I found this article very informative. Read it and then visit http://www.beautyuno.com/antiagingskincare.html for variety of antiaging skin products. 

 According to gerontologist (aging expert) David J. Demko, PhD, genes play a minor role in the aging process. Maintaining your youth is all about staying fit, both inside and out. Making these 2006 resolutions could add ten (or more) years to your life (without a minute of physical exercise or diet modification):

1. Have an annual physical exam
2. Volunteer on a weekly basis
3. Laugh and learn from your mistakes
4. Have a confidant who listens to your concerns
5. Engage in a daily mental exercise such as a puzzle or game
6. Get a pet
7. Join a religious group
8. Stop being afraid of growing old
9. Make friends of different ages
10. Open your windows and let in some fresh air

Demko outlines a simple, easy-to-follow strategy incorporating physical, mental, nutritional and environmental modifications that will slow the aging process. As Demko states, “He offers no “miracle” cures or dietary supplements, just pure common sense combined with scientific proof”.

Demko, a Florida professor and aging researcher claims to have developed the “Original Death Calculator” while completing his PhD from the University of Michigan in the mid-70’s, just prior to receiving a US Administration on Aging scholarship for advanced studies in aging. Since then, he has refined his calculator and presented his findings to the National Council for the Aging, the American Society on Aging and two Presidential White House Conferences. According to Demko, “The key to a long a healthy life is more than smart genes and dumb luck.”

“His readers and their ilk may well be the beneficiaries of a newly elastic attitude about what defines age and attractiveness.”- The New York Times

Barbara Kimmel is an award-winning book publisher, publishing consultant and publicist. She is the publisher of David Demko’s new book, Live Well Now: Dr. David Demko’s Anti Aging Plan to Youth’n Your Life.

posted by Nora, owner of http://www.beautyuno.com/wrinklesportal.html

by: Nitin Jain

Antiaging skin care’ is a very poplar concept in today’s world. Today everyone wants to hide their age using antiaging skin care procedures (and a number of people are successful too). However antiaging skin care is not achieved by any magic potion. ‘Antiaging skin care’ is about discipline. It is about being proactive. Antiaging skin care is retarding the ageing process. Here are a few tips for proactive antiaging skin care:

1. Maintain healthy eating habits: A well balanced diet is the key to maintaining a proper body metabolism. Eat a lot of fruits and vegetables (raw), they are the best source of fibre and have a very refreshing effect on your body. Avoid oily and fatty food; not only do they lack in essential nutrients but also cause obesity and other diseases which aid the aging process

2. Beat stress: This is probably the most important antiaging skin care measure. Stress disturbs the body metabolism and accelerates the aging process. Sleep, exercise and a relaxing bath, are all good ways of beating stress. Aroma-therapy is also known to bust stress.

3. Drink a lot of water: Antiaging skin care can’t be any simpler than this. Water helps in flushing out the toxins from the body, hence keeping it clean and making it less prone to disease. Around 8 glasses of water (per day) is recommended by all doctors.

4. Regular exercise is a wonderful antiaging skin care procedure. Besides toning your muscles, it also helps in cleaning the skin by flushing out the toxins in the form of sweat. Exercise should be followed by a warm shower in order to completely remove the toxins.

5. Avoid the use of strong, chemical based products on your skin. Natural skin care products are a good option. Use of organic skin care products (home made or commercial) can be a very effective antiaging skin care measure.

6. Do not overuse skin care products. Excessive and harsh application, both are harmful.

7. Do not ignore skin disorders; it can lead to permanent skin damage. Try over the counter medication and if that doesn’t help, immediately visit your dermatologist and seek his/her advice.

8. Vitamin C based skin care products are very popular means of antiaging skin care. However, these seem to oxidise very quickly (which makes them harmful for the skin). So store them properly. If the product turns Yellowish brown, it means that vitamin c has oxidised and the prodct is no longer suitable for use.

9. Protect your skin against UV radiation ; UV rays are known to speed up the aging process. So, a good sunscreen lotion should be a part of your antiaging skin care routine.

About the Author: Alicia for http://www.ultimate-cosmetics.com . Learn how to treat cracked heels.

