What Is Alpha Hydroxyl Acid And How Can It Treat Brown Spots

What is Alpha Hydroxyl Acid and How Can It Treat Brown Spots

Skin problems have become most people’s primary problems as they can drastically change the appearance of the skin. For more serious cases, they will be really painful and very annoying to be experienced to.

Being suffered from any skin problems like brown spots, acne, rash, scratches, dermatitis, allergic reactions, hay fever rash, eczema, ulcers, keratosis, skin cancer, skin lesions, and fungal infections must be a very bad thing for people. That is why people will want to get rid of those skin problems as soon as possible. But, this article will be limited on discussing only about brown spots. In detail, it is about what is alpha hydroxyl acid and how can it treat brown spots.

If you are taking a brief look on several websites on the internet these days, you will simply be able to find that one of the most common effective ways in removing brown spots as well as decreasing the appearance of dark skin pigmentation is by exfoliating the upper layers of the skin. 

The process of exfoliating the skin should involve the use of topical cream to help remove the top layers of the skin while maintaining the skin cells underneath. Most of these topical creams contain AHA or alpha hydroxyl acid. The next question then is about what is alpha hydroxyl acid and how can it treat brown spots.

How Does the Alpha Hydroxyl Acid Treat Brown Spots?

1. As a matter of fact, this alpha hydroxyl acid (AHA) is likely to be a group of acids which have long been used for treating skin conditions. This alpha hydroxyl acid can be used to treat dry skin, acne scars, as well as melasma (skin darkening). Or if this condition happens to those pregnant women, it is generally called as the mask of pregnancy.
2. Some doctors and dermatologists recommend this alpha hydroxyl acid for pregnant women because it contains acids from milk and fruits (lactic acid), acids from sugar cane (glycolic acid), acids from pears and apples (malic acid), and acids from lemons and oranges (citric acids).
3. The recommended concentration for alpha hydroxyl acid is about less than ten percent. So, if there is a product which contains a high concentration of alpha hydroxyl acid, it must be used under the medical supervision.
4. Actually, those variant acids work as exfoliants to help nourish and moisture the skin. The fact said that they can improve the skin’s elasticity as well as stimulate the growth of collagen so that the skin looks dull and radiant. By using it regularly, you will be able to reduce the appearance of the brown spots in the skin as the skin looks much more glowing and healthy. 

5. Of course, even though you have already applied the topical cream that contains alpha hydroxyl acid (AHA) into your skin, it is still quite important to limit the amount of time you spend outdoor. Or if you have to, it is really advised to avoid the excessive of the direct sunlight by using a good sunscreen containing full UV protection.

Now, you have known about what is alpha hydroxyl acid and how can it treat brown spots.

Treating Dark Spots Caused by Acne

Treating Dark Spots Caused by Acne

Having dark spots on the face caused by acne is really annoying, especially for young girls. It may decrease the confidence, and sometimes, it is very embarrassing.  If you are one of those girls, who suffer from dark spots caused by acne, don’t worry too much. You have come to a right place. This article will clearly show you several ways for treating dark spots caused by acne using natural ingredients that easily found around you. Check it out!

1. Aloe Vera leaves combined with lemon juice

The mixture of these two ingredients gives quite good results. It is proven by so many people, they try this recipe and most of them successfully get rid of their dark spots for forever. The steps are simple, take the pulp of the Alove vera and add a few drops of lemon juice, then apply it on your face, especially the area with the dark spots. After 12 minutes, rinse it off with water. Repeat the steps every day until you see the significant results.

2. Potato and Honey

Honey is known to be an ingredient that is rich in nutrients for the skin. Along with potato, you can use it for treating dark spots caused by acne. Slice the potato and mix it with honey, then directly dap on your face, especially the dark spot area. You can also rub to the dark spot area for better results. You can rinse your face after 15 minutes. You can repeat this treatment every day until the dark spots on your face disappear.

3. Papaya

Papaya is a very common fruit, especially in the tropical area. It contains an enzyme that is able to make the dark spots disappear; thus, it can be used to treat the dark spots caused by acne.  You can peel the papaya, and use the pulp on your face. Leave it about 15 minutes, and you can rinse it with cold water. The repetition of this treatment will give you best results. 

4. Tomato and lemon

The combination of tomato and lemon is also able to fade away the dark spots caused by acne. Simply, you can slice tomato and squeeze it to get its juice, and then, add about 3 spoons of lemon juice. Stir the mixture well, then you can apply on your face. Wait until it dry, leave it about 20 minutes and rinse it off with water. 

5. Onion

Onion has antibacterial properties and can be used to treat acne-related problems, including dark spots. You can take one union and cut it in pieces, and then grind it. Use the mixture of the onion juice and the beaten onion to mask your face, especially the area with the dark spot. Leave it about 15 minutes, and then you can rinse it off with water.  

