If you started smoking as a teen or young adult thinking it would make you look older, you are more right than you think - but not in the way you had hoped. Does anyone want to look ten years older - after they're an adult? Not likely.

Smoking hurts the skin, and it is hard to hid the effects. In fact, the effects of smoking on the skin are so distinctive that sometimes it is possible to identify a smoker just from looking at her, because she likely has a "smoker's face" - a specific set of characteristics that tend to be on the face of a smoker who has smoked for about ten years or longer.

The face tends to be a dull, grey color, and the wrinkles are more prominent than they should be for the person's age. Smoking ages the skin and has more negative effects than anything other than sun damage.

Why Smoking Hurts And Ages Skin

Smokers tend to get "smoker's face", a condition that was identified in 1965. The skin has a grey tint to it, and it is pale and has more wrinkles. That is because smoking causes the blood vessels near the surface of the skin to narrow. So the skin is getting less blood flow, and consequently less oxygen and important nutrients. Smoking also damages the fibers that help the skin stay elastic and strong - those are the elastin and collagen in the skin. That means the skin starts to sag and wrinkle before it otherwise would. And then there is also the issue of the facial expressions that smokers make - the pursing of the lips to hold the cigarette and the squinting of the eyes to avoid the cigarette smoke - adds up to even more wrinkling. All in all, the skin of a smoker loses its glow and healthy appearance.

Another problem with skin and smoking is the damage from the depletion of vitamins A and C. Smoking restricts the body from utilizing these vitamins as they should. Vitamin A is involved in repairing skin, and Vitamin C is an antioxidant and helps the body absorb iron. Consequently, many smokers become anemic. Also the body tends to become dehydrated from smoking, and the skin becomes dry, with flaking or cracked lips. Because of the damage that smoking does to skin, and the thinner skin with diminished oxygen supply, most plastic surgeons do elective plastic surgery on smokers.

Smoking and skin cancer also have a link. Smoking more than triples the risk of developing skin cancers - primarily squamous cell carcinoma - because of the thinner skin from smoking.

Another major skin issue for smokers is that of psoriasis. Psoriasis is a chronic skin condition that is not life-threatening or contagious. The person with psoriasis has red raised patches (sometimes scaly) that are itchy and often embarrassing. It is a condition that those who have it wish they could get rid of it once and for all. Smoking hurts the skin and makes it much more prone to having psoriasis than non-smokers. Depending on the amount that the smoker smokes, and the number of "pack-years", and whether or not they are still smoking, the increase in risk ranges from 20% more likely to get psoriasis to 72% more likely. One study shows that those who smoke more than a pack of cigarettes per day are twice as likely (than those who smoked 10 cigarettes or less a day) of having severe psoriasis.

Do you know what causes your eyes to form bags under them? Do you know how to get rid of dark circles and bags under eyes?

There are many things that you can do to get rid of bags under your eyes. Bags under your eyes and dark circles are caused by fatty fluids forming underneath your eyes and there are a number of reasons that you could get these bags. You could get them because of aging, lack of sleep, hormonal changes, eating too much salt, eating a poor diet, or because of genetics.

Most of the time you get these bags or circles because of the veins under the thin skin below your eyes. These veins become more likely to show up over time and as we age. The skin becomes thinner and that allows the veins to appear darker and more prominent. They also become easier to see when you do not get enough sleep.

So there are many ways to get rid of the bags under your eyes. You can start by reducing the amount of salt you consume, applying a cool wash cloth to your eyes for 15 minutes, sleep with your head elevated, drink more water, and get rid of dehydrating drinks like soft drinks and sugary drinks. These are a few things you can do to help eliminate the bags under your eyes, and here are a few more.

You can use a couple of older methods, which include putting either a raw potato slice or a cucumber slice over your eyes for about 15 minutes. This will cool the skin along with providing natural nourishment that will help reduce wrinkles and keep bags from forming under your eyes. You could also use pre steeped green tea bags as well. Make sure they are warm and leave them over your eyes for about 15 minutes.

Another method of reducing the dark circles under your eyes is to use one of the many creams that are on the market. Do not get discouraged if you try a cream and it does not work. Just try another and see if it works. It is a process of elimination because not all creams will work for everybody, but you will be able to find one that will work for you, and once you do you should stick to it.

