Our skin is an amazing organ that serves several very important functions when it comes to our body's health. Our skin protects our body from damage from outside elements, regulates our body temperature, fights disease and infection, and is a water proof barrier. Skin also makes Vitamin D. Since the nerve endings in your skin are extremely sensitive your skin is always the first to feel changes in temperature, pressure, and pain.
Lastly, our skin reflects both our moods and internal health.
Woman suffering from a cold. Westend61/Westend61/GettyImages
When you have a cold your skin can really take a beating. While you are suffering from a cold your nose can get red and flaky, your lips can get chapped, and your skin can look dull and lifeless. Here's how to keep your skin looking great even when you are not feeling your best.
Take Care of Your Nose
Because of frequent nose blowing the skin around our nose starts flaking and becomes red when we have a cold.
First things first, be sure to purchase tissues that have lotion in them or even use a product such as Boogie Wipes Gentle Saline for Stuffy Noses that is both soothing and moisturizing. These wipes are also gentle enough to use on children as well.
Be sure to constantly moisturize your nose. You don't necessarily have to apply a heavy or thick moisturizer to your nose but rather find one that you like and just keep using it.
Over the moisturizer you can apply an oil or even mix the oil into your moisturizer in order to give your moisturizer some extra moisturizing and healing properties. You could use Vitamin E oil, jojoba oil, or even coconut oil in order to help the flaky skin around your nose. Make sure you always have a moisturizer within arms' reach or even in your purse so that moisturizing is easy. A moisturizing stick such as Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula Lil' Face Butter Stick makes reapplying moisturizer a snap. When our noses are stuffed our lips can get chapped too so be sure to constantly moisturize your lips as well.
Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate
When you are sick you need to make sure you get proper hydration both internally and externally.
So make sure you drink plenty of water while you have a cold. Be sure to eat foods rich in Omega-3s such as walnuts, tuna, and salmon. By hydrating your body from the inside out you can help your skin stay soft.
Also use a humidifier in your home so that there is enough moisture in the air around you.
Using a humidifier while sick or during the winter in general can make a very positive difference in how your skin feels. Your skin will definitely be less dry if you maintain a high moisture level in the air around you inside your home.
Not only should you constantly be moisturizing your nose be sure to moisturize your face often too. Use a moisturizing mask at night in order to give your skin a well needed boost of moisturizer before or while you sleep. You can use a moisturizing mask for about 20 minutes or so and wash it off. Or you can use a mask that is not meant to be washed off. These new kinds of masks, such as Olay's Regenerist Luminous Overnight Facial Mask Gel Moisturizer, are meant to be applied before bed so that in the morning you can wake-up to soft and smooth skin.
This isn't the time to bust out your strongest skin care products. There is no need now for harsh soaps or exfoliants. Instead baby your skin while you have a cold.
Finally, don't take long, hot showers. Yes, when you are sick it feels great to stand under hot water. Unfortunately that hot water can dry out your skin significantly. Instead take short showers, 5 to 10 minutes long, in warm water.
The food we eat can be one of the best things for our skin or one of the worst. The healthier the food we eat the better our skin is going to look (not to mention how much better we will feel and look overall). For example you probably already know that in order to be healthy you should avoid fried foods and processed foods. If you want your skin to look great you should avoid these foods as well since they can cause inflammation in the body and lead to skin aging and even acne in some cases.
But these are not the only foods you should avoid in order to maintain great looking skin.
Sugar
We all know that sugar can do terrible things to the health of our body not to mention our waistline, but did you know that eating too much sugar can cause premature skin aging too? When we eat too much sugar that sugar breaks down the collagen and elastin in our skin.
Collagen gives our skin its bounce and fullness while elastin gives our skin its snap. As you can tell both are essential for keeping our skin looking young. So when you eat too much sugar you are actually contributing to premature aging in your skin. Not only that but sugar also creates an environment in our bodies that causes bad bacteria to flourish and this can lead to more skin issues like acne.
Keep in mind that sugar hides in all kinds of foods not just candy and desserts. You can find sugar in processed foods, breakfast cereals, fancy coffee drinks, and those smoothies that appear to be so healthy. When in doubt check the food labels of the food you are buying in order to see just how much sugar they contain.
You could be very surprised to discover that some of your favorite foods contain a great amount of sugar.
Dairy
For many people dairy is a definite problem when it comes to their skin. The best way to figure out if your skin issues are caused by dairy is to stop eating all dairy products - milk, cheese, yogurt - for about two weeks to see if your skin looks better.
