Fundamental Skin Care

Skin care these days is most important due in part by the fact that the ozone layer is getting thinner and thinner and is nonexistent in certain parts of the world. So without taking care of your skin you put yourself at risk of skin cancer.

Your skins appearance is also directly related to what you eat and drink. There are also hormonal issues which may affect your skin and cause acne and skin blemishes.
The hydration of your skin is really important. If you are not drinking enough water over time your skin will begin to dry and peel easily. It is also important to retain the moisture in your skin, by using moisturizers and so on. The skin is the outer layer of your body which can be a reflection of how you look after yourself.

The skin can be an indicator of poor eating and drinking habits and generally lack of care for oneself. Your skin is your fist for of defense. The skin is known as the largest organ in the body, not is it only the largest organ it is a very important part of the body.

The skin when glowing and vibrant is very attractive. So keeping your skin in good shape, means keeping you in good shape, rumor has it they are all relative. Ok now I am being a little sarcastic, but it is a fact. Taking care of your skin means drinking water, regularly exercising, moisturizing your skin and using various skin treatments relative to your skin type to keep it clean and fresh, I suggest spoiling yourself once a month with a skin treatment and a massage.

Makeup Tips

The best make-up of all is make-up that doesn't look like make-up. It's so well applied that it can't be seen (at least not by others), yet it still makes you look good, highlighting your best features and cleverly disguising those features you'd rather not draw attention to.

Make-up should always be applied to freshly cleansed skin. This gives you as blank a canvas as possible to work with. If possible, apply make-up in natural light, especially if it's going to be worn in natural light -- make-up you're wearing to the office, for example. If it's not possible to use natural light then use good strong light that won't distort color. This is important so you don't over-apply your make-up and end up looking more clown-like than babe-like!

Make-up brushes are a good investment. Powders and creams can be applied with a little more precision with a brush than with your fingertips. When it comes to foundation, a damp sponge will ensure you get even coverage, whereas using your fingertips can result in your foundation looking streaky. Wash your make-up brushes and sponges regularly in soapy water to ensure they last and you get the best possible performance from them. Brushes and sponges that are clogged with make-up won't give you the best application.

When applying make-up, ensure that your hair isn't in the way -- tie it back or use an Alice band to keep it off your forehead and away from your eyes. Ensure that your skin is clean and well moisturized before you apply your foundation. It's a good idea to wait a few minutes between applying moisturizer and putting on foundation to let your moisturizer properly penetrate your skin. When applying foundation, remember to extend the coverage to just under your chin so as not to end up with two remarkably different skin tones. Using a damp sponge, lightly blend the foundation in to your skin; also apply foundation to your lips as this will act as a base for your lip color when you come to apply it. A light dusting of translucent powder can be applied on top of the foundation to help "set" it and make it last longer.

Blush should be applied to the widest part of your cheek -- the "apple" of your cheek (you can see where this is by smiling into a mirror). Apply blush on the apple of your cheek taking it up along your cheekbone towards your hair line. Cream blush should be applied with a make-up sponge (in the same way foundation is), while powder blush should be applied with a brush. When applying powder with a brush, always gently tap the brush to remove any residue before using it on your face.

Mascara is good for opening up the eyes and drawing attention to them. Before applying mascara, run the wand along a piece of tissue to remove any residue; this will make the application easier and ensure that no clumps of mascara are left on your lashes resulting in a very unnatural appearance! For a smoky-eyed look, run an eye pencil along your lids very close to your lashes, and then blend the color in with a cotton bud to give a "smudged" look. Then apply a dark muddy color with a slight shimmer to your lids. If you opt for this look, keep your lip color to a minimum so that your eyes and lips aren't competing with each other; (conversely, if you want to play up your lips, then use a bold, striking lip color and use a natural matte shade on your eyes).

When applying lip color, firstly outline your lips with a lip pencil in a shade that's very close to the color you'll be using on your lips. If you outline your lips in a much darker color, it will give a very unnatural look.

A woman doesn't need to wear a great deal of make-up to feel -- and look -- a million dollars. Keep it simple and with these few basic tips everyone will see you look great, they just won't know why!

Beauty Tips

Very few women look great with little effort. Even Supermodels have to drink plenty of water and get their sleep. The following are the top beauty tips every woman wanting to look her best should heed. Drink at least two liters (eight glasses) of water a day. Water helps keep your skin hydrated. It also helps keep your body in good working order including your metabolism and digestive system, and helps to flush toxins from your body. Drinking water is good for internal as well as external beauty.

Get enough sleep. Even models will tell you that while they might be able to get away with not eating their vegetables and drinking too much coffee, if they don't get enough sleep, then they pay for it with their looks. Inadequate sleep has been shown to be a risk factor in weight gain, hypertension, and type-2 diabetes. And if that's not enough, your skin will suffer, too. Our bodies use sleeping time to restore dead skin; if you don't get enough of it, your skin will look pale and gray, and you'll probably get black circles under your eyes. It's not called beauty sleep for nothing!

