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.

Skin Reflects How We Are Feeling

Our skin is the largest organ of our body (around two square meters) and it announces to everyone how we are:

- If we slept late, we have the eyebags to prove it.

- If we lack water or exercise, our skin is dull.

- If we've had a good day or eat healthy, we glow.

Let's have more of those glowing moments! Here are the Four S's to avoid if you want to stay clear of pimples and wrinkles:

- Smoking. There are thousands of toxic chemicals in cigarette smoke and these toxins starve the skin of oxygen. A good supply of oxygen keeps the skin supple, so stay away from smoking.

- Stress. Worry leads to stress. It is easy to advice others to stop worrying but do you follow your own advice? If you feel stress creeping up inside you, go for a walk or do some exercise. It really helps! Maybe even go on vacation! No time? Then relax in a bath.

- Sugar. Sugar may taste heavenly but will leave the skin looking like hell if you're not careful. Too much sugar leads to glycation or to be more descriptive, gives your skin that leathery look and feel.

- Sun. I'm talking here of too much sun. Enough sunlight is very helpful because our bodies absorb the much needed vitamin D. Too much sun is harmful and will wrinkle the skin in due time.

Celebrity Skin Care Products

If celebrities know one thing, it is how to stay beautiful. Just imagine the pressure they must be under to always look their best. In the case of the A-list actors and actresses, they can barely leave their homes without being photographed. Those photos end up on the covers of every magazine in every supermarket checkout in America. Poor Britney…

In recent times, a number of celebrities have launched their own skin care and cosmetic lines. It makes a lot of sense, if you think about it. Why not capitalize on the fame they have established in their respective careers? Smart celebrities have taken the endorsement scenario to another level entirely. Instead of endorsing existing products, many of them have simply launched their own lines.

Cindy Crawford is one such example. After a highly successful modeling career, Cindy dropped out of the modeling scene to settle down and start a family. A few years later, Cindy decided to capitalize on her name by launching a line of specialized skin care formulas. She partnered with the famous French cosmetic surgeon, Jean-Louis Sebagh, to create Meaningful Beauty. They offer a wide range of skin care products designed to reduce free radicals and stimulate the growth of collagen, both of which are necessary to fight the effects of aging. Well done, Cindy!

Fresh-faced freshmen, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, are everywhere these days. These girls have been in the entertainment industry since they were just a few months old, and they have build up a veritable cosmetic and fashion empire in recent years. These girls are highly influential with the "tween" crowd. They have a wonderfully fun line of cosmetics for young girls, that includes metallic mascara and sparkle applications that are crayon-like in their appearance. Smart kids, indeed!

Jessica Simpson has also started her own line of skin care products. After her recent television and movie endeavors, there is no doubt that she should be exploring her career options. Her line of skin care products is called Dessert Beauty, and is produced in conjunction with a fellow named Randi Shinder. This line is more focused on lotions and lip balms with scents like strawberry and vanilla bean. It's good to see that Jessica has plan B in effect!