If it does than you are one of many people who needs to either cut diary out of their diet or severely limit their intact of dairy in order for their skin to look good.
So why is dairy, in particular milk, so bad for some people's skin? Much of the dairy we consume, especially milk, is filled with growth hormones. These hormones make their way into the blood stream where they contribute to a rise in insulin in the blood which then causes inflammation and acne. Since dairy can contribute to inflammation in the body this can also eventually cause skin aging.
Though not everyone in the medical community agrees that there is a connection between dairy and breakouts it can worth trying to cut out dairy from your diet if you have tried everything to clear your acne and nothing has worked. After a period without dairy you can slowly try and incorporate it back into your diet in small amounts and try other forms of dairy such as goat's milk yogurt. Organic dairy usually has much fewer hormones than conventional dairy so you could try organic milk and see if that helps your skin or start experimenting with nut milks like almond milk.
Bottom Line
In order to have great skin focus on eating fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean protein, and organic dairy or dairy substitutes. This does not mean that you cannot eat something high in sugar occasionally just make sure it isn't the main part of your diet. Look into dairy substitutes in order to reduce breakouts.
One of the newest skin care techniques being used in professional facials and as part of a skin home care regime is actually an ancient beauty technique. If you are looking for a way to almost instantly revive and massage your skin look no further than to jade rolling. This easy to perform skin care trick involves very little monetary investment but gives great results.
What Is Jade?
First a little bit about jade itself.
Jade was discovered some 7,000 years ago and has been used by humans every since. Though usually associated with the color green jade actually comes in a wide range of colors including white, black, yellow, orange, and even violet. Though this gem is used widely in China but it has long been revered throughout the world.
Not only thought to be precious and beautiful this jem is also considered a symbol of good. In some cultures it is also seen as a lucky, healing, and protective stone.
What Is Jade Rolling and What Are The Skin Benefits Of This Technique?
Jade rolling is done with a jade roller which is a smooth piece of jade connected to a handle. The jade is carved so that it is cylindrical and moves easily along the face. A jade roller looks like a mini paint roller. Jade rollers can be easily purchased through Amazon and cost very little which makes this beauty tool accessible to everyone.
As already mentioned jade rolling is actually an ancient beauty tradition that originated in China. This technique is both relaxing and has many skin benefits as well.
The jade itself is slightly cool to the touch so rolling it all over your face is very soothing and can reduce redness and inflammation. This cold can also make pores appear smaller temporarily. If you would like your jade roller to be even colder just pop it in the fridge for a little bit before using.
Furthermore, jade rolling improves blood circulation to the area where it is being used. It also promotes lymphatic drainage which means it can reduce facial puffiness. Jade rollers can help under eye puffiness and darkness by helping to move fluids that are stuck under the eyes. If you are someone who has been looking for a solution of dark under eye circles or under eye puffiness than jade rolling may be just what you are looking for.
How To Do Jade Rolling
Jade rolling at home is very easy to do. You can even do it while watching TV, and it can be done morning or evening. Most people do jade rolling on their faces but it can actually be performed anywhere on the body.
Jade Rolling For The Under Eye Area
Use a small jade roller for this treatment; be sure to put the jade roller in the refrigerator so that it is extra cold before use. After washing your face apply eye cream under eyes . Gently roll under your eyes starting from the inner corner out. Bring the roller down towards your ear in order to promote fluid drainage. Repeat these strokes a few time. You can perform jade rolling under your eyes twice a day in the morning and evening.
Jade Rolling On Your Face
Clean your face thoroughly. Apply a serum, moisturizer, or even a mask to your face. Starting at the bottom of your neck move your roller up over your neck to your face. Move the roller in upward strokes over your cheeks, on both sides, and up to your forehead. Run the roller along the whole width of your forehead. You can do this for about 2 minutes. You could do this every evening but even a few times a week will help your skin.
If you used a mask rinse it off after using your jade roller. You can apply more serum or moisturizer after rolling since the roller will have helped the serum or moisturizer you applied before be absorbed into your skin.
We have all heard different ideas about how to treat acne - "just spend time in the sun to clear up your skin", "your skin is just dirty - wash it more", or "don't wear make up if you breakout". It is time to push aside the old wives tales and tell the truth when it comes to acne. Learn here what works and what doesn't when it comes to clearing up your skin.
