Body Butter Lotion - Intense Moisture for All Skin Types

Body butter lotion is a little-known intensive moisturizer that is surprisingly easy to come by, especially when you consider how incredibly effective it is at relieving the driest skin. Most lotions consist of a lot of water, whereas butters contain mostly plant extracts. As a result, body butters are much thicker than standard lotions and much more moisturizing - an effect you can notice immediately.

A good butter lotion may feel a little greasy upon application at first, but will absorb completely into the skin within a few minutes. The effects of such a lotion will be felt all day long, and regular use will make a profound difference in the quality of your skin. This is, in part, because plant oils won't get diluted or washed away by water. It is also because of the kinds of oils that are included, which vary from brand to brand. Many of these plant oils have incredibly healthy properties that nourish and protect your skin.

Some of the plant oils that you might find in such a butter are shea butter, cocoa butter, and mango butter. Shea butter is the most common. It is readily absorbed deep into the skin's layers, creating water-resistant protection for your skin. Cocoa butter comes from the cocoa bean, which is also responsible for chocolate - in fact, cocoa butter can smell like chocolate. It protects the skin against further damage, and makes body butters thick, soothing, and creamy. Mango butter lubricates the skin and provides essential fatty acids to nourish skin.

Another less common but important oil is kokum butter. Kokum butter regenerates skin cells, supporting the skin's elasticity and flexibility. It is a great ingredient for promoting healing. Some body butters also use calendula extract, which has anti-viral and anti-inflammatory properties. It can soothe irritated skin and reduce acne. Also, glycerin may be incorporated in a good butter lotion because it attracts moisture to the skin. Finally, healing ingredients such as witch hazel may be included to heal the damage already done to your skin.

All of these plant oils combine to condition the skin. They fight free radicals, which are responsible for the effects of aging on the skin. In this way, body butter lotion protects the skin from wrinkles, dryness, and other effects of age. If you have not yet tried a body butter, try one today! Its thickness may surprise you at first, but it is exactly this thickness that makes it such a powerful moisturizer. Also, do not be deceived by the price of some of these butters. Some that are made by well-known companies cost more only because their company's name is well-known - not because they are any better at what they do. Read the ingredients - the more plant-based oils they contain, such as those listed in this article, the better they will be for your skin.

www.EzineArticles.com Jennifer_Thorpe-Moscon,_Ph.D.

Dry Skin Cream That Contains Nature's Best Nutrients

It seems to be next to impossible to find a high quality dry skin cream, although the store shelves are packed full of products whose manufacturers claim to be the best that money can buy. The fact is though, that while the vast majority of people are taking the manufacturers word on how good their products are it may in fact be those very products that are making their skin dry.

The most common dry skin cream that is being produced in massive quantities will contain one or both of the petroleum based moisturizers as the key emollients. These compounds allow the major cosmetics companies to label their products as containing natural ingredients, although these two are not the type of natural ingredients that one would want to use on their skin. Yes, they are naturally occurring, but in the same breath they are also man-made.

These ingredients, which are known as petrolatum and mineral oil, are a petroleum byproduct, but they would not exist if not for the crude oil process. These compounds are derivatives of what became known as Vaseline, which was discovered in the 1800's, and was immediately proclaimed to be a skin care miracle. That is until it was discovered that this "moisturizer" was responsible for causing skin dry rather than treating it.

I'm sorry to say, but you will get the same results from dry skin cream that contain petrolatum, and mineral oil. Petroleum based moisturizers are too dense to be effectively absorbed by the skin. They simply end up sitting on the surface of the skin trapping dirt, clogging your pores, interfering with your natural exfoliation process, and eventually shutting down your skin's oil production.


All of this, with special emphasis on the shutting down of sebum production, leads you to the development of dry skin. If you want to use products containing moisturizing agents that will not make your skin dry then I advise you to stop wasting your time, and your money on the useless products that the major manufacturers continue to offer to you.

What a dry skin cream should contain if you want to be successful in nursing your skin back to good health are plant based ingredients. These should include such compounds as grape seed oil, Maracuja passion fruit extract, and Babassu palm oil. These types of emollients are full of essential nutrients that your skin needs in order to be healthy.

