Age Spots, dark Spots, and uneven skin color is all caused by an uneven concentration of melanin. We hear about melanin, but what is it? Knowing what it is and how it functions can help us learn how to protect our skin and even remedy those age spots.
Melanin is the pigment that gives our skin color (or lack thereof). The difference in coloring is those who are lighter produce a lysosome that breaks down the melanin before it reaches the surface of the skin. Consequently, those who are darkest lack this break down process and the melanin easily occupies the cells that allow our skin to show color.
Melanin is actually a protective mechanism, responsible for the response known as sun tanning. It shields cells nuclei from UV rays, which can damage DNA and cause cancer. In all but the darkest of people, melanin can build up, giving our skin more color. However, lounging about in the sun to get melanin to build up is not ideal. Sun damage causes premature wrinkling and aging.
So how do we combat age spots and uneven pigmentation in our skin? The first defense is to use a sunscreen daily. However, this may not be enough for some people, especially if the damage is already done.
What you really need is a product that inhibits melanin from reaching the surface of the skin (as it is produced in the deeper layers). A product like this takes several months to be effective, and must be used 1-2 times daily in order to work. The result will give you a more even complexion and a brighter skin tone.
Why does it take so long? Part of the reason is the length of time it takes for our cells to regenerate. The other part is the time it takes to actually inhibit melanin from reaching the cells that allow the color to show (basal keratinocytes). The result is that if cells can regenerate without the melanin pigmentation affecting it, you will get a brighter, more even complexion.
For those who are plagued with age spots and uneven coloring, using a product to combat the problem is well worth it. Some may opt for a more harsh and expensive laser treatment. Some ingredients to look for when finding a product is glycolic acid (10-15%), hydroquinone, kojic acid, and retinoid. Look for products that contain descriptions such as “even complexion, brightening, bleaching, skin lightening,” etc.
For more information on how to get rid of age spots and learn other secrets to care for your skin, Subscribe to our Zap Wrinkles Blemish Free Skin Newsletter and get the Free Skin Care Guide by submitting your info to the right. Your info is always kept confidential and is never shared with 3rd parties...ever!
Remember, take care of your skin because your face is the first thing people see!
Friday, April 23, 2010
Monday, April 19, 2010
5 Top Tips To Look Years Younger
If you take away the hair, makeup, and clothes, you can see how old a woman really looks. Well, we all like to look younger, our best, and well-groomed. If you don’t, it means you are depressed. With that said, follow these 5 tips to look younger instantly.
1. Makeup – Curl your eyelashes and use lots of mascara for an automatic eye lift. A perfectly matched foundation will even out your complexion and take years off your face faster than any anti-wrinkle cream. Using more natural colored cosmetics prevents your face from looking harsh, instantly making you look younger.
2. Clothes – Avoid “frumpy” looks. Choose clothes that flatter your figure: clothes that hide what you don’t want seen and accentuate your more lovely qualities.
3. Hair – There are many tips online of how to update your hairdo inexpensively. A little color and highlights with a low-maintenance, but flattering haircut can do wonders for yourself.
4. Exercise – don’t be obsessive, but getting out even for a short walk will not only boost your metabolism, but give you renewed energy to tackle life. Exercise will make your skin glow and boost your energy levels. Have you ever looked at people and thought, “Man, they look tired.” I is true that some of us have a genuine reason to look tired. However, for the majority, it is lack of activity that makes us look drawn down and older than we really are.
5. Positive Attitude – people who are positive naturally look younger. When you exhibit a positive attitude, you immediately have more energy. Displaying energy makes you look (and act) younger. Have you ever seen an aged person who is just exuberant with life and energy and people comment that they don’t seem to be as “old” as they are? Take that lesson into your life.
These key qualities is what makes a difference in those fabulous makeovers we often see. Take the time to try a "makeover" on yourself to look younger instantly.
For More tips on how to take care of yourself, Subscribe to our Zap Wrinkles Blemish Free Skin Newsletter and get the Free Skin Care Guide by submitting your info to the right. Your info is always kept confidential and is never shared with 3rd parties...ever!
Remember, take care of your skin because your face is the first thing people see!
1. Makeup – Curl your eyelashes and use lots of mascara for an automatic eye lift. A perfectly matched foundation will even out your complexion and take years off your face faster than any anti-wrinkle cream. Using more natural colored cosmetics prevents your face from looking harsh, instantly making you look younger.
2. Clothes – Avoid “frumpy” looks. Choose clothes that flatter your figure: clothes that hide what you don’t want seen and accentuate your more lovely qualities.
