5 Effective Ways For Dry Skin Care

Dryness or Skin Dehydration is the loss of water or moisture from the skin. First, since it is the loss of water the best way to avoid dehydration easy and very effectively is to drink plenty of water. It can hydrate you in and out, it also helps in detoxifying toxic materials that can accumulate in the skin and body and cause various severe problems.

Secondly, the intake of beverages such as tea, coffee, milk, soda or juice should be limited since they may further dehydrate your skin and contribute to other skin conditions, such as acne. Alcohol consumption also causes dryness and wrinkles; it should be avoided for Dry Skin Care.

Thirdly, dry skin is low in natural lubricant and moisture, so use a good moisturizer which can help alleviate dry skin. Use a Skin Product that contains naturally derived ingredients like Phytessence Wakame, which is extracted from sea algae from Japanese sea, it is very rich in minerals and is very famous for moisturizing skin. It heals the dry patches and resumes skin elasticity.

Similarly, CynergyTK is also a vital ingredient that helps in building natural Collagen in the skin that makes sure the elasticity of skin freshness and recovers the dryness and wrinkles because of dryness.

Fourth, you need to be very careful while choosing a dry skin care product because apparently moisturizing solutions are in the long run very hazardous. The presence of alcohol, petroleum products and mineral oil in a product confirms that it is actually not good for your skin. Would you want to put a layer of oil on your skin which can prevent cells from getting fresh oxygen and result in acne? Absolutely, No.

It has been confirmed that whatever you apply on your skin actually gets absorbed in the blood stream, so the rule is to apply what you can eat/drink, products containing alcohol not only dries your skin but they also get in your body and have harmful effects.

Fifth and most important, preservatives are added in the cosmetic products to keep them from spoiling; these substances and fragrances are also very harmful for health. Preservatives like Parabens are known to have adverse effects on your nervous system and can cause depression.

So, your Dry skin care is only five steps away from you, following this you will not only have fresher skin but also the confidence that you have not lost because of the skin problem.

By John Gibb

How to Get Rid of Dry and Cracked Skin on Feet

Our feet have to carry us throughout our entire lives and yet it is an area that many people neglect when it comes to skincare. The result of this neglect is often dry and cracked skin on the feet, particularly around the heels and sides of the feet.

Although cracked skin (fissures) on the feet can be unsightly and even painful, it is not a serious condition and is one that can quite easily be sorted and relatively quickly if you take the time to care for your feet. First though, let's take a look at why it happens.

What causes cracked skin on the feet?

The main cause of cracked heels is skin that is extremely dry (xerosis). The following factors will make you more likely to develop cracked skin on the feet.

- If you spend a lot of time on your feet
- If you go barefoot often
- If you wear sandals or open backed shoes regularly
- If you are overweight as this will put more pressure on your feet
- If you have a medical condition like diabetes or a circulatory disorder
- If you smoke
- If you have a physical disorder of the feet
- If you are elderly
- If you suffer from a lack of omega 3 fatty acids or zinc in your diet

It's important to note that if you are suffering from diabetes or circulatory problems, speak to your doctor before carrying out any sort of treatment on your feet.

How to heal cracked feet

There are two aspects to healing cracked feet, the first is to treat the cracked skin and the second is to prevent it from happening again.

There are numerous creams and lotions available on the supermarket shelves that will claim to heal cracked skin in a matter of days but if you don't want to part with your cash for that, you can just as easily treat the cracked skin at home using ordinary vegetable oils you have in your kitchen cupboard.

Oils that are effective on dry skin include Olive oil, Sunflower oil, Hemp seed oil, Evening primrose oil, Walnut oil, Thistle oil, and Grape seed oil but any oil will do the trick.

First bathe your feet in tepid water, never hot water as this will dry the feet out even more. You can use a pumice stone or exfoliating pad to gently remove some of the hard skin on the feet but be careful if the skin is broken as you could make it worse. Never try to remove hard skin with razor blades or other sharp objects or you could seriously injure yourself and perhaps introduce infection into your skin.

Once you have bathed your feet gently pat your feet dry with a clean towel and massage warmed vegetable oil into your feet and then put on a clean pair of cotton socks. It's best to do this last thing at night before you go to bed as it will give the oil a chance to work overnight.

Repeat this every night and in a few days you should start to see a noticeable difference in the condition of your feet although it may take a few weeks to heal them completely.

Once your skin has healed, in order to prevent your skin from becoming dry and cracking again, make sure you regularly moisturise your feet and treat your feet to a weekly oil treatment and a foot massage if you can afford it or you can persuade your partner to do it.

