Ride the Storm: Navigating Through Unstable Periods / Katerina Rudko (Belka G...
NaturalVisage.com - Reducing the Appearance of Wrinkles
1. NaturalVisage.com
How to Reduce the Appearance of Age Spots
Age spots are mainly caused by long-term sun exposure. Although sun is the
number one reason for developing age spots, smoking, a poor diet, poor liver
function, and a diet rich in oxidized oils are also contributing factors.
These age spots are a result of the overproduction of lipofuscin, a dark substance
produced by our cells. Age spots usually begin appearing when we are in our 30's
and, besides being unsightly, increase our risk of skin cancer. As is the case with
most skin conditions, age spots are easier to prevent than to treat. Eating a diet
rich in green leafy vegetables, carrots, yams, and other foods that are high in
carotene will help reduce your chances of getting age spots in the first place. If
you are already are suffering from age spots, don't loose hope. There are options
available to you to reduce the appearance of age spots, as well as improve the
overall health of your skin.
There are several products on the market today that will help in diminishing the
look of age spots. Fade creams are a popular choice among consumers. These
over-the-counter creams contain moisturizers with a two percent hydroquinone
content which is a bleaching agent that will aid in the fading process. Best results
are obtained with the cream is used in conjunction with glycolic acid moisturizer.
Prescription creams that contain vitamin A, such as Retin-A or Retinova, work
more effectively than the over-the-counter fade creams.
There are more invasive options available to you for those suffering from a more
serious case of age spots. Chemical peels are one of these options. Using 30%-
70% glycolic acid, the fading factor is much more pronounced than in either of
the creams mentioned above. The treatment is simple and can be done in a short
session, even on your lunch break if need be. You will need more than one
treatment to reach the full effects of the procedure.
Laser resurfacing is another option similar to the chemical peel. In this procedure,
the age spots are literally burned off the skin's surface with a laser and can be
accomplished in one treatment. It does, however, have a recovery time of about
one week and can be quite expensive.
For a more natural and cost-effective way to help prevent age spots simply limit
your exposure to the sun and, when you are in the sun, wear sunscreen. Limit
your alcohol intake and eat a well balance diet.
2. NaturalVisage.com
Reducing the Appearance of Wrinkles
Wrinkles. One of the most dreaded words in the dictionary. At the first sign of a
wrinkle, our reaction is pretty much universal. Horror! After we calm down, we
begin to wonder just what we can do to eliminate this much dreaded effect of
aging and how do we keep other newer and deeper wrinkles from following. If we
already find ourselves with wrinkle mania in full bloom, we look for solutions to
turn back the hands of time and restore our skin to its once youthful state.
Fortunately, there are options available to us to reduce the appearance of
wrinkles.
Let's take a moment to discover what causes these wrinkles. First and foremost,
aging. As we grow older our skin naturally looses collagen and eslastin that help
to keep our skin firm and taunt. Also, our skin cell reproduction slows down and
the rejuvenating effect that new skin cells have on our skin's appearance
diminishes. These types of wrinkles are known as intrinsic, they cannot be
avoided. It is Mother Nature at her best (or worst!). Other factors, like the
environment and sun damage, can also cause skin to wrinkle. Smoking also
causes the skin to produce less collagen, inevitably leading to an increase in
wrinkles. These types of wrinkles are called extrinsic. They are life style choices
that are, for the most part, under our control. These extrinsic influences are the
leading cause of pre-mature aging patterns in our skin. Now that we know why
we have wrinkles let's talk about how to reduce them.
One of the more popular ways to reduce the appearance of wrinkles is plastic
surgery. Not only are face-lifts an option but also there are now less invasive
procedures, like chemical peels, laser treatments, and collagen injections. The
number one procedure for reducing wrinkles used today by women of every walk
of life is Botox® injections. Botox® works by relaxing the injected muscle and
allowing those awful furrow lines and other deep wrinkles to all but disappear.
This is temporary, though, and has to be repeated every few months.
