Tuesday, May 31, 2016

Reduce your Sun Spots Naturally!





I am a child of the sun.


I spent the majority of my childhood playing outdoors under the warm California sun. Whether we were at tennis practice, hiking Jack London State Park, jumping waves in Bodega Bay, or simply playing in the field (country living, right?), the sun’s rays were a constant comrade. Back then, the sun would leave tiny freckles across the bridge of my nose and lightly dust my cheeks — sun kisses or sun freckles we called them. Now, many years later, I am still drawn to the sun as ever. Any free moment I have is spent outside hiking, swimming, or kicking back in the patio with a book and cold drink. The only thing that has changed is the trace that the sun leaves on my skin. Sweet sun freckles have been replaced with dark sun spots.


Though I wear sunscreen everyday, I am prone to hyperpigmentation, a common skin condition that occurs as a result of excess melanin production in the body and can cause uneven skin color and dark patches. Prolonged sun exposure, inflammation, acne, or hormonal imbalance can trigger excess melanin. Though my sun spots are mostly on my face, hyperpigmentation can also occur anywhere else on the body. For several years, I have tried expensive creams and fancy oils to reduce the look of dark spots but nothing has worked — anyone who also has dark spots knows how frustrating this can be.


I recently came across an article about the benefits of turmeric, a spice that is native to Southern Asia from the ginger family of plants. The stems — or rhizomes — of the plant are harvested, dried, and usually pounded to create a fine, yellow-gold powder. It is commonly used in cooking but has also been used to treat inflammation, skin wounds, and even liver disorder in Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine. It also has a wide variety of beauty benefits, including reducing the appearance of dark sun spots.

Turmeric:

Acts as an antioxidant. Circumin, the yellow pigment and active ingredient in turmeric, is a powerful antioxidant that combats premature aging. An antioxidant protects cells from free radicals and environmental toxins that can damage cells over time, resulting in aging.

Reduces inflammation. Turmeric has potent anti-inflammatory properties. Some people add a pinch of turmeric to their daily regimen to help reduce inflammation.

Has antibacterial properties. Not only can you combat colds and sore throats with turmeric, the spice can be applied to cuts and wounds to prevent infection.

Some people believe that turmeric is an effective ingredient in treating acne and sun spots due to its anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antioxidant properties. I wanted to put it to the test so I researched different ways to safely apply it to my skin in the form of a mask:


facemask
facemask
facemask


Turmeric Face Mask


Ingredients:

Pinch of turmeric. I recommend starting with a small pinch and gradually adding more as you see fit. The turmeric will make your mask a yellow-to-orange color. Personally I use a small portion of turmeric so my mask is a lighter yellow.

2 Tbsp organic plain yogurt. Yogurt is a gentle ingredient that evens out skin complexion and brightens skin due to the lactic acid.

Juice from half of a lemon. Lemons contain citric acid which helps to lighten dark spots. They also act as a natural exfoliator. If you have sensitive skin, I recommend using much less lemon or skip the lemon altogether.

2 Tbsp cucumber juice. Cucumbers bind collagen and help firm skin. Cucumbers also have an incredible cooling effect.

1 Tbsp aloe vera gel. Aloe vera works on hyper-pigmented skin due to the mucilaginous polysaccharides in the gel. It removes dead skin cells and promotes regeneration of new skin cells. Aloe vera also has natural salicylic acid that keeps skin clear.


facemask
facemask


Add all ingredients to a bowl and mix well. Once it is mixed, it should be a little runny. You can either apply to the affected area or to your entire face. Because turmeric stains, and might leave your fingertips a shade of yellow, I recommend using the back of a spoon or a brush to apply. I also recommend wearing a shirt you wouldn’t mind staining if the mask accidentally drips onto it.

Keep the mask on for 15-20 minutes. If it dries and feels tight, try adding more yogurt next time.

Rinse with warm water. And don’t forget to apply sunscreen after!

After the mask, my face feels soft and has a much brighter glow. I am anxious to see how my sun spots reduce in a few weeks!


facemask


There are many different turmeric face masks out there so I suggest researching a few to find one that is best suited for your specific skin type.


Source: blog.freepeople.com


Sunday, May 22, 2016

Best skin care tip for Summer 




Ever feel your skin after a day in the sun? Even after slathering on sunscreen repeatedly, mine still feels hot hours later. Scientists at Yale University have shed light on this mystery in a recent study showing that “UV light can continue to harm the skin and inflict cancer-causing damage hours after exposure and even in the dark.” Fortunately, thanks to this study, we now know that there’s something you can do about it. The key is to apply free radical fighting antioxidants — before, during and after sun exposure. Yes, after!
Although the skin possesses an elaborate antioxidant defense system designed to help it cope with sun-induced oxidative stress, ongoing exposure to UV light can still tax our skin’s ability to fight off premature skin aging and skin cancer. Studies support the application of antioxidants to help fortify the skin’s natural defenses and prevent free radical damage caused by the sun. [1,2,3] Which is why every medical and skincare expert recommends a skincare routine packed with antioxidants.
Now, it seems that this same wisdom applies even after the sun sets. After a day in the sun (wearing sunscreen, of course), you should continue to protect your skin with natural antioxidants like green tea, astaxanthin, and red raspberry seed oil that provide an extra boost of free radical fighting power.
Knowing that UV exposure accounts for approximately 80 percent of skin aging, I’m going to be extra vigilant about supporting my skin with topical anti-oxidants this summer... even when it gets dark!


Source : http://www.huffingtonpost.com/hillary-peterson/hot-tip-for-summer-skinca_b_7546036.html