05.01.10 / Acne / Author: admin / Comments: (0)
Tags: Acne, acne treatments, adult acne, oily skin, pimples
Although many sources would say that acne origins are not very well known, today it become clear that several related factors are responsible for causing acne inflammation.
- Male hormone’s overproduction in our body (related to sensitivity to some food ingredients, teen age, stress, fluctuations of hormones during natural menstrual cycle or hormonal disbalance such as polycystic ovarian syndrome)
- Sensitivity of oil glands / and other skin cells to active form of testosterone DHT (male hormone) that triggers skin inflammation and flare ups
- External factors such as overexposure to sun, skin care products that work against your skin normal functioning (harsh cleansers, skin treatments that cause mechanical or chemical damage that left untreated, skin care ingredients that contribute to pore clogging)
There are so many acne sufferers that got their acne because of different reasons and their different combinations. That’s why one treatment or method or ingredient that is very effective for one person could bring absolutely no result for another or even worsen skin condition.
There many different treatments (internal and external) that clear acne very well. To find right one you should first understand the underlying reason that caused acne.
If you got your acne because of wrong skin care regimen/or products – you are very lucky and there is great chance to return your skin into shape using only external beauty products.
But if there is underlying hormonal problem that need regulation or skin sensitivity to DHT, you will need broader approach, different treatment methods/ingredients and more control over your diet.
There are very many excellent skin care product out there, however you have through many trials to find good one that will work for you. We instead offer skin diagnostic that will identify ingredients that will work for YOUR skin only and then incorporate them into skin products that are suitable for your skin type. We offer online consultations as well.
You can check your skin condition with our online diagnostic tool on www.individualformula.com to see what ingredients your skin will benefit from.
If you want to become a tester of Individual Formula skincare program, leave here your comment.
02.12.09 / Anti-Aging, Beauty / Author: admin / Comments: (0)
I have recently received a post from one of my clients with a question about skin care products rich with a fish collagen that is extracted by a patented method. She was asking me what I know about collagen and how effective it is to use collagen-rich skin care products (that claimed to make a significant difference on skin because they can reconstruct natural skin collagen)
Collagen – is one of the main skin proteins, which determines its structure forming its skeleton by being composed of fibres. The amount of whole collagen fibres in our skin is in opposite proportion to the amount of wrinkles. Therefore the idea of supporting skin’s ability to have a significant amount of intact collagen fibres is directly linked to idea of anti-aging treatments. There are several different types of collagen in the skin, whose relationship changes with the age. The process of the renovation of collagen occurs constantly. The time necessary for the formation of new collagen molecules is approximately 15 days (half of the period of the general renovation of the skin). To form a new collagen molecule skin will need an old collagen fibre, specific ferment called collagenase that split old fibres and the cell (fibroblast) that synthesizes new molecules from the split fragments. It was showed that with the age the amount and the activity of last two elements do not change, i.e., our skin has an unlimited ability to synthesize new collagen molecules from old ones. However, it does not occur for several reasons:
1. The free radicals (blame the sun) disrupt the structure of the already prepared collagen
2. Ferment Collagenase which splits collagen fibres cannot recognize the changed collagen
3. In result the cells, which synthesize collagen don’t get the sufficient amount of source material and a quantity “healthy” collagen decreases
4. Disrupted by free radicals collagen fibres posses’ heavy structure and being accumulated make skin looks “heavier” or wrinklier.
“Revolutionary” anti-aging idea is based on using small fragments of collagen as a source for our skin to produce of the new molecules of collagen. As the result skin must have the same young appearance without visible heavy wrinkles. This idea I think came from earlier usage of native collagen treatments that was mostly offered as “Intense Moisturising”. Diminished level of inner skin moisture was some time ago one of most spoken reason for skin aging. It is very easy to explain why collagen treatment was – and is – very effective and indeed still popular. Large molecules of collagen cannot be dissolved in water. However they have the ability to swell in water. Integrated into skin treatments and being moistened during treatments they will take larger volume and spread or straighten existed wrinkles.
This anti-aging idea is about integrating or adding collagen fragments inside of the skin. This could be done locally via injection directly into deep wrinkles, or some skin care companies claim that their topical skin products have the ability to support skin with small hydrolysed collagen fragments.
Using fragmented collagen (not as express beauty treatments, but on every day basis) and assuming they will actually go through skin barrier subsequently decrease the activity of the collagen- splitting ferment, and as consequence increases the amount of old collagen fibres that still need decomposing. Increase of old and heavy collagen fibres will unfortunately just support the amount and the depth of your wrinkles.