The last option is to go see your dermatologist. This is for those of you that have a more serious problem and cannot get any other method to work. They can prescribe medications and do different treatments to help get rid of the dark circles and bags under your eyes.

Your facial skin is one of the most sensitive areas of your body which needs regular attention and facial moisturizers are a great way to take care of that. A moisturizer, true to its name, moisturizes your facial skin. Before I talk any further about moisturizers and their effect on your facial skin, let me first explain what moisturizers do.

Your facial skin requires moisture. Since dry skin is susceptible to several skin related problems and can even crack easily, it becomes very important to rehydrate your skin often. You go out and work late, you roam around in hot sun and cold winter, and your dirty fingers come into contact with your face once in a while. All this can easily take a toll on your facial skin and make it look dry, unhealthy, and dull. In order to avoid, you need to use facial moisturizers or facial cream that can rehydrate or moisturize your skin. By doing this, you can avoid dry skin and a number of other skin related problems.

While a lot of people exercise regularly to keep their body fit, only very few think of their facial skin. After all, face is the index of your mind and it is very important for you to take care of it. This is where a facial cream can help you a lot.

Most people do not have the time to visit salons or parlors regularly to take care of their skin. Homemade face masks sound like a good idea, but they are equally time-consuming as well. So, most people simply wash their face two or three times a day and leave it unattended. But your face loses so much of moisture in a single day that a simple face wash cannot restore the necessary moisture. Moreover, due to constant exposure to weather and dirt, your face becomes susceptible to a number of skin related problems. To avoid all this, you should use a good facial cream which can help you stay away from all skin related problems.

Selecting good facial cream can be quite a task. One thumb rule you should remember is that all-natural products are better than products artificial chemicals and other such stuff. Thankfully, there are a number of high quality skincare products available in the market these days. They have the best of ingredients from New Zealand clay to manuka honey, aloe vera, natural oils, and many more. You can choose a good facial moisturizer with some or all of these natural ingredients.

Even if you've not paid much attention to your facial skin, start doing it today. With a good facial cream, you can get surprisingly good results in just a few months. So, get started today.

A honey facial can be beneficial for many conditions and most any skin-type, as long as you get the right kind. Researchers believe manuka honey face gel is the most effective of the honey-based gels.

The reason is that different honey varieties are made from different plant pollens, so they contain different enzymes and other active compounds. Manuka honey is collected from the wild in the country where I live, New Zealand, and bees make it from the pollen of the native Manuka bush that grows here on mountain hillsides and along river valleys.

(The bush is sometimes called the "tea tree". But, tea tree oil, which is bottled and sold as an essential oil for a variety of medicinal applications, comes from a different tree. It's another good natural product to use for treating dandruff and fungal infections, but it's not the manuka that goes into a high quality honey facial.)

A honey facial has been used for centuries as a folk medicine to treat conditions like acne, psoriasis and eczema. It was known to the ancient Egyptian priests and embalmers, but scientists have only recently been able to explain why it is so effective.

It has both antibacterial and antioxidant activity. So, it's good for cleansing, preventing infection in cuts and scrapes and helps to prevent and heal pimples by killing bacteria on the skin.

Antioxidants, you may know, are vitamin like substances that prevent free radical damage. Free radicals are responsible for many skin changes that accompany age. Wrinkles, fine lines, age spots, blemishes and even cancers start as free radical damage.

Manuka honey face gel, if properly manufactured, has the most active antibacterial and antioxidant qualities of any honey variety, according to researchers.

Several independent studies have been conducted recently, with scientists looking for effective remedies for MRSA, an antibiotic resistant staph infection that is usually accompanied by skin ulcers. And it was research of this type that increased the number of honey facial care products on the market.

Until recently, there were only a few manufacturers who included the ingredient. And there still aren't many. Major cosmetic companies it seems are sticking with the "tried and true", but less effective approaches.

But I know one manufacturer who provides a manuka honey face gel. Not surprisingly, the manufacturer is located here in New Zealand, in the city where I live, and in fact a colleague of mine designed the new company web site.

They have a complete line of skincare products for both men and women. They use manuka honey face gel in many of these products, including their night creams, cleansing masks and deep moisturizers. They also include the ingredient in their body lotion.