Source: www.isnare.com

Find more anti-aging skin care at http://www.beautyuno.com/antyagingskincare.html

by Judith Zimmer,  Jenyne Raines

10 THINGS YOU MUST DO TO GET GREAT FACE

We come in a delicious array of skin tones that captivate–and help protect us from the sun and keep us looking youthful longer. But despite our great genes and protective melanin, environmental pollutants, free radicals and the depleted ozone layer call for us to treat our skin with attention. These ten mandates will help you attain and maintain the skin of your dreams:

1. Know thy skin. To determine skin’s personality, try this simple at-home a Washington, D,C. dermatologist: Wash your face, skip the moisturizer, wait an hour and then take four pieces of transparent tape and place each one in a different area of the thee: chin, forehead, cheeks and across the nose. Gently pull off the tape and observe the sticky side. If it holds flakes of skin, you have dry skin in that area. If it has a greasy print, you have oily skin. Then take a closer look at your face. Do you see a few pimples and perhaps a dark mark or two? You may have an allergic reaction going on or minor acne. Do you frequently have a rash, redness or irritation? Your skin is probably sensitive, but don’t self-diagnose: See a qualified dermatologist. Now that you know your skin type, read on.

2. Cleanse faithfully. When you wash your face, you remove makeup, pollution and debris, as well as dead skin cells that are continuously shed and dull your complexion. Most days, it’s enough to cleanse twice–in the morning and before bed. Always use a cleanser suited to your skin type. If yours is oily or acne-prone, come clean with a liquid, gel formulation or soap that contains bacteria-fighting and oil-cutting ingredients like triclosan and alpha-hydroxy acids or salicylic acid. These gently slough the skin. Try Exuviance Purifying Cleansing Gel, Pevonia Botanica Clarigel Exfoliating Cleanser or Pond’s Clear Solutions Deep Pore Foaming Cleanser. Dry skin calls for a creamy cleanser that won’t strip the skin of needed moisture. We like L’Oreal Hydra Fresh Foaming Face Wash and Clarins Gentle Foaming Cleanser for Dry. Skin. Combination skin has its own set of concerns: It’s usually oily in the T-zone and the cheeks are dry. “In many cases, misuse of various skin-care products actually creates combination skin,” says New York dermatologist Barney Kenet, author of How to Wash Your Face (Simon & Schuster). What to do? Make sure you aren’t aggressively cleaning with irritating ingredients, which can stimulate oil production in the T-zone and dry the sides of the face. If your skin is sensitive, go for tried-and-true cleansers that contain no alcohol and don’t overlather, like Dove Beauty Bar for Sensitive Skin and Estee Lauder’s Verite LightLotion Cleanser.

3. Moisturize religiously, Skin of any type needs a barrier between it and the environment; the elements can damage it and age us before our time. “We use moisturizer to trap the natural moisture within the skin,” says Burgess. What to look for in a moisturizer? Dry skin requires ingredients like hyaluronic acid and urea, commonly known as humectants, to draw moisture from the air to the skin. If your skin is really dry, Kenet suggests this trick: First dampen your face with warm water; pat dry and apply a generous amount of moisturizer. Then cover your face with a slightly dampened towel for a few minutes. Tissue off, rinse lightly with warm water and pat dry. Doing this twice a week helps skin retain its natural moisture. Creme De La Mer, Lancome HydraZen Skin Destressing Moisturizer and Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizer all provide exceptional benefits for dry skin. Combination skin takes an oil-free moisturizer. Cheek out Neutrogena Combination Skin Moisture Facial Moisturizer and Oil of Olay Daily Complete UV Protection Moisture Lotion. For those with oily and/or acne-prone skin, a light, off-free, noncomedogenic (doesn’t cause blemishes) moisturizer with sun protection will suffice. Reach for Erno Laszlo’s Antioxidant Moisture Complex SPF 15 and Avon’s Clearskin Oil Control Lotion. Sensitive skin is extremely fragile and prone to such culprits as household cleaning agents and fragrance. Your strategy? Virgil Hatcher, a New York City dermatologist and clinical assistant professor at New York University School of Medicine, offers: advice: * Go for simple formulations in cleansers and moisturizers. * Avoid prolonged exposure to wind and sun. * Opt for compact makeup–liquid formulations contain more preservatives. * Cut down on the detergent you use and skip the fabric softeners. Such skin requires a moisturizer that is lanolin-, alcohol- and fragrance-free. Hands down, the dermatologists we spoke to all love Cetaphil Daily Facial Moisturizer With SPF 15.

4. Exfoliate to rejuvenate. Exfoliation, the removal of dead skin cells, is a process that occurs naturally. But as we get older, the slower the natural exfoliation process gets, leaving us with dull skin tone. We use exfoliation products to replenish softness, smoothness and glowing skin. Exfoliants come in two forms: gentle scrubs that remove surface dead skin, and chemical preparations that contain alpha-hydroxy acids. Regarding gentle scrubs, New York City dermatologist Dr. Deborah Simmons says that those of us with normal or combination skin can exfoliate once a week, while those with oily skin should do it no more than twice a week.

