How To Look Younger For The Holidays

Do you have company coming over, or are you visiting family and friends for Christmas ? Are you planning to go out on New Year's Eve? Whatever the reason, most people want to look their best, at least during the most momentous times of the year. So, what methods are out there to make you look more beautiful as fast as possible?

Well, it's possible to lose some weight, but that's not easy, especially if you have lots of pounds to get rid of. And, can you lose it all within one month? You might also be able to go to a costly Spa and get a total makeover. Good idea, but, that might cost a thousand or more. What about just going shopping and buying some high end shoes and clothes to make you look better? Another reasonable idea, but that might set you back extra expenses.

If you’re between the ages of thirty five and ninety five, you might want to try making your friendly face more youthful looking. A premium anti wrinkle and anti aging skin care cream, or lotion, is often referred to as a face lift in a jar and can do wonders for your looks and often has superior effects within thirty days. And the best skin care products of this type are usually cost less than a hundred dollars. Truly, the excellent way to quickly change yourself into how you may have looked years ago.

So why do people get wrinkles and other skin problems? There are thousands of reasons, but to summarize, sun exposure, smoking, and your age contribute to the breakdown of collagen and elastin, the fibers that keep your skin firm and supple. Try and buy a product that contains some or all of the following:

# Alpha, beta and poly-hydroxide acids, which gently take away surface layers of skin to remove fine lines.

# Argireline - is derived from amino acids that occur naturally. It works by relaxing facial tension because it reduces excessive release of the neurotransmitters, called catecholamines, that make your facial muscles tense up. When your muscles aren't tense, they don't contribute to wrinkles. Argireline also helps to fight "eye wrinkles".

# Edelweiss Extract - isn't just something found in a song from The Sound of Music. Edelweiss Extract is a forceful antioxidant that cleans up the free radicals produced by metabolism and by pollutants as well. These free radicals voraciously unite with almost anything, including the elements of your skin, causing serious damage. In addition to being an antioxidant, Edelweiss Extract helps protect skin by blocking ultraviolet light.

# Shea Butter - is derived from the nut of the karite tree of West Africa, where it is commonly used in soap. Shea Butter is a natural moisturizer and skin tightener. It contains cinnamic acid, which helps protect your skin against ultraviolet light. It also includes natural latex, which has hypoallergenic qualities. The fatty acids in Shea Butter, along with the other ingredients, promote healing and regeneration of the skin, and work to prevent the skin from drying, cracking, burning and wrinkling.

Also, there are other fine ingredients like Vitamin A, Matrixyl, Dermox, Evening Primrose Oil, and more, that help in bringing back that beaming looking appearance to your skin. Get all positive effects with the help of the leading products on the market and you'll get an amazing results. Many people claim they look ten or more years younger after using this type of skin care product for four to six weeks. However, like anything else, results may vary. You have to try it out for yourself. A new you could be waiting right around the corner. Happy holidays!

Men Start to Treat Skin with Anti-aging Products

When we think of anti-aging products, we normally think of woman. But lately a trend is up-and-coming worthy of note - guys are starting to recognize that the way they treat their skin in their twenties and thirties will drastically impact how they look in their forties, fifties and sixties.

Now more than ever, men understand that the benefits of looking young, be they amorous or professional, do not end when you turn forty. Just as it makes sense to handle fitness and heart health - guys are starting to understand that unless they act to protect their skin, they may end up covered with wrinkles, discoloration and bags under their eyes, and sooner than they think.

The problem is that apart from women, when it comes to skin care, men generally do not do what it takes unless it is extremely easy and it works. Men's skin is much more difficult to maintain than women's. It is thicker, oilier, and persistently subjected to the trauma of shaving. Also, daily exposure to sunlight and pollution actually causes the skin to age faster.

Luckily anti-aging technology has finally reached a point where it can not only assist to protect against future wrinkles and age spots, but, in fact it can moderately undo the visible effects of aging that have already occurred. In addition, new products are now simpler than ever. So, unlike what women have go through, guys can now easily get their daily dose of skin care and anti-aging.

