Summer brings in beautiful days and nights. Summer brings in the sun. The warmth of the sun can bring a smile on your face and a pretty dress on your body. While most of us are out there in the sun enjoying a stroll on the beach or getting a tan, do remember that the combination of wind, sand and UV rays is not all that great for your skin.

This weather pattern can also be a painful time for acne sufferers. This means that your summer bag must include some acne skin care products to ensure that the acne is not aggravated or flare up due to the exposure of these elements. It is important to understand that if you do have acne prone skin, the last thing you want to do is go to the beach unprotected as sand and dust can get into your already sensitive skin and cause more problems.

There are some people out there who have been misinformed that the sun is actually a good thing for their acne prone skin. Ensure that you lubricate your skin with a good sunscreen lotion. Ensure you avoid oil-based sunscreens as it will only aggravate the situation.

Always cleanse the face after leaving the beach to ensure that your skin is refreshed from the exposure to wind, dust and sun.

beauty skin care in summer is not at all hard. Just make it part of your routine and take extra care of your acne during this time. Then you can be assured of a lovely summer for many years to come.

When we discuss skin care, most of the time we talk about new products which come out in the market and the remarkable things they can do for our skin.

However, this blog is all about home remedy for skin care. This can include things like a healthy diet, and applying natural products found in our pantry and fridges.

The eternal question in all our minds is what the key to great skin is and how to achieve it? Well, besides using cosmetic products which can sometimes cause more harm than good, is a home remedy. This has been used in many cultures for hundreds of years and continues even today.

By making a few lifestyle changes as well as increasing physical mobility (yes, exercising!!) it can do wonders to the skin and improve the overall texture.

Water, Water, Water

This has been repeated over and over again but we still do not get it. There is nothing like water and drinking lots of it; 7-9 glasses a day will ensure a healthy skin which will glow for a long time. Drinking water also helps to detoxify the skin; especially if you drink warm water throughout the day. Water is essential for skin care.

Exercise Your Skin

Is exercise a home remedy for skin care? Yes, it can be. Exercising stimulates blood circulation. This in turn will circulate nutrients to different parts of your body. By exercising daily; even for a few minutes a day you can delay the signs of aging such as wrinkles and the appearance of fine lines becoming more prominent.

Eat Well

The type of food you put in your body matters a great deal when we are talking about our skin. It is known that a well-balanced diet will not only have you looking younger but do wonders for your skin. Balanced meals ensure that the lustre of your skin can be maintained for many years.

Antioxidant rich foods should form part of your daily diet. Green leafy vegetables, vegetables such as sweet potatoes and fruits such as strawberries and mangoes should be part of a rich antioxidant diet.

Smoke Free

Stop smoking and avoid skin damage. This is as simple as it gets. Not only smoking is really bad for you, but this unhygienic habit damages your skin. Wrinkles appear earlier in people who smoke.

Skin Care Home Remedies

Marketing and Advertising has gone on overdrive and as such, we fill our cabinets with one hundred and one lotions and balms. Instead, consider the following remedies:

Papaya

Papaya has properties to stop premature aging of the skin. For acne prone skin, try using a papaya mask for treatment.

Lime Juice

Lime juice is great for reducing/ getting rid of pimples. Simply prepare a lotion with equal parts of lime juice, rose water and glycerine. Try this in a small area of your skin first to ensure you do not get a reaction as for some skin types, lime juice is too strong.

Pineapple Juice

Yes, this may come as a surprise but a skin care home remedy is pineapple. Mix it with carrot juice and give your skin a healthy glow. The vitamin A in carrots will help lift the skin and revitalise it. Just leave the solution for 10 minutes and wash away with warm water. This works great with those who need skin protection from sun damage.

Skin care is really in our hands. Instead of spending money on chemically rich lotions and potions, try home remedies and be pleasantly surprised at the results but notice your pockets full for a change instead of that empty feeling!!

It is important to know your skin type because of one very simple reason: beautiful skin. We all want beautiful skin but are afraid that we can never achieve the supermodel or actress look. Would you then be surprised if you were told that these celebrities have to do lots of touching up to look perfect everyday of their lives!!

We are not celebrities but there is nothing stopping us from being able to look like them. If you are heavily into the use of cosmetics then…read on.

