Cleaning the Skin

Cleaning the skin is important as it removes the dead cells from the surface of the skin. It also will remove the dust and dirt that chokes the pores on the skin. If the dust is allowed to accumulate, it can block the pores thus blocking the secretion of the glands from coming to the top of the skin providing it the weapons it need to fight against infections, toxic agents etc. It also gives the shine or glow to the surface of the skin.

Soap and Natural Cleaners
Skin experts recommend avoiding soap because of its high pH. A high pH (alkaline) soap will dry the skin and diminish its life expectancy. The skin's surface is mildly acidic, having a pH of around 5. Most soaps are well over 7, and some as high as 10. Soaps with a high pH will not only dry the skin but also eliminate its acid mantle (coating on the surface).

You can make good skin cleansers from natural products. For example, products that contain vegetable oils, such as coconut oil, and water, combine with sebum and allow it to be dissolved and rinsed away. At the same time, water dissolves dirt.

Effective skin cleansers can contain a number of different vegetable oils, including coconut, sesame, or palm oils. These are safe and effective cleansers and have a relatively low pH. Stearic acid provides the skin a pearly firmness.
Another organic products that is increasingly useful in skin care is seaweed. The high mineral content of seaweed stimulates circulation, helps eliminate toxins imbedded in the skin, and leaves the skin feeling smooth. Seaweeds can also strengthen the immunity and healing functions of the skin by providing the needed minerals.

Facial Scrubs
Facial scrubs help clean the surface of the skin by removing the dead skins and the dirt mechanically. We recommend that you use a facial scrub that contains a mild abrasive. The coarseness of these abrasives vary. For example, it may contain very fine, mild base of oatmeal or ground-up almonds. Some products may contain, however, coarser materials such as silica or fine sand or the shells of almonds, apricots, or walnuts.

Since women spend considerable more amount of money and time on makeups and skin care, we would expect that their skin will be smoother and blemish free compared to that of men. However, studies have found exactly the opposite. These studies have found that men have fewer blemishes and smoother skin than women on the face. Experts suggest that men are exfoliating their faces every day by shaving. The razor removes the top layer of dead cells every day. This allows the skin to breathe and eliminate waste much easier. This may explain why men's facial skin is much more smoother than women's. Women can accomplish the same by using a mild abrasive scrub on their faces, every other day.

European women have been using exfoliants for decades. People in India and the orient had been using natural exfoliants to clean their skin.

Decleor Aroma Cleanse Essential Cleansing Milk

Decleor Aroma Cleanse Essential Tonifying Lotion

The Right Way To Wash Your Face
1. Moisten your face with water. Work up a lather by rubbing the soap between wet palms. Using your fingertips (not the bar of soap), massage the lather into your face and throat.

2. Rinse thoroughly with a washcloth or with splashes of water. Take three times as much time for rinsing as compared to what you took for lathering. The important thing is that you remove all of the soap so any caustic it contains won't burn your face.

3. Blot dry with a soft towel; vigorous rubbing with coarse material aggravates and tugs at your skin.

Thalgo Foaming Marine Cleanser

Erno Laszlo Phelityl Cleansing Gel

Sothys Clarity Cleansing Milk

Sothys Hydrate

The Hydradvance™ program was born of the Sothys’ advanced research team’s latest technological discoveries in gene science. This advanced hydration GENerating program is a tailor-made solution providing incomparable moisturizing power with immediate and long lasting results. SOTHYS’ boletus mushroom extract, the active ingredient in this collection, acts on two fundamental mechanisms of hydration – hydric flow, the transfer of water from the dermis to the epidermis, and barrier function, the strengthening of the surface layer to restrict moisture loss.

Hydradvance™ Intensive Hydrating Serum

This intensive rapid-action serum is perfect for dehydrated skin, as it immediately moisturizes and stimulates the formation of the skin’s barrier function. The Serum works in tandem with the Hydradvance Hydrating Creams to boost overall results. This formula features Sothys’ exclusive H2CR® Complex – a combination of natural peptides and powerful plant antioxidants – to restore, detoxify, repair and reconstruct the epidermis.