If you are looking for a honey facial mask that you can make at home, there are several recipes. Some include milk. Others include oatmeal. But, remember that the normal white honey you buy in grocery stores was not specifically designed for this purpose, so there's no guarantee of results.

Manuka honey face gel, on the other hand, has been evaluated for effectiveness in clinical studies. It has been shown to support the skin's natural renewal process, improve elasticity, and heal blemishes. The result reported by volunteers was softer and younger looking skin.

In addition to a honey facial, you might also be interested in kelp, seaweed or algae. They contain vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, in addition to essential fatty acids that are necessary for the skin's health. Although I use manuka honey almost every day and would recommend you start with a honey facial using manuka.

Many women have cellulite on their body and wish they did not. It is caused by unhealthily large fat cells causing dimpling of the epidermis, or skin. Dimples, orange peel skin, or cottage cheese legs are some of the many names for cellulite. Regardless of what you know it as, if you have it, it is something that you want to get rid of immediately.

Thankfully, there are ways to reduce the appearance of cellulite. Cellulite reduction cream is a product that can change a cellulite sufferer's life. Gone are the sarongs around the one piece bathing suits and in are the bikinis and short shorts! With a quality cream, you can minimize the appearance of cellulite and feel better about yourself.

Effectiveness

When used on a regular basis cellulite reduction cream is effective. There is no such thing as a cellulite removal cream, which is why creams are so worthwhile. It can do wonders on reducing the appearance of your cellulite, if you use the cream on a regular basis, and not just occasionally. While the cellulite will not completely disappear, it will become less and less noticeable.

How Do These Creams Work?

Firming the skin one way or another is the way most cellulite reduction creams work. Removing the moisture from the affected areas in order to firm the skin, is the way creams work with caffeine as its main ingredient. As it is extremely temporary, this is the least effective method of treating cellulite. A cellulite cream with retinol as its key ingredient works to increase collagen production within the skin, making the dimple fill up and firm up. The above mentioned cellulite creams are the most popular, even though there are several different types.

Why Use Cellulite Reduction Cream

Cellulite cream is the most inexpensive, cost efficient, and quick way to reduce the appearance unwanted cellulite, while nothing will permanently remove your cellulite. There are cosmetic procedures available to reduce the appearance of cellulite, but they are expensive and often times have results that are not any better than that of the cellulite reduction cream. With the ability to reduce the appearance of cellulite in your own home with cellulite cream, why waste money on an expensive and possibly dangerous cosmetic procedure? The answer is clear: simply use some over the counter cellulite cream instead of undergoing a costly cosmetic procedure.

There is no doubt about it, the best natural skin care cream is the secret to natural beauty which is very fashionable in the beauty industry today. Gone are the days of heavy, caked on makeup that made us look like porcelain. This article is about the best skin creams to provide you with a natural, healthy and beautiful skin.

Your skin is the largest organ in your body so it deserves to be treated well. Skin responds well to adequate sleep, good natural food and plenty of filtered water to keep it well nourished and hydrated.

Among other things the function of your skin is to eliminate toxins through the sweat pores and to regulate body temperature. Anything applied to your skin will be absorbed into your bloodstream or will clog the pores. It is important to be aware of what you are applying so that you do not cause any harm to your body.

As a general rule it is beneficial that you do not apply anything to your skin that is not considered safe enough to eat. Having said that, you can not do much about the toxins in the environment that enter your body through your skin except drink plenty of water to flush these toxins out.

The best natural skin cream is one that feeds your skin with the right natural substances to enhance cellular renewal and the growth of collagen and elastin.As you begin to show signs of aging these processes slow down so it is good to keep boosting them along. Incidentally, you can not topically add collagen and elastin to your skin which is what a lot of companies advertise because the molecules are not small enough to enter through your skin.

One innovative product that is added to the best skin creams is called Cynergy TK which is a special patented form of functional keratin that is easily absorbed by your skin to act as a stimulant for the regrowth of collagen and elastin. It is good for all skin types including sensitive. This form of keratin which is very similar to the protein in human skin is extracted from carefully selected sheep`s wool from New Zealand.

Most skin care companies extract keratin by using extreme heat and acid to break down animal products like hooves,horns and feathers.Does not sound very good does it?

