We are all taught that to have attractive skin we need to first determine what type of skin we have and to properly wash and moisturize our faces accordingly. However, another very important step in maintaining clean, toned skin is to use an astringent skin toner between washing and moisturizing your face.

Astringents are commonly referred to as toners and are basically used to remove oils and tighten the skin. Natural ingredients, such as green tea, witch hazel, calendula, chamomile, yarrow, nettles, sage oil and avocado oil, are the basis for a great number of the most gentle and effective astringents. Sometimes alcohol-based astringents are used to cleanse oily skin, but these can prove to be excessively drying and strip the skin of essential oils it needs for maximum health.

Dry Skin

A truly effective astringent skin toner should improve the circulation to skin tissues and cause them to tighten, control surface oil and lower the skin's pH after cleansing. The toner also prepares your skin by removing all traces of leftover makeup and opening the pores prior to applying moisturizer. You can determine what type of astringent to choose based upon your skin type and needs. An astringent can be used to calm and soothe irritated skin, promote healing and remove excess oils to prevent potential blackheads and blemishes, as well as to firm the skin to minimize the appearance of wrinkles, prevent sagging tissues and improve the appearance of the skin overall,

First, your should wash your face with a gentle cleanser that is suitable for your skin type, whether dry, normal, combination, oily or sensitive. Avoid harsh cleaners or soaps which could strip the skin, especially since you will get that extra cleansing step from applying an astringent. Dry your face with a soft, clean towel, preferably made from natural materials. Use a cotton ball or soft tissue to apply toner to your face with gentle strokes, first on your t-zone and then lightly on your cheeks. Let the astringent dry on the surface of your skin and then apply moisturizer. You will find that your skin seems more receptive to the moisturizer and absorbs it more quickly. Also, using a toner inhibits surface skin oil and prevents breakouts. This three step cleansing process should be done twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening.

Daily use of an astringent skin toner helps to make your skin more clean, clear and healthy. By tightening your skin and removing surface oils and bacteria, you can dramatically improve your complexion.

How to Use an Astringent Skin Toner in Your Skin Care Routine

Lastly, if you're looking for smooth, acne-free skin, I highly recommend Revitol Acnezine It's a skin care system that includes an anti-acne cream as well as antioxidant pills to heal you from the inside out.

http://www.healthfactsheets.com/revitol-acnezine

Ingrown hair is a common problem for men and women. Use this list to easily identify the causes and effects of ingrown hair so you can make an educated decision on how to deal with this painful problem.

7 CAUSES

Dry Skin

  1. Skin suffering from lack of moisture
  2. Stiff beard hair
  3. Embedded oil in the hair follicles
  4. Build up of dead skin cells in the pores and on the surface of the skin can cause ingrown hairs - some are more prone to this than others due to genetics
  5. Coarse curly hair growing in a curved hair follicle
  6. Improper shaving technique with a blade such as too close a shave
  7. Hair removal methods such as shaving, waxing, tweezing, electrolysis, often irritate the hair follicle. Dead cells can accumulate at the site of the irritation and form papule which can also contain pus while the skin heals. While this process continues any hair in the area can get trapped under the formation and is prevented from exiting the skin properly. Ingrown hair is the result.

8 EFFECTS

  1. Constant tenderness
  2. Trapped hairs cause inflammation which result in the body forming papule - a small, raised, abnormality on the skin commonly known as a bump giving rise to the term 'razor bumps'
  3. The body can also respond by producing a pustule - a blister on the skin containing pus
  4. An infected pustule can become ruptured resulting in bleeding
  5. Itching
  6. Tingling
  7. Pain - mild or severe
  8. Hard, prominent, irregular scar tissue in the skin in chronic cases

Additional Advice: If you carry out skin exfoliation regularly with a loofah or mesh sponge after waxing or shaving, you'll take off the thin layer of skin that's trapping the hairs and set them free.

Wet the loofah and squeeze to soften if preferred, then gently massage the skin, especially dry, rough areas.

Do not use the loofah on broken skin. Some beauty advisors believe using a loofah once a week for skin exfoliation is enough to keep the area exfoliated. Exfoliating too much will dry the skin and leave it sensitive and susceptible to ingrown hair.

Ingrown Hair - Seven Causes & Eight Effects

Eliminate And Prevent This Problem Within Days! Mike Jones is able to offer special discounts on Ingrown Hair Treatment straight from the supplier. Click Here:

http://www.1bodycare.com/iht.htm

Need information on facial, infected, or genital ingrown hairs? Find the answers you need here:

http://www.ingrown-hair-solutions.com

Fungal skin infections are commonly experienced by both adults and children alike. The most troubling part is that it is not easy to treat fungal skin infections. Fungi multiply very quickly. You may appear to be rid of fungi for a couple of days before it reappears again.

The symptoms of fungal skin infections are easy to identify; at least visually by your doctor. Your skin appears to be red, scaly and dry. It may be coupled with chronic itchiness and can either be located in a specific part of the body or in several areas.

Dry Skin

When you are sick and are on antibiotics or steroids, you can easily acquire fungal skin infections. The cause of the problem is the medications that you are on. Antibiotics are medications that you take to kill harmful bacteria that are causing your infection or illness. However, these drugs can also reduce the helpful bacteria that live in the body. When the populations of your helpful bacteria are reduced, fungi may take the opportunity to colonize.

In most circumstances, fungal skin infections that are located at the surface of your skin are pretty mild and cannot spread to another person that easily. So when you notice a small cut or wound in your skin, make sure that you have your first aid kit with you to take care of it. If not, it can possibly lead to skin fungal infection.

For prevention, it is basically a matter of good grooming. Keep your skin dry and fresh all the time. Moisture can attract fungi and bacteria, which can worsen your skin infection. Hence avoid sweating with wearing loose and cotton-made clothes. Also, dry yourself completely after taking a bath. Avoid using other people's personal things because skin fungal infections can still spread from one person to another.

A visit to your doctor would really be of help especially if you cannot get rid of the fungal infection. For severe cases, doctors may recommend taking a sample of the patient's skin, nail or hair and run a laboratory test on it. There are actually severally types of skin fungal infections. These include athlete's foot, thrush, nail infections, jock itch and ringworms on the body and scalp.

To treat fungal skin infections, topical applications are usually prescribed. They come with varying strengths and will depend on the severity of your infection. An oral intake of prescribed drugs is usually recommended to treat fungal skin infections that are serious. There are several over the counter medicines that you can buy, but it is highly recommended that you discuss your symptoms with your doctor and never self-medicate.

How To Treat Fungal Skin Infections

Evelyn Lim has been suffering from eczema skin symptoms for several years. She now spends her time researching about her condition and reviewing natural skin care products as well as natural therapies. Find out how she recently got herself treated in her newsletter here at http://www.eczematreatmentsecrets.com