If you have problems with the treating dark spots caused by acne, you can try those home remedies. They are very simple steps and the materials used for this treatment are easily-found, they even might be already available on your fridge. It just take few minutes to get rid your black spots forever.  

TOP 5 FOOT MOISTURIZING TIPS FOR MEN

1: Exfoliant and Moisturizer

Keeping your feet well moisturized should be part of your daily routine, just like your shower, but an occasional exfoliation will help to remove dead skin cells and smooth rough patches.

After -- or during -- your shower, rub the bottoms of your feet and heels with a pumice stone to remove dead skin and patchy spots, and follow up with a thick moisturizer. Don't have a pumice stone? Sandpaper will do the trick. A good exfoliation a few times a week -- don't overdo it -- can lessen the need for thick creams to heal calluses, dry heels and soles.

Sound like a lot of effort just for feet? Skip the pumice stone and pick up a foot cream that lists salicylic acid, lactic acid or urea in its ingredients -- these are all known to make skin smoother and are tough enough to handle even the thickest spots on feet in just one step.

2: Treat Cracked Heels

When feet get dry -- and we mean arid -- the heels can become cracked and may even develop fissures in severe cases. This super-dry skin is a condition known as xerosis. You're also upping your risk of cracked heels if your shoes don't fit properly -- anything that rubs on the heel can cause problems.

Aside from looking unpleasant, cracks and fissures in your heels pose a health concern if you don't treat them. They're an open invitation for bacteria to invade, causing potentially life-threatening infections. Regularly slathering on foot cream can help prevent -- and treat -- cracked heels.

3: Prevent Blisters

If you're a runner or if you spend a lot of time walking or hiking, you have additional foot considerations, such as blister prevention. Blisters can become a problem if there's friction in your shoes (make sure both your socks and shoes fit properly), and the problem can worsen with sweat and heat.

While a powder can help reduce the sweat factor, you'll need a product to prevent blisters. Popular blister-preventing lubricants include petroleum jelly and stick-formatted products such as Body Glide. Apply them to your feet before running (or whatever your activity may be) to help prevent blisters from forming, and note the same lubricant can be used to temporarily ease the pain of a blister before you're able to treat it.

4: How to Moisturize Your Feet

Your feet will get the most out of a moisturizer if you use it just after washing them, preferably while they're still a little damp. Wash your feet in warm, not hot, water to avoid additional moisture loss from your skin -- a good tip for your whole body, not just your feet -- and use a moisturizer that's alcohol-free.

Take note: Be sure to keep the spots between your toes dry. Moisture between the toes, whether it's lotion or water left over from your shower, a swim or sweat, can attract bacteria, which increases your risk of developing fungal infections like athlete's foot (Athlete's foot is a fungal infection caused by a group of fungi called dermatophytes.

Dermatophytes are part of the normal flora living on your skin, but when they encounter a warm, humid place -- such as the damp spots between your toes -- they can begin to overgrow. Problems with dry skin and athlete's foot? Look for antifungal lotions instead of powders)

5: The Right Moisturizer: Does It Have to be Foot Cream?

There are a lot of moisturizing options, so do you have to use foot cream to soothe dry, cracked feet? Yes and no. If you want to buy one do-it-all moisturizer and use it on all your dry body parts (including your feet) you'll still be better off than not using any moisturizer at all.

 However, lotions, balms, creams and serums are often specially made with a specific skin area and type in mind. Eye creams, for example, will have ingredients that won't sting the delicate skin under the eyes. It's similar with foot creams. They tend to be thicker than body lotions, and many contain ingredients that can penetrate thick soles like other moisturizers can't.

OILY SKIN OVERVIEW

OILY SKIN CAUSES

People with oily skin often wonder what they're doing to cause the problem. They may blame it on the greasy pizza they ate last night, but the truth is they should probably blame their genes. Diet can aggravate acne, but it doesn't cause oily skin [source: WebMD].

Oily skin is hereditary -- you can change your diet or change your lifestyle, but if your mom or dad has oily skin, chances are you will, too. However, if your oily skin comes and goes, it may have less to do with genes and more to do with hormonal shifts in your body.

Androgens are the hormones largely responsible for oil production, and sometimes they can get kicked up a notch -- particularly during puberty [source: Bouchez]. You go through a growth spurt, your voice changes, you start getting hair in weird places and, to top it all off, your body produces excess oil that clogs your pores. Similarly, androgen levels tend to increase in women just before a menstrual period, during pregnancy and during menopause [source: Poirot].

In a few cases, oily skin can be the result of your lifestyle. Taking oral contraceptives, for example, can alter hormone levels and increase oil production, and oily skin is one of several side effects associated with taking steroids [source: Reader's Digest]. Stress can also cause oily skin -- when you're tense, your body releases a hormone called cortisol, which can increase skin's oil production [source: WebMD].

