North America accounts for only 7% of the world’s population but dominates the world’s GDP.

What we’ve actually gained is a stressed-out nation and the highest cancer rates, more than anyone else in the world. We’re producing less children, some sociologist claim that it is fear of adding more burdens to our already hectic lives. We’re not talking about exciting new job jitters but prolonged emotional stress.

Stress and Aging

Our stressful lives make us old. Scientists have finally identified the first direct link between stress and aging. When we start to feel pulled at both ends how many of us really give our bodies a break? And, what about our skin? Dull complexion, blemishes, eczema and other skin disorders can be a direct result of prolonged stress. It can even result in premature aging…,even at your age.

Perhaps its time we manage our lives in a more holistic life style. The holistic view brings mind, body and sole together, it seeks balance.

So, instead of reaching for a quick fix, invest in some of these holistic practices that promote your good health and emotional well-being over the long-term. Because after all, good health and natural glowing skin really is…,skin deep.

Massage for Longevity

The treatment of massage is effective in combating the negative effects of aging. The benefits of a massage are numerous including stress reduction, increased circulation, increased energy and, decreased fatigue. In fact, during a more vigorous massage this encourages blood flow to the skin bringing healthy nutrients and oxygen. And, a massage is always deserved after a work-out at the gym.

Quiet your Mind

Whether it is mediation, prayer or a silent walk through the woods, add this practice to your daily routine. A time you remove all noise from television, radio, phones from your daily obligations, even a 5 minute quite session will help you relieve stress, ground your footing and refocus on what’s really important.

This can be especially beneficial during times of greater stress. Because the greater our perception of what kind of stress we are under, the worse we will feel.

One Day at a Time

Difficult as it may be, try to remove many of the processed foods from your daily diet. Especially during times of stress where many of us will reach for something high in sugar - studies have shown that sugar can cause premature aging and of course, contributes to obesity. Start by replacing one food item, make it easy and make it fund - take it one day at a time.

It all comes together

Then there are too many sleepless nights, greasy skin, bad diet and puffy eyes - for some of you, your skin maybe paying the price for your stressful life. Take care of your skin. Cleanse daily with a delicate facial cleanser, one that contains a natural, organic alpha-hydroxy acid to help shrink open pores which seem to get bigger as we age. Do exfoliate often which improves circulation, removes dead cells and keeps the skin glowing. Use only quality, natural skin care that provides holistic benefits to your skin.

Resources

Appleton, Nancy. Lick the Sugar Habit Sugar Counter. Penguin Putnam. 31 May. 2001.

Stein, Rob. “Study Is First to Confirm That Stress Speeds Aging.” Washington Post 30 Nov. 2004, A01

She loves skin care products. So, it’s no surprise that she co-created http://www.anaturalperspective.com to be “The Place” for Canadian-made 100% natural, holistic skin and health care products. A Natural Perspective is a resource for the busy consumer who wants quality, well-priced skin care.

Tags: Anti-aging, holistic skin care, Natural skin care, anti-oxidants

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Anti-aging products have permeated the market place in the last several years. As we all age, our goal is to age gracefully and maintain the healthiest skin that we possibly can.

As we work to repair skin damage from years of living, such as wearing moisturizer with SPF 15 to prevent sun damage and achieving a healthy diet, we also want to improve skin nourishment. Skin nourishment is the only way to get and maintain better skin tone and complexion. Healthy skin is easily recognized by the clear, unblemished, rosy glow of the skin.

Skin nourishment needs vary from person to person, skin type to skin type. Although most natural anti-aging products do not contain harsh chemicals, we need to be pro-active and understand what natural ingredients are best for our skin, and choose our products accordingly.

A lot of anti-aging products are botanically based. What this means is that the skin products key ingredients are made from plants and herbal extracts, oils, fragrances and vitamins. Understanding what the individual botanical ingredients are meant to do for our skin is the first step in choosing the best natural skin care products for our age and skin type.

Different botanical extracts meet a variety of skin nutrition needs. Following is a botanical glossary of some commonly used botanical extracts that are found in today’s anti-aging products.