Never bathe in hot water and if you have to wear sandals, just make sure you moisturise your feet afterwards.

So far all the advice has been about treating your feet on the outside but you can also help heal your cracked heels by treating them from the inside too by taking fish oil on a daily basis.

Why fish oil could help heal cracked feet

Fish oil contains essential omega 3 fatty acids that our body needs to survive but can't produce itself. The only way we can get omega 3 fatty acids is through our diet and the sad fact is, very few of us are actually getting enough.

The reason for this is that the really important omega 3 fatty acids such as Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) are only found in fatty fish such as herring, sardines, mackerel, salmon and tuna and let's face it, no one eats too much fish these days due to the toxins they contain.

This means that most of us are not getting enough of these essential fatty acids on a daily basis and indeed one of the first signs that you are deficient in Omega 3 fatty acids is dry and cracked skin.

By David Mcevoy

Benefits of Ginger - Homemade Skin Care

There are numerous benefits of ginger and it's used in a variety of ways! Ginger is the rhizome of the plant Zingiber officinale. A rhizome is the horizontal stem of a plant usually found underground. Roots and shoots grow out from its nodes. Other names for rhizome are rootstalks or creeping rootstalks. Hence, you may have heard the common name of ginger referred to as root ginger or ginger root.

Ginger is a perennial, reed like, plant growing three to four feet tall. It produces clusters of white and pink flower buds that bloom into yellow flowers. Because of its appealing beauty and attraction to warm climates, it's used as landscaping for many subtropical homes.

Ginger has a sweet and spicy aroma. Young ginger rhizomes are juicy, fleshy and have a very mild taste. It's picked and used as an ingredient in cooking dishes or steeped in boiling water for ginger tea. Powdered dry ginger is often used as a flavoring for snacks: candy, bread, cookies, crackers, cakes and more. Mature ginger roots are fibrous and nearly dry. The juice from these roots is extremely potent. It's used as a spice or flavoring for Chinese, Japanese or many South Asian cuisines.

Ginger was originally cultivated in South Asia. Top producers are now found in the countries of: India, China, Indonesia, Napal, Nigeria, Bangladesh, Japan, Thailand, Philippines and Sri Lanka. Historically, the medicinal term for ginger was Jamaican ginger. It's now cultivated in Jamaica and comes into this country dried and preserved. Ginger from the West Indies is considered to be the best.

HEALTH BENEFITS OF GINGER:

Ginger contains essential oils, protein, calcium, phosphorus, iron, vitamin C, choline, folic acid, inositol, manganese, panthotenic acid, silicon and a small amount of vitamin B3.

Relieves or reduces: nausea, diarrhea, indigestion, motion sickness, the pain and inflammation of arthritis, anxiety, depression, upset stomach, colds, coughs, asthma, bronchitis, flu, sore muscles, headaches, menstrual cramps and more.

It stimulates poor circulation and appetite. Some studies report it may help prevent heart disease with its, possible, blood thinning and cholesterol lowering properties. It has antioxidants benefits with more than twelve types of antioxidants! Blue ginger, from Madagascar, has a particularly potent antioxidant! CAUTION! Although ginger is recognized as safe, it may cause allergic reactions such as: bloating, gas, heartburn, belching and more.

SKIN CARE AND GINGER ESSENTIAL OIL:

Ginger essential oil is extracted by steam distillation from the rhizome root and yields about 3% oil. It has a pale yellow to dark amber color with a strong, or sharp, spicy-warm aroma. It has invigorating, energizing, stimulating, anti-septic and anti-bacterial properties. Ginger essential oil is not recommended to use internally.

Helps: clear bruises, carbuncles, sores on the skin, arthritis, rheumatism, muscle aches and pains, relieve acne, lighten age spots, fight skin damaging free radicals, reduce cellulite, promote smoothness and evenness of skin tone, decrease inflammation, increase radiance to skin, provide aromatherapy benefits and more!

This oil is used in many commercial and homemade skin care products: soaps, shampoos, balms, body scrubs, creams, lotions, bath oils, massage oils and more. Ginger oil blends well with: bergamot, frankincense, neroli, rose, sandalwood, yiang-yiang, patchouli, rosewood, cedarwood, coriander, lime, grapefruit, geranium, spearmint, lavender, orange, vetiver and other spice or citrus oils. It's a non-toxic and, mostly, non-irritating substance, except when used in higher concentrations.

CAUTION! Ginger oil can irritate skin and cause photosensitivity, (sensitivity to sunlight). It can cause allergic skin reactions such as rashes, hives, redness or other skin irritations. Those with sensitive skin should either avoid using ginger oil or use with extreme caution. Stop using any products containing ginger oil, immediately, upon signs of skin irritation. If symptoms persist, seek advice from your medical health provider.

