(NC)—Is the skin on your body playing second fiddle to your facial skin?  When it comes to skin care, many women prioritize facial skin care needs in order to achieve a visibly beautiful, younger-looking face. This is only natural — people tend to notice our faces before anything else — but it can result in a marked difference between the perceived age of our face and body.

It’s easy to ignore the lesser exposed areas of our body — you might think that’s what clothing is for, but not every occasion calls for pants and a long-sleeved turtle neck. That’s why it’s important to understand the unique role body skin plays in a woman’s overall perceived age.

According to a recent study conducted at Germany’s University of Goettingen, the appearance of skin below the face plays a big role in a person’s perceived age and attractiveness. In fact, when judged independently from the face, your body skin can actually decrease your perceived age up to 10 years.

“Signs of aging on the body have a bigger impact on age perception than we realize and there are multiple signs that contribute to this impact,” says Rolanda Johnson, senior scientist for Olay. “As we age, changes in the connective tissue of our skin can reduce the skin’s strength and elasticity, especially around our neck, décolletage, hands, elbows and knees. It’s important to take care of the body, as much as the face.”

While some aspects of body skin aging can be chalked up to that pesky reality known as genetics, many age factors are within our control. Here are some tips from Olay to help keep your skin from aging prematurely.

1.    Reduce sun exposure – Simply put, damaged skin can often be attributed to frequent exposure to UV rays. Therefore, keep sun exposure to a minimum and use a good quality sunscreen. Wear hats and protective clothing as well.

2.    You are what you eat – A nutritious diet and adequate fluids can help keep your skin hydrated and healthy.

3.   Indulge in moderation – Too much alcohol and caffeine consumption can lead to dehydration, so consider reducing your intake.

4.    Don’t smoke – Among its other heath hazards, smoking is bad for your skin and exposure to cigarette smoke can increase skin wrinkles and dryness

5.    Keep stress at bay – It’s not easy to avoid stress, but over time it can cause frown lines and wrinkles.  Exercise and/or meditation are proven stress relievers.

6.    Beauty rest – It’s easier said than done, but the body requires at least eight hours of sleep.

7.    Moisturize – Use a good moisturizing lotion and/or body wash. A moisturizer performs several important functions, including replacing lost water.

New Olay Total Effects Body Wash offers two products that go beyond cleansing to moisturize and help fight the seven signs of aging all over your body, Olay Total Effects Deep Penetrating Moisture and Exfoliating & Replenish. For more information, visit www.olay.ca.

www.newscanada.com

Here are 6 do it yourself recipes for natural kitchen you can whip together with ingredients found in most modern kitchens.

Almond Honey Face Masque
Beat the yolk of 4 eggs with 1 cup of honey. Then mix in 1 cup sweet almond oil with 4 ounces blanched and ground almond to make a thick paste. Massage into your skin leave on 30 minutes. Wash off with warm water and pat dry.
For the whole body Black Tea Body Masque
1 ¼ cups water
2 black tea bags
1 tablespoon chopped sage leaves
1 tablespoon thyme leaves
½ packet unflavored gelatin
½ teaspoon honey
¼ teaspoon almond extract

½ teaspoon peppermint extract
Bring the water to boil in a saucepan, add the tea bags, sage, thyme. Reduce the heat and simmer for 25 minutes. Remove from the heat and cool slightly. Stir in gelatin, honey and almond & peppermint extracts. Let sit in the refrigerator for 8 to 12 hours or until firm.  It should have a gelatinous consistency. Apply to the body, smoothing mixture evenly over skin. Double the recipe to do the whole body. It makes about 1 cup. Leave on for 15 minutes then rinse with warm water. After you rinse your body will feel toned, refreshed with a smoother, tighter appearance.

