SUPER SKIN IN FOUR SIMPLE STEPS

While we can all appreciate a good concealer or botox, ignoring the underlying problems by covering them up is no answer. Truly beautiful skin can only come from a good basic skin care routine.Clear, beautiful, healthy skin doesn’t just ‘happen,’ it comes effort and a good skin care routine. Surprisingly, many women today rely on cosmetics and surgical procedures to hide or repair the damage that has occurred from years of improper skin maintenance.

Most dermatologist and skin experts recommend consistently following a daily skin care routine. This does not have to be complicated or time-consuming.  Your daily routine can be performed in as little as five to ten minutes.

Four Simple Steps

* Cleanse
* Tone / Treat
* Moisturize
* Protect

A typical skin care routine includes the following steps: washing/cleansing, toning / treating (optional depending on skin type), moisturizing and sun protection.

Optimize for your skin type
The steps of the basic routine should be adjusted to fit your skin type. Your skin type may change with the season, diet and age. Skin tends to be oilier in the summer and drier in the winter. Menopause often brings about a change from oily or normal to dry skin. Conversely, a shift from a low-fat diet to that rich in certain fats (particularly essential fatty acids) may turn dry skin to normal. Skin pigmentation affects the degree to which you need sun protection. While sun damages any skin, the damage is far less in dark-skinned people. Conversely, fair skinned people need to be particularly meticulous about sun protection by minimizing sun exposure, choosing an effective sunscreen and applying it frequently and consistently.

Depending on your skin type, you may want to use your routine once in the morning and again before you sleep. Those with dry and/or sensitive skin may do better with once a day washing/cleansing while moisturizing two or more times a day. Exfoliation, to remove excess oils and prevent acne or blackheads, is also recommended in some cases, but exercise caution as daily exfoliation may be excessive and can lead to chronic irritation. Exfoliation once or twice a week is usually sufficient. Younger skin, like that in your 20’s and 30’s will have a fast natural epidermal turnover may need little to no exfoliation.

Cleansing
Cleaning facial skin is even more important than cleaning your body. Your face, unlike your body, is exposed to elements all day long. Dirt, pollution and oil from hands all accumulate on the epidermal layer and can clog pores and cause acne eruptions or inflammation. Like all skin care products, the best cleanser for you will be determined by your skin type. If you suffer from oily or acne-prone skin, you may benefit from an oil-free gel cleanser or one containing salicylic acid. Mature or dry skin will do best with a cream cleanser to help retain moisture. Once your face and neck are cleansed, rinse with lukewarm water and pat your skin lightly with a towel.

Toning / Treating
Toning can consist of using a store-bought toner, astringent or simple Witch Hazel. Toning or treating will balance the ph level of the skin and remove any residual dirt or oil not picked up from your cleanser. For those over the age of thirty, adding a well-selected treatment or two with scientifically proven active ingredients can further improve your results. Treatment can mean anything from skin rejuvenation products, skin discoloration items and oil absorbing agents to applying medicines for acne or eczema. If you suffer from multiple skin conditions, select an initial treatment aimed at the broadest improvement and then fine tune things from there.
Be aware of applying products to un-cleansed skin as the penetration of active ingredients will be greatly reduced. If you cleanse, moisturize and then apply advanced products, the penetration of active ingredients may still be reduced because the moisturizer has blocked some the entryways.

Moisturize
Moisturizers are essential to keep skin cells plump and hydrated. Hydrated skin will show fewer lines, wrinkles and imperfections. Even if you have oily or acne prone skin, you may still need some hydration. Look for gel-based moisturizers or lightweight formulations. Many medications and treatments appropriate for dealing with acne or oily skin automatically are drying. Don’t make the mistake of drastically drying out your skin until it is a challenge to repair. During the fall and winter months your skin may be even more vulnerable thanks to reduced humidity from indoor heating and excessive hot showers or baths.

