Timeless Beauty

Hello guys! I'm baaaack! It's been a while since I last posted here. I hibernated, so to speak, but now I'm back with a vengeance. I have been practicing new anti-aging tricks lately. It's not enough that I am using a mild moisturizing facial wash to cleanse my face before and after a good night's sleep. I have also been using not just an astringent, but a skin toner which deep cleanses my skin's pores and tightens them. The reason for me going to such lengths trying to clean my face is that I've been using make-up lately. I know too much chemicals on one's face can destroy it sooner than later. I look young simply because I have avoided make-up for most of my adult life, but I don't think I can escape its use anymore. I am now 30 years old. Though my skin is not showing its real age yet, I have noticed a dullness and some darkening in my skin. To cover up the changes I have started using makeup. It's been fun choosing colors and applying them an...

I was over at Sleeping Beauty , checking out a fellow beauty product enthusiast's musings. I like the post she had on Emerge Wrinkle Relaxing Serum. According to her, Emerge has "THREE non-toxic anti-aging peptides chemically combined from naturally derived amino acids." After using Emerge, Sleeping Beauty has this to say: "...this product will not leave you expressionless like some other products will. It increases collagen and elastin production helping fill in those wrinkles without messing with your muscles so you have control of your face! This product also helps prevent premature aging and you will see visible results in two weeks." When she said "other products" I suspect those that contain Botox-alternative ingredients. Oh well. Some people prefer the organic to the superficial. But I think everyone will agree that no matter what kind of brand one uses for the upkeep of one's skin care, all it comes down to the quality of results they...

Ever wonder why the French are as healthy as horses despite the fact that their cuisine is rich in fat and sugar? This medical mystery is called the "French Paradox" which brought about research into the reason why the French have very low rates of heart disease. Scientists believed the answer can be found in their favorite beverage, the red wine. Wine is made from grapes, which are a rich source of antioxidants. Further research revealed that the oligomeric proanthocyanidins (OPC) in the red wine promotes cardiovascular health. Grape seed extract, in particular, contain the richest sources of OPCs, making it one of the most powerful antioxidants available. Grape seed extract is rich in polyphenols, a compound that is high in antioxidants which help protect cells from free radical damage and also promote healthy blood circulation. Compared with Vitamins C, E and A (beta-carotene), it stays longer in the body for as long as 3 full days, is 20 times more potent than Vitamin C, ...

Anti wrinkle creams, beauty serums and skin rejuvenating lotions are often used by general consumers without thought about the truths and myths behind those anti aging skin care products. Exposure to the sun has been found to be one of the factors in producing free radicals that destroy cell production and hastening the aging process. To protect one's skin from harmful UV rays, sun block creams and lotions should be used extensively. Sun block provides protection from the sun by preventing the absorption of ultraviolet rays into the skin's cells. However, one of the most common notion in using sun block creams and lotions is that they are only appropriate in beaches and pools. If we want to prevent damage and advanced aging on our skin we should use sun block every day. It is recommended that we find a sun block product that has an SPF of at least 15 and for a more intensive skin protection we should use sun block with SPF 45. Another skin care product that has long been misus...

Botox is a popular cosmetic procedure that claims to get rid of wrinkles. It is understood that Botox is injected underneath the muscle layer to prevent wrinkle formation. It is not botulism that is being injected but Botulinum toxin Type A which is approved by the FDA as a safe cosmetic product to use between the eyes to rid of the frown lines. Botox basically prevents muscles from contracting when we are tense or angry. We can move our muscles through chemical communication between nerves and muscles. Nerve endings release the hormone acetylcholine which binds itself to receptors in the muscle. The binding of acetylcholine to receptors in the muscles tell them to contract when we feel strong emotions like anger or when we are tense. But Botox prevents this chemical binding by blocking the nerve receptors in the muscles. As a result, the muscles fail to contract because the signal to move got lost before the nerve impulses reached the nerve receptors in the muscle layer. In short, Bo...

Forget Buddha beads, peace signs and social activism. Free radicals may not be following the New Age mantra of going organic and natural but they are a big influence when you are considering living a healthy life and having an ageless body and appearance. Free radicals consequently cause damage to the human body in the cellular level. They can affect the immune system and stop the production of the human growth hormone which aids in cellular production. In general, they are molecules that have a single unpaired electron in an outer shell as a result of oxidation in the human body. Some of us may be familiar with oxidation which results to rust. The oxidation process in our body, however, does not necessarily involve oxygen. It is described as a loss of electrons in atoms that result to molecules with such a structure. According to the free radical theory of aging, degenerative diseases associated with aging generally involve free radical processes which, in turn, result to premature ag...

We are used to thinking anti-oxidants as part of dietary supplements to slow down the aging process and keep one’s appearance healthy and younger-looking. But do you know one of the most active ingredients in the best anti-aging skin care products are antioxidants? Sources of antioxidants like Ascorbyl Palmitate (a form of fat soluble Vitamin C) and tea green extracts which contain catechin polyphenols have been used to manufacture the best anti-aging creams and serums, but the most potent of the six leading antioxidants is Idebenone. From the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, in a study done by a group of researchers who developed the first ever protocol to compare the efficacy of antioxidants on their effects on preventing free-radical skin-damage, Idebenone received a score of 95 out of a 100, which was the highest score among the six leading antioxidants. Idebenone is a synthetic analogue of a naturally-occurring enzyme called Coenzyme Q10 (Co Q10). Co Q10 is an important antioxidan...