OILY SKIN AND PORES

Your pores do two basic things: They allow you to sweat and they secrete oil. Neither one may sound appealing, but they're both important. Sweating allows you to maintain a healthy body temperature, and oil protects your skin [source: Bouchez].

Oil, or sebum, is produced by sebaceous glands and secreted through pores. When this process goes smoothly, sebum not only lubricates your skin, but it also removes dead skin cells and other irritants from your pores. However, when your body produces excess sebum, it clogs your pores, and this can lead to blackheads and blemishes [source: Gordon].

If you have large pores, you probably also have oily skin -- studies show that bigger pores often secrete larger amounts of sebum onto the skin [source: Roh]. You can't change the size of your pores, but you can make them less noticeable, and there are ways you can control your oily skin [source: Vinakmens].

OILY SKIN CARE

You can't prevent your sebaceous glands from producing oil, but that doesn't mean you have to walk around with a shiny face either. Oily skin can be controlled -- you just have to learn how to do it. By making a few small changes to your daily skin care routine and avoiding some common mistakes, you can take control of your oily skin.

If you have oily skin, it may seem like a good idea to wash your face more often, but this could just make matters worse. When your skin is irritated, your body's natural reaction is to produce more oil, so if you start washing too much, your skin will dry out and your sebaceous glands will go into overdrive [source: Bouchez].

The same thing can occur if you use harsh cleansers that strip oil from your skin, so use a mild oil-free cleanser and gently wash your face no more than twice a day[source: Lehrer]. After cleansing, use an astringent or toner that contains alcohol to help remove excess oil [source: Bouchez].

If over-the-counter cleansers and toners aren't giving you the desired results, talk to you dermatologist. Prescription treatments for oily skin come in the form of topical solutions and oral drugs, and Retin A, Differin and Accutane are some of the most commonly prescribed medications [source: Bouchez].

Types Of Brown Spots The Skin Problem :: Brown Spots

Types Of Brown Spots The Skin Problem :: Brown Spots

DRY SKIN OVERVIEW

DRY SKIN CAUSES

The outermost layer of your skin, the stratum corneum, is composed of dead skin cells and oils that help keep your skin moisturized. This layer of skin helps retain water, which keeps the living skin beneath it healthy and moisturized. If the stratum corneum breaks down and is unable to retain this water, the result is dry skin [source: University of Iowa].

You may enjoy long, hot showers and the smell of your soap as you lather up, but this habit could be drying out your skin. Hot water and certain soaps, including scented, deodorant and antibacterial soaps, can remove natural oils from your skin and allow moisture to escape [source: Fries].

 Low humidity levels, which are often caused by cold, dry weather or arid climates, or your home environment -- with the furnace or air conditioner circulating dry air -- could also be the culprits [source: Mayo Clinic].

You may think using a moisturizer will solve your dry skin problems, but if you use the wrong lotion or apply it incorrectly, you could be doing more harm than good. Avoid scented lotions -- opt for moisturizers that are gentle and contain humectants and emollients. Humectants attract water from the air and retain it in your skin, and emollients act as lubricants and smooth the skin [source: Kraft].

Sometimes medications can also cause dry skin -- if you're taking allergy, acne or blood pressure medications, they could be the source of your itchy, flaky skin. Medical conditions, such as psoriasis and eczema, can also sap your skin of moisture, and they tend to cause dry patches on the body [source: Griffin]. Keep reading to learn more about these dry patches.

DRY SKIN PATCHES

Dry skin is often nothing more than a temporary inconvenience -- it's irritating and itchy, but if you treat it properly, it goes away. But if your dry skin doesn't go away, you may be dealing with something a little more serious -- especially if you start to develop patches of dry skin. These rough, raised patches of flaky skin can itch to the point they feel like they're burning, and they're usually a symptom of a more serious skin condition like eczema or psoriasis [source:Stöppler].

The exact cause of eczema is unknown, but it's thought to be caused by an overactive response by the body's immune system to unidentified triggers. There are several types of eczema, but the most common is atopic dermatitis. Atopic dermatitis affects 9 to 30 percent of the U.S. population, and it can be inherited [source: WebMD].

 The most obvious symptoms are extreme itching and dry, reddened skin. It can be difficult to resist scratching the skin, but doing so will often cause the skin to become thick and crusty. If you think you may have eczema, consult a doctor to discuss treatment options [source: Stöppler].

Psoriasis is an autoimmune disorder -- the immune system malfunctions and causes the body to produce excess skin cells. It's a chronic condition in which the skin cells build up rapidly on the skin, forming silvery scales and itchy red patches. Like eczema, no one knows exactly what causes this to happen, but stress and certain medications can trigger episodes [source:WebMD].

Millions of Americans are affected by psoriasis, and while there's no cure, there are treatments that can help you control it [source: National Psoriasis Foundation]. If you develop dry skin patches that won't go away by moisturizing, consult your doctor.