The next recipe is remove dead skin cells from your skin. It’s a scrub with pineapple. Did you know that pineapple is a natural gentle exfoliant and a anti-inflammatory?
Tropical Fruit Masque
½ cup chopped fresh pineapple
1 whole apple(cored and chopped leaving skin on)
¼ cup finely ground almonds
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon lime juice
½ banana
1 teaspoon almond extract
½ packet unflavored gelatin
In a blender, mix all the ingredients except gelatin on medium speed for 20 seconds. Add gelatin and blend for another 20 seconds. Let the mixture sit for at least 10 minutes giving the gelatin to set slightly. Apply evenly to the entire face and neck area. Leave on for 15 to 20 minutes, then rinse with warm water. May be used twice a week as needed. Makes 1 cup

Cucumber Toner
Take 1/2 cucumber and cut it up into rounds after peeling it, place in a bowl with enough lemon or lime juice. Let it sit for about 10 minutes. Remove from bowl and gently rub cucumber all over your face. Be sure to not get it anywhere near your eyes. Leave on for 30 minutes. Wash off with warm water. This treatment will leave your skin tighter, and soft and smooth.

Apricot Milk Bath
2 tablespoons melted butter
2 tablespoons olive oil. Mix together and let it sit for about 1 hour.
Then mix in:

1 teaspoon cider apple vinegar
2 tablespoons witch hazel
and the juice of 3 apricots, put together in a blender with a small carton of unflavored yogurt.
Stir in 2 beaten eggs, and ½ pint of milk and put it all through the blender. Blend a minute or so and add the another ½ pint of milk. Pour into a plastic bottle and keep in the refrigerator till bath time. Add about one cup per bath, this should last you 6 baths.
Nail treatments

To strengthen your nails, soak them daily for 5 minutes in warm almond or olive oil. Discolored? Clean them in lemon juice and scrub them in white vinegar.

Before trying these recipes do a patch test to be sure you do react to any of the ingredients used.

To do a patch test, create the recipe and apply a small amount to the skin on the inside of your arm and wait 24 hours. Always remember you are the one responsible for making the product and you are responsible for one’s safely.
Copyright 2009 Kim Snyder Owner of Overallbeauty.com Your online beauty store!
Carrying a variety of mineral makeup, makeup brushes, hair care products, BB nail polish, all natural skin care products.
Visit Overallbeauty.com for beauty care and beauty tips for today’s sophisticated women.

1~When you go out you should use a natural sunscreen to protect your skin against harmful UV rays.

2~Wear sunglasses to protect your eyes and stop you from squinting against the sun. When you crease up your eyes you will get those crows feet. You can also wear a broad brim hat.

3~Keep your skin hydrated: this will make it suppler and less inclined to get damaged and wrinkle. You can do this by drinking plenty of water and using a moisturizer.

4~Avoid tanning beds: a tan can be beautiful but not from a tanning bed. These are extremely harmful to your skin and should be used very sparingly if you want to preserve your skin.

5~Lipstick: is great for your lips and will keep them soft and supple.

6~Sleep: remember to get enough sleep. This will help reduce those dark shadows under your eyes. It will also help you to maintain your overall health and that of your skin.

7~Nutrition: You are what you eat and this applies particularly to your skin. If you eat more whole grain products and less refined foods you will get more nutrition and less digestive problems. Fruits and vegetables are very important because of the vitamins and minerals that they provide. Vitamins and minerals are very important to healthy skin. Vitamin E, A and C are especially good as they reverse the aging process in your skin. Cutting out refined sugar and junk food will also improve the health of your skin.

Mineral Foundation

8~Try to use natural make up: some of the chemicals that are in make up would really make you shudder if you knew what they were and if you do not you should not be putting them on your face. Always remove your make up before you sleep to let your skin breathe and prevent the pores from clogging.

The following is a brief selection of some of the options you have available for you in terms of dry skin remedies.If you want to get the most out of your skin care regimen, then you need to be willing to combine different dry skin remedies until you find the combination that is driving the best possible results.

Determine whether or not hydration issues are playing a role in your dry skin issues. If you are dehydrated, then you are going to have problems relating to dry skin as well. If you are not dehydrated but you are dealing with dry skin, then drinking more water is not likely going to help you.

If you’re not already drinking between 7 and 8 glasses of water a day, now is the time to start.

