You are currently browsing the archives for the Tips category.

22 March 2008

What is Thalassotherapy?

Thalassotherapy is a treatment that focuses on the therapeutic effect of seawater to cure various diseases and ailments. The main use of thalassotherapy is to moisturize the skin and also to detoxify the body by improving circulations. One of the most common indications for thalassotherapy is for stress as it is renowned for its relaxation effects. There are many fitness centers worldwide that offer thalassotherapy.

For those that understand French they can check out thalassothérapie Espagne, which contains some information thalassotherapy treatments available in Spain.

13 February 2008

Proper Cleansing Your Face

Cleansing is the cornerstone of an effective skin care regimen. It is important for the long term health of your skin as it reduces bacteria, keeps pores open and exfoliates surface skin cells. If waste is allowed to build up it can block the pores, thus blocking the secretion of the glands from coming to the top of the skin.

These secretions provide the skin with the weapons it needs to combat infections and toxic agents. Cleansing stimulates the circulation, which improves the blood supply to the skin and nourishes it.

The best way to cleanse your face is the gentlest way; use a rinse off facial cleanser and forget about soap - the pH is too high. Cleansing also gives a healthy glow to the surface of the skin. A high pH soap will dry the skin and diminish its life expectancy.

The skin’s surface is mildly acidic, having a pH of around 5. Most soaps have a pH of well over 7, some as high as 10. Soaps with a high pH will not only dry the skin, but also eliminate its protective coating on the skin’s surface.

Unlike soaps, facial cleansers remove makeup and dirt, but leave the skin felling soft and silky. Facial cleansers basically consist of oil, water and surfactants (agents which allow oil to mix with water). The oil in the facial cleanser dissolves the oil on the face; the surfactants dissolve everything else; water washes the face clean. The best facial cleansers also contain natural botanical extracts to soothe, protect, nourish and moisturize the face. When choosing a facial cleanser, be sure to pick one that is appropriate for your skin type and condition.

Precede facial cleansing by washing your hands first; otherwise you will simply be working additional dirt in to your face. Splash your face generously with tepid to slightly warm water. Spread a nickel sized dollop of facial cleanser into your palm or on a soft cotton wash cloth.

Using fingertips or washcloth, gently wash face using circular and upward motions. Wash face for approximately 30 seconds for dry skin, 60 seconds for normal skin and 90 seconds for oily skin. Then rinse and rinse again with tepid to slightly warm water. Any residue left behind will have a drying effect. It’s not too much to splash your face 20 times and drench the sink in the process - your face will thank you for it!

Pat (do not rub) face dry with a clean towel. Follow by toning and moisturizing the face. Perform this simple skin care regimen twice daily and you’ll be amazed at the positive difference it makes in your faces health and appearance!

25 December 2007

Anti Aging Skin Care Ingredients

You can improve the overall appearance of your aging skin by applying gentle, effective and protective anti aging skin care ingredients that have a proven track record for helping aging skin look and feel better. Providing such benefits to skin on a daily basis will enhance the health and appearance, encourage collagen production, and help generate normalized skin cells, greatly reducing fine lines and wrinkles. The following anti aging skin care ingredients will help the skin to repair itself and function optimally:

Alpha Hydroxy Acids
Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA’s) are nature’s gift for aging skin. AHA’s occur naturally in several foods and include citric acid (from citrus fruits), malic acid (from apples), tartaric acid (from grapes), lactic acid (from milk) and glycolic acid (from sugarcane). When applied to the skin, AHA’s supplement the skin’s natural exfoliation process by loosening and sloughing away the outer layer of dead skin cells, revealing the newer, smoother skin cells underneath. This process rejuvenates the skin by improving circulation and stimulating new cell growth, resulting in a fresher, healthier complexion and reduced pore size. Another benefit is that exfoliation helps other skin care products, particularly moisturizers, penetrate skin and be much more effective.

DMAE
DMAE is an amazing nutrient that extends the life of cells and inhibits the cross linking of proteins, which gives the skin a tone and firm appearance. Excellent for fine lines, DMAE is one of the most important anti aging skin care ingredients.

She Butter
Shea Butter is solid and comes from the natural fat obtained from the karite tree grown in west and central Africa. Often referred to as karite butter, Shea Butter is an emollient (an agent that softens and soothes the skin). It is extremely therapeutic, helping to heal cracked, aged and damaged skin. Its chemical constituents help to heal bruising and soreness. Shea Butter penetrates the skin leaving it feeling soft and smooth. It contains vitamins A and E and is highly compatible with the skin. Shea Butter also has a high concentration of unsaponifiables and cinnamic esters, which have antimicrobial and moisturizing properties and provide protection from the UV rays of the sun.

Glycerin
Glycerin is obtained by adding alkalies to fats and fixed oils. It is a soothing humectant which draws moisture from the air to the skin. It is also an emollient.

Jajoba Oil
Jajoba Oil is cold pressed from the nuts of the jajoba tree, cultivated in California, Arizona, Mexico and Israel. Pronounced Ho-Ho-Ba, it contains protein, minerals and a waxy substance that mimics collagen. Jajoba Oil is not greasy and absorbs right into the skin, moisturizing and protecting the skin.

When choosing a skin care product, be sure it contains some or all of the anti aging skin care ingredients listed above to ensure the maximum benefit for your investment.

