Shea Butter – Ghariti

In the western savannah grassland region of Africa, there is a tree called the Shea Nut Tree. These trees grow slowly, taking almost 30 years to mature. The fruit of this exotic holds beauty secrets that have been known by Africans for thousands of years. It is called ghariti in Senegal and shetelou in Mali – names that flow off the tongue. Also called shea butter, this exotic produce is no longer an African secret. Everyone can now share in its promises for healthy skin.

Karite

The common usage name for the Shea Nut plant is the Karite tree. The tree produces a nut from which shea butter is extracted. The nut encloses a yellowish pulp. To get this pulp requires a long process of drying and extracting and kneading. Some companies extract the butter using chemical solvents, while others use a mechanical extraction process not requiring additives. This organic pulp, or butter, has unique and beneficial properties recognized around the world.

Shea butter benefits for skin

• Contains vitamins (especially Vitamin A and E) that rejuvenate skin
• Enhances sun screen with its ability to protect against ultraviolet rays
• Can reduce skin allergy symptoms
• Speeds healing of small wounds and skin cracks
• Slows skin aging with its moisturizing qualities
• Restores brittle hair
• Reduces appearances of stretch marks
• Soothes sore muscles
• Stimulates collagen production
• Rehydrates dry scalp

Shea butter is an amazing organic substance. It is so mild that allergic reactions are extremely rare. Therefore it can be used on sensitive skin and it can be used daily. The protection from the sun arises from its cinnamic acid content. It has even been used to decrease nasal congestion.

Nia

Nia is an African word for having a goal or purpose. When you have dry skin or skin problems, your nia or purpose is to use a product that will soothe and heal. She butter has been commonly used for literally thousands of years in Africa where the sun and climate can be brutal. The butter contains bioactive substances including antioxidants and lupeol. Lupeol interferes with enzymes that cause your skin to age. In addition, shea butter stimulates protein manufacturing. The cosmetic and pharmaceutical companies continue to find new uses for shea butter, including as an ointment for skin disorders such as eczema. The benefits of shea butter seem to be unlimited.

If your goal is to slow aging and restore your skin to a more youthful appearance, shea butter can help. It has therapeutic value far exceeding many other cosmetic additives. Africa recognizes the value of shea butter not only for its healthful benefits, but also as an economic force. The trees are protected. The harvesting often offers an opportunity for women to gain self-sufficiency.

Essential oils and other herbal plants work well in a base of shea butter. It is easily smoothed on the skin. It is unsaponifiable and so does not steal natural skin oils. When looking for a cream or cosmetic that provides maximum skin nutrition without irritation, shea butter is the perfect answer.

It appears the cosmetic industry thinks we are all scientists. When you pick up a jar of lotion or cream, it boasts that it has peptides or ceramides or beta hydroxy acid. It is difficult to accept that anything that can be called an acid will be good for your complexion. But studies into what causes wrinkles have led to the discovery that beta hydroxy acid is an excellent exfoliant. Chemical analysis reveals it is oil soluble. The advantages this has over a water-soluble acid are many.

Chemical Solutions

There are oil glands below the surface of the skin. The oil, called sebum, exits through the pores and acts as a natural moisturizer. If not for sebum, skin and scalp would get uncontrollably dry. Also inside the pores, and included in the sebum, are dead skin cells. Skin cells build up on the surface of the skin as they are pushed up through the pores. Dead skin cells need to be removed regularly in order for new skin to prosper. Beta hydroxy acids can penetrate pores and remove the dead skin cells, thus it makes a wonderful exfoliate. But there are other cosmetics also that benefit from its properties.

There is an alpha hydroxy acid formula also and choosing the right cosmetic means understanding the differences between the alpha and the beta acids.

Chemical Reactions

The alpha hydroxy acids are water-soluble. They are also used as exfoliants, but usually work best on skin damaged by the sun. Beta hydroxy acids, on the other hand, work well on oily skins. The beta hydroxy acids must be used cautiously.

