Category: creams

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Valuable products from the honeybee hive

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Contributions of honeybees to mankind are so overwhelming that we often forget to recognize how valuable and important they actually are. We remember that hive products offer food and practical medical support but we may forget that the major contribution to the global ecology is the sustaining by pollination of most of the wild and cultivated flora. No other insect species furnishes any useful products as do the bees.

Let’s review the many products that we can harvest from the honeybee hive.

Honey — Concentrated from the sweet nectar collected from blossoms, composed of 82 percent sugars packed with minerals, vitamins and enzymes. It is prized for cooking, and a multitude of important medical properties such as antiseptic and burn treatment. We enjoy its sweet, natural floral essence but need to remember that it is not just for tea!

Propolis — Amorphous, resinous material gathered from plant buds and bark to strengthen the hive comb structure, varnish the inner surface of the hive, with its antiseptic, anti-viral, and anti-fungal properties. Widely used in topical and internal medications for its healing properties. Used in fine varnishes and in ancient embalming.

Royal Jelly — Special nutritious food produced by nurse bees to feed young larva, converting the ordinary worker larva to a fertile, female queen. Rich in lipids, amino acids, vitamins, and enzymes, widely used as food supplement and in dermatological cosmetics.

Bees Wax — Secreted by young bees, molded into strong hexagonal shaped comb cells to furnish support for brood and honey storage. Honey sealed n wax comb provides long (3,000 years) shelf life. Unique properties provide wide usage for candles, waterproofing, dentistry, polishes, and many healthy products.

Compared to petroleum-based paraffin, beeswax candles burn longer, give less smoke, less dripping, and fill the room with fragrant floral essence.

Bee Venom — Toxic liquid injected during a bee sting. Several proteins and enzymes cause painful inflammation during defensive stinging. Used by dermatologists test for allergy sensitivity. Bee sting therapy treats the symptoms of arthritis, multiple sclerosis and other auto immune conditions. For more information, visit American Apitherapy Society at www.apitherapy.org.

credit by http://www.registerstar.com

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Cosmetics for Men

Since I have been writing this column, we have covered several topics to help men look and feel their best while keeping up with the newest trends. One area that has been overlooked however, not only by myself but by the whole industry catering to men, is the importance of keeping your face clean and healthy looking.

An area of rapid growth in the sales of beauty products has been in products designed specifically for men. Contrary to popular belief, men are in fact concerned with their appearance, albeit to a lesser extent than women. Although this market is relatively new, experts predict cosmetics for men will be the next big thing in beauty products.

My argument is that if men are willing to spend money on cologne that make them smell good, why wouldn’t they spend money on something that makes them look good as well? Furthermore, since many men spend hours every week working out and taking care of their bodies, they are sure to want to take care of their faces if the products are available. Another example is the explosion in sales of hair growth treatments for balding men.

cosmetics for men

Since this is a new area, cosmetics companies are still unfamiliar with which products men are willing to try and which ones they are avoiding. They are experimenting with various forms of lotions, skincare and hair products.

Many people find the thought of men wearing make-up odd at first, but after seeing some of the products available, it makes sense. We sell lots of hair products, lotions, scrubs, oils, massage creams, razor blades, shaving needs, environmental sound products, the whole bit, says Sandy Pukel’s. He is the president of the Oak Feed Market in Coconut Grove, Florida, which features a department devoted exclusively to men’s health and beauty care products. I’m personally amazed at all the choices we have now, that we never used to have.

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credit by: AskMen.com

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Preemptive Skincare for Anti Aging Part 2

Preemptive skin care part 229In our ongoing quest for radiant, flawless, and youthful skin, a certain knowledge of anti-aging ingredients becomes not only helpful, but crucial. Here’s a handy cheat sheet, with all the basic ingredients you could ever want or need in a health-boosting, anti-aging skincare product.

Vitamin A,
Vitamin A is a drug but Retinol which is a derivative of Vitamin A is not. Vitamin A has been suggested to help promote the production of skin strengthening collagen fibers. These plump the skin and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. It is also believed that retinol reduces the appearance of hyper-pigmentation (mottled colored spots on the skin).