From the other side, using skin care products with bigger collagen molecules (and any other hydrolysed protein molecules) will never make any influence on inner skin structure. A Bigger molecule has the ability to interact with moisture and swell, filling and stretching wrinkles and therefore giving skin much smoother appearance. It will be very short effect, lasting only a short time after the application. There is no adverse effect, neither addiction.
In my opinion there is more logic in supporting our own skin collagen metabolism. There will be more sense in looking for ingredients that can assist either in disintegration of broken collagen fibres or stimulate synthesis of new ones from existing fragments. These elements are already known. Amongst them are: Vitamin C, Key amino acids, Copper peptides and Growth factors and hormones.
It is vitally important to understand why collagen fibre changes its structure and becomes unrecognisable for specific ferment. Main role in such change play sun and as a consequence – active radicals that have ability to destroy intact and whole molecular structure. The role of sun screens cannot be under-estimated.
19.11.09 / Beauty, beauty recipes / Author: admin / Comments: (0)
Main enemy of our skin beauty at this time of year is not necessary cold air outside, but sharp temperature difference between inside-outside and hot and dry air in your house or office. Your skin is forced to adapt to the difference of temperatures to15 – 20 degrees and to withstand dry air attacks. At this time years it is important to keep your skin metabolism active, to provide the skin with the all necessary nutrients, and to keep protective skin mantle intact. If your skin mantle is whole, your skin looks healthy, glowing and supple. If skin mantle is damaged, your skin will start to lose its inner moisture, look flaky and feel dry and tight. Skin protective mantle consist of skin oil, sweat and dead cells. This unique mixture creates perfect balance of certain oils, salts, water and skin protein called keratin. Healthy skin mantle has pH between 4.5-5.5. Hot dry air will dry out skin mantle due to moisture evaporation, and temperature difference might change the skin oil production or it constituents.
If you have very dry, tight, flaky skin skin care based on such products such as Petroleum Jelly, Vaseline, mineral oil will bring you a great relief. All these products have no ability to penetrate your skin or change it chemically. They will spread on its surface forming thin layer that “locks” and keeps your skin moisture inside. However using these products for a long time is not beneficial because: 1. Your skin need to breath, but mineral oil “cling film” will keep out of oxygen. Therefore assisting in getting lifeless and dull color. 2. Your skin protective mantle needs to be repaired and function properly.
You can help yourself by spoiling your skin with these simple and natural recipes:
Rejuvenate your skin using gentle peeling or scrub for face.
1.Try the piece of fresh pineapple that is rich in enzymes and fruit acids. They will gently remove dead cells and make your skin look smooth and even.
2. Make a mask from the coconut milk. Moisten thin napkin with coconut milk and apply it on your clean face for 10-15 minutes, rinse with warm water.
Try these face masks after your skin become smooth and ready for nourishment!
Mask for the dry skin with kaolin
2 table spoon of the kaolin
2 table spoon of the warm milk
1/2 tea spoon of the honey
Mix honey with the milk and then add clay. Apply mixture to face, cover face with moist napkin so that the clay would not get dry. After 30 minutes wash off by warm water.
The colour in Green Clay comes from the 44.5% Silica content which is the most important mineral for the skin. Clay is rich in minerals and active enzymes. Clay treatments stimulate the circulation of blood and lymph, remove dead skin cells and absorb dirt and other surface fats. They also tone and strengthen the connective tissues. Clay stimulates blood circulation and draws toxins and superfluous fat from the skin. It contracts and tones the skin and strengthens the connective tissue. Clay is used for dirty and flaccid skin, acne, for poor blood circulation and to soothe eczema and sunburn. Honey and milk they are full of unique active microelements and vitamins.
Nourishing mask for the oily skin
3 tbl of the spoon of the maize flour
Juice of the half of the orange
1 egg
2 drops of the essential oil of the Ylang-Ylang
Shake up egg, pour the juice of orange and accurately add flour. Mix well and apply to face for 20 minutes. Wash off by water of room temperature. Beside all its good vitamins and antioxidants orange juice contains the tanning substances, which will dry slightly oily skin. Oil of Ylang-Ylang disinfects, it tones up the skin, and also stimulates blood circulation.
