Saturday, July 29, 2006

natural skin care : Tips For Choosing Man Skin Care Products

Nowadays, men are increasingly taking care of their skin. We have come to realize this is not just about looking good, it’s primarily about health. But realizing this, is just the first step, then the second step becomes a little bit harder. It’s then, when ask the question: What man skin care products should I use?

First you should start getting to know your skin. Man skin care products are special depending on the type of skin you have. Look at shaving creams and face cleaning soaps for example, they have certain types: for sensitive skin, for dry skin, oily skin. Determine which skin type you have, and work from there.

Other thing you need to keep in mind is your main goal with a product. Man skin care products exist for a variety of applications, from anti-aging creams to pore cleaning products. But remember also that you should take care of all your skin as well. A younger face means not only less wrinkles but an overall healthy look.

I would also recommend to always prefer natural man skin care products. The reason? Just as the name says, it’s natural. You’ll be amazed of the quality of natural products for the skin available for men since ancient ages. Some man skin care products have us so blinded by claims of miracle chemical ingredients, that we often forget the simplicity of natural skin care.

The man skin care product market is just beginning, now that more and more men want these kind of products you’ll see new offers pop up. Don’t get caught on nice packaging and miracle claims, always stick to the facts because is your health what we are talking about here. Finally, remember great man skin care products make you feel great. Listen to your body and you can’t go wrong.

Paolo Basauri, is an expert author who writes for Man skin care products A site specialized in men skin care information & tips.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Paolo_Basauri

natural skin care : Organic Skin Care For Men VS Chemical Skin Care For Men

When we men start buying skin care products, we don’t look too much in the components and nature of the product in front of us. We just tend glaze over the counter and read general features, such as “anti-aging”, “no more wrinkles”, “bye bye greasy skin”. However there is one of these features that we should be more aware of: “organic product”.

Organic skin care or natural skin care, refers to the use of all-natural ingredients to take care of our skin. These products are generally made of more than one type of herbs and seeds, that combined are able to bring the same results as a chemical based products. Organic lifestyles and the rediscovery of ancient herbs are making organic skin care increasingly popular in men skin care products, and put chemical based products under the spotlight.

Chemical skin care became popular thanks to its sometimes incredible results in correcting skin problems. And that was the reason they had a higher price too. But as years had passed, medical investigations had shown that some of these components are not safe. Components such as Aliminum, Propulene Glycol and Imidazolidinyl urea, have been proved to be harmful to people. Their effects include links with breast cancer, contact dermatitis, ototoxicity, kidney damage and more. Most of the products with these components have been banned, but there are some that not, even with all the research to back that up. There may be also other components not YET found harmful.

As men we are in contact with a lot of these chemicals, but not as much as a woman. An average woman uses 12 beauty products a day, this adds up 168 chemicals!

However, with all that, we shouldn’t rely so blindly in Organic skin care. Organic products are notoriously under-regulated and some of these so called “All-natural” products use chemicals, and chemical processes to blend the components. Of course not too many people speak loudly about these, and you come to discover the effects by yourself.

The best advice to take is this: Know what you are using. You have to be informed, because it is your skin what we are talking about here. You may think that as a man your skin is tougher, but that is not true. Facial skin is more sensitive in men due to constant bad shaving habits. Do a search on Internet for the ingredients on the product you’re about to buy and if possible ask a doctor for advice.

Paolo Basauri, is an expert author who writes for Organic Skin Care for men A site specialized in men skin care information & tips.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Paolo_Basauri

natural skin care : Is That Natural Skin Care Product Really Natural?

The cosmetic industry relies heavily on the term “Natural”. It sounds good and makes us think of rose petals, rainwater and scented herbs. After all if it’s a natural skin care product it must be good to use on your skin?

Most people think a product labelled as natural has no chemical ingredients. Unfortunately there are many natural skin and hair care products that contain a multitude of chemical ingredients, such as preservatives, perfumes and emulsifiers, with maybe a trace of a few herbs or vitamins thrown in just to make them “legal”.

Most people don’t react to chemicals in cosmetics, but for those who are prone to allergic reactions, the consequences can be alarming and even life threatening.

Chemical molecules are easily absorbed through the skin. Although our bodies can usually process and eliminate these substances quite effectively, we live in an age of pollution and breathe in enough toxins without rubbing them into our skin! These toxic chemicals can cause an excess of free radicals in our systems. This can damage our organs, particularly the liver and kidneys, and put our immune system under stress.

