Simple Skincare & Beauty Tips ~ Just for You!
The wrinkle cream industry is well-known for integrating interesting ingredients into its products which may not be as effective as they claim. Every company claims to have the next “wonder ingredient” in hopes that desperate consumers will give their product a try to see if those claims are true. After all, if most of the claims out there are to be believed, it takes about 1 month for a product’s effects to “kick in”, and by then, a consumer would have purchased 1 or 2 units of the anti-wrinkle cream, which is more than enough to keep any company going.
So what are some of the more interesting anti-aging ingredients out there? Which ones actually work? Here are some of the most interesting ingredients that have been featured in skincare lines over the past decade or so.
Algae: Algae is a great moisturizer and is known for its abilities to reduce oil. This is why algae and extracts of algae are often used as ingredients in acne creams and are also used in skincare products that contain oils as ingredients.
Snail Secretions: Snail secretions have been used in skincare for years now, and its advantages as a regenerative ingredient have been well-researched. Snail secretions don’t have a great reputation as a wrinkle fighter, but do have a reputation for helping to fix burns, scars, and serious pigmentation problems.
Placenta: Human placenta is obviously one of the most important factors in nurturing a baby during its nine months in the womb. As a skincare ingredient, it is rich in protein and hormones that can’t be found in many other places. Political correctness aside, human placenta is actually a decent complementary ingredient within skincare formulas.
Semen: Some beauty salons began making waves a few years back when they started offering facials featuring spermine, which is a derivative of sperm. A popular Norwegian company has actually based their most popular skincare line off an artificially composed version of spermine. The truth is that spermine has actually been officially studied by scientists as a skincare ingredient. Those studies have revealed that spermine actually works as an effective antioxidant and moisturizer, but is not necessarily a miracle wrinkle fighter.
Foreskin: Certain companies have included human foreskin — or rather artificially grown versions of human foreskin — as the base of their skincare products for years. Supposedly, foreskins contain an ingredient that helps to renew collagen and by extension, fight wrinkles. The veracity of these claims remains to be seen.
Snake Venom: Several of today’s top skincare ingredients (such as Acetyl Hexapeptide-3) work by emulating Botox’s effects. Ingredients like these penetrate the skin and slightly debilitate facial muscles, which helps eliminate the formation of new facial wrinkles in the long run. Several companies now include snake venom within their facial creams as an alternative to these ingredients, since snake venom is known for its paralyzing effects.
If you look hard enough, you’ll find almost anything you could imagine touted as an anti-aging ingredient and eventually bottled and sold as part of a “revolutionary” skin cream or serum. Other examples include green tea, nearly every kind of vegetable and fruit-based oil you could think of (avocado oil, for example), caviar, and gold. The truth is that none of these ingredients work extremely well as wrinkle-fighters; in many cases, the products that contain these ingredients work well because of the other ingredients that are contained within them. However, many of these natural ingredients are great additions as secondary ingredients, and in many cases are great alternatives to the plethora of laboratory-created chemicals included in skincare products today. My recommendation? Do your research before buying any wrinkle cream with a “miracle” ingredient and don’t write off natural ingredients in favor of chemical additives.
We love to thank the ladies over at Wrinkle Review for helping us out with a guest post Today! This blog was brought to you by Wrinkle Review. For more information about anti-aging skincare and product reviews, please visit their site. They got lots of information!! 
Lack of activity destroys the good condition of every human being, while movement and methodical physical exercise save it and preserve it
~ Plato
An effective approach to managing skin allergies has three components. Firstly you must understand the condition, then you must discover if anything is triggering your skin reaction, and third you must look and decide the best ways to care for your skin.
Many people think that allergies only affect the respiratory or digestive systems, but they can also affect your largest organ- your skin. As with other allergies the immune system overreacts to the presence of certain substances and releases inflammation-producing chemicals. Do some research and talk to your doctor. You can be confident of controlling your skin condition better if you are sure you understand what causes it.
The second component in managing a skin allergy is identifying then eliminating the allergens and irritants that start the itching/scratching cycle. There are over three thousand known triggers for skin allergies. Many are natural, but there are plenty of man-made ones too.
