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Natural Treatments for Beautiful Skin
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Your skin naturally sheds dead
cells every day, which helps to
keep it smooth and fresh
looking. But after the age of
35, the dead cells that make up
the outer layer of your skin are
not shed as rapidly as when
you were younger. As dead
cells accumulate, they make
your skin look dull and dry and
you lose the healthy, radiant
look that characterizes
youthful skin.You can greatly
improve the appearance of
your skin by regularly removing
the top layer of dead skin cells,
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a process called exfoliation. Exfoliation is accomplished by using grainy scrubs that
physically remove dead cells through gentle abrasion, or fruit-enzyme skin peels or
alpha-hydroxy acid skin peels, which dissolve the top layer of dead skin cells.
Natural scrubs are made from finely ground fibrous plant material such as oatmeal,
corn meal, almonds, and apricot kernels. Be cautious when using grainy scrubs,
because many are too harsh to use on the delicate skin of your face. For a gentle
scrub that will not irritate your skin. Although many grainy scrubs are too abrasive to
use on your face, they are perfect to use as an allover exfoliator for your body. Your
body builds up dead skin cells just as your face does and benefits from a weekly
exfoliating treatment.
Fruit-enzyme peels are made from fruit or vegetable enzymes that exfoliate the skin
in approximately 20 minutes without scrubbing. Many contain green papaya, which
contains the protein digesting enzyme papain. Dead skin cells are composed
primarily of protein, and enzyme peels digest the dead skin cells on the surface of
the skin without harming new cell growth. Enzyme peels are gentle exfoliators and
leave skin noticeably smoother and softer after only one treatment. They can be
used as part of a weekly or monthly facial treatment and can even be used daily as
part of a program to rejuvenate aging skin.
Alpha-hydroxy acids are natural exfoliators derived from foods such as citrus fruits
(citric acid), sour milk (lactic acid), grapes (tartaric acid), sugar cane (glycolic acid),
and apples (malic acid). These gentle, natural acids work by loosening the "glue" that
binds the outermost layer of surface cells together, which increases the shedding of
dead skin cells and encourages the formation of new skin cells. The idea of using the
natural acids found in foods to renew the skin is not new-Cleopatra bathed in
buttermilk, and red wine has been used for centuries as a skin wash. Alpha-hydroxy
acids improve skin texture and color, reduce fine lines and age spots, and make
pores appear smaller. Although you will usually notice smoother skin after the first
treatment, you'll need to use alphahydroxy acids on a regular basis for two months or
longer to see a significant improvement in skin texture and diminishment of fine
lines. There are a variety of natural products available, and most contain between 5
and 15 percent alpha-hydroxy acids. Products that contain higher percentages of
alpha-hydroxy acids will create faster results, but often cause stinging or tingling
sensations when applied to the skin. These reactions are not usually a cause for
concern, but severe stinging or redness indicates an undue sensitivity or allergic
reaction and you should try a different product with a lower concentration of
alpha-hydroxy acids.
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About Author:
Krishan Bakhru is the Editor of Natural Beauty , Free Aromatherapy Recipes
and Health Articles
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