Cynergy TK also assists you to retain moisture which helps to firm up your skin, reducing the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines. Added to this the ingredient Cynergy TK contains highly effective antioxidants to reduce the effects of sun damage and environmental pollutants.Cynergy TK will help stimulant your own antioxidant action, even skin coloring and provide you with a softer, creamier complexion.It also acts as a liquid film to your skin giving you a very youthful glow.

In conclusion Cynergy TK is not the only safe and natural ingredient in the best natural skin care cream There are other innovative ingredients that are also highly beneficial. To find more information on the best skin creams please click on the link to discover more about the secret to natural beauty.

Oral doses of vitamin D have been considered as a treatment for psoriasis. This was sparked by experiments with cholecalciferol or 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25 (OH)2D3), the active form of vitamin D made in the kidney, which showed promise in treating widespread psoriasis.

Using a one microgram daily dose of cholecalciferol, Japanese researchers in 1986 managed to treat 13 out of 17 psoriatic patents within three months. But there are risks involved with this therapy.

High doses of vitamin D often leads to hypercalcemia (high blood calcium levels) which is characterized by nausea, vomiting, drowsiness, confusion, high blood pressure, kidney failure, and coma. This was observed in the Japanese study and can occur in those taking 1,000 lUs (international units) or more of vitamin D.

The topical use of cholecalciferol by the same researchers proved to be more beneficial and less toxic. Sixteen out of 19 patients were treated within three weeks with a dose of 0.5 microgram per gram compared to three months with oral doses. Still, the possibility of hypercalcemia remained since vitamin D is absorbed by the skin.

That was until researchers at Leo Pharmaceutical Products in Denmark tried to develop a new form of vitamin D which could clear up psoriatic plaques minus the risks encountered in both oral and topical applications of cholecalciferol. That led to the discovery of calcipotriol.

Calcipotriol is a vitamin D3 derivative which is just as effective as cholecalciferol in controlling rapid cell growth in psoriatic skin yet 100 - 200 times less likely to produce hypercalcemia. Unlike other creams and ointments, it is colorless and odorless and generally well-tolerated by patients.

This vitamin D3 analogue is recommended for the treatment of plaque-type psoriasis and can be used alone or in combination with UVB radiation (which was tackled earlier in this series). The exact mechanism of calcipotriol is unknown but numerous studies have established the efficacy of this drug.

Controlled clinical trials have shown that calcipotriol is just as effective as some steroids and more effective than anthranol (both of which were discussed in this series) in treating plaque-type psoriasis. Patients using the recommended dose of 50 micrograms per gram twice daily for six months have not developed hypercalcemia, making calcipotriol safer than other conven¬tional psoriasis regimens.

The long-term effects of calcipotriol, however, are unknown and its safety in children and pregnant women has not been established. Using more of the drug can also be dangerous. If you go beyond the recommended dose and use more than 100 grams a week, you may suffer from high blood calcium levels.

So far, the only side effect reported is a mild skin irritation that occurs in 10 to 20 percent of patients who use calcipotriol. But this can be controlled by means of careful application. Calcipotriol should not be used on the face and patients are advised to wash away traces of the ointment that accidentally get in other unaffected areas of the skin. If you experience skin irritation, stop treatment and consult a doctor immediately.

If you don't love the look of the back of your legs, thighs or butt because of the appearance of cellulite, - take some comfort in knowing that you are not alone. Not by a long shot... Despite what the computer-altered backsides of models in magazines look like, that fact is The American Society of Plastic Surgeons estimates that at least 85% of all women have at least some "cellulite", somewhere on their bodies. For women over 40, that number is thought to be more like 90%.

The term "cellulite" has actually been around for over 150 years, it was first coined in France. The word was used to describe the dimpled, mattress-like or orange-peely appearance of body fat often seen on a woman's thighs or buttocks - and sometimes seen on the abdomen or the back of the upper arms. The term was first crossed the Atlantic in a Vogue article published back in the 1960s. And a national obsession began. Today, cellulite treatments represent a 97 million dollar industry.

But what exactly is cellulite? What causes it? And of greatest interest to many women - what (if anything) can be done to get rid of it?