Despite the possible side effects of using beta hydroxy acids, their use is beneficial for skin rejuvenation. The acids slough off dead skin cells so that new cells can make an appearance. Beta hydroxy acids have shown to reduce wrinkling and rough skin texture. Preventing possible skin irritations just means using caution and some planning.

The Right Formula

Beta hydroxy acids can treat your wrinkles safely and effectively. To reduce possible problems, follow a few simple rules.

As we age, less seblum is produced and this leads to skin dryness. Skin dryness leads to increased wrinkling. Aging is very hard on skin. It takes daily diligence to protect your skin from excessive drying. Using cosmetics with beta hydroxy acids can reduce the effects of aging. Carefully choose your cosmetics and your skin will keep its youthful appearance for years to come.

Skin is made up of three layers. They are the epidermis, the dermis and the subcutaneous tissue. The epidermis is the topmost layer and is the barrier to prevent environmental invasions of toxins and bacteria. The top skin layer, also called the stratum corneum, is made up of layers of ceramides, free fatty acids and cholesterol. These layers retain water to keep the skin moist. Ceramides form hydrogen bonds with water molecules. The result is the skin’s ability to move moisture into the skin. To put it simply, ceramides make it possible for your skin to retain moisture and not dry out. Ceramides make up most of the skin layer that creates the skin’s smooth look.

Untied

As we age, ceramides don’t become untied, but they do diminish. This means that older skin becomes drier, because the water retaining ceramides are not as effective. Also, as we age, skin cells do not reproduce as well as when younger. This also affects the ability of the skin to retain water. Skin care products enhanced with synthetically reproduced ceramides help bolster the skins structure. They ‘retie’ the binds by replacing the lipids, or natural skin barrier.

Healthy skin normally has 10% to 20% water content. When it falls below 10% is when the skin looks and feels dry. The water content is directly dependent on the condition of the lipid layer in the skin. The diminishment of ceramides in the lipid layer has the most dramatic effect on the skin’s ability to act as a barrier. To rebuild the layer takes several weeks. Ceramides in beauty products can help maintain healthy skin.

It is important to note that diet affects skin also. The diminishing ceramides are a result of the aging process, but the use of enhanced cosmetics should be coupled with proper nutrition.

Building the Dam

You can think of ceramides as forming a dam that keeps moisture locked within the skin. Ceramides are used in a number of products.

As we age, the skin becomes thinner and thinner. The skin barrier begins to release moisture instead of retaining water. The number of ceramides declines steadily over the years. Skin cells division slows also which means it is unable to rejuvenate as quickly as it could when younger. This is aggravated by the increased loss of moisture.

Ceramides can play an important role in rejuvenating skin. Water is a huge part of our total makeup. Maintaining the ability to retain moisture can make the difference between skin that looks young and skin that is abnormally dry. So when looking for an effective moisturizer, make sure you purchase one that includes ceramides.

Amino acids are called the building blocks of the body, because they are used by all the critical bodily functions. They are produced during the digestive process when protein is broken down. It is interesting that something is broken down so that what is left can be used to construct good health. The body is amazing in every way. Amino acids are defined as essential and nonessential. Essential amino acids cannot be created by the body and are only obtained through the breakdown of protein in food. The nonessential amino acids are produced by the body. Amino acids play a critical role in cell building and tissue repair. Their usefulness to reverse aging is a breakthrough discovery in the cosmetics industry.

One Block At A Time

There are 22 amino acids. Many of them play an important role in skin rejuvenation.

The remaining amino acids contribute to muscle development, preventing fatigue, weight control, blood sugar level maintenance and kidney and liver health to name a few functions. This might be more than you want to know about amino acids. But it is important to understand the role they play in skin and hair maintenance if you are going to be able to choose products knowledgably. You can think of an amino acid as a single block and it takes many blocks or amino acids together to slow aging and maintain health.