Don't spend too long in the sun. This is a lot easier said than done. With all the sun's positive connotations, it's difficult to acknowledge that it can be harmful. When spending any significant length of time in the sun, always wear a sunscreen with a minimum SPF (sun protection factor) of 30. And always moisturize your skin after you've been in the sun. Remember that a suntan is a sign that your skin has been damaged. And premature aging has never been a good look!

Don't smoke! Where do we start...? Dull, tired skin; premature wrinkles; yellow teeth; nicotine-stained fingers; and foul smelling breath are just a few of the effects of smoking. Quitting smoking is the number one beauty boost any woman can give herself.

Eat a healthy and varied diet. Eating a healthy diet isn't just important where your weight's concerned; your skin, eyes, teeth, nails, and hair can all benefit from foods rich in nutrients. You don't need to spend a fortune on products that claim they will make your hair shine; foods rich in omega-3 fats can do it! Dark green vegetables, flax seed oil, and fish such as tuna and mackerel can all help to give you a head of shiny hair (as well as being good for anyone on a weight-loss diet given the relatively low calories these foods contain).

Get regular exercise. Not only will regular exercise help your body look good, but it will improve blood circulation which in turn will deliver more oxygen and nutrition to your skin cells. Exercise doesn't have to take place in a gym, either -- a brisk 20-minute walk every day is enough to get the blood pumping and deliver results.

Watch your alcohol intake. While alcohol doesn't have to be avoided completely, it's wise to remember that too much of it can leave skin dehydrated, looking dull and puffy. It can also leave toxic by-products in the body resulting in premature aging (not to mention the calories it carries -- one glass of red wine has around 100 calories). The odd glass now and again is probably the best beauty tip where alcohol's concerned.

It's a wise woman who remembers that beauty begins from within. Start from the right place and you can look gorgeous with the minimum of effort and fuss.

Winter Skin Care Tips

We are warned to winterize every worldly possession, but most gloss over winter skin care. Still using the same skin products from July? Wondering why skin is itchy, dry, and scaly? Just as the weather changes its routine for the winter, skin care regiments also need revamping. By replacing a few key products and altering methods concerning the epidermis, you can keep the same health, glow, and comfort all year long.

Keep the sunscreen, and improve the moisturizer. Summer may be over, but the sun's rays are still shining and looking to damage skin. Snow is worse than the pool or ocean at refracting sun beams into the face. Also, applying a light weight sunscreen before moisturize will improve hydration of the skin. Even if you do not use a facial sunscreen in the summer due to skin tone, winter may be the season to start!

Take a look at your facial moisturizer and try switching to one made specifically for dry skin. Even adjusting your cleanser to a gentler and more hydrating formulation will decrease the effects of wind and dry air on your cheeks. While sheer foundation coverage is all the rage at the beach, full coverage foundation is a must-have before hitting any slopes. This is also prefect timing to adjust the shade if the summer tan has faded to nothing but a memory.

Dry, cracked hands and vertical cuticles are unappealing plus painful! Utilize appropriate winter attire to combat this problem: gloves. Before donning a pair to leave the house, slather on a moisturizing hand lotion. Lotions leaning to more ointment type consistency are best at locking in moisture. Small travel size bottles of a favorite lotion should be stashed in the car, purse, kitchen, and bedroom so reapplication is always convenient. Gloves are also necessary to keep hands warm, improving blood flow. If planning extended outdoor activities, try wearing a snug pair of gloves underneath a large pair to create a layered barrier from Jack Frost's nip.

Lips always seem to lose the battle with winters cruelty. Fight back with lip balm, lip balm, and more lip balm! Ditch the glittery glossy kind for a heavier ointment type. If possible, stay away from little tins and jars, as they promote the spread of germs. Swivel bottom stick kinds are great to keep fingers away from the mouth, but still should not be shared with others. Similar to the travel size lotion bottles, hoard them everywhere, except in places where they could end up in the dryer. Anytime the urge to lick lips is felt, lip balm should be sought and applied in haste. Unlike lipstick, excess balm on the skin around the lips is perfect. About once a day, gently rub lips with a wash cloth to slough off dead skin cells and apply lip balm immediately following for better absorption.

Don't skimp on products that will interact with skin. Extra sensitive and high moisturizing shaving creams and moisturizing body wash should be stocked in the shower. A pump of body lotion located in the bathroom is perfect for application right after toweling off while the enclosed space is still steamy. Apply liberally to legs, arms, especially hitting elbows and knees. Since colds and viruses are always a winter malady, stock double-ply aloe infused tissues around for the sniffles. Nothing is worse than competing with Rudolph for a brighter red nose.

Invest in soft, gentle wash cloths and towels to prevent over exfoliation of dry skin layers. Taking a chill pill on exfoliating is a needed adjustment for skin to keep up with the dry conditions. Exfoliating is still necessary, but rough scrubbing too often in the winter will remove more skin layers than wanted. This removes a needed barrier at keeping moisture in, and healing can take longer in the winter months. Stay away from multiple, long hot showers as all natural skin oils wash right down the drain with the suds. Baths, a great solution to fighting winter chill, should only be warm and enhanced with creamy, moisturizing soaking products.

