Olive Oil : Skin and Hair Care

The health properties of Olive oil is widely accepted and has made it a by word with health nuts. Originally it came from the Mediterranean Region, but its immense popularity made it much sought after and as a result, it can now be obtained any where in the world. You will find it as an active ingredient in your hair oil. You can also find it in your salad dressing. The multi functionality of Olive oil has made it very popular and it has been tagged as one of the top nutrient giver because of its popularity with health conscious people. Olive oil is essentially cholesterol free and is used to make food tastier and healthier. But, many of the skin care properties of Olive oil has come to light only recently and has made it an essential ingredient in soaps and skin care products. The soaps that are produced by using Olive oil are very gentle on the skin and will help in moisturizing and nourishing the skin. There are various homemade recipes that make use of olive oil for skin care. Some of them are listed below for your ready reference.

• Submerge your hands in Olive oil for half an hour to get extra fine nails.
• Olive oil can do wonders for chapped and dry lips.
• Olive oil is a great moisturizer. You can apply it liberally on your hands to get smoother and softer skin. You can also apply it on your feet for softer skin on your feet.
• A few tablespoons of Olive oil mixed with a few drops of an essential oil can give you a good bathing solution.
• A night cream that lightens the skin and kills bacteria can be obtained by mixing half a cup of Olive oil with quarter cups each of vinegar and water. This night cream will leave you with clearer and smoother skin in the morning.
• Olive oil can give you lustrous and dandruff free hair. Smear a good dollop of Olive oil on your hair and gently massage it into your scalp. You can cover your hair with a shower cap for 30 min and then shampoo your hair.
• You can do a simple facial by first applying Olive oil on your face and then scrubbing suger on your face. You can wipe off the oil and sugar with a wet towel afterwards.
• Olive oil can be used as an excellent cleaning cream for people with dry skin. They can also use mask made by mixing one egg, one teaspoon honey, half a teaspoon of Olive oil and a few drops of rose water.

Chemical Peeling for Ageing Skin

Chemical peeling is used by the doctors to exfoliate the layers of dead or old skin using chemical solutions of varying strengths. The idea here is to remove the old skin or peel it away to pave the way for fresher skin to form. This process can certainly rejuvenate your skin but this is only an external effect and has nothing to do with the internal process of aging. As the new skin gets exposed to sunlight and gets weather beaten, it will loose its luster, until you come in for the next procedure.

This procedure is ideal for removing surface aberrations like sun damage and pigmentation which can be easily treated. You can even use chemical peels for skin conditions like wrinkles or acne. A deeper peel is called for if you are looking to combat facial scars.

The strength and type of the chemical solution depends on the skin condition that is being treated and on the benefits that are expected from the procedure. If you are talking about small external problems a mild peel would suffice. But for deeper scars and wrinkles, a deeper peel is called for. The decision will rest with your doctor. He will decide, after considering the extent of the skin condition and the benefits expected, on the type of peel that is required.

Alpha hydroxyl acids are used for mild peels while Trichloroacetic acids are used for the medium peels but for deeper peels you may have go up in strength and use phenol. These are some of the common reagents that are used. This list is not exhaustive by any means.

Usually when you peel away the layer of skin, the patient will suffer from redness and scaling until the new skin forms. The degree and duration of these conditions or side effects will depend on the strength of the peel that was used. Doctors will warn you that deeper peels can cause increased discomfort while producing better results. The choice is yours to make.

This article does not provide or substitute for professional medical advice. If you plan to follow the tips given in this article, you should consult your doctor and ask him his opinion. No claim of liability will be entertained by the author in the event of damage being caused due to the misinterpretation of facts contained in this article.

Tips to Look Younger

The search for the fountain of youth has been going on since the beginning of recorded history. The human race is obsessed with finding ways to slow down the aging process and huge amounts of resources have been spent in this attempt.

I have listed 10 easy steps that you can follow to look and feel younger. No one can stop the flow of time, but with the right mind set and the right plan, you can slow it down the aging process. These steps are very simple and will cost you nothing.

1. Periodically undergo detoxification.
In today’s polluted world, the amount of chemicals entering our body from the air, water and food has increased. It has become necessary for us to get rid of these harmful toxins and free radicals regularly. You can follow a regime of fasting or follow a diet, exclusively comprised of fruits or vegetables, to help the process of detoxification that occurs naturally during our metabolism.

2. Getting enough beauty sleep.
It’s important to get a steady 6-8 hours of sleep every day. This is time when the dead cell in your body is renewed. Dark circles and bags under the eyes are commonly caused by sitting up late and not getting enough sleep. So, if you want your skin to have that healthy glow, you should catch up on your beauty sleep.

3. Regular workout
You should follow a strict and regular exercise schedule. A nice workout will leave you feeling wonderful and young. With the right combination of cardio and weight training, you can get the body of a twenty year old. Exercise releases certain chemicals in your brain that gives you a “high” that you can carry with you all day.

4. Healthy and wholesome food.
If you keep to a strict diet which includes all the essential nutrients, you can maintain a slim and attractive body. You should cut down on your intake of junk food and eat healthier foods if you want to look young.

5. Relaxation and stress management.
Undue stress and worries can cause worry lines to appear on your face. You should go to some stress management class for maximum effect. You could also take up some stress releasing activities like yoga or meditation that will reduce your tension and help you maintain an inner balance.

6. Be optimistic
You should be more optimistic in your outlook. Even if the circumstances call for some amount of worry, you can be optimistic that you can overcome your situation. Optimism and positive thinking can make you look much younger that you actually are.

7. Healthy activities
It is said that an active person never grows old. If you are an active person, then you will be able to take up exciting projects in your life and in your career that will give you a youthful outlook.

8. Get frequent medicals
Prevention is always better than cure. As we get older, our body may need regular tune-ups to keep functioning at the same level. You will be able to catch diseases early if you have regular medical checkups.

9. Keep good company
If you are surrounded with good friends and a loving family, the years will pass by without you noticing it. If you are always involved in something, you will always be happy and will help you retain a youthful outlook.

10. Change your appearance
Take a look at your hair, teeth etc and if you feel that a makeover can help you look younger, get it done. If you have started to put on weight, cut back on your food and get regular exercise. Looking young can go a long way towards feeling young.

Performance - Start to look at our performance. Is our body weight ideal for us? If not, try to fix that to the best ideal weight. Also look to the skin, hair, nail and teeth. Those are important as they will show our age. Looks good and feels good will increase our performance.