3. Hair – There are many tips online of how to update your hairdo inexpensively. A little color and highlights with a low-maintenance, but flattering haircut can do wonders for yourself.
4. Exercise – don’t be obsessive, but getting out even for a short walk will not only boost your metabolism, but give you renewed energy to tackle life. Exercise will make your skin glow and boost your energy levels. Have you ever looked at people and thought, “Man, they look tired.” I is true that some of us have a genuine reason to look tired. However, for the majority, it is lack of activity that makes us look drawn down and older than we really are.
5. Positive Attitude – people who are positive naturally look younger. When you exhibit a positive attitude, you immediately have more energy. Displaying energy makes you look (and act) younger. Have you ever seen an aged person who is just exuberant with life and energy and people comment that they don’t seem to be as “old” as they are? Take that lesson into your life.
These key qualities is what makes a difference in those fabulous makeovers we often see. Take the time to try a "makeover" on yourself to look younger instantly.
For More tips on how to take care of yourself, Subscribe to our Zap Wrinkles Blemish Free Skin Newsletter and get the Free Skin Care Guide by submitting your info to the right. Your info is always kept confidential and is never shared with 3rd parties...ever!
Remember, take care of your skin because your face is the first thing people see!
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Applying Eyeliner: Do These 5 Mistakes If You want to Age Yourself Faster
If you want to add years to your actual age, then follow these “Must Don’ts” when applying eyeliner. However, as most of us are trying to look younger, then be sure not to do the following:
1. Applying eyeliner to the bottom lash line only is a surefire way to look old. Have you ever noticed women who look like cocker spaniels? There is something to their face that makes you picture that adorable, droopy-eyed critter. What actually happens when you apply eyeliner to the lower lash line only is that it pulls the eye downward and makes your eyes look droopy and heavy, instantly adding years to your face.
2. Stark, Bold Eyeliner. To look older, make sure that your eyeliner is heavy and thick. This tends to make your eyes look closed and heavy.
3. Applying Eyeliner to the outside corner only. If you want your eyeliner to look, well…weird, apply liner to the bottom and upper lash line and only go in as far as the outside of the pupil. Not only will this make it look like you forgot to finish your makeup, but be sure not to blend the line inward at all to accentuate the unfinished look.
4. Do not blend. This kind of goes along with a stark eyeliner look. Whether your eyeliner line is thick or thin, do not smudge it! This stark line will make your eyes look harsh and make you look older. A bold eyeliner look actually draws attention to the fine lines and wrinkles around your eyes. It is best to leave this look to Lady Gaga for the Grammy’s red carpet appearance.
5. Apply liner to the inside line of the lashes. This is a surefire way to make you look older - permanently. In order to accomplish this feat, one must pull down the tissue of the eye to get the liner on the inside of the lash line. The delicate tissue around your eyes cannot handle this kind of trauma on a daily basis. Doing so will create wrinkles and stretch out the skin around your eyes.
So, if you’re a teenager and want to look older, do the above mistakes to really showcase your novice abilities when applying eyeliner. If you’re going to take the time to apply makeup, then it really is worth your effort to learn how to do so correctly.
For more information on how to apply eyeliner correctly, Subscribe to our Zap Wrinkles Blemish Free Skin Newsletter and get the Free Skin Care Guide by submitting your info to the right. Your info is always kept confidential and is never shared with 3rd parties...ever!
Remember, take care of your skin because your face is the first thing people see!
1. Applying eyeliner to the bottom lash line only is a surefire way to look old. Have you ever noticed women who look like cocker spaniels? There is something to their face that makes you picture that adorable, droopy-eyed critter. What actually happens when you apply eyeliner to the lower lash line only is that it pulls the eye downward and makes your eyes look droopy and heavy, instantly adding years to your face.
2. Stark, Bold Eyeliner. To look older, make sure that your eyeliner is heavy and thick. This tends to make your eyes look closed and heavy.
3. Applying Eyeliner to the outside corner only. If you want your eyeliner to look, well…weird, apply liner to the bottom and upper lash line and only go in as far as the outside of the pupil. Not only will this make it look like you forgot to finish your makeup, but be sure not to blend the line inward at all to accentuate the unfinished look.
4. Do not blend. This kind of goes along with a stark eyeliner look. Whether your eyeliner line is thick or thin, do not smudge it! This stark line will make your eyes look harsh and make you look older. A bold eyeliner look actually draws attention to the fine lines and wrinkles around your eyes. It is best to leave this look to Lady Gaga for the Grammy’s red carpet appearance.