Hydradvance™ Hydrating Cream

This cream provides a balancing action that maintains skin’s hydration day after day. It contains Ophiopogon plant extract which regulates water transfer; this Asian evergreen is known for its ability to resist drought and capture water.

Available in Comfort and Light Texture

Hydradvance™ Hydra-Nourishing Mask

An essential moisturizing mask to restore suppleness and radiance. The unique formula features jojoba and rice bran oils to soothe skin and provide immediate comfort. Perfect for travelers, over-sun exposure, post peel procedures.

How to select anti-aging skin care products

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Shopping for an anti-aging skin care product can feel like hit-or-miss experience. With so many choices, it can be difficult to know which products to choose. These dermatologists’ tips can help you shop with confidence.

1.     Start with sunscreen and moisturizer: Dermatologists agree that sunscreen and moisturizer are the two most-effective anti-aging products you can buy. Using these every day can make a noticeable difference.

When shopping for sunscreen, select one that offers all of the following:

• Broad spectrum
• SPF 30 (or higher)
• Water resistance

An anti-aging moisturizer helps to minimize fine lines. It is so effective that moisturizer is the secret ingredient in many anti-aging products.

Using a moisturizer with sunscreen is fine. Just be sure that the product offers broad-spectrum coverage and an SPF of 30 or higher.

If you will spend time outdoors during the day, you should apply a sunscreen that offers broad-spectrum protection, SPF 30 (or higher), and water resistance. Be sure to reapply your sunscreen every two hours while outdoors.

 Sunscreen is one of the most effective anti-aging products you can buy.

2.     Treat your #1 aging-skin concern: Give sunscreen and moisturizer a few weeks to work. Then look at your skin. Is there still a sign of aging that bothers you?

By focusing on one concern, such as wrinkles or dark spots, you’ll get the best results. Look for a product that targets your concern. There are two reasons for this:

• No product can treat all signs of skin aging.
• Using more than one anti-aging product in a few days or weeks can irritate the skin, making you look older.

3.     Buy a product formulated for your skin type: Your sunscreen, moisturizer, and other anti-aging skin care products will work best if they are formulated for your skin type. For example,if your skin tends to be oily, select a moisturizer made for oily skin. If you have sensitive skin, you want to see the words “sensitive skin” on the label.

This is important because no one product works for everyone.

4.     Read product labels and select a product that offers all of the following:

• Hypoallergenic (The product can still cause an allergic reaction,but there is less risk.)
• Non-comedogenic or non-acnegenic (does not cause acne)
• Consumer hotline (to contact for questions)

5.     Have realistic expectations:Exaggerated promises, such as look 10 years younger overnight or quickly reduces all signs of aging, are too good to be true. It’s important to remember that anti-aging skin care products deliver modest results. You cannot get the results of a face lift from a cream.

6.     Select a product within your price range: It’s human nature to think that the more expensive the product,the better the results. Effective anti-aging products come in all price ranges.

Maximize the results you see

Once you’ve selected a product, you can maximize its effectiveness by following tips that dermatologists share with their patients.

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Tips and Types of Back Acne Treatment

Back Acne Causes
It is often difficult to pinpoint the exact causes of most types of acne, back acne is no different. What is known is that irritation can make it worse. If acne is showing up more persistent in certain parts of your body, such as your back, perhaps it has to do with certain clothing or maybe a backpack. Tight fitting clothing contributes to promoting acne, by trapping sweat against the skin and clogging pores. Sometimes back acne is just caused by a hormone unbalance or poor diet.

Back Acne Treatment
The first part of controlling back acne is cleanliness; you should wash daily with a cleanser that contains salicylic acid. You should also shower immediately after engaging in any physical activity in which you were sweating. Follow up your shower with a body moisturizer that contains Alfa Hydroxy acid. This will exfoliate skin and help prevent breakouts, without drying skin out.
At night time, before going to bed, you can treat back acne the same as facial acne by applying a zapping gel or a cream to your acne.
If your back acne is light to moderate you could use a Regimen. The Regimen works well but remember that it contains benzoyl peroxide and it will have a bleaching effect on any clothing that comes into contact with it. I would suggest wearing white shirts if you plan on using this as your form of back acne treatment.
For stubborn acne and severe cases you may have to get an antibiotic prescription, or prescription strength Retin-A. Acne on the back is much more resistant to treatment and the skin is tougher, so it will need to be treated aggressively. As a last resort, you could try Accutane.
One homemade remedy you could try is by using a combination of lye soap and tea tree oil. This helps oily skin and will help reduce acne and make your skin soft.