Apply your moisturizer when your skin is clean, warm and still slightly moist. Since many active treatments have moisturizing ingredients, you may be able to skip a separate moisturizer. If you feel that you need additional moisturizing, wait a few minutes for the active treatments to absorb, and then apply your favorite moisturizer over it.

Protect
Wearing sunscreen or sun protection EVERY DAY is the proven best way to block harmful UV rays and diminish formation of wrinkles, skin discolorations and to reduce your chances of developing skin cancer. A good UVA+UVB sunscreen should be applied on top of your moisturizer or other treatments as a final step of your routine whenever sun exposure is expected.  Sunscreens come in a wide variety of bases, from those meant for oily skin to hydrating versions. Those with sensitivities to chemical sunscreens can choose natural Zinc Oxide formulations. Protective clothing can also now be improved thanks to new laundry treatments with UV protectant for widespread areas of the body mistakenly thought to be protected by your clothing.

Some skin care products or cosmetics contain added UV blockers, but they may not be enough, using a separate, specially formulated sunscreen is proven to be more effective.

And that’s it! Cleanse, Tone / Treat, Moisturize and Protect. Use these four simple steps to achieve beautiful, healthy skin. For a lifetime of skin care that can help leave your skin looking its very best, see your healthy skin as a clean canvass upon which to paint any improvements.

Author: Rachelle Dupree
Vivoderm Natural Skincare

Acute Skin Problems Need Medical Advice

Just as the way people take care of their general health, it is very important that one takes care of the skin to protect it from many problems. Regular skin care can take care of some of the problems, whereas for some medical skin care advice has to be taken. At times medical intervention is necessary to take care of problems which are acute and cannot be controlled by normal skin care treatments.  It is not good to try products for problems without proper medical advice.

People suffering from acute skin problems should see a dermatologist as soon as possible to regain a glowing skin. Some of the problems are caused due to over exposure to sun. Sunburns and damage caused by sun if left untreated can cause skin cancer. The exposure causes something called moles and it can turn into skin cancer and many other skin diseases if not cared for. Make sure to protect the skin from the harmful effects of sun.  Use a good sun block while going out in the sun. Hats can be used to save the face from the harsh sun rays. Sun glasses can protect the sensitive skin around the eyes.

Technology has developed many ways to deal with acute problems. Acne removal, treatment for freckles, or mole removal has become easy.  Although there are hundreds of such treatments it is advisable to follow a regular skin care routine. The products that one uses have to be of good quality to be able to have a healthy skin. Prevention is always better than cure. The various techniques developed are useful only when the situation is not so very good.  A person has to recognize quickly any skin problem that may turn into a sore. And seek the advice of a skin care specialist.

Skin Care With Face Masks

Men often make use of those peculiar colored face masks that women wear in order to get a good skin. Just to tell you all the funny looking face masks are much more important than they appear to be. These masks make a very important part of the skin care regime. The face masks should be used at least one time in a week to get good results. As we all know excess of everything is bad therefore you should not overdo your skin masks neither you should use them day in and day out. These masks are not only very good for the skin but also act as stress relievers because they have a very soothing and relaxing effect.

The facial masks are thick cream based paste that is applied on the face. It resembles clay in texture. These masks are often having clay or gel base. The use of clay or gel base makes it very easy to apply the paste to the face and makes it stay where it was applied. Another reason for using these products is that they are generally suitable for all types of skins with very less exceptions. These masks are applied for a few minutes and then are simply washed off with water and can be easily be disposed off down the drain.

The general ingredients of these masks are meant for deep cleansing and moisturizing the skin. These masks clean the pores of the skin, clear out the oil traces and clear out the dirt particles accumulated on the skin. These face masks slough off the dead skin particles as well and also help in preventing blemishes. They give the skin a tighter and healthier look and also make it glow exceptionally.  Regular use of these facial masks also keeps fine lines and wrinkles at bay.

