Skincare consists of Skin and Care ? obvious really, but let's look at exactly what that term means. Anything that is taken good care of will look, last and function better for longer and retain its value.
Maybe we should think about skin care in terms of 'Skin maintenance', because there are several factors, which constitute good skin care. Consider that your skin is involved in both absorption as well as elimination of chemicals; does it not stand to reason that the healthier your skin is, the better it will be able to fulfil these functions?
Most people think of skin care as keeping your skin clean and if it gets dry, use a moisturiser and that's that. Well, it's a start, but far from constituting skin care or maintenance of skin function.
Information on exfoliation, cleansing, toning and moisturising is readily available, and both men and women of all ages should follow these basic skin care concepts. However, as we become older, the type of maintenance needs to change and the skin care regime that is relevant in your 20's changes as we move through our 30's, 40's and beyond.
Your skin is a valuable asset. Treat it well, and you will reap the rewards, treat it badly and it could ultimately kill you!
Skin cancer is a growing concern in the health industry. As the Ozone layer is under ever increasing pressure and indeed thinning over some parts of the World, UV radiation is reaching the Earth's surface in greater concentration and this is not only having a detrimental effect on our climate and ecosystems, but also affects each and every one of us directly.
UV rays have been shown to cause skin cancer. Getting sunburn is now accepted as a leading cause for skin cancer and guarding against it is not quite as simple as staying out of the sun.
Maintaining a good skin care regime is now more important than ever, and consists of several important parts:
1. Eating a well balanced, healthy diet which consists of fresh fruits, vegetables, fish, grains and if you choose good quality meat, is paramount to supplying your skin with the nutrition it needs to function at its optimal level.
2. Water ? you cannot under estimate the body's need for being well hydrated. Medial research shows that your body requires at least 2-3 litres of water per day to maintain its functions. Dehydration is not as obvious as one might think and can be chronic with few or no symptoms. If you are physically active, you will need to drink even more that 3 litres per day.
3. Exercise ? Now you do not have to be a 'Gym-Junky', but being unfit will have consequences that you will ultimately not appreciate; go for a walk 3-4 times a week; use the stairs not the elevator; park the car further away from the office or the shops; join a walking club; ride a bike; play tennis, golf or another sport that gets your body moving ? you don't have to be an Olympic champion you know, but get moving and have fun.
Finally, there is one more important consideration in the maintenance of your skin ? should you use natural skin care products or will any products do?
The answer is NATURAL, naturally. Think about it from this point of view: When you buy food, do you look for 'no artificial colouring', 'no artificial flavours', 'contains not GMO's (genetically modified organisms), etc., or don't you care?
What about your drinks, do you not look for 100% natural, low in salt, no artificial this or that, no added sugar, etc. Of course you do. Well, your skin does absorb nutrients whether they are natural or not; it will absorb these chemicals into the tissue and it will then be able to use them, or not. Natural substances are much more easily assimilated in your body and are also more easily eliminated, once they've performed their functions.
As scientific research is becoming more sophisticated we are discovering more and more information on how our body works, how foods interact in our systems and how some foods contain substances which are not able to be made synthetically ? well, the same of course stands true for plants. Phyto-estrogens are just one example of naturally occurring substances essential to the wellbeing of our bodies. Similarly, herbal extracts, essential oils, fruit extracts and so on, all contain naturally occurring chemicals, which science is not able to make synthetically due to their complexity.
This means, that the synthetic version of a plant extract (often in concentrated forms) is not the same as the natural version and can in fact have different and even side effects on your body. An old, but good example is Aspirin. We are all aware by now, that Aspirin can cause stomach irritation and even lead to stomach ulcers.
The active ingredient in Aspirin is salicylic acid. It naturally occurs in the bark of the White Willow tree. The big difference between taking Aspirin as opposed to the herbal extract of the White Willow bark, is that in the herbal extract there are many more substances contained which have secondary effects ? one substance for example is a mucilaginous substance, which has the function of protecting your stomach lining! Guess what, there is nothing in Aspirin (from the chemist) that acts to protect your stomach ? That's the difference between using natural versus artificially manufactured substances.
So, the choice is yours, natural or not, it's your asset and it is up to you to choose whether you will invest in your asset or withdraw from it.