A Natural Acne Treatment

One of the problems people run into is using an advertised commercial treatment without really knowing what effects they can have on their skin. Side effects are a big issue and everyone should get qualified advice from a skin specialist first before going out to try different products. Yes, many commercial products are effective, but why run the risk of causing additional issues to your skin.

Do you really know what your skin is sensitive to? Do you know whether the product you are about to try will affect your skin in a vicious way? While harsh cleaners could be effective for some it does not mean they will work for you. Here is a list of tips which can put you on the right way to find the right natural acne treatment.

Researching Natural Acne Treatments:

- This may sound cliché, but the best place to start your search is online, however, one of the pitfalls is bad advice and scams and if something appears too good to be true then get advice from a skin specialist or simply move on.

- Be careful of the programs you sign up with. There are some great looking offers out there and they are attractive, however, do you know you can get locked into a recurring payment schedule for a product, which may not be what you are looking for.

- A great way to get original information is reviews and comments done by experienced people, who have already gone through the trials and tribulations mentioned above and found what worked for them.

- If you have suffered from scarring or infections on the skin then this is a major reason to stop and think before purchasing new products.

- If you are a parent then make sure your kids are not chasing treatments for their problems without consulting you. It is easy enough for adults to be drawn into tempting marketing offers so imagine how easily influenced a child can be.

- Guides, which promote a step-by-step solution on a holistic level, are worth investigating when looking for natural treatments for acne. It's the overall benefits to your body, which are key, and following the healthy diets within these treatments is big advantage. However, always check with your doctor before starting a new treatment.

Fight back against acne today and check out acne treatment articles to get you on the way to clearer skin.

Cold Winter Skin Care

Winter often spells tragedy for your skin. It looks rough and chapped, feels tight and drawn. The winter is the season when our skin actually needs the most extra care. To help your skin to survive the brutality of the season, keep in mind the following simple winter skin care tips:

- Do not take excessive long and hot showers as this will deplete the natural skin moisturizer.

- Pamper you skin with a little coconut oil before bath to heal dryness and chaps.

- Add a few drops of oil to the water that you are using to bath. Shorten your bath time.

- Use a mild cleanser as opposed to soap, which can strip your skin of the essential oils it needs.

- Use SPF sunscreen 15 or better on face, neck and all visible parts of body.

- Continue to drink lots of water to provide the necessary hydration to your skin.

- Avoid products with high alcohol content, heavy perfumes or other additives.

- Use cosmetics and moisturizers that contain jojoba oil instead of petroleum-based products.

- Apply some good cold cream on your face before going to bed. Take proper sleep.

- Use a soothing lip balm or moisturizing lipstick, preferably with a sunscreen.

- A proper nutritious intake helps in rejuvenating the skin from within.

- Primrose syrup and olive oil in your diet also aids in softening your skin.

- A glass of hot water with lemon will help you eliminate toxins responsible for bad skin

By taking a few common sense winter skin care precautions, you can be as happy and beautiful in the winter as you are during the summer.

The best time to fight wrinkles is before you see them

No amount of beauty products or visits to the dermatologist can replace the overall benefit of a healthy diet, regular exercise, limited sun exposure and regular use of moisturizer. However, even with the best of intentions and a well-executed plan, time does begin to catch up with us. Here are three ways modern science can help to keep you looking young.

Oxygen Facial

Oxygen facials don’t come cheap, but many in Hollywood swear by the results – Jennifer Aniston and Madonna to name only two. The idea behind the treatment is that by replacing the oxygen that your skin cells are lacking (environment and age both play a factor in limiting the amount of oxygen that actually gets to the skin). Proponents of the treatment claim that their skin is rejuvenated, their circulation is improved and their skin is left hydrated, exfoliated and luminous.

