Anti-wrinkle creams are some of the more popular cosmetics available in the markets today. The good brands usually sell anywhere from $50-$200 a jar. And during these tough economic times, that amount seems too much to spend on vanity. However, there are home made recipes available that may just help in preventing fine lines and wrinkles from forming. Here are some of them.
Vitamin C is a very good source of anti-oxidants plus it is also a very good exfoliant. Oranges and other fruits rich in Vitamin C can help reduce wrinkles by helping renew skin by speeding up the peeling process of the dead upper layer of the skin. Simply dip a cotton ball on some pure orange or pineapple juice and apply liberally onto the skin. Let the juice stay for about 15 minutes and then rinse with warm water and pat dry.
To get rid of puffiness around the eyes, place a metal spoon inside the freezer overnight. Press the back of the spoon directly on the eye to help reduce puffiness. This also helps minimize lines around the eye area as well as dark circles.
For an anti-wrinkle toner, mix 2 table spoons of vodka, 1 table spoon fennel seeds and 2 tea spoons honey. Let the concoction sit for three days before initial application. For best results, use twice a day.
For an anti-wrinkle facial mask, mix ½ oz yeast with warm milk (for normal skin) or olive oil (dry skin) or 3 % hydrogen peroxide (oily skin). Whip in one egg white and the juice of half a lemon. Add a pinch of salt to the mixture and apply on the skin in layers. Leave on the skin for 20 minutes and then rinse with warm water. A full course is 20 masks. This yeast mask is full of Vitamin B which boosts blood circulation in the skin. It also clears pores and is recommended for dry or wrinkled skin.
All these concoctions can be made from the comfort of your own home with materials readily available straight from the kitchen. These recipes are inexpensive, natural and safe. But to err on the side of caution, apply these mixtures in a small area first before applying to a big area like the face to make sure that there are no allergic reactions.
A toothache can be a very serious, nagging and irritating problem to have. Not only can you have a hard time eating but if it is persistent and painful, it can put you in a very bad mood. A toothache is most likely caused by a cavity in the tooth and a dental appointment can be necessary at this point to close the hole in the tooth. While waiting for the dentist, there are some natural ways of alleviating pain.
Extra virgin olive oil is not only great for cooking, it is also very good in soothing toothache. Try putting a couple of drops on a cotton ball and applying it directly on the affected tooth. EVOO can also be used to whiten teeth, so while at it, try rubbing some on your other teeth as well. Ironic as it may sound, garlic has soothing properties too. Squish a clove of garlic and apply directly on the tooth. This too will help with the pain. But for a fresher alternative, chewing on some spinach or guava leaves may be a better alternative.
Salt mixed with some water can also be used. Mix half a tea spoon of salt with a tall glass of water and use as a gargle. Salt has disinfecting properties and can help get rid not only of the bacteria in the mouth but relieve toothache too. Pepper powder and a pinch of salt can not only prevent dental cavities but can also alleviate pain. Rinsing your mouth with whiskey works well too because the acid from the liquid acts as a disinfectant which kills bacteria in the mouth helping you get rid of the pain faster.
Diet also plays a huge part in treating and in the prevention of toothache. When a tooth aches, eating hot or cold food merely heightens the pain. And so will eating food that requires a lot of chomping such as beef and other meat. Eat soft foods to diminish the chances of food bits getting stuck in between teeth.
Prevention is always better than cure, so to avoid toothaches, practice good oral health all the time. Brush your teeth after every meal and lay off the sweets because the sugar can damage the enamel protecting your teeth. Remember that while enamel is very strong it is also very thin and can never be replaced.
Beauty is only skin deep, but that does not mean that we have to neglect our outward appearance does it? People are getting more conscious when it comes to the products they apply on themselves, probably because synthetic products are getting a bad rep on how they ruin not only the environment but also on how harmful they can be for human consumption. This is why a “natural” alternative is better than the cures and products we find over the counter.
Teeth whitening products are one of the fastest selling products over the market today. We often see movie stars and celebrities sporting mega-watt smiles and wonder how they do it. For people like celebs and actors they most likely see dentists for teeth whitening appointments. But do you know that you can whiten your teeth at home using the products you have in your kitchen cabinet or medicine closet?
For whiter teeth, try this home based alternative. In your kitchen cupboard, you can probably find a box of baking soda. Baking soda is used not only for baking but for disinfecting and cleaning purposes. Most people have this sitting in the kitchen. Next, go to your first aid kit, most likely a bottle of hydrogen peroxide is sitting there too. Mix two tea spoons of baking soda and 5-6 drops of hydrogen peroxide. The consistency of this mixture should be paste-like, so add a couple of drops more to reach this state. Add a pea sized amount of toothpaste to the mixture. The toothpaste is optional. This is just to disguise the taste of peroxide and baking soda. Use this mixture as regular toothpaste and remember not to swallow. After brushing your teeth, you can brush with a regular toothpaste again or rinse with a mouthwash. For longer lasting white teeth, use once a week.
