There are thousands of products and treatments available to help improve the quality of your skin, but only a small percentage of these are natural. Most beauty products contain harsh, damaging chemicals. Treatments, like chemical peels and botox, can be scary. On top of it all, we really have no idea what most of these treatments and chemicals will do to our skin 20 years down the road. If you want to have great looking skin without dangerous chemicals or procedures, there is a way.

Here are some great tips to keep your skin looking fabulous the natural way:

* Drink more water. All cells need water to function properly. If your skin cells aren’t properly hydrated, waste products build up in your cells and keep them from working right and looking their best. Also, if you don’t drink enough water, your cells will retain as much as they can and you’ll end up looking puffy and bloated.
* Change your diet. You’ve probably heard the phrase “you are what you eat” a lot. If you think about it, this old saying is 100 percent true. Your body is made up of what you put into it. If you want it to work properly and look its best, you need to feed yourself the nutrients it needs and avoid foods that may damage it. For beautiful skin, you should try to get more fiber and “good fats” in your diet and avoid foods with a lot of sugar.
* Improve your circulation. To function properly, our cells need to get plenty of oxygen. If you spend your days sitting at a desk or remaining mostly immobile, your circulation probably isn’t as good as it could be. Increase your circulation by getting more exercise, stretching, or getting regular massages (they don’t need to be professional). You can also use a brush to exfoliate your skin which improves circulation while removing old, dead cells. Not only will this give your skin a better overall look, it can also reduce the appearance of unsightly cellulite.
* Avoid the sun. A little sun is good for you. It provides vitamin D and can help give you a sunny disposition, but too much sun can do terrible damage. Try to use hats, clothes, or sun block to protect yourself from damaging UV rays.
* Use certified natural skin products. Traditional beauty products contain all sorts of unnatural chemicals. Most are there as preservatives, or to give the product a certain scent, color or texture. These chemicals not only have no value to your skin, some may cause cancer and other dangerous problems. That’s why it’s beneficial to use natural products if you want to look your best and stay healthy. Just be sure to check labels, many products will claim they’re natural or organic and only contain one natural or organic ingredient. Be wary of ingredients you can’t pronounce and look for certification seals to be sure you’re getting what you pay for. Not only will these help normal skin, they’re also less likely to irritate sensitive skin.

With a little time, patience, and work, you can have fabulous looking skin in no time.

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*Recommended: Natural Camouflage Concealer with amazing staying power, that perfectly matches every skin color.

Acne On Black Skin - Pomade Acne, Regular Acne, and Treatment Options

By: Rebecca Prescott

Acne is a common skin disorder that has the same causes and develops in the same way, no matter what color of skin it is affecting. However, there is one type of acne that more commonly afflicts people of color. It has been given the name pomade acne.

WHAT IS POMADE ACNE?

If a hair style involves straightening curly hair or molding the hair into shape, a thick, oily dressing called pomade is applied to facilitate this. Where the pomade comes into contact with the skin, acne can occur. This is commonly on the scalp, forehead and temples. The heavy oil of the pomade can clog pores and start the formation of acne lesions. At the same time, other chemicals in the pomade may irritate the skin and lead to inflammation.

THERE ARE THREE OPTIONS TO TREATING POMADE ACNE:

1. If the pomade is being used to moisturize the scalp, its’ application should begin one inch behind the hairline, in a effort to keep it off the facial skin.

2. If it’s being used to style hair or make it more manageable, it should be applied solely to the ends of the hair, again avoiding the scalp and skin.

3. If all else fails, the use of pomade will have to be discontinued.

Usually, once the pomade is no longer getting onto the skin or its use is stopped, pomade acne should clear on its own. It if doesn’t, it can be treated just like any other acne. The skin should be gently cleansed using a topical preparation such as benzyl peroxide. If the acne still hasn’t cleared after 6-8 weeks, the person should see a dermatologist for advice.

WHAT ACNE TREATMENTS ARE AVAILABLE SPECIFICALLY FOR BLACK SKIN?

There are none, as acne treatments are generally safe on both dark and light skin. Some forms of treatment for acne scarring may cause dark skin to lighten temporarily, however.

Black skin may not be as well moisturized as lighter skin and for this reason, any treatment that may be very drying (such as benzyl peroxide) should only be used with a doctor’s supervision or advice.