Most women mistakenly believe that there is something unique about this type of body fat, because of its distinctive appearance. But the truth is, scientists have analyzed cellulite using needle biopsies and found it to be no different in anyway to fat found in other areas of the body. It's really just plain old body fat.

So why then does it look the way it does?

The reason for cellulite's distinctive appearance is due to the nature of the structure of the skin and the connective tissue in areas where most body fat is stored.

Those lumpy, bumpy areas are caused by regular body fat pushing up against the upper layers of the skin from inside of cylindrical-shaped pockets of connective tissue below the skin's surface. The more that collagen fibers stretch, break down or even pull too tight, the more that fat cells will tend to bulge out towards the skin's surface, causing a rippled or dimpling effect which we term, "cellulite".

Cellulite can be "consistent feature cellulite", meaning that it is visible at all times, regardless of body position. Or it can be "pinch" or "compression cellulite" meaning that it is seen only when a women sits or moves in a certain position.

Unfortunately, (and file this one under "Life's not fair, Ladies, right next to "PMS" and "labor pains") the fact is that women are much more prone to cellulite than men: 1) because we have more subcutaneous (below the skin) fat and 2) because our skin is thinner.

Also, the structure of the connective tissue surrounding the fat cells in men is actually of a completely different shape. Men's connective tissue forms a criss-cross pattern, rather than a cylindrical one. This tends to press the fat down rather than push it up towards the skin's surface. That is why you rarely see cellulite in men, even very overweight men. However, it is seen in men who are deficient in certain male hormones such as androgen.

Moreover, importantly despite the vast amount of money spent on cellulite treatments, the truth is there is no reliable, proven way to permanently remove cellulite.

Certainly liposuction can remove body fat - but because cellulite is largely a function of the structure of connective tissue which supports and houses the body fat, liposuction typically does not improve the appearance of cellulite - and often actually makes its appearance worse.

Other treatments, such as creams, herbal wrapping, massage and endomologie (a vacuum suction with two rollers on either side) may remove fluid in the dermis area of skin - temporarily reducing the appearance of cellulite. However, this change in appearance stops as soon as the treatments do.

Another treatment is, Restylane. Restalyne is used by plastic surgeons to fill in depressions (such as smile lines) in the face. This treatment is much less effective in improving the appearance of cellulite and any effects are temporary and must be repeated regularly for continued results.

One dangerous (and dubious) cellulite treatment is "mesotherapy". In mesotherapy, an injection of a soy lecithin derivative which is supposed to dissolve fat is injected directly into affected areas. This is usually not recommended because the results are usually not very impressive and the treatment is associated with serious risk of bleeding, ulcers or drug interactions. Yikes!!

Another frightening therapy is called "subcision" in which a doctor uses a needle to break up connective tissue and fat. Not surprisingly, this technique is very painful, damages the skin - and even after all that is still not very effective.

TriActive is another technology, in which "cool lasers" using infared technology are rolled over the skin. The lasers are supposed to heat the collagen bands causing them to tighten, thereby hopefully smoothing out the appearance of the skin. However, both medical experts (and patients) have varied opinions about how successful this treatment is. And at an average of $2400, it doesn't come cheap.

VelaSmooth is yet another device, which has the same technology as TriActive - plus the addition of radio frequency energy. Supposedly, the radio frequency adds additional heat to tighten bands and break up fat cells. Again, results are very limited at best.

So the million dollar (actually ,97 million dollar) question is, "So, how do you get rid of cellulite? The most honest answer is - YOU DON'T.

But there ARE ways of reducing its appearance. Specifically:

Start with good "skin structure" genes - so choose your parents well.
Maintain lower levels of body fat (the recommended levels for women are usually between 18-25%, levels below 15-16% may be associated with menstrual dysfunction). Female athletes with low body fat usually have far less cellulite than sedentary women.
Avoid rapid fluctuations in weight, yo-yo dieting and extensive exposure to the sun - all of which can effects skin's elasticity and can worsen the appearance of cellulite
Have good muscle tone - when muscle tissue is firm below the subcutaneous fat layer - the appearance of the fat layer is usually smoother. Exercises such as squats, lunges and step-ups are great for toning all of the areas of the hip, butt and thighs, improving muscle tone and making legs firmer.