Back Acne Tips

Always wear cotton clothing, loose fitting is best.

You can apply powder to keep your back dry.

If necessary apply anti-perspirant to your back, don’t do this if you are going to engage in physical activity because sweating is needed to help cool the body.

Always wear clean clothes, bras and T-shirts when working out and put a clean towel down before lying on exercise machines or mats at the gym.

Shower as soon as possible after perspiring.

You should probably change your shirt twice a day whether you exercise or not to avoid bacteria buildup that can further aggravate your acne.
Although back acne is not as severe as other types of acne but when not treated properly it sometimes leads to scars and cysts.

Top Ten Tips For Getting Rid Of Acne

1. Fresh fruit, vegetables, nuts and seeds

Increase the variety of fresh fruit, vegetables, nuts and seeds in your diet. The easiest way to do this is to create delicious smoothies and juices from ripe fruit, have at least one salad every day — even just as a side dish — with your main meal, and snack on nuts and dried fruits. Brazil nuts and pumpkin seeds are fantastic for acne because they contain selenium (Brazils) and zinc (pumpkin seeds), deficiencies in these minerals have been linked to acne.

2. Water

Drink plenty of water every day. Aim to drink at least two litres of still mineral water. If the skin becomes dehydrated, dead skin cells are not effectively shed, which can lead to blocked pores and further acne.

3. Probiotics and prebiotics

Antibiotics destroy the bacteria in your digestive system, which can lead to poor digestion, constipation and reduced absorption of essential vitamins, minerals and nutrients — all of which can lead to more acne because your body isn't able to get rid of waste effectively and toxins get expelled via the skin instead. If you have been taking antibiotics for your acne, it's vital you replace the "friendly" bacteria in your digestive system with a good quality probiotics.
Prebiotics are foods which help re-establish the good bacteria in the gut — these include honey, onions, artichokes and bananas. Taking a probiotic supplement and eating prebiotics foods will help restore the levels of beneficial bacteria that are destroyed by antibiotics.

4. Supplements & superfoods

Sometimes it's not possible to get all the vitamins, minerals and nutrients required to obtain and maintain clear skin. We can be eating all the right foods, but because of other factors — such as long-term antibiotic use — we may not be absorbing everything we need from our diets. There are a few supplements that are particularly useful to those with acne, including:

• Maca — a powdered Peruvian root vegetable that helps balance and stabilize the body's systems and helps normalise hormones. It tastes delicious blended into smoothies, a little bit sweet and little bit savoury. Maca is also rich in essential amino acids, fatty acids, phytochemicals and minerals, including calcium, magnesium, iron, potassium, silica and iodine.
• Nature's Living Superfood — A nutrient-dense, mineral-rich superfood, it contains a full spectrum of absorbable nutrients: vitamins, minerals, trace minerals.

5. Use only natural products on your skin

Many skin care products on the market contain chemicals that can aggravate acne-prone skin. By overloading the skin with harsh chemicals that strip the skin's natural oils, the skin will produce more oil to compensate — which can lead to more blocked pores and acne! Use products that contain natural ingredients such as tea tree oil, which is known for its antibacterial properties. The best method for dealing with acne-prone skin is the less-is-more attitude. Use as few products as possible so your skin gets a chance to heal on its own. If you wear make-up, buy formulas that are non-acnegenic or non-comedogenic (non-pore blocking).

