what they can get.  By getting enough water, your cells stay clean and don’t swell up as much.

Balanced diet.  A healthy person has healthy, beautiful skin.  There’s no true secret “miracle food” to make your skin perfect.  A beauty diet  is pretty much the same as a good diet for staying healthy in general.  Eat a diet rich in a variety of fruits and vegetables, low fat dairy products, and whole grains for beautiful healthy skin and health.

Antioxidants.  These are chemicals like vitamins C, E, and A that help counteract free radicals. Free radicals damage and age skin, so it’s important to eat plenty of antioxidants to keep them at bay. Eat a variety of rainbow colored fruits and vegetables, the more color the better. The color in your fruit and veg basically represents the amount of antioxidants it contains.

Go Raw.  When you cook food, you are causing a chemical reaction.  While the result of this reaction may taste better, it has fewer nutrients and more free radicals that damage your skin.  Many experts believe a diet of raw food is better for you.  While some people take this to the extreme and eat only raw food, you don’t have to completely cut out cooking to see a benefit.  Start by substituting one or two elements of your diet for something raw and work up to a level that feels comfortable for you. Another easy way to include raw foods in your daily diet is to simply eat a salad with your meals.

Supplements.  Theoretically, you should be able to get all the vitamins and minerals you need from diet alone.  But our lives are realistic, not theoretical.  Certain foods can be expensive, hard to get, or timely to cook. Taking a general multivitamin is a great way to ensure you’re getting all the nutrients you need on a daily basis.

What to avoid.  Eating for beautiful skin and hair isn’t just about what you eat, but what you don’t eat.  There are certain food and habits you want to avoid to stay looking your best.

Avoid smoking and drinking alcohol or caffeine.  Also try to stay away from overly processed food.  This not only means fast food, but also prepackaged “fast food” from the grocery store.

Also be aware of food allergies. Many skin issues, like acne, are actually an allergic reaction.  While most food related “facts” about acne and other skin disorders are actually myths, eating certain foods may increase your symptoms.

Try keeping a journal of everything you eat and how good or bad your skin is.  You may be able to pinpoint problem foods and avoid them.

Healthy skin also means a healthy body, and the easiest way to achieve this is  by eating a diet abundant with fresh health-giving foods in the most natural state possible. So start on your beauty diet today and be on your way to a beautiful, healthy you!

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