How Best to Choose Your Anti-Aging Products?
Familiarize yourself with ingredients that have significant studies proving their efficacy, says Shereene Idriss, M.D., of New York City’s Union Square Laser Dermatology.
“Key ingredients to look out for your anti-aging products are retinols (which promote cell turnover) and hydroquinone (which helps lighten dark spots); alpha hydroxy acids such as glycolic acid and hyaluronic acid (which help exfoliate the skin); antioxidants like vitamin C (which ward off damage from free radicals), and of course, SPF,” says Idriss. Top formulas will even combine ingredients for healthier, younger-looking skin.
That said, even if a cleanser or cream contains a good ingredient, it can be difficult to know how pure and effective it really is, says Arisa Ortiz, M.D., Director of Laser and Cosmetic Dermatology and Assistant Clinical Professor in the Department of Dermatology at UC San Diego.
Do your research and pick products from reputable brands, she advises.
“My favorite product lines are Alastin, SkinMedica, Neocutis, and Skinceuticals,” says Ortiz, who uses these brands on her own skin.
If you’re in doubt about a skin-care product, talk to your dermatologist for recommendations or visit cosmeticsinfo.org, a consumer site from the Personal Care Products Council with extensive information about the safety, testing, and regulation of cosmetics and personal products.
You can also check out the recommendations of the American Academy of Dermatology on how to choose an anti-aging product.
Another thing to keep in mind: Anti-aging products that promise results that “affect the structure or function of the body,” for example by eliminating wrinkles or increasing collagen production, are technically considered drugs, per the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Therefore, they require FDA approval (read: scientific research backing up their claims) before promising users those types of results.
Check out the FDA’s list of companies that have received warning letters for selling cosmetics with unapproved anti-aging claims to avoid buying something that may not be backed up by science.
If a product miraculously claims to solve all of your anti-aging needs and then some, it’s a red flag to think twice before purchasing. “No single product is your answer to anti-aging, in the same way that no single food will keep you healthy,” says Idriss.
A great anti-aging routine is a balance of incorporating various ingredients that each target different aspects of the aging process in your unique complexion, she says.
So, for example, look to a peel to brighten dark spots, a serum to target fine lines and wrinkles, and a moisturizer to hydrate.
You should be skeptical of ultra-trendy anti-aging treatments, such as products with plant stem cells, since many of them haven’t been backed by a lot of research.
“There is no scientific evidence to show that plant stem cells could have regenerative effects on human skin, so save your money and pass!” says Idriss.
In order to be effective, stem cells must be kept alive, and the reality is that they’re too fragile to remain intact in skincare formulations—plus they’re too large to penetrate skin, she says.
“That being said, human stem-cell technologies are making huge advancements and are likely to revolutionize skincare in years to come,” adds Idriss.
Meanwhile, Ortiz says to skip those anti-aging products that claim to contain collagen in favor of those with ingredients with growth factors and retinoids that help stimulate collagen production.
The collagen molecule itself is too large to penetrate through skin, leaving it to sit on top of your complexion with no truly beneficial function, Ortiz says.
With this info, you should be armed with the confidence (and the knowledge) that will help you find the right anti-aging products for you.
Watch this Video – Does Anti-Aging Cream Work?
How to Treat and Get Rid of Eczema?
Strawberries are widely available and are consumed either fresh or as part of processed foods like juices, pies, ice creams, jams, milkshakes and chocolates due to their juicy texture and sweetness. Apart from being extremely delicious, strawberries are rich in vital nutrients, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants with benefits for health, skin and hair.
The salicylic acid in strawberry removes dead cells from the face while tightening the pores. Besides this, the salicylic acid also allows the skin to absorb moisture, helping skin to look radiant and healthy. Thus, strawberries remove impurities and soften the skin as well as soothe allergies and other irritants and provide protection against pollution.
Strawberry juice has skin lightening properties which make it effective in removing age spots and freckles. Strawberry contains ellagic acid which, when applied topically protects the skin against the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays, which are primarily responsible for skin ageing.
Vitamin C and other antioxidants present in strawberries prevent damage caused by free radicals to the skin and body. Free radicals occur during the process of transformation of food into energy. Free radicals accelerate the ageing process and vitamin C is effective in blocking the damage caused by free radicals.