5 December 2007

Important, All Natural Skin Care

Have you ever thought about how healthy the food is that you are eating as well as serving to your family? More people are taking extra care in making sure that they are eating more foods that are natural.

The closer a food is to its natural state the better it is for your body. The more prepared the food is the greater the chance that there are preservatives, additives and artificial ingredients. There are many people that feel that the increases in allergies as well as attention issues for our children are caused by the preservatives and additives that are part of processed foods. Whenever possible buy fresh foods and make them at home so you know the quality of what you are eating and serving.

It is also important for good health to take care of our skin. Most people do not realize it, but our skin is the largest organ that we have. It helps protect the rest of our internal organs, so it is worth our time to take good care of it. As with the food we put into our bodies it is a good idea to use all natural skin care. It is important to remember that the products that you place on your largest organ seep in and linger for many hours.

If you have an allergic reaction by ingesting certain things, you will have the same reaction by applying it to your skin. By using all natural skin care products the possibility of breaking out in rashes is less likely to happen. One of my favorite all natural skin care regiments is to soak for twenty minutes in Epsom salts and warm water. The Epsom salts helps to draw out any toxins that are in the skin. We all have toxins at different levels in our skin from the pollutions that we face on a daily basis in the air and in the environment.

Soaking also helps relax your muscles. I like to add in some Knapp herbal bath oil to the water also to fill the room with an enjoyable, relaxing fragrance. Once you are done soaking your skin is very receptive to what ever you put on it. After a nice soaking I like to put on an all natural skin care product that contains aloe, which helps sooth the skin even more. You will find that your skin feels nicer and has a healthier glow to it after a bath. I try to do this at least twice a month for the health of my skin.

Another thing that we must do is to make sure that we wear sun screen whenever we are exposed to the sun. I use a facial lotion that has a sunscreen in it and also use a foundation that has sun protection.

It only takes a few minutes of exposure to create a burn. It is important to remember sunscreen in the winter as well. The sun’s glare off the snow can cause a sun burn to happen very quickly, without you even knowing it, due to the cold temperature.

22 November 2007

Proper Acne Skin Care Treatment

If you have problems with acne, this is going to be on your mind most of the time. When you talk with your friends or co-workers about acne skin care, some may tell you to watch your diet and you may think that grease, fatty foods, and chocolate contribute to your acne problems, you can stop worrying so much.

Those things have nothing to do with it and are in no way attached to any acne problem that you may have. The real culprit can be and most likely is your hormones, which means there really is not much that you can do about it.

This means that all you really need are a few acne skin care tips about the proper cleansing and moisturizing of your face.

There are some rather inexpensive acne skin care things that will work for you, but you do have to be diligent in their use. You can use any number of skin care products on the market that are meant to clean the skin. Though having clean skin will not take care of all of the problems, it can lead to less acne in the long run. Clean your face at least twice a day, and use a lotion that promises it does not add to acne woes. The moisturizer is essential because the cleaners will dry out your skin and that can lead to other problems.

Remember, you may need to talk with a dermatologist about which acne skin care treatment would be the best for you. In some cases, your acne may require a prescription.

10 November 2007

6 Benefits of Using Lemon Juice in a Beauty Regimen

With the high cost associated with most beauty products, many people are making their own beauty products using all natural ingredients from mother nature. One of the best ingredients is fresh squeezed lemon juice. Many people already use real lemon juice for its convenience and delicious lemony taste in foods. As a value added benefit, lemon juice has a variety of beauty uses as well. From fingernails to hair, all natural lemon juice provides a myriad of benefits. Here are just a few of its uses:

Brighten and Strengthen Fingernails
Begin by soaking your fingernails in lemon juice for 10 minutes. Then brush your fingernails with a mixture of equal parts white vinegar and warm water. Then rinse your fingernails. You will be amazed at how shiny and healthy your fingernails look!

Eliminate Blackheads
Rub lemon juice over blackheads before going to bed at night. When you wake up the next morning, rinse your face with cool water. Repeat this cycle until blackheads are eliminated.

Condition Hair
Bring life and luster back to dull, damaged hair by combining 3 quarters of a cup of Olive Oil, with 1 half of a cup of raw honey and approximately 3 table spoons of lemon juice. Set the mixture aside. Shampoo, then rinse hair with tepid water. Towel dry hair, then work in a small amount of the lemon juice mixture and comb it evenly through the hair. Then cover hair with a plastic bag for a half hour. Finish by shampooing and rinsing hair one more time for luxuriously shiny hair!

Create Blond Highlights
For a kinder all natural alternative to hair dyes and bleach, try this simple formula. Begin by rinsing your hair with a mixture consisting of 1 quarter of a cup of lemon juice and 3 quarters of a cup of water. Then simply sit in the sun for 20 minutes (after applying sunscreen, of course) to activate the lemon juice’s natural bleaching properties.

Breath Freshener
To quickly freshen bad breath, simply squirt a few drops of lemon juice into your mouth, swish it around and then swallow it. The citric acid content alters the ph level in your mouth, thus killing odor causing bacteria.

Mind Soothing Relaxation
For a perfect bath, simply add some lemon juice and sea salts to the bath water, then soak your cares away.

As you can see, the amazing lemon is a lot more than just a sour fruit. Why not try one of these great lemon beauty recipes today?

Next »