This home made whitening paste is a lot cheaper than dental trays or whitening strips which contain very strong whitening agents that can cause teeth sensitivity and gum irritation. Aside from being cheap, this home alternative has been around for a long time and is probably what your grandma used during her time.
You and I both are aware on how intricately woven these issues pertaining to cosmetic health risks are. If we take them at face value, it is easier to see warning signs but with the constant evolution of cosmetic products, it becomes harder to distinguish the good from the bad. For me, the best way to prevent cosmetic health risks from touching our lives is to avoid using them all together. Sadly, this is something that is easier said than done. So, we resort to the next best thing, minimizing. Here are some ways to somehow lessen harmful cosmetics’ impact to our health:
· Always read labels. This is done for you to know what things were used in manufacturing the product. Labels are required by the law so more or less, they are dependable.
· Hypoallergenic doesn’t mean it won’t harm you. It only lessens the chance of you having a reaction to the product when applied.
· Always do a patch test when you’re about to use a new brand/ product even if it looks harmless.
· Cosmetics expire too. Take note of their expiration date since most of the time, they are not indicated accordingly.
· Avoid using spray cans whenever possible. Healthcare authorities are concerned about the risk of inhaling the chemical particles when they are used by the consumers. When this happens, it may trigger a reaction within the lungs.
· Cosmetics can be very harmful for your children too. Place it somewhere that’s not within their reach.
· Not everything that the manufacturer claims is true. Be very weary when you hear a good sales pitch. Instead, do your own research and use your own gut-feel.
In truth, there is no known connection between the food you eat and acne. There’s no proven diet that can clear up your face as well as those that can aggravate its already worst condition. Young adults are always reminded not to eat oily and sugary foods but experts say it bears no difference at all whether or not you choose to eat them.
On the other hand, nutritionists the world over strongly support eating right to fight acne. Eating healthy will keep acne at bay. The key to keeping your skin healthy is giving your skin everything it needs to maintain optimum health and radiant glow. Aside from that, one should be aware that toxins inside your body are also a suspected cause of acne so as much as possible, rid the body of these acne-inducing substances. Here are some foods that can give you all the essential nutrients your skin will need:
· Water. Keep yourself hydrated all the time. When your body lacks the hydration it needs, the first to giveaway is your skin. The recommended daily intake is about 8 glasses, more if it’s a hot day and you perspire a lot.
· Fiber enriched foods. They act as brooms inside the digestive tract. When you maintain a healthy, daily dose of fiber-enriched foods, rest assured that toxins won’t live long in there to accumulate and cause acne. Munching on fruits and vegetables in your snack time instead of junk foods and empty calories would be your best move.
· Since acne is closely associated with hormones, it is but natural to seek low-glycemic diet to help stabilize your insulin levels.
· Lastly, anti-inflammatory substances such as vitamins and herbal products may help in naturally calming down skin breakouts.
Poor eating habits contribute to many lifestyle diseases and cancer is no exception to the rule; in fact, skin cancer is found to be a result of poor nutritional habits developed overtime. Due to this factor, it is but normal for us to seek preventive health care measures the safest way we know of and that is through natural supplements. The body needs natural supplements; these are foods we eat everyday—nutritious, natural foods not those you grab in fast food chains. Natural supplements boost up your body’s natural defenses for skin cancer. Here are some of the most important natural supplements to keep skin cancer at bay:
· Lycopene is the most powerful antioxidant to protect the skin from diseases and anomalies—one of the most convenient too since it can be found in your regular tomato sauce and ketchup.
· Citrus peel can be used for teas and baked goods. This aromatic substance prevents free radicals from forming. Candied citrus peel is very popular amongst people who look after their cholesterol levels.
· Turmeric is an antioxidant, anti-carcinogenic and most of all, has anti-inflammatory properties. All the things you need to ensure great, healthy skin.
· Fish oils are not only good for your heart but also for your skin since it strengthens the immune system therefore fights free radicals from harming the body.
Natural supplements are your best bet in fighting your risk of getting skin cancer. When engaging yourself in a healthy living composed of natural, nutritious eating habits, you’ll be adequately protected from all damaging factors that affect the body.
In an effort to bring cosmetic products that are safe for humans, animals suffered tremendously worldwide. These animals were killed, mutilated and tortured just to make sure that your cosmetic needs are met accordingly. But, seriously, can we afford such cruelty?