DRY SKIN AND ITCHING

Dry skin itches -- there are no ifs, ands or buts about it -- and until you treat your dry skin, you'll have to deal with the annoying itchiness that comes with it.
Dry skin is easily irritated, and itching occurs when irritation stimulates pain receptors in your skin. Basically, your skin itches when it's dry because your body is trying to tell you that your skin is damaged and in need of repair.

But keep in mind that itchy skin can be caused by a variety of things -- just because you itch doesn't mean your skin is dry [source: Mayo Clinic].When your skin itches, it can be challenging not to scratch it, but it's best to avoid doing so.

 Scratching can further irritate dry skin, and it won't solve the itch -- you'll likely just develop sore, red skin in addition to the itchiness. The best thing to do is to treat your symptoms to try to alleviate your dry skin [source: Fries].Keep reading to find out what you can do to cure and prevent dry skin.

DRY SKIN CURES

Curing dry skin can be as simple as following a few easy steps -- it often comes down to daily moisturizing. If you keep your skin moisturized, it won't dry out, but you have to do it correctly.
The first step to keeping your skin hydrated is to avoid long, hot showers that can strip your skin of necessary oils.

Instead, take shorter showers and use lukewarm water. Also, avoid scented, deodorant or antibacterial soaps that can dry out your skin -- use mild, unscented or soap-free cleansers [source: Fries]. Once you've showered, softly pat yourself dry, leaving your skin damp, and apply a moisturizer within three minutes to help lock in moisture [source:American Academy of Dermatology]

If daily moisturizing doesn't heal your dry skin, there are additional ways you can help keep your skin soft and smooth. If you live in a dry climate, or if your dry skin is worse in the winter, using a humidifier to add moisture to the air may be the solution [source: American Academy of Dermatology].

 If this doesn't help you, talk to a dermatologist. Doctors can diagnose more serious conditions, such as eczema and psoriasis, and they can prescribe intensive moisturizing creams to help cure chronic dry skin. For more information on dry skin and how to prevent it, see the links on the following page.

BLEMISHES

Blemishes are a reality for most people at some point in their lives. But they can be treated and, to some extent, prevented. Follow these tips:

• After your facial-cleansing routine, apply milk of magnesia with a cotton ball or pad to any acne blemishes. Let dry, then rinse off using cool water.
• To treat pimples and discourage blemishes, apply a mixture of calamine lotion and 1 percent phenol (available at a drugstore).
• Apply lemon juice to blackheads using a cotton ball. Leave the juice on overnight. In the morning, rinse your face with cool water. Repeat every night for 1 week.
• For acne outbreaks, apply lemon juice on a cotton pad several times a day to dry up pimples.
• Spread mayonnaise over your face, and let it dry for 20 minutes. Rinse off with warm water, then follow with a cold water splash. This treatment will help tighten pores.
• Honey speeds healing by killing bacteria. For an overnight blemish remedy, dab honey on the spot and cover with a bandage.

Keep Dark Spots And Hyperpigmentation Away With These Simple Steps ::

Keep Dark Spots And Hyperpigmentation Away With These Simple Steps ::

10 Beauty Habits You Should Be Doing Every Night

It turns out your body can do serious work for you while you sleep—you just have to give it a little help along the way. Try one or all of these treatments to wake up looking refreshed and gorgeous.

1) Remove your makeup—all of it. For real.

The most important thing to do to wake up looking fresh is to remove all of your makeup before bedtime. That means leftover mascara, lip color—everything. This ensures that your pores will be clean and your eyes free of leftover gunk.

2) Use two pillows

Prop your head up on an extra pillow to prevent puffiness. You can also prop up the head of your bed on 2- to 4-inch pieces of wood

3) Do a spot treatment…with a purifying mask

You can use it to target acne and rosacea pimples, and leave it on overnight. The extended skin contact time brings much better results.

4) Turn on a humidifier

A barrier repair moisturizer (containing ingredients such as ceramides and cholesterol) combined with an air humidifier in your bedroom produces durably hydrated, plump skin which is more resistant to irritants and allergens but also to appearing dry and fine-lined. By working on your skin’s hydration overnight, you can skip daytime moisturizer altogether or choose one that’s lighter since heavier moisturizers don’t tend to wear as well under sunscreen or makeup.

5) Go to town with hand cream

Moisturizing your hands with a thick, plain, somewhat greasy hand cream will keep your hands and fingernails looking their best first thing in the morning

6) Sleep on a luxe pillowcase

Wash your hair with a silicone-free shampoo and use a silk pillowcase—sleeping on a silk or satin pillowcase also helps your hair’s overall health. Fibers on most cotton pillows are rough against the hair cuticles. Don’t want to splurge on silk? Changing a cotton or linen pillowcase every one to two days can also bring an improvement.