Looking at the sun. Daniel Grill/Tetra images/GettyImages
Myth: The Sun Will Make Your Acne Better
One of the most persistent acne myths out there is that the sun is good for acne. People truly believe that the way to clear up breakouts is to spend time in the sun without sunscreen. Where does this idea even come from and why is it so wrong?
Yes, for a lot of people their skin does start to look clearer when they are out in the sun for a bit. This is because the sun suppresses the immune system which means that inflammation in the skin goes down and acne redness starts to improve. Sounds great, right? Hold on because just the opposite is true. If the immune system does not work properly you are setting yourself up for serious health issues in the future. Not only that but over time the sun does much more damage to our skin than good. The sun causes dark spots, fine lines, wrinkles, and in the worst case scenario skin cancer. It always best to protect your skin from the sun and to treat your acne is a different way.
By the way, the same thing goes for chlorine as well. Chlorine temporarily dries out the skin which makes it seem like your breakouts are improving, but over time chlorine just irritates the skin.
Lastly, if you have acne don't believe that sunscreen will make your breakout. With so many different sunscreens on the market you will have no trouble finding one that gives you great protection from harmful UV rays and won't cause breakouts. More »
Scrubbing face. Peter Dazeley/Photographer's Choice/GettyImages
Myth: You Need To Scrub Your Skin To Get Rid Of Acne
Another acne myth that never seems to go away is that acne is caused by dirt and in order to get rid of your breakouts you need to scrub your face clean. Nothing could be farther from the truth - acne is caused by the build-up of dead skin cells, excess production of oil, and bacteria. Yes, washing your face is important in order to get and keep clear skin but not because a dirty face is causing your acne. Washing your face helps to get rid of excess oil and dead skin cells, but scrubbing your face will not help your acne and can even make your breakouts worse. Washing your face twice a day is enough since over washing can lead to dryness and irritation. Definitely stay away from the aggressive facial scrubs as well.
brushing teeth. Eric Audras/ONOKY/GettyImages
Myth: Toothpaste Will Clear Up Pimples
Toothpaste has a mix of ingredients, especially the ingredient triclosan, which can dry out pimples. But toothpaste is meant to go in your mouth, never on your face. When you use toothpaste on your face you can cause redness, irritation, and even skin peeling. In the end instead of helping your skin if you put toothpaste on your pimples you can end up hurting your skin.
Anyone who has acne is always scared that if they apply the wrong product to their face they will make their breakouts worse instead of better. For this reason many people think that if you have acne you cannot use make up. Nothing can be further from the truth. Using make up until your breakouts clear up can boost your self esteem and help you cope better with your pimples because you feel better about how you look. Just be sure to buy make up that is labeled "oil free", "won't clog pores", or "non-comdegenic" in order to be sure that you are helping your skin instead of hurting it.
One of the easiest skin care products to make at home is a facial mist. Using a few, common ingredients you can create a product that can moisturize, soothe, and treat your skin.
What Are Facial Mists
Facial mists are pretty much what they sound like - a watery mist that you spray on your face. This product is definitely the unsung hero of the home skin care routine. While it can be easily overlooked and forgotten when used a facial mist will give your skin a much needed pick me up throughout the day while moisturizing and refreshing your skin as well.
During the summer spraying a facial mist on your face can feel fabulous because it cools your skin down quickly.
Since facial mists' ingredients can be tailored to different skin types you can have a facial mist that fights excess oil, or one that moisturizes, or one that soothes red and irritated skin.
This product is also a great way to get antioxidants onto your skin so that your skin is extra protected from environmental damage. Facial mists can even contain anti-aging ingredients.
How To Use A Facial Mist
Facial mists are very versatile when it comes to their use. One way to use a facial mist is before applying your moisturizer. Simply mist your face all over and wait for a few seconds, then apply your moisturizer on top. Moisturizer always works better when applied to damp skin instead of bone dry skin.
You can also mist your face after moisturizing and after applying your make up in order to set your make up. Spray your face throughout the day wherever you might be in order to feel revived and refreshed.
Facial mists are an excellent pick me up making your skin feel great and surrounding you with a pleasant scent as well. In this respect using a facial mist can even be a great way to destress during a busy day.
How To Make A Facial Mist
While you can purchase many different types of facial mists it is just as simple to make your own with ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen.
This product can be customized for all different skin types so that your skin gets all the TLC it needs and deserves.
First things first purchase a few plastic spray bottles. I prefer the ones on the smaller size. You'll find that even with daily use your facial mist lasts a long time. There is no need to purchase a very large spray bottle.