About The Author
Danny Siegenthaler is a doctor of traditional Chinese medicine and together with his wife Susan, a medical herbalist and Aromatherapists, they have created Natural Skin Care Products by Wildcrafted Herbal Products to share their 40 years of combined expertise with you.
Join our Natural Skin Care Newsletter ? it's fun, free and Informative and you receive a free eBook on natural skin care.
Skin Care Products Wont Work! No skin care or cosmetic... Read More
1. Cleanse your face twice a day - Did you... Read More
While most people think tanning beds are completely safe, the... Read More
So you are getting on a tanning bed. What next??No... Read More
Yes it can harm it in several ways. Here are... Read More
Elkhart, IN - A newly released report from the American... Read More
Chemical peeling is a process whereby the skin (usually of... Read More
BOTOX® is part of a family of drugs called "botulinum... Read More
Most of us are all too familiar with that "dreaded"... Read More
Many people think that drastic measures are required in order... Read More
This guide will give you the basic directions for nail... Read More
Do you have the winter skin blues? Is the itching... Read More
As we get older our skin produces less of the... Read More
The fact is that any type of skin condition can... Read More
Because of the exposure it receives, the skin on your... Read More
Mineral Makeup is a natural alternative to acne causing and... Read More
In an age where fear of water impurities has millions... Read More
Until recently, contact lenses and dry eyes seemed to come... Read More
Every patient has their own individual needs for plastic surgery.... Read More
Many suppliers of salon equipment offer products that are labeled... Read More
Let me tell you about my Zoom Whitening experience. For... Read More
Never used a sunless tanner? Don't sweat it?it's a no... Read More
Do you want to look ten years younger?Here are twelve... Read More
As with just about anything in life, there are many... Read More
Sunless tanning products come in several forms. The efficacy and... Read More
Ideas and perspectives as to what constitutes a natural product... Read More
How To Apply Your MakeupSTEP 1: FOUNDATION: After Cleansing, Toning... Read More
Very young girls wear their hair in pigtails because their... Read More
Ok, you are heading to a small get together or... Read More
LED Photo Rejuvenation,Intense Pulsed Light or Infra-Red Light and it's... Read More
Beautiful skin care starts with what people notice first. Eyes... Read More
While hyaluronic acid has exploded in popularity among the cosmetics... Read More
You can find many styles of sunglasses in stores today.... Read More
You work hard to eat a healthy diet and exercise... Read More
Before putting on those sexy, comfortable open toe shoes make... Read More
The perfect sun tanning bed can mean different things to... Read More
If you're like many of us and just have to... Read More
Maintaining great skin can be a challenge if you don't... Read More
Eczema can best be described as a non-contagious skin condition,... Read More
If you've been to a craft show or a farmers'... Read More
Practitioners admit it hurts like hell and speech is initially... Read More
To promote radiant, shiny skin tone it is advisable to... Read More
We tend to think of hair problems as being an... Read More
Pregnancy is a wonderful time in a woman's life. One... Read More
Eyes have been called the windows of the soul because... Read More
The cost of a rhinoplasty procedure can vary greatly from... Read More
For convenience and ease of use, people may be tempted... Read More
Like every organ in your body, our skin requires adequate... Read More
When the weather starts to warm up and the days... Read More
For most women, part of their morning and evening routines... Read More
Until recently, contact lenses and dry eyes seemed to come... Read More
More and more people are opting to buy their own... Read More
Cost of non prescription color contacts can vary quite a... Read More
When the weather starts to warm up and the days... Read More
Have you ever considered how difficult it is to look... Read More
Do you have the winter skin blues? Is the itching... Read More
If you are one of the thousands of men and... Read More
The tanning industry is showing no signs of stopping. If... Read More
We all have a favourite myth about hair care ?... Read More
Hair extensions can be added to your own natural hair... Read More
The patented ultra smooth ceramic plates on flat iron hair... Read More
Despite the fact that Botox is a toxin it's been... Read More
Natural homemade recipes for your skin are simple to make... Read More
Big beautiful lips have always been a symbol of sexiness!... Read More
Dentists going for the "gold ring" of cosmetic dentistry practice... Read More
The paler the skin, the higher the classPale skin has... Read More
Beauty |