MAKING HOMEMADE SOAP:

Some just love that distinctive scent of ginger in their soaps! Ginger is used for making soap but it should be used with extreme caution. If you are just learning how to make soap, do not use ginger or ginger oil without the guidance of a master soap maker. As mentioned previously, ginger can be very irritating for some. Understand all about ginger before using it, in anyway. Use this soap making oil with other citrus or spice type of oils to have a complimentary, blended, aroma.

A touch of ginger oil can been handcrafted, with other natural oils, in a homemade shampoo. Ginger has been known to either control or help get rid of dandruff. A homemade shampoo with, a very small amount of, ginger oil can be cleansing, conditioning and nourishing for the hair and scalp. There are many, healthful, benefits of ginger root and ginger essential oil! Ginger is used around the world in a variety of ways!

By Susan Katchur

26 Essential Beauty Tips, Secrets, and Home Remedies

Besides the obvious tools to looking your best (fitness, nutrition, style...) here are some lesser-known health and beauty tips for silky hair, glowing skin, sparkling teeth and healthy nails.

Hair Treatments

Conditioners, special shampoos and other hair treatments can increase the shine of your hair, help protect it and even repair some damage. But if you're afraid of the high price tag that often accompanies salon quality products, here are some simple at-home hair remedies that do the trick.

Dull Hair Remedies

Four household products ensure lustrous hair:

1. Lemon juice - mix it with water and rinse for added shine and bounce

2. Baking soda - mix it into your shampoo to eliminate dirt and grease.

3. Beer - after shampooing, rinse hair with flat beer to add body and shine

4. Tea - boil tea leaves and let cool; apply liquid to dry hair and let sit for 20 minutes; rinse with warm water.

Oily Hair Remedies

Two solutions to fight greasy hair:

1. Carrots - boil and mash them and apply to hair; let sit for 15 minutes; wash and rinse

2. Aloe and Lemon - mix ½ teaspoon of aloe and 1 tablespoon of lemon juice with regular shampoo; wash and rinse.

Dry Hair Remedies

Apply a deep conditioning treatment once a week. Work any of the following ingredients through hair; put on a shower cap or wrap with saran wrap; let sit for 20 minutes; wash and rinse.

1. Mayonnaise

2. Olive oil/ baby oil/coconut oil

3. Egg yolk

4. Mashed avocado

5. Mashed banana

Skin Treatments

Forget expensive designer products. Glowing skin is as easy as opening the fridge:

Oily Skin /Acne Remedies

Create a mask or spot treat with any of the following ingredients:

1. Garlic - natural antibacterial properties make garlic a great acne treatment. Press into a paste and apply on acne

2. Honey and apple - mash together, and apply to individual pimples

3. Tomato paste - apply a layer to face and let dry, rinse

4. Cooked oatmeal - apply a layer to face and let dry, rinse

5. Egg yolk - apply a layer to face and let dry, rinse

Dry Skin Remedies

Soft, supple skin is a cinch with any of the following:

1. Almond oil - use as a primer before foundation or as a night moisturizer.

2. Banana - mash and apply to face; let sit for 20 minutes

3. Mayonnaise - apply to face; let sit for 20 minutes

Exfoliating Remedies

Slough off dead skin cells with these simple solutions:

1. Coffee - mix a quarter cup of ground coffee with a tablespoon of salt; rub on face then rinse off.

2. Pineapple - a natural acid exfoliant; puree pineapple and apply to skin; let sit for 20 minutes.

Nail Treatments

Most nail damage is the result of environmental influences (washing dishes, housework, yardwork, etc.), so try to protect your nails from these culprits. But when all else fails, one at-home remedy can rescue dry, brittle nails:

1. Olive oil - olive oil moisturizes nails and softens cuticles without weakening them, preventing hang nails caused by dry skin. Soak nails in olive oil for a few minutes every week.

Tips for Teeth

Teeth discoloration can point the finger at many offenders - ageing, smoking, consuming staining foods and beverages like coffee, red wine, cola, and blueberries. So it's inevitable that many turn to teeth whitening to restore those that were once pearly.

You have your pick of expensive teeth whitening procedures and over-the-counter chemical treatments, but for a more natural solution, try making a paste of the following ingredients:

1. Strawberries - they contain malic acid, which acts as a mild astringent when mixed with baking soda or powder

2. Lemon juice and salt - lemon juice also contains acid

3. Apple cider vinegar and baking soda

4. Orange peel and bay leaves

Cori Russell