Anti-Aging Antioxidants.

You probably keep hearing about antioxidants,
but what do they do?

As the name might suggest, they clear out oxidants -
toxins that are released whenever something burns,
such as smoking a cigarette or the body burning off
food to provide energy.

These can be cancelled out with foods like carrots,
tomatoes, oranges, broccoli, nuts, and fish. All of
these contain antioxidants, thus decreasing the among
of cell damage caused by oxidants in the system.

More info: Healthy Skin

Whitening Skin Care - Is It Safe?

For years, whitening skin care products have been made with components which endangered human health such as hydroquinone or mercury, most of these skin lighteners have been made illegal in the most major Western countries. But is it so?

Find out more…Whitening Skin Care

Fish Derived Collagen Could Help Relieve Sensitive Skin, Study.

By Katie Bird, 07-Jul-2009

An oligosaccharide and a fish derived collagen could provide relief for sufferers of sensitive skin, according to scientists from Rome, Italy.

Topical application of gluco-oligosaccharide (G-OS) and collagen tripeptide F (CTP-F) can improve skin smoothness, hydration, pH and the skin’s barrier function in sensitive skin sufferers, the study claims.

According to the study, published in the International Journal of Cosmetic Science, the G-OS is a water soluble oligosaccharide similar to those found in breast milk that help protect newborns from infection.

These oligosaccharides help protect from infection without having bactericidal effects and therefore do not induce bacterial resistance, wrote the researchers led by Enzo Berardesca at the San Gallicano Dermatological Institute.

They work by stopping the bacteria from adhering to the cell wall, one of the first steps in mounting an infection and appear to act on Staphylococcus aureus – a bacteria found in the majority of patients who suffer from atopic dermatitis and is thought to be related to skin inflammation.

CTP-F in the formulation was derived from fish skin and has been shown, according to the study, to be able to stimulate human fibroblast collagen production after topical application.

Twenty female volunteers applied a lotion and a milk containing G-OS and CTP-F to the face morning and evening respectively. Treatment continued for a four week period and a foaming face wash containing the same ingredients was used if and when necessary.

Another twenty female volunteers served as a control group using the placebo products. Allocation to the groups was random.

The researchers then tested a number of parameters including skin pH, skin volume and roughness and trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL), comparing the placebo group to those using the treatment formulation.

A significant decrease in skin volume was seen in the treatment group as was skin roughness, which the researchers claimed reflected an improvement of the surface homogeneity of the skin.

In addition, barrier function measured by TEWL was significantly reduced in the treatment group.

However, no significant difference was found between the active and placebo groups in the number of staphylococcus colonies, although there was a slight increase in the number in the placebo group.

According to the researchers, the fact that the volunteers chosen had sensitive skin and not atopic dermatitis could explain the relatively normal levels of bacterial colonies in both treatment and placebo groups.

Skin pH was also stabilised in the treatment group which is crucial for maintaining good skin barrier function, the study claimed.

According to the researchers, this research illustrates that normalization of the skin barrier properties and stratum corneum moisturization by a treatment such as this can help improve the symptoms of sensitive skin.

Source: International Journal of Cosmetic Science
2009, 31, pages 271-277
Effects of topical gluco-oligosaccharide and collagen tripeptide F in the treatment of sensitive atopic skin
E. Berardesca, E. Abril, M. Serio, N. Cameli.

What does the "SPF" in sunscreen mean anyway?

"SPF" stands for Sun Protection Factor. It applies only to ultraviolet
radiation.
Basically, the SPF is a multiple of how much time you can stay
in the sun without burning your skin.

For instance, if you burn without any sunscreen in 10 minutes,
a sunscreen with an SPF 15 would allow you to stay in the sun for
150 minutes without burning.



For more info please visit: Sunscreen

Ease Pain When Plucking.

Many people say to put ice on your eyebrows before plucking ...
but this actually tightens pores and makes plucking more painful.

Do the opposite and put a warm washcloth on your forehead first
to open pores. Use ice afterwards to soothe any pain.

For more info visit: Natural Collagen

Applying Lipstick Without a Mirror.

If you need to fix up your lipstick but
can't find a mirror, try this: using one
finger from your free hand as a guide,
position the tip of your lipstick at the
center of the "bow" of your mouth.
Tracing the edge of your lips with that
finger, draw a half-heart shape from the
center to the edge of your mouth on both sides.

Then, using that same finger, trace the outside
of your lower lip while applying the lipstick
from the center. Don't rub your lips together -
that will just smear those nice even lines!

Fore more info please visit: Lip

Skin Care - What Does Your Skin Absorb?

Have you ever thought about the things that your skin absorbs?
While it may seem as though your skin is tough, it’s actually
quite delicate. How delicate? Your skin will take in a number
of things during any regular day.

For example, your skin will absorb vitamins from the sun;
chemicals; and anything else that it comes in contact with.
The scary part isn’t knowing that your skin is an absorbent
magnet—the scary part is knowing that what your skin absorbs
will wind up in your blood stream. That’s right – anything
that your skin takes in will eventually wind up mixed with
your blood.
How can this be possible?

For more info please visit: Skin Care