Tips for All Skin Types

Serums or moisturizers, masks or exfoliations or you need all of these. Confused? To solve this confusion we provide you with best skin care tips. Cleanse-tone-moisturize are the oldest tips that are being followed since ages till now. It is advisable to identify your skin type before using any product as one kind of product does not serve everyone. You need to know whether your skin type is oily, normal, sensitive or dry. Then you need to grip on your acne as they can wreck havoc to your skin. Keep your self protected from sunrays or ultra violet radiation as it causes wrinkles and sun spots. You may sometimes even need to add extra skin care steps into your regimen if your skin has any severe problems like acute acne.

It is recommended by dermatologists and skin specialists to clean your skin twice a day. You should not wash and cleanse excessively. Use a toner that will pick up left over dirt and oil from your skin. Always use a mild moisturizer and even exfoliate once or twice a week. Apply a mask weekly which will help in cleaning pores and tighten them. Start an anti aging diet which includes lots of vegetables and fruits and even fish rich in omega 3s. Drink plenty of water and green tea and include fiber rich products in your diet. Put your hand on right anti-wrinkle skin cream so that it can work its magic.

Talk to a dermatologist experienced in skin care about treatments that can lighten your skin complexion, reduce sun damage, and soften blemishes and wrinkles. All these tips can truly work miracles on your face if customized with right skin type. Follow these tips and start to see brighter and younger looking skin within a few weeks.

Medical Treatments for Adult Acne

When one thinks of acne, a teenager may come to mind first. No one expects to have acne as an adult but it is more common than one might think. On average 50 percent of women and 25 percent of men are affected by adult acne. Adult acne is usually attributed to hormonal shifts, allergic reactions to skincare products or medications. The good news is many new treatments and procedures are available.

The cause of adult acne remains unknown, but is often attributed to genetics and hormonal changes. Contributing factors can include: side effects from certain medications, cosmetic products with high oil contents, excessive sweating, diet, stress, pregnancy, and menopause. An acne lesion, blemish or clogged pore is caused when bacteria multiply excessively within the hair follicle. An oil-releasing blockage then develops from the sebaceous gland and enlarged sebaceous oil glands produce an overabundance of oil. Blockages of bacteria and oil then build, leading to adult acne problems such as pimples, inflammation, cysts, and scarring. Adult acne most often appears on the face; however, it can appear on the arms, legs, buttocks, and torso.

Adult acne is a fairly new problem as adult acne has just recently become an epidemic. Acne previously had been a concern of teens and young adults. Dermatological and esthetic treatments for adults will likely be very similar to those used to treat teens. To prevent acne, hormonal and life style changes, such as diet, may be incorporated. The findings have suggested that a lifetime of exposure to hormone enriched foods and medication may be a main culprit in this new wide concern of adult acne.

The appropriate treatment for acne varies depending on each individual. Adult acne treatments include ingredients such as benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, retin-a, accutane, sulfur, tetracycline and/or a variety of over the counter medications. However, there’s more than medicine to treating adult acne. To obtain the best results treatments should include not only skin care products that target acne bacteria, but make changes that affect the body’s internal system. A multifaceted approach of treatments, behaviors, and diet is often most effective. Here are a few simple strategies to help you combat adult acne:
•    Consult your doctor about hormonal changes
•    Follow a daily skin care regimen
•    Protect skin from pollution and environmental damage
•    Avoid touching your face
•    Avoid exposure to sun and excessive cold
•    Select non-oil based cosmetic products
•    Eat a well-balanced diet

Natural remedies can also work alone or in combination with professional assistance in clearing adult acne. As stated earlier, diet is a very important factor in adult acne. A diet rich in colorful fruits and vegetables, help fight free radicals and skin damage that may be left behind after the acne has cleared. Ointment or creams that are rich in Vitamin E can fight against bacteria and sooth the sensitized acne are. Tea tree oil and herbal extracts have been known to clear acne by fighting bacteria and regulating oil production.

Herbal extracts or herbs to look for in topical or ingested formulas include burdock, yellow dock, cleaver, and sarsaparilla. As adult acne has been a fairly new area of study for dermatologists and estheticians, it is best to follow a treatment plan that is unique to your severity of acne.