Black people who have severe acne may find that once the inflammation has gone, their skin is left with a darkened spot. This is because dark skin develops something called ‘post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation’. This means increased pigmentation following inflammation. These spots go away in time but if they are distressing a dermatologist can prescribe topical retinoids which can help to fade the discoloration more quickly.

The removal of acne scars from black skin by dermabrasion or any form of chemical peel can cause temporary lightening (or darkening), in the areas that have been treated. This sort of treatment should always be discussed with a dermatologist before it is undertaken. Simply booking into a beauty salon is not recommended and may make the condition worse.

The dark pigment that gives skin its color is called melanin. Alterations in that pigmentation such as vitiligo and melasma can be present at the same time as acne - although the conditions are not related. They require specialist diagnosis and treatment from an experienced dermatologist.

If you’re a cherry fan or in the mood for cherries, here are 4 recipes that are super easy to make and sure to please: (*Keep a can of cherry pie filling on hand.)

Cherry Jello Cake:

1 White Cake Mix
1 Can Cherry Pie Filling
1 Pkg. Cherry Jello
1 Container Cool Whip

Bake white cake according to box directions. Let the cake cool a few minutes. While still warm poke holes in cake top with fork. Mix cherry jello according to box directions and pour slowly over cake (giving time for jello to seep in holes.) Cover cake with foil and refrigerate. When chilled, cover cake with cool whip and spoon pie filling on top. Can be made early and refrigerated over night.

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Cherry-Topped Cake:

2 Sticks of Butter
4 Eggs
1 1/2 C. Sugar
2 C. Flour
1 t. Vanilla
1 t. Lemon Juice
15 1/2 oz. Can Cherry Pie Filling

Cream together with a mixer - butter, sugar and eggs. Add flour, vanilla, and juice. Spread in greased and flour dusted pan. Score off the top lightly into 12 squares. Drop cherry pie filling in the center of each square. Bake. After baking, dust with powdered sugar.

Cooking time: 45 min.
Temp. 350 degrees.

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Cherry Cola Salad:

1 c. Sugar
1/2 c. Water
1/2 t. red food coloring
1 (16 oz.) can cherries
1 pkg. cherry Jello
1/2 c. chopped nuts
1 (16 oz.) Coke
1 (8 oz.) can crushed pineapple

Drain cherries, save juice. Add sugar and water to the juice and bring to a boil. Pour in dry Jello and let cool. Add fruit, nuts, and Coke. Stir; then refrigerate.

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Cherry Salad:

1 Large can cherry pie filling
1 Large can crushed pineapple, drained
16 oz. Cool Whip
1 can Eagle brand condensed milk
1 c. pecans, broken up

Fat-Free Valentine’s Day Pavlova

This dessert is actually much easier to make than it sounds.  It’s very light and delicious and the perfect ending to a romantic Valentine’s Day dinner.

Ingredients:

3 egg whites
¾ cup fine sugar
¼ teaspoon cream of tartar
1 ½ cups fat-free whipped topping
1 cup sliced, fresh strawberries

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 250F.  Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.  Take a 9-inch plate and place upside down on the parchment paper, then draw an outline of that plate (to make a nice even round shape)

Place the egg whites in a bowl and beat the eggs until very foamy using an electric mixer.  Add the cream of tartar to the egg whites then continue mixing on medium speed until peaks start to form.  Slowly add the sugar a little bit at a time and beating on high between each addition.  Keep mixing until egg whites are stiff.

Now carefully spoon the meringue mixture onto the parchment paper, following the outline to shape into a circle.  Flatten the center of the meringue a little bit so that the edges are slightly higher. 

Gently place in the oven and bake for approximately 45 minutes to 1 hour.  Switch off oven and allow meringue to dry (in oven).  This may take about 2 hours.  Finally, remove from oven and allow to cool.

Once meringue is cool, spread the fat-free whipped topping over it and top with the sliced strawberries.  Serve immediately.

 

Battling Fatigue?  Try some Grape Juice

You work hard during the day; at night you deserve to take a break, relax, and get some rest.  But how tired is too tired?  If you come home so beat that you don’t even want to get up and move, you shouldn’t lie around waiting to feel better.  You should get up and do something about your fatigue.  Why not try a great natural energy booster?  Grape juice.