Vitamin C, Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs), salicylic acid and flavonoids in strawberries help in clearing acne and reducing oil. Being astringent in nature strawberries can reduce puffiness and circles beneath the eyes.
Strawberries are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, magnesium and copper which are essential for hair health. Strawberry has a high content of ellagic acid, which protects your hair from thinning or falling. The vitamin C in strawberry is also helpful in nourishing the hair and getting rid of any excess oil build-up that your scalp may be holding in.
Strawberry also contains folic acid, vitamins B5 and B6 which prevent hair loss. Strawberries can add extra shine to your hair. Strawberry protects the cell membranes of the scalp due to its potent antioxidant effects, thus preventing the formation of hydrophobic layer on their surface that insulates the scalp from contact with water.
For this recipe, you will need 8 to 9 Fresh strawberries and 3 tablespoons of raw organic honey (preferably manuka honey).
First, you mash the strawberries in a bowl with a fork until smooth. Add in the honey and mix the ingredients together.
Using clean hands or a sanitized brush, gently apply the mixture all over your face, avoiding the eye area. Lie down and leave the mask on for 10 to 15 minutes. Wash it away with warm water, pat your face dry and follow up with your favorite toner and moisturizer.
To prepare this homemade strawberry mask, you will need 8 to 9 Fresh strawberries, 2 tablespoon of raw organic honey (preferably manuka honey), 1 tablespoon of oil – extra virgin olive, jojoba, grapeseed or sweet almond oil and few drops of fresh lemon juice – about 8 drops if you have dry skin and up to 1 tablespoon for oily skin.
First, you mash the strawberries in a bowl with a fork until smooth. Stir in the honey, oil, and lemon juice until all the ingredients are well-incorporated.
Using clean hands or a sanitized brush, gently apply the mixture all over your face, avoiding the eye area. Lie down and leave the mask on for 5 minutes. Wash it away with warm water, pat your face dry and follow up with your favorite toner and moisturizer.
To create this homemade strawberry mask which is good for treating acne, you will need 5 Fresh strawberries, half a tablespoon of non-flavored yogurt (preferably Greek yogurt) or heavy cream and 2 teaspoons of raw organic honey (preferably manuka honey).
First, you mash the strawberries in a bowl with a fork until smooth. Add the honey and yogurt (for oily complexions) or cream (for dry skin) and mix until the ingredients are well-incorporated.
You put the strawberries and cornstarch in a blender and mix until you get a paste that is consistent enough so it will stay on your face without it running off.
Pat the paste gently and equally with your fingertips on your clean face and neck; keep the eye area clear. The cornstarch in this facial mask recipe will draw out the extra oil and impurities.
For this homemade strawberry mask, you will need 3 to 4 large ripe strawberries, 2 tablespoons of finely ground oats and 1 drop of lemon essential oil.
First, you puree the strawberries in a small food processor. If you don’t have a food processor, a blender will work just as well. Completely pulverize the strawberries.
Next, you add in the oats and continue to puree until the mixture is smooth. If the mixture is very runny, continue to add small amounts of oats until it thickens up.
You want the mixture to stay on your face, not drip off. When the mixture is ready, it will look like a smooth paste, but may have visible seeds. Pour the mixture in a small bowl and add the lemon essential oil. Stir the mixture and oil together until it is blended.
Apply the facial mask. On your face and neck, spread a thick layer of the strawberry facial mask. Avoid the lips and eye area. Apply the mask with your fingertips.
Now you can just sit back and read a magazine or book, or snack on some of the extra strawberries. Wait 15 to 20 minutes. Rinse your face and neck with warm water. Follow up with some toner and moisturizer. If you have oily skin, use a minimal amount of moisturizer.
To create this homemade strawberry mask, you mash 8 to 10 strawberries and mix them with 2 tablespoons of olive oil and one egg yolk and apply mask to the entire head of hair from root to tip.
Make sure that you fully saturate the hair ends with the mixture. Allow the mask to set in the hair for 20 minutes. Rinse out the hair mask with warm water. Shampoo the hair to remove remaining traces of the mask.
