A complete dusting of translucent powder (avoid the eyes) is now necessary to `set’ the foundation so that it will last all day. Never apply powder blusher directly on to a cream foundation because it will not blend in softly; your skin will ‘grab’ it and look blotchy and harsh.
Proper cleansing can be the most important part of your skincare routine! Not only is it absolutely necessary to get your face clean without irritating your skin (often a delicate balance), but you can also treat your skin by the way you wash and the soap or cleanser you use. Your bath or shower can be your best friend, your greatest indulgence and your most important key to excellent health and a great, young appearance.
Your skin is by nature slightly acidic (with a pH of about 5.5). Until recently, most soaps and cleansers were the opposite — slightly alkaline. The result was dry skin! With advances in cosmetic chemistry, no longer do you have to choose from only harsh, alkaline products. (more…)
More than three out of four women shave their underarms, bikini area, and/or legs to remove excess hair, and almost all men shave their beard. The secret of a good shave is closeness with comfort. An understanding of hair growth and a proper shaving technique are important. As a dermatologist, I often see shaving-related problems such as irritation or pseudofolliculitus (pimples). (more…)
Everyone is talking about “free radicals“, the very reactive molecules that form from exposure either to the sun or to certain cancer-causing agents in the environment. Excessive free radicals damage connective tissue, cell membranes, and the basic genetic building block DNA itself. On the skin free-radical damage causes premature aging and skin cancer. (more…)
The Causes
Although allergies and allergic reactions to particular substances are not inherited, a tendency to them can be. If, for instance, both your mother and your father suffered from allergies, you have a 57 percent chance of them too. Approximately 15 percent of all women are said to be highly prone to allergic reactions, 25-30 percent are less easily sensitized (which means they will react adversely only to some substances, sometimes), and 55-60 percent are relatively allergy-free or only rarely prone to allergic reactions. But, on the whole, allergic complaints are on the increase, and cosmetic dermatitis and skin sensitivities are leading the field. For instance, in one study of skin ailments in the mid-seventies it was found that where, four years before, only 3 percent of the patients in Britain seen by dermatologists were suffering from skin reactions, in the space of a very few years it had risen to 14 percent. (more…)
There are three parts to any good external skin care regimen, regardless of your age or the type of skin you have:
1. Regular, thorough cleansing
2. Protection from moisture loss and external roughness
3. Protection from the ultraviolet rays of the sun
These are the basics. They are simple, and there need be no mumbo jumbo about them. One can include a fourth part to skin care too, and that is treatment. This extra can correct problems, help preserve youth, and revitalize the look of skin.
You can give your skin treatments either internally from vitamins, minerals, and diet, or externally in the form of hydrotherapy, or by applying special creams, oils, or herbs, or by using specific exercises to strengthen muscles before they have a chance to sag or to correct neglect. The treatment part of skin care is where the art comes into it, and here you need to consider your specific skin conditions and problems. The other three are all parts of the simple craft of skin care, and it is very simple indeed. (more…)
How, physically, you handle your eyes has a lot to do with how long the skin around them looks young and how clear and bright they are themselves. Eyes don’t need to be favored to stay beautiful and healthy, but they don’t need abuse, either. Yet they are faced with it most of the time, in the form of air pollution, smoke, misapplied makeup, and mismanaged makeup removal. The skin surrounding your eyes is thinner and finer than anywhere else on your face. It is also only sparsely supplied with oil glands and therefore highly prone to expression lines. This is where a good eye cream can help. They come in several varieties. Some (usually the more expensive) are designed not only to protect the skin in the area from dehydration but also to plump it up for several hours to minimize the lines there. (more…)
Mix a tablespoon of coarse sea salt with a tablespoon of almond oil, and rub vigorously into the hard, horny areas. Then hop into a bath, adding a little more oil to the bathwater, and soak the well-rubbed areas for at least 10 minutes. Then rub the hard skin away with a pumice stone. After your bath soothe the worked area with a good cream or lotion.
This is particularly good for roughened hands and heels.
2-4 cups soapwort, flowers, roots and leaves, steeped in 2 litres (8 cups) boiling water
250 ml (1 cup) pawpaw, mashed OR
2-3 slices pineapple, mashed
half an avocado
4 scented geranium leaves, minced (more…)
Before starting your herbal treatments always do a patch test. Dab a little of your preparation on the pulse point of your wrist or in the crook of your elbow. Leave it unwashed for 12 hours to see whether you have an allergic reaction to it. Always be sure of the identification of the herbs you are using and if ever you are in doubt, consult your doctor or skin specialist. Many people are allergic to a wide range of ingredients and I urge you to tread with care and always test your blends and mixtures, lotions and salves before using them.
There are literally hundreds of creams, lotions, tonics and soaps available on the market, enough to confuse anyone. I like to keep my cosmetics simple and effective and the following is a list of natural facial cleansers, fresh and delightful to use, and available to all at very little cost.