Astringents: Alfalfa, Citrus, Orange peel,Lemon, Ivy, Dandelion, Plantain
 Antibacterial: Dandelion, Eucalyptus
 Antioxidant: Grapefruit
 Anti-microbial: Honeysuckle, Thyme
 Aromatic: Lavender
 Anti-inflammatory: Mugwort, Mulberry, Pansy
 Emollient: Algae, Passionflower Fruit Extract
 Exfoliate: Apple, Green Tea, Sugar Cane
 Calms, Reduces Response to Irritation: Chamomile
 Cleans, Conditions: Rose Petal, Carrot, Ginseng, Lemongrass, Sage, Yarrow
 Moisturizes: Aloe Vera, Mugwart, Orchid, Passionflower Fruit, Wheat Germ 

Protects Skin: Wheat Germ, Alfalfa, Aloe Vera
 Reduces Oiliness, Refines Pores: Birch Leaf, Cucumber, Rosehips, Witch Hazel
 Removes Impurities: Cucumber, Watercress, Witch Hazel
 Tones, Stimulates, Rejuvenates: Cornflower, Lemongrass, Nettle, Watercress
 Smoothes, Soothes, Softens: Althaea, Irish Moss, Kelp, Sage, Nettle, Papaya, Rose Petal, Balm Mint, Clover, Kelp, Lavender, Licorice, Marjoram, Green Tea, Plantain, Yarrow

Astringent extracts will tighten up the skin and close up pores. This is done by causing contractions or shrinkages of the skin tissue and drying up pore secretions.

Antibacterial extracts contain ingredients that destroy or inhibit the growth of bacteria, particularly in the case of bacteria that cause blemishes.

Antioxidant extracts reduce the effects of free-radical damage. Free-radical damage can be caused by the presence of oxygen or any compound that contains an oxygen molecule (such as carbon monoxide, hydrogen peroxide, and superoxide), sunlight, and pollution. Theoretically, when free-radical damage originates from natural environmental factors and fails to be cancelled out by antioxidant protection, then wrinkles appear.

Anti-microbial extracts destroying or inhibiting the growth of microorganisms, giving your skin an additional level of cleanliness.

Anti-inflammatory extracts reduces certain signs of inflammation, such as swelling, tenderness, pain, irritation, or redness.

Emollient extracts soothe and soften the skin by slowing the natural evaporation of water from the skin.

Extracts that assist in Exfoliation address many of the systemic causes of blemishes by systematically stripping off dead, scaly skin and exposing the full healthy glow of living, healthy skin cells.

Extracts that calm and soothe the skin contain proteins such as vitamin A, sugar, starch, vitamin B1, iron, sodium, phosphorus, magnesium, copper, and calcium. These proteins assist in cleansing pores; giving the skin a healthy glow and reducing response to irritations. Algae extracts are very popular for these types of skin care extracts.

Extracts that reduce oiliness, remove impurities and refine pores are gentle cleansers that remove oils, and impurities from the skin; thus allowing the pores to remain free and clean.

Extracts that rejuvenate and stimulate the skin act as agents to produce a temporary increase of cell activity to help restore the original health and glow.

Extracts that tone, soothe and soften skin contain anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that give us the toning and softening, and provide that wonderful soothing feeling.

As you shop for anti-aging products with a better understanding of what the botanical ingredients are meant to do for your skin, start slow. Some extracts can irritate sensitive skin, especially those that are for exfoliating and anti-oxidants. Too much of a good thing is too much. Test skin care products on your own skin for at least a week to allow time for your skin to respond.

I recommend that you purchase your anti-aging products from one company for consistency. This will help ensure that the ingredients in each product compliment each other, and not counter-act each others affects once they are applied to your skin.

I selected Arbonne as my supplier as they have botanically based anti-aging skin care products that are available for all types of skin care and skin care needs. After much research I specifically selected the Arbonne line of products because of the benefits they provide.

Botanically based, Arbonne anti-aging skin care products are available at http://www.ultimatehealthcare.myarbonne.com
These skin care products compliment each other, and are available for all types of skin, all ages of skin, and skin nutrition requirements. And, if you go there right now, I have a free special waiting for you.

