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Friday, October 2, 2009

5 Beauty Tips For Dry Skin - How to Fight Dry Facial Skin

Dry skin can be an annoyance, especially during the winter months when it can go all
itchy and flaky on you. In this article we'll discuss some of the best beauty tips for dry skin, with special focus on the face.

1. Avoid scorching hot baths or showers

Extremely hot water can actually lead to your skin losing moisture as the lipid barriers in the skin are broken down. Instead of using hot water, use lukewarm water. For the face, baths obviously aren't that big a problem. If you simply can't go without that hot shower in winter though, try to limit it to a few minutes instead of half an hour.

Once you're done, apply your moisturizing cream as quickly as possible.

2. Avoid using drying soaps

When washing your face, do not use regular soap. Use a gentle, moisturizing soap or face wash that will not strip the natural oils from your skin.

The following beauty tips for dry skin pertain to topical skin care.

3. Use both a day and night cream

While the use of a day cream goes without saying, the importance of a night cream is often overlooked. You're not out in the sun, you're just lying in bed. No problem, right?

Wrong. Using a night cream rich in natural moisturizing oils and emollients will help your skin to stay hydrated throughout the night. Avocado oil and shea butter are excellent natural moisturizers that closely resemble your skin's natural oils. These oils all make for a perfect moisturizer for dry skin.

Since your body also repairs itself while you sleep, the extra nutrients a quality night cream provides can aid your skin during this natural repair process.

4. Increase the levels of hyaluronic acid

Hyaluronic acid (HA) is found naturally in our bodies. For the skin, HA plays a major role in the hydration of the skin. It can absorb many times its own weight in water, not only hydrating your skin, but also increasing its volume. This helps to give a smoother appearance to the skin.

You can raise the levels of HA in your skin naturally by using skin care that contains an ingredient like Phytessence Wakame. This inhibits the enzyme hyaluronidase, which breaks down HA in the skin. In doing so, more HA becomes naturally available in your skin.

5. Use a hydrating mask

A specially formulated hydrating mask will deeply hydrate and repair your skin. Typically you'll only need to use this type of mask once every two weeks.

Be sure to apply these beauty tips for dry skin in your day to day skin care regime, and you should notice a clear improvement in your skin condition.



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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alex_Beckman http://EzineArticles.com/?5-Beauty-Tips-For-Dry-Skin---How-to-Fight-Dry-Facial-Skin&id=2584150

Saturday, August 1, 2009

How to Choose the Best Facial Mask for Your Skin Type

There are many types of facials out there in the market. Not everyone can use everything. Hence, how would you sift through these and find the right match for your skin? The type of mask your face requires depends upon a lot of factors. Your choice of facial mask will depend on your skin type as well as your age. Skin types are many and can be classified into these few; oily, normal, combination and dry.

Oily skin has a lot of limitations. This is so especially because oily skin is prone to breakouts and clogging of pores. Lack of radiance is another limitation associated with oily skin if not taken care of properly. Therefore, oily skin a lot of pampering. And what best way than a clay based face mask! Clay mask helps in unclogging pores by going deep into the pores. Applying clay face mask once a while would give oily skin a boost in terms of exfoliation, deep cleansing and radiance. The mineral properties of clay is well suited for oily skin.

Combination skin is a little tricky. Users with combination skin would need to try out different masks to suit their needs. Also, users would need to know what to apply on which part of the face. The best facial mask for this skin type is also clay based face mask. If oily skin can be safe with clay based facial mask, combination skin could not go wrong there. However, if the clay based facial mask does not suit the user, the user would need to change and experiment with different facial masks.

Normal skin type is a blessing. This skin type has very little problems associated with it if there is any. Therefore, mostly many masks type would suit this skin type. A good boost in radiance would add much value to a face with normal skin. Hence, normal skin type users should go for the radiance boosting and firming facial masks available in the market.The facial mask normal skin user can use can come in the form of gel, cream, peel-off or even wraps.

Then there are user with dry skin type. These users need a boost in moisture. Therefore, users with dry skin need to find facial masks that has moisturizing properties. Also, uses with dry skin should stay away from the exfoliating type of facial masks. This would make their skin more prone to dryness and would cause peeling.

Age type is another factor I mentioned that needs to be taken care of. No matter what you skin type, if you are above the age 30, you would need to go for the facial masks that has firming properties. This is especially so because, as you age, your skin starts to sag. This could be prevented if you give your face regular face lifts and take care of your face.

Learn more about this author, Wahidabi Sulaiman.

Wednesday, July 8, 2009

Skin Care: The Importance Of Exfoliation

Achieving great looking skin isn't necessarily that hard. You do have to know what to do (and what not to do) for good skin care. While most people understand the importance of hydration, sunscreen and cleansing, they often overlook exfoliation in their skin care regimen. Exfoliation can help bring out a fresh, youthful look to your skin and will help prevent blemishes. The key is to perform the exfoliation properly.

The very outer layer of your skin is actually dead skin cells. Your skin creates new cells underneath and the old ones on the surface slough off on their own. This occurs each and every day, whether you notice it or not. Sometimes this dead layer will build up on the surface of your skin and you will notice your skin has a dull look to it. You may also find you are more prone to blemishes, if the dead skin cells clog your pores. Getting rid of these skin cells will promote healthy skin. To exfoliate, you can choose one of these methods: chemical or abrasive. Chemical exfoliants usually contain some form of mild acid, such as alpha hydroxy or salicylic acid. The acids work to slough off the dead skin cells. These actually come in different strengths and can be applied on their own, or in conjunction with an abrasive exfoliant.

Abrasive exfoliants are creams or liquid cleansers that contain particulate matter, such as ground botanicals, jojoba beads or groundnuts. The use of the abrasive will physically remove the dead skin cells. The particulate matter can come in many different sizes and the type you choose will depend upon the application. You don't want to use the same abrasive on your face that you would use to exfoliate your feet.

Start your exfoliation with clean skin. Wet the skin with warm water and apply the exfoliant. Rub gently in circles with your fingers or a facial sponge, avoiding the under eye area, as this skin is too delicate for exfoliation. Rinse with warm water and pat your skin dry. Apply a toner to help balance the pH of your newly exposed skin cells. Follow this with a moisturizer. Your skin may tingle for fifteen minutes or so after the application, especially for your first couple of times. After that, your skin will become used to it. With the chemical exfoliants, discontinue their use if your skin burns too much after application. Exfoliation only needs to be done once or twice a week. Since you have exposed new skin cells to the surface, it is very important that you use a sunscreen if you will be outdoors.

You can choose to purchase an exfoliant, or you can make your own. Some great home products for exfoliation include ground oats, cornmeal, yogurt, honey or buttermilk. A mixture of ground oats and yogurt would be a combination of an abrasive and chemical (oats for the abrasive and the lactic acid in the yogurt is the chemical).

Whichever product you choose, consistent use of your exfoliant product will result in youthful skin with a healthy glow.

Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to [http://skin-care-guides.com/]Skin Care
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Russell http://EzineArticles.com/?Skin-Care:-The-Importance-Of-Exfoliation&id=373775