Vitamin C Vitamin C is a water-soluble antioxidant, crucial in the fight against skin-aging environmental free radicals, and essential for the formation of collagen in the skin. One thing to keep in mind is that Vitamin C is not very stable in skincare products, and it isn’t effective in small doses in topical skincare. While the jury concludes that Vitamin C is crucial in the fight against aging, it’s better when ingested in your favorite orange fruit.

Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs) Alpha Hydroxy Acids, or AHAs are a group of natural acids that act as powerful chemical exfoliants. These remove dead skin cells, reduce the appearance of fine lines, and deep cleanse the pores. Glycolic, lactic, citric, and tartaric acids are all AHAs, with lactic acids being the most gentle, and most prevalent. AHAs penetrate the epidermal (skin) cells to trigger the formation of new collagen, while reducing the appearance of surface wrinkles.

Peptides

Peptides are small chains of amino acids, and the building blocks of proteins, which make up skin cells. Due to their small molecular size, peptide proteins have the ability to deeply penetrate the layers of the skin to stimulate the skin cell healing process, and to trigger skin repair. In essence, peptides activate the skincare repair and renewal process on the molecular level.

The plethora of anti-aging skincare options need not be confusing. With a basic knowledge of ingredients, youthful skin is a stone’s throw away.

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@adinazilberman

adinazilberman
Beauty Blogger
In her 20’s from New York City

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It’s a Bit Cheesy

A new generation of anti-ageing products could be developed after researchers stumbled upon the anti-cheeseinflammatory properties of cheese whilst trying to discover the secret behind the French paradox puzzle.

This relates to the low rates of cardiovascular mortality which have existed in France for decades despite high saturated fat consumption, constituting the epidemiological phenomenon: ‘the French paradox.’ According to researchers from Lycotec, unexpected anti-inflammatory factors discovered in the blue-vein cheese
Roquefort, could lead to the development of a new generation of pharmaceuticals and future cosmetic products.

Potential applications Extensive laboratory and clinical validation by the Cambridge-based doctors and scientists have demonstrated that these anti-inflammatory factors, which occur during the ripening of the cheese, have unique properties which work best in acidic environments; most notably in the stomach lining and skin surface.“The anti-inflammatory factors found in these cheeses could be extracted and used independently or as a part of today’s pharmaceutical or beauty products,” say study authors Dr Ivan Petyaev and Dr Yuriy Bashmakov.

“Moreover, there is a growing consensus that sub-clinical inflammation is behind many ageing processes, from the loss of skeletal muscles and cellulite to metabolic, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.” This has lead the research team to urge beauty and pharmaceutical product companies to take a look at this new
finding for future product ideas and partnerships, without the mouldy smell.

Get a whiff…
Lycotec started to publish its findings on the French cheese, initially suggesting that regular consumption of Roquefort, Camembert and other moulded fermented cheeses could be the answer to some of today’s key health problems. Despite a diet high in saturated fats, France has been known to have the lowest rate of cardiovascular mortality. This was originally attributed to consumption of red wine and its major constituent resveratrol. However, recent studies indicate that consumption of red wine alone cannot explain the paradox and perhaps some other constituents of the typical French diet could be responsible for reduced cardiovascular mortality; leading to
this study on cheese.

By Andrew McDougall+

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Anti Wrinkle Skin Care: Reducing the Signs of Aging simply

anti-aging-skin-care-for-youthful-skinAnti Wrinkle Skin Care: Reducing the Signs of Aging simply

Wrinkles are a women’s worst enemy and aside from going for expensive botox treatment and cosmetic surgery, many ladies prefer to obtain anti aging wrinkle creams that are offered on the market.It is straightforward to appreciate that there are too several beauty product in stores nowadays and one in every of the foremost selling is that the anti-aging wrinkle cream. customers frequently obtain and use this product within the hopes that their wrinkles are going to be reduced.

We often raise ourselves if they extremely work. the solution is yes if the merchandise was fastidiously researched and created to deal with the problems of aging. If it’s not readily ready and tested, then it’d fail to supply the assistance it guarantees to administer.