Botox Injections

Botox gets a lot of press because, when done properly it can yield fantastic results. If you are interested in getting Botox injections, first find a reputable doctor – preferably one whose work you’ve seen. Poll your friends and acquaintances. Gone is the stigma attached to Botox. Almost everyone has tried it and most will tell you how it went. Although primarily a treatment for existing wrinkles, some research points to the possibility that Botox may actually delay the onset of wrinkles.

Non-Ablative Skin Rejuvenation

Sometimes called an epifacial, this treatment is a combination of light therapy and skin resurfacing that can result in some fantastic results. Women who have gone through these treatments have reported that acne has cleared up, fine lines and wrinkles have disappeared, pigmentation has vanished and large pores appear smaller. The treatment is short (only 15-20 minutes in most cases) and does result in some discomfort, likened by some to the feeling of mild sunburn. Of course, results like these do not come cheap, but most who offer the treatment also offer financing options as well.

Acne Prevention

Real acne prevention begins when skin is clear. From common sense to surprising do-it-yourself remedies, here are a few prevention tips to help keep your skin clean and blemish free. Be sure to test each suggestion along the jaw line if you have sensitive skin.

Wash your face. Of course! Gently washing your face removes oil from the surface of your skin, but does not remove oil from clogged skin pores. Dust and other pollutants block the pores of the skin and leads to acne. So, proper cleaning of the face is very important. Gently wash your face twice a day with lukewarm (not hot which irritates acne) water and a mild soap or cleanser. Deodorant soaps will not kill the bacteria that cause acne. Use water-based skincare products that gently clean your skin. Avoid products such as milky cleansers, cold creams, Do not scrub your face. Use gentle, circling motions instead. Washing your face more often than twice a day may irritate and dry your skin. After cleansing, always rinse completely and pat skin to dry.

While deodorant soaps do not kill acne bacteria, tea tree oil does. You`ll find tea tree oil in gels, creams, and oils. Other products that may help your overall skin condition include skin pore-cleaning strips. When you peel these sticky strips off your skin, dirt and/or makeup is removed by the strip. You`ll have better results if you follow the directions for use. If you use a product too often, acne can get worse.

While diet is not the root cause of acne, a healthy diet can help maintain clear skin and prevent breakouts. Eat high fiber rich food and low fat diet. Some vitamins also decrease your chances of acne. Consult with your doctor to see what he suggests. Use a cleansing diet to get rid of the toxins in your system and drink 6-8 glasses of water a day. Water is important for the good health of your skin. Some experts feel that cutting down on sugar, flour and caffeine is also an effective way to prevent acne.

Don’t use greasy lotions and cosmetics as they contain oils that can promote acne. Choose cosmetics that fit into a good skin rejuvenation regime to prevent adult acne. To accomplish this remember to cleanse skin thoroughly but gently. Tone skin with an antioxidant or vitamin A ingredient to remove any remaining oils or dirt from the surface of the skin. Exfoliate dead skin cells with an AHA, glycolic acid of 8% to 15% or BHA, salicylic acid of 1% to 2% along with a weekly microdermabrasion scrub. Keep your skin well hydrated with rich moisturizer containing an antioxidant such as vitamin C as well as a vitamin A ingredient. Spot treat any emerging blemishes with an over-the-counter acne treatment suited to your skin type and kind of blemish. Steam your skin twice a week with a facial steamer or over warm water in the sink to open the pores for an extra deep cleansing. Use sunscreen each morning and re-apply throughout the day as necessary.

It will only take a few weeks for you to not only notice that your acne outbreaks have diminished significantly but that your overall skin tone has improved. Over time you will find that prevention is truly the best acne medicine.

Important Steps When Fighting Acne

Acne. The word strikes fear in heart of anyone who has had to deal with it. And the unfortunate reality is that it isn't just an affliction that affects teenagers, many people suffer from acne well into adulthood. And who hasn't heard the outrageous claims that are made by so many producers of acne treatment.

The problem is that each person is different, so there isn't one blanket treatment. People are willing to spend their hard earned money looking for the perfect solution to their acne problem.

