What does your diet do for your skin’s health? If you are eating a well balanced diet, you may be impressed with the quality of your skin.

The two interact with each other, just like every other organ in your body performs only as well as the nutrients it is provided. When it comes to eating healthy, there are several things to keep in mind in terms of what you should eat to help improve your skin quality.

In fact, your skin is a direct reflection of the quality of foods you do consume.

Hydration Is Number One

Before looking any further, remember this. In order for your body to have healthy skin, each of the skin cells needs to provided with enough water. There is no easier way to do this than to just drink enough water each day. What you may not realize, too, is that water plays an extra role in the process of keeping skin looking young. It aid in flushing away all of the cells that have died. This helps to keep your outside layer of skin as healthy as it can possibly be.

Antioxidants Are Essential

If you are hoping for a way to help reduce the signs of aging, you can do so through antioxidants. Antioxidants are the very powerful element that is found in vegetables. They work to keep skin cells as healthy as possible. These are the cleaners of the body. They work to remove waste product from cells which in turn allows the skin to remain great looking.

Antioxidants are a type of exfoliation for the skin that comes from the inside out. They also are great at removing build up in your arteries and blood vessels, which can prevent cancers and aid in the removal of dead cells.

To get these benefits, eat a diet that is rich in antioxidants. Choose vegetables and fruits that have deep colors. For example, deep greens are important. Choose a wide range of colors, too. Yellow squashes, orange melons, and blueberries are full of antioxidants that can provide this benefit to your skin.

When it comes to your diet, it does play a role in the health of your skin. There is never a time when you want to consider over the counter medications and anti aging products if you have not taken the time to improve the quality of your diet. Your diet has a direct affect on the quality of your skin.

All of us have varying degrees of sensitivity of the skin. There are some of us whose skin seems invulnerable to allergies and irritations, while some have skin which develops rashes with just one light prick of a pin or a needle.

Regardless of how sensitive or seemingly insensitive our skin is, it is important to know that all of us are vulnerable to getting allergies and skin irritations. It may take a split second for that irritation to develop on the skin, or it may take a few days; the point is, allergies can build up and break out in time.

An allergy can happen to you when an ingredient in the cosmetics that you are using does not agree with your skin, causing your skin to become red and sore. Other symptoms may appear, and these symptoms can worsen, which would make it necessary for you to see a doctor about it.

These skin allergies can be caused by using a product without testing it, or through the continual use of a product, letting the allergy to develop and erupt over time. Some allergies to products may appear years after you have been using the product safely.

Because allergies are caused by ingredients that the product contains, you should always make it a point to read the labels carefully before buying cosmetics. Here are the important terms that you need to recognize when checking labels:

Alcohol Free. It means that the product you are holding does not contain ethyl alcohol, although other types of alcohol may be present.Expiration Date. The expiration date is the deadline for the product use. It means that the product should be consumed or thrown away before this date. However, the way a product is used may make it expire before the indicated expiration date.

Fragrance Free. The product does not have a smell; however, fragrances may have been added to mask the odor of the chemicals the product contains.

Hypoallergenic. This is supposed to indicate that the product is less likely to cause an allergic reaction. However, all products, whether hypoallergenic or not, can cause skin problems over time.

Natural. Natural means the product is created with ingredients taken from plants or animals.

Noncomodogenic. Noncomodogenic cosmetics are products that are not supposed to contain anything that can clog skin pores and cause acne.

To prevent skin allergies from developing, you should learn to use your makeup and cosmetic products correctly and carefully. Keep your cosmetics tightly-lidded and store them away from the sun. Wash your hands before putting on makeup and do not share your cosmetics with anyone else. Do not put additives like water or saliva to your makeup. If your skin starts breaking out, do not put any makeup on. If the color of the makeup changes or it starts having an odor, it is time to throw them away.

Being beautiful on the outside is all about keeping the face young and looking healthy.

We know that the absence of wrinkles and sags, as well as having taut, toned, smooth and glowing skin are the signs of youthful and healthy beauty.

Some go through so much just to maintain the vigor and agelessness of their faces, so much that they would spend a fortune on face lifts and other procedures that would keep them looking as close to 18 years old as possible.