• Natural skin care products
  • Cleansers
  • Toners
  • Face Masks & Scrubs
  • Soaps
  • Moisturisers & Sun Lotions
  • For Spots & Pimples
  • For Acne Scars

6. Reduce stress

Stress is on of the biggest precursors of acne, especially beyond puberty. Controlling stress can reduce the release of the stress hormone cortisol, and therefore reduce the severity of the acne. Id you suffer from stress regularly, learn to recognise the early symptoms and take action. There are various ways you can reduce stress and become more relaxed:

• Exercise — especially Yoga and T'ai Chi. Moderate exercise will increase blood flow to the skin and aid healing, as well as improve the health of your internal organs enabling them to get rid of waste more effectively.
• Relaxation techniques, such as breathing exercises and meditation

7. Reduce your intake of sugar and refined carbohydrates

There is recent research pointing the finger at diet — eating refined carbohydrates (white bread, pasta, rice, flour etc) and sugar leads to a surge in insulin and an insulin-like growth factor called IGF-1. This in turn leads to an excess of male hormones, which encourage the skin to excrete large amounts of sebum. This grease-like substance encourages the growth of bacteria responsible for acne.
Refined carbs/sugar = more insulin = more hormones = more sebum (oil) = more bacteria = more acne

8. Reduce your intake of caffeine

Caffeine increases the levels of stress hormones in the body and can aggravate acne. Avoid coffee, tea, chocolate and other stimulant containing drinks.

9. Reduce your intake of dairy and red meat

Dairy products and meat are hard for us to digest, and are acid-forming in the body. The condition of the skin is linked to the health of your internal organs. If you're struggling to digest high levels of animal protein, your body won't get rid of waste products effectively, and they will be released via the skin as acne. Dairy and red meat also contain high levels of hormones which can increase our our levels, and result in more acne. Many people are also intolerant to dairy products without realising it, and a mild intolerance can manifest itself as acne. There are plenty of alternatives to dairy these days — and you can create simple and nutritious nut milks at home, such as the calcium-rich sesame and banana super smoothie.

10. Sunshine and fresh air

Sunshine stimulates the creation of vitamin D in the body — an essential vitamin for healthy skin. A little bit of fresh air and sunshine every day will also reduce stress and increase oxygen to the skin. Even when it's overcast, the sun's rays reach us, so take a 10 minute walk outside every day. Don't get burnt in the sun though — apart from increasing the risk of skin cancer, burnt and heavily tanned skin forms a thick layer on the skin's surface that doesn't exfoliate quickly enough and leads to blocked pores.

How Many Myths Have You Been Told?

Myth #1 - Acne is caused by poor hygiene

Fact: Hygiene is not the culprit here. In fact, washing your face too often or too vigorously can actually make your acne worse.
The real culprits are those pesky hormones that kick in at puberty and cause excess production of skin oils. Match that up to increased shedding of dead skin cells and you have a lovely mixture ready to clog any pore on a very clean face.
Gently wash your face no more than twice a day with a mild cleanser and then pat it dry. Scrubbing or rubbing your face can lead to dry skin and irritated acne. That means delayed healing and worse, more breakouts. So treat your skin with care to help it heal.

Myth #2 - Acne is caused by eating chocolate and greasy foods

Fact: Despite numerous scientific studies, no evidence has been found to link diet to acne. Dermatologists do advise, however, that if you notice a tendency to break out after eating a certain food, eliminate it from your diet and see if your skin clears up.
So while you won't have to give up your Friday night pizza, burger and fries or favorite chocolate bar, remember that a healthy skin (and body) requires nutrition from a well-balanced diet.

Myth #3 - Stress causes acne

Fact: Your regular, every day variety of stress is not an important factor in acne. Rather, some drugs used to treat severe stress may cause acne as a side effect. If you think your acne is caused by a medication prescribed for stress or depression, you should talk to your doctor.

Myth #4 - Acne is a cosmetic disease

Fact: It's true that acne does affect how we look and at the same time does not pose a serious threat to our physical health. In that sense you can call it a cosmetic disease.
On the other hand, acne can lead to permanent physical scarring. It can also seriously affect the way some people feel about themselves and how they interact with others. This invisible side of acne can express itself in feelings of embarrassment, frustration or depression and result in decreased self-esteem and social withdrawal.

Myth #5 - You should not wear makeup if you have acne

Fact: Looking your best can make you feel your best so you'll be glad to know that you actually can wear makeup if you have acne. Just remember, only use cosmetic and skin care products that are labeled noncomedogenic or nonacnegenic (won't clog pores or cause breakouts).
Some concealers contain benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid. Both ingredients help to fight acne. You might also find that tinted acne-fighting creams can help get rid of pimples while hiding them.
You may have noticed more and more skin care products labeled "organic," "all natural" or "herbal" coming onto the market. However, these cosmetics may, in fact, clog pores and make your acne worse.
Stop using any cosmetic or skin care product that seems to be irritating your skin or causing breakouts. Talk with your dermatologist to see what adjustments can be made to improve your treatment and speed you on your way to clear, healthy skin.