Popular Herbs Used in Skin Care and Their Benefits

Popular Herbs Used in Skin Care and Their Benefits: Chamomile, Aloe Vera, Lavender and Rosemary

Today skin care and cosmetics are increasingly going natural. You may have heard that herbs and oils are commonly used in skin care and cosmetics; but, you may not know why or what purpose they serve. why, and what do the do? Four very common and popular herbs that are used in the form of oil or gels are chamomile, Aloe Vera, lavender, and rosemary. All provide unique benefits for the skin and body.

The benefits of chamomile for the skin and body range from calming effects to healing. Recent and on-going research has identified chamomile’s specific benefits as

anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial and anti-allergenic. Chamomile is most often recognized as an herbal tea; however, chamomile is present in many skin care products. Chamomile’s active ingredients extracted from the flower are essential oils and flavonoids. Essential oils help to calm and relax irritated skin. Essential oils have also been found to be beneficial to treat and sooth acne prone skin. Flavonoids – or plant metabolites- are rich in anti oxidants that help the body repair and heal damaged skin, as well as fight free radicals, which create damage to bodily cells. Chamomile has few side effects and is effective and beneficial to the skin topically or if ingested.

Aloe Vera contains numerous, minerals, vitamin, enzymes, and natural sugars that help with inflammation. Aloe Vera is commonly known for its healing properties, which explains its popular use in skin care. Aloe Vera aids in the healing of skin burns and cuts and moisturizes and softens skin. Aloe Vera is used in skin care products to help with dry sensitive skin as the plant has unique healing and soothing properties. Taken internally, Aloe Vera has been found to regulate digestion, which in turn builds healthy skin from the inside out. Aloe Vera is available as a gel, spray, lotion, juice, cream and in the form of a capsule. Aloe Vera is most commonly found in soaps, cleansers, facial masks, skin care gels or creams.

Lavender has many uses in skin care that include aiding skin repair, stimulating cell growth, reducing inflammation, preventing scarring and pigmentation, regulating oil production, and reducing pain. Lavender also works as antiseptic or antibacterial agent and is considered an essential oil. Due to its extensive benefits to the skin, lavender is often found in soaps, cleaners, or facial masks formulated to treat acne prone skin.

Rosemary can be used as an essential oil just like chamomile and lavender. Rosemary and lavender are actually found in the same herbal family. Rosemary tones

the skin, helping to even out skin tone and texture, while reliving dryness. Rosemary strengthens capillaries and is good to use on aging skin. Rosemary is found in skin care cleansers, soaps, face masks, toners and creams.

There are many other herbs used in skin care and cosmetics today-most in the form of essential oils or extracts- and all can have different or positive effects on the skin and body. Herbs and oils have been used to heal for many centuries and now are being utilized for safe, natural ways to treat skin conditions and maintain a healthy complexion.

by Tiffany Oney

Regular Exercize Key Factor in Anti-Aging

According to Natural News Sources, Telomeres, regions of DNA which protect the ends of chromosomes from destruction, have made big news in 2009.

In fact, the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded this year to researchers who investigated the nature of telomeres. Why all the interest? It appears telomeres hold the key to why we age because when a cell becomes old and dies, it’s due to the shortening of chromosomal telomeres. So, if you could keep the length of telomeres from changing, that might literally halt aging. And now comes research showing there is a natural way to impact telomeres and produce an anti-aging effect — long-term physical activity.

According to research just reported in the journal Circulation, intensive exercise can prevent a shortening of telomeres. That, the scientists found, results in a protective effect against aging on a cellular level and could be especially important in keeping the cardiovascular system healthy. So, while you can slather on expensive creams and opt for plastic surgery, if you want to actually slow down aging, your best bet is to get moving and exercise regularly.