Fortress

The skin needs to breath, but it is also your defense against the elements. To be a strong fortress, collagen and elastin production should be kept to its highest levels. Also, your fortress will assist with fighting back against bacteria and viruses that want to invade your body through your skin. It has been determined that amino acids, in the right delivery system, can go deep into your skin. This is a discovery that is changing the cosmetic industry. Prior to learning about the ability of the skin to absorb amino acids, most lotions remained on the surface of the skin and never reached the collagen level. New cosmetics containing amino acids improve skin in several ways.

Cosmetics with amino acids are mild and easy to use to achieve results. Amino acids are also important for healthy hair. They moisturize hair cuticle and are particularly useful on hair exposed to a lot of chemicals.

Amino acids have been in existence as long as life has been on earth. Now, these ancient protein components offer new life for skin and hair.

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Numerous anti aging remedies are coming out with AHAs or alpha hydroxy acids as their main ingredient. Touted to help reduce the effects of aging, they are flowing the market and causing quite a stir. But what are they? And how do they work?

How can I find them?

AHAs are any number of ingredients in cosmetics and anti aging potions. Here are some of the more common names:

What are they?

AHAs are fruit acids that react with the skin to allow new skin cells to rise to the surface and restore a youthful appearance. And while they seem cutting edge to us, they were actually found to be used back in the times of Egypt by none other than Cleopatra herself.

What can they do?

Alpha hydroxy acids can do a number of things for your skin. Appropriate for nearly every skin type, they can help to unblock pores and restore cleanliness to pores. They can also help soften and smooth lines and wrinkles on the outer layers of the skin. The skin’s texture and tone are also improved by the use of AHAs in lotions and cleansers.

Are they right for you?

Some people who try to use AHAs will find that their skin can react unfavorably. There are some skin types that are sensitive to the reaction of acid on the skin and it can create a temporary reddish coloring that will dissipate once use has stopped. For others, AHAs are a great step to add to your skin routine at night to help uncover your natural glow. You will want to try the lotion on a test area of skin to see if you have a reaction before using it on your entire face.

How do you use them?

In a cream or lotion, you will want to apply AHAs lightly to cleansed skin. When you apply them at night, you will allow them to work with your skin as you sleep, helping you wake up with fresher skin. You can also use AHAs in day creams, but this can be tricky as you will need to protect your skin from the sun in order to prevent the acid from combining with the UV rays and causing too intense of an experience.

Are they the best option?

For most people that are concerned about their skin, AHAs allow them to use a gentle product everyday instead of resorting to more intensive skin therapies. They are also readily available at drugstores and department stores, so they aren’t very expensive to purchase. For those without sensitive skin, they are a great new way to restore moisture, even out tone, and create a smooth appearance – all without surgery or other invasive techniques.

Most of us would jump at the chance to take a tropical vacation. It is not too difficult picturing the glittering waters and warm air that holds tropical breezes. In the tropics, nourishing healing plants that have been on earth since the beginning of time can be found. One of these plants is the thick leaved Aloe plant. Growing in arid tropical areas, it is a master at retaining water. In its sap lie secrets to moisturizing beauty. Aloe Vera magic heals, soothes and conditions skin and hair.

Lilies Of The Valley

The Aloe plant is a member of the lily flower family. It has been recognized for centuries as an herbal plant that offers multiple benefits to ravaged skin. Aloe Vera is the sap of the Aloe plant mixed with a cosmetic delivery system to retain freshness and to make for easy application. It comes in gel and latex forms. The latex Aloe Vera is also called Aloe Vera juice. The uses of Aloe Vera have continually expanded over time. Gels, juices, lotions and ointments are used for a variety of purposes.