You can also impart extra shine to hair with this strawberry hair conditioning mask. You take 8 to 10 strawberries and mash them with a tablespoon of mayonnaise. Shampoo the hair and rinse. Apply the strawberry conditioner and cover it with a warm towel after using a plastic wrap and leave it for 15 minutes and then rinse.
This homemade strawberry mask is very time-consuming as the rinsing process is a bit lengthy because the strawberries are like bananas and those who have used bananas for their hair know how tedious it is to remove the banana residue from the hair; it is the same with strawberries. So use this mask when you are relaxed and free and have a lot of time to spend on your hair.
To prepare this homemade strawberry mask, you will need 5 to 6 strawberries (which provides hydration, promotes hair growth, adds a glossy shine and combats frizz for a while), 2 tablespoons of plain yogurt (which helps to soften the hair, makes them very smooth and helps to treat dandruff), 2 tablespoons coconut oil or olive oil (which treats dry and damaged hair, promotes growth and many multiple benefits that we all know) and I whole egg or in case due to some reasons you cannot put egg, replace it with 2 spoons of mayonnaise (this provides the needed proteins to the hair thereby making them soft and silky).
First you mash the strawberries using a fork and then add in the yogurt. Next add in the whole egg and mix well. Finally, you add in the oil. Apply it from roots to tips, thereby massaging it on the scalp for 5 minutes which will help for blood circulation and will help the ingredients penetrate inside the scalp and then tie up your hair and cover it with a shower cap so that the mask does not keep dripping.
Keep it for a time from 30 minutes to an hour and then rinse off with cold water. This is the worst part in the entire process as the strawberry residue sticks badly to the hair and would be a real pain to get off. After rinsing it off with cold water, make sure to apply conditioner for 5 minutes before you shampoo because the hair will be pretty sticky and stiff due to the egg and if you directly shampoo, it will cause loads of hair to break. Then after rinsing the conditioner, shampoo and condition as usual.
This homemade strawberry mask which is good for dry hair will help you get those shiny locks that you have always dreamed of — and not to mention it smells amazing!
What you need to do is you blend together 5 to 7 strawberries (depending on the amount of hair you have), together with a tablespoon each of coconut oil and raw organic honey (preferably manuka honey) until a smooth puree is formed. Work the mixture into damp hair while massaging your roots, then rinse away with warm water.
This is an effective homemade strawberry mask this is ideal for treating scalp problems like dandruff, itchy scalp, greasy scalp, musty scalp smell and most important hair problem, hairfall! You take 7 strawberries and mash them finely. Add 1 to 2 tablespoon each of raw organic honey (preferably manuka honey), milk and lemon juice. Mix and apply the paste on your hair. Leave for 15 minutes and rinse properly with a mild shampoo.
Everyone wants to have smooth and glowing skin. All it needs are time, dedication, discipline and good habits. You need to have enough of sleep, drink plenty of water, and have a balance diet, exercise and regular skin care.
You do not necessary need to go for any costly surgeries or stuff your cupboard full of expensive cosmetics. You can find many items in your kitchen for use to prepare your own skin care products.
Following are some easy recipes you can use to make a face mask for glowing skin.
First, you mix the yogurt and honey. You crush the aspirins and add them into the yogurt and honey mix. You can now apply the mask on your face and neck, while keeping clear of the area near your eyes. You let the mask stay on your skin for up to 15 minutes.
Then you rinse off with lukewarm water and follow by cold water to close up the skin pores. You wipe your face dry and finish your beauty treatment by applying some moisturizer.
This mask is good for people who are suffering from acne or extremely oily skin. You can use this mask for 2 to 3 times a week until the acne problem clears up.
To prepare this mask, you will need one avocado and a tablespoon of raw organic honey (or manuka honey). First, you mash the avocado until it becomes soft like a paste and then you add in the honey.
You either wash or soak your face with a hot wet tower to open up the pores to absorb the contents of the mask. You can now apply the mask on your face and neck and let it stay there for up to 15 minutes. After this you rinse it off with lukewarm water and then follow by cold water to close up the skin pores. Wipe your face dry and put on some moisturizer.
The avocado mask is suitable for dry skin. It can help to revitalize and restore the glow on the skin. As honey is responsible for killing germs, it is also a solution to all your acne problems as it helps to clean skin pores.