Choose your ingredients according to your skin type. The base of your mist could be green or pomegranate tea - both are full of antioxidants which do wonderful things for the skin. Add in other ingredients to further customize your mist for your skin type. If you have oily skin use ingredients like coconut water and witch hazel. Use green tea and rosewater (recipe below) to soothe skin. Add a few drops of jojoba oil or vegetable glycerin to any mist in order to boost the hydration of the mist.
A Facial Mist Recipe For All Skin Types
My favorite facial mist recipe comes from Dr. Ava Shamban's book Heal Your Skin. This facial mist is a great pick me up for all skin types - it has antioxidants, soothes, hydrates, and refreshes the skin:
Green Tea-Rosewater Mist
You'll need: 1/2 cup water, 2 green tea bags, and 1/2 cup rosewater
Boil the water and then add the tea bags. Let this steep for 15 minutes. Remove the teabags and add the rosewater. Mix well. Allow to cool and then pour into your spray bottle. Keep in the refrigerator.
If you want great looking skin there are certain things that you should never do. If you smoke, stress out, or forget to wash your face your skin will never look its best. Here are the top 6 things you should never do if you want beautiful skin.
I love Pinterest; I am sure you love Pinterest too. Pinterest is my favorite way to save recipes, look for recipes, and organize articles I find about skin care and esthetics on the web. Unfortunately when it comes to skin care advice Pinterest isn't always the best source of information. On Pinterest you'll find DIY skin care recipes that use everything in your kitchen from egg whites to cinnamon to lemon juice and yogurt.
Even though I am all for the occasional DIY facial mask or toner some of the skin care advice on Pinterest can be downright dangerous for your skin or even your health. Find out here what Pinterest skin care advice is best to avoid and why.
One of the more frustrating skin care problems to have is very oily skin. If you suffer from this problem than you know exactly what I am talking about - no matter what you do by mid-morning or mid-day your skin is shiny and greasy. While our skin definitely needs oil in order to look and function at its best having very oily skin can be unpleasant and embarrassing. Luckily with a little extra planning you can both stop oily skin from happening and make shiny skin look better throughout the day.
Why You Have Oily Skin
Oily skin is caused by a few different factors. One thing that plays a part in who has oily skin and who doesn't is genetics so yes, you can blame your mom and dad for your oily skin. Hormonal changes and misuse of skin care products such as scrubbing aggressively can contribute to oily skin.
So can the weather. During hot and humid months your skin can feel sticky and look slick and shiny while in the winter this probably will not happen.
How To Stop Oily Skin
An important thing to keep in mind when dealing with oily skin is not to go overboard with cleansing and scrubbing. You actually want to be gentle with oily skin in order to see an improvement with the way your skin looks. Harsh scrubs are definitely not the way to treat oily skin. Look for skin care products that are gels or lotions not creams. When you have oily skin creamy products feel much too heavy on your skin. When it comes to make-up your skin will love mineral make up, either in a powder or liquid formulation, since these formulations can help skin look matte.
Make sure that all the products that you use on your face say "will not clog pores" or "noncomedogenic".
Skin Care Routine For Oily Skin
Cleanse your skin twice a day. You can use a cleanser that has salicylic acid or glycolic acid if you feel that your gentle cleanser is not strong enough. Don't get a harsh, abrasive scrub and sandpaper your face. You also do not want to use a cleanser that leaves your face feeling squeaky clean since this causes more harm than good to your skin. Cleansers that are gels or foams are a good choice for someone with oily skin.
Tone your skin. If after washing your face you still feel that you have too much oil on your face use a gentle toner. Do not use a toner that is alcohol based or one that is labeled an astringent. As mentioned above you do not want to strip your face of all its oil, just control the oil. You could use a toner such as Thayers Alcohol-free Unscented Witch Hazel Toner or Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Pore-Reducing Toner with Antioxidants for Large Pores and Oily Skin.
Use a moisturizer where needed. It is a skin care myth that people with oily skin should not use moisturizers. You do not need to use a moisturizer all over your face if your skin is oily instead use it only where you feel you need it. Be sure to use a moisturizer that is oil free; gel moisturizers are great for oily skin. Two products to try: Dermalogica Oil Control Lotion or Laneige Water Bank Gel Cream.
Use an oil free sunscreen. Do not stop using sunscreen just because you have oily skin. Look for a gel sunscreen or one that says it is "oil free" or "will not clog pores". There are even powder sunscreens that will stop shine while giving you sun protection.
