WINTER SKIN CARE during the long winter months means your skin needs protection from cold weather and reduced humidity. Switching to winter-friendly products can keep your skin looking healthy and beautiful.  Following are some great tips to keep your skin glowing and healthy all winter long.

DRINK LOTS of WATER and HOT HERBAL TEAS:

Proper hydration and water consumption is very important to keeping our bodies healthy and our skin from cracking and itching in low humidity and heated environments. Be sure to drink at least 64oz of water per day. Replacing plain water with herbal teas is also beneficial for the warming properties and natural herbal benefits such as anti- inflammatory Chamomile or tummy-soothing Peppermint. Try to stay away from caffeinated beverages, as these can actually increase dehydration.

Water gives the skin a radiant, healthy, younger looking complexion, reduces wrinkles and allows skin to maintain its elasticity and suppleness. Keeping skin hydrated from the outside in – such as using lotions and skin moisturizers – is commonly needed more often in cold, dry months like winter.

USE A QUALITY MOISTURIZER

When there is a change of the epidermal (top, exposed layer of skin) barrier and reduced water content in the top layer of skin, moisturizers are a key component of basic skin care. They are used to restore the protective barrier function of the skin, to cover tiny tears or cracks, to provide a soothing protective film and increase the water-content of the epidermis. They may, slow evaporation of the skin’s moisture, thereby maintaining hydration and improving the appearance of dry and aging skin.

Ingredients that aid skin hydration and smoothness are: Aloe Vera, Jojoba oil, Cocoa Butter, Almond Oil, Propylene Glycol, Vitamin E and Hyaluronic Acid.

KEEP HEATING ELEMENTS AT A LOWER TEMPERATURE

Water consumption and moisturizing is not the only factor in keeping skin hydrated and moist. Many external elements can be damaging and drying to the skin, such as too-hot baths or showers and keeping your indoor heat on high temperatures.  Also consider using a humidifier in your room or office, since it returns the moisture into the air and help the skin stay hydrated.

CHANGE YOUR SKINCARE ROUTINE

During the winter, cold temperatures can lead to dry and cracked skin.  Switch to a mild soap or cream facial cleanser to help keep your skin smooth and soft as opposed to dry and tight after washing.  Products that contain natural moisture such as Aloe vera are also excellent, since they are not harsh on dry, winter skin.
Winter air literally sucks moisture from your skin, so moisturizing is a crucial step in winter skin care.   Even more important to moisturizing is choosing the right product.  Products containing mineral oil, almond oil, or avocado oil work especially well since they keep the skin hydrated without clogging pores.

Moisturizing right after a warm shower will help seal in the water and prevent dry skin.

PROTECT YOUR SKIN FROM UV RAYS

Just because it is cold outside does not mean you should toss your sunscreen tube.  Even when you can’t feel the heat, the sun is still emitting harmful UVA and UVB rays, so it still important to protect your skin.  Apply a moisturizer that contains an SPF of at least 15, or use products containing zinc oxide, which acts as a natural barrier between your skin and the sun.  Surprisingly, the sun’s reflective power on snow can be as high as 80%, so it is possible to be sunburned after spending a day on the ski slopes without sun protection.

Don’t forget to help your lips battle harsh winter conditions with plenty of lip balm  as well.

Winter skin care may differ from summer skin care in the type of products used, but the regimen for healthy skin is the same year round: cleanse, moisturize and protect.

Raw organic cocoa butter or cacao butter is a beauty skincare product that contains a large amount of antioxidants. It helps to neutralize a wide range of super-oxides and free radicals. It is infused with Vitamin E which is a strong antioxidant that can easily neutralize oxidizing agents. Cocoa butter also consists of a great amount of Vitamins A and C.

Natural Cocoa Pods for Cocoa Butter

It has been scientifically proven that it helps in preventing skin degradation because of the harmful effects of the ultraviolet sun rays. UV radiation generates free radicals that destroy the skin very easily. But, if you use cocoa butter it can pose to be a great shield against the harmful rays of the sun.