Keep an eye on nutrition. Skin receives its resources to build and refresh from the items the stomach digests. Because prices on summer fruits and vegetables typically increase in the winter months, it can be very easy to omit them from your grocery cart. Vitamin E is needed all year long, and can be found in high amounts in broccoli and spinach. A daily multi vitamin can also help combat our natural tendency to starchier foods in the winter. Don't forget to still drink water. For a change of pace try warm apple juice or hot tea- anything that will keep the body's hydration level high.

Winter may be blustery, dry, and harsh, but it doesn't mean your skin should suffer. Maintain skin's health and care by choosing skin care products appropriate for the weather change. This is a good time to purge spring and summer products as they will likely be expired or ineffective for the following year. Replace the products with extra moisturizing products and sacrifice sheer for complete coverage. Adjust routines with fewer, cooler showers and perhaps adding skin care products not needed in the summer months. Don't forget the easiest way to keep lotion and lip balm applied, where it does its job best, is to keep it readily available. Finally, still down the fruits and vegetables you can, and carry on with drinking water even if heat exhaustion is unlikely. The cool weather may be deceptive, but dehydration can occur just as easily in winter as summer.

Day Spas How to Choose

Inhale deep, hold, and exhale. Feel the tension in your neck lessen slightly? Good, now multiply that relief by thousands and you have the worth of a perfect day spa experience. Our world is plugged in, turned on, and blaring stress at us non stop. So, how do you find a day spa to act as a private oasis? Just a bit of legwork and you too can choose a day spa offering gifts of relaxation, health, and peace of mind.

Drink at least two liters (eight glasses) of water a day. Water helps keep your skin hydrated. It also helps keep your body in good working order including your metabolism and digestive system, and helps to flush toxins from your body. Drinking water is good for internal as well as external beauty.

Choose a day spa with top marks in the following three areas: fair pricing, considerate staff, and refined products and facilities.

Start by finding a spa with prices in your budget. You are less likely to find a day spa's services fulfilling if you don't also feel you are getting a fair price from the start. Expect more expense for highly technical and specialized services, but shopping around may also uncover a great deal. Don't forget to include tax and gratuity into the charge if not already included. Many day spas are independently owned-- an open door to establishing a closer business relationship. Day spa owners and spa therapists are always on the lookout for repeat and consistent clients. It never hurts to inquire about discounts for multiple bookings or service packages.

After calling a handful of day spas and finding one within your means, now weigh the team serving you. One phone call can give mounds of information to determine if the spa is worth the next step, a preliminary visit. Choose a day spa that wants your business. Snobbery, difficulty in booking an appointment, and unwillingness to answer questions are all warning signs to go some where else! Incredible customer treatment comes from a need to keep clients. Don't discredit any first impressions from the booking phone call. Also, be sure to ask about the credentials of the specialist working with you. Lack of experience may not necessarily equal an impending bad experience; absences of training and appropriate education are though!

Once you have an appointment, be sure to discuss an opportunity to view the facility and review products used. Quality day spas will stick within one specific product line or brand to prevent adverse reactions by crossing products. This is especially important if you have sensitive skin or allergies to herbal ingredients. A short tour shouldn't take more than ten minutes, and will afford you the opportunity to walk through the process. Take note of how the atmosphere feels and the cleanliness of the common areas. Check the walls and literature for any claims of affiliation or licensing by day spa trade associations. Follow up with those organizations to learn what that affiliation means for your day spa visit, or if there have been any client complaints about a particular location.

On the day of your appointment be sure to arrive twenty to thirty minutes before your scheduled appointment to complete questionnaires. A vast majority of spa services have multiple personal preference components. Intake staff will use this information to set up any aroma therapies or specialized products needed for your day spa service. Plus, waiting at a day spa is not dreary like a dentist or doctor office! Serenity rooms or conservatories are important ways to begin removing stress and unwanted worries before meeting with other spa staff.

Spa treatments are not a luxury to just waste money. A day spa performs services to help reduce stress, improve skin and muscle conditions, and enhance mental well-being. Men and women need to reinvest in themselves, especially as the forty hour work week is consistently stretched to mean fifty. Our bodies are the most expensive job equipment owned. Similar to vehicles receiving periodic maintenance to keep the engine running, our bodies also need upkeep to stay in top producing condition. Choose the day spa focused on providing for the customer, you! Finally, feel secure in rewarding your hard work and enjoy the "ahhhh" to follow.

Flawless Makeup Tips

No professional make up team on standby? No problem. Just a few simple techniques yield a fresh and flawless face to put forward. A good make up look radiates class, sophistication, and enhances the wearer's natural pleasing features. In addition to bringing out the best of the face, make up works double duty in disguising any blemishes or break outs. With so many brands, shades, and types of cosmetics flooding the market, it can be a Herculean task to correctly apply make up. Use the following tips to create a polished, practiced, and new make up look for any occasion.

Foundation
Foundation should only be applied to healthy, clean skin. Never test a color on the back of your hand to determine the right tone, a hand is typically a few shades darker than a jaw line. The perfect foundation shade will disappear when applied, and shouldn't be used to conceal blemishes. Instead, find a concealer one shade lighter than your skin tone and apply it in a blotting motion with a small make up brush. This technique ensures the concealer covers all three dimensions of a blemish, and doesn't just skim the surface like a sponge would.