Myth #6 - You should not shave if you have acne

Fact: You can, in fact, shave. Be sure to use either a safety or electric razor and be attentive to your skin. Shave lightly around blemishes to avoid nicking the skin and inviting irritation and infection. Remember to replace your safety razor on a regular basis.

Myth #7 - Acne is a problem only for teenagers

Fact: It is true that most teenagers have acne and that many cases will clear up during a person's early 20s. Sometimes, however, acne can persist into the 30s and 40s. A large percentage (82%) of both the men and women with severe acne reported that it was a carry over from their teen years. Others develop acne for the first time as adults.
Treatment during your teen years may minimize scarring and improve your acne before you hit your 20s.

Myth #8 - Getting a tan will help clear up acne

Fact: You may be tempted to get some rays since a tan can minimize your blemishes and make your skin feel drier, but getting a tan will make your acne worse in the long run.
Sunbathing dries your skin, causing your sebaceous glands to produce more sebum (oil exuded from the pores). In addition, sun exposed skin sloughs old cells more frequently. And that's the formula for clogged pores and acne.
Tanning makes your skin age prematurely and can put you at a much greater risk for skin cancer.
So anytime you're going to be outside, be sure to use a noncomedogenic sunscreen with at least an SPF 15 protection level.

Myth #9 - Washing your face a lot will help get rid of pimples

Fact: Acne is not caused by poor hygiene. It's good to wash your face each day to get rid of dead skin cells, excess oil and surface dirt, but washing your face more than once or twice a day can be too much of a good thing.
If you wash too frequently or too abrasively you can dry and irritate your skin into more breakouts. So don't scrub or rub. Gently wash your face with a mild cleanser no more than once or twice a day and pat it dry with care.

Myth #10 - Popping pimples will make them go away faster

Fact: No matter how tempting, you should not scratch, pick, squeeze or pop a pimple. Doing so may push bacteria from the pimple further into the skin, causing more breakouts.
Popping a pimple may also cause brown or red scars to appear that can last for months or worse yet, popping pimples can cause dents and pits that can last forever.

Myth #11 - You must let acne run its course

Fact: Acne can be treated and you can have healthy skin. With all the acne products available today there is absolutely no reason to endure acne or to allow untreated acne to result in scars. If you are frustrated with the acne treatments you've tried, talk with a dermatologist to help you find the right therapy and get you on track for clear skin.

Myth #12 - Just keep using more acne medication if you can't get rid of the acne

Fact: More is not necessarily better. In fact, it can worsen your acne. Many over the counter acne treatments contain active ingredients such as benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid. Too much of either of these can cause your skin to become excessively dry or irritated which in turn may lead to more blemishes.
Results are generally seen in a few weeks, but may take up to 8 weeks or more. Use the medication exactly as directed, and if you don't see any improvement talk with your dermatologist.

Myth #13 - All acne medications are the same

Fact: All acne medications are not created equal. It is important to know that over-the- counter acne products and prescription medications all contain different active ingredients.
Each product or drug is designed to target a specific cause of acne and degree of severity as well as to accommodate a given skin type.
Some acne treatments reduce oiliness, others decrease the amount of dead skin cells that are shed and still others attack the bacteria responsible for the breakouts, Propionibacterium acnes, (P. acnes). Some medications combine two or more acne-busting attributes.
Over-the-counter and prescription medications come in various forms that can make a difference in their effectiveness and your comfort. They can be topical (applied to the skin) or systemic (taken orally). Oral medications are available by presciption only.
Acne products and medications can come as creams, lotions, gels, solutions, pads and foam. Creams and lotions provide moisture and are generally better for people with sensitive or dry skin, while gels and solutions may be alcohol based and because of their drying effect may be best for people who live in hot, humid climates or who have oily skin.
If you have difficulty finding the right acne-fighting product for your skin, talk with your dermatologist who can steer you in the right direction.