Also, keep in mind that cellulite is:

Not a disease
Not caused by poor circulation or damaged blood vessels
Not a hormonal or lymphatic condition

Even models, who are often thin (but frequently not athletic) often have cellulite. The reason that you don't see it - is that it is removed through the miracle of digital imaging. It used to be done with airbrush techniques, but now a few moments on the computer and all "imperfections" are erased.

To my mind this is really unfortunate, because it makes women some how feel like freaks. We've all been to the beach and taken a look around. You see that most women, even fit ones, have at least a little something visible on the thighs.

But, usually we forget what women's bodies really look like and continue to compare ourselves to altered images of models. My suggestion to my clients...workout...eat right...be sure to engage in resistance training with challenging weights two to three times per week...and find a healthy body weight that can be maintained, without going to extremes.

Also, I suggest not starring at your butt in the mirror (unless you are looking to admire how awesome you look - in which case by all means!!!) and just focus on being healthy - not "perfect"! It's a normal part of being a woman and you have plenty of company. Remember, 85% of women have at least some cellulite, somewhere - and the last time I checked 85% was a majority.

Perhaps you don't mind being considered "only good for parts" as you get a little older and wiser. The truth about men's skincare is that it is very essential and frequently postponed, like laundry, until an emergency occurs. A school reunion for example. Or a big presentation.

Don't despair. The good news is you can get in front of the crowd and look better, even ready for the Concours d' elegance if you wish with just a few timely changes in your routine daily. For men anti-aging skincare is simple and fast. Read on for the basics.

Men's skincare has three crucial elements that need to be undertaken in order to regain the smooth, supple skin women love to touch and other men envy. Exfoliate, no that doesn't mean hedge trimming, cleanse and then rehydrate. Find a men's skincare line that takes care of these three processes in synergy and you're home free.

Let's get more specific. For busy men skin is not generally a big priority. Not like making sure the tires are properly inflated and the vehicle fluids are topped off in an orderly manner. That's understandable. But busy men also can accept the necessity for routine maintenance. Your skin requires this routine maintenance, too. Long-term, the results are conclusive and startling. You'd surely know the difference between a car that is garaged regularly and a street parked vehicle. That's what we are talking about here. The visible difference is extraordinary.

You've no doubt read or heard that good looking people get paid more. So make this investment in your future earning power. Take the time to rejuvenate and feed your largest organ and you will be rewarded. There is no doubt about it: reducing wrinkles, soothing inflammation and repairing damage caused by neglect is doable with limited time and effort.

Gentle men anti-aging skincare can change your life. Start today to use products with antioxidants and targeted ingredients designed specifically for men's skin chemistry. Don't be distracted by large brand name companies with big media buys. Look for products with proven, natural ingredients to cleanse and protect your game face all day and night.

Here are some facts to get you on the road to effective men's skincare safely: men's skin is different than women's skin. Additionally, men's skin is more prone to inflammation and the redness associated with this inflammation. Products to soothe and protect are very important to skin exposed to the elements in work or play. Daily use is imperative. Better results will come from a few minutes each day and each night than an hour long visit to some expensive spa once or twice a month.

So, today is the day. Add a short regimen of men's skincare to your routine and reap the benefits for the years ahead. It's like money in the bank.

Your skin is hungry and thirsty, too. The elements your skin needs are all around us but must be combined in special ways to be effective. Here are some examples of essential skincare products to satisfy your skin's cravings.

A body lotion with high concentrations of specific proven ingredients to nourish and rehydrate is your first necessity. Retaining the moisture and natural oils that your body chemistry supplies for your daily needs is imperative. Seal in these elements before they are stripped away by wind, sunlight and friction.

An eye cream to reduce puffiness and dark circles is also important. The skin around our eyes is super delicate and sensitive to any disturbance. Be very gentle when applying skincare products of any kind near your eyes. Elasticity in this area is quite easily compromised by stretching and pulling.

Hand or foot creams: hands and feet deserve extra attention as well. Look for ingredients that soften, penetrate easily and quickly but contain no preservatives such as paraben. You don't want those absorbed into your nervous system. Unscented creams and lotions are better because of allergens and synthetic ingredients. The most effective skincare will be regular skincare with particular attention paid to parts of your body that are exposed to the environment.