The softest and most beautiful water of all — perfect for washing the face and hair. Make a plan to catch some, in a big clean basin, next time it rains. (more…)
Neck skin does not need special attention and any suggestion that it does depends more on the desirability of increasing a product range than on the anatomy and physiology of the skin. You can massage away until kingdom-come if you like, but it will not make the slightest difference to the wrinkles and sagging that besets us all. Rashes on the neck may mean perfume allergy or possibly a reaction to nail varnish. Women are so expert at putting on nail varnish that one does not see problems on the finger skin, but if they touch their neck before the paint is completely dry, that is where they get a rash. (more…)
Broken veins are just visible skin blood vessels which are not really broken but just standing out more obviously because they are permanently dilated. They are usually the result of years spent out of doors and are typically seen on the face of farmers and sailors or those with pale skin who live in unsuitable sunny climates. Sometimes the incautious use of powerful steroid creams will cause these blood vessels to appear or make them much worse, or they can accompany skin diseases such as rosacea. When there are just a few they can be destroyed using an electric needle, but when they are so numerous that the whole cheek is redder than normal, it is not so easy. You may find that green foundation creams are useful as a background because the combination of green and red softens the colour and makes the usual foundation cream and powder more efficient. (more…)
If you have naturally dry skin then the more soap and water you use the drier it will become. You may find that the milder soaps produced as ‘baby soaps‘ leave your skin feeling more comfortable because these products contain added amounts of grease which is left behind on the skin. Superfatted soaps are also designed with this effect in mind. It may be more sensible just to use less soap or use it less frequently than to search for particular products for dry skin. You should always use a moisturising cream immediately after washing so that additional drying does not take place. You could even use the moisturiser as a cleanser and this will clean the skin and leave it looking smooth and feeling soft. All these preparations hydrate the outer layer of skin and prevent further water loss by covering it with a thin layer of grease. (more…)
Well circumscribed bald patches on the scalp like miniature skating rinks, usually means alopecia areata, a curious disorder in which the hair follicles switch off production completely but strangely enough can recover at any time. Just what switches them off is debatable but it may be that the body is acting against itself rather than a disease that has been picked up from outside. It is certainly nothing to do with diet or ‘nerves’ and follows its own course despite, rather than because of, the attention directed to it by doctors. When there are only a few patches, recovery can be expected. If the disease becomes more severe a dermatologist may be able to stimulate the hair using steroid creams to rub on or might make the scalp inflamed by deliberately inducing allergy which sometimes helps. (more…)
The skin on your hands, knees, elbows, and feet is not as delicate as the skin on your face. Still, like the skin on your face, the other skin on your body can look its best with a regular skin-care program.
Your hands express a lot about you. Like the skin on your face, the skin on your hands is constantly exposed to the elements, as well as to dirt and detergents. The skin on hands can easily become dry, chapped, and wrinkly. Your nails, too, can become dry and brittle. But with a little care, it is easy to make your hands soft and smooth, and your nails strong and hard.
Detergents are found in dishwashing liquid and other household cleansers as well as (more…)
It is important to protect your skin against the environment. Air conditioning, excess sun, pollution and wind all beat up your skin. Using a good plant-based moisturiser will not only nourish your skin but also give you protection throughout the day. Most good plant-based ranges will be rich in antioxidants to help fight premature aging. Make sure you read labels and check out what you will be putting on your skin. If you need sun protection, look for natural sunscreens and filters.
Just like your body, you also need to give your skin its nutritional requirements. That is why we prefer plant-based products. Your skin naturally digests the ingredients to deliver good nourishment right into your skin. One of our favourite nourishment boosters is organic Rosehip oil mixed with Lavender essential oil. We pre-mix our Rosehip and Lavender together (15 ml Rosehip, seven drops Lavender). All it takes are five drops of this blend massaged well into the skin to deliver a great vitamin and mineral boost. This can be applied under your day moisturiser and used on its own in place of a night cream. (more…)
Also known as soybean curd, tofu is becoming a popular staple in this country. This completely flavorless, cheese like food is made by adding a coagulant to fresh, hot soymilk, which curdles the liquid. The curd then is formed into cubes. Typically, the curdling ingredient is either niggard, a substance found in sea salt, or calcium sulfate, a natural mineral. Tofu made with calcium sulfate is exceptionally high in calcium, with as much as 130 milligrams in a 4-ounce serving. Acidic foods such as lemon juice or vinegar also can create curds. (more…)
There are different types of tofu, primarily distinguished from one another by their texture. Silken tofu, or Japanese-style tofu, ranges from the softest to medium-soft. Chinese-style, or hard-pressed tofu, is medium-firm to dense-firm.
The medium-firm tofu is good for slicing, freezing, and cubing. The softer form may be used the same way but it has to be drained and squeezed dry, and it does not hold its shape as well. It is best in recipes that require blending, such as mayonnaise and cheesecake. You can make tofu firmer by placing paper towels on the top and bottom of the tofu and placing a heavy chopping board on it for fifteen minutes or longer. (more…)
Taking a Dieter’s Tour of Restaurants
You may think that you must avoid certain types of restaurants or cuisine’s while you’re dieting. Not true. Keep reading if you want to be guided through various cuisine’s and food scenarios and find out what’s “safe” and what’s not.
Depending on your order, you can get a healthy low-cal meal or a calorie nightmare in a Chinese restaurant; foods are either lean or fatty. Generally, the protein foods in Chinese cuisine - duck, spareribs, and pork-are extremely fatty, although you can also find chicken, shrimp, and lean beef.
Much of the food is deep fried - even items that may surprise you, such as vegetables in a simple stir-fry are sometimes blanched in hot oil instead of water. And the amount of oil in stir-fries can be staggeringly large. (more…)
Homemade yogurt is far superior in taste and texture to what you can buy. It is creamier, lighter, and not as tart. Even plain, the cool creamy taste is good. If using yogurt for health reasons, eat it first thing in the morning and a couple hours after dinner. It works best on an empty stomach.
There are also many healthy ways of flavoring yogurt, should you wish to do so. Add 1 tablespoon of one or more of the following to 8 ounces of fresh yogurt:
<Use this spread in place of butter or margarine in all recipes, or simply use it as a spread.>
a) 1 tub unsaturated unhydrogenated soft safflower, margarine
b) 1/2 cup unrefined canola oil
c) 1/2 cup plain yogurt, preferably homemade
1. Blend all of the ingredients at low speed with a hand mixer or food processor until well mixed and creamy.
2. Spoon into a tub and refrigerate.
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