Use a clay mask once a week. Clay can sop up oil from your skin leaving it looking great and feeling smooth. A very affordable choice is the Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay Deep Pore Cleansing that you can buy on Amazon.
Your Skin BFF - Blotting Papers
During the day if your skin gets shiny make sure that you have blotting papers on hand. Stash some in your car, your purse, or even your desk at work. Blotting papers can be found at all price ranges, and even Starbucks napkins are great at absorbing excess oil. So the next time your getting your latte be sure to snag a few extra napkins for your face.
Chances are you've already heard of the super food quinoa. Loaded with protein, naturally low in fat, gluten-free, and a great source for iron and fiber this seed has become a vegetarian and vegan food staple and made its way into mainstream cooking as well. An ancient South American grain quinoa is easy to cook and can be made into everything from breakfast porridges to salads to a stuffing for vegetables like peppers.
There are even entire cookbooks devoted to quinoa recipes.
Quinoa has many health benefits. For instance quinoa is high in fiber which means it can help you feel full after eating less and protect against heart disease. Quinoa contains iron which keeps our red blood cells healthy. Quinoa also contains lysine which is needed for tissue growth and repair.
How Eating Quinoa Can Benefit Your Skin
Before I discuss topical skin care products that contain quinoa I want to briefly discuss how eating quinoa may benefit your skin. As discussed above quinoa is very healthy in general. When it comes specifically to your skin can help in a few ways. Quinoa is a low-glycemic food which means it does not make your blood sugar spike when consumed. Recently there has been a lot of research that shows a link between a high-glycemic diet and acne so incorporating foods like quinoa into your diet instead of pasta might help stop acne and help you to have clearer skin. The antioxidants in quinoa can benefit the skin by guarding against free radical damage
How Quinoa Can Help Your Skin When Applied Topically
Quinoa is also fast catching on as a skin care ingredient; it is also used in hair care products. When it comes to skin care products quinoa is used in two different forms: hydrolyzed quinoa and quinoa-seed extract. Essentially when used on the skin quinoa is said to be hydrating and to have antioxidant benefits which means it protects against free radical damage to the skin.
Free radicals, which are formed by sun exposure and pollutants in the air, breakdown the collagen in our skin and cause skin aging. Using topical antioxidants help protect our skin from the damage caused by the sun and other environmental factors we can't avoid.
Unfortunately it seems that when applied to the skin quinoa might not be so fabulous. There still needs to be more research into how this super food can help the skin from the outside in. While there are some products on the market (see the list below) that contain quinoa it will be interesting to see what future research reveals about this ingredient. In the meantime you can actually make a couple of quinoa skin care products on your own from the comfort of your home. Recipes are listed below.
Products To Try:
Laneige Gel Moisturizing Eye Cream
Cowshed Quinoa Hydrating Daily Moisturizer
Clarins Double Serum
Osmia Protein Exfoliating Mask
Aubrey Organics Revitalizing Therapy Cleanser
DIY Quinoa Skin Care Products
The first way to use quinoa in a DIY skin care product is by finely grinding up the dry seeds. Use as a gentle exfoliant by adding to your favorite cleanser. Or add the finely ground up quinoa to olive or jojoba oil in order to gently exfoliate.
You can also make a facial mask with cooked quinoa: cook 1/4 of quiona in soy milk and allow to cool. Combine with 3 teaspoons of yogurt and a few drops of your favorite essential oil. Blend thoroughly in a blender. You can also add a little olive oil if you want. Apply to your face and leave on for 20 minutes. Rinse completely.
Woman washing her face. Michael H/DigitalVision/GettyImages
One of the most basic steps in any home skin care routine is facial cleansing twice a day - morning and night. With so many products to choose from finding the right cleanser for your skin type can be confusing. Use the guidelines below to make sure you find the right cleanser for your skin.
Cleanser Basics
Before you go out and purchase a facial cleanser keep a few things in mind. Body soap or hand soap should never be used on your face.
Skin care products formulated for use below the neck are generally too harsh for use on the face. Make sure you purchase a cleanser that is for your face.
You never want to have squeaky clean skin after washing your face. If your skin feels that way after cleansing you have definitely used the wrong cleanser.
We want our skin to feel soft and smooth after cleansing never tight and dry.