Alpha-hydroxy acids, such as glycolic, lactic and citric acid, provide a deeper exfoliation. “They can cause three or four layers of cells to come off,” explains Burgess. “They also trigger the skin to replace those layers so that you have a faster turnover of epidermal cells.” But caution: Because AHA use thins the top layers of skin and makes you more vulnerable to burning, you’ll need sun-protection products–moisturizer with an SPF or sunblock.

5. Don’t worship the sun. Burnished hues have more natural protection from the sun than lighter skin, but that doesn’t make any of us immune to sun damage or even skin cancer. “In general, as the years go by we are seeing more melanoma [skin cancer] in every ethnic group,” says Burgess. It’s a good idea to protect skin from sun damage year-round. Use moisturizers with an SPF of 15 during the day (especially if you’re using a product with AHAs).

For extended outdoor activity (outdoor sports or a day at the beach) and sun exposure, moisturizer with SPF is not enough. Use a full-fledged sunscreen that contains protection against UVA and UVB radiation, such as Avon’s Skin So Soft Sun So Soft in SPF 30 or Clarins Sun Care Cream-Gel SPF 15.

6. Honor your eyes. Skin around the eyes is prone to fine lines, dark circles or puffiness. In some cases, circles are due to heredity or they’re an indication of illness or lack of sleep. In addition to getting more rest, you can use certain products. Puffiness can be reduced with products that act as a decongestant, but cucumber slices and green-tea bags work just as well. What else works? Helena Rubinstein’s Force C Eye Gel and Oil of Olay’s Refining Eye Gel. Soli Davis, an aesthetician at Helena Rubinstein Beauty Gallery in New York City, recommends putting eye creams on the bone around the eye, not directly under it, to keep the cream from getting into the eye.

7. Keep an even tone. Marks can be caused by everything from acne and mosquito bites to burns and sun damage. They will fade on their own, but you can speed up the process with a fader, sun protection and an AHA moisturizer. Look to the ingredient hydroquinone, which acts by breaking up melanin formation. In over-the-counter preparations, it comes in concentrations of three percent or less; prescription drugs with hydroquinone are available in higher concentrations. Teamed with alpha- and beta-hydroxy acids (glycolic, kojic or salicyclic acids), hydroquinone can deeply penetrate the skin. Fade gels should be applied directly to the area of discoloration. Products that help: Peter Thomas Roth Potent Skin Lightening Gel Complex, Exuviance Essential Skin Lightener Gel and Black Opal’s Advance Dual Complex Fade Gel. If the skin doesn’t improve, consult a dermatologist.

8. Thou shalt visit the facialist. Facials can stimulate blood circulation and the flow of oxygen to purge skin of toxins imbedded in pores. For the best results, go monthly. The aesthetician will help you choose from several types of facials, including deep-cleansing, in which pores are unclogged through exfoliation, steaming, extractions, massage and a mask; oxygen, in which the face is cleaned, followed by a spray of nutrient-packed oxygen from a tank; and glycolic acid, a strong exfoliating session and hydrating facial to smooth and brighten skin tone.

9. Let a skin-care professional shepherd the way. If you have severely sensitive skin or acne, or special concerns like flesh moles, eczema or extremely large pores, consult a dermatologist. Call the National Medical Association at (888) NMAPHYS for a Black dermatologist near you.

Find many good products for skin care at: http:www.beautyuno.com

This article by Johneen Manning I found on the internet, and I found it interesting. Good to know more about age defying products, but olso about the right diet to defy aging. My personal opinion is : sugar is not good for you.

It would seem that sugar’s bad rep goes beyond tooth decay and the battle of the bulge. Research indicates that sugars can damage your skin in a process that scientists dub ‘AGE,’ forming a harmful waste that can prematurely age skin.

The fitting acronym ‘AGE’ stands for Advanced Glycosylation End-products what does that mean, and why should you moderate your sugar intake?

Skin cells are supported by a network of protein fibers; in healthy skin these fibers are resilient and elastic, allowing your skin to move, stretch and return to its soft, smooth, crease-free structure.

Wrinkles form naturally over time as a result of UV damage and reduced elasticity. When you consume too much sugar, excess sugar molecules stick to the protein fibers, binding them together, producing harmful wastes – AGE and free radicals – stiffening fibers, reducing the pliability associated with youthful skin.

AGEd skin is more vulnerable to sagging, wrinkling, inflammation and further UV damage, considered by dermatologists to be the leading cause of premature skin aging.

So, Sugar is Out?

No, unlike some hardcore low-carb weight-loss plans, this doesn’t mean you have to eradicate all sugar from your diet. In fact, you body requires moderate amounts of sugar as a source of easily accessible energy. Moderate. Excess sugar accumulates outside cells where it interacts with the protein matrix that lends skin its resilience.