A research team from Saarland University in Homburg, Germany, measured the length of telomeres in blood samples from a group of 32 professional runners with an average age of 20 who were on the German National Team of Track and Field. The young men regularly trained by running about 73 kilometers (km) — a little over 45 miles — each week. The scientists also measured the length of telomeres from the blood of middle-aged athletes (average age 51) who had participated in continuous endurance exercise since their youth and who ran about 80 km, or almost 50 miles, per week. These findings were then compared to the telomere lengths found in a group of healthy non-smokers, matched for age with the athletes, who didn’t exercise regularly.

The results? The scientists discovered that long-term exercise training activated an enzyme known as telomerase which reduces telomere shortening in human leukocytes (white blood cells). Telomere loss was found to be far lower in the older, master athletes who had been exercising for decades. Bottom line: the rate of telomere loss that is assumed to be normal as we grow older and that leads to the physical signs of aging can, in fact, be dramatically slowed through long term, vigorous exercise.

“This is direct evidence of an anti-aging effect of physical exercise. Physical exercise could prevent the aging of the cardiovascular system, reflecting this molecular principle,” Ulrich Laufs, M.D., the study’s lead author and professor of clinical and experimental medicine in the department of internal medicine at Saarland University, said in a statement to the media. “The most significant finding of this study is that physical exercise of the professional athletes leads to activation of the important enzyme telomerase and stabilizes the telomere.”

What’s more, previous animal studies by Dr. Laufs and colleagues have shown that exercise exerts effects on proteins that not only stabilize telomeres but also protect cells from deterioration and programmed cell death. “Our data improves the molecular understanding of the protective effects of exercise on the vessel wall and underlines the potency of physical training in reducing the impact of age-related disease,” Dr. Laufs concluded.

A Scientific Look at Moisturizers Pt. 2

Emollients and Occlusives

Emollients

Emollients, which are mainly lipids and oils, hydrate and improve the appearance of the skin by contributing to skin softness, enhanced flexibility, and smoothness. The “skin slip” or lubricity of some moisturizers, contributes to consumer satisfaction and product preference.5 Consumers desire smooth skin following moisturizer application. Emollients serve to fill the cracks between clusters of desquamating corneocytes and are not usually occlusive unless applied heavily.

Long chain saturated fatty acids and fatty alcohols are commonly used in topical pharmaceuticals and cosmetic formulations. They exert their benefits through effects on the skin barrier, partially through improved repair, and on permeability. Examples include stearic, linoleic, linolenic, oleic, and lauric, which can be found in palm oil, coconut oil, and wool fat. A sterol-enriched fraction from canola oil reduced clinical signs of sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS)-induced irritation. Other lipids (e.g., fish oil, petrolatum, shea butter, and sunflower seed oil) had no effect on the degree of irritation. Loden and Andersson suggested that canola oil assisted the skin in supplying the damaged barrier with adequate lipids. Essential fatty acids (i.e., linoleic and alpha-linoleic acids) influence skin physiology and pathology via their effects on skin barrier functions, eicosanoid production, membrane fluidity, and cell signaling.

Occlusives

Occlusives reduce TEWL by creating a hydrophobic barrier over the skin and contributing to the matrix between corneocytes, and have the most pronounced effect when applied to slightly dampened skin. There is a wide range of agents with occlusive properties. Their main limitations include odor, potential allergenicity, and the greasy feel associated with most occlusives.

Astringent Emollients
Cyclomethicone, dimethicone, isopropyl myristate, octyl octanoate

Dry Emollients
Decyl oleate, isopropyl palmitate, isostearyl alcohol

Fatting Emollients
Castor oil, glyceryl stearate, jojoba oil, octyl stearate, propylene glycol

Protective Emollients
Diisopropyl dilinoleate, isopropyl isostearate

Protein Rejuvenators
Collagen, elastin, keratin

Common substances with emollient properties
Fatty Acids
Lanolin acid, stearic acid
Fatty Alcohols
Cetyl alcohol, lanolin alcohol, stearyl alcohol
Hydrocarbon Oils/ Waxes
Caprylic/capric triglyderide, mineral oil, paraffin, petrolatum, silicone derivatives (cyclomethicone, dimethicone), squalene