There is, however, an inexpensive way of retaining youthful beauty, and that is through observing a regular facial fitness routine – that is, exercising the muscles of your face. The idea behind facial fitness is similar to the principle of doing a body workout: by exercising, you build up the muscles of your body and keep them toned and firm.
In case of the face, by exercising the facial muscles regularly, the muscles will be lifted enough to remove the sags, and the skin – sunny glow will be smoothened enough to remove the wrinkles. The blood circulation to the face will also increase with facial exercises, enabling the tissues of the face to repair themselves more quickly.

Maintaining a regular facial fitness routine is easy. It only takes a few minutes of your time and it can be done while watching television or waiting for the stoplight to turn green when driving. Here are a few sample exercises for different areas of the face.

Forehead. This will smooth down the wrinkles of the forehead. Place your fingers just above your brow. Then, with your fingers, pull the skin down. At the same time, try to raise your eyebrows. Repeat this ten times.

Eyelids. To deal with crows’ feet at the corners of the eyes, put the thumbs at the corners of the eyes and then shut your eyes tightly. Then, with your thumbs, pull at the skin towards the forehead. Repeat this ten times.

For sagging eyelids, hold your index fingers close to the brow bone. Afterwards, raise your eyebrows. At the same time, try to close your eyes. Again, repeat this ten times.

Cheeks. Form an ‘O’ with your lips and try to push them forward as fast as you can. Then release the ‘O’ and smile as widely as you can. Repeat ten times.

Lips. Push your lips outward in a pout as far as you can, then smile. Or you can suck on your finger as hard as you can. Once again, repeat ten times.

Neck. Arch your neck backward and place your hand on your neck just under the chin. After that, let your hand slide downward and push at your collarbone. An alternative to this one would be to push your lower lip outward as far as you can and tilt your chin up toward the ceiling, resting the hand against the collarbone as you are doing so.

Chin. Push your lower lip upward as high as you can. You can also press your thumb on the bone just under your chin and then push your tongue against your lower gums as if it is trying to meet your thumb. Another thing you can do is to tilt your chin up and massage the flesh under it with your thumb with strokes directed towards your neck. These exercises will take care of the double chin.

Just like in total body workouts, facial fitness exercises take time. However, if you truly want to see results on your face, try doing this once or twice a day, five times a week. You will be able to see changes in around a month or two.

The tan is in fact the superficial pigmentation of the skin, inevitably exfoliating daily. The skin exfoliation is a natural process through which the dead skin cells are eliminated.

It is good to know that a dry skin exfoliates faster than a hydrated one and the base rule for keeping the natural, shinning tan is the intensive hydration of the skin.

A stretched skin nuanced in an amazing chocolate like color, shining of beauty is the mark of a sunny vacation.

There is no news that tanned persons are more confident about their looks so since the tan is something not quite easy to come by, we should reward our patience of spending hours in the sun with a few tips and tricks meant to keep our tan for as long as possible.

Intense hydration

The daily hydration is mandatory especially after sunbathing, and it is a must to continue it after returning home from vacation. The intensive use of body milk helps keeping the color for a longer time.

Light body scrub

After coming back from vacation it is wise to use only a light body scrub. It is preferable the use of natural oils because while the abrasive particles from the scrub lotion remove the dead skin cells exposing a new skin, the oils will prevent the dehydration of the skin.

No more long baths

Everyone enjoys a long bubble bath, reading the favorite magazine, but such a pleasant activity, however relaxing will cause the fading of the tan. Hot water is an important factor for skin exfoliation so showering with merely warm water instead of hot is a very good idea for keeping the tan longer.

Beta carotene

The dry breeze air, the wind, the sea salt and pool chlorine are all slightly damaging the skin.

Keeping up the tan is up not only to the care and attention we give it but also to a self tanning substance our body receives which we are taking from the food we ingest, called beta carotene.

This substance produces inside the skin a natural pigment called melanin. The beta carotene can be found in abundance in carrots, tomatoes, spinach, peaches, apricots, melon and berries. The C and E vitamins are also a great help in getting a chocolate like skin.