Myth #14 - Acne medication should only be put right on top of the blemish

Fact: Spot treatment may work on reducing an existing blemish, but it won't treat new breakouts. Apply a thin layer of your topical medication daily over all the areas where there are break outs.

Myth #15 - Oily skin is the main cause of pimples

Fact: Oily skin is just one of the causes of pimples. The other contributing factors include rapid and irregular shedding of dead skin cells and the presence of a normal skin bacteria known as Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes).
The hormonal onset of puberty signals the onset of acne. Hormones cause the sebaceous glands to exude oil through the pores and increase the rate at which dead skin cells are shed. The accumulating skin cells and oil stick together and form a soft plug that clogs the skin pore.
This mixture of oil and cells makes a perfect environment for the growth of a normal skin bacteria known as Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes). The bacteria multiplies inside the clogged pore and causes the inflammation that you experience as redness and heat.

Myth #16 - Blackheads are caused by dirt

Fact: That is not dirt you are looking at and it cannot be scrubbed away. Whiteheads and blackheads are simply pores that have become plugged with a mixture of oil and dead skin cells.
Whiteheads reside just below the surface of the skin while blackheads are enlarged plugs that have pushed through the skin's surface. The material inside the pore turns dark when it is exposed to the air.

Myth #17 - Acne is contagious

Fact: Nope. It may be tempting to think acne is contagious since just about every teen has it. However acne is a result of the hormonal influences that come with puberty and is not contagious.

Myth #18 - Acne can't be controlled

Fact: Acne can definitely be controlled. There is a wide range of both over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription acne medicines currently available. And while some OTC products may be more effective than others, dermatologists have acne treatments that are available by prescription which may heal existing blemishes and treat new ones. With a little patience and attention, you may enjoy clear, healthy skin.

Myth #19 - Acne can be cured overnight

Fact: Be patient. Healing acne takes time. It is important to be realistic when you are trying to find a successful acne treatment. Don't be tempted by overnight promises, you want to look for the best treatment.

Myth #20 - Acne appears only on the face

Fact: Acne can occur on many parts of the body. It is common for people to have acne on their back, chest and neck. This is not abnormal, but in fact quite normal. These areas of the body have a high concentration of oil glands just as the face does. Body acne can be treated just as successfully as facial acne.

Suggested Products:

Erno Laszlo Anti Blemish Control Treatment

Erno Laszlo Anti Blemish Control Treatment repairs, heals and helps stop future breakouts from occurring. Salicylic acid exfoliates dead skin cells to reveal a smooth and clear complexion. Witch hazel tones and tightens the appearance of pores and soothes inflammation.

Sothys Pore Refiner System Complexion Perfector

Sothys' Pore Refiner System Complexion Perfector is the perfect solution for you! This excellent formula has the power to reduce the appearance of pores, refine the texture of the skin and reduce pore size to reveal a perfect complexion. Different nutrients and minerals are included in this gentle yet effective cream to help fight bacteria in acneic skin types while mattifying the skin. Being an anti-blackhead formula and non comedogenic, it is suitable for all complexions. Upon application, your skin will immediately be left feeling softer and looking clear and smooth.

Skincare Tips for Men 5 - A Perfect 10

You are what you eat (and drink)

Watch your diet; for various reasons. Spicy, fatty foods send your oil production into overdrive causing shine, blocked pores and blackheads. Sugary foods cause your skin to slacken and loose it's firmness. Alcohol dehydrates you and your skin. Don't panic; you don't have to cut any of these out of your diet, all in moderation though!

Run around!

Exercise is vital in maintaining a good posture, relieving stress (causes lines) and increasing the blood flow (not only to heart and lungs, but also your skin).

Stay dashing

• Keep all your facial hair under control - eyebrows, nose hair, ear hair and your neckline. A groomed appearance is more than just great skin!
• Go easy on the cologne. Try and overpower them with your charm and not your scent. Spray it in the air and just walk through - enough will land on you to keep you smelling sexy cool.
• Take care of your hands; people look! Exfoliate them regularly and keep them well moisturized. Try by rubbing in excess body or face moisturizer!
• Sleep!