If you are suffering from severe acne the best option may be to go and see a dermatologist. Acne is considered severe when it is covering a good majority of the face. If this sounds like you, your dermatologist should be able to prescribe medication to help with your acne. If you do not do anything to combat this you could end up with scarring. For the rest of us, dealing with acne is not quite so urgent, but something that we would like cleared up nonetheless.

Finding a good cleanser is one of the most important things we can do to help combat acne. Almost every skin care and cosmetic company has a line of products that is purported to clear up acne and reduce or eliminate the number of blemishes we get. And some of these products can be extremely expensive.

The truth is some of these miracle treatments can actually make your acne worse. In reality, some of the best cleansers for acne are relatively inexpensive and can be found in your local drugstore. The best ones are gentle and non-foaming.

Drinking a lot of water can get clear complexion. The nourishing properties of water help acne. The large intake of water helps us in taking out the toxins from our body. It is felt that taking seven to twelve glasses of water in a day would be adequate, though it varies from person to person. One must not drink too much of water as it will reduce the number of electrolytes in your body.

One of the good methods to fight acne and blemishes is facials, though it costs a lot of money. Generally pimples and whiteheads erupt suddenly from tiny simple blackheads on the face. To avoid any damage to the delicate skin of the face one must not attempt to extract them oneself. The process of extraction during deep pore facials removes these blackheads completely.

While facials can be extremely expensive (upwards of $100), you only need one every one to two months and you will typically see a massive improvement in your skin's condition. Your aesthetician can recommend products to help you keep breakouts at bay in between your facials.

Most people have had to deal with acne at some time. Since it's been around for so long there are a lot of solutions available. To find which is right for you may take time and a few failed attempts, but stick with it. You will eventually find a product that won't bankrupt you.

If you feel that you have tried just about everything and you are not seeing an improvement in your acne, do not hesitate to contact a dermatologist. There are many medications that they can prescribe if they see fit, which you cannot get over the counter.

Foods for Beautiful Skin

Your skin, especially the skin on your face, is probably one of the last things you want looking terrible with pimple scars, acne and an oily appearance. And you should know that food affects the health of skin dramatically. Diet is one of the most common causes of skin problems, if you want a healthy skin, it is important for you to have a healthy diet - a diet that contains adequate amount of vitamins, minerals and proteins.

Berries such as cranberries and blueberries are one of the richest sources of antioxidants that destroy free radicals, which destroy tissue and reinforce the cells that make up blood vessel walls, increasing blood circulation and giving you those beautiful rosy cheeks. Bright colors on vegetables and fruits signify richness in antioxidants, so eat more of these as well. They include plums, apricots, strawberries, spinach, broccoli and other leafy vegetables.

Chicken, fish and other seafood are also great foods that will benefit the skin. These are good sources of high-quality, low fat protein which helps make your skin more elastic and toned. An additional advantage of eating these is stronger, shinier hair.

Vitamin E helps in the conversion of calories into energy, which is used for cellular metabolism, which keeps the skin moist and smooth. Vitamin E rich foods will help to prevent dry skin and helps in the repair and reduction of scars and stretch marks. These foods include hazelnuts, almonds, broccoli, spinach, mango, kiwi, peanuts and sunflower seeds.

In addition to food, good old water is the one of major ingredients for beautiful, radiant looking skin. We’ve all heard of its powers before, but it can’t be said enough! Water keeps our skin hydrated and flushes out toxins, leaving the skin fresh and blemish free.

The skin is the organ that determines most of our appearance and how good we look, so taking care of it to make sure it is always at its perfect condition is vital for a great image. Eat the right things and you will look vibrant and beautiful.

Drink More Water to Get Healthy Skin

Maybe you've heard how important is water for your health, figure and well-being many times, but everything your body does it does better with a healthy supply of water, because every system in your body depends on water. Maybe if water was more expensive, people would pay more attention to drink enough of it on a daily basis, instead most of us prefer coffee, lots of soda, and alcohol, not to mention fruit juices and teas and milk and a bunch of other beverages.