Self tan lotions

When the natural tan starts wearing off, you can cheat a bit replacing the usual body lotion with one with self tanning properties. This will keep the skin nuance longer and closer to the one obtained through natural bronze.  The operation can be repeated once a week and it is a very good chance the skin will look tanned all through the winter.

And it’s even worse for those of us who enjoy outdoor activities in snowy climates – there’s the problem of increased exposure to ultraviolet rays.

For every 1,000 feet of elevation, ultraviolet exposure increases by about 2 percent. And snow reflects about 80 per cent of the ultraviolet light, compounding the problem.

Those who are indoors often think that they don’t need sunscreen. In fact, it is important for people to wear sunscreen all year long. Even if you are indoors, ultraviolet exposure can occur through car windows and cause skin problems over the years. Many people have extra sun damage on the left side of the face because of sun exposure through the car window.

If you are outside, be sure to apply sunscreen at least 30 minutes before sun exposure to ensure that it absorbs into the skin. Reapply every two hours.

Keep a lip balm or protector of SPF 15 or higher, and re-use it every half hour.

Green tea is now the preferred drink of supermodels, but is it really any better for you than a good, old-fashioned cuppa?

Clinical evidence suggests that green tea is packed with health and beauty benefits that you can enjoy whether drinking it or applying directly to your skin. Even the leaves can be used as a gentle exfoliant, guaranteed to give your skin a healthy glow.

Recent research shows that green tea extract is naturally rich in antioxidants, which help protect the body from free radicals – naturally occurring particles in the body associated with accelerated ageing and an increased risk of major diseases. Exposure to pollution, smoking and excess sunlight increases the number of free radicals in the blood, but the potent antioxidants found in green tea add strong weight to the belief that green tea not only promotes good health but also makes you look younger.

Beauty benefits
Traditionally, many types of make-up, lotions, creams and beauty preparations have used chemical antioxidants, or vitamins A, C and E as preservatives for their products. Now, with research indicating that green tea has even more antioxidant properties than these powerful vitamins, there is a surge in products capitalising on its natural benefits.

You don’t need to rush to the chemist to stock up on goodies. Concentrated green tea extract is simple to make at home and is a flexible addition to both your daily beauty routine and your medicine cabinet.

Soothing spritzer
Simply steep 100g of green tea in half a litre of still mineral water at room temperature for at least one hour. Strain the liquor and it’s ready to use! It’s better to make small quantities and use it fresh but surplus liquid can be poured into clean, sterilised bottles and refrigerated.

The liquid can be used as a spritzer, to freshen up the face, or cotton pads soaked in it can be particularly soothing for tired or strained eyes. It has antiseptic properties, so can be used to treat minor cuts and rashes, and is surprisingly effective when applied to spots and blemishes. It can even be used as a treatment for sunburn – soak a cloth in the liquid and leave on the skin until the area begins to cool.

Mighty mouth
Green tea is also known for its ability to prevent bad breath – and it has the added advantage of tasting good if it’s inadvertently swallowed. Try making your own toothpaste to test it out.

Pour one cup of boiling water over 100g of Himalayan Green Tea and leave to infuse for at least 30 minutes. Make a paste using this liquid and one teaspoon of baking soda, and use this to brush your teeth as usual. The natural properties in the tea will curb mouth odour and help prevent plaque-forming microbes from attaching to the teeth.

Refreshing facemask
This gentle facemask will help remove toxins from your skin, as well as leaving it silky smooth.

Mix three tablespoons of mayonnaise with one heaped teaspoon of organic Himalayan green tea leaves. Apply evenly to the face, avoiding the delicate eye area, and leave for 20 minutes. Rinse the mask off, then dry and moisturise your face.

Lose weight
British supermodel Sophie Dahl’s attributed her weight loss, in part, to drinking regular cups of green tea. Sophie followed Body Doctor David Marshall’s nutritional advice, which advocates drinking as much toxin-flushing green tea as possible.

Claims that it raises the metabolic rate and speeds up fat oxidation are supported by research published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (Dulloo A, et al 1999). It is also thought to reduce cholesterol levels and increase energy expenditure by inhibiting the digestion of fat in the intestine.

