Skinfare Skin Care Blog

Collagen injections using human collagen normally run in the $500 to $1000 range and are performed frequently under the brand names Dermalogen and Autologen. Though no time frame has been scientifcally established for how long these injections last but most report a 6 month average effective lifespan.

The main benefit is that collagen injections show a noticeable effect almost immediately. The down side being that if not done properly, they can leave the injection site hard to the touch and lumpy.

Dermalogen collagen is taken from cadavers which that used in Autologen is taken from your own body and simply re-located to the area to be treated. Autologen also provides the added benefit of causes little to no irritation or allergic reactions.

A drawback of Autologen treatment is that the collagen is usually harvested by performing another procedure on you (liposuction, tummy tuck, etc).

Some practitioners claim that some collagen treatments will show permanent results. However, this claim has not been proven scientifically and most collagen injection patients will tell you that though the results are effective, they certainly do not last indefinitely.

“Laugh lines”, “crows feet” and “frown lines” are all too familiar to those of us with aging skin. These types of facial wrinkles are often caused by repetitive facial movements such as squinting, furrowing the brow and even talking. In the end, there is not much you can do to avoid having these types of wrinkles unless, of course, you turn to medical procedures.

One thing that can be done however is to incorporate facial exercises into your skincare routine. You may feel silly doing them at first but the visible presence of wrinkles and loose skin can be greatly increased by facial muscles that lack tone. As these muscles relax, they no longer help in supporting the skin.

Facial exercise routines consist of moving as many of the facial muscles as possible in the widest range of movement possible. For a facial exercise routine, you can check out this site or several others around the web.

Antioxidants are those substances which prevent the damage done by free radicals on the skin. The free radicals we are most concerned with when it comes to skin are the oxygen molecules that have lost an electron through some form of environmental damage.

What does this have to do with wrinkles?

Wrinkles appear as the support structures and compounds beneath the skin lose their effectiveness. These structures and substances such as collagen and elastin get weaker through cell damage. Free radicals, missing their electron seek to steal it from other molecules making them weaker and when this happens, the skin can no longer be supported and small recesses of sunken skin appear which we call wrinkles.

Antioxidants such as vitamins A,C,E and some amino acids can help prevent this destructive sequence and some skin aging but the jury is out as to how effective they are and whether or not that can truly address the extensive and constant presence of free radicals on the skin.

Here are two quick and natural steps for dry skin care (be sure not to do these more than 2 or 3 times in any given week0:

Exfoliation

Dry skin usually contains a lot of excess dead skin cells that can hang around on the skin unless they are loosened and cleared up. Also, in order for dry skin to make the moisturizer (step 2), it will need to have as much of the dead layer removed as possible.

Mix 1 tablespoon of ground oatmeal  with a handful of facial cosmetic clay (the kind used in masks) and 1 teaspoon of flaxseed with whole milk or cream until you have a thick paste. Gently massage on your face in a circular motion. This simple natural facial scrub will both loosen and remove dead skin. This mixture can be used on all parts of the body for complete exfoliation.

Moisturizing

Take a 100% soybean oil based vegetable shortening (yes, the kind you cook with) and apply it directly to your face. Be very careful that you do not add too much because your skin will begin to absorb it very quickly. If too much is caked on, you may end up with clogged pores which result in breakouts.

And there you have it, a quick and effective all natural dry skin treatment.

Bath salts (especially espsom salts) are perhaps one of the most economical ways to treat the skin and have wonderful anti-inflammation and healing benefits. Bath salts and the minerals that are associated with them can soften water which removes some of the harsh chemicals sometimes used to purify and can be a great addition to an organic skin care program.

All bath salts are not created equal however. Some contain things like sodium carbonate, phosphate and borax all of which can act as skin irritants.  Sea salt and table salt should also never be used as a bath salt replacement. These can actually stick to the skin and cause dryness in addition to irritation.