Chances are that the anti-aging wrinkle cream won’t fall wanting the consumers’ expectations.Carefully researched and formulated anti-aging wrinkle creams works to interchange collagen loss throughout the natural method of aging.When the collagen is replaced, the skin smoothens out because it returns to its original supple and elastic state and this makes the wrinkles diminish with the continued use of the merchandise.

One advantage of using anti-aging creams is that it’s less expensive than surgery and different beauty treatments. Also, its application involves no pain in the slightest degree. merely apply the anti wrinkle cream or lotion on the face is what it takes to realize a fresher look.

If a client makes it a habit to use anti-aging wrinkle creams and makes it a part of her daily routine, she is going to reap the advantages of the merchandise while not the requirement to check a dermatologist that saves her each cash and time.

Once you have selected the anti-aging product you believe can treat your skin problems, use it as directed. Applying beauty creams is like baking a cake. You don’t just mix in all the ingredients, whip, bake, and then expect it to taste great, as it says on the package directions. Even if you use the right ingredients but without the right technique, you’ll still end up with a cake you will rather not eat. When applying facial anti-aging creams, therefore, employing the right techniques is necessary to get the best results. And what may these techniques be? Well, they’re really nothing more than gently and slowly massaging the cream on the area you want to treat, using very light pressure and then remembering not to rub on too hard because over time that is going to make your skin sag.

@mellisagarcia24
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In her 20’s
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What To Eat For Healthy Skin

berries2By Where to find the vitamins and minerals your skin needs to make it look radiant

Achieving radiant, younger-looking skin takes more than just a good skin care regimen. In fact, what you eat has also a lot to do with it.
Think about it: your skin is the biggest organ in your body, so whatever you eat will also take its toll on your skin. To get good skin, you have to start from within, which means eating the right kinds of food.

Here’s a list of foods you might want to pick up the next time you make a grocery run.
1. Low-fat yogurt. Low-fat dairy products not only give you a calcium boost (which helps prevent osteoporosis), but it also contains Vitamin A, which helps in the development of skin cells. Basically, your skin cells depend on Vitamin A to regenerate, making you look younger and healthier. Without it, you get dry, dull skin.
Added bonus: yogurt also contains live bacteria that’s good for your intestinal tract. A healthy digestive system reflects on good skin.
2. Berries. We’re talking strawberries, blackberries, blueberries, and even plums! These babies pack lots of antioxidants and phytochemicals which protect us from free radicals — such as sun exposure and pollution — that can damage our skin cells.
Berries also help our bodies manufacture collagen, which as we all know, makes skin smooth and supple. Buy some and toss them in yogurt for an extra sweet treat!
3. Salmon. Salmon is an excellent source of Omega 3 fatty acids, which helps make cell membranes stronger and healthier. Stronger cells are able to hold in more moisture, which leaves you with plumper, youthful-looking skin. Plus a good amount of Omega 3 also helps keep your heart in good shape.
You can also get your dose of Omega 3 from avocados, walnuts, and dark, leafy vegetables.
4. Green Tea. Sip on this: green tea contains catechins and polyphenols which have anti-inflammatory characteristics and may even prevent certain skin cancers!
Research has also shown that the antioxidants found in green tea help reduce the risk of UV damage on skin cells. Plus, a cup of the stuff is high in Vitamin C, D, K, riboflavin, zinc, calcium, magnesium, and iron. Heck, no wonder green tea is used in so many beauty products!
5. Almonds. Almonds have tons of flavonoids, antioxidants that have anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor characteristics.
These antioxidants deactivate free radicals in the body which help keep your skin cells healthy and happy. Plus, almonds are rich in Vitamin E and have essential oils that keep your skin moisturized from within.
The best way to enjoy them? Raw, unsalted, and with their skin on.
6. Water. Your body is made up of 60% water. If you don’t chug down H2O during the day, you become sluggish, dehydrated, and your skin gets dull and dry.
Water not only quenches your thirst, but it also washes out unhealthy toxins in your body — toxins which, if left to linger, show up on your face.
Drink at least eight glasses of water a day and more if you’re doing activities that cause you to sweat. Remember, if your body is well-fed and hydrated, you’ll feel and look better.