Every year, animals are bought in batches by cosmetic companies and taken into testing sites. From then on they will be the main objects for measuring levels of toxicity, skin irritation and eye tissue damage in which the key ingredients may incur. These are very painful procedure and some of these animals actually die during the process itself—if they do, lucky for them, their bodies will just be thrown out back to the wild but those who unfortunately, survived these experimentations are left to live with the damages for the rest of their lives. These tests are simply inhumane, not to mention, they could never be accurate since these laboratories are not testing a human reaction, only that of an animal. In short, animal experimentations are not essential to cosmetic products since they can still cause adverse reaction when applied to human skin.
Organizations for animal rights never said that the war against cosmetic testing would be easy; especially when cosmetic companies find it easier to butcher these animals than seek other testing alternatives that won’t use live ones. Aside from the cosmetic products we apply directly to our skins, these animals are used for testing household cleaning agents as well. Just imagine what these animals would have to go through just to ensure that these products are safe for us to use. On the other hand, animal rights activists strongly recommend banning those companies who still practice these procedures and go for organic and natural products instead since these products don’t need to be tested anymore.
With all the buzz around keeping our bodies clean and free of harmful chemicals that have become a standard way of life for many, nutritious skincare products were born.
All natural foods have nutritional value. Nutritional values found in these foods benefit the body tremendously; in fact, they are skin’s number one nourishment when eaten or even applied directly to the skin. Fruits are rich in antioxidants that effectively fight free radicals from damaging our skin. Aside from that, it is rich in vitamins and minerals needed by the skin to maintain its youthfulness and glow while encouraging cell renewal. When taken orally, fiber which is fruit’s main component acts as the digestive system’s cleaning lady—moves out all dirt and toxins trapped in nooks and crannies of the track. Fortunately, the power of nutritious foods is now harnessed by natural skincare advocates.
Organic beauty products flood the market today. Some of the popular nutritious foods for the skin are: grapefruit, acai berries, blueberry, pomegranate, and apple. Organic beauty products are those made without the use of chemicals, and other forms of growth interference. Popular skincare line includes body creams, exfoliating body scrubs, lip balm, lip scrub, and face and eye creams.
Producers swear that organic beauty products are selling well these days. Not only that, like stated earlier, major ingredients found in every jar of these natural products are rich in antioxidants which are absorbed well by the body. Take note that nutritious foods are natural to the body which means, upon application, your body will recognize it at once and process it faster that its very confusing, chemical-laden contemporaries. That alone will help you decide if nutritious skincare products are good for your skin.
Need a 100% organic, environment friendly and natural eye makeup remover? Then your quest is over because we have one right here. This recipe is easy to do and very quick to assemble. Bear in mind that you will not need a chemistry degree to create our all natural, eco friendly and organic eye make up remover. All you need is 5 minutes to gather the ingredients which can be found in any grocery store or at your cupboard!
You will need a tablespoon each of castor oil and light olive oil and two teaspoons of canola oil. Simply mix all three ingredients together and store in a tightly closed jar, and voila! Your very own eye make up remover. This mixture yields ¾ of an ounce which you can use for 6 month. Use a tissue or cotton ball to apply and get rid of your eye make up including that hard to erase mascara.
Should you ever find yourself out of shaving cream then you can always look inside your cupboard and grab that bottle of olive oil. Olive oil is actually a good substitute for shaving cream for when you want to shave your legs. It has moisturizing benefits which will leave your legs smoother and healthier. You can use most cooking oils too like canola, vegetable or peanut will do. Your olive oil does not have to be the extra virgin kind since they both contain the same basic ingredients. Keep in mind that oil is a very good moisturizer for very dry skin. If you don’t want to smell like your kitchen though, you can try using some of your hair conditioner as your shaving cream. Hair conditioners also contain moisturizers as opposed to shampoos which can sometimes lead to dry hair.
What is organic? Why should we buy organic? How do we make sure that what we are buying really is organic? What is the fuss all about? With everything going on in the world today, do we really have to worry about what’s organic as well? These questions are probably running through your brain every time you do the grocery what with the multitude of labels you see on various everyday products we use everyday.
To put it simply, organic are products which do not use pesticides, hormones or other chemicals during the manufacturing process. You have to remember that not all natural foods are organic. Natural foods may still have additives and preservatives added during the manufacturing process. More and more people are looking into organic food nowadays especially since chemicals and pesticides used on our crops and foods are showing links to various diseases such as cancer, heart disease and other illnesses.
And this is what the fuss is all about. Organic foods contain no chemicals, preservatives or other harmful ingredients which may cause these life threatening diseases. People are exposed to pollution, stress and chemicals found for daily hygiene purposes. Do we really need the additional exposure to the food we consume as well? While it is true that a balanced diet and regular exercise are essential to a healthy body, the quality of the food we shove down our throats should count as well.
Organic foods have to be certified by the USDA as organic. They have 4 classifications so make sure that you familiarize yourself with them and only USDA 100% certified will have a seal with them. These come in handy when shopping at a grocery store but at the local butcher’s you can ask the man behind the counter about their livestock practices since most of them raise their own stock.
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