So next time you fancy a cuppa, consider going green. Not only will it provide you with a refreshing drink, it may also boost your health, help slow ageing and even make you slimmer!

T

Chances are, you don’t live on a mountaintop with cool, clear water to drink, and fresh, cleansing air to breathe. (Well, maybe you do, in which case, this doesn’t apply to you!) In any event, the toxins in our environment these days are doing a number on your skin, and they can leave your epidermis parched and thirsty for nourishment.

A little TLC from the inside out can do wonders, and it can help your skin feel invigorated and soft once again.

1. Determine which foods are skin-friendly, and which foods are not. Write down what you typically eat in a week, and analyze the contents. Do you need to cut out some foods that are not so great for your skin? Do you eat too much junk and not enough whole foods? Once you’ve determined what you need to add and eliminate in terms of your diet, you can begin your journey back to better skin nourishment and health.
2. Step 2

   Some foods to avoid are:

   · Sugar
   · White flour
   · Fried foods, such as French fries, onion rings, and chicken fingers
   · Fast foods, such as Hamburgers, fried chicken, and breakfast sandwiches
   · Saturated fats
   · Potato chips

   These foods can cause skin ailments like acne and blackheads, by trapping bacteria and oil underneath your skin.

   Some foods to incorporate into your diet are:

   · Fish. Any kind of fish is great, except for fried fish. Fish is high in Omega 3s, which is known for its contribution to good heart health.
   · Blueberries. Rich in antioxidants, blueberries are just about the most perfect food around.
   · Carrots. Since vitamin A is essential for beautiful skin, carrots are naturally the best source. They are very high in vitamin A, as well as being high in antioxidants, fiber, potassium and vitamin C.
   · Flaxseed oil. This sturdy little oil is wonderful for you in many respects. As well as being great for the complexion, flaxseed oil is also a good digestive aid and is high in Omega 3s.
   · Foods rich in vitamin E, such as mustard greens, Swiss chard, raw sunflower seeds, broccoli, spinach, almonds, olive oil, tomatoes and kiwi.
   · Foods rich in vitamin A, such as beef, liver, pumpkin, sweet potatoes, mango, spinach, kale, broccoli–and carrots, of course!
   · Green tea. This miracle of nature is a natural boon to preventative care, and it is an important factor in your skin care maintenance.
   · Water. Of course, water is the best kept beauty secret. Water is essential in keeping skin healthy and glowing. Drink 8 glasses a day for best results.

3. Step 3

   Maintain your skin’s beauty by incorporating into your daily diet the foods you know will help. There are many great recipes that include these ingredients; you just have to do a little research and experimentation.

   According to Mike Adams, Editor of NewsTarget.com and author of over a dozen books on health and nutrition, a good way to nourish your skin is to invest in a juicer and create your own smoothies, using fresh fruit, vegetables, and nuts (soaked in water first). Your skin will love you for it.

4. Step 4

   Experiment with topical solutions to skin problems, using foods as your regime.

5. Step 5

   Whip up a raw egg and smooth it on your face. Wait 15 minutes, or until the egg is completely dry, and then wipe it off with a warm, damp cloth. Finish with your favorite toner and moisturizer. Note: Do not try this if you are allergic to eggs, or are egg-sensitive.

   · Mash up half of an avacado and spread it onto your face. After about 20 minutes, wipe it off with a warm, damp cloth.

   · Mix 2 tablespoons of cornmeal with water until it makes a paste. Smooth the mixture on your face, and wait 10 minutes. Then wipe it off with a warm, damp cloth.

   · For a natural toner, try Rose water or Orange Blossom water. Look for these in a specialty store, or health food store.

   Another toner to try is Tea Tree oil mixed with water; about 2 drops oil to ½ cup of water. Tea Tree oil is known to have great medicinal value, as well as being an effective antidote for troubled skin.

   · One of the best natural moisturizers around is–ready?–Extra Virgin olive oil! Use this beauty secret, which is rapidly becoming less of a secret each day, to gently moisturize your skin with no harsh chemicals or additives. Place a few drops into the palm of your hand, and rub gently on your face at night. In the morning your skin will feel soft and renewed.