Cleansers For Dry Skin
If you have dry skin it is important to cleanse your skin without making it feel more dry or tight. This means you need to use a cream or oil based cleanser. Cleansers that contain moisturizing ingredients in them are perfect for dry skin since they will leave your skin soft after cleansing. This skin type can use a cleansing balm and even a cold cream. These products are not washed off at after cleansing but wiped off with a wet or even dry soft cloth. Products to try: Garnier Clean+ Nourishing Cleansing Oil For Dry Skin or Garnier Clean+ Smoothing Cream Cleanser For Dry Skin
Cleansers For Oily and Acne Skin
People with acne or oily skin might feel that they need to scrub their skin in order to really get it clean.
This is definitely the wrong thing to do. Scrubbing oily or acne prone skin or using a cleanser that contains very strong ingredients can actually do more harm than good to your skin. One thing that people with this skin type can do is use a cleanser with acids in the evening or a few times a week and the rest of the time use a milder cleanser.
Cleansers that are gel based or foam are great for this skin type. Products to try: La Roche-Posay Effaclar Medicated Gel Cleanser or Neutrogena Fresh Foaming Cleanser
Cleansers For Combination Skin
This skin type can be a little tricky at times to find the right cleanser for since you need to get rid of excess oil without over drying the skin. Gel cleansers are a good choice for combination skin since they can thoroughly clean without stripping the skin of needed moisture. Products to try: Neutrogena Healthy Skin Boosters Cleanser or L'Oreal Paris Ideal Clean Foaming Gel Cleanser
Cleansers For Sensitive Skin
With this skin type you need to be extra careful so that you clean your skin without causing any more irritation. Look for cleansers that are labeled "gentle" or "for sensitive skin". Cream or milky cleansers are also great for this skin type. Keep in mind foaming and gel cleansers are usually much too strong for sensitive skin. Products to try: CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser or Vichy Pureté Thermale 3-in-1 One Step Micellar
Cleansers For Normal Skin
Lotion cleansers are great for this skin type but gel and even mild foaming cleansers are good. With this skin type you certainly do not need to use cleansers that have lots of exfoliating acids in them. A basic but effective cleanser is perfect for this skin type. Products to try: Philosophy Purity Made Simple One-Step Facial Cleanser or Aveeno Active Naturals Positively Radiant Cleanser
When it comes to taking care of our skin many times we need expert help. It can be confusing at times to know which skin care products to buy or how to treat different skin care problems. To get skin care advice you can see a dermatologist or an esthetician. But how do you know when to see one and not the other? What is the difference between a dermatologist and an esthetician?
Meditation can have many positive affects on our health, but did you realize it can also have major benefits for our skin? All the skin benefits of mediation are explained here.
What Is Mediation?
Meditation is an ancient practice found in many cultures worldwide that brings about self awareness and helps focus attention. There are many different ways to practice meditation. Each person needs to find the practice that best fits their personality and lifestyle.
Some people can easily meditate on their own sitting quietly in a room while others need guided meditation in order to practice. There are even great apps that you can download to your smartphone that make meditating easy to do anywhere.
The Health Benefits Of Meditation
Meditation offers numerous health benefits - both physical and spiritual.
First and foremost meditation is known to reduce stress and help you relax. By reducing stress you can both feel better physically and look more relaxed. In addition, regular mediation can help decrease the risk of heart disease, can improve your memory, reduce blood pressure, and help with pain management and even depression. Spiritually regular meditation increases your self awareness and your emotional well being making it easier to deal with life's challenges. Meditation can also teach you patience and can focus your attention.
How Meditation Helps Our Skin
When it comes to our skin reducing stress always makes a positive difference in our looks since stress ages our skin and can even make us breakout.
Research has shown that regular meditation greatly reduces stress which only has a very positive outcome on our skin. There is even photographic proof that regular meditation can improve your looks. As soon as stress is reduced our skin will look better since chronic stress leads to inflammation in the body.
Inflammation is one of the causes of both skin aging, it breaks down collagen in the skin, and pimples. If you can reduce inflammation in the skin you can absolutely improve how your skin looks. Furthermore, we all know that if we are experiencing stress in our lives our looks can suffer. Our skin can appear dull and we can have dark under eye circles when we experience difficulties in our lives. Taking even 5 minutes daily to meditate is definitely a great way to help your skin fight stress and look its best.
It turns out that chronic skin conditions like psoriasis and eczema show improvement when meditation is added to more traditional treatments. Meditation can trigger the body's ability to heal itself. Both of these skin conditions can get worse with stress. So, once again, by reducing stress through regular meditation you can help treat these skin conditions.