While scientists do expect to see a certain amount of AGE formation starting after age 40, the process has been observed in the body far earlier in recent years, most likely due to our society’s high intake of sugary foods, creating an AGEing diet in more ways than one.

AGE Creators

Excess Sugar – starch and other complex carbohydrates fall into this category because they are broken down into sugars during digestion.

Too Little Fiber – consuming more fiber allows your body to process more sugar because you absorb less of it.

Too Much Processed Foods – foods that combine sugar with protein at high temperatures contain ready-made AGE since this reaction is similar to the one that produces AGE in the body.

How Much is Too Much?

We are all unique, so the amount of sugars absorbed by our cells varies from person to person. Until researchers define specific guidelines correlating AGE formation to excess sugar formation, it makes good sense to practice common sense: reduce added sugars from your diet by making informed diet choices.

Did you know that ½ cup of vanilla ice cream contains less sugar than the same serving of apple sauce, and nearly half the sugar of ¼ cup of seedless raisins?

On average we consume 12 teaspoons of added sugars each day – try reducing that by one-half or one-third. Many foods that aren’t typically ’sweet’ are high in sugar or are broken down into sugar in the body (such as carbohydrates). Read nutrition labels to find out how much you consume; 4 grams of sugar equals one teaspoon. And pay attention to serving sizes.

Also, learn to identify sugars on the ingredient list – code names include sugar, brown sugar, cane sugar, honey, corn syrup, barley malt, fructose, molasses, and sucrose. While they all have different names and may be listed separately on an ingredient list, they all have the same AGEing affect on the body.

Don’t forget that proper nutrition is an essential part of staying healthy and looking your best.

Johneen Manning is Editor-In-Chief of http://www.gkfa.com, a hip, savvy and fresh online women’s magazine for the ‘Sex and the City’ generation. For more interesting and entertaining articles and to enter contests visit http://www.GKFA.com today.

Find moreabout popular anti-aging cosmetics at : http://www.beautyuno.com/antiagingskincare.html

As we grow older and are constantly exposed to the UV rays of the sun our skin starts to appear dry and dull. This is the result of the outside layer of the skin getting excessive build up and is not exfoliated on a regular basis. Build-up is especially noticed after we have spent the summer in the sun. It’s more apparent to women since we realize that our make-up doesn’t look as fresh and our foundation begins to fade within a couple of hours. Our make-up and foundation is actually being absorbed into the accumulated dead skin cells, which gives a very tired and unhealthy look to the skin.

To keep your skin vibrant and healthy on a regular basis, you must have a regimen that incorporates exfoliation and nourishing the skin. Your regular skin care program does not have to be a department store or drug store solution. You can prepare an all nature skin care program right from your kitchen table and manage to get the same results if not better results that your store bought product promises.

Exfoliation:

You should exfoliate at least 2-3 times per week (daily is even better) to keep the skin’s healthy glow. One solution for exfoliating the skin in an in expensive way is to use sugar. Yes, Sugar! Glycolic acid which is found in most AHA (alpha hydroxyl acid) products is from sugar cane. You can benefit from glycolic acid by using sugar for exfoliation.

Simply mix ½ to 1 teaspoon of sugar in with a small amount of your favorite skin cleanser. Wet your face and massage the cleanser/sugar mixture over your face for 1-2 minutes. Rinse your face with lukewarm water to remove this mixture and you will instantly feel a difference in your skin.

Nourish:

Give your skin a refreshing drink with a simple nourishing facial mask. The ingredients are powerful and can be found in your kitchen. Combine one or more main ingredient with a liquid ingredient for to make a wonderful facial mask. Base your ingredient choices on the health properties of each item.

Base Ingredient:

• Honey – It is a humectant (which draws in moisture) and it has antibacterial qualities that also stimulates and smoothes the skin.
• Mango – Provides natural fruit enzymes which also exfoliates the skin and the oil in mangos help moisturize.
• Avocado – A naturally rich moisturizer has essential fats and oils.
• Oatmeal – Moisturizing and slightly exfoliating

Liquid Ingredient:

• Milk – Enzymes and Lactose acid to exfoliate and milk fat to condition the skin.
• Aloe Vera Gel – Healing and softening.
• Egg White – tightening and conditioning.

You will want to follow your treatments with your favorite hypoallergenic moisturizer. For best results, these treatments can be done 2-3 times a week to help keep your skin youthful and vibrant.

Find anti-aging products at http://www.beautyuno.com/wrinklesportal.html

Add comment January 13, 2006