7) Pin your hair back

Your hair contains oils and dirt that can get on your face and pillowcase and cause breakouts. Braid your hair or pin it up into a bun to keep it off your face as you sleep.

8) Get eight hours of sleep

Catching a good night’s sleep can really effect the way you look

9) Try a leave-on exfoliator

“While you sleep, the skin is working its hardest to repair itself,” says Teresa Stenzel, the director of education for Bioelements. It’s the best time to apply leave-on exfoliators, to give the ingredients time to absorb and correct daily damage to the skin caused by UV exposure and environmental aggressors.

10) Use eye cream

No doubt you’ve heard it a million times, but eye cream is important. Start using great moisturizers and eye cream at night. When the morning rolls around, your skin will be plump and hydrated.

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5 Tips For Healthy Skin

Good skin care — including sun protection and gentle cleansing — can keep your skin healthy and glowing for years to come.

Don't have time for intensive skin care? Pamper yourself with the basics. Good skin care and healthy lifestyle choices can help delay the natural aging process and prevent various skin problems. Get started with these five no-nonsense tips.

1. Protect yourself from the sun

One of the most important ways to take care of your skin is to protect it from the sun. A lifetime of sun exposure can cause wrinkles, age spots and other skin problems — as well as increase the risk of skin cancer.

For the most complete sun protection:

• Use sunscreen. Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15. When you're outdoors, reapply sunscreen every two hours — or more often if you're swimming or perspiring.
• Seek shade. Avoid the sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., when the sun's rays are strongest.
• Wear protective clothing. Cover your skin with tightly woven long-sleeved shirts, long pants and wide-brimmed hats. Also consider laundry additives, which give clothing an additional layer of ultraviolet protection for a certain number of washings, or special sun-protective clothing — which is specifically designed to block ultraviolet rays.

2. Don't smoke

Smoking makes your skin look older and contributes to wrinkles. Smoking narrows the tiny blood vessels in the outermost layers of skin, which decreases blood flow. This depletes the skin of oxygen and nutrients that are important to skin health.

Smoking also damages collagen and elastin — the fibers that give your skin its strength and elasticity. In addition, the repetitive facial expressions you make when smoking — such as pursing your lips when inhaling and squinting your eyes to keep out smoke — can contribute to wrinkles.
If you smoke, the best way to protect your skin is to quit. Ask your doctor for tips or treatments to help you stop smoking.

3. Treat your skin gently

Daily cleansing and shaving can take a toll on your skin. To keep it gentle:

• Limit bath time. Hot water and long showers or baths remove oils from your skin. Limit your bath or shower time, and use warm — rather than hot — water.
• Avoid strong soaps. Strong soaps and detergents can strip oil from your skin. Instead, choose mild cleansers.
• Shave carefully. To protect and lubricate your skin, apply shaving cream, lotion or gel before shaving. For the closest shave, use a clean, sharp razor. Shave in the direction the hair grows, not against it.
• Pat dry. After washing or bathing, gently pat or blot your skin dry with a towel so that some moisture remains on your skin.
• Moisturize dry skin. If your skin is dry, use a moisturizer that fits your skin type. For daily use, consider a moisturizer that contains SPF.

4. Eat a healthy diet

A healthy diet can help you look and feel your best. Eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean proteins. The association between diet and acne isn't clear — but some research suggests that a diet rich in vitamin C and low in unhealthy fats and processed or refined carbohydrates might promote younger looking skin.

5. Manage stress

Uncontrolled stress can make your skin more sensitive and trigger acne breakouts and other skin problems. To encourage healthy skin — and a healthy state of mind — take steps to manage your stress. Set reasonable limits, scale back your to-do list and make time to do the things you enjoy. The results might be more dramatic than you expect.

8 Beauty Habits You Should Be Doing Every Morning

1. Morning beauty habits

Rise and shine! You don’t have to be a morning person to start your day with a few beauty-boosting habits. Add these must-dos to your A.M. routine and reap the benefits all day long.

2. Use an antioxidant serum.

Antioxidants such as vitamins C and E help protect your skin from aging free radicals, which occur when you encounter UV rays, pollution and other stressors during the day. They also help your sunscreen work better, and give your complexion a noticeable glow.

3. Eat some protein.

Trade your bagel or piece of fruit for eggs or Greek yogurt . A recent study found that eating a high-protein breakfast helped women stay fuller longer and avoid overeating later in the day.

4. Duh, sunscreen!

You know you need sun protection daily (even when it’s cloudy), but do you realize that the SPF in your makeup probably isn’t cutting it? Yep — you need about a nickel-sized amount of sunscreen for your face alone, and most of us don’t pile on makeup that thick. Instead, double up on protection by using an SPF moisturizer under your foundation or powder. And don’t forget your lips, neck, backs of hands and eye area — all of those spots are exposed to aging UV rays just as much as your face.