Tags: anti aging, skincare, natural skin care, natural skin care products, botanical extracts,

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If you are looking for a dry skin remedy, look no farther than your kitchen pantry. You can make a dry skin natural remedy just by combining common foods and applying them to the skin. Some foods act as an internal remedy for dry skin as well. Some of the ingredients that can be used in a home remedy for extremely dry skin are honey, yogurt, olive oil, and oatmeal. Some herb teas are useful, too, as are a variety of other fruits and seeds.

Honey, a dry skin natural remedy, is a substance that is healing to the skin. When applied to the skin it is healing and moisturizing. It helps dead skin cells move from the surface and stimulates renewal and regrowth of skin tissues. It is also antibacterial. In severe cases, you can put honey on skin that needs a bandage. It will keep the bandage from sticking to the wounded skin. Yogurt can be used as a skin cleanser, acting as a natural moisturizer. Oatmeal heals and soothes dry skin, and helps the skin to slough off dead skin cells.

Cold-pressed olive oil works as an emollient, which means it soothes and softens. It helps the itching of eczema, which is a itchy skin condition characterized by oozing lesions. Eczema is sometimes associated with dry skin but not always. Olive oil can also be used on the scalp as a remedy for extremely dry skin and hair. Not only can olive oil be used externally, it is also an internal remedy for dry skin, along with other healthy oils. If you suffer from dry skin, try adding some heathful oils to your diet. It doesn’t take a lot, as oils are very high in calories. Nuts are full of beneficial oil, as are fatty fish, such as salmon and mackeral.

Certain herb teas work as an internal remedy for dry skin. Use one teaspoon of the dried herb to one cup of boiling water. Remove from heat and let steep for 5 minutes. Covering the cup with a saucer while it is steeping will keep the medicinal properties of the herb from evaporating away. Some herbs that are beneficial as an internal remedy for dry skin problems are marshmallow, dandelion, peppermint, calendula, borage, and chamomile.

Soap and body wash are drying to the skin. You can make an alternative to a bar of soap by tying oatmeal flour or in a cloth tea bag can be used instead of soap. For extra moisturizing, add a little almond meal and aloe vera gel.

The following home remedy for dry skin is a soothing facial mask that can be made from ingredients in your kitchen. Combine an egg yolk with a tablespoon of mayonnaise or yogurt and and another tablespoon of honey. If you use yogurt, add a 1/2 tsp. of almond oil. Apply to skin lightly and let it dry. Wash off gently with warm water. Another healing facial mask that is a remedy for extremely dry skin is to beat an egg and add oat flour to it. You can make oat flour by whizzing oatmeal around in the blender. Spread the mixture on your face and relax for 10 minutes before gently washing it away. Always treat your delicate dry skin with the utmost of care.

Here is an alphabetical list of botanicals (plant products) that have been found beneficial in creating a dry skin natural remedy (to be used on the surface of the skin): aloe vera, apple, apricot pulp, banana pulp, chamomile, comfrey root, coriander seed, elderflower, fennel seed, grape pulp, green tea leaf, honey, kefir, lavender flower, licorice root, mango pulp, marshmallow root, whole milk, oatmeal, rose petals, and yogurt. Add to these whole milk, either cow’s or goat’s, and the cultured milk products yogurt and kefir. Honey and egg yolk round out the kitchen pharmacy for dry skin solutions. If you wish to try creating your own dry skin solutions using these ingredients, please choose plant products that have not been sprayed with pesticides. Furthermore, don’t gather wild herbs that grow near a busy highway. The plants will absorb the exhaust fumes from the traffic and might do more harm than good. If you use seeds, make a strong tea of them by boiling them gently for 10 minutes and then letting them steep for an hour.

Jerrick Foo has been researching and developing all dry skin care the purpose of offering men and women safe, dry skin care tips. He have created Dry Skin Care Guide to share his 10 years of combined expertise with you. Visit http://www.dry-skin-care-guide.com for essential skin care tips.

Tags: dry skin, skin care, remedy, beauty, dry itchy skin, dry skin solutions, extremely dry skin

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