Beauty Tools
Utilize make up brushes for application when possible. These can easily be washed, spritzed with disinfectant, and safely used over and over again. Sponge applicators quickly harbor a breeding ground for bacteria. Keep separate brushes for products to prevent dark color residue from destroying an intended lightening effect. Greater blending can be accomplished with a 100% cotton ball, swab, or pad. Poly blend cotton products will only smear. True blending requires the cotton to absorb the excess cosmetics which a synthetic fiber will not do.

Eyes
Branch out from black and brown eyeliner. Buying an eyeliner brush, a firm and narrowly angled bristle brush, will allow you to use your darker eye shadow as eyeliner. Simply dampen the tip of the brush and run it through the eye shadow. Try lining with a lighter shade for the inner corners of your eyes to open them up. Be sure to use at least three tones of shadow gradually blended from eye lid to brow. Using only one color is very unflattering and fake. To prevent bold colors like purples from appearing harsh or theatrical, try blending with a coppery brown to diminish the contrast.

Lips
Exfoliating lips of dead skin cells can bring a natural lush red only needing clear lip gloss coverage. Also, by removing the bumps and creases, lipstick applies more evenly and is less likely to seem blotchy. Full-bodied lips come from using a slightly darker lip liner around than the lipstick selected. Improve the richness of a shade and longevity of the color by filling in the entire lip area with liner before applying lipstick. Prevent lipstick from moving to areas it does not belong with a coat of lip moisturizer or lip gloss. A plumper pout can be simulated by only applying a high sheen gloss on the middle of your lips, directly where your finger crosses if you were to motion someone to be silent.

Finishing Touches
Blush should never be applied only to the cheeks. Brush it liberally along the cheek bones, upper forehead, the narrow of the nose, and lightly on chin to create a natural bloom. Follow with a loose powder to "set" the look. Loose powder is an imperative fighter against oil shine and keeps make up from wandering from your face to your clothing. Save mascara for your final step to prevent any powder or blush from becoming trapped on your lashes before it dries. Unless you are going out for the night, stick with brown or brown/black mascara for a more natural look. Try using mascara more heavily on the outer third of lashes for a flirty look, or on the bottom lash line to open eyes up.

Make Up Expiration
Before using and applying make up, check its condition for quality. Mascara that is constantly clumping the brush is trash, as it is only going to clump even worse on your eyelashes. Eye shadows with oil spots in the center from frequent use are likely ripe with bacteria growth. All make up should be kept out of direct light or heat higher than room temperature. These products are chemicals, and heat or light exposure can cause unwanted reactions or experiments with color you never intended! Any sign of ingredient separation such as watery layer on top, or stratifying pigmentation also indicates the product should be tossed out. Best rule of thumb is if you can't remember when you purchased a cosmetic product, then its shelf life is probably up.

Use these tips in addition to normal make up application techniques to make a drab look sparkle. Increase the ease of make up selection by remaining within one brand- you won't have to worry about interactions among products and complimenting color palettes are more likely to be offered in the same season. Experimenting with color, products, and designs can open up new make up looks. Just remember to concentrate on exclusively one or two features at a time. Even starlets follow this rule- as you glance at any red carpet photo immediately one feature will pop out screaming "Look at me!" Finally, keep your face looking simple and natural. Very few people think "My god, that person should wear more make up." But so often we are all guilty of privately urging a woman to go wash the make up off her face.

Rosacea

Rosacea is a circulatory disorder occurring usually in adults. It is commonly seen in people of the Celtic or Scandinavian race. It appears mainly on the face although may also be present on the neck, scalp, ears or chest. A frequent flushing or blushing condition that lasts longer than normal best describes the symptoms of rosacea. This can progress and form pimples and blood vessels visible under the surface of the skin.

Rosacea is characterized by flare ups and remissions. Flare ups can be reduced and minimized by making lifestyle changes.

Symptoms of rosacea include the following:
Flushing skin
Persistent redness and inflammation
Unexplained bumps and pimples that aren't from acne, congestion, or normal breakouts
Visible blood vessels or spider veins
Irritation of the eyes
Burning or stinging skin
Rough facial skin that appears very dry
Raised red patches, also known as plaques
Skin thickening on the nose or cheeks
Swelling of the face

If any of these symptoms are present due to no apparent reason and persists for several days, it is advisable to consult your dermatologist immediately. Early detection and diagnosis of rosacea is important for its treatment so as to prevent this condition from further complications.

Dry Skin

Dehydration is the loss of water in the body, sometimes severe enough to cause shock since the human body is composed of seventy five percent water. To address this problem you first need to know its main cause. Several factors like the environment, weather, health situation, or lifestyle is making the skin dry. Some of them are easily remedied and others will take more time and effort.

Nowadays, you see millions of Americans that have dry skin. There are also numerous products being invented to address this situation concerning the skin. Genetically speaking, there is no such thing as dry skin. You may either have dehydrated skin or an oil skin type which is also hydrated or dehydrated.