• Applied as a topical ointment to increase rate of wound healing
• Offers relief from dermatological irritations
• Used as a laxative
• Reduces discomfort due to burns, scrapes and abrasions
• Moisturizes dry skin
• Aids with exfoliating
• Stimulates growth of new skin cells by removing the old layer
• Reduces mild arthritis pain in joints
• Used as a healthy tonic
• Additive in makeup
• Treat some fungal infections
• Used in soaps and sunscreen lotions to prevent drying

At one time, Aloe Vera was touted by the cosmetic and health food industry as an almost magical potion that cured almost everything related to skin and digestion. Today, the Aloe industry maintains a code of ethics to prevent such false claims as “miracle cures”. Like any cosmetic or natural healing product, there are no miracle cures. But having said that, the Aloe Vera does appear to have properties that may speed healing, and it is remarkably soothing in any situation. Cosmetics, including lotions and gels, with Aloe Vera are pleasing to the senses, offering an aromatherapeutic value. They are cool on the skin and increase moisture retention. Loss of moisture is a major cause of wrinkling as the lipids diminish with age.

Persistent Rumors

Aloe Vera products are the perfect choice when you prefer to use natural cosmetics and lotions without harsh additives. The Aloe plant sap has a variety of minerals, amino acids and vitamins that are important to good health. There are 240 Aloe plant species but one, called Aloe Barbadensis Miller, is the primary plant used in Aloe products.

• Aloe Vera juices that provide nutrients to the body
• Aloe Vera supplements to enhance a healthy lifestyle
• Aloe Vera personal care cosmetics and lotions to aid in skin health
• Aloe Vera hair shampoos to revitalize distressed hair

Research continues on the benefits of Aloe Vera. Usually, when a rumor will not die, it’s because there is truth imbedded in the rumor. Since ancient times, the rumor has been that the Aloe plant has healing powers. When you are looking for a natural lotion that offers nature’s bounty, turn to Aloe Vera. The rumors just might be right!

Retinol is one of nature’s vitamins. Found in dairy products, colorful fruits, and dark leafy vegetables, retinal is Vitamin A. Like most topics about the body, a healthy diet always leads the list. There is no real substitute for good health and good health practices. But health is more than what’s going on inside your body. It is what happens on the outside also. Your skin reflects your habits. If you smoke, eat poorly and don’t get enough sleep, your skin will reflect these practices in its elasticity, tone and texture. When you don’t get enough Vitamin A, or retinal, your skin will be very pale and excessively dry. Everything is interrelated.

Natural Processes

Aging is a natural process, but that doesn’t mean we can’t do something to slow down the process. Neglect your skin and it will age rapidly. Products with retinal, or Vitamin A, offer several benefits for skin.

Eating properly, in conjunction with use of a retinal cream of lotion, can produce healthy skin. The kinds of fruits and vegetables that should be included in your diet are carrots, spinach and apricots. Beta-carotene is actually a precursor to Vitamin A and is dependent upon the bodies chemical processing. Pure retinal in cosmetics is an active Vitamin A. Used as part of the daily cleansing and moisturizing routine, skin improvements are noticeable.

Bouncing Back

Retinol can penetrate the upper layer of skin. It gets deep enough to reach the layer of skin that contains collagen. Collagen is what gives our skin its rounded, smooth look. With elastin, it holds our skin in place. When we age, collagen degrades and skin begins to sag. It is the same principle as a rubber band that grows old and loses its elasticity. Daily applications of retinol stimulate healthy skin cell production. By doing so, collagen is revived temporarily. This benefit and others can be expected with Vitamin A applied to the skin.

Retinol is constantly being researched in laboratories. Studies indicate that Vitamin A fights free radicals. Free radicals are unstable oxygen molecules in our body. They cause aging, including in our skin. Skin needs maintenance. If not properly cared for, dead skin cells will build up. Retinol cosmetics remove dead skin skills. Skin can breathe again. But even more important, the removal of the old skin encourages the production of new skin. Using retinol creams can make your skin look fresher and healthier. It makes skin plumper, more like it was when you were younger.