To prepare this mask, you will need 1 teaspoon of extra virgin olive oil, one and a half teaspoon of raw organic honey (or manuka honey) and 1 teaspoon of baking soda.
First you put the olive oil in a bowl, next you add in the honey and lastly the baking soda. You mix the ingredients well to form a paste. If you want a thicker paste, you can add more baking soda.
You can now apply this mask all over your face and neck, while staying clear of the area near to your eyes. You let this mask stay on your skin for up to 15 minutes.
After this, you rinse off with lukewarm water and then with cold water in order to close up the skin pores to prevent the skin from drying. You wipe your face dry with a cloth and put on some moisturizer.
To prepare this mask, you need 1 banana, 1 teaspoon of raw organic honey (or manuka honey) and 2 teaspoons of fresh plain yogurt. First you mash the banana into paste and then add it to the honey and yogurt mix. You mix then well together to form a paste.
You can now apply the mixture all over your face and neck and avoiding the area near to your eyes. You leave the mask there for at least 15 minutes to let the skin absorbs the contents of the face mask.
After this, you rinse off with lukewarm water and then cold water to close up the skin pores. You wipe your face dry and put on some moisturizer. Banana contains magnesium and potassium which helps to remove dead skin cells and make the skin glow.
To prepare this mask, you need 2 tablespoons of cucumber juice, 2 tablespoons of watermelon juice, 1 teaspoon of fresh plain yogurt and 1 teaspoon of milk powder. You mix all the ingredients in a glass bowl to make a smooth paste.
You can now apply this mixture all over your face and neck, but stay clear of the area near to your eyes. You let this mask stay on your skin for up to 15 minutes.
After this, you rinse off with lukewarm water and follow with cold water to close up the skin pores in order to retain moisture in your skin. You wipe your face dry with a cloth and put on some moisturizer.
Watermelon acts as a toner and helps in clearing the skin. Cucumber juice is well known for its skin lightning effect. Yogurt softens and tightens the skin. Milk powder helps in cleansing the skin and lightening the skin tone apart from acting as a act as a binding agent.
You may want to watch a Video HERE to learn how to make a homemade face mask for glowing skin.
The health benefits of milk are known to all but do you know the skin benefits of milk? It turns out the milk is not only beneficial for your health but can also be used as a face mask.
Cleopatra, the beautiful Queen of ancient Egypt has one secret ingredient to keep skin smoothness, milk. This recipe is believed to be stored in the hieroglyph writing, writing bangasa Ancient Egypt. While in the world of modern beauty benefits of milk is known to maintain the beauty and smooth skin.
Milk has proteins, calcium, lactose, fat, vitamin A, B12, D and zinc. Milk soothes and nourishes the skin. The natural ingredients in milk help to hydrate, alleviate redness, and prevent irritated skin. Besides these, milk can also help to renew skin cells and cleanse the skin naturally.
The lactic acid in milk exfoliates the skin and cleanses it, which will give you a glowing skin as a result.
Following are some recipes you can use to create a milk face mask at home to get the healthy glowing skin you always desire.
If you have dry skin, you can prepare this mask which needs 1 teaspoon organic powdered milk, 1 tablespoon organic ground almonds, 1 tablespoon raw organic honey, preferably Manuka, 1 teaspoon organic aloe vera gel and 3 drops lavender essential oil.
You mix the powdered milk with the ground almonds, then add honey and aloe and mix well. Last, add the three drops of lavender essential oil. You can now apply this mixture on your face and neck. You let the mask stay on your skin for up to 15 minutes. After this, you rinse with lukewarm water and then with cold water to close up the skin pores. You dry your face and put on some moisturizer.
To prepare this mask which is good for dry skin, you will need half a cup of cucumber slices, half a cup of chopped avocado, 1 egg white and 2 teaspoons of powdered milk.
You combine all the ingredients in a blender until they have reached a consistency. Now you can apply this mixture in circular motions over your face and neck and let the mask stay on your skin for up to 30 minutes.
After this, you rinse with lukewarm water and then with cold water to close up the skin pores so as to retain moisture in your skin. You wipe your face dry and apply some moisturizer.
To prepare this mask, you will need 1 beaten egg, half a teaspoon of extra virgin olive oil, 1 tablespoon of whole milk, one quarter teaspoon of Dead Sea salt and 1 tablespoon of flour.