Nourishing mask for the normal skin
2 tea spoon of the powder of Spirulina (or 4 crushed tablets of Spirulina)
2 drops of oil of olive oil
5 drops of liquid vitamin E
1 tbl spoon of camomile tea
Mix well Spirulina powder with camomile tea, add oil and vitamin E. Spread evenly mask on your face, after 10-15 minutes wash off by warm water. Spirulina is full of the useful substances, it contains many minerals and bioactive elements, including iron, calcium, selenium. Vitamin E helps to preserve natural moisture, it smoothes wrinkles and rejuvenates. Olive oil contains the mono-unsaturated that prevents the destruction of cellular membranes, and therefore has anti-aging effect.
30.10.09 / Beauty, skin type / Author: admin / Comments: (0)
Dry skin could have many different forms. It could be characterized by feeling of discomfort and tightness, flaking, redness and in more severe forms by itching and cracking. Dry skin develops sings of aging earlier and requires quite specific and consistent maintenance. Depleted moisture in the skin could occur because of many different reasons:
* Skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, dermatitis; skin reactions and allergies.
*Surrounding environment: dry air, heaters, and other conditions leading to the lack of moisture in the air
*Inherited skin physiology or hormonal change that cause malfunction of oil glands
*Diet and lifestyle
*Sun damage
In UK dry skin problem is very well spread. Majority of population leave and work with mostly dry air due to air conditioning or heating. We all know about sunscreens but rarely seriously take them into account. We don’t take seriously advice on healthy diet and amount of water we should drink. And majority of us suffer from dry or very dry skin on our face or body.
The most common reason for dry skin is nevertheless depletion or breakage of skin protective mantle and following disruption of skin intracellular matrix (gel-like medium that keeps cell functioning normally). The term acid skin protective mantle refers to the protective, acidic environment created by the sebum, surface cellular debris and sweat on the outer layer of the skin (epidermis) and hair. The pH of the acid mantle ranges between 4.5 5.5. This mantle protect our skin of loosing the internal moisture by evaporation and also provides ideal conditions for skin friendly bacteria. As our skin that is constantly renewing skin mantle is renewing too. But if we start using very strong skin cleansers (such as alkaline soap), hard water, or keep our skin unprotected from the sun or excessively hot and dry air skin mantle will become depleted, therefore creating the threat to skin inner moisture. When skin looses its inner moisture, its cells become less connected, skin starts flaking, feels itchy and tight. These are also perfect situation for bad bacteria – they could start living on unprotected skin and create their own environment.
Whatever is your personal reason for having a dry skin you can easily reconstruct it’s protective mantle with these few steps:
- Oil capsules with perfect balance of Omega-3 and Omega-6 monounsaturated fatty acids. Take them internally for about 24-28 days, you will supply your skin with these essential fatty acids and reconstruct healthy protective mantle. Also you can use them externally: after cleansing your skin, and applying a toner, break a capsule with Evening Primrose oil or Flaxseed Oil and spread it onto your skin applying a thing layer. You will need to repeat this during 3 days morning and evening to see and feel significant improvement in skin look.
-Product with mineral oil and Vaseline are good for short period of time or when your skin starts flaking really bad. They create effect of occlusion – covering your skin like a cling film, all flakes are glued together, skin inner moisture will be risen to the surface. This will certainly provide a relive but never treat the real problem.
-Use a proper soft cleansing method, soft or mineral water. And apply a skin toner – that is good to return your skin pH in its normal value. Use skin products that contribute to your skin inner moisture content and consist of natural oils, Natural Moisturizing factor, hyaluronic acid, glycerine, etc.
-Drink enough of good quality water. And add raw vegetables and fruits to your diet. Add vitamins A and C. These vitamins help your skin hold onto available moisture in your system. Common foods including these vitamins are oranges, cantaloupes, and carrots.
- Apply sunscreen liberally.
Enjoy supple, smooth and well protected skin that protects you!
24.10.09 / Uncategorized / Author: admin / Comments: (0)
Many of us are familiar with agony at the counter with countless jars and the tubes with the skin care products. Attractive jars, big names, advertising phrases, tempting smells and… very different prices. What should we do to end our doubts and choose the right products? Speak to a salesman, ask a beautician, perhaps read an article in a magazine or look for the information on the Internet? Perhaps try a sample on the back side of hand in order to make sure that the cream is pleasant enough?
So how should we choose skin care products, and why is it so important to choose the right one?
Very often we simply put our trust in the salesperson on the other side of the counter. For some bizarre reason we believe that the person who stands behind the counter is the leading authority about our skin and skin care products. In many cases, the salesperson has no training whatsoever. In other cases, they are well trained about the product, but have no knowledge of skin physiology .