You should know that water is one of the best tools for weight loss, because it replaces high-calorie drinks like soda, juice, and alcohol with a drink that doesn't have any calories. Water is a great appetite suppressant, and often when we think we're hungry, we are actually just thirsty. By flushing out toxins and impurities, water can make your skin clearer, smoother and younger looking.

Drinking water moisturizes your skin from the inside out and clear up your skin. People often report a healthy glow after drinking water. It will not happen overnight, of course, but just a week of drinking a healthy amount of water can have good effects on your skin. Water is important to keep you skin smooth and delicate. Water is the single most important element for cellular integrity. Nothing will improve the appearance of your skin better than drinking enough water.

To make sure that you are getting enough water everyday, use simple tips below:

- Carry water with you everywhere you go in a bottle. Try getting a cool water bottle that you enjoy having around; it makes drinking water more fun.

- Keep a glass of water next to you whenever you'll be sitting down for a long time, such as when you are at your desk at work. Drink from it regularly as you are working.

- Add lemons or limes to your water, it makes it taste better and makes you want to drink more of it. Also, you can add some mint leaves to a pitcher of water, which should be allowed to sit overnight.

- Try drinking cold water out of a glass instead of a plastic or paper cup. The glass will retain the cold better than other materials and will keep your water crisp and fresh-tasting longer. If you don't like the taste of cold water, try hot water. It's a different taste and it feels good on your throat.

It’s a pity people spend so much money on different commercial products, while ignoring the cheapest and most effective one - water. Sufficient water intake prevents dehydration, cleans out the body, and promotes healing processes. Body is 90 percent water and needs it for digestion, healthy skin, blood circulation, temperature control and lots of other reasons. Drink your water! Have beautiful skin and stay healthy!

by the courtesy of Beautiful Skin Blog

Scar Treatment

There is no way to completely remove a scar, but there are several ways to make it less noticeable. Scars can be different in form, color; they can be results of various causes. Therefore they need to be treated with different means. If you decided to take care of your scars, you need to know what to do. Basically, there are three ways to fight scars: surgery, creams and lasers.

- Surgical way is recommended when scar is salient or vice versa – cut-out acne scar. When healed up skin is salient, the scar tissue is removed during surgery and healed in special way to be less visible. In some cases of prominent scar or cut-out scar, a small piece of skin is being attached after removing the original scar tissue. This additional skin is excised from less perceptible part of patient's body, i.e. from behind the ears.

- Scar removal creams, gels and lotions are highly promoted in nowadays market. They do a great work when a scar tends to be red, rough or swollen. Creams provide skin with a lot of humidity and special components that induce a skin tissue to regenerate more than usually. Scar treatment creams contain certain amount of collagen as well. Collagen is natural part of human body which helps to keep a flat skin. There are several creams dedicated to wounds treatment that can make skin to heal up prettier.

- Laser treatment is used for all types of scars, but not for all types of skin. People with dark skin tones are recommended to avoid laser treatment. This technology is used to remove almost all scar tissue. Later the skin is stimulated to healthy regenerated. The disadvantage of this kind of treatment is a very slow recovery; it might take from 10 to 18 months for a skin to regenerate. Even after this period, there's no guaranty of success, because it might take two or three procedures to finally see the effect. Other laser treatment is used to remove the redness. The laser light contracts blood vessels in a scar and makes it look more like undamaged skin.

Simple Beautiful Skin Care Tips

To achieve clear and smoother skin tone and texture, you must be determined to modify current unhealthy lifestyle, avoid bad eating habits and follow a healthy diet. Whether you are doing it for good, in preparation for an important occasion such as wedding, birthday or grand dinner, or even celebration of festive season, or simple for looking good and self-grooming purpose, a change in your everyday lifestyle plus using proper skin care products are vital for achieving better looking skin. Use a range of good and affordable natural based skin care products that do not contains harmful or strong ingredients.