Cocoa butter also consists of an essential amino acid that will aid in your beauty skincare. The butter works from inside out to help you feel and look great. It helps in decreasing skin roughness and scaling and improves vessel function and blood flow. It forms a thin barrier that helps in sealing in the moisture that allows your skin to breathe easily.
It is known to be the ultimate skin moisturizer that helps in keeping your skin soft and supple for a long time. Vivoderm’s foot cream consists of cocoa butter which is a wonderful treatment for tired or scaling feet. It is a highly effective treatment for dry and cracked feet. The light and fluffy texture leaves your feet smooth and fresh and absorbs quickly. So, if you suffer from extremely dry skin on your feet then you should definitely try out Vivoderm’s product.

We recently got a great tip from one of our clients on adding a tablespoon or so of avocado to the Vivoderm Herbal Facial Masks. What a great idea! Upon further research we learned this about avocado.

Avocado in the Vivoderm Mask promotes additional hydration

Avocado is a fruit which has many benefits related to health and beauty. It is considered to be a natural skincare ingredient that helps to reduce scars, age spots and tans. Avocado can also be used for treating skin that has been damaged by excess exposure of the sun. The oil that is extracted from Avocado is rich in Vitamin E, D, and A which is absorbed into the skin very easily. If you have super-dehydrated skin then Avocado oil can be a good additional source of moisture and nourishment. Those with dry skin or those who live in polluted areas will also love this avocado treatment to help heal excessive environmental exposure.

You can prepare the Vivoderm facial mask with avocado right at home. You just need a ripe avocado that has been peeled and mashed or pureed. Blend one half (or as needed) avocado into 1-2 tablespoons of your Vivoderm herbal facial mask using the Vivoderm mask bowl and scoop till it has a smooth texture. If you need more hydration to blend, simply add water or Vivoderm toner. It is easy to use this mixture. Next, simply take a cotton ball or mask brush and then dip it in the mixture. Dab (or brush) the mixture on your face and neck areas. After 20 minutes you can rinse off with warm water and follow with the Vivoderm Natural Facial Toner. Wah-lah! Your skin will be super hydrated, radiant and ready to show off to the world!

And in between mask treatments, don’t forget to use a natural facial cleanser daily to help fight grime and dirt and keep skin clean.

Honey, is the ultimate natural product that is extremely beneficial for your skin. Whether it is milk and honey baths or face masks with honey, you can get the perfect radiance with this natural product. Dirt and pollution cause the skin to lose its ability to retain moisture. Hence, it looks dry and wrinkles appear. Honey’s antioxidant properties trap the moisture and refresh the skin and leave it soft and supple.

Honey if purchased in its purest form is appropriate for all types of skin. Most natural skincare products contain honey. Whether it is shower gels, face creams moisturizers you will find it everywhere. You can treat yourself to some natural skin care remedies that contain honey. You can whip up your own recipe at your home.

If you have dry skin then you can use 1 teaspoon of honey, ¼ tsp lemon juice, vegetable oil. Use it on the dry areas of the skin and leave it for about 15 minutes and then wash it with water. You can make a moisturizing mask that contains 1 egg yolk, 1 teaspoon yogurt, ½ teaspoon almond oil and 1 teaspoon honey. Use this mixture on your neck and face and leave it on for 10 minutes and then wash it off with water. Your skin will get a new shine and will feel moisturized as it will help tighten the pores.

If you want a smooth silky skin then combine 3 teaspoon of rosewater and ¼ cup of honey. Use this mixture to your neck and face and try to avoid areas around your mouth or eyes. Massage and then wash it off with lukewarm water.

So, go ahead and purchase natural skincare products with honey today!

Hands are the first part of your body that shows signs of aging. Hence, they need quite a lot of pampering so that they remain soft and supple for a long time. Beautiful well kept hands are essential as it tells a alot about how you care for yourself. Dressing up in fancy clothes will be of no use to hide hands that have been negleted.  Taking good care of your hands takes little time and has big rewards.