Coblation is also an option for reducing wrinkles. Less invasive than surgery, radio
waves are used to remove the top layer of the skin, reducing the appearance of
fine lines, wrinkles, and sun damage. Although this procedure does leave you with
newer, younger looking skin, it is not as effective as laser treatments. It is safer,
though, and the healing process is considerably shorter since the radio waves do
not go as deeply into the lower layers of skin.
Although all of the above mentioned remedies are good options, they are also
expensive. There are a large variety of wrinkle reducing creams on the market
3. NaturalVisage.com
today that contain ingredients like Retinal. These will help to firm your skin and
lessen the look of fine lines, but not necessarily the deeper set wrinkles.
4. NaturalVisage.com
How to Exfoliate Dead Skin Cells
Exfoliating dead skin cells is one of the simplest ways to achieve the fresh and
healthy glow of new skin. After all, that's exactly what exfoliating is -- removing
the top layer of dead skin cells and allowing the new and healthier skin cells to
rise to the surface. Simply washing your skin with traditional soap and water isn't
enough. To remove those nasty dead skin cells you will need to exfoliate your skin
on a regular basis.
There are several reasons that exfoliating is good for your skin. Regular
exfoliating gives your skin a more radiant look and a smoother feel. Over time, it
can help to reduce the appearance of fine lines and will contribute to your skin's
firmness and tone. It increases the blood circulation in the skin, helps to remove
toxins, rids your skin of dry, rough patches, and can even help to break down and
lessen the appearance of cellulite, something we would all be grateful not to
have. It enhances the effects of daily moisturizing by allowing the moisturizer to
penetrate the skin more deeply. Although exfoliating is good for your skin, it
should be done in moderation. Depending on the strength of your exfoliating
product, most dermatologists recommend that you exfoliate your face one to two
times a week and other parts of your body about three times a week.
The reasons for exfoliating your dead skin cells are compelling but just how do
you go about actually doing it. There are such a large variety of products on the
market today that it can be quite difficult to decide where to start. First, there are
several natural ways to eliminate dead skin cells. One such way is to use sea
salts. Simply wet the face, or wherever you're exfoliating, and apply a couple of
tablespoons of sea salt to the dampened area. Using a washcloth or your fingers,
gently massage the sea salts into your skin in a circular motion. Continue this for
about two or three minutes and rinse with cold water. You can also make your
own exfoliating cream by using 2 cups of brown sugar, 1 cup of Olive Oil, and
ginger. Apply in the same fashion as mentioned above. The added benefit of these
natural exfoliants is they are cost effective.
There are multiple products on the market today that you can choose from if
going the all-natural route isn't for you. Most of these exfoliates will contain Beta
Hydroxy Acids and Alpha Hydroxy Acids. These are both non-toxic, herbal acids
that are effective in sloughing off the dead skin cells on the body.
5. NaturalVisage.com
Deep Skin Moisturizing
When it comes to skin care, moisturizing is usually one of the more popular, and
though it's hard to believe, more controversial topics. Some experts swear by
moisturizing as the best way to keep your skin youthful and healthy while others
feel a bit more suspicious of its benefits. Since my grandma lived to 94 years of
age with beautiful skin and touted the benefits of moisturizing for years, I tend to
lean towards giving it a go. For many, moisturizing on a daily basis is already a
daily part of their skin care regime while others are just jumping on the
bandwagon for the first time. Regardless of where you fall, deep skin moisturizing
is a cost effective and simple way to take hold of the hands of time and rein it in.
First, let's discuss why your skin needs to be moisturized in the first place. Your
skin needs water and oil to carry out its natural healing process. Dehydrated skin
has a decreased ability to do that. Although not directly responsible for wrinkles,
fine lines, and the more serious risks, such as skin cancer, dry skin is a
contributing factor. Since dehydrated skin is less likely to heal itself, it is harder
for your skin to recover from the negative effects of the sun and the natural aging
process. For these reasons, it seems obvious that moisture is an important part of
skin care and moisturizing your skin would be beneficial.