Plant based oils are excellent for moisturizing your skin because they contain certain properties which closely resemble those of our skin's own oil. That is why you need to quickly make the switch from the formulas that you are using that are making your skin dry, and begin experimenting with products that will quickly, and effectively alleviate your problems.

A dry skin cream should help you to solve a problem. It should not aggravate a problem, nor create on where it never existed. The use of products that contain nothing except the ingredients of nature are your best bet for finding an answer for whatever it is that ails your skin.




www.healthy-and-beautiful-skin.com
Source: http://EzineArticles.com Emily_Rae

How to Cure Dry Skin Around Your Eyes

The skin around your eyes is extremely thin and sensitive. It is here that you will notice your first fine lines and wrinkles. It is here that you will first see signs of exhaustion and illness. Yes, there are many reasons why you can learn a lot about a person by simply looking at their eyes, and many reasons why you do not want to tell all of your secrets with yours. One of the most bothersome conditions that you may encounter when it comes to your eyes is dry skin around the eyes.

Wrinkles develop after skin becomes dry and loses elasticity. Considering that this will first occur around your eyes, there is good reason for you to address any dry skin issues as soon as they occur especially if they occur around the region of your eyes. You can do this either as a preventative measure or a curative measure.



Preventing Dry Skin around Eyes

If you follow a good skin care routine, it probably involves using moisturizers and products that do just fine at preventing dry skin on your face. But the skin on your eyes often needs a little more. Here are a few eye products that you should have in your makeup bag:

* Eye Makeup Remover - When you were 16, it was okay to sleep in your eye makeup all night, but not anymore. Leaving eye makeup on indefinitely is not good for your skin, but many products are waterproof. This tempts many to remove their eye makeup using a hot washcloth with soap and water. There are two things wrong with this scenario: soap is drying and a harsh washcloth can irritate and further dry your skin. To remove your eye makeup properly, you should use an oil-based or moisturizing eye makeup remover. These products work much better than soap and water without drying your skin.

* Spot treatments - It is never too early to start preventing wrinkles around the eyes. You can do this by using an antioxidant eye cream. There are two types of eye creams: a lighter treatment that can be used during the day and a heavier one that is used overnight.

* Sunglasses - The sun is the number one culprit when it comes to causing dry skin around the eyes. Be sure to wear sunscreen and cover the sensitive skin of your eyes up with sunglasses whenever you go outdoors.

* Health - If you are in poor health, your skin will show it. Be sure to drink plenty of water, eat a good diet, and exercise regularly to prevent dry skin. If you have any underlying health conditions that may cause dry skin, you should also take extra care to keep these under control and follow all of your doctor's instructions.

Curing Dry Skin around Eyes

If you experience dry skin around your eyes even after all of your attempts at preventing it, you may need to take a different approach. There are many intense eye therapies out there that might be the perfect solution to your problem. Here is a brief guide to help you decide:

* Hydrating Eye Serums - Many people experience dry skin around their eyes simply because there are not that many oil glands in the skin of the eyes to help keep it moisturized. Without these vital oils, your skin quickly dries out when it comes into external factors such as the sun, cigarette smoke, dry furnace heat, and harsh weather conditions. To replenish these oils, use a hydrating eye serum. These can be applied directly underneath or even on top of your makeup several times throughout the day. Many also have added ingredients to help firm skin and fight dark circles.

* Intense eye treatments - If the dry skin on your eyes is particularly bothersome, you can use an intense eye treatment 2 to 3 times per week. These are similar to intense hydrating masques that you purchase for your face but are formulated for the sensitive skin of your eyes. Look for these in the same aisle that you would find face creams.

Dry skin on the eyes can be extremely itchy and easily irritated. The thin skin of the eye is also easily torn. This is why it is very important to address eye issues as soon as they occur. Avoid scratching and tugging on the skin and be sure to use enough moisturizers to get your skin into shape as quickly as possible.




Source: http://EzineArticles.com Della_Franklin

Sun Protection Skincare - 10 Tips For Gorgeous Skin

What is the MOST important skin care secret you need to know for youthful skin? If you said "Protecting from the harmful rays of the sun!", you get a gold star.