It is crucial to understand what your skin type is first, then to purchase your cosmetic product. It is true that most of us have no idea what our skin type is; oily skin, normal skin, acne prone skin or even a combination of two skin types. It is a fact that no two skins are exactly the same but with research over time, skin types have been grouped in the following general terminology. This is then in turn used by the cosmetic companies to sell their products. Generally speaking, your skin can either be normal skin, oily skin, dry skin or a combination skin.
Let’s look in detail what the skin types are and how to care for these skin types.

Normal Skin Type

Baby skin is often described as normal skin. It is smooth and feels you are gliding your hand over a cloud or butter. The skin has a rosy colour and looks moisturised. Most importantly, the pores are barely visible and fine.

Normal Skin Care

If you have normal skin, then it is best to leave it normal if you must use makeup, try using light makeup. Also, ensure you wipe away the makeup before going to bed.

Dry Skin Type

Most of us come under this category. Our skin tends to be dry and this leads to the skin feeling taut even after a wash. The danger with dry skin and not doing anything about it is that it wrinkle prone and ages prematurely.

Dry Skin Care

If you have dry skin, then it is best to ensure that the skin is constantly hydrated and moisturised. Do not wash dry skin with cold water and soap. Also, do not use alcohol based creams and lotions as alcohol dries up the skin. Diets which are rich in vitamins A, B, C, and D should also be taken.

Oily Skin Type

Oily skin is defined as skin which is shiny, thick and coarse. Pores are clearly visible which then lead to blackhead and pimples. This skin type needs to be cleaned thoroughly.

Oily Skin Care

Those with oily skin need to ensure that they only use cosmetics which are specifically made for oily skin. Cleansing the pores by facial steaming once a week is effective in removing the greasy look on the face.

Combination Skin Type

Many of us have combination skin. This means that part of the face may be dry and the other part may be oily. Or the bottom of the face is dry and the upper part is normal.

Combination Skin Care

If you have combination skin, there are ways to look after it and ensure you balance both the skin types but at the same time look good and achieve beautiful skin. Use a mild cleaner on your entire face. Also ensure you use a good moisturiser on the dry areas of the face. Look for products which contain ingredients which can normalize the skin. This will remove the dead skin cells and give you a younger appearance. These ingredients are normally derived from fruit, milk and sugar cane. Most importantly, do not forget to use sunscreen.

Once you are able to identify your skin type, you will be able to combat your skin conditions much better and aim for the beautiful skin you have dreamt of.

Food is a very important component when it comes to having a strong immune system and preventing sickness. Eating the right kinds of food can also prevent skin blemishes including acne which can occur at any age.

Below is what should be eaten in moderation for effective skin care; especially for acne prone skin.

Excessive Meat Consumption

An excessive meat diet is harmful for our health. It not only narrows our arteries but also, there are times that the meat you eat has added hormones which do not agree with the skin causing acne breakouts.

If you rely on a strong meat diet and are prone to acne breakouts, it may be a good idea to read the ingredients to ensure that there is the minimum possible amount of preservatives and additives.

Fried Foods

Too much consumption of fried foods cause eruptions on the surface of the skin as there is too much acid in the blood.

Dairy Products/ Sugars/Refined Carbohydrates

Eating an excess of refined carbohydrates; white bread, pasta, rice, flour and sugar leads to an insulin-like growth which encourages the skin to secrete sebum. This substance in turn encourages the growth of bacteria which then leads to acne.

Coffee/ Soft Drinks

Drinking excessive amounts of the above lead to the creation of stress hormones. This is harmful to acne prone skin.

Here is what is recommended for effective skin care:

Whole grains/ Brown Rice/Oats

Whole grains contain magnesium, Vitamin E, B and minerals which are good for your skin. Brown rice contains amino acids which are very useful in helping rebuild skin tissues. If you are going through a nasty breakout of acne, try eating oats with raisins or honey. They have an anti-inflammatory effect on skin.

Seeds and Nuts

This is one component of our diets which we either do not know much about or just choose to ignore from our diet. Flax seeds for example are an excellent source for omega 3 oil; which is an essential component for healthy living. Omega 3 is also an anti-inflammatory oil, which is good for acne prone skin. Sesame seeds are another food source for reducing the swelling of acne. Sunflower seeds are good for dry skin care.

A rule of thumb is to try eating the nuts raw to get the best out of them and keeping the quality of minerals and nutrients intact.