Oily Skin Care

To start the discussion on oily skin care, it's imperative to first understand the cause behind oily skin. Put simply, oily skin is a result of excessive production of sebum (an oily substance that is naturally produced by skin). As is known to everyone, excess of everything is bad; so excessive sebum is bad too. It leads to clogging of skin pores, resulting in accumulation of dead cells and hence formation of pimples/acne. Moreover, oily skin spoils your looks too. So, 'oily skin care' is as important as the 'skin care' for other types of skin.

The basic aim of 'oily skin care' is the removal of excessive sebum or oil from the skin. However, oily skin care procedures should not lead to complete removal of oil. 'Oily skin care' starts with the use of a cleanser. However, not all cleansers will work. You need a cleanser which contains salicylic acid i.e. a beta-hydroxy acid that retards the rate of sebum production. Cleansing should be done twice a day (and even more in hot and humid conditions).

Most of the oily skin care products are oil-free; however, it is always good to check the ingredients of the product, before you actually buy it. This is especially important if a product is marked as 'suitable for all skin types', instead of 'oily skin care product'. 'Oily skin care' is also dependent on the degree of oiliness, if you aren't too oily, so some of these 'suitable for all'- type of products might be work for you too. For extremely oily skin, only oily skin care products are suitable. Your oily skin care routine can include an alcohol based toner (for an extremely oily skin). This can be the second step in your oily skin care routine i.e. just after cleansing. However, excessive toning can harm your skin.

The next step in your oily skin care routine can be a mild moisturiser. Again, the degree of oiliness of your skin will determine whether you need to include this in your oily skin care routine. If you do decide to include a moisturiser, be sure to use one that is oil-free, wax-free and lipid-free. You could also use a clay mask (say once a week) as an oily skin care measure.

As far as the oily skin care products go, you might need to try out a few before you arrive at the one that is really suitable for your skin.

In case these measures don't give you the desired result, consult a good dermatologist for advice. He could prescribe stronger oily skin care products like vitamin A creams, retinoids, sulphur creams etc, which can help counter the problems of oily skin.

Source: http://www.healthguidance.org/authors/346/Tania-Jain
Tania Jain
Tania writes for http://www.baby-care-items.com.

Dry Winter Skin: How to Deal With It

By: Katrina Price

Your skin in winter can become very dry - even to the point of being painful. I myself began feeling the effects of the cooler weather in early October. It usually doesn't hit me this hard but this year I'm having a real difficult time with it. My lips became tender and chapped, and I had to switch to a different formula of daily facial cleanser because the exfoliating beads in my current cleanser were irritating my skin. My face became red and flushed. I'll have to limit my daily exfoliation to just twice a week. Also my hands and feet became very dry.

Ah, winter. It can be so peaceful yet so unforgiving. Indoors you're subjected to dry heat and outdoors you're bombarded with harsh winter UV rays from the sun and chilling winds. Yes, the sun's rays are still just as dangerous as they are in the summer and they will reflect off any snowy surfaces, bouncing the rays right back on to you. You're going to need a good facial moisturizer with SPF in it.

Here are some more tips to help you combat dry winter skin:
1)Use a lip balm (preferably with SPF) and do not lick your lips under any circumstances. That just makes it worse.
2)Keep your hands moisturized with a good quality hand cream. Make sure you have a tube of hand cream with you at all times.
3)Drink plenty of water and limit your alcohol intake. Alcohol is a dehydrator.
4)Buy a humidifier if you don't already have one. It may help keep your heating bills down as well. You know, the whole heat and humidity thing. Think Amazon rainforest.
5)Use a shower filter. It will filter out the skin-drying chlorine in your tap water. Avoid using hot water in the shower even though it feels so good on a cold winter morning. It will only strip your skin of its natural oils and cause water to evaporate more quickly. Use warm water onyl. Also, it pays to switch from soap which can dry the skin, to a silky body wash which will help your skin retain moisture. Pat your skin dry when exiting the shower, don't rub. Apply a nice moisturizer while your skin is still damp to help seal in moisture.

When the humidity drops to 50 percent or less, you will need to pay even more attention to your moisturization routine. Stay away from harsh scrubs or cleansers since they will eliminate most of the skin's oils and dry your skin out more easily. This applies to skin care products as well as cleaning products.

My favorite winter skin care tip is before you go to bed, apply a thick, rich moisturizer to your feet, concentrating on the heel area. Then put on a nice cushy pair of socks. When you wake up your feet will be soft and smooth and well-hydrated.