Sunlight is a major cause of skin aging, according to the National Institute of Health (NIH). We all know a sunburn is obvious skin damage. But, did you know that short, repeated exposure to the sun (also called chronic sun exposure) is a major cause of skin damage too.


With your beauty in mind here are some simple but effective suggestions:


Sun Precaution #1 - As a daily routine, apply sunscreen and wear a sun hat. On a big beach day or playing 3 hours of golf. I am sure you are slathered up with sunscreen and wearing your sun protective clothing. What we are talking about here is protecting against the chronic doses of sun you get from doing things like stopping to pick flowers, walking from your car to the office or driving. Remember sun damage accumulates over time and lessens the elasticity of your skin.

Vitamin D - It is impossible to write about sun protection without talking about Vitamin D. Vitamin D is very important to your good health but the amount of sun exposure is unclear at this time. If you are not an outdoor person, your only exposure to UVB rays (UVB generates Vitamin D, not UVA) may be short stints under the mid-day sun. Be sure to consult with your physician about the proper amount of sun for your body. According to the EPA: Get vitamin D safely through a diet that includes vitamin supplements and foods fortified with Vitamin D. Don't seek the sun.


Sun Precaution #2 - Not every sun hat is equal. Choose a sun hat with a brim of 4" or greater that also has a brim that slants downward. A downward angled brim will surround you face giving you protection for more hours of the day. And, do not even think of wearing a baseball cap. A baseball cap basically shades the forehead and that's all!


Sun Precaution #3 -Don't be fooled into thinking a base tan protects you from additional sun damage. According to the FDA, there is no such thing as a safe tan. A tan is your melanin pigment migrating to the basal layer of your skin to protect your DNA.

Sun Precaution #4 - Keep protected from the sun all year round. Both UVA and UVB contribute to premature aging. In the winter months UVB lessens but the harmful UVA rays are in full force year round.


Sun Precaution #5 - Beware of sneaky reflective rays. UV rays can reflect off of cars, the asphalt, water and other surfaces that "bounce" up and reach your face and neck. Wearing your daily dose of sunscreen will help with these harmful sneak attacks. If you are going to be on the snow or water all day or doing road work, you may want to consider wearing a UV protective Sun Mask.

Sun Precaution #6 - Make sunscreen the first layer of your makeup regimen. Dr. Martin, a prominent San Diego dermatologist, recommends using sunscreen, both zinc/titanium (also called mineral sunscreen) and chemical based sunscreen as the first layer of your makeup regimen. Next apply moisturizer, foundation, powder, blush and any other colored cosmetics. Some experts feel a sunscreen using zinc or titanium should be applied after all makeup has been applied since that formula reflects the sun rays. Dr. Martin believes the makeup layers over the zinc/titanium sunscreen only enhance the UV protection. Additionally, many high SPF mineral sunscreens also include chemical ingredients in their formulas to reach those high SPF ratings. You may want to consider a facial moisturizer with SPF... also a good time saver. (Note: If you are using medication, please consult your doctor to know when to apply)
Sun Precaution #7 - Don't forget to apply sunscreen to the back of your neck if your neck is exposed to the sun. Sun-weakened skin becomes lax and the condition of the skin on the back of your neck will affects the more visible front of the neck.

Sun Precaution #8 - Avoid tanning booths. No matter what they say, sitting under a device that emits UV light is going to have a harmful affect on your skin. Dr. Martin says that he has seen patients in their 20's that have the skin of a 50 year because of tanning booths. So pleeeeease don't do it.
Sun Precaution #9 - Be extra careful when you are in higher altitudes. You would be amazed how fast you get sun damage when there is less atmosphere to filter out harmful UV rays.
Sun Precaution #10 - Regular dermatology and self examinations are important. - Many skin cancers, all though not life threatening, can be very disfiguring if they need to be surgically removed. Catch the culprits before they become a problem.