The most obvious way grape juice helps fatigue is by adding iron to your diet.  Iron deficiency is common, especially in women.  It can cause severe fatigue and leave you feeling completely burnt out.  Don’t drink dark grape juices if you are anemic (low on iron).  Dark grape juices contain chemicals that can actually lower the level of iron in your system, worsening the problem.  Stick to white or light grape juice for the best iron boost.  If your feeling extra tired after a workout, you probably need to replenish iron lost from sweating.  Drinking grape juice will not only give you more energy, but also help with muscle fatigue as well. 

Have you ever noticed how tired you get when you’re feeling under the weather?  If you’re constantly feeling burnt out, it may be because your immune system isn’t working properly due to poor diet or excessive stress.  You’ve probably heard that wine contains powerful antioxidants that help keep your healthy; well, grape juice contains antioxidants as well but doesn’t make your drowsy like alcohol can.  If you drink it regularly, these antioxidants can help boos your immune system, leaving you feeling healthy and energized.  Antioxidants have also been shown to fight heart disease, prevent Alzheimer’s, and decrease the signs of aging.

You should be wary of drinking grape juice if you have a specific disorder that is causing your fatigue.  People with fibromyalgia, polymyalgia rheumatica, and chronic fatigue syndrome are actually cautioned against drinking grape juice because it contains too much sugar and can actually worsen fatigue.  

When using grape juice to fight fatigue, you should be careful what brand you choose.  Many “juices” are actually grape drinks or cocktails.  These beverages have extra sugar added to them.  While sugar may give you a boost in the short term, eventually your high will wear off.  You’ll probably crash and feel even more burnt out than you were in the first place.  For the most benefit, find 100% grape juices with all natural ingredients.  If you can’t find a brand you like, just get some grapes and make your own. 

So what are you waiting for?  Don’t just deal with your fatigue, beat it and improve your health at the same time with and energizing glass of grape juice.

 

What’s in Lipstick? 

Recently, I figured out that if I applied lipstick that my face would grow to two times its regular size. If I wiped off the lipstick, I could get my head back almost into its regular shape. I didn’t have a lot of time to figure out what was in lipstick but I put it down to fragrance and some of the others on the ingredient list.

One day I was so tired of not wearing lipstick that I went to a drugstore to find out. I took my small daughter. Within a couple of minutes of being in the make-up aisle, my daughter started to have her head grow to twice its regular size and she didn’t even have lipstick on. I went over to the counter and asked the girl, what was in lipstick and make-up to make both myself and my daughter have allergic reactions? I was still at that point considering that maybe a certain brand wouldn’t have whatever the ingredient was in it.

She smiled at me, started to show me the book of ingredients that nobody can truly read without a dictionary and then she looked from me to my daughter and finally said, “The shimmer in lipstick is from ground up fish and shellfish. It doesn’t come out and say that on the lipstick ingredients.”

I nearly fainted. I couldn’t believe that something that people have as an anaphalaxis type allergy is not marked on all of the make-up.

Still, I perservered. “What kind doesn’t have it in it?” I asked, assuming that one of the thirty brands would give me a break.

“None of them,” she assured me. “It’s not marked down anyway. There’s a big word for it.”

“What about lip gloss?” I asked.

“No,” she said. “Whale blubber. Sorry. Allergy medicine is in aisle five.”

So, off we went to go get some medicine and some fresh air. This news sent me realing. Why isn’t this in the media? Why doesn’t anyone know about what is in lipstick and lots of other kinds of make-up? I realized too that potentially all kinds of men and owmen do not know about the risks involved in simply freshening up their lips. I mention men because of the kissability factor.

I went onto talk to friends and relatives. Did you know…? Nobody did. I only recently met someone who had an inkling of what I was talking about. Her dad worked in a lipstick factory all of his working career.

Unless a make-up line specifically says that it does not have animal byproducts in it, then the shimmer is most likely caused by ground up fish and seafood. Not that they’re apparently aiming to include the seafood but much like the tuna caught in a big net with other creatures of the sea, same problem.

For those of you who have allergies, seek out cosmetic companies such as Mary Kaye who do have that guarantee. There are several other lines that will promise this no animal byproducts such as Body Shop. Remember that while you may not have this allergy yourself, your child could have this allergy, your husband, boyfriend or your co-workers.

Robyn Whyte is the author of Police Issue, a romance widely available online.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Robyn_Whyte