5. Drink a big glass of water.

Dehydration not only causes you to feel terrible, it messes with the way your skin looks — and after a night’s rest, your body needs fluids. Whether or not you believe this woman’s miraculous makeover story, starting the day with a tall glass of water can’t hurt.

6. Move your body.

Studies have shown that women who exercise in the morning sleep better at night. And the beauty benefits of sleep are very real. Shift your schedule to make a morning workout easier to manage.

7. Choose a fragrance with citrus.

Using a citrus-scented perfume or body lotion can help jumpstart your day. Studies have shown citrus fragrances to reduce stress and even help boost immune function.

8. Mist your face.

Keep a can of mineral water mist in your fridge and give your face a cool spritz first thing. The chilly mist will help bring down morning puffiness and leave you feeling bright and awake.

9. Drink green tea.

The drink is packed with flavonoids, a type of antioxidant, which have been shown to slow cell damage (read: aging) and are even linked to a reduced risk of certain cancers. Can’t bear to give up your coffee (us either)? No need; coffee contains antioxidants, too and has also been shown to speed up metabolism.

5 THINGS YOUR SKIN NEEDS EVERY DAY

1: Antioxidants

While many different antioxidants can be beneficial to the skin, two in particular get lots of attention:

• Vitamin C -- Builds collagen for plump, tight skin. Find it in whole grains, apples and citrus fruits. Aim for 75 milligrams a day [source: Edgar].
• Vitamin E -- Protects cell membranes and "boosts" skin-based nutrients that fight off UV damage. Find it in wheat germ oil, almonds, and peanut butter. Aim for 15 milligrams a day 
• Other skin-beautifying antioxidants include selenium, thiamine, beta-carotene and zinc.

2: Sun Protection

To protect your skin from the effects of the sun, you can choose either a chemical sunscreen, like avobenzone or oxybenzone, or a physical one, like zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. Either way, look for one with a sun-protection factor (SPF) greater than 15, and apply it at least 20 minutes before you're going to be in the sun [source: Mayo Clinic]. That way, the active ingredients have time to take effect before the UV exposure begins.

3: Essential Fatty Acids

Essential fatty acids, or EFAs, are an important component of any healthy diet. They help to build up the lipid-based cell membranes that hold in water and nutrients. In the case of the skin, those lipids also form an oil barrier that protects the skin from UV damage and pollutants.

The EFAs you need to keep your skin looking great are primarily omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. Omega-6 is found in tons of foods, including poultry, grains and cooking oils, so you're probably getting plenty of that.

4: Water

The human body is full of water -- it's 55 percent to 75 percent of what we are. Water flushes toxins out of the body, allows our cells to absorb nutrients, and keeps our digestive processes moving smoothly. To keep the skin hy.rated, you should drink at least half a gallon (2 liters) of water each day

5: Cleansing

Cleansing is the most basic element of any skin-care routine. It not only removes excess dirt, pollutants and pore-clogging oil from the epidermis so it can remain blemish-free, but it also preps the skin for any subsequent products you'll be using, so active ingredients (like vitamins or sunscreen) can penetrate and be most effective

5 POPULAR ANTI-AGING SUPPLEMENT

No matter what you eat or how many times a week you practice yoga, there's no way to completely stop aging – our bodies naturally wear down. However, there are some ways to help you minimize aging effects.

Following a healthy diet, getting regular exercise and keeping stress levels in control can help, but supplements may make up for any of your body's shortfalls. Though researchers debate whether supplements provide serious anti-aging benefits, plenty of advocates share anecdotal evidence of their youthful properties.

Here we review the risks and benefits of five popular anti-aging supplements
1. Coenzyme Q10
2. Aspirin
3. Fish Oil
4. Human Growth Hormone (HGH)
5. Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA)

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5 HOME TREATMENTS FOR WRINKLES

1: Be Vigilant About Sunscreen and Moisturizer

Protecting your skin from the sun's ultraviolet (UV) rays is one of the best ways to prevent premature aging. Look for a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 25 to 30 for the best protection against both ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation.

 For those among us who want a little more from their sunscreen, some sunscreens contain skin-strengthening, collagen-regenerating ingredients such as vitamin E and soy isoflavones. Find the right sunscreen for you, and apply generously throughout the day.

2: Goal: More Sleep, Less Stress

Most adults should aim for seven to nine hours of sleep every night. When you're asleep, your body produces human growth hormone (HGH), which is the body's own anti-aging tool. HGH helps the body maintain healthy tissues, including your skin.

 When you don't get enough sleep, the body responds by producing the stress hormone cortisol, and cortisol interferes with how the body is able to maintain itself. Too much cortisol, and your skin may become drier as well as more susceptible to infections, more susceptible to damage from sunlight and therefore more susceptible to wrinkles.