Aren’t’ you so tired of advertisements full of young beautiful women making us feel guilty because we have a wrinkle? Sleek beauties asking - Do you want look like me? It’s so simple – just buy this cream (oil, serum) and you will get your beauty back and even more!!
A Beautician’s role and salary depends on how much will they sell to you. We all know this but because we gave them power to make our decisions for us, how can we disagree with “professional” opinion!
Everybody wants to be beautiful and have a healthy skin. We are all tired of this agony at the counter trying to choose the “right one” product. That’s exactly why we started Individual Formula!
Individual formula (www.individualformula.com) skin care line consists of prefabricated bases of main products you use on the daily basis. When you fill up the Questionnaire (interactive diagnostic tool) you will get the list of active ingredients that is suitable for your skin now. Those ingredients will be then added to skin care bases that are chosen by you and sent to you. The result – is unique solution for your skin, tailor made skin care products. Every time you return to Individual Formula – start from the Questionnaire – for skin re-evaluation and possible update to your Individual formula!
08.10.09 / Acne, Beauty / Author: admin / Comments: (0)
Tags: Acne
Did you know that in order to reduce acne zits and blackheads you should drink a few cups of green tea daily? Why?
Before we thought that it because green tea is one of power antioxidants, and when you consume it it purifies your body, removing acne zits. But actually there is another scientific and simple explanation for it. Male hormone’s overproduction in our body (related to teen age, or hormonal disbalance) and/or sensitivity of oil glands to active form of testosterone (male hormone) are main reasons for acne. Active form of testosterone (or DHT, Dihydrotestosterone) is causing oil glands in your skin produce more oil and also triggers extra growth of cells that are covering oil gland walls – this is called hyperkeratosis. Hyperkeratosis together with increased sebum production affect sebum oil viscosity, making it more thick and therefore more prone to blocking or clogging the skin pores. With other different factor involved (bacteria, skin protective mantle pH change, stress, sun exposure etc) blocked skin pores will later turn to painful and swollen pimples.
The enzyme called 5-alpha reductase that converts inactive testosterone to a its active form, dihydrotestosterone was found to be more active in the skin of individuals affected by acne. Therefore substances that can inhibit the activity of this enzyme play very important role in successful acne treatments. Green tea contains a potent polyphenol antioxidant, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), which inhibits 5 alpha reductase. The same effect is expected from hormonal acne therapies such as orally taken contraceptive pills (Diane 35).
If you see blackheads on your face – it’s time to start drinking green tea. In order to control your acne you should drink 2-3 cups of freshly made green tea per day, or take a a green tea extract as a food supplement. Green Tea with Honeysuckle is known as ‘Pimple Tea’ in China. It also aids digestion and helps to detoxify your system when drunk after a meal and getting rid of the toxins.
Zinc supplement taken orally produces the same effect – inhibition of 5-alpha-reductase. It was found that zinc, vitamin B6 and azelaic acid will reduce 5-alpha-reductase by 90%. Besides Zinc is very popular for its healing properties and as a booster for your immune system.
Best forms of zinc supplement are: zinc picolinate, zinc citrate, zinc acetate and zinc monomethionine. Signs of zinc toxicity include: stomach upets, diarrhea, vomitting, kidney problems. Fiber binds with zinc and so reduces the amount your body will be able to use, so take the zinc supplement at a different time to a high fiber meal. Zinc supplements taken long term may cause a copper deficiency, so its best to take a copper supplement as well, 1 to 3 mg per day. Take any antibiotics 2 hours away from a zinc supplement.
29.09.09 / skin type / Author: admin / Comments: (0)
At the beginning of nineghteen century skin care pioneer Helena Rubinstein realized that her one and only favorite face cream Valaze wasn’t suitable for everyone. After she noticed a difference in skin in different people, she proclaimed different skin types as dry, normal and oily and started production of various skin care products. The era of skin type had begun.
For very long time this first classification of skin types didn’t change except more categories were added: combinational and sensitive. We used this basic classification for more then 100 years, and skin care companies were producing skin care lines: normal, oily and dry-sensitive.
Despite that skin care chemistry had changed dramatically and skin care formulations represent now a long list of chemical names we can’t even read, basic skin classification was still the same.
Now when skin diagnostics could be done digitally using special device like Visia, we realized that there are more skin types than basic 5.
In her book “The skin type solution” Dr Baumann had differentiated 16 (!) skin types from 4 main categories: Oily/Dry, Sensitive/Resistant, Wrinkled/Tight and Pigmented/Non-Pigmented. She claimed that very often people misunderstand their skin type and use unsuitable cosmetic products. She tried to classify existing skin care products into different categories so it would be easier to choose the right one after you find your own skin type and recognize it’s main problems.