Common substances with occlusive properties

Petroleum jelly, in a minimum concentration of 5%, reduces TEWL by more than 98% and is the most effective occlusive, followed by lanolin, mineral oil, and silicones (e.g., dimethicone), which only reduce TEWL by 20%-30%. Occlusives are thought to diffuse into the intercellular lipid domains, thus contributing to their efficacy. Petrolatum is widely used as a classic moisturizer. Lanolin, a complex structure of esters, diesters, and hydroxyesters of high molecular weight, lanolin alcohols, and lanolin acids, is also widely used and quite effective.

Humectants

Humectants are able to attract water from two sources: they enhance water absorption from the dermis into the epidermis, and in humid conditions they also help the SC to absorb water from the external environment. Many humectants also have emollient properties. The most effective humectant is the trihydroxylated molecule, glycerol. Immature corneocytes are fragile but mature into more resilient and protective cells as they migrate through the SC. Glycerol hastens the maturity of corneocytes through the activation of residual transglutaminase activity in the SC.18 Also, by facilitating the digestion of desmosomes and subsequently enhancing desquamation, glycerol reduces the scaling associated with xerosis.

Gelatin
Glycerin
Honey
Hyaluronic acid
Panthenol
Propylene glycol
Sodium and ammonium lactate
Sodium pyrrolidine carboxylic acid
Sorbital
Urea

Common substances with humectant properties
Found in the NMF, pyrrolidine carboxylic acid hydrates the skin, and has been shown to improve xerosis.20 Urea is another important humectant. In double-blind studies moisturizers with urea have been shown to reduce TEWL in atopic and ichthyotic patients,21,22 and reduce SLS-induced skin irritation.

Alpha hydroxy acids (e.g., lactate) are effective agents for the treatment of dry skin; following treatment with lotions containing D-, L-lactic acid, the SC prevents xerosis more effectively. Lactic acid, particularly the L-isomer, stimulates ceramide biosynthesis leading to higher SC ceramide levels that result in a superior lipid barrier and more effective resistance against xerosis.

One major drawback of humectants is that some of them can increase TEWL3 by enhancing water absorption from the dermis into the epidermis where it can then be lost into the environment. For this reason, they are almost always combined with an occlusive agent. Occlusive and humectant ingredients work together to enhance epidermal hydration and barrier function.

Study Shows Diet Can Cause Acne

Many of us have suffered from acne at one point or another in our lives, most commonly during our teen years.  In the United States, 85% of teenagers and 20% of all adults suffer from acne, according to acne-resources.org.  Recently, studies have suggested that Westernized lifestyle choices, such as diet, can play a major role in the occurrence of acne.   A national study led in 2002 by a team at Colorado State University (1) indicated acne is a skin condition that is prevalent in fully modernized Western societies, but a rare occurrence in many non-Western societies where dietary habits “are virtually uninfluenced by Western foods.”  We all know that hormones, bacteria, and genetics are all contributing factors, and there are several creams, lotions and cleansers available on the market to treat acne pimples.  However, new theories suggest that what we put in our bodies is just as important as the topical products we use.

Studies have shown that a low glycemic diet not only improves the symptoms of acne, but also offers other significant health benefits.  Researchers at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology in Australia conducted a study in which they found that those who followed a low-glycemic diet not only had less acne lesions, but also lower weight, lower Body Mass Index, and increased insulin sensitivity.  The glycemic index measures how different carbohydrates raise our blood sugar levels after consumption. The faster the food breaks down during digestion, the lower the GI count will be.  Similarly, food that breaks down quickly will have a higher GI count.  Foods with GI index of 55 or less are good for the body and skin, since they contain more complex carbohydrates and release sugar directly into the bloodstream at a slower rate.  As a result, insulin demand decreases, along with acne breakouts.  Insulin leads to acne by releasing other hormones that increases the amount of sweat and sebum.  When mixed with excess oil or dry skin cells, it provides a thriving ground for acne.  High levels of insulin can also cause high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes.