If your skin is dehydrated, then one of the most natural dry skin remedies is to soak your skin in water. You can soak your skin in lukewarm water for a period of fifteen minutes. Avoid hot water, and stay toward the room-temperature end of things. You should not be doing this every day however as the rule of thumb about soaking your body is to bathe less and use water that is cooler in order to remedy dry skin.

Another home skin care remedy for dry skin is to follow every bath by applying moisturizer in order to lubricate your skin properly. The moisture that you soak into your skin tends to evaporate. If you bathe a lot, then using a moisturizing product is going to be even more important because the moisturizing product is going to help you keep the water in.

The reason for applying a moisturizer product is not simply to put oils back into the skin. Instead, you should understand that dryness on the skin is a function of loss of water rather than necessarily loss of oil. Think about how much easier it is to exfoliate or cut your fingernails or toenails following a bath. This is an excellent example of what happens to your skin when you’ve bathed. When you apply a moisturizer after you take a bath, you can keep the water in your skin rather than letting it evaporate, and this will prevent skin dryness.

Combining these and other dry skin remedies is the best way to overcome your dry skin. Returning your skin to its former health and beauty will take work, but it’ll be worth the effort in the end when your skin is properly healthy and nourished and looking beautiful and looking young. Keep the aforementioned tips in mind and you can and will achieve better, healthier and better nourished skin.

Weather: the sun and wind are great enemies of your skin and will create all sorts of wrinkles and crevices in your skin, but you can do something about it.

• When you go out you should use a natural sunscreen to protect your skin against harmful UV rays.
• Wear sunglasses to protect your eyes and stop you from squinting against the sun. When you crease up your eyes you will get those crows feet. You can also wear a broad brim hat.

Other tips to keep your skin looking younger:

Check out the rest of these article here: How to Care For Your Skin- Anti-Aging Skincare Tips

1. Consider your skin type:
a. Oily: if you have oily skin you should be careful to use light makeup and clean your face well before you go to bed.
b. Dry: try to use a good moisturizer. Dry skin can also be quite sensitive so natural makeup is often the best choice.
c. Neutral: Neutral skin is good but you may also find you have patches of oily skin around the nose. This can easily be taken care of by cleaning this area well with basic soap and water.
2. Your skin tone: choose basic make up that will compliment your skin tone. If you have a pale complexion you can use warmer colors like brown instead of black mascara and a little brown eyeliner. Pink lipstick and lip gloss will bring some warm color to your lips. Use some light eye shadow to bring out your eyes. Light blusher will add some color to your face. If you are dark complexioned you can use brighter colors as light ones will not be very effective. You can try using a bronze foundation to set off your skin tone.

3. The role of vitamin E and diet: diet is very important for a healthy body and skin. “You are what you eat” is very appropriate for your skin. Try to eat a healthy diet with less junk food and refined sugar. Whole grains are better than refined foods and have less additives and chemicals in them. Try to eat more fruits and vegetables as these have valuable vitamins and minerals for your skin. They also have vitamin E and antitoxins which are good for your skin.

4. Water: always drink as much water as you can. Try to replace sodas and sugared juices with water. It will help to keep your skin smooth and hydrated. It will also flush away toxins from the skin and keeps your skin looking clear and fresh.

5. Anti wrinkle creams: Be careful when you use these creams as all of them are not what they say they are. The best ones are those using natural ingredients. When you use these types of anti wrinkle creams you will have less reactions and side effects. Read ingredients carefully and always try a patch test when using new products.

6. Cleansers Moisturizers: You should always wash your face every morning and evening. If soap dries your face you can use a natural face wash or moisturizer after washing. It is important not to use too many chemicals and cleansers on your face. This area of your skin is very delicate and easy to misbalance. A mild soap should be sufficient to keep your face clean. A daily bath or bathing on alternate days will keep your whole body skin clean. If you suffer from dry skin bathing every other day will stop your skin from drying out.

7. Sunlight: 10 to 15 minutes in the early part of the day will help your skin. If you are going to spend more time outside, especially if you are near the water, always protect your skin with sun screen. Olive oil works well as a natural sun screen.

