Skin Care products.
In this page we will describe some categories of beauty products that may be useful and, in most of the cases, essential for a comprehensive skin care. Before we  do that, we will try to explain what creams, ointments, lotions and gels are, since these are the most common forms in which skin care products are available in the market.
Creams. Creams are preparations of oil in water, the latest being the main ingredient. Creams must be applied more often than ointments to be equally effective. The difference between creams and ointments is that the former ones are less greasy and can be rinsed away quite easily.
Ointments. Ointments are viscous semisolid preparations. They are mixtures of water in oils, such as lanolin or petrolatum. Ointments are more water resistant than creams.
Lotions. Lotions consist of finely powdered crystals dissolved in water. Other preparations may be oil-in-water emulsions. Lotions, when applied on the skin, feel pleasanter than creams and ointments, because they do not make the area greasy. However, lotions do not have equivalent protective properties and they have to be used more frequently during the day to ease symptoms of skin dryness.
Gels. They are transparent, semisolid, emulsive preparations that liquefy, as soon as they are applied on the skin. Gels are the less commonly used forms for skin care products.
Sunscreens in skin care.
Sunscreens are perhaps the most important skin care products. Dermatologists always recommend comprehensive sun protection to prevent premature ageing caused by the sun. There is a notion that sunscreens must be used only when people are on holidays by the beach or while skiing on snowed mountain slops. This is not the case, though. When it comes to skin protection, a sunscreen must be applied on a daily basis nearly half an hour before any exposure to sun light. This will prevent further aging of skin, including the appearance of liver spots, the brownish formations on the back of the hands and forearms. It has to be mentioned that harmful sun rays can reach our skin, regardless if the day is cloudy or if we are swimming in the sea or the pool.
A sunscreen, in order to be effective, should provide both UVA and UVB protection. That means it must be a broad spectrum one of 15 SPF (Sun Protection Factor) or higher. Some good sunscreens contain antioxidant factors, such as vitamin C and vitamin E, for additional anti-aging protection. You can visit the Which Sunscreen page, if you want to find more information and reliable sunscreens online.
Tanning formulas.
At least for the last three decades suntan has been very much in fashion. However, deliberate, prolonged sunbath is not safe and is not recommended, especially for faire people, since not only this  can accelerate external skin aging but it can cause serious burns and, in a long term, it may cause cancer. In fact, tan is a defensive reaction by which skin tries to protect itself from sun light by producing a colored substance called melanin. The use of indoors tanning devices is not recommended either, since it may cause similar problems with natural sunbath.
If you are determined to have a tanned body and face, the safest way to achieve that, is to use artificial tanning products. When they are applied on the skin, they give a reasonably convincing tan. There might be allegations that nothing can be as good as a natural tan. Although this may have a portion of truth, if the instructions for the usage of a tanning product are followed properly, the results are very satisfactory. After all, safety is the first priority and considering the reduced amounts of ozone in the atmosphere, precautions should not be compromised. We have to bear in mind that cases with melanoma, the most lethal skin cancer, are in increase worldwide.
An important tip: If you want to achieve the best results with tanning preparations, use one exfoliating product, such as Abella or
Murad AHA/BHA for the two previous days. However, you have to remember that exfoliation makes skin sensitive to sunlight. Thus, the use of a sunscreen is essential for the next ten days after any such skin treatment.
If you want to find tan products online, try the following links:
Cellex-C Bio Tan Sunless Tanning Gel
TanTowel Self Tanning Towelette
The Fake Bake Range
has got very popular recently. This group of products contains numerous tanning preparations in different forms. It also includes an exfoliator and a number of supporting products, such as moisturizers, enhancers and sunscreens.
Moisturizers in skin care.
Skin produces its own natural grease to protect itself and to prevent any loss of moisture. Over time, this process declines and a moisturizer should by applied on a daily basis. Moisturizers must be used constantly to prevent recurrence of skin dryness. The best time for application is in the morning after washing, when the skin is still damp. Although these moisturizing preparations cannot cure skin wrinkling, they can prevent that and definitely they can delay skin aging. Some moisturizers, as soon they are used, cover the skin with a very thin layer of oil or silicone. This layer, apart from preventing or minimizing dryness, can conceal small or mild wrinkles. Moisturizers come in ointments, creams and lotions. Try the following link, if you want to read reviews for high quality moisturizers and to be guided how to find such preparations online.
Creams and skin care.
Basic night creams. When it comes to comprehensive face skin care, night creams are equally important to moisturizers which are applied during the day. In fact, both night creams and moisturizers are used for the very same purpose; to keep the skin moist. Although our face is not exposed to the sunlight, the skin can get dry overnight, because the metabolism remains active. Night creams are thicker than moisturizers and they are not recommended, if acne problems are present. Many effective night creams contain avocado oil.
Alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs) creams. Alpha-hydroxy acids are organic and very mild acids that cause a chemical skin peeling. When applied, they remove aged or dead cells by causing a mild chemical burn on the epidermis. This process activates the healing factors to rejuvenate skin.
A sunscreen of a good quality must be combined with alpha-hydroxy acids products, since the latest make the skin sensitive to the sun rays.
Antioxidants and skin care. Fibroblasts are cells in our skin and they are responsible for the synthesis of collagen and elastin. Over time, free radicals may damage fibroblasts and make them less productive. This can lead to skin aging with wrinkles or pigmentation to be the most apparent consequences.
Antioxidants are molecules that can minimize or cancel the above process. Recently, experts have realized the anti-aging benefits of topically applied antioxidants. Thus, skincare preparations, such as creams containing vitamin C, vitamin E and coenzyme Q10 can offer significant protection and improvement, especially if they are combined.
You can find a wide range of creams online by visiting the Which Night Cream page.
Retinol and skin care.
Renova and Retin-A are vitamin A based creams and both have been approved by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) to be used for treatment of skin problems caused due to exposure to the sun.
The effectiveness of each preparation depends on the retinol concentration within the product. This is ranging between 0,010% and 0,050%.
Try the following link to learn more and to be guided how to find Renova and Retin-A online.
Soap-free cleansers for proper skin care.
Traditionally soaps contain animal fats and vegetable oils mixtures plus alkaline factors. Because of the latest ingredient, soaps present a pH higher than 7. That means they can result in skin dryness quite easily.
Nowadays, a new generation of skin cleaners has been presented. They are soap-free, with synthetic surface-active substances and they cleanse skin in a mild way without dehydrating it. What is more, some of these products contain moisturizers, in order to keep the skin soft and fresh. Try the following link, if you want to find more information about facial cleansing.
Astringent toners in skin care.
Astringent toners are recommended to be used after face cleansing. Although they are not essential for a comprehensive skin care, they are quite beneficial, since they can remove the remains of any dirt or make-up that the face cleanser misses. Astringent toners prepare the skin for the use of a moisturizer or for any treatment needed by restoring the proper pH. Unlike the fresheners, astringent toners contain alcohol and they are more suitable for oily skins. Thus, they are very beneficial in control of acne.
Try the Neova Balancing Toner or Obagi Nu-Derm Toner links to find two cost-effective toners online.
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