Don't Let the Signs of Aging Show Up on Your Face - Keep Wrinkles Away With Essential Oils

Remember when your mother used to say: "Don't make that awful face. It might stay that way"? As it happens, she may have been more correct than she knew. Over the years our skin takes on a memory of our most common facial moves like squinting, smiling, frowning, raising our eyebrows or even the "sucking in" part of smoking. The result of this is wrinkles. Plus, anything we do that takes moisture from our skin tissue helps in the development of wrinkles. A major offender is over-exposure to the sun.
Forget about aging gracefully. Fight it every step of the way! Cleanse your face gently with natural moisturizers that gently clean and hydrate the skin. Increase the level of anti-oxidants in your diet. Avoid over-exposure to the sun or apply SPF products. Limit your alcohol consumption, manage your stress, and quit smoking. Hydrate with a minimum of eight glasses of water a day. Get plenty of sleep: at least eight hours a night. And last, but certainly not least: use essential oils to help maintain collagen and regenerate new cells. In general, the essential oils that help skin cells regenerate and rejuvenate are the same oils that help heal slight skin abrasions caused by dry skin.
The two best choices of oils to use for wrinkles are Niaouli, which is a choice skin tonic that protects the skin and Myrtle, which acts as an astringent to the skin. Other essential oils known for their anti-aging properties are: carrot seed, rose, jasmine, geranium, helichrysum, neroli, frankincense and myrrh.
To counteract dry, mature skin, it is best to combine these essential oils with vitamin-rich plant oils to help soften and nourish the skin, and nutrient packed nut and seed oils to act as carriers for the essential oils and aid in moisturizing and protecting the skin tissue. For this the best choices are high quality, cold-pressed oils such as rosehip, apricot kernel, avocado, macadamia nut, kikui nut, evening primrose and wheatgerm.
Here is a great formula for an excellent facial oil to use for dehydrated or wrinkled skin, or skin that has been damaged by the sun. When applying this oil avoid the eyes and the hairline. Use upward strokes while applying to neck and face.

Anti-Wrinkle Oil
2 tsp Apricot kernel oil
1 tsp Avocado oil
1 tsp Rose hip seed oil
10 drops Carrot Seed oil
5 drops Evening Primrose oil
4 drops Myrtle essential oil
4 drops Niaouli essential oil
2 drops Myrrh essential oil
3 drops Rose essential oil (for women) or
3 drops Jasmine essential oil (for men)
Combine ingredients in a one-ounce dark glass bottle. Cap and gently mix. Label. Apply 2-4 drops of the blend onto your fingertips, and apply to a moistened face and neck (Using floral water to moisten face is a great idea). Work upward, gently massaging the facial tissue.By Judy Lausch

Cosmetic Surgery-Benefits and Risks

If you used to think that cosmetic surgery was only for the rich and famous, you have probably already noticed that today nearly everyone can take advantage of some of the techniques available. Even some teenagers are going "under the knife" to get the look they want, whether it be a nose job, or breast implants. But, is all of this excitement really worth it? Are you going to get results that will really change your life and your looks for the better? Before you undergo any type of cosmetic surgery, there are some questions you will need to ask of yourself and your potential surgeon to make sure this decision is right for you.

1. What are your reasons for wanting the surgery? If you have an unsightly scar or birthmark, it may be something very obvious. But, if you just want to change your looks to appear younger or to enhance one of your features, which may be more of a personal preference. Either reason may be a worthwhile motivation to get cosmetic surgery, but you must still keep in mind that surgery is surgery and is a very serious decision. Surgery is not a "cure-all" for any self-esteem issues you may be having, it is just one part.

2. Who is your surgeon? Did you know that to perform cosmetic surgery you do not technically have to have any specialized training? Once you have graduated from medical school you can practice any type of medicine-including cosmetic surgery. However, your surgeon can be certified by the Board of Medical Examiners and also by national organizations which have strict guidelines about training and qualifications. Any surgeon you choose should be well-qualified and experienced in your type of surgery.

3. Are you aware of the risks? From one to four percent of people who have cosmetic surgery experience difficulties of one kind or another. These can be simply a problem with symmetry, or as serious as an infection, too much skin being removed, or even death. Some people are opting to head south of the border to Mexico and other locations for low-cost cosmetic surgery, only to find less than ideal operating conditions and doctors who are not adequately trained. Serious complications can result-so just as you would check out your surgeon here, check out your surgeon anywhere-maybe even more carefully.

4. Are there reasons you should not have cosmetic surgery? If you are suffering from self-esteem issues, and all of your self-worth is based on your outward appearance, you may not find the answers you are looking for with cosmetic surgery. Beauty truly is only "skin deep." There are limitations to the results that you will get with surgery. Your surgeon should be very honest with you about what you can reasonably expect. Look inside yourself to find what your motivations are an where your sense of self-worth is coming from. By Eriani Doyel

Can You Really Erase Wrinkles With Castor Oil?

Many people faced with the problem of wrinkles join the search for the best wrinkle treatment each day. Growing numbers of health and beauty conscious men and women are looking for the right treatment to help reduce and remove their wrinkles that are brought on by aging, stress and dry skin. They often have a hard time choosing from the many hundreds of available treatments for wrinkles, from creams to oils to injections.