Stay away from oily food, fried food, starchy food, sugary food, and dairy food, creamy soup, thick gravy, and spicy food, caffeinated drinks. Try to avoid or reduce use of eggs, peanuts, seafood and alcohol. These are foods, which trigger acne and pimple breakouts. Take vegetables and clear soup, without oil. Take lots of fresh fruits and fruit juices. Take many fruits especially in the morning or during night supper when you still find yourself hungry for food. Avoid snacks such as biscuits or chips. Blend fruit juices once a while when you grew tired of chewing fruits. If you prefer, go organic on your food.

Exercise daily. Try to exercise daily to sweat out toxins. It promotes blood circulation thus making skin look radiant and revitalized. Try not to touch your facial skin often. Avoid the bad habit by using fingers or hand to touch your skin especially your nose and chin area. Place your hand away from your face when answering phone calls or chit chatting. This will reduce the chances of getting an inflamed skin. Drink lots of water. Drink plenty of clean, boiled water to cleanse your body system and keep skin hydrate.

How To Improve any Type Skin Quality

Beautiful... healthy... glowing skin. Every individual, whether beauty-conscious or not wants it. But lasting skin beauty can only result from faithful, regular care. While we have marvelous skin care products to make life easier, it is the way you treat your skin everyday that really counts as the years go by. Today you will learn about your skin type.

One of the keys to proper skin care is knowing and making allowances for your skin type. Being aware of your skin type allows you to plan which types of cleansers, moisturizers, and other tools you need to use in order to get the best skin possible. There are several recognized skin types, but three main categories: oily, dry, and combination skin. Also you should add environmentally damaged skin.

Most skin types are genetically determined, but can be worsened by the environment, diet, harsh soaps, and overuse of the wrong skin care products - so be careful! Your skin care plan may also need to be modified for geography and season; if it's hotter than normal, for example, you may want to use skin products for oilier skin types, and if it's cooler, more moisturizer may be required.

It's easy to determine which skin type you have. When you get up in the morning, before you take a shower, wipe your face with a dry tissue, top to bottom. If it comes up greasy, you have oily skin. If it's dry, you have dry or combination skin; a little grease on the center of the tissue also suggests combination skin. You can also catch a clue from how your skin feels. If it seems parched and stretched too tight, it's dry; if it's slick, it's oily; but if it feels smooth and supple, it's almost certainly normal.

Combination skin is the most common skin type, and as such it's sometimes known as normal skin. It ends to be oily in the "T-zone" -- across the eyebrows and down the nose - and dry elsewhere. Your best bet for combination skin is to consistently deliver the moisturizers and nutrients it needs to stay healthy. You'll need to wash your face once or twice a day with a mild cleanser, though you might occasionally want to wash with a mild exfoliating cleaner to keep your pores unclogged. Be sure to rinse the cleanser off thoroughly with fresh, clean water. Follow that up with a skin toner to tighten and tone your pores, and finally, add the moisturizer that all skin types require.

Oily skin lives up to its name: it's shinier than normal skin, with larger pores, and may seem thicker to the casual eye. It can be a major battle to keep oily skin balanced and healthy-looking, but it responds well to regular exfoliation, deep-cleansing beauty masks, lightweight moisturizers, and the appropriate balancing ingredients to increase the skin's natural elasticity. Be careful not to overdo it, however: too many harsh cleaners can dehydrate your skin - or worse, cause your pores to release more sebum, making your skin even oilier. In fact, in order not to damage your skin, you should hydrate it with natural products that are non-oily. Be sure to wash your face with a mildly exfoliating skin cleanser at least twice a day, and use an astringent or toner to tighten your pores and make them look smaller. Believer it or not, witch hazel extract works well, and it's cheap.

Dry skin is basically skin that's parched and thirsty. It's tight, sensitive, and sometimes even flaky. It's all caused by pores that don't produce enough sebum, and can be worsened by hormones, aging, harsh detergents, and environmental factors. In order to return dry skin to a normal, healthy glow, you'll need to make sure that it's properly cleansed and hydrated. Use an exfoliating cleaner with alpha hydroxy acids on a daily basis. You can also use products with ceramides and lipids to help dry skin remain supple and well-hydrated.