Foods with low GI indexes include broccoli, mushroom, fettuccini, and spaghetti.  Cake, soft drinks, white bread and potatoes are examples of foods that are on the opposite end of the chart, with GI indexes of 70 or higher.  A healthy, low-glycemic  diet does not have to be bland.  Instead of processed food, opt for those with more whole grains, such as wheat bread and wheat pasta.  (You probably won’t event taste the difference.)  Also, combine lean proteins like chicken breast, salmon and turkey with plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables.  String the meat and vegetables together on a skewer stick and throw on the grill for a healthy, summery feast.

Although diet alone will not clear up acne, it can lead to a healthier lifestyle.  Combined with a proper skincare regimen and the right products, acne can be manageable.

(1)    http://www.news.colostate.edu/Release/1531

Van Le is a staff writer for the CSU Daily Titan and writing intern for Vivoderm Laboratories in Los Angeles, California. She is currently pursuing a Journalism degree at California State University, Fullerton.

For the latest findings on natural skincare you can also link to http://naturalfacialskincare.net

Protecting Damaged Skin with Green Tea and Zinc

By Van Le | The popularity of green tea in the skincare industry has skyrocketed over the last decade. It’s more than just a fad, as the benefits of green tea are well documented due to extensive research. Tea was used in ancient times as a natural stimulant, since it contains caffeine. Today, people drink green tea as a natural way to promote overall good health, but it is especially popular in the skincare industry, where it is a key component in the efforts to slow down the signs of aging.

Green tea contains high amounts of polyphenols, which protects the skin from damage caused by free radicals and other harmful toxins. Compared to black and white tea, green tea contains the highest amount of polyphenol, and contains anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti carcinogenic properties. Its anti-inflammatory nature makes it a versatile herbal ingredient used to fight acne. The antioxidant qualities help prevent premature signs of aging, and the anti carcinogenic characteristics are a major component in the efforts to find a cure for cancer.

The anti-inflammatory properties of green tea make it an effective herbal treatment against symptoms of acne. A 2003 study carried out by Dr. Jennifer Gan-Wong of Memorial Medical Center in the Philippines suggest that green tea cream is just as effective as benzoyl peroxide cream, but does not expose the skin to harsh chemicals and preservatives, according to skincell.org. It also helps detoxify the body and reduces skin inflammation, which decreases the occurrences of outbreaks.

Green tea is also indispensable as an anti-oxidant because it contains high amounts of catechins, a substance that fights against free radicals, which are harmful to cells and tissues. Catechin is especially effective in neutralizing free radicals caused by excessive exposure to UV rays.

Although green tea extracts alone cannot replace the protection provided by sunscreen, it can enhance sunscreen’s effectiveness. Simply add green tea extract to zinc oxide products, such as Vivoderm’s Zinc Cream. Using zinc oxide cream instead of a store-bought sunscreen product is recommended because zinc will not react to the green tea extracts.

Anti-oxidants found in green tea help delay the skin cell aging process and heal stressed skin. Green tea promotes healthy skin by rejuvenating skin cells and reviving the skin growth cycle. The skin is produced in the deepest of three layers, and as it ages, it moves closer to the surface, where it can develop wrinkles and fine lines. An article published in the Natural Food Merchandiser magazine states that research done by Dr. Stephen Hsu, a professor at Medical College of Georgia suggests that green tea can accelerate the skin cell production process.

Whether as an ingredient in your natural skincare products or added to your zinc oxide cream, the health benefits of green tea are plenty.

Van Le is a staff writer for the CSU Daily Titan and writing intern for Vivoderm Laboratories in Los Angeles, California. She is currently pursuing a Journalism degree at California State University, Fullerton.

For the latest findings on natural skincare and facemasks, you can also link to http://newbeautifulskin.com

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