A common man-made trigger is latex, which comes from the sap of the Brazilian rubber tree. ( I personally react to latex) 
The natural proteins and those added in the manufacturing process can trigger an allergic reaction. Most people are aware that this can lead to reactions if you wear latex gloves. However latex is also present in baby pacifiers, balloons, pencil erasers and elastic bands in undergarments. There can also be problems when latex particles become airborne and are inhaled. If you have a latex allergy try to avoid the material and use vinyl or plastic where possible.
Nickel is another trigger. In addition to the obvious nickel-containing metallic objects like coins and jewelry, nickel is also present in everyday objects like scissors, bathroom and kitchen cabinet handles, and zippers. Mascara, eye shadow and eye pencils also contain nickel. Experts estimate that the number of people suffering from a nickel allergy has risen about 40% in the last decade. Much of this is believed to be due to the popularity of body piercing. Some foods also have natural nickel content and people who suffer severe symptoms may need to restrict their diet under medical supervision. At present there is no way to desensitize a person with a nickel allergy. Avoidance is the best strategy.
The third component of effective management is looking after your skin. The easiest thing to do is to keep your fingernails short to reduce the damage caused by scratching.
Managing your skin’s condition means firstly moisturizing and softening the skin to ensure it does not dry out. Your doctor may recommend you use topical corticosteroid preparations to control the inflammation. A good simple product is Gold Bond, it has been around for years
and is well known for its anti-itch properties. its one of the products that anyone can use, and it will help your skin stop itching.
When you take a bath soak in lukewarm water for 20 to 30 minutes. Do not have hot baths or showers, as the heat will increase skin dryness and itching. You can add oatmeal or baking soda to the bath for a soothing effect, though it does not help moisturize the skin.
Use a mild soap or a non-soap cleanser with neutral pH (pH7). If you wish to add bath oils do so after you have been in the water so that it can seal in the moisture. Do not use bubble baths as they can form a barrier that stops the bathwater moisturizing your skin.
After the bath dry yourself by patting your skin with a soft towel. This helps retain moisture. Immediately after drying your skin apply a lotion/ body butter or emollient cream to help your skin retain the moisture.
To look after your skin you will also need to avoid situations where you will experience extreme physical contact, heavy perspiration, or heavy clothing. This may mean avoiding some sports. Swimming is permissible if you rinse the chlorine from your skin as soon as you leave the pool, and use a moisturizer after drying yourself. Make sure you get rid of the chlorine out of your hair, if you are blond you can go green,,
Follow these three steps and you will be able to control your skin allergy and minimize its impact on your everyday life.
My husband and me retired for two years, so that there will be less talking about us and my weight
~ Celine Dion
Scars are indications that the body has repaired itself in one way or another, either due to injury or infection. Once these events occur, white blood cells from the body accumulate at the site to fight further infection and repair the damage that has taken place.
Once that process is complete, scars often form. This process can be compared to a seam being sewn into a piece of torn fabric. The skin (or seam) will never be quite as smooth as it was before the damage.
There are different types of acne scars and different degrees of each type. When it comes to acne the worst scarring is usually caused by picking at the pimple itself. Some people may develop worse scars than others, depending on their individual tendencies. The most you pick the worse they can get.
Types of acne scars
There are two different types of scars caused by acne. The first type, depressed scarring, is caused by tissue loss and the second type, keloids, is caused by tissue formation.
1) Depressed Scarring
This type of scar is caused by the dermis being attacked by toxins escaping the skin. Once a cyst ruptures, it expels pus, oil, bacteria, and other poisons into the surrounding areas.
White blood cells rush to the site of infection to repair the skin and, in the process, valuable collagen is lost, causing skin recesses or depressions. The skin above the injury will then develop scars most commonly called ice pick scars. Other scar types are soft, mascular, and fibrotic.
2) Keloids
This type of scarring results from fibroblasts being triggered by the body during the repair process. Once collagen starts decreasing, the fibroblasts produce excessive collagen, resulting in tissues called keloids. They usually form on the male body and are sometimes called hypertrophic scars.
