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Sunday, October 7, 2012

Moisturizing your Skin



Advertisements for skin care products can be overwhelming.  Every brand seems to be the next best thing to help your skin look young and fresh.  But is all of this really necessary?

In the skin care industry, you don't always get what you pay for and you sometimes end up with adult acne flair up or contact dermatitis because they contain harmful petrochemicals and mineral oils that dehydrate the skin and clog the pores.  Since the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) classifies facial moisturizers as cosmetics, they aren't as closely regulated.  For that reason, the marketing jargon on packaging can't be entirely trusted.  Instead, pay attention to the ingredients.  If you have sensitive skin, look out for fragrance-free and oil-free options.  It is not by law that the word “fragrance” has to list out the exact ingredients, of which, are probably toxic.



 In contrast, essential oils such as lavender are easily absorbed into the skin, oxygenating, and rehydrating. Vibrant, beautiful skin has always been considered an important part of health. But in today’s modern environment, soft, smooth, flawless skin can be difficult to achieve and even more challenging to maintain. Your skin’s health is largely determined by diet, lifestyle habits, and sun exposure, which can sabotage healthy skin and leave lasting effects on skin strength, resiliency, and appearance. Essential oils offer pure, potent plant remedies for the skin and have been used since ancient times for a number of skin care needs. It's no secret that lavender oil nourishes stressed or sunburned skin, that sandalwood can hydrate and repair dry or damaged skin, or that melaleuca can prevent the recurrence of breakouts and blemishes. This long history of use has prompted beauty, cosmetic, and skin care brands to use essential oils to improve the potency of their products.  Check out this video.

The natural process of aging can have a negative effect on the texture, tone, and appearance of your skin.  As you age, body loses ability to generate collagen making your skin thin and lose elasticity.  Harmful chemicals, pollutants and radiation are more damaging.  It destroys DNA and is the main cause of the aging of the skin.  

There are 4 key features of Age Refining Technology (ART): DNA recovery enzymes (photolyase (uses light) and endonuclease (uses energy)), Anti-Aging Peptide Complex (stimulates body to create collagen, elastin, and fibronectin combating wrinkles and sagging skin), Frankincense and Sandalwood Essential Oils (promote DNA recovery and damaged cells), ingredient delivery (laminarphase evenly distributes ingredients on skin, protects skin and forms barrier that retains moisture). 

Let’s understand how a moisturizer works first.
It's a myth that moisturizers add moisture to your skin -- that's not really what they do at all.   
The outermost layer, the epidermis, is the key to the skin barrier.  Made up of overlapping layers of dry cells, the epidermis keeps vital nutrients in and damaging substances and elements out.  Applying a moisturizer creates a barrier on your skin that keeps water and oils from escaping and harmful outside elements (chemicals, pathogens and sunlight) from causing dryness or irritation.

What should I look for?
Start by considering the purpose of a skin barrier cream.  You want a cream that is going to help the epidermis retain water.  To get the most out of your moisturizer, apply it just after a bath when you've towel blotted your skin.  This will help trap water in the surface cells of the skin.
The best kinds of creams contain ingredients that block water from exiting the skin's surface, such as glycerine, silicones, dimethicone and mineral oil. There are also some products that contain synthetic lipids, or fats, that imitate those found naturally in skin. These creams help draw water into the skin and keep the skin moist. 

While moisturizers differ in what ingredients they use, most moisturizers have two common components:  emollients make your skin smoother and humectants hold in moisture.  The best part is that they both help soften your skin.  Moisturizers can contain a host of other ingredients, such as fragrances, vitamins (A and C), copper peptides, botanical extracts, age-fighting compounds and hydroxyl acids which may stimulate collagen production in order to maintain elasticity in the skin and promote skin cell repair.

Moisturizer or Anti-aging cream?
One of the most common specialized moisturizers is anti-aging cream.  Anti-aging creams typically contain collagen and elastin, which are proteins that help keep your skin toned and flexible.
Beware of skin care products with ingredients that claim to improve skin's flexibility, reduce wrinkles or stretch marks.  These types of products may not be proven to work.  And always bear in mind that it's better to choose a product for its effect on skin's function rather than for its beauty claims.
Natural products such as herbal and homeopathic remedies can help keep skin supple and moisturized. Herbal and homeopathic remedies present a gentle option – without the harsh side effects of chemicals and synthetic ointments.  Some options are olive oil, spirulina, horsetail, rosemary, geranium, frankincense, sandalwood, lemon, wolfberry, and among others not listed.

Most people use advanced skin care products with active ingredients aimed at preventing or reducing the signs of skin aging.  It is often redundant and counterproductive to apply both a moisturizer and an anti-aging product.  Besides, most anti-aging products contain some moisturizing ingredients. 

For best results, skin should be moisturized both from the inside and outside.
Moisturizing from the inside means keeping the body well hydrated, avoiding foods and beverages that cause excess water loss.  When dehydrated, the body preserves the water supply to critical organs, such as the brain and the heart, but "cuts off water" to peripheral organs such as skin.  Lack of water in or around cells disrupts normal metabolism and tissue repair.  Therefore, dehydrated skin has a decreased capacity for repair and regeneration.  By itself, dry skin is not the major cause of wrinkles and other signs of skin aging.  However, since dry skin has a decreased capacity to heal, it is far more susceptible to various forms of skin damage such as sun exposure or harsh detergents.  Finding a moisturizer that repairs the cell’s DNA is better.

Moisturizing from the outside is based on proper use of moisturizing creams and lotions.  Unfortunately, most moisturizing products are ineffective because their moisturizing action lasts less than two hours after the application.  Use long-lasting moisturizers, which will keep your skin hydrated throughout the day even if applied infrequently.  And, apply a night time moisturizer.

Young Living has a day time moisturizer and a night time moisturizer that are worth a try.

Click here for a video of ART products.

Sources and Resources:
For more information:  www.oilsforhealthyliving.net
 

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