You mix together the wet ingredients first, which are the egg, oil and milk. Then you add in the dry ingredients which are the salt and flour to the wet ingredients and stir again to form a smooth paste-like mixture.
The paste should be thick and sticky enough to stick on your skin. If the paste is not thick enough, you add in some more flour. But if the paste is too thick, you should add in more milk. If possible, you can add in 3 to 5 drops of lavender essential oil.
As soon as you have achieved the consistency of the paste you want, you can now spread the mixture over your washed face and neck, while avoiding the area near to your eyes.
You leave the mask on your skin for up to 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, you rinse with lukewarm water and follow by cold water so as to close up the skin pores to prevent the drying of your skin. You wipe your face dry and apply some moisturizer.
To prepare this mask, you will need 1 cup whole milk,2 tablespoons oatmeal and2 teaspoons of extra virgin olive oil.
First, you add the milk and oatmeal to a small pot. Heat the ingredients on medium heat until the concoction is thick. Then you add the olive oil and allow the facial mask to cool just a bit.
You can now apply the oatmeal and milk face mask while it is still warm (but not too hot to burn your skin). Allow to dry, which takes about 30 minutes. After this, rinse off with lukewarm water and follow by cold water to close up the skin pores. You wipe your face dry and put on some moisturizer.
To prepare this mask, you only need to mix together 1 teaspoon of turmeric powder and 2 tablespoons of milk to form a paste. When your paste is ready, you can apply it all over your face and neck but keep clear of the area near to your eyes.
You let this mask stay on your skin for up to 15 minutes. After this, you can rinse it off with lukewarm water and then with cold water to close up the skin pores, so that your skin won’t get dry. You wipe your face dry and then put on some moisturizer.
You may want to watch a Video HERE to learn how to make a homemade milk face mask.
Learning how to get a glowing complexion can seem hard and even frustrating, but it doesn’t have to be like that. By doing your research and educating yourself you can keep your skin looking younger, wrinkle free and healthy naturally.
People have long appreciated the benefits of using facial masks to cleanse and revive the skin. One of the most popular of varieties is the peel off face mask, which can be removed in one piece after drying. These masks have the added bonus of removing all dead skin cells on the surface, thereby revealing a glowing complexion.
Unfortunately, too few of us experience the pleasures of peel-off facial masks on a regular basis because they seem like a frivolous expense. If you want to pamper your skin despite a tight budget, you can make a homemade version of this cosmetic delight using only a few simple ingredients.
Here are some DIY Peel Off Face Mask recipes that I think you will like.
This peel off mask can serve both as a normal and an anti-aging facial peel. The ingredients are all natural and will treat the different damages our skin may have suffered due to the rays of sun, pollution or inappropriate skin care.
To prepare this peel off face mask, you need 1 small peeled and seeded cucumber, 1 tablespoon of Aloe Vera gel, 2 tablespoons of green tea, 2 tablespoons of chamomile tea and 1 tablespoon of Gelatin.
Make a paste of the cucumber and then strain the puree through a sieve. Keep the juice separated for a while. Now heat the green and chamomile tea. Finally add in the tablespoon of plain gelatin that will make the actual peel. Warm it up until the jelly melts, when it is done, pour it into a bowl and add the cucumber juice and the aloe Vera.
Leave it to cool down for 25 minutes. Apply this to the face and neck and give the peel 20 minutes to have the desired effect. Peel off the mask when it is completely dried. Wash the face off at the end with lukewarm water and follow this by cold water to close up the skin pores. You dry your face with a cloth and apply some moisturizer.
Are you looking for ways to remove blackheads from your face? Well, you can mix powdered sugar with egg white and apply it on your entire face. Now you place an organic tissue paper on your face. Gently pat your face to fix the tissue on your face.
After this, you apply another coating of the egg white and sugar mixture on top of the tissue. Leave this DIY peel off mask for 6-8 minutes. When it dries, peel off the tissue paper upwards. The blackheads will be struck to the tissue.
The first thing you need to do is to mix the milk and gelatin in a pan over a small fire, while stirring constantly, until the gelatin is dissolved. Then you emove it from the heat source and let it cool down just a little bit. After this, you add the egg white and mix until you have a smooth substance that is cool enough to touch.