Some skin care scientists have suggested that regular shaving helps a man to keep a youthful face.

A person’s skin cells, they note, are renewed about every 30 days, and old cells need to be exfoliated.

Shaving helps in this process, the scientists say, by removing dead skin cells in addition to its intended purpose of getting rid of facial hair.

As more men turn to multi-product regimens to help keep their skin looking fresher and younger, advanced shaving gels, skin-conditioning ingredients formulated into shaving creams and new designs in razors themselves are helping give men the added benefits they are demanding.

For instance, Procter & Gamble Co.’s six Gillette Series shave gels introduced earlier this year each deliver a unique benefit to men’s skin.

The line’s moisturizing formula contains glycerin and cocoa butter to nourish skin, while the Gillette Series Cool Cleansing formula contains menthol and eucalyptus oil to provide a cooling sensation that leaves skin feeling refreshed; and the fine’s Protection formula uses almond off to reduce razor drag and prevent irritation.

Improvements in razor technology are also moving the shaving market forward.

The new Azor razor from King of Shaves Co., for example, is said to provide a better shave because it bends.

Ditching superhot showers, sleeping face-up, and other tiny tweaks that will transform your complexion.

Think you know what causes your skin to age? You may be surprised. “Wrinkles, under-eye bags, and redness aren’t always caused by sun damage or genetics,” says Mary P. Lupo, MD, a dermatologist in New Orleans.

“I can look at a patient’s face and tell you a lot about her lifestyle—even the products she uses—based on the skin issues she has.” Save yourself a trip to the dermatologist, and read on to find out how you can get a healthier, younger-looking complexion just by tweaking your routine.

1. Bad Habit: Exfoliating with grainy, all-natural scrubs. Natural ingredients are usually healthier than their chemical counterparts.

But when it comes to those grainy facial scrubs, you may want to think twice. “Crushed shells, nuts, or seeds often have jagged edges that can cause microtears in the skin,” Dr. Lupo says.

A better move: Switch to a gentle scrub with beads that are perfectly smooth and round. “They’re less likely to cause irritation,” says David Bank, MD, a dermatologist in Mt. Kisco, New York. If you still have sensitivity, a paste of baking soda and warm water makes an effective exfoliator, Dr. Lupo advises.

The skin is the first line of defense of our body; it protects the body from outside harms like pollutions, germs, etc… Therefore, it is advised that you should also take care of your skin as it takes care of you.

It does not simply means that you will have to wear a lot of clothes or apply a lot of anti aging creams to your skin. The point is to keep your skin as healthy as possible to be able to withstand the attacks of germs and prevent reactions from pollutants.

Here are two simple and natural ways to have healthy and younger-looking skin:

Always keep your skin clean all the time

Germs and other micro organisms can easily destroy a beautiful skin in so many ways; you could have acne or rashes which will lead to some serious problems in not treated immediately. Cleaning the skin by soap and water or cleansers will eliminate bacteria that temporarily thrive under your skin. By doing so, you can also free the clogged pores.

Also, by keeping you skin clean, you can easily prevent any chemical reactions which you can possibly get from the rays of the sun or the reactions of the chemicals that has been applied to your skin. You can use natural detoxification to wash away toxins found in your skin.

Nourish you skin properly

There is no greater way to younger and healthier skin but to nourish it everyday. The skin is a tissue which also needs proper nutrition to maintain its balance. Having a healthy diet is the best way to keep your skin healthy all the time. Some of the foods you should take are the fruits and vegetables as they always are the good source of vitamins and minerals.

Do not apply too much anti aging creams if you are under diet. Anti aging creams sometimes contain very harsh ingredients which can greatly damage the skin rather than making it more beautiful. Although, there are still good anti aging creams, knowing the ingredients used to manufacture them.

Those two simple tips are what you really want to prevent or reverse the process of aging. Anti aging creams, the good ones are also helpful in maintaining a good complexion and smoothness but they are advisable to be used everyday. There are also creams which contain good vitamin combinations but the probability of having the hazardous creams is high. So, be natural!