Copyright 2009 Kim Snyder Owner http://OverallBeauty.com. The only place on the web to find pure Overall Beauty Minerals eye shadows, BB Couture best selling nail polish, Magic Lash Eye Lash Enhancer, Natural Empathy specialty bath and products from the UK and so much more.
We want to be your one stop beauty shop!

Visit us today at http://overallbeauty.com/beauty-blog/ “Thoughts of Beauty” to read up to date news, reviews and giveaways!

Glowing Skin Naturallly

The most beautiful, head-turning heart stopping women in this world today all have one thing in common: gorgeous, radiant skin. When your skin is healthy and vibrant, its like a light switch has been turn on inside of you, and the world is drawn to that light. You don’t need to be a celebrity to make a statement with your skin. Even if you feel your complexion is beyond repair, all you need is a few simple strategies to follow that will help get your skin back to being picture ready
Rule number 1: Healthy mind ~ Healthy body ~ meaning getting enough exercise, eating right and drinking lots of water. Getting enough sleep all adds up to beautiful skin. Simple huh?
Rule number 2: Never give up on your skin and your appearance!! It doesn’t matter how old you are, how heavy or thin you might be. There is always something you can do to help yourself improve the way your skin looks and feel. You just need to take the time to take care of number 1 ~ That means you!!!
Hormone changes through out our life’s can and will have a cause and affect on our skin. At adolescence, the effect is nearly always to produce excess oils.
This is why it’s a good idea to start caring for your skin while in your teens. Start building your own skincare routine and stick to it. Because it just seems so unfair that just as you are starting to be attracted to the opposite sex, you are very often suffering from oily skin, blackheads, blemishes or the biggest problem ever, Acne!
How do you care for your skin while it seems like all hell as broken free all over your face and you have a date? Start washing your face every morning and before going to bed to help keep that oil at bay. If you have really oily skin you may have to wash your face more than twice a day BUT don’t wash it more than three times a day because your face will react but you got it creating even more oil!

If you do have acne or just want to know the best way to take care of your face, visit your Dermatologist, she will be able to help set up the best skincare routine.
Also don’t worry, as we get older most of us more on to having clear skin and no matter what you felt all those times when you felt you had the biggest blemish ever and everyone was staring at it, sorry but they were not, they were too busy thinking the same about their own blemish.
Remember once you have found products that work, don’t go jumping around and trying something new all the time. Stick with what works for your face and you too will glow!

Copyright Kim M Snyder http://Overallbeauty.com

Steps: 1. Use a natural bristle brush, preferably with a long handle, and start at your feet, working upward in a circular motion toward your abdomen. The historical theory is to move all of the toxins in your bloodstream and lymph toward your digestive system so that it can be eliminated from the body. 2. Continue to brush, lightly, over the buttocks and abdomen, then start at the hands and arms, again working toward the abdomen. Complete the brushing of your back and chest in the same fashion. 3. Shower immediately after brushing to remove the dead skin, using soap only if necessary, as it tends to dry out the skin. 4. Repeat daily.
Tips * Drink plenty of water and get plenty of bouncing type exercise, such as jogging or rebounding to keep the lymph flowing. * It is not necessary to brush hard, a gentle exfoliation is better than a rough one. * Take a detox bath after brushing for added benefits.
Warnings: Do not brush over broken skin, irritated areas, or other bruised or abnormal areas. This information is to be used for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat or cure any disease, seek medical assistance if needed.

HOW TO TAKE A DETOX BATH Detoxification of your body through bathing is an ancient remedy that anyone can perform in the comfort of their own home. Your skin is known as the third kidney, and toxins are excreted through sweating. A detox bath will assist your body in eliminating toxins, as well as absorbing the minerals and nutrients that are in the water.

1. Prepare your bath on a day that you have at least 40 minutes available, as the first 20 minutes are said to help your body remove the toxins, while the second 20 minutes are for absorbing the minerals in the water.

2. Fill your tub with comfortably hot water, using a chlorine filter if possible.

3. Add 2 cups or more (up to 16 lbs) of Epsom Salts, aka magnesium sulphate. This can be purchased in 3 lb bags or 1 lb cartons at discount stores in the garden center, or in the pharmaceutical area, or ordered from garden centers in 50 lb bags. It’s very inexpensive.