Mostly everyone is afflicted by dehydrated skin. When you feel your skin and it is dry and tight, and your skin tone is ashen and dull, you most probably are dehydrated.

Unfortunately, the moisturizers and treatments claiming to alleviate dry skin do nothing to cure it. To be able to correct dehydrated skin, a drastic change in lifestyle and environment is required.

What does a dehydrated skin feel like? It is usually dry to the touch, itchy, with flaky patches and rough spots, and blotchy patches when you look in the mirror. Your skin tone is dull and pale. The skin loses its elasticity wherein when you apply a bit of pressure on the skin, it does not revert back to its original state.

When you leave your skin dehydrated for a long period of time, keratinization occurs. Take for example the feet. The skin on the bottom of your feet is subjected to much heat, friction and dirt. The dead skin cells that build up on the surface of your skin forms a coat covering it, making it nearly impossible for moisturizer to reach your skin. Your skin will further get dehydrated. Then keratinization occurs with breakouts since your skin is badly in need of water.

Fortunately, dehydration is easily treated and is very temporary. The skin just needs to rehydrate and vitamins given to be able to have healthy skin.

Day Spas How to Choose

Inhale deep, hold, and exhale. Feel the tension in your neck lessen slightly? Good, now multiply that relief by thousands and you have the worth of a perfect day spa experience. Our world is plugged in, turned on, and blaring stress at us non stop. So, how do you find a day spa to act as a private oasis? Just a bit of legwork and you too can choose a day spa offering gifts of relaxation, health, and peace of mind.

Drink at least two liters (eight glasses) of water a day. Water helps keep your skin hydrated. It also helps keep your body in good working order including your metabolism and digestive system, and helps to flush toxins from your body. Drinking water is good for internal as well as external beauty.

Choose a day spa with top marks in the following three areas: fair pricing, considerate staff, and refined products and facilities.

Start by finding a spa with prices in your budget. You are less likely to find a day spa's services fulfilling if you don't also feel you are getting a fair price from the start. Expect more expense for highly technical and specialized services, but shopping around may also uncover a great deal. Don't forget to include tax and gratuity into the charge if not already included. Many day spas are independently owned-- an open door to establishing a closer business relationship. Day spa owners and spa therapists are always on the lookout for repeat and consistent clients. It never hurts to inquire about discounts for multiple bookings or service packages.

After calling a handful of day spas and finding one within your means, now weigh the team serving you. One phone call can give mounds of information to determine if the spa is worth the next step, a preliminary visit. Choose a day spa that wants your business. Snobbery, difficulty in booking an appointment, and unwillingness to answer questions are all warning signs to go some where else! Incredible customer treatment comes from a need to keep clients. Don't discredit any first impressions from the booking phone call. Also, be sure to ask about the credentials of the specialist working with you. Lack of experience may not necessarily equal an impending bad experience; absences of training and appropriate education are though!

Once you have an appointment, be sure to discuss an opportunity to view the facility and review products used. Quality day spas will stick within one specific product line or brand to prevent adverse reactions by crossing products. This is especially important if you have sensitive skin or allergies to herbal ingredients. A short tour shouldn't take more than ten minutes, and will afford you the opportunity to walk through the process. Take note of how the atmosphere feels and the cleanliness of the common areas. Check the walls and literature for any claims of affiliation or licensing by day spa trade associations. Follow up with those organizations to learn what that affiliation means for your day spa visit, or if there have been any client complaints about a particular location.

On the day of your appointment be sure to arrive twenty to thirty minutes before your scheduled appointment to complete questionnaires. A vast majority of spa services have multiple personal preference components. Intake staff will use this information to set up any aroma therapies or specialized products needed for your day spa service. Plus, waiting at a day spa is not dreary like a dentist or doctor office! Serenity rooms or conservatories are important ways to begin removing stress and unwanted worries before meeting with other spa staff.

Spa treatments are not a luxury to just waste money. A day spa performs services to help reduce stress, improve skin and muscle conditions, and enhance mental well-being. Men and women need to reinvest in themselves, especially as the forty hour work week is consistently stretched to mean fifty. Our bodies are the most expensive job equipment owned. Similar to vehicles receiving periodic maintenance to keep the engine running, our bodies also need upkeep to stay in top producing condition. Choose the day spa focused on providing for the customer, you! Finally, feel secure in rewarding your hard work and enjoy the "ahhhh" to follow.

Spring Skin Care Tips

Nothing cheers people up more than the weather turning warm! The coming of spring can be noticed all around, from ever shrinking piles of snow, to small green buds popping out on tree tips. The change in weather and environment also mean it is time to re-evaluate your skin care regiment. Changes made in preparation for winter's harsh reality will not be suitable for the freshness of spring. Here is how you can make sure you put your best face forward as the world outside begins transforming from gray to green.

The foremost characteristic of spring is the transformation. Early months of spring will have weather conditions similar in style to winter, and the later months will make you wonder if it isn't summer already? When you start to notice more of an oily feeling throughout the day, it is time to begin working in a lighter weight moisturizer instead of the heavy one needed to fight the cold weather dry conditions.