Now you can gently spread the substance equally but not too thick with a facial mask brush or spatula on your clean face and neck; keep the eye and upper lip area clear.
Gelatin is made of animal collagen and that is why it is so effective in natural skin care. It helps build your collagen best when you take it as a food but when applied on your skin it also has proven to be very helpful.
When you have applied it to your facial skin it will bind with the dead skin cells and oil that clogs your pores, clearing your skin when you peel it off. This is also why gelatin has a softening effect on your skin and as it dries it will also help to firm and tone.
To prepare this peel off face mask, the first thing you need to do is to place 1 tablespoon of unflavored gelatin powder in a microwave-safe bowl. Next, you add in one and a half tablespoon of milk to the powder and mix with a spoon. Set the bowl in the microwave, and heat the gelatin mixture for 10 seconds. Let it cool down first.
Now you can dip your fingers into the bowl, and coat your face with the mixture. You leave the mask on your face for 30 minutes or until it dries completely. The mask will feel stiff when dried. Pull the mask off. As the gelatin comes off the skin, it will take the dirt, blackheads, dead skin cells and clogs with it.
The first you need to do is to brew some green tea and then squeeze half of a lemon juice into it. Stir with a spoon to mix the two liquids. Then add some gelatin powder to the mixture and mix it up.
Next, you heat the mixture in the oven for 30 seconds. After this, you let the mixture cool down. Stir the mixture again and then apply it on your face. Cover your entire face and let the face mask stay for 10 minutes. Then carefully roll up the DIY peel off mask from the bottom of your face upwards.
To prepare this peel off face mask, you will first take an egg and separate the white or clear part of the egg and put it in a bowl. You can discard the rest of the egg and shell. Then you want to add 1 teaspoon of lemon juice.
Mix them together. Your mixture will be thin. Start with a fresh clean face, because this will make the egg white and lemon juice mask stick better!
Apply the mixture all over your face. Avoid your eye area! Once you have applied it all over your face, you will have to wait for it to dry. It takes about 20 minutes sometimes a little longer. The mask will be stiff and tight when it’s completely dry. When your mask is dry start peeling away your blackheads.
Peel off as much as you can and then rinse your skin, you can use a washcloth to scrub away any stubborn parts. After the rest of the mask as been rinsed away, wash your face again with your favorite cleanser.
First, you need to dry the peels of an orange in sun. After sun-drying them for 2 days, you grind these orange peels into powder form. Now boil 1 cup of water on a medium flame. Add sugar to it and dissolve the sugar in the water slowly. Keep boiling the water till it reduces to half. What you will get is a sticky liquid.
Next you add 1 tablespoon of dried orange peel powder to this liquid. Mix it up and apply it on your face. Leave the mask on for 10 minutes and then peel it off. Not only you will get rid of the blackheads but also of the dead skin cells.
To prepare this peel off face mask, you will need one and a half papaya, 1 cup of sliced pineapple and 1 tablespoon of raw organic honey (or manuka honey).
You make a fine paste out of the ingredients and place it into a large bowl. Warm your skin with a gentle and clean cloth to enlarge the pores and increase the efficiency of the treatment.
Now you can apply the paste to your cleansed face and leave it on for 20 minutes. Finally wash it off with cold water to shrink the pores naturally. The AHAs from these two fruits will eliminate the dead cells.
This peel off face mask is good for dry and combination skin types, and is also one of the best homemade face masks. To prepare this mask, you mix 5 to 6 freshly ground strawberries with 2 tablespoons of wheatflour, 1 teaspoon of almond oil and 2 tablespoons of milk.
You mix all of the ingredients to form a paste which can then be applied on your face and peeled off after it dries completely. You wash your face with lukewarm water and then with cold water so as to close up the skin pores to retain moisture. You dry your face with a cloth and put on some moisturizer.
Using a peel off face mask is a wonderful way to keep your face glowing and smooth. Since the ingredients are probably already in your cabinets, you can whip one up any time you like for an instant facial pick-me-up. Best of all, you can make this recipe for just pennies rather than paying a huge price for the salon version. So get in touch with your crafty side and try these recipes.
You may want to watch a Video HERE to learn how to make a homemade peel off face mask.