Only The Best

Retinol in cosmetics usually is in a lotion or a serum. There is debate as to whether some lotions contain enough retinol to have any effect. It is important to purchase quality products that not only have enough retinol, but also have good quality ingredients in the lotion itself. Your skin is important to your health and your sense of well-being. When you look in the mirror, you want to know you look your very best. Deliver retinol to your skin everyday, and the rest will take care of itself.

The Benefits of Hyaluronic Acid

Hyaluronic acid, which is also called Hyaluronan, is an element of our connective tissue. It can be found in every tissue of the body. The main function of hyaluronic acid is to provide cushioning and lubrication for our bones and joints. It is also used to help with premature aging of the skin.

Hyaluronic acid can be administered in two different ways. The first way in which it can be administered is through oral supplements. The second way is by directly injecting it into the area of need. The way in which it is administered depends greatly on the reason for using hyaluronic acid.

Since our bodies need hyaluronic acid to help our bones and joints function properly it is often used to help in areas such as knees and elbows. When injected it adds additional cushioning to these areas and provides them with smoother flexibility. Generally, this type of treatment is reserved for older individuals or those suffering for diseases of the bones and joints.

Hyaluronic acid can be a great asset in helping with aging skin. As we age our body slows in its ability to reproduce healthy skin cells. As a result we are left with dry, brittle, aging skin. Hyaluronic acid can help by replacing lost moisture. In order to treat skin issues with hyaluronic acid, it can either be ingested via supplements or injected directly to the face. The important factor to remember is it works from the inside out. In this instance, it cannot be topically applied to the external skin.

Injections of hyaluronic acid work much like collagen implants. They are meant to smooth the skin’s surface. The injections can also reduce the appearance of fine lines, acne and scars. Collagen implants are meant to do virtually the same thing. The main difference is in the amount of time the injections last. Collagen implants need to be redone every four months while an injection of hyaluronic acid lasts for around six to nine months. Either treatment may require more than one treatment and leave you with some redness and swelling. The redness and swelling will last around a week.

Hyaluronic Acid can also be used to help prevent skin damage if you have gotten a sunburn. Experts recommend applying it to the afflicted areas as well as taking an extra dose of vitamin E as soon as you see the beginnings of a sunburn. Some believe that it can actually offset skin damage that you might see as wrinkles. While experts do not recommend doing this every time you get a burn, it can be a great way to help protect your skin.

If any of these options do not sound right for you there are some alternatives to the direct use of hyaluronic acid. Retinoids, which require a prescription from a doctor, also work with the natural hyaluronic acid to help shed the top layer of skin. Other options might include facials and chemical peels. These last options are both work to resurface and moisturize the skin.

Glycerin – Plain Jane

The cosmetics industry likes to talk about exciting new products that have ingredients with long chemical names. Though some of them may work to rejuvenate skin, often the point is simply to impress you. If you are impressed with what you read, it is hoped you will buy the product. But sometimes it is best to use those products that have reliable and tested ingredients. Glycerin has been used for years in a variety of products.

Products with glycerin make no false promises and are happy to be considered the ‘Plain Jane’ of the product lines. Why? Because glycerin works well and it is a key component in skin structure. These are facts, not boastful claims.

Rags To Riches

The skin is made of three layers – the epidermis, dermis and subcutaneous. Cushioning the layers, and giving the skin its soft appearance, is collagen and lipids. Glycerin is in the layering also. Glycerin is not only between skin layers; it is there is abundant quantity. It serves very specific purposes.

• Glycerin is one of the components in fats and oils or, as they are also called, triglycerides.
• Glycerin enters the bloodstream when the body needs energy and uses stored fats
• Glycerin is contributor to cell metabolism
• Glycerin is hygroscopic. It absorbs water from the air.