While mediating you also breathe deeply instead of shallowly which helps oxygen get to your skin. When more oxygen circulates in our skin we have a healthy glow and our skin cells can work normally. Meditation can also help you sleep better which benefits our skin in so many ways. When we get enough beauty sleep our skin can repair itself as needed, dark under eye circles can disappear, and fine lines can appear less pronounced. If you have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep consider trying meditation to help you sleep better.
Bottom Line
When we reduce stress in our lives, sleep well, and feel good physically our skin can look great. One way to help our bodies, our health, and our skin to look its best is to meditate. Find a meditation practice that suits your lifestyle and start meditating today. Your skin will thank you.
Applying body lotion. Bambu Productions/The Image Bank/GettyImages
Everyone needs 4 skin care products as part of their home skin care routine: a cleanser, an exfoliant, a moisturizer, and a sunscreen. By following the tips below you can be sure you are getting the most out of your moisturizer so that your skin will look and feel great.
When To Apply Your Moisturizer
Moisturizer should always be applied to damp skin. For example after getting out of the shower and toweling off do not wait more than 3 minutes before you apply moisturizer to your body.
This locks moisture into your skin before it can evaporate. The same rule applies to your face as well. Never apply your moisturizer to a bone dry face. If you use toner than apply your moisturizer immediately after applying your toner. If you don't use toner apply your moisturizer right after washing your face and gently drying it off.
How Much Moisturizer To Apply
Don't glob your moisturizer on your face or body. If you use too much product your skin will not be able to absorb it. Also if you use too much moisturizer then trying to apply other products on top such as sunscreen or make up will be impossible. Your skin will also feel quite greasy if you over apply product. Use about a quarter size scoop of moisturizer on your face. Of course this amount can change depending on the consistency of the product you are using and how your skin is feeling. Sometimes you might find that your skin needs more moisturizer and other times less moisturizer. Your moisturizing needs will change with the seasons - in the winter you will need a thicker, creamier moisturizer and more of it while in the summer you will need a lighter weight lotion moisturizer.
Remember there is no need to rub your moisturizer really hard into your skin. If you do this to your face you could end up hurting your skin instead of helping it. You can even tap or pat your moisturizer gently into your skin. Always be sure your fingers are clean before applying moisturizer to your face, and don't forget to apply moisturizer to your neck and chest as well.
Lastly, allow your moisturizer to really sink in before you move on with your skin care routine.
Make Sure You Find The Right Moisturizer For Your Skin
When it comes to skin care products a lot of people think that expensive is better. That certainly is not the case when it comes to finding a good moisturizer. Just because numerous celebrities love the moisturizer Creme De La Mer does not mean that it is the best moisturizer on the market and that you should rush out and buy it. Far from it. When buying a moisturizer ingredients are what matter not price. It turns out that some of the cheapest moisturizer ingredients are also the most effective in helping the skin hold on to water. A good moisturizer has both humectants which draw moisture to the skin and occlusive ingredients which keep water from evaporating off of your skin. Also look for a moisturizer according to your skin type, and keep in mind that even if you have oily skin you should use a moisturizer. Someone with oily facial skin will want to look for a moisturizer that is a gel formulation instead of a cream. Someone with dry skin will want to use a cream or a lotion moisturizer.
Moisturizer Suggestions
For The Face -
Dry Skin:
CeraVe Facial Moisturizing Lotion AM
Oily Skin:
Purpose Dual Treatment Moisture Lotion SPF 15
Sensitive Skin:
Simple Vital Vitamin Day Cream with SPF 15
Body Moisturizers:
Curel Continuous Comfort 24-Hour Daily Moisturizing Lotion for Dry Skin
This might sound strange to more than a few people, but in order for your skin to look great your gut needs to be healthy. If you want to clear up acne and other skin conditions you should look at what is going on with your digestive system. It turns out that the lack of good bacteria in your gut can have serious affects on our skin.
What Is A Healthy Gut
We all know that when we are nervous or stressed we feel it in our stomach.
Our stomach can get twisted into knots just from us thinking about something that bothers us. This is because our gut not only is in charge of digesting our food but the gut lining also contains hundreds of millions of neurons that function as a "second brain" in our body. Our gut also plays an important role in our immune system by defending our body against viruses and bacteria and keeping us healthy.
Our brain and gut send messages back and forth to one another which explains why if you stressed out your stomach can be upset.
