Are You "Overcleansing " Your Skin?

Your skin naturally acts as a barrier, meaning it keeps out what it's supposed to (dirt) while keeping in the good stuff (moisture and yes, some oils). When you over-cleanse your skin, you strip your skin of the oils that keep skin healthy and balanced.

People with oily skin have a tendency for zealous cleansing in effort to get rid of the sheen. The result is skin that feels taut and tight. This is actually NOT good. Be careful of cleansers with alcohol which will strip skin of its essential oils. Skin that feels taut and tight after cleansing is a clear sign that you may be overcleansing or using too harsh a cleanser for your skin type. Some effects of overcleansing include:

• Rashes. Products that should sit on the skin (think sunscreen) will permeate skin if skin's natural barrier is damaged.
• Adult acne. Cleansing your skin more than twice a day can trigger a panic response and send your oil glands into overdrive. Plus, if moisturizers don't soak into the skin -- instead sitting atop skin -- then you may be prone to acne.
• Seborrheic dermatitis (flaking red scales around the scalp & on the t-zone).

The key here is balance. You want your skin to feel 'dewy'. Taut & tight is bad, dewy and moisturized is good.

For a list of the best cleansers for every skin type, check outthis article.

Does drinking 8 glasses of water a day keep my skin moist?

Question: Does drinking 8 glasses of water a day keep my skin moist?

Answer: No. Despite years of having this drummed into our heads, this is not true. It is good to keep your body, including your skin, hydrated, however the outermost layer of skin does not absorb water since it is made up of dead skin cells. Moisture level of skin is not determined by internal factors, but rather external ones, such as cold or hot air, dry heat and by the number of oil-producing glands you have. So if you want to hydrate your skin, exfoliate it weekly with a sea-salt scrub or other exfoliator to remove dead skin then apply a rich moisturizer while skin is still damp. Want to hydrate your insides then by all means, drink your 8 glasses of water a day.

Guide Review - SKIN by Monica: VIBRANCE HGH Creme

Guide Review - SKIN by Monica: VIBRANCE HGH Creme

When I first opened SKIN by Monica's VIBRANCE HGH Creme, I was surprised at the color. Just by looking, I would expect that it would be a product for a women of color, so I wasn't expecting it to be something that would work with my fair skin, freckled face. The scent was at first pleasant; it smells a bit like cocoa. I thought that I would love it, but to be honest, it got to me after a few days. But luckily the scent fades very fast and the product works so well that the scent issue flew from my mind.

This product says to use as a leave on toner before you continue your skin and makeup application. I was also told that it can be used as a tinted moisturizer and makeup primer, so that is how I used it. Surprisingly the color just sunk right in leaving my skin looking flawless. The first time I used it, I went ahead and put on foundation afterwards, but then quickly realized that that wasn't necessary. From then on, VIBRANCE HGH Creme was enough coverage. There is no sun protection, so I made sure add in sunscreen for protection. With HGH as an active ingredient, this will help restore collagen and relax fine lines, wrinkles and creases naturally.

SKIN by Monica was created by model Monica Olsen after her search for safe products that fit up to her standards to use while pregnant came up empty. This company has strict guidelines when it comes to ingredients in their products. Their slogan reads, "We have nothing to hide". You won't find harmful chemicals on their lists. All of their products are made in the US in actual OTC drug manufacturing facilities where they are created in small batches. There is also no animal testing involved in SKIN by Monica products.

SKIN by Monica: VIBRANCE HGH Creme

The Bottom Line

SKIN by Monica's VIBRANCE HGH Creme is an interesting anti-aging product. It uses HGH, or your body's natural growth hormone, to help erase wrinkles and protect against free radicals. At $38.95 it's not outrageous in price, and I'd recommend you try it if you're not in love with your current anti-aging regime.

Buy Direct

Pros

• 3-in-1 product makes taking care of your skin easy.
• Affordable in comparison to other anti-aging products.
• Uses high-tech ingredients with proven results.
• Paraben free
• No Animal Testing

Cons

• The smell is supposed to remind you of cocoa, but I'm not a fan. Thankfully it goes away fast.

Description

• $38.95 for one ounce
• Use as a leave-on toner or as a tinted moisturizer and makeup primer.
• Chocolate brown in color, it quickly blends in to even fair skin.
• Ingredient Alpha Lipoic Acid works to increase the potency of Vitamin C, a powerful anti-oxidant.
• Vitamin C Ester stimulates collagen production helping to minimize wrinkles.
• HGH is a protein hormone that stimulates growth and cell reproduction in humans which helps with aging signs.

Skip the Chemical Cocktail by Jenn Savedge

There are a number of dubious chemical ingredients such as phthalates, parabens, formaldehyde, and mercury that are used to create many of the personal care products you find on store shelves. By themselves, each of these chemicals may pose a threat to both human and environmental health.

But FDA officials and health experts throughout the world are even more concerned about the “cocktail effect” that may occur when these chemicals and toxins are mixed in the body and then subsequently in the environment. Daily exposure to these chemicals, in combination with the myriad other chemicals found in your environment, may cause irreparable harm to both you and your baby

Avoid Aerosols

Avoid Aerosols

The chemicals used in aerosols are no longer a hazard to the ozone layer, but these chemicals have been replaced with petroleum propellants whose production creates the greenhouse gases that lead to global warming. Choose nonaerosol or pump-style products for your personal care routine.

Skip Disposables

Skip Disposables

According the environmental news website Grist.org (www.grist.org), 2 billion disposable razors end up in U.S. landfills each year. Add this to the 50 million pounds of used toothbrushes that are tossed annually into the dump and you end up with quite a heap of personal care garbage. Invest in a reusable and refillable razor to save money and take a knick out the waste stream. For your teeth, try a Preserve toothbrush from Recycline (www.recycline.com) that's made from recycled yogurt cups and can be sent back to the company when you are through with it