Anti aging
Has this ever happened to you? You have bathroom shelves groaning with lotions and potions, problem solvers and anti-agers, none of which appear to work - and you feel too guilty to throw away? Been there, done that. If you are like me, you have wasted a lot of time and money trying to find an anti aging skin care treatment which will live up to expectations.
It is beauty industry heresy to tell you why products don't work or which ingredients may be harmful. Ultimately, it is our willingness to pay for the next "miracle cream" which keeps the beauty industry in business. In this brief anti aging skin care guide I want to share some information with you, so you can choose the best anti aging skin care treatment which will suit you.
One ingredient I think you should avoid in any product is mineral oil. It is found in the majority of creams and lotions and is also known liquid paraffin, paraffin wax and petrolatum. Few people realise it is a petroleum by-product. It does a wonderful job of coating the skin and keeping in moisture, which sounds ideal, doesn't it? But unfortunately, it also clogs the pores and interferes with the skins ability to eliminate toxins, encouraging skin disorders, including acne. It also strips the natural oils from the skin, as it interferes with the body's own moisturising mechanism. If used for any length of time, the skin can become dependent on it, causing chapping and dryness, the very conditions it's used to alleviate. This can lead to premature ageing.
You might be wondering why manufacturers continue to use this ingredient if it is so damaging? Quite simply because it is so cheap, particularly when compared with some nut oils, for example, which are present in the products I choose to use. Another advantage (for the manufacturer) is that mineral oil has a very, very long shelf life. Furthermore, any mineral oil derivative can be contaminated with cancer causing Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH's).
Other dangerous ingredients to avoid in skin care products, include, amongst others:
- Parabens
- Sodium lauryl sulphate
- Sodium laureth sulphate
- Acrylamide
- Diethanolamine (DEA)
- Monoethanolamine(MEA)
- Triethanolamine(TEA)
- Dioxane
- Nitrosamines
- Phenol carbolic acid
- Polyethylene glycol
- Toluene
- Triclosan (which is also used in weed killers!)
No doubt you are already aware of the dangers of using some of these pollutants. Parabens, for example, have been widely used in the cosmetic industry since the 1920's. They act as preservatives and ward off bacterial growth. They are cheap and readily available. Some top selling products contain methyl-paraben, as well as butyl-, ethyl- and propyl-paraben. A number of studies suggest that parabens can cause cancer, and interfere with the body's endocrine system. They are also thought to be responsible for some allergic reactions and skin rashes.
So, now that you know some of the ingredients to avoid, you might well be wondering, what you should look for in an effective anti aging skin care treatment. My suggestion is to find a range of products you can use with confidence, knowing that the manufacturer does not use any ingredients with questionable safety records and with every ingredient so pure that you could actually eat it. Eat it? That may sound a bit extreme, but a percentage of what you put on your skin is actually absorbed into the blood stream. If you think about it, that's how nicotine patches work.
So, take a look at how you can keep your skin youthful.
Eat the right foods.
Ensuring the body has all the vitamins and minerals assists in the prevention and the undoing of some of the cellular damage to your skin.In particular vitamins A, C and E are are great for the promotion of skin healing and aid in the reduction of the formation of scar tissue.
These vitamins provide your skin with the elements required to grow healthily. Eating a wide variety of fruit and vegetables will provide you with these vitamins.
Eat the right amount of food.
Sudden changes to your eating habits can upset the delicate balance of your hormones causing damage to your skin.If you are overweight and looking to diet to trim down it is important to follow a healthy eating plan which takes in all the food groups. Do this in order to maintain good health as you lose weight.
Exercise
Cycle, walk, swim, dance or go to the gymnasium. Exercise increases blood circulation and increases the metabolism and in turn the elimination of waste products from the skin cells.Exercise is also a mood enhancer meaning you will have a smile on your face. A smile is a much younger and pleasing look than a scowl or a frown.
Sleep.
While we are sleeping our body repairs itself. This also includes your skin so it is important to have an adequate amount of sleep each night.Keep out of the sun.
Some sunlight is good for you but only if your skin is well protected. Use a good quality sunscreen to not only protect your face from premature aging but against skin cancer as well.
You want to improve the look and feel of your skin and you require products and compounds most suitable to your mature skin. You need to look for products which contain powerful antioxidants as well as ingredients for promoting the production of elastin and collagen.
It is important to cleanse the skin and to exfoliate. Doing this stimulates cell production from the basal layer. This refines the surface of the skin giving it a more translucent and smoother look.
Moisturising your skin helps keep water next your skin, this causes the skin cells to swell and hides the imperfections. An ordinary, simple moisturiser will not repair the lines and wrinkles only masks them. Look for a product which will serve your skin well not just cover up your imperfections.
It is also important to look for an anti aging skin care treatment which do not contain any parabens as these can further damage your skin. Purchase products made from natural ingredients and products which will make your skin more vibrant and youthful looking