5. Apply liner to the inside line of the lashes. This is a surefire way to make you look older - permanently. In order to accomplish this feat, one must pull down the tissue of the eye to get the liner on the inside of the lash line. The delicate tissue around your eyes cannot handle this kind of trauma on a daily basis. Doing so will create wrinkles and stretch out the skin around your eyes.
So, if you’re a teenager and want to look older, do the above mistakes to really showcase your novice abilities when applying eyeliner. If you’re going to take the time to apply makeup, then it really is worth your effort to learn how to do so correctly.
For more information on how to apply eyeliner correctly, Subscribe to our Zap Wrinkles Blemish Free Skin Newsletter and get the Free Skin Care Guide by submitting your info to the right. Your info is always kept confidential and is never shared with 3rd parties...ever!
Remember, take care of your skin because your face is the first thing people see!
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Combination Skin Care - 4 Tips to Care for Your Skin
One of the most frustrating skin types a person can have is combination skin. Some might think it is dry skin - but really, you can slather on all the moisturizers you want and be okay. Others claim it is oily skin - but you can use the oil-controlling products with no problem.
But what about those with combination skin? Some areas are dry, some areas are oily, and some areas love to break out in acne.
Here is my simple advice. If you have combination skin, you have to use a combinatin of products. Furthermore, you have to play around a little to get the perfect concoction for your skin - because not everyone's combinatin skin type is even the same.
1. When using a cleanser, find one that leaves your skin soft, but not super-moist or, conversely, leaves your skin feeling dried out and taught.
2. Use a blemish control toner or an acne treatment gel (my preference) only on those places where you tend to break out, versus using it all over the skin. Unfortunately, this means using a regular toner on the other parts of your face.
3. During the dry winter months, use an extra hydrator on top of your moisturizer only in the areas where you are dry (versus all over your skin.)
4. After you moisturize, you can apply a gel that will help control the oil in those trouble spots. My favorite is called an oil-mattifier. It helps suck up that extra oil and leaves your skin with a matte finish.
Subscribe to our Zap Wrinkles Blemish Free Skin Newsletter and get the Free Skin Care Guide by submitting your info to the right. Your info is always kept confidential and is never shared with 3rd parties...ever!
Remember, take care of your skin because your face is the first thing people see!
But what about those with combination skin? Some areas are dry, some areas are oily, and some areas love to break out in acne.
Here is my simple advice. If you have combination skin, you have to use a combinatin of products. Furthermore, you have to play around a little to get the perfect concoction for your skin - because not everyone's combinatin skin type is even the same.
1. When using a cleanser, find one that leaves your skin soft, but not super-moist or, conversely, leaves your skin feeling dried out and taught.
2. Use a blemish control toner or an acne treatment gel (my preference) only on those places where you tend to break out, versus using it all over the skin. Unfortunately, this means using a regular toner on the other parts of your face.
3. During the dry winter months, use an extra hydrator on top of your moisturizer only in the areas where you are dry (versus all over your skin.)
4. After you moisturize, you can apply a gel that will help control the oil in those trouble spots. My favorite is called an oil-mattifier. It helps suck up that extra oil and leaves your skin with a matte finish.
Subscribe to our Zap Wrinkles Blemish Free Skin Newsletter and get the Free Skin Care Guide by submitting your info to the right. Your info is always kept confidential and is never shared with 3rd parties...ever!
Remember, take care of your skin because your face is the first thing people see!
Monday, April 5, 2010
Best Acne Medication-Application Technique: Video
Loads of people have asked me about acne medication, which is best, and how to apply their acne medication.
The most popular acne medicaiton ingredient is benzoyl peroxide. It comes in varying strengths. The stronger it is, the more cautious you need to be when first applying it.
Here is a link to a YouTube video I created to help you understand how to apply acne medication better. It's only a couple minutes long and informative!
Click Best Acne Medication YouTube Video.
Good Luck - I hope this helps!
Subscribe to our Zap Wrinkles Blemish Free Skin Newsletter and get the Free Skin Care Guide by submitting your info to the right. Your info is always kept confidential and is never shared with 3rd parties...ever!
Remember, take care of your skin because your face is the first thing people see!
The most popular acne medicaiton ingredient is benzoyl peroxide. It comes in varying strengths. The stronger it is, the more cautious you need to be when first applying it.
Here is a link to a YouTube video I created to help you understand how to apply acne medication better. It's only a couple minutes long and informative!
Click Best Acne Medication YouTube Video.
Good Luck - I hope this helps!
Subscribe to our Zap Wrinkles Blemish Free Skin Newsletter and get the Free Skin Care Guide by submitting your info to the right. Your info is always kept confidential and is never shared with 3rd parties...ever!
Remember, take care of your skin because your face is the first thing people see!
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