Take care of your skin!

October 18, 2010

Today us girls in the Einstein Club tested our skin with lemon and cucumbers, and learned about the health elements of each. Both rich sources of nutrients, they help immensely with benefiting your skin.

Lemon’s got astringent properties which help reduce scars and acne, and give your face the fairness effect. Lemon, as a natural antiseptic, can even be used to destroy bacteria from cuts or small wounds – it can also be used as a cleanser. It should be noted however, due to lemon’s high levels acid, you should make sure whether or not your skin is sensitive to it. A test can be carried out by adding some lemon juice onto the back side of your arm. Wait 5 -10 minutes to see if it gets red and/or very itchy. If so, don’t use anywhere else and wash it off your arm. Once the ‘safe flag’ is waved, it can be applied to your face. It may feel a little tingly or slightly itchy; however this just means it’s working for your skin.

Cucumbers are helpful with reducing the puffiness and dark circles from under your eyes. Thanks to the same level of hydrogen your skin and cucumbers have, problem areas are easily masked. For this reason as well, cucumbers clean your skin. Cucumbers have a very neutral base and can be safely used on skin. It may however feel a little odd on places like under your eyes – however once finished applying, skin feels fresh and supple.

We also learned about: Exfoliators, Cleansers, Toners and Moisturizers

An exfoliator is usually a soap or a liquid/cream with small beads/amount of sand that you rub on to your face and body and wash it off (also called a scrub).

An exfoliator helps your skin because everyone has dead skin cells on their body and because of that the skin on your face is constantly regenerating itself and creating new skin cells, pushing the dead ones further and further up and off your face. In short, an exfoliator helps get rid of those skin cells. It's important to exfoliate your face once or twice a week, or if its a light exfoliator you can use it every day. It's basically lotion with sand in it, and after you gently scrub and wash it off; your skin will feel a lot smoother because it has removed dead skin cells and bacteria from your face.

A cleanser is a facial care product that is used to remove make-up, dead skin cells, oil, dirt and other types of pollutants from the skin of the face. This helps to unclog pores and prevent skin conditions such as acne. Many people use a cleanser once or more times a day as part of their skin care regimen together with a toner and moisturizer.

In cosmetics, toner refers to a lotion or wash designed to cleanse the skin and shrink pores, usually used on the face. Toner is usually a clear liquid (or slightly colored), it’s quite watery. It’s meant to be used after cleansing and before moisturizing to remove any left over cleanser and deep clean the pores. A lot of people think it’s not that necessary. Don’t buy an alcohol based one; it will dry your skin too much.

Moisturizers are complex mixtures of chemical agents specially designed to make the external layers of the skin (epidermis) softer and more pliable, by increasing its hydration (water content) by reducing evaporation.

Here are some homemade skin treats you can make!

Homemade Skin Treats

Simple, Effective and Natural Products Found In Your Kitchen

Brown Sugar-Olive Oil Scrub

Don't spend your money on pricey scrubs; make your own with brown sugar and olive oil. It exfoliates away all the dry skin, moisturizes what's underneath, increases your skin's circulation and can improve the appearance of cellulite. For gorgeously smooth skin, combine roughly three parts brown sugar with one part olive oil (e.g. 1tblspn olive oil and 3tblspns brown sugar). Before you shower, stand in your bathtub and apply the scrub with your hands to your body and rub. Be gentle, as this is quite abrasive, but you can be a bit rougher where your skin is thicker and drier (i.e. your feet). Rinse off in the shower, and you'll find there's no need to moisturize afterwards.

Yogurt Mask

Yogurt works on all skin types to soften skin, soothe redness and tighten pores while gently deep cleaning. Use a natural, unflavored, plain yogurt and apply to your face as you would a mask, avoiding the eyes and mouth. You may want to let the yogurt warm up slightly before applying it! Leave on for ten minutes and rinse off with warm water. Follow with a honey mask, or apply moisturizer as you would normally.

Honey Mask

Honey is also an ancient beauty product used alongside yogurt to soften, deep clean and soothe your skin. Honey is a natural antibiotic and will help to kill any bacteria in your pores, which in turn helps to eliminate redness. It's also gently moisturizing and full of vitamins. Simply smooth it onto your face, avoiding your eyes and mouth and let it sit for ten minutes. Rinse off with warm water and follow with your regular toning and moisturizing routine.

Olive Oil

Olive oil is an all-purpose, rich, but non-irritating moisturizer. Try rubbing it onto dry bits like your elbows, knees and heels. Try it as a nighttime moisturizer for your face during the cold months. Smooth it on your body for an extra-nourishing treat and rinse off the excess in the shower – your skin will feel amazing. Or warm it carefully and very, very slightly and use it as a heated deep-moisturizing mask.

Baking Soda

Baking soda is an all-purpose, gentle exfoliator and skin softener. To use it as an exfoliator, simply pour a quarter-sized amount of baking soda into the palm of your hand. You can add a tiny bit of your regular cleanser or some warm water to turn it into a paste. You may need to add more to get the right consistency. Apply to your skin, avoiding your eyes, and rub gently with your fingertips in a circular motion. Adjust the pressure of your fingers as you wish for a harder or lighter scrub and then rinse off the paste with warm water. Follow with your regular toner and moisturizer.


Source: suite101.com