Not paying attention to extremely dry skin can lead to health issues and act as a welcome mat for rashes and skin infections. So take good care of your skin and enjoy your winter!

Author Bio:Katrina Price is a skin care consultant and the owner of www.skincareteacher.comArticle Source: http://www.ArticleGeek.com - Free Website Content

You Can Look 5 Years Younger In Just 5 Minutes A Day

by Charlotte

If your skin looks dull, it could be because you're not treating it well. Your skin has a job to do, and that is to protect us. You should be returning the favor by protecting your skin. Each and every day, do something special to show your skin that you appreciate the work it does for you. We're not saying you have to spend hours in front of a mirror, pampering your skin with all kinds of expensive potions or gadgets that make outrageous claims of turning the clock back 20 years or more.

If your skin looks dull, it could be because you're not treating it well. Your skin has a job to do, and that is to protect us. You should be returning the favor by protecting your skin. Each and every day, do something special to show your skin that you appreciate the work it does for you. We're not saying you have to spend hours in front of a mirror, pampering your skin with all kinds of expensive potions or gadgets that make outrageous claims of turning the clock back 20 years or more.

By doing 5 basic steps each and every day, your skin will begin to recover its luster and even its youthful glow. Let's see what these 5 steps are.

1. Cleanse the right way.

Cleanse your face in the morning and again in the evening without fail. Use a cleanser that is suited to your skin. A ph-balanced cleanser that is creamy is good for dry skin, while most gels are suited for oily skin. You don't have to create suds to get your skin clean. There are many very good cleansers on the market that do not foam. However, if you like suds go ahead and use a sudsy cleanser, just as long as it suits your skin type. Always cleanse your face with a gentle motion, washing at least 30 seconds. Rinse well with fresh water. You'll want to cleanse twice if you have make-up or a heavy sunscreen on your face.

2. A good toner is important.

Your toner should have ingredients that help build your skin's protective barrier. This barrier creates an antioxidant shield between your skin and those nasty free radicals. Choose a toner with vitamin C and white tea to both calm your skin and give it a youthful lift. For extra hydration, choose a toner with hyaluronic acid. This little wonder holds 1,000 times its weight in water. Your toner should also be ph-balanced. If your cleanser is not ph-balanced, this will help you return your skin to its healthy best after cleansing.

3. Exfoliate routinely.

A gentle, non-abrasive exfoliation is necessary to clear dead skin cells from your skin's surface. Exfoliating helps the skin renewal process and reveals a brighter, clearer complexion. Exfoliating also allows moisturizers to penetrate deeper into your skin. Exfoliation is good, but more is not always better. Be careful not to over-exfoliate or scrub your skin harshly. If you have oily skin, over-exfoliating will cause the oil glands to over-produce oil to compensate for the oil that you have stripped away. Obviously this can cause more clogging and more shine on an already oily face. So, exfoliate often, but gently, and your skin will love you for it.

4. Moisturize properly.

Every skin needs a good moisturizer, whether your skin is dry or oily. That's because every skin needs extra nourishment, the kind of nourishment that comes in your moisturizer. Look for a moisturizer that offers ingredients like vitamins A, C, and E, as well as yeast to help heal and nourish the skin. Choose the moisturizer that best suits your skin type, with special ingredients to combat the effects of pollutants and other damaging elements.

5. Apply sunscreen daily.

Your healthy skin depends on the daily use of sunscreen. The sun causes about 99% of all the signs of aging you can see on your skin. Your face is quite susceptible to sun damage since it's exposed to the sun on a regular basis; walking in and out of buildings or even driving your car puts your skin at risk. If your morning moisturizer does not contain sunscreen, be sure you find a good product to apply on top of your moisturizer. If you plan to be outdoors for an extended period of time, move your SPF up a few notches for optimum protection. The FDA-approved ingredients titanium dioxide and zinc oxide are the preferred choices.

What else can you do to look and feel years younger?

There's just a few more things you should be doing to look and feel better. Combine the daily skincare regimen listed in this article with healthy eating habits, plenty of water and exercise, and you'll have a great start. Add monthly professional treatments with a Skin Care Specialist to ensure a ravishing, youthful complexion.

About the Author: Charlotte Field is a Skin Care Specialist specializing in Anti-aging, Relaxation and Results. If you're looking for a Day Spa in Pensacola, FL visit FacialsbyCharlotte.com.