Don't grow old before your time? Make being sun safe a way of life and enjoy your outdoor life looking good.






www.sungrubbies.com
Source: http://EzineArticles.com Gail_Madson

How to Avoid a Sunburn - Using Sun Screen to Protect Your Skin

Sunscreen Application

Did you know that 1 oz. of sunscreen is the approximate amount of sun block that needs to be applied to your body? (Measurement on AVG) Using higher doses of SPF sun screen can be the ultimate protection for sensitive skin areas like the Nose, Feet, Ears (especially the top and lobes of the ears) and shoulders. Thighs have been known to get tender from the sun so apply as needed. What about the lips? Well sun-block wasn't designed for the lips so SPF lip balm should be applied to avoid cracked or sunburned lips.

The best time to apply sunscreen is a half hour before you are exposed to the sun. This gives ample time for your skin to absorb the sun block. UV rays can even penetrate the clouds and cause skin problems so it's recommended to apply sun block even when it's cloudy.

Breakdown of skin types

Obviously every person is unique and their skin type varies person to person so here's the skinny....

Fair skin is quite sensitive to the sun and can burn easy. Folks with fair skin often burn and should use a sun block of SPF 30 and up. People that have darker skin tones are not likely to burn as much as folks with fair skin. This doesn't mean they are at risk for skin cancer. Long exposure can still lead to nasty skin wrinkles and cancer. I guess it really doesn't matter what your skin type is. The fact of the matter is sunscreen with minimum of 15 SPF is recommended to be worn year round. EVERYONE can be at risk to burns and cancer if long exposure to UV rays goes untreated.

Severe sunburns are BRIGHT red skin, bubbling blisters, fever, chills & nausea. Severe burns can often lead to Heat Exhaust or Heat Stroke. (2nd / 3rd Degree Burn)

Moderate burns can be described as red skin, itching & stinging (2nd Degree Burn)

Mild sun burns are pinkish skin color and later peel off. It should not go un-noticed that mild burns can still lead to cancer. Do not under estimate the power of the sun's UV.....
So you have a Burn

Did you get fried from the suns' UV rays? Now what? A common method from sun burns is to take a cool bath. There are even theories of oatmeal or cornstarch added to cool water help. Be sure you don't scrub your skin; just use a soft towel to pat your body dry.

If your burn is severe and you feel extremely uncomfortable then you need to get your butt to the doc... When it's all said and done nobody gets hurt until the doc saves your life. So don't be stubborn you may have heat exhaust or stroke so act quick.




www.poundinghearts.com
Source: http://EzineArticles.com Nathan_E_Peterson

Sunblock. Your Most Important Cosmetic

Your Most Important Cosmetic? Sunblock by a mile!

Are you a skin care junkie? Is your bathroom closet overflowing with bottles and jars? Does the content of these bottles and jars actually do anything to improve your skin?

My guess is "sometimes". We all get seduced by promises of younger looking skin or banish wrinkles overnight. But the sad fact is a lot of the pretty looking products out there do not do what they promise and the wrinkles, acne, broken veins or whatever ails you is still there the next morning.

There is one cosmetic that stands head and shoulders above the rest - Sunblock.

Sunblock is the best preventative of aging skin you can buy in a bottle. It won't make you look younger in a few applications, you need to use it regularly - like every day - but over time it will make a tremendous difference to the appearance of your skin.

Sunblock can be found as lotion, gel, roll on, or spray. If you're on a tight budget you can usually buy a bottle for just a few dollars from a supermarket or drugstore. Test it on an inconspicuous part of you first in case you have an allergy to it! This is more important for the cheaper brands.

Use sunblock even if its cloudy outside. Ultraviolet (UV) rays can penetrate clouds by up to 80%, yes even if its raining. If you're driving, UV rays can penetrate glass, they can also be reflected off glass or water.

And don't just use sunblock on your face. Put it on your hands, feet, arms or whatever bits of you that are not covered up. This is not just for appearances, sunblock can prevent potentially fatal skin cancers and melanomas from developing.

Even if you have never used sunblock and you've already developed premature aging, its not too late! Regular use of sunblock and staying out of the sun can actually reverse some of the damage.

Make sure you use a sunblock which has a sun protection factor (SPF) of over 15 and apply it fairly generously for best results. Its also best to apply at least 20 minutes before venturing out.

Remember - prevention is better than cure!




www.just-natural-skincare.com
Source: http://EzineArticles.com Wendy_Owen