A few hand care tips can be extremely beneficial for you. The skin on your hand is extremely delicate and thin, hence you need to moisturize your skin at least four times a day. You should use a mild exfoliator on your hands once every week to remove rough spots and calouses. Apply a light moisturizing cream on to your hands every night before going to bed to keep skin soft and supple. If you are going out in the sun apply sunscreen lotion so that your hands don’t get unnecessarily tanned or darken age spots. Excessive exposure to sun can also bring about wrinkles and age spots early. Hence, to avoid this you can choose to follow a daily skin care regimen for your hands and treat them to some TLC.

Our hands have few oil glands to keep them naturally moisturized, so they get dry very quickly. When they come in contact with detergent, chemicals and dirt the skin gets further damaged. You can adopt special treatments like herbal therapies and warm oil soaks that can keep your hands soft and supple for a long time. Mix a few drops of rose water, glycerin, and lemon juice and massage it on your hands daily for best results. You can also try out cornmeal which is a great scrub for cleansing hands and softening them wonderfully.

With a little effort, you too can have hands that defy your true age.

Your skin health will depend on a balanced diet, required physical exercise, proper nutrition and hydration and a daily skin care routine. By following a simple guideline that includes 4 easy steps you can enhance your skin health to a great extent.

Cleansing: The first step to your beauty guide should be cleansing your skin on a regular basis. By cleansing you can remove all the dirt from your skin as well as other impurities that clog the pores of the skin. This should be done at least once a day with a non-irritating and mild cleanser that is suited for your skin tone. Be careful when you choose your cleanser as that should not strip your skin of all the natural oils.

 Toning: Use a toner as it is very essential to keep your skin cool and rehydrated. You will be left with refreshing skin throughout the day. Toners help in removing dirt, oil, makeup that the cleanser has not managed to remove. Use a toner that is absolutely free of alcohol as it dries up the skin.

Exfoliation: This process helps in removing dead cells that have accumulated on the skin surface. Ensure that the exfoliant you are using is not granular, as that can damage your skin. If you want to enhance the rejuvenation procedure of your skin, then use exfoliants that have alpha or beta hydroxyl acids. This helps in wrinkle prevention.

Moisturize: The final step that you must do is moisturizing your skin. Your entire body requires nutrients and hydration. Your skin should be daily treated with a moisturizer for daytime use that has SPF properties that would provide you with sun protection. At night use a moisturizer that would be better absorbed by your skin.

These 4 basic steps can help you get back your skin health. Each step is essential as part of your daily beauty guide. You must choose your products well so that it suits your skin type.

Pimples are the most problematic skin problem among teenagers. But yes, you can treat your pimples at home.  You do not necessarily have to buy special creams and lotions with chemical compositions for treating your pimples. If you want to get rid of your pimples then you can follow some simple steps to keep breakouts at bay and treat pimples at home according to your needs and at your convenience.

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

To know your skin, you only need to learn a few things.  You may remember that old grade-school joke; “YOUR EPIDERMIS IS SHOWING!” Well, it starts there. The epidermis is the outer layer of the skin, which together with the bottom-layer dermis forms the 4-5 layers that comprise your skin.

Your Skin – is a flexible membranous tissue that forms the external covering of the body, it operates as a complex organ of numerous structures (sometimes called the integumentary system) performing vital protective and metabolic functions. The average skin makes up about 18% of an adult’s weight and approximately a total area of 1,5 – 2 m²

The skin contains two main layers of cells: a thin outer layer, the epidermis, and a thicker inner layer immediately below, called the dermis. Along the internal surface of the epidermis, young cells continuously multiply, pushing the older cells outward. At the outer surface the older cells flatten and overlap to form a tough membrane and gradually shed as calluses or collections of dead skin. Hair and nails are evolutionary adaptations of the epidermis.

Although the epidermis has no blood vessels, its deeper strata contain melanin, the pigment that gives color to the skin. The underlying dermis consists of connective tissue with embedded blood vessels, lymph channels, nerve endings, sweat glands, fat cells, hair follicles, muscles and oil glands that lubricate the skin and hair (glands located in the skin that secrete an oily substance, sebum – called sebaceous glands). The nerve endings, called receptors, perform an important sensory function – responding to various stimuli, including touch, pressure, heat, and cold.