3: Topical Treatments

Applying over-the-counter topical anti-aging treatments can be a good way to plump up your skin, but it's the nutrient-based ingredients rather than the topical cosmeceutical treatments that most effectively reduce the appearance of wrinkles.

 Look for topical anti-aging products that contain retinol (which is vitamin A), peptides or hydroxyacids. These treatments don't protect you from the sun's damaging rays (which can lead to premature aging), so don't forget to apply sunscreen.

4: Fight Wrinkles With Fat (and Other Foods)

First, let's look at fats. Adding foods that are full of good-for-you dietary fats and oils can help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles as well as improve the long-term health of your skin. Omega-3 fatty acids are especially good at plumping and tightening skin, because they nourish skin cells. Oily fish such as salmon, tuna, herring and sardines are good sources of omega-3s, as are almonds, walnuts, flaxseed and sunflower seeds (and oils).

5: Antioxidants Against Gravity

Did you know some vitamins may help you fight gravity? And minerals and enzymes can lend a lifting hand, too. All these substances are antioxidants, and antioxidants prevent free radicals from damaging healthy skin cells.

They do this by supplying electrons to the unbalanced free radicals -- antioxidants are actually molecules that help neutralize free radicals. They are vitamins (vitamins A, C and E), minerals (more on that later) and proteins (enzymes) found in darkly-colored fruits and vegetables (the dark fruits and vegetables contain the most beta-carotene and anthocyanins), nuts, and legumes.

5 GROOMING TOOLS EVERY MAN SHOULD HAVE

1: A Razor

Choosing your style of razor is a very personal thing. Nine out of 10 boys and men over the age of 15 shave. Shaving is a rite of passage. Dads teach their sons, and boys emulate their fathers. It all sounds so traditional, and it would be if methods of shaving and facial hair fashions weren't always changing.

If you went back a couple of generations, you'd get a good argument for using a straight edge razor to get a close shave. Fast forward a bit and you'll find advocates of safety razors for ease of use. Today, proponents of electric razors will tell you that they're as good as anything else on the market, easier to use and safer, too. Actually, you can still probably find proponents of all three points of view, together with hold outs who believe that shaving at all is ridiculous and unnatural.

The take away is that there are lots of options. We like electric razors because they're convenient, available for use wet or dry, and you can almost always find a size, shape and blade style for your skin type and the task you have in mind. Whether you're looking for long battery life, a lightweight option or just like the idea of an onboard moisturizer dispenser, you'll be able to find it in an electric razor.

2: Manscaping Trimmers

Manscaping is the manly art of hair removal, and your personal preferences (and those of your significant other) will dictate what types of manscaping activities you find essential for good grooming. You may want to carve a couple of eyebrows out of your unibrow, give the back of your neck a touchup between haircuts, banish those stray hairs peeking out of your nose or ears, thin your beard, or perform some landscaping on your back or points south.

There are specialty razors for all kinds of manscaping tasks. The trick is to marry the right tool with the task and learn to use it effortlessly. Some newer specialty razors have multiple blades and can perform more than one function by just switching out the head.

 They can be versatile and convenient -- after a little practice. Single function razors, like those with spinning blades that won't snag the tender skin in your nose or nick your earlobe, can only remove hair efficiently from a few areas, but what they do, they do very well.

3: Nail Clippers

Nail care is important. Clean nails harbor fewerbacteria, and short, well-trimmed nails (and toes) will leave you less vulnerable to problems like hangnailsand ingrown toenails. It's easy to find nail and toe clippers in those cute faux leather, zip up kits, but save your pennies and invest in a pair of precision nail clippers and a larger pair of toe clippers.

Look for clippers that will fit the curve of your nail so that one or two quick snips will do the job cleanly. That way, you won't need to use a file to tidy up afterward. Toenail clippers should make relatively straight cuts and be strong enough to cut your big toe nail without shredding it or forcing you to shift your grip

4: A Brush and Comb

Even if your mane isn't your crowning glory, you'll still need these two tools to keep it under control. Hair is notorious for being unruly, especially when you have a big meeting or date coming up. When the wind blows, there's nothing like a comb for a quick fix-up, so keep one handy at all times.

A small or folding comb will fit in your pocket and help turn a bad hair day into a, well, a better hair day. If you have very thick, curly hair, choose a comb with wide teeth. That way you'll never be the guy who has to call his barber or stylist to schedule an emergency comb-ectomy.

For your morning grooming ritual, you'll want a hairbrush, too. We like soft, natural-bristle brushes. They're gentle but still perform some scalp massagewithout much risk of yanking valuable hairs out in the process. They're also very effective at lubricating your hair with the natural oils from your scalp. If you havedandruff, though, opt for a stiff-bristle brush that will stimulate good blood flow and keep your dandruff under better control.

5: Toothbrush

OK, most men brush their teeth, but maybe not enough. The condition of your teeth can affect everything from your smile to your heart health, so brush twice a day and between meals if you can manage it. You might also want to consider brushing your tongue -- yeah, it's an extra step, but germs lurk and linger there, too.