Treating the scars of acne
Consult your dermatologist about the best treatment for your individual scars. Be prepared to discuss your feelings about the scarring, the cost of treatment, and what you want the end result of the treatment to be. The physician will need to consult with you regarding the severity and location of the scars, as well as what type of treatments are available.
Commonly requested scar treatments include laser, collagen, and dermabrasion. Skin surgery and/or grafting are also considerations if the scars run deep. Keloids are sometimes left alone if the physician feels that treatment will cause other keloids to form.
In this event, keloids can sometimes be effectively remedied by using steroid injections.
Breathing correctly is the key to better fitness, muscle strength, stamina and athletic endurance
~ Dr. Michael Aces
When many of us think of day spas, women are often the first thing that comes to mind. However, did you know that men are also encouraged to visit day spas? If you are a man, you may be thinking that the last place you want to be is in a spa filled with women, but you may actually be surprised with the services that are available to you.
For starters, it is important to know that many day spas also double as salons. This often leads to the name of a day spa and salon. If you are interested in getting your haircut, but if you are also looking for a change, you may want to visit your local day spa and salon. In addition to haircuts, many also give you free consultations. Beard and mustache trimming and shaping is another common service offered. You may be able to receive a discounted price when this is combined with a haircut.
Hair removal is another common service for men that is offered at most day spas. While hair can be removed from just about any part of the body, day spas often offer services for the back, shoulders, stomach, hands, and feet. Although prices will vary, you should be prepared to pay more for back hair removal, as the area is much larger in size.
As for the spa treatments, you may wish to undergo a hand treatment. When doing so, your hands are often covered in lotions and oils and then covered with a heated mitten. This helps to prevent cracked and dry skin. Although this service may sound “female,” in nature, it may be just what you need. Do you work with your hands all day? Are you in the construction trade? If so, a hand treatment may do you wonders. Often times, nail clipping is provided as a complimentary service as well as pedicures.
As with using your hands, do you also stay on your feet all day? Those who work in construction or retail often do. If you do, it is time for you to pamper your feet and make them feel as good as new. With a foot treatment, you will first have your feet cleaned and then an exfoliating scrub will be used. This will help to get rid of any rough or dry skin patches that you may have on your feet. Complimentary toenail clipping may also be offered.
A facial cleanse is another spa service that you may want to examine. Once again, cleanses are often associated with women, but there are many benefits that you can reap from undergoing one. During a facial cleanse, you will often have warm towels applied to the skin. This makes it easier for a cleaner to do its job. If extra services are offered, you may also be able to get a neck, shoulder, and face rub. Please note that even if you have facial hair, you can still get undergo and benefit from a facial cleanse.
As previously stated, neck, face, and shoulder massages are sometimes included in the cost of a facial cleanse. Full body massages are another service that is commonly offered by day spas. Massages are a great way to reduce the stress and tension that you may be feeling from raising a family or working full-time. Most men, like yourself, will opt for a traditional massage, but you do have other options. Herbal messages, that use aromatherapy scents, and hot stones are also popular.
As you can see, there are a number of salon and day spa services and procedures that are perfect for men. You can contact one of your local spas to see what other services are available. Should you like more than one of the above mentioned services and procedures, you may want to inquire about spa packages. They often result in you receiving a small discount. Make your gender known, as some spas have day packages that are tailored to men, just like you!
Old people shouldn't eat health food. They need all the preservatives they can get
~ Robert Orben
I love visiting other blogs and read up on what is new in the beauty world. Today I was over at http://MommyMandy.com to find out she is having a contest! The giveaway is products by Giella!
Visit here: Amanda Giella Giveaway to read up on this giveaway and see if you can win custom created foundation just for starters!
You bet I entered! I got my eye on their organic body wash and or lip gloss. Visit Amanda’s giveaway before
Jan. 24 to enter in to win! Click here to go straight to Amanda’s Giveaway of Giella products!
When I buy cookies I just eat four and throw the rest away. But first I spray them with Raid so I won't dig them out of the garbage later. Be careful, though, because that Raid really doesn't taste that bad
~ Janette Barber