Of the many anti-wrinkle treatments that are available commercially, many are formulated using a combination of natural ingredients and synthetic substances. These treatments are often viewed as being unnatural as they contain artificial ingredients and some people are unwilling to use such treatments. They prefer to use natural treatments instead. One of these natural treatments that is worth considering is the use of castor oil as an anti-wrinkle treatment.

Castor oil, which is produced from the seed of the castor plant, is usually taken as a health supplement. However, many people do not realize that it can be an effective form of wrinkle treatment as well. By simply applying castor oil to your skin, you help to soothe your skin, restoring its natural youthful appearance and helping to diminish unsightly wrinkles.

One of the properties of castor oil that makes it an effective form of anti-wrinkle treatment is that it is very effective at moisturizing your skin. Castor oil has many antioxidant properties and helps defend your skin against oxidizing agents. It also cleanses and heals your skin even as it hydrates your skin. Also, castor oil does not leave an oily feeling on your skin after you use it. Simply wash it off with some warm water or even some gentle facial cleanser and it will leave your skin feeling smooth and supple. People with dry skin will benefit greatly from the application of castor oil to areas of the skin affected by wrinkles.

Castor oil also helps increase the flow of blood to the skin that it is applied to. Increased blood flow means that the skin receives more nutrients and oxygen, making skin healthier and fuller, helping to erase wrinkles and fine lines. Even heavy wrinkles respond well to the increased circulation of blood and lessen or fade.

Many people who use castor oil on their skin on a regular basis report that the treatment leaves them feeling younger and their skin looking healthier. Castor oil also has a positive effect on wrinkles and fine lines, reducing the severity of wrinkling and also giving skin a natural healthy glow. While it must be said that no treatment available today can completely eliminate wrinkles, regular treatment with castor oil will help to keep wrinkles at bay, and to help reduce the formation of wrinkles, keeping you looking younger, longer.

By: Raj Kumar

Top 10 FAQ on Botox Injections From an Anti Aging Clinic

A major substance on the market for non-surgical facial rejuvenation is botulinum toxin (Botox). This cosmetic procedure has been rewarding for thousands of patients who have found their appearance vastly improved by Botox injections. The procedure must be performed by a skilled, certified physician who specializes in cosmetic surgery and has prior experience with injecting the Botox treatments. Following are ten frequently asked questions about Botox injections from an anti-aging clinic.

1. Is Botox Safe?

Botox injections are very safe when being performed by an experienced cosmetic specialist and is the most common cosmetic procedure in the United States. It is FDA-approved to treat lines, wrinkles, and excessive sweating.

Some common side effects that may be experienced by patients are swelling or bruising at the point of injection or flu-like symptoms and headaches. Patients should select experienced cosmetic specialists as the correct placement of injections is critical. Misplaced injections allow Botox to spread to nearby tissues causing the following complications: droopy eyelids, misaligned eyebrows, lopsided smile, dry eyes or extreme tearing.

2. Are Botox Injections Painful?

The needles used for the injections are very thin and patients generally report minimal pain. Some individuals prefer to have their skin numbed prior to the injections which may be accomplished by four methods:

a.) Injecting numbing medications into the skin

b.) Applying prescription creams

c.) Spraying cold air at the skin for a few seconds

d.) Applying cold packs 10 - 20 minutes before the injection

3. How long does a Botox Treatment Take?

Botox injections take only a few minutes. The entire procedure may last up to twenty minutes depending on the number of injections sites needed to receive treatment.

4. What is the Recuperation Period?

Most patients are able to get Botox injections and immediately return to their normal activities.

5. How Does Botox Work?

Botox injections use botulinum toxin to paralyze facial muscle activity for a period of time. The injections block specific chemical signals from the facial nerves that cause muscles to contract which trigger wrinkles, including: frown lines occurring between eyebrows, crow's-feet, and forehead wrinkles.

6. How Long Does it Take to Notice Treatment Effects?

The procedure usually takes five to seven days for maximum effects although some patients report results in as little as one or two days. If no results are observable after seven days, antibodies may be blocking the Botox and additional Botox units may be needed.

7. How Long Do Botox Treatments Last?

Different factors determine how long a Botox treatment will last. If more Botox units are used, the results will last longer. Generally, treatments last from two to six months but most people experience three to four months of diminished wrinkles.

8. How Often Will I Need to get Botox Injections?

To maintain Botox effects, patients need to receive follow-up injections on a regular basis. With continuing treatments, most patients can maintain treatment effects by receiving injections every four, five, or six months.

9. What is the Success Rate for Botox?

Botox success rate is 8.3 out of 10 or 83% worldwide. Patients that don't have successful experiences may have received the wrong dosage, had unrealistic expectations, or injections that were incorrectly placed. 3% of the failures are thought to have difficulties with antibodies that interfere with the Botox effectiveness.

10. What are the Risks?

Like all medications, Botox may cause allergic reactions in some patients. In some rare instances, botulinum toxin spread to other parts of the body and caused botulism-like symptoms. Most physicians will not use Botox when a woman is pregnant or breast-feeding.

By Cameron Y Lee