Facial fluid targeted to reverse the signs of aging. Skincare products for the face should consist of highly concentrated, specific ingredients to deal with the harsh conditions our faces are exposed to on a daily basis. Here again, avoid perfumes and preservatives. New research shows that Japanese sea kelp is highly effective in this area.

And finally a deep cleaning mask for occasional use is a great addition to your weekly routine. Don't overuse masks as they may cause excess oil to be produced as a reaction by your skin. If you are keeping up with regular maintenance you will seldom need a deep cleaning mask. However, if you wear heavy make-up or work in a polluted situation a facial mask can be an asset in your arsenal.

Regular use of these skincare products will set you on the road to cell renewal and visibly improved skin all over your body. It is also agreeable to indulge yourself with soothing lotions. The most effective skincare is daily and consistent. Gentle use of the products mentioned above cause an obvious, positive change in your appearance over time.

Avoid at all costs too vigorous sudden attacks on your delicate skin. An excess of enthusiasm just before a major event such as a wedding or reunion will cause major despair. Take it easy, take it slow. Remember: the most effective skincare is about good long term habits and high quality ingredients to target specific areas and concerns.

New skin care products are coming out quite regularly. They each claim to be better than the rest and some even make the claim that they can give you instant results. With such products, they may improve your skin when you put it on but when its removed, your skin is no better than it was and may even be worse over time.

Many manufacturers' will put so much time and money into marketing and advertising that the product itself might not be as thoroughly tested as it should be. This could be dangerous for those who buy the product. Another "trick" many manufacturers' use is to put in enough active ingredients in their products so that they legally can be listed on the label. It is usually a very low concentration compared to other ingredients. In order to be effective, the concentration of the active ingredients needs to be high.

While we're on the subject, what would you say if I told you that most products are not only ineffective, they may also be harmful to your skin and your health? Chemicals some of which are known to be carcinogenic are found in many skin care products. Alcohols can make your skin dry and strip the natural acid mantle of your skin and they are also used and this leaves you more subject to viruses, bacteria and other health problems. Fragrances which may be made with toxic substances are also commonly used.

Deciphering the labels can be confusing. When you see suffixes that appear at the end of alcohols and some chemicals they should be avoided. On the other hand, if you see ingredients that are edible, the product is safe to use. Most people wouldn't want to eat it, but just in case you should accidentally eat it you will not come to harm.

Keep in mind that your skin is your largest organ. The parts that are usually exposed including the legs, back of the neck, back of the hands, and the upper part of the forearm need special attention. The skin absorbs skin care products but it is also true that what's absorbed through the skin goes to the blood stream.

The active ingredients that are in high enough concentrations are not only effective; they are and should be all natural. Now this can present a problem for many people. Manufacturers' state their product is all natural when they are in fact made of synthetic stuff with naturally occurring substances in them.

A new substance that has proven to be very effective in retaining the skin's moisture and in helping the body to regenerate its own collagen and its own elastin is called Cynergy TK. It keeps the skin firm and flexible. The result is fewer lines and wrinkles.

There are different forms of Coenzyme Q10. CoQ10 cannot be absorbed into the skin very easily. Through a process called nano-emulsion, Nano-Lipobelle H-EQ10 easily goes as deep as 7 layers of skin. It also is an anti-oxidant and does away with free radicals in your skin.

A kelp from the Japanese Sea is known as Phytessence Wakame. It helps to maintain the skin's supply of hyaluronic acid. This is a substance that strengthens elastin and collagen. Without it you would get more wrinkles and dark circles under your eyes. Hyaluronan is a part of your skin and is important in tissue repair.

These three all natural substances make up the strongest skin care product compounds that are available. In the right concentrations these active ingredients will help to end dryness, get rid of wrinkles, and those heavy circles under the eyes. They should be found in new skin care products in order for them to be safe and effective for your use.