It is also a good idea to swap out any other product you use on a regular basis if it hasn't been replaced since before winter. The shelf life on skin care products is not infinite, and you will receive better results with fresh products, than ones where the formula inside has been subject to light, and varying temperatures. Nothing is better than spring cleaning your toiletries and cosmetic holders.

Nutrition is the basic building block to any skin care system. Spring time is the easiest, and cheapest, time to take advantage of fresh, green vegetables and fruits. Capitalize on the growing season of asparagus, baby greens like spinach, and strawberries. If you can afford it, try increasing the organic foods in your diet. The less toxins and pesticides placed on your food items, the less residue left for your spleen and liver to process.

Cosmetics need a change, too. Dry conditions of winter are often masked with a full coverage foundation. As the air conditions hold more moisture, the full coverage foundations can cause more harm than good. Opt for a light weight foundation absolutely with an SPF protection of 15. More sun means more exposure to UV light, and sun burns are not exclusive to only summer. Color trends also change with the season, so it is also the opportune time to refresh your cosmetic look. Fashion magazines and style guides can give pointers to the seasonal tastes, and keep you from wasting money by guessing yourself.

Another chief concern of spring involves the introduction of allergens to the air. Allergy flare ups can cause puffy eyes, swollen sinus cavity areas, and redness on the nose and cheek area. Speak with your doctor or allergist about any prescription and over-the-counter medications that will alleviate symptoms. For minor symptoms, a cool compress before applying cosmetics can help to reduce swelling.

Wear proper protection after doing yard work, or during exposure to known irritants in the air. A quick shower after returning indoors can help prevent any skin reactions to pollen or other allergens. At the very least, wash your hands and face with a gentle and mild soap to clear the skin. This will help prevent blemishes or rashes from exposure, and keep the hands from transferring material to the eye or nose area inadvertently.

Spring is a beautiful time, and you too should feel beautiful. Adjusting your moisturizer and foundation coverage level are great precursors to skin care preparation for summer. Fresh fruits and vegetables are always in vogue for the spring, and the prices can't be beat. Nature's renewal can wreak havoc for allergy sufferer, so be aware of air quality indications on the news. The best skin care system always has a keen focus of prevention. A few fluid ounces of dryness and blemish prevention is far better than piling on pounds of concealer cure. Following these tips will let you worry more about your social engagements, and less about proper seasonal skin care solutions.

Spring Skin Care Tips

Nothing cheers people up more than the weather turning warm! The coming of spring can be noticed all around, from ever shrinking piles of snow, to small green buds popping out on tree tips. The change in weather and environment also mean it is time to re-evaluate your skin care regiment. Changes made in preparation for winter's harsh reality will not be suitable for the freshness of spring. Here is how you can make sure you put your best face forward as the world outside begins transforming from gray to green.

The foremost characteristic of spring is the transformation. Early months of spring will have weather conditions similar in style to winter, and the later months will make you wonder if it isn't summer already? When you start to notice more of an oily feeling throughout the day, it is time to begin working in a lighter weight moisturizer instead of the heavy one needed to fight the cold weather dry conditions.

It is also a good idea to swap out any other product you use on a regular basis if it hasn't been replaced since before winter. The shelf life on skin care products is not infinite, and you will receive better results with fresh products, than ones where the formula inside has been subject to light, and varying temperatures. Nothing is better than spring cleaning your toiletries and cosmetic holders.

Nutrition is the basic building block to any skin care system. Spring time is the easiest, and cheapest, time to take advantage of fresh, green vegetables and fruits. Capitalize on the growing season of asparagus, baby greens like spinach, and strawberries. If you can afford it, try increasing the organic foods in your diet. The less toxins and pesticides placed on your food items, the less residue left for your spleen and liver to process.

Cosmetics need a change, too. Dry conditions of winter are often masked with a full coverage foundation. As the air conditions hold more moisture, the full coverage foundations can cause more harm than good. Opt for a light weight foundation absolutely with an SPF protection of 15. More sun means more exposure to UV light, and sun burns are not exclusive to only summer. Color trends also change with the season, so it is also the opportune time to refresh your cosmetic look. Fashion magazines and style guides can give pointers to the seasonal tastes, and keep you from wasting money by guessing yourself.

Another chief concern of spring involves the introduction of allergens to the air. Allergy flare ups can cause puffy eyes, swollen sinus cavity areas, and redness on the nose and cheek area. Speak with your doctor or allergist about any prescription and over-the-counter medications that will alleviate symptoms. For minor symptoms, a cool compress before applying cosmetics can help to reduce swelling.

Wear proper protection after doing yard work, or during exposure to known irritants in the air. A quick shower after returning indoors can help prevent any skin reactions to pollen or other allergens. At the very least, wash your hands and face with a gentle and mild soap to clear the skin. This will help prevent blemishes or rashes from exposure, and keep the hands from transferring material to the eye or nose area inadvertently.