There are no guarantees even a natural cosmetic will not cause an allergic reaction, especially if your skin is very sensitive. For example Lanolin is found in many “home made” cosmetics. It’s a natural product which is obtained from sheep's wool. Lanolin can contain allergens and possibly fertilizers and pesticides as well, all which can be absorbed by our skin.

How can we guard against allergens and toxins in the cosmetics we buy? One thing to do is to read the label to make sure there are not too many ingredients in that bottle or jar. The more ingredients a product contains, the greater the chance that your skin isn’t going to like one of them!

What should we look for in a natural cosmetic? Essential oils are usually safe for most people, they also have some great skin benefits. Oils from fruits and nuts are ok as are any cereals eg oats. Alpha Lipoic Acid sounds alarming but is actually quite safe. Aloe vera and tea tree oil are harmless and beneficial.

What to avoid? Well the list is as long as your arm but here’s just a few: Tetra Sodium EDTA, Isopropyl Myristate, Propolene Glycol, Sodium Laurel Sulphate and Phenoxyethanol. While these may not cause any problems for most people, a build up over time could be a problem.

Remember many natural skin care products won’t have the same keeping power as their chemical counterparts so keep them in the fridge to prolong shelf life.

Wendy Owen is a health researcher and author. For information and advice on absolutely natural skin care visit http://www.just-natural-skincare.com Sign up for our newsletter and recieve 5 free beauty books

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Wendy_Owen

Thursday, July 27, 2006

natural skin care : What is Natural Skin Care?

We’re often told that we should use natural products to take care of our skin, but sometimes it’s hard to tell what’s natural and what’s not. While the lists of ingredients in many ‘natural’ products include things we recognize as something found in nature, there is generally a much longer list of things we know had to be manufactured in a lab.

However, long before listing ingredients on packaging was required, some women had beautiful skin. How did they do it? Natural skin care – the old-fashioned way.

Here are some things you can try.

Cleansers: Most soaps are high alkaline (high pH) and cause dry skin. Coconut oil, palm oil, and sesame oil are safe and effective cleansers with a low pH. Seaweed is also a great addition. Its high mineral content stimulates circulation and eliminates toxins. It’s not hard to get – many health food stores carry it.

Toners: Rose water for normal or dry skin, witch hazel for oily skin. These are also readily available. Your most economical choices can be found in your regular grocery store or pharmacy.

Moisturizers: This probably won’t come as a surprise, but water is the answer to this one. Drink 6 – 8 glasses every day. And use a good shielding lotion to keep it in the body.

Masks: Even natural solutions, such as oatmeal and clay, tend to be too harsh and drying on the skin. However, a mixture of pumpkin, egg yolk and milk will soften the skin, unclog the pores, and remove impurities.

Eye Treatments: The skin around the eyes is thinner than the skin on the rest of your face and needs special treatment. Soak cotton pads in chamomile tea or rose water and place them over your closed eyes for 15 minutes. Cucumber slices are good too.

Most skin problems today are caused by our toxic and harsh environment. A good shielding lotion protects the skin from outside irritants and chemicals and is a vital adjunct to your natural skin care routine. By Gloria MacTaggert

Treat Your Skin Naturally With Natural Skin Care Treatments

Naturally, your skin is vital to your health. It helps regulate your body temperature, it absorbs and eliminates chemicals and acts as a protective barrier to often-harmful elements. Many of us may think good skin care means simply keeping it clean and moisturized, but skin requires much better treatment than that to be healthy.

Basically, good skin care begins with a healthy diet, hydration and sufficient rest. It is also essential to protect skin from the sun, harsh weather and toxins. As skin ages, regardless of environmental factors, it continually loses collagen; the main supportive protein of connective tissues, resulting in diminished elasticity and functionality.

Of course, there’s also the “beauty” factor of maintaining healthy skin. The importance of appearances is evident in our society, now more than ever.
Consequentially, the cosmetics market holds a plethora of skin care products designed to reduce the ill effects of aging and environment on the skin, as well as to remedy many common skin disorders. Among the most popular of these products are natural skin care treatments.

Why natural, as opposed to synthetic products? Well, the skin absorbs chemicals, whether they are natural or not. Natural nutrients are more easily utilized and eliminated by the body than synthetic chemicals.

With synthetics there is also a chance there may be toxins involved with the processing of them. Natural skin care treatments, on the other hand, are generally made up of herbal extracts, essential oils, and fruit extracts that contain naturally occurring substances.

Undoubtedly, having healthy skin means making healthy choices. Given the increasingly hostile environment our skin is exposed to, our longevity and value of appearances, maintaining a good skin care regime is certainly a good choice to make. Using only natural skin care treatments in your daily skin care regime is an even better one. By Jerrick Foo