Another important thing about our gut is that it contains hundreds of types of bacteria. Ideally that bacteria should be good bacteria that breaks down food, supports the immune system, and consumes bad bacteria. The balance of good bacteria versus bad bacteria, which promotes disease and secretes toxins, is what keeps our gut, our emotional health, our physical health, and our skin in balance.
The Gut Skin Connection
The balance of good and bad bacteria in our gut directly affects our skin. A lack of good bacteria will lead to inflammation in the body. Both acne and other skin problems are related to inflammation in the body.
Having too much bad bacteria in the gut along with yeast and fungus there can directly affect the skin. Not only could you have acne but also rosacea or other skin conditions. So if you suffer from acne and have tried everything in order to cure it without success make sure you look into what is going on with your gut.
If your gut isn't healthy you could definitely see that in your skin.
How To Fix Your Gut So Your Skin Glows
In order to see if your gut is the cause of your skin problems you can do a number of things. You could go see an expert who can test your urine or stool in order to see how much yeast and how much good and bad bacteria you have in your gut. Once you get those results a nutritionist can help you change your diet so that you eliminate foods that cause inflammation and produce bad bacteria.
You can also experiment on your own. Go on an elimination diet for two weeks. Stop eating all diary, sugar, and wheat (all foods that cause inflammation) and see if your skin starts to look better. Start taking a probiotic which are pills filled with good bacteria. Taking a probiotic daily will increase the amount of good bacteria in your gut and prevents further inflammation which will then have a positive affect on your skin. Limit the amount of antibiotics you take since antibiotics kill all bacteria in the gut both good and bad. Try to stop eating processed food. Consider eating fermented foods such as kimchi and kefir, healthy fats like coconut oil and avocado, and take a fish oil supplement.
While healing your gut will have a positive affect on your skin be sure to be patient. This is not an overnight cure for skin issues. The body can heal itself but in order to do so it needs time and TLC.
Ghislain & Marie David de Lossy/ Photolibrary/ Getty Images
We all know how stress makes our body feel and how it affects our feelings - stress causes tension in our shoulders and neck, headaches, your heartbeat can speed up, and your mood can go from nice to nasty at a moment's notice. But did you know that stress can also do bad things to your skin?
How Stress Hurts Our Skin
When we are stressed out our body starts to produce more hormones especially a hormone called cortisol.
Cortisol tells our oil glands to produce more oil which means that when we are stressed out we breakout. Even people who generally do not get pimples may find that they breakout during stressful periods.
Unfortunately the hormone cortisol not only can cause breakouts when you are stressed but can also start aging your skin early.
Since cortisol can trigger skin inflammation it breaks down the collagen in our skin. When collagen breaks down in our skin wrinkles begin to form. Believe it or not but chronic, ongoing stress can age you by 3 to 6 years. Your skin not only becomes wrinkled but dry and dehydrated as well. Stress can cause your skin to stop functioning as it should which means your skin can go from glowing to dull.
If you suffer from a chronic skin condition such as rosacea, eczema, or psorasis stress can cause a flare-up of the condition or make an existing problem worse. You could even get a rash or hives from stress along with brittle nails and hair loss in extreme cases. When you are stressed you may have trouble sleeping which means that you can have dark under eye circles.
How To Stop Stress From Hurting Your Skin
Now that we know all the terrible things stress can do for our skin how do we stop stress from hurting our skin? One thing that happens when people are stressed if that they stop caring for their skin correctly. When you stop caring for your skin a cycle begins were your skin doesn't look its best because you aren't caring for it like you should, the fact that your skin doesn't look good further stresses you out, and more stress just makes you look worse.
You need to break that pattern. Even if you feel stressed out you must find time to care for your skin. In order to make sure that you do not breakout you need to properly exfoliate your skin. Not only will regular exfoliation help keep pimples from forming your skin will not look dull if you help get rid of dead skin cells.
Making sure to wash your face twice a day is still a must even if you are pressed for time. Try to carve out 5 or 10 minutes for your skin care routine both in the morning and at night no matter what is going on in your life. At the very least wash your face and use a moisturizer daily even if you don't have time for anything else. In the morning never forget your sunscreen as well. Making sure to stick to a skin care routine even while under stress will mean that your skin can keep looking good even when you might not feel your best.
Besides for sticking to a skin care regime you also need to find ways to destress so that stress does not take over your life. For some people that means doing yoga or meditating. For other people that might mean finding time to exercise or listen to music. Figure out what helps you destress and then go for it - your skin and your overall health will thank you.