Spring is a beautiful time, and you too should feel beautiful. Adjusting your moisturizer and foundation coverage level are great precursors to skin care preparation for summer. Fresh fruits and vegetables are always in vogue for the spring, and the prices can't be beat. Nature's renewal can wreak havoc for allergy sufferer, so be aware of air quality indications on the news. The best skin care system always has a keen focus of prevention. A few fluid ounces of dryness and blemish prevention is far better than piling on pounds of concealer cure. Following these tips will let you worry more about your social engagements, and less about proper seasonal skin care solutions.

Sun Damage

The sun greets us when we awaken in the morning and calls us to rest as it sets. The timing of our daily activities, such as waking, sleeping and eating, are modulated by our circadian rhythms, and those are based on the sun. We need the sun for survival and sustenance.

The sun gives us health bonuses. Sunshine prevents the debilitating disease rickets because it works with the body to produce vitamin D, a necessary vitamin for health. In moderate doses, sunshine can heal immune system skin disorders, such as psoriasis and seborrhea. Your eyes need about 15 to 20 minutes of indirect sunshine a day for your hormones to function properly.

At the same time, the sun can destroy our health. Exposure to the sun causes the formation of free radicals on our skin. Free radicals are incomplete molecules that savage the electrons they need from other molecules, thus damaging the other molecules. They damage collagen and elastin, among others. Free radical damage leads to skin damage, aging, wrinkles, and skin cancer.

We need enough sun to be healthy, yet too much sun can make us look older before out time and can even kill us.

The sun radiates three kinds of light:
UVA is the most plentiful type of solar radiation and causes skin damage and skin cancer. UVA can penetrate glass, so you can even get too much sun from sitting in your car or near a sunny window. UVA doesn't feel hot and doesn't burn your skin.
UVB is stronger than UVA and can cause instant skin damage by causing a blistering sunburn.
UVC is filtered out by the earth's ozone layer. However, as the earth's ozone layer continues to be depleted, more UVC radiation reaches the earth. It's also damaging to the skin.

All solar radiation produces free radicals and all solar radiation can give you sunburn, skin damage, and potentially skin cancer.

Selecting Natural Ingredients

Several health and herbal food stores have opened shop following an increase in the trend of using natural and organic food supplements. These stores contain a variety of ingredients to choose from; each with their own designated use and function to help you concoct your own personalized brew. Before, these were done through catalogs, but because of the dawn of these shops, people are becoming more aware of these products.

What to Look For
Freshness is the key in selecting the herbs to use. Nettles are fresh with a bright green color. Oat straw is a chartreuse green and not yellow tan. These herbs are at their most potent when fresh which means a shelf life of a maximum of one year. Good stores do not stock so much on herbs so as to maintain their quality by renewing their supply often. Although some may cost a bit more, it is worth the price to get quality herbs than to get cheap substandard ones that are basically useless.

Buy Organic
Organic fruits and vegetables are now finding its way to tables since this is considered to be the most nutritious. Organic foods are made without the use of artificial and chemical pesticides, fertilizers and even genetically modified products. They are all naturally grown food, which even tastes better. Some people charge as much as an arm and leg for organically grown products and some stores respond to the demand for quality yet cheap organic foods. If this is the case in your area, you can instead grow your own vegetables, fruits and herbs.

Grow Your Own
In growing your own food stuff, you can be quite sure of what goes into it, without the fear of it having any pesticide residue and harmful ingredients. Isn't it fun to be able to just go into your garden to pick out the herbs you need to cook your favorite dish? And it doesn't have to be a big garden. Pots of different shapes and sizes can form your herbal garden. And putting one up needs no backbreaking work at all.

Impetigo

Impetigo

Impetigo is a bacterial infection of the skin most commonly occurring between the ages of 2 and 6. The bacterial infection that causes Impetigo is most often related to the streptococcus or staphylococcus aureus bacterias. The infection tends to have a greater chance of occurrence in children whose skin is compromised by previous irritants. These irritants can include poison ivy, eczema, insect bites or skin allergies related to soap or makeup allergies.

Impetigo Symptoms

Once the infection has taken hold on a child's skin, the symptoms will manifest within 1 - 3 days. Symptoms include skin lesions, most commonly occurring around the nose, mouth and hands. These legions will appear as pimple like bumps and fill will pus in the later days of incubation. After 4 - 6 of infection, these lesions will break down, release the pus and scab over into a thick crust like skin area.

Impetigo can be transmitted through direct contact with other impetigo lesion as well as through airborne contact with infected persons. After infection, the skin lesions may spread significantly with resulting scratching. The lesions tends to itch tremendously, and due to the age range most affected, children tend to scratch the lesions and touch other parts of the body, spreading the infection.

Impetigo Treatment

Impetigo is treated with antibiotics. Both oral and topical antibiotics can be used to treat the infection. Topical antibiotics will only work to treat Impetigo if the outer crust is removed before apply the ointment. It is important not to share the ointment with several members of the same family. When using a topical ointment to treat Impetigo, no cross contamination should occur. Cross contamination can occur when applying ointment to a lesion and using the same finger or hand to touch the ointment tube.

Impetigo may also be treated with soap and water. Washing the infected area with soap and allowing the lesions to air dry is important to clearing up the Impetigo infection.