Glycerin has been used as a commercial product for many years. It is versatile and can be mixed with many other substances without losing its chemical stability. It is also non-toxic. Glycerin is a substance than has no negative side effects when mixed with water or some other delivery system. It should never be used in its pure form though because of its incredible water-drawing properties. It is used in food, cosmetics and personal hygiene products. Glycerin is sweet tasting and is used for flavoring and as a humectant. Unlike sugar, glycerin will not increase your blood sugar. But the most common knowledge about glycerin is its use in personal care products. This plain and common substance changes dry skin to richly moisturized.

Humble Origins

Glycerin for commercial uses comes from the fats and oils used to make soap. It has humble origins as a by-product. But this by-product is first concentrated and then purified. Glycerin can also be synthesized. One the glycerin is purified; it can be used in a variety of products.

• Clear soaps for moisturizing
• Lotions for moisturizing
• Creams for emollients
• Toothpaste
• Shaving Cream
• Hair Care products

Glycerin uses for skin

Glycerin products are gentle and do not cause irritation. Because of this, they are very good to use on children’s skin. It acts as a humectant, attracting water to the skin to restore suppleness. One of the primary causes of wrinkling is the loss of elasticity and moisture in the skin. Aging depletes skin resources and many are not restored by the body. Glycerine is water retaining and application on the skin forms a barrier against moisture loss and an attractant for new moisture. It is so commonly used and so unappreciated. And because of its large commercial use, glycerin is not expensive.

There is no reason to not moisturize your skin daily. Glycerin is inexpensive and available in all personal care products. It is a substance that is greatly unappreciated, but in reality is one of the best skin care substances available on the market. So try the Plain Jane – humble glycerin!

Peptides – Tick, Tock, Tick, Tock ….

You can almost hear the clock ticking when you look in the mirror at your face. Tick ….tock….tick…..tock…. It’s enough to make a person panic! Once firm skin shows definite signs of sagging. The under eye area is puffy. Sun exposure has damaged the skin making it look almost brittle. This was not in your aging plans, but it will have to be confronted if the clock is to be set back or at least slowed down. Science is always working on new products. Perhaps there is one that will work for you. Begin with cosmetics using peptides! They show the best promise for the future of skin.

Wrong Time

Peptides are chains of amino acids that occur naturally in our bodies. There are many different classes of peptides and research is ongoing to determine all the uses for the different classes. Some peptides have been used pharmaceutically to speed wound healing for years. Not all that long ago, research began to test peptides for healing skin damage or for bioactive purposes. The results have been outstanding. Cosmetic lines are now producing lotions and serums containing peptides for skin rejuvenation. So what function do peptides perform in cosmetics?

First you must understand the importance of collagen production to maintain skin firmness. Collagen is protein that gives skin its elasticity. As we age, our bodies produce less collagen. Skin begins to lose its strength and elasticity. When you look at your skin, it’s as if you are in the wrong place at the wrong time. Coupled with loss of collagen are weakening facial muscles and fibers, creating wrinkles. Collagen cannot be absorbed by the body through cosmetic application on the skin. The molecule is just too large. But what can be done is to slow down collagen degradation and increase production. That is the key role of peptides for bioactive purposes. They help the body stimulate collagen production. Skin wounded by age and the environment is revived.

Rewound

We don’t have little timekeepers in our bodies, but we do have biological clocks that never seem to slow down. Before digital clocks, you had to rewind your clock by turning a key on the back. Today, you set a few buttons. Biological clocks used to be considered untouchable. Today, the choice of cosmetics with peptides is like hitting a few buttons that slow down aging. Peptides offer many wonderful benefits.

Cosmetic peptides refresh the skin and let new skin come to the surface. The newer the skin cells on the surface, the better your skin will look. The peptides used in cosmetics are called pentapeptides and are a collagen amino acid. The delivery systems include essential vitamins and minerals that also aid skin health. Together, they make you look as if you have found the key to your skin’s biological clock and rewound it!

Dermatological use of peptides is increasing. Peptides were once found primarily in lotions. Now they appear in creams, serums, moisturizers and products that exfoliate. So don’t despair over the condition of your skin. Try cosmetics with peptides and watch the clock run backwards.