By Maui V. Reyes for Yahoo! Southeast Asia
@royalblooded
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Student
In his 20’s from Manila, Philippines
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3 Ways to Keep Your Skin Soft

SoftBabySkin-Dec10-istockGet skin that’s silky smooth

 The winter can really dry out your skin and make it become chapped and flaky. Hot showers always feel so good on a chilly night, but while the steam can be good for the skin, too long in a hot shower can make the skin feel rough and leathery. Colder weather doesn’t have to mean scaly skin. So what is the best way to keep skin soft and silky this winter? Here are some tips on how I keep things smooth:

For the face: 
Use a gentler face wash or one with exfoliating beads and wash face in a soft, circular motion without rubbing too hard or scrubbing with a washcloth. When you step out of the shower, cake on the moisturizer. Apply one heavy layer and let it set in. If your face soaks it up quickly, add a second thinner layer. Also, your face can feel dry after a night’s sleep, so add a thinner layer of moisturizer after your rinse your face in the morning and before you apply your makeup.

For the lips:
Find a conditioning lip treatment or lip balm that moisturizes your lips and keeps them satiny smooth. I discovered a new product – Jouer’s Conditioning Lip Treatment – which keeps my lips soft for hours. It also gives a pretty sheen which doesn’t require lip color, which makes for a perfect, natural look. Also, when choosing lip color use one that doesn’t dry your lips out. Some glosses and lipsticks are too sticky that they don’t glide on the lips, but rather just make them chap easier.

For the body:
Use a body oil in the shower to keep skin soft and apply a thick body cream right out of the shower. For rougher spots like the elbows and knees, use a loofah in the shower to exfoliate and soften the skin. If your feet become rough, apply a thick layer of moisturizing body butter cream and slip on some soft socks or slippers.

What tricks do you have for keeping your skin soft during the harsher winter months?

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Writer
In her 30’s from San Diego, CA
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What happens when you turn 40?


When you enter your forties, you might start noticing more wrinkles and fine lines around your eyes, mouth and forehead. On top of that, your complexion may start looking duller. However, if you practice a good skin care routine and care for your skin you can enhance your complexion and diminish the appearance of the signs of aging. Here are some tips to care for your skin during your 40’s and maintain its good health.

Re-evaluate your skin type

As we grow old, our skin ages and looses collagen and elastin fibers. As a result, the skin tends to become dry and saggy. Even if you had normal skin throughout your life, you will start noticing that your skin becomes drier as you age; this is a signal that you need to change your skin care products and use ones that cater to dry skin types.

Upgrade your skin care regimen

Up till now, you may have been practising a regular skin care regimen of cleansing, exfoliating and moisturizing which was working fine. However, once you enter your forties, you need to re-evaluate your skin and upgrade your skin care regimen to suit the changing needs. Your forties are a time when you start to see the results of how you have treated your skin so far – this will further decide how much you will need to adjust your skin care regimen. If you have always worn sunscreen and practised preventive care, then your skin probably will not show much of a difference. However, if you have been neglecting skin care all these years, you will see wrinkles and fine lines become more prominent as you approach your forties.

Use anti aging skin care products

It is high time to start using anti aging skin care formulations. These skin care products contain specialized ingredients that help soothe the skin and fight against the signs of aging. Look for ingredients like alpha hydroxy acids and retinoids. They not only stimulate the collagen production within the skin cells but also help diminish the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines.

Treat acne

Acne is a common skin concern during the forties because of the hormonal fluctuations that the body goes through. Adult acne is a serious skin concern. Therefore you need to use special acne skin care products that identify the root cause of acne and treat it from the roots.

Go low on make-up and cosmetics

When women hit their forties, they generally end up using heavier make-up in order to camouflage the aging signs and make their skin look radiant. However, this has a detrimental effect on the skin; heavy foundation and excessive compact powder can actually create a cakey impression and highlight the wrinkles and fine lines on your face. Moreover, the harsh chemicals contained in these products may seep into your skin and further degrade the internal tissues. Instead you should use creamy and hydrating skin care products that don’t highlight the age lines but makes the skin appear smooth and supple. Look for ingredients like petrolatum and glycerin in your cosmetics.