Once you have decided to moisturize, next you'll need to know just how to go
about it. There are a large variety of moisturizing products on the market today
that claim to be the ultimate choice in a sea of options. With all these choices it
can be difficult to decide what works best for you. Some of the easier, more
natural remedies for dry skin are protecting it from the sun, drinking plenty of
water, and eating a well-balanced diet high in fiber. Avoid alcohol, smoking, and
caffeine. This alone will increase your skin's moisture content without actually
applying anything to it.
For some though, an application of some type of moisturizer is necessary. You
want your moisturizer to contain not only moisturizing ingredients, but protective
elements as well. Look for products that include in their ingredients including
collagen, herbs like Gotu Kola, Flame of Forest, and Sensitive Plant, as well as
biological oils. Although moisturizing your skin in most cases is beneficial, if you
suffer from acne or particularly sensitive skin, you will need to use a moisturizer
that is low in oils and allergen free.
The most effective time to apply a skin moisturizer is directly after showering or
bathing. While the skin is saturated, the moisturizer will help to lock in the water
and keep your skin moist longer.
6. NaturalVisage.com
How to Improve Your Skin's Elasticity
If you are a woman in your late 30's or higher, you have probably noticed your
skin's elasticity is not what it used to be. For most of us this is inevitable. Other
body parts begin to sag as we age so why should our skin be any different?
Fortunately, there are options available that will help to reverse the effects of age
on the skin and also improve elasticity in loose skin that's caused by weight loss.
To better understand what exactly causes our skin to sag in the first place, let's
go over a bit of the physical side of the process.
Your skin has two distinct layers called the epidermis and the dermis. The
epidermis is on the surface and contains the pigment, epidermal cells, and
proteins. The dermis is the layer located underneath the epidermis and contains
the dermal cells, blood vessels and nerves, hair follicles, and oil glands plus it is
responsible for providing the nutrients for the epidermal layer. It also contains the
connective tissue as well as our skin's collagen.
Although it is located beneath the epidermal layer, it is changes in the dermal
layer that cause the outer skin to wrinkle and loose elasticity as we age. As we
grow older, the amount of fat found in our lower layer of skin decreases, our
glands produce less oil, and collagen and elastin fibers loose their elasticity. The
natural process of cell reproduction in the dermal layer also decreases as we grow
older, resulting in a slower rejuvenation of our skin cells. So, now that we know
just why this happens let's talk about the part that is more important to those of
us suffering from this affliction, the solution.
Although there is no actual magic pill designed to stop this natural aging process,
there are options available to slow down and, in some cases, reverse the signs of
aging skin. Of course, surgery is always an option and a face lift can take years
off your appearance. However, it is a major procedure and recovery is long and
can be quite painful. If this is an option you would consider, make sure to do your
research and only go to a board certified plastic surgeon with a well established
reputation.
For those looking for a less invasive route, there are a variety of products on the
market today that offer an easier and less painful solution, though with less
dramatic results. Many of these products contain ingredients like copper, Ginseng,
elastin, collagen, and HGH (human growth hormone). These are all ingredients
that have been proven to have some level of rejuvenating effects on the skin and
its elasticity. Most products are geared toward sensitive skin and are generally to
be allergy-free.
7. NaturalVisage.com
Recommended Skin Care Resources
Is it Possible to Fade Acne Scars
The good news is that acne scarring mostly results from only the most
severe form of acne ...
Wish You Could Banish Those Dark Circles Under Your Eyes
How many times have you heard someone tell you that if you want to get rid
of the dark circles under your eyes, you've got to get more sleep?
Choosing the Right Mud Mask
Choosing the right mud mask can be a daunting task. There are so many
different ones to choose from, and each claims to be the best. So which label
do you believe?
Keeping Skin Hydrated During Winter
Moisturizers containing natural oils like jojoba and avocado (instead of
petroleum) offer good skin protection because ...
Is it Time to Improve Your Beauty Attitude
There are lots of reasons why a person's attitude towards his or her beauty
routine needs periodic (or constant) readjustment ...