Bath salts from all parts of the world are available from the Dead Sea to the salt from Volcanic regions which claim to have high exotic mineral contents. Should you use these and will they provide additional benefits? Probably not, but that doesn’t mean they will be without benefits. Sensitive skin types should stick with epsom salts, you can’t beat them for the value .

All-Trans Retinoic Acid or Tretinoin has become one of the most effective ways to treat skin discoloration when combined with Hydroquinone  or azelaic acid.  Use of tretinoin alone can take a much longer time than if used in conjunction with these other substances. It’s key function is to help produce collagen, elastin and assist in skin cell regeneration.

This can have a direct impact on skin discoloration because this discoloration or hyperpigmentation is often due to a breakdown in the regulators of skin color within the skin. Collagen, moisture and other ingredients that are used to maintain consistent color are damaged by the sun over time and use of Tretinoin can help combat these effects and be a valuable part of any aging skin care regimen.

If you wear face makeup, following these four facial skin care treatment tips can help you maintain a clear, and balanced complexion:

1) Cleanse your face more than once. First use a cleanser to remove makeup, sunscreen and other substances on the surface of the skin. A second cleansing (or use of a skin toner/astringent) can remove excess oil and things caught deep in your pores.

2) You can never rinse too much. Many skin care products can leave a residue on your face and loosening them up with a good cleanser/scrub does you no good unless you can remove those substances from your skin.

3) Don’t overdo it. Cleansing and scrubbing your face more than twice a day (max) can actually damage your skin and unbalance it’s restoring processes.

4) Never apply hot water directly to your face. Hot water can irritate the skin and remove the all important acid mantle and moisture from skin cells.

The skin’s outer layer is a key factor in keeping the skin hydrated through moisture retention and sebum (skin oil) production. This layer is held together by lipids or fats and this layer can be broken down by many environmental conditions such as cold or dry weather. These conditions along with other harsh ingredients like detergents and chemicals break down these fats.

Moisture can then evaporate resulting in dry skin and if those pollutants get lodged in the skin, irritation and excess oil production can occur as well as a number of skin conditions. Hydrating skin care products can assist in maintaining the balance of the skin’s outer barrier and you can gain even more benefit by incorporating essential fatty acids and hdl cholesterol (like those in fish) into your diet.

It’s hard to avoid the claims made for many clay facial mask  products . Exotic clays from  exotic locations that soothe, nourish and rejuvenate the skin seem to hit the market every year. Rhassoul, Moor, Dead Sea and other muds and clays are indeed rich in mineral content and can help to draw excess oil from the skin but does that mean that you should be using them?

To date, there is little to no research showing that facial masks provide any significant benefit of detoxifying or exfoliating the skin.  That being said however, there are some benefits to be had from these face skin care products, the main ones being to soothe irritated dry skin or help to restore pH balance in oily skin.

Using clay facial masks too much in fact cause the skin to become overly dry and shortly thereafter, overly oily as the skin overcompensates to restore a balance. If clay is not cleaned thoroughly, it can contribute to clogged pores, the number one cause of acne.

No matter which side of the clay mask argument you’re on, remember that these products are meant to be use infrequently and like anything that proves to be beneficial, infrequent may not be enough.

Without a doubt, the number one enemy of your skin is prolonged exposure to the sun over time. Everything from wrinkles to age spots to sagging skin can be greatly accelerated by too much sun. By simply using a sunscreen with an SPF (skin protection factor) of 15 or higher - with 30 being preferred - you can take years off of your appearance as you grow older.

Ultraviolet Rays from the Sun break down the support structures in the skin over time greatly reducing their ability to provide nutrients, hydration and things such as collagen and elastin. Without these things, the skin loses its elasticity and firmness.

Everyone one loves the sun but it doesn’t always love you back and if you do anything to take care of your skin on a regular basis it should be to use sunscreen and look for cosmetics and skin care products that contain them.