Environmentally Damaged Skin is skin that has lost some of its natural suppleness and elasticity due to environmental damage - usually wind, sun, smoking, and pollution, but stress can also contribute. Uneven skin tone, roughening, dryness, and premature aging are all part of the package. While treatment can vary according to the type of damage, it's a good idea to start with professional skin exfoliation and Vitamin C treatments, and to use supplements that promote the production of skin collagen to improve the skin elasticity.

Resolve Five Common Skin Care Problems!

Your skin has the ability to heal, renew and protect itself with the proper care. The causes of skin imperfections include hormonal changes, reduction in collagen production, free-radical damage, poor nutrition, solar radiation and pollution. If you have problem skin, choose products that optimize your skin's ability to repair itself.

Broken Capillaries: Dry, delicate or mature skin that is thin and fragile is most susceptible to broken capillaries. When blood no longer pumps through the tiny capillaries and the capillary walls weaken, they lose their elasticity, collapse and become visible on the surface. Abrasive cleansers and facial scrubs, alcohol, caffeine, certain drugs, harsh cosmetics, forceful massage, cold weather, extreme winds, overexposure to the sun and spicy foods can all be triggers. Protecting your skin in cold or windy weather can help prevent broken capillaries. Bioflavonoid supplements may reduce redness and strengthen capillaries. Use gentle products that contain aloe and essential oils of lavender and chamomile to help soothe capillaries.

Age Spots: Blotches of pigmentation may result from perfumes, excessive sun exposure or the interaction of medications (such as birth control pills) and sun exposure. In responses, your skin has tried to protect itself by producing an overabundance of melanin -- the pigmented cells in your skin. The most important thing you can do to prevent new age spots is to wear sunscreen when exposed to sunlight.

You can repair your skin with products containing antioxidants, such as vitamin C, that have been shown to clarify skin and help to reverse dye effects of sun damage. Licorice extract is nature's most subtle and yet effective skin lightener. It has depigmenting effects and inhibits melanin synthesis.

Uneven Skin: Discoloration can also be the result of inflammation caused by acne, harsh chemicals or trauma. "Uneven skin is typically from poor skin care and large pore size," says Beer. "Other causes are seborrhea dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis, rosacea and its cousin, perioral dermatitis (characterized by tiny red bumps around the mouth). For uneven skin, my most popular treatment is self-heating microdermabrasion crystals that are made with micronized bamboo." Again, vitamin C comes to the rescue with its ability to even out skin tone and boost collagen production, reduce skin damage caused by free radicals and improve skin texture.

Rosacea: Although the cause of the disorder is unknown, it is clear that rosacea is aggravated by extremes of temperature, sunlight, alcohol, hot drinks, spicy foods and emotional stress. They cause the already congested and weakened blood vessels to dilate even further and the skin's sensitive surface to become irritated and inflamed. People with naturally thin skin may also be more prone to the condition.

"Rosacea is typically found in light-skinned patients and may be exacerbated by estrogens or changes in hormones," adds Beer. "Tartar control toothpaste can also provoke it. For rosacea-prone skin, I recommend skin-care products that contain green tea extract, which has a calming effect. For rosacea and broken capillaries, I suggest avoiding products that contain alcohol, a lot of fragrance or antiaging ingredients, such as high concentrations of vitamin C or glycolic acid. I also recommend chemical-free sun protection."

Acne: Acne is typically caused by the interaction of bacteria, hormones and sebum (oil from the hair follicle). A conscientious skin-care regime can combat some causes. Use a weekly facial scrub followed by a facial mask. Spot-treating blemishes with a formulation of bacteria-fighting essential oils such as tea tree, neroli or lemon oil can help them heal faste.

"Use cleansers and topical treatments designed for acne-prone skin and avoid anything, including sunscreens, that are not explicitly non-comedogenic and non-acnegenic," says Beer. Supplementing with B vitamins and zinc may also help. Green tea and lavender have both been shown to have antibacterial properties when used topically.