Developing an Acne Diet 101
Many people could benefit from an acne diet. Hasn’t everybody heard that chocolate will give you pimples? We almost all have. As a result, it does not seem so far-fetched that what you eat could prevent acne instead of cause it.
Nevertheless, a good acne diet is not easy to develop. It is highly personal and based on your body’s unique responses to food. Progress, for the most part, will be trial and error. Monitor your skin closely. Write it all down. You might even want to take pictures using a digital camera once or twice a week. When your skin clears, continue on the diet you were on at the time.
The following are some easy guidelines to help get you started on an acne diet:
1. Take in a lot more protein. Some dermatologists believe that protein is correlated with cleared skin. This is because protein contains an enzyme that limits the production of oil. If you have oily skin, you know that it is very vulnerable to breakouts.
2. Stay away from carbohydrates. Do not take all carbs out of your diet. But you do need to limit them so that they are only about 40 percent of your diet. This is because there are compounds in carbohydrates that can stimulate oil production. This is the reason that junk food has the reputation that it causes acne. Actually, though, junk food is just high in carbs.
3. Try to drink green tea. Real green tea is the best, try to drink it Brewing the green tea is the best way to drink it. But, if you really don’t like it, the natural green tea drinks will work. Green tea will restrain the production of androgen. Androgen is a hormone that can cause breakouts.
4. Limit your salt intake. Salt usually contains iodine. This is why table salt is usually called “iodized salt.” Iodine is a major inflammatory agent in those with acne.
In addition to watching your diet, you should carefully watch what you put on your face. You already know what is in your beauty products if you have acne. You should only use moisturizers without oil and natural and organic skin care products. Products containing natural ingredients will least likely irritate your skin. If you wear makeup you may want to consider switching over to mineral makeup. By using mineral makeup you may actually ease acne problems and increase the results of your acne diet.
How to Do Effective Skin Repair
Skin repair can mean a lot of things. This is due to the fact that there are many ways to get damaged skin. Each type of damage is different. Getting the best skin repair relies on you choosing the right treatment.
You can see some common types of skin damage below:
* Weathering
* Wrinkling is common
* Scarring
* Discoloration is one form
* Breakouts and inflammation
Some of these types of damage only need to be treated with common products. Others need unique treatments that are unlike other common products. For example, the products that treat breakouts can make you prone to wrinkles if you are not careful. Conversely, wrinkle repair can lead to breakouts. Scars are unique issues that require unique methodology.
One of the most important elements in any skin repair routine is hydration. Good moisturizers can fill out wrinkles and ease signs of weathering. A good moisturizer will also help with the dryness that comes with acne treatments. Of course, you need to pick a moisturizer that fits your particular needs. If you are prone to breakouts or have discolored skin, then be sure to use an oil-free moisturizer. Anti-aging routines need “amped up” moisturizers to be effective.
Vitamins are key for lightening scars. They also contribute to anti-aging regimens, but can complicate breakout issues. Vitamins A, C and E can really improve the state of your skin. Try topical applications also but be careful with sensitive skin. Some vitamins lead to sun sensitivity so be careful.
When it comes to weathering, skin repair gets complicated. Weathering and other scarring can be ameliorated by exfoliation. You will remove dead skin and stimulate new growth. You need patience for this skin repair because you will need some time to get results. Excessive exfoliation can lead to chronic skin problems, so limit yourself to twice a week.
As you can see, skin repair is very diverse. You can use a lot of the treatments together. To meet all the issues you are trying to resolve, adjust your personal skin repair routine carefully.
August 25, 2009
4 Ways to Get Good Results from Facial Hair Removal Products
Facial hair is an issue to some degree for everyone. It certainly is a bigger deal for some people than others though. No matter who you are, however, you have to admit you have at least one errant hair. That is just a part of life.
But it you are like me, then plucking drives you insane. I cannot even see the mirror through the tears in my eyes! But I am a bit intimidated by facial hair creams. All I got in high school from using them was a red blister on my upper lip. Even a girlstache would have been better than that…
Fortunately, hair removal creams have come a long way since high school. They used to be terribly smelling and full of harsh chemicals. Now using one is like aromatherapy. Of course, you will need to watch for the pitfalls.
Use these tips to make sure you get the best results possible from your facial hair remover:
1. Make sure that you do a test first. Before you smear it on your face, try it on your wrist. If you feel a burning feeling on your skin or you get a rash then you will know that you should not use it on your face. A small dab of the cream should be enough to test with.
2. Look for herbal ingredients. You will need chemicals to melt hair away. Herbal extracts will help your skin recover quickly from this type of exposure. Facial hair removal will go more smoothly if the product has a heavy moisturizer and natural ingredients.
3. Pick something scented. Probably most of us remember that stinky cream that you used to use to remove hair from your legs. The strong smell was caused by harsh chemicals. Now you can eliminate the odor or at least mask it with fragrance. Lots of people have allergic reactions to strong chemical smells and this will prevent that. Unless you can’t take artificial fragrances, opt for the scented stuff.
4. Move slowly. Go light when you put the cream on your face. Get started with the eyebrow area. It is noticeably less sensitive than the upper lip area. If your brows go without a hitch, then you can move on to the lip or chin areas.
August 24, 2009
How to Read the Ingredients List for Natural Shampoo
You may use natural shampoo for many reasons. People like to use shampoos that they feel are “green.” Others feel that their hair remains healthier when the wash it with natural ingredients. Natural shampoo products are often easier on dyed hair. Also people prefer to use natural body washes and natural shampoos.
But some companies use the word natural in a deceptive way. Occasionally it does simply mean natural ingredients. Natural ingredients are just about anything derived from nature. This means that your shampoo could possibly have just a few natural ingredients and many unnatural ones. Generally a few preservatives or dyes can be okay. If you do have sensitive skin though you could have more trouble with colors and fragrances. Serious problem ingredients often undo the benefits of natural ingredients.
Keep a close eye out for lauryl- and laureth sulfate. This is the ingredient that makes shampoo foamy. However, it also will strip your hair. The result is hair that becomes brittle and weak over time. Also, it will destroy color treatments. Lightened and dulled hair is the result of excessive lauryl sulfate use. Always avoid anything with the words laureth or lauryl sulfate.
Also, you should keep an eye out for sulfur and sulfides. These are quite common in dandruff shampoos. You could argue that sulfur is natural. But in some cases it can actually cause dandruff. If you use a sulfur based shampoo, keep it out of your eyes. You might also get hair that is drier than usual.
Really natural shampoos have some characteristics in common:
* They have few ingredients - Most shampoos are made of largely artificial ingredients. Natural shampoos tend to have just a soap base and a few other ingredients.
* You get little foam with natural shampoo - This is because foam is caused by unnatural agents.
* They may contain ingredients that you would see in your kitchen - You might see items like apple cider vinegar, herbs and even baking soda. Some people actually just use baking soda and vinegar to wash their hair.
If you have perfect hair already, then stick with your current plan! But if you are looking for a new natural shampoo then be sure you are getting the real deal. The secret ingredients can seriously damage your hair. Always be sure that your natural shampoo is the real deal before you start washing your hair.
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