“The skin type solution book” is great, but the majority of population is still looking for a “dream in a jar”, reading advertising columns in fashion magazines and asking advice from girlfriends and cosmetic consultants. Chasing fading beauty and youth we are buying numerous jars and tubes, throwing them away half-finished, without giving them a real chance to produce a result on our skin, because we think we found a better one.
Today with our knowledge and understanding of skin physiology and chemistry we absolutely capable to suit everyone skin needs. The only difficulty lies in finding what those needs really are – or in proper Skin Diagnostics. After you understand your own skin better, and learn to prioritize your problems,suitable products and perfect skin care regimen will be very easy to find.
28.09.09 / beauty recipes / Author: admin / Comments: (0)
The unforgettable taste and the smell of coffee makes it to be one of our favorite hot beverages.
It tones up and stimulates. Coffee could be very beneficial for our skin, when we add it to face masks,
lotions and other cosmetic products. Now many nutrition specialists note the useful properties of coffee.
And beauty industry began to look closer at the surprising qualities of coffee grains.
What benefit can bring coffee to our skin?
Amongst coffee constituents there are not only caffeine, but also lot of other substances: fruit and
organic acids, fats, alkaloids, minerals, iron, magnesium and potassium. Essential coffee oil is
rich in linoleic acid, which plays a leading role in the forming of the lipid barrier of the skin. Linolenic acid
increases the elasticity of the skin, prevents its aging, possesses antipyretic and photo-shielding
properties. And nevertheless for the majority of us of coffee – is just a caffeine. Could it be good for the
skin too? Caffeine tones up the skin, improves microcirculation of the blood, stimulates many
physiological and biochemical processes in the organism, for example, fat’s disintegration.
That’s why you can find caffeine it in many anti-cellulite creams and firming gels. Caffeine activates
cellular metabolism (which isimportant if you want to look younger) and lymph drainage. This why it’s
presented in some night creams and eye –care products: it helps to get rid of the swelling.
Here we found some interesting beauty recipes where you can use coffee.
Toning and Nourishment
1. Coffee lotions
Refreshing. Very simple recipe: spill the strong coffee on the small molds for ice. Wipe the skin with
the coffee ice cube in the morning and in the evening. This procedure will tone up and refresh your skin.
Toning up. Instead of the washing with water wipe your face and neck with cotton ball moistened in the
strong freshly-made coffee. This procedure will tone up your skin and combat aging process.
Your skin will also get a little tan nuance. Be very careful if you have a sensitive skin.
2. Anti-Aging Mask
Add 1-1.5 table spoon of chilled coffee to 1 table spoon of rye flour and mix, then add one egg yolk.
Mix well. Spread the mixture on clean face and neck. After 15 minutes wash off with warm water.
3. Coffee body wrap to fight the cellulite
Take the slightly heated used coffee grinds, rub the with your palm into the sections of skin affected
with cellulite. Cover areas with cling film and leave for several minutes. Leave body wrap for 15-20
minutes and then remove cling film and take a shower For the bigger effect use massage your skin
with special rigid brush or use electrical body massager.
Use this body wrap twice a week.
Smart Coffee Peel
Spoil your skin with your own prepared peeling mask:
Mix well 2 table spoons of sour cream or yoghurt and 1 table spoon of fine coffee grains. Your scrub is
ready – apply it onto your skin, leave it for 10-15 minutes, then gently massage it with your fingertips,
avoiding areas around eyes. Rinse away with warm water, finish with facial toner and cream. Enjoy matt
and smooth skin!
Honey and Coffee Mask:
Warm 2 tea spoons of runny honey in microwave oven. Add 0.5 tea spoon of fine grinded coffee. Apply
onto your face when the mixture is still warm. Hold for 10-15 minutes. Rinse away with plenty of water.
Your skin turns smooth and velvety.
4. Use coffee to return the luster to dark hair!
Beat two egg yolks with the table spoon of rum and two spoons of warm freshly made strong coffee and
1 tea spoon of vegetable oil. Apply this mixture on your hair, covering all hair carefully. Hold for 5 min, and
rinse away.
Recipe from the star:
Jennifer Love Hewitt: Quick recipe to refresh your hair: Pour chilled unsweetened natural coffee into spray
bottle and spray it over your hair. Comb hair and repeat spraying if necessary. Your hair will look lustrous
with bright and strong color.
11.08.09 / Uncategorized / Author: admin / Comments: (0)
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