4. Add 1 to 2 cups or more of Baking Soda, aka sodium bicarbonate. This is said to help eliminate the chlorine in the water, as well as soften the water, and help the body to absorb the magnesium. Large bags can usually be found in the swimming pool chemical area, or the boxes from the bakery aisle will work fine.

5. Know that Epsom Salts and Baking Soda bath is a detox bath in and of itself, other items can be added for further effects. Ground ginger, or fresh ginger tea both work quite well. The ginger is heating to the body and may cause your skin to turn slightly red for a few minutes, so be careful with the amount you add. Depending on the capacity of your tub, and your sensitivity, anywhere from 1 tablespoon to 1/3 cup can be added. Most people sweat profusely with the addition of the ginger, and if you wrap your body in a blanket immediately after getting out of the tub, you can continue to detoxify through perspiration for another couple of hours. This is especially beneficial if you are trying to rid the body of a bug of some sort, like the flu, or a cold.

6. Add aromatherapy oils; this is optional, but there are many oils that will help the bath to be a pleasant and relaxing experience, such as lavendar, or ylang ylang, or those that will assist in the detoxification process such as tea tree or eucalyptus. Around 20 drops is sufficient.

7. Swish all of the ingredients into the tub, and soak for as long as you can, preferably 20 minutes. You should start sweating within the first few minutes, and the longer the better, up to 20 minutes. If you feel too hot, start adding cold water into the tub until you cool off. Sit in the cool water another 20 minutes, if you can. When you get out of the tub, move slowly and carefully, as your body has been working hard and you may get lightheaded or feel weak and drained.

TIPS: * Take a large, 32 oz or more, glass of water with you into the tub and drink plenty before, during and after the bath to help your body excrete the toxins. * Don’t eat immediately before or after the bath. * Relax for the rest of the day and allow your body to continue to detoxify and heal itself. * Other additives historically used by some are hydrogen peroxide, 2 cups, grapefruit seed oil, 1 Tablespoon, and herbs such as rosemary and thyme. * Have your towel nearby the tub and ready so that you can wrap up immediately and continue the detox. * Shower off the Epsom Salts, if desired, but it’s not necessary, and it benefits your body more if you wait until morning. * Dry brush your skin before the bath for further benefits.
WARNINGS Do not take a hot bath or a detox bath if you are pregnant, or have heart, or any other health issues. This article is for educational purposes only and is not meant to diagnose, treat, cure or otherwise take the place of the advice of your licensed healthcare practitioner.

Copyright Kristin Rockey http://diva-within.com

“It’s our body’s largest organ,” says Adriana Izquierdo of Johnson & Johnson, “and the skin carries out a number of functions to maintain your health, including controlling the body temperature, keeping bacteria and viruses out, and relaying information to the brain about the environment you’re in.”

The epidermis is the outermost layer, and it’s the one that gives the world its first impression of you. This layer is comprised of millions and millions of tough protein cells forming an outer shield. Every day, cells die as younger living ones rise to the surface from a lower part of the epidermis. If you rub your body surface sufficiently, these dead cells fall off.

“Dull, dry skin, therefore, is often just a result of dead surface cells,” Izquierdo explains, “and moisturizers with exfoliant agents, like alpha hydroxy, simply assist with the natural process. Such moisturizers also help to smooth out discoloration from too much sun exposure—and are particularly useful for aging skin that is slower to discard dead cells on its own.”

Alpha hydroxy is a well known ingredient in facial moisturizers, and works wonders as an after-shower moisturizer to quickly get rid of damaged, dry and flaky skin.  Izquierdo notes that a body lotion containing alpha hydroxy agents can greatly improve the skin’s condition.

“Our Advanced Moisture Therapy works quickly in three ways to give you better-conditioned, more radiant skin. It soothes dryness, smoothes out rough patches and it has clinically shown to moisturize all day, while it gently exfoliates to reveal new and glowing skin.”

- News Canada

Read the rest of the article here: Aromatherapy Good for Skin?