Impetigo can be prevented with proper hygiene practices. It is important to teach children, especially those within the affected age group, the importance of proper hand washing. Teaching children the importance of bathing and showering regularly, as well as, washing their hands for at least one minute throughout the day, will help keep the chance of contracting Impetigo at bay. Parents can protect their children even further by paying special attention to any skin areas that are broken or irritated when washing. Anti-bacterial soap should be used at all times both when washing skin affected with Impetigo and on a normal daily basis to prevent infection.

Preventing infection of other family members may prove the most difficult part of the Impetigo infection. Family members infected should not use the same towels and wash cloths as other family members. All bed linens and clothing should be laundered separately from other family members in hot water, to prevent the spread of infection.

Impetigo can only be treated by a doctor with prescribed antibiotics. Parents should call a doctor at the first signs of any skin rashes, especially those with pus filled or blister like bump or lesions.

Impetigo is a highly contagious skin infection, that can be prevented with proper hygiene and skin care. Skin lesions are contagious and treatment can include both oral and topical antibiotics.

Seborrheic Dermatitis - Seborrhea

Seborrheic dermatitis (Seborrhea) is a common skin condition that can affect people of any age. Recognized as a scaly, red, itchy rash that is commonly found on the scalp, eyebrows, eyelids, sides of the nose, behind the ears and on the chest, it is an uncomfortable and often embarrassing condition. Seborrheic dermatitis affects millions of people in the United States alone - fortunately, it is more embarrassing than it is a health risk, and this disturbing skin condition is easily treated. While there is no cure for seborrheic dermatitis, one can learn more about it and lessen the effects, discomfort and embarrassment.

What Causes Seborrheic Dermatitis?
Seborrheic Dermatitis occurs when the sebaceous glands (the body's natural oil glands) begin to produce too much oil, also known as sebum. While for some people, this just results in oily skin, people who suffer from seborrheic dermatitis have the problem with the oily skin, but a pityrosporum yeast begins to grow in the sebum, and this can be further complicated by the presence of bacteria. When you mix the abundance of sebum with the unnatural yeast growth, your body creates the ideal surface for seborrheic dermatitis to set in.

Seborrhea is caused by yeast that's present in the hair follicle. You can control the growth of seborrhea, but it can recur from time to time. Consult a dermatologist if you have more than mild symptoms.

While seborrheic dermatitis is commonly seen on the scalp, chest and facial areas, it can also be found in the ear canals, under the arms, or even in the groin area. In truth, seborrheic dermatitis can strike just about anywhere, can affect people of all ages and ethnicities, and can be further complicated by a person's mood, their environment, and their personal hygiene.

Who is at Risk?
This embarrassing condition is commonly seen amongst people of 3 different ages: Found in infants, seborrheic dermatitis often affects the scalp and, for this reason, is commonly called "cradle cap." This usually happens simply because the body is getting used to working properly and it takes it some time to adjust and know how much oil to produce. Fortunately, most children grow out of their cradle cap by the time they're 3 years old.

Many middle-aged people begin to develop seborrheic dermatitis and, finally, this condition is commonly found amongst the elderly, particularly those who are in hospitals or nursing homes. In addition to the age factor, seborrheic dermatitis affects people who are suffering from extreme fatigue or stress, those who are obese, and the risk of developing this condition can also increase for those who have relatives with the condition.

Weather conditions, such as those found in the cold northern climates, can further irritate seborrheic dermatitis, and this condition is commonly associated with people who have also suffered head injuries, heart attacks, stroke, or have autoimmune disorders. Seborrheic dermatitis is commonly found in people who suffer from AIDS, as well as those who have Parkinson's Disease.

How is it Diagnosed?
For most people, seborrheic dermatitis merely requires a visit to the doctor. In most cases, there is no need for blood or urine tests, though your doctor may decide to do a scraping or skin biopsy, just to rule out the presence of another disease, but this is mainly done if the patient's condition seems to resist treatment. While many commonly confuse seborrheic dermatitis with other conditions, such as dandruff or psoriasis, most doctors are able to make a quick diagnosis without much ado.

What Treatments are Available?
While there is no cure for seborrheic dermatitis, there are methods of treating the symptoms and lessening the discomfort. For infants, simply using a mild shampoo will help, as well as applying a thin layer of mild corticosteroid cream or lotion to the affected areas. Anti-fungal topical ointments may also provide relief.

Adults who suffer from seborrheic dermatitis may require a special, medicated shampoo or a stronger corticosteroid medication to control their conditions. In more severe cases, the doctor may prescribe a cream, gel, or foam to use on the skin, or they may give you a prescription for a special shampoo that's not available over the counter. In many cases, seborrheic dermatitis is lessened when people go outside, especially during the summer, and engage in a little fun in the sun.

If you suspect you may have seborrheic dermatitis, the best thing that you can do is get in to your doctor and have it diagnosed. While this condition is not contagious, there's no reason to suffer the discomfort and embarrassment that seborrheic dermatitis may cause. Follow your doctor's advice and you're sure to be feeling better in no time.