Warts are a common skin problem that affects millions of people. It is not an ordinary skin disease because this skin growth is caused by a virus called Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) and highly contagious. You have to get rid of it as early as possible before it becomes chronic and create other problems. There are advance and aggressive treatments for warts but some people are still unsuccessful to find the right treatment to remove this skin growth for good. Despite of the presence of advance treatment, home treatment for warts are still around and some people find it effective and inexpensive.
There are more aggressive and advance treatments for warts but they are expensive and the repeated treatments to get the best results make the treatment more expensive. Although some people are successful with the treatments, there are cases that the procedure induces scars on the skin. But some people are still left disappointed and still suffering from warts outbreak that is why they turn to home treatment for warts.
Of course, it is important to consult your doctor if you are really concern about the abnormal skin growth you have. Doctors may recommend treatments that might work for you. In case you are still looking for a safer and less painful way of removing warts, home treatment for warts is another option.
Some people are using home treatment for warts and here are some of them:
Vitamins therapy. Some people find it effective to use Vitamin A capsule as a home treatment for warts. Open the capsule and directly apply it to the affected area. This treatment may take a long time to finally get rid of the warts. It may even take 4-5 months to get rid of the warts. You have to take note that in treating warts, Vitamin A capsule is applied externally and not to be taken orally because high doses of Vitamin A is toxic. Vitamin C capsule is also used as a home treatment for warts. The contents of the capsule mixed with water can be applied directly on the affected area but avoid application on healthy surrounding skin to prevent skin irritation.
Garlic application. Garlic has anti-viral properties and some people find it effective as a home treatment for warts. Slice a garlic glove and rub it on your warts and cover the affected area with a water proof tape and leave it there over night. In the morning, wash the affected area. Repeat this treatment until the warts fall out. Garlic may cause irritation of the skin so apply only on the warts and be careful not to apply on the healthy skin.
Duct tape therapy. This material is not just useful for packaging purposes at home but also used as a home treatment for warts. It works by putting duct tape on your warts and leave it there for about six days. Soak the affected area in water after removing the tape and rub it with pumice stone. This procedure is less painful and may take one to two months of treatment to finally get rid of warts.
Home remedies may take a longer time to get the results you need but some people prefer a less painful, safer and inexpensive home treatment for warts. Some people find home remedies effective and some are still unsuccessful. If you want to find out more about natural remedies to quickly eliminate warts visit Mole, Wart and Skin Tag Free in 3 days

What's the best natural skin care cream? The best skin creams actually contain a variety of compounds that moisturize, protect and nourish. To find the most effective one, first look at what you are trying to accomplish.
For body lotion, the best natural skin care cream contains olive oil, jojoba oil, grape seed oil, vitamin E, B 5, Coenzyme Q10, kelp extract, Functional Keratin and honey. That may seem like a lot of ingredients, but each one performs a specific role.
Now, if you are a purist, I should point out that all of these ingredients must be processed in some way. There is no such thing as naturally occurring olive, jojoba or grape seed oils. They must be processed and refined.
If you have the time to gather honey from the comb, you could get some benefit from it, but alone, it is primarily used as an antiseptic. Only specific types are really good for the skin's health.
I know that you are trying to get as close to nature as possible, but you won't get much benefit without a little processing. Manufacturers of the best skin creams use processes that do not rely on harsh ingredients or create by products and residuals that are hazardous.
Keratin, for example, is one of the amino acid proteins that make up the skin's layers. In nature, it is hard, so there is no way to apply it directly. It must be processed. Most companies use a denaturalized form that cannot be easily used by the skin's cells, but Functional Keratin is processed in such a way that the peptide chains remain active.
It has been shown in clinical studies to actually increase the production of new skin cells. Only the best natural skin care cream contains Functional Keratin.
Of all vegetable oils, olive oil most closely resembles the skin's own sebum, so if processed correctly, it is one of the best skin creams for moisturizing. Jojoba oil or wax is very similar in its ability to moisturize, but it also fades stretch marks and scars.
Grape seed oil is relatively new to skincare. It contains antioxidants like resveratrol and vitamin E. Antioxidants are very important to prevent and repair free radical damage. That's what leads to wrinkles and even cancer.
The best natural skin care cream contains a number of antioxidants including Coenzyme Q10, but once again, they must be processed correctly. In this case, only the correct form will actually penetrate through the skin's many layers to destroy free radicals and repair damage. Honey also has antioxidant, as well as antibacterial activity.
An extract from a specific type of Japanese kelp (called Wakame) inhibits an enzymatic process that destroys one of the skin's amino acid proteins, hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid is a common ingredient in lotions and creams, but it seems to work better to allow the levels of the protein to rise naturally by inhibiting its destruction. Only the best skin creams contain Wakame.