We like electric toothbrushes over manual. Although there may be little difference in scientific tests between manual and electric methods, that's only when the manual brushing is done correctly. Electric toothbrushes that use rotation oscillation make the process pretty idiot-proof and get the job done right every time. The brush does all the work, whirling around your mouth like a dervish, and all you have to do is hold on.

Rotation oscillation toothbrushes make it easier for you get at plaque under your gum line and do a more thorough job of brushing between teeth. If you tend to lose track of time while brushing, many electric toothbrushes also have handy timers to let you know when your molars and bicuspids are minty fresh and ready to greet the new day.

3 Foods to Avoid if You Want to Look Young

1. Sugar—Sweets and refined carbs raise glucose levels, which increases advanced glycation end products, which in turn interferes with the repair of collagen and elastin, a protein that allows skin to retain its shape.

2. Saturated Fat—Not all saturated fatty acids are created equal (see coconut oil), but experts say that eating a lot of saturated fat coming from marbled meats and full-fat dairy products can induce skin-aging inflammation.

3. Alcohol—With the exception of resveratrol-delivering red wine, alcohol can take a toll on your skin. It dries out skin and when metabolized in the liver, it creates skin’s enemy: free radicals.

TOP 10 NATURAL EXFOLIANTS

1: Sea Salt

For thousands of years, people have been soaking their hides in the super-salty waters of the Dead Sea, in hopes of curing various maladies. While sea salt doesn't always provide a miracle cure, it does have medicinal value in treating skin conditions such as psoriasis, and its gentle abrasive properties make it a great natural exfoliant, especially for people with dry skin.

Try mixing a cup of sea salt and glycerin (which is sold in drugstores) to create a paste. After a hot shower, rub the paste over your body with your hands or a sponge, and then rinse it off [source: Readers Digest]. How much can you save by doing this treatment at home versus taking a dip in the Dead Sea? Well, that depends on how much a plane ticket to Jordan or Israel would cost you.

2: Ground Coffee

Not only does coffee perk you up, but it can serve as a potent exfoliant as well, provided that you rub the ground-up coffee beans on your skin instead of using them to brew a steaming cup of joe. It helps tone the skin as well. Jennifer Frederick, spa director at Ritual Salon and Spa in Las Vegas, Nev., recommends using it as the main ingredient in a body scrub.

 Mix two cups of coarsely ground coffee with a cup of sea salt and two-to-three tablespoons of massage oil. Take a hot shower to moisten your skin and open your pores, and then, using wide circular motions, rub the mixture onto your skin with strong, even pressure. Then rinse off the scrub, pat the skin dry with a towel and apply your favorite lotion

3: Papaya

Papaya contains the enzyme papain, which dissolves old, dead skin cells without harming the younger, live cells beneath -- much like the prescription medication tretinoin (Retin-A), but without the potential side effects of skin flaking and irritation, according to natural skin care advocates. It's also believed that the enzyme can help heal the skin and cause lines and brown age spots to vanish.

 Papain is most potent in young fruit, so be sure to get green papayas at the local organic supermarket for your skin care regimen [source: Cichoke]. Annie Berthold-Bond, author of "Better Basics for the Home: Simple Solutions for Less Toxic Living," recommends mashing a green papaya and using it to make a facial mask [source: Berthold-Bond].

4: Lemon Juice

The lemon tree is very pretty, and the lemon flower is sweet. But the fruit of the poor lemon -- well, you know the rest of the lyrics. But lemon juice, like other citrus juices, also contains alpha hydroxy acid, which penetrates and removes the protein glue that causes dead skin cells to stick to your epidermis [sources:Baran, Berthold-Bond].

Manufactured exfoliants often contain big doses of AHA -- so much, warns Sophie Uliano, a skincare advisor to actress Julia Roberts, that they can cause your skin to become more sun-sensitive. In 2008 Good Housekeeping magazine interview, Uliano recommended making your own citrus exfoliating mask. Mix one-quarter-cup each of lemon juice, apple juice, grape juice and cane sugar in a glass jar, making sure the sugar completely dissolves. Then apply the mixture to your face with a cotton ball, and leave it on for 10 minutes before rinsing it off.

5: Oatmeal

TOP 5 WAYS TO PREVENT DRY LIPS

1. Provide a Barrier to Strong Medications : The main ingredient you want to watch out for is alcohol. Matte and long-lasting lipsticks usually contain types of alcohol, which tends to strip natural moisture away from your lips as it evaporates. Since alcohol is such an essential ingredient in lipstick, some manufacturers have begun to use alcohol derived from plants that act as emollients, like lanolin.
2. Invest in a Good Lip Balm
3.  Drink Plenty of Water
4. No Licking!
5. Take Care in Selecting Cosmetics