There are lots of things you can do to help keep your skin healthy.  A healthy lifestyle and diet can make a lot of difference, no matter your skin type.  Exercise is really important, not just for your skin, but for your whole physical well being.  It improves circulation, bringing oxygen to the skin, giving it nourishment and feeling firmer.  Not only is it good for your skin, you’ll look good and feel better too!

Do Drink, Don’t Drink:
Do drink lots of water, it will keep the skin hydrated and clear.  The recommended amount is eight glasses a day.  Less than that and your skin could be left dehydrated, a number one cause of wrinkles.  Don’t overdo the alcohol!  It dehydrates the skin and inhibits circulation.  Not to mention destroying all those precious vitamins and minerals needed to keep your skin glowing.

Less Stress, More Rest:
Stress is not only bad for your skin, it’s bad for your health, full stop!  Stress can bring on a pimple attack and irritate already sensitive skins.  Most people need around eight hours sleep a night, otherwise we can become overtired.  Too little sleep will leave your skin looking dull and your eyes puffy.  Try to get the right amount, and you skin will look better for it.

Care and Cover:
Take care of your skin with a good skin care regime.  Cleanse, tone and moisturise, making sure you choose the right products for your skin type.  There are some great products on the market to choose from, so you should be able to find something that suits you.  Even if your skin is sensitive.  Make sure you cover up, use sunscreen ALL the time.  Not just when the sun’s shining!  Sunbeds can play havoc with your skin, especially if you overdo it.  So keep your skin healthy and keep those harmful rays to a minimum.

Herbal treatments are a great, natural, to look after your skin.  There are lots of products on the market today, with just a little effort you can make your own!  They can make great gifts and your skin will love them too!  Here are some really simple homemade herbal treatments for normal skin:

Sage & Apple Face Pack for Normal Skin:

Clean an apple and cut up into small pieces.  Puree the pieces in a blender, with 2 tablespoon of honey and 15 g of thoroughly bruised and chopped, fresh, sage leaves.  This can be replaced with two tablespoons of rosewater if you prefer, or if you don‘t have any sage handy!  Smooth the mixture over the skin and leave it on for 15 minutes.  Then rinse with tepid water.  Finish off by splashing the skin with cold water, to close the pores.  Pat dry with soft towel and apply a little moisturizer.  Your skin will be glowing!

Night Time Moisturizer:

This cream is quite rich and it can be good for skin that tends to be slightly dry too.  Before you get started, you’ll need these ingredients handy:

*    Light Rose
*    1 tsp beeswax
*    1 tsp lanolin
*    1tbsp almond oil
*    1/2 tsp wheat germ oil
*    1/4 tsp borax
*    3 tbsp rosewater, warmed
*    6 Drops essential oil of rose, or rose geranium

Melt the beeswax and lanolin together, stirring constantly.  It’s best to melt these in a container that is inside a pan of simmering water for this.  Next, warm the oils gently and gradually beat them into the waxe’s.  Now, dissolve the borax in the rosewater and slowly add to the oil and wax mixture, beating constantly until cool.  Finally stir in the rose oil as the mixture begins to thicken.  You are the creator of another great homemade herbal treatments for normal skin!  It’s easy when you know how!!

Using herbs for skincare is becoming more popular every day, with some major brand names marketing lots of new products to meet with demand.  That’s great, and lots of people are very happy with the results.  However, there are lots of easily available herbal treatments that can produce really effective results.  You just have to know which herb for which skin type to use!  Here are a few herbs for sensitive and dry skin types.

Allergic Reactions:
Not everyone may realise, not all herbs are good for all skin types.  Just because it is natural doesn’t mean it will be always be of benefit.  If you have any kind of allergic reaction you should stop use immediately.  Some of the most provocative herbs tend to be, Agrimony, Almond oil, Cocoa butter, Cowslip, Cucumber, Glycerine, Henna, Ivy, Lanolin, Lime blossom, Lovage, Nettles, Primrose and Violet leaves.

Sensitive Skins:
This skin can be really tricky, and the above herbs should try to be avoided.  If you make your own treatments, adjust any recipe to suit your particular skin.  This way you can cut down the possibility of an allergic reaction.  A good herbal extract is Houseleek.  This has is a healing, softening and soothing herb especially good for dry and sensitive skins.

Face Packs:
When applying face packs it is always best to cleanse your skin and smooth with a few drops of almond oil first.  Always wash the face pack off, thoroughly, with warm water. Avoid splashing your face afterwards, with cold water.  This makes the skin to contract, closing the pores and creates a drying effect.  Always apply a good herbal moisturizer, parsley’s good, immediately after.

Dry Skin:
Particularly good herbs for sensitive and dry skin include comfrey, fennel, marigold, red clover, borage, coltsfoot, lady’s mantle, salad burnet, marshmallow and elderflower.  Orange flower is a great skin tonic for dry skin, said to help restore the skin’s acid mantle.  It also treats broken capillaries and stimulates cell replacement.

Some great homemade herbal face packs, you can make at home.  Enjoy!

Lady’s Mantle Pack - This is a really great, stimulating, and refreshing face pack.

Good for dry and sensitive types.  First you will need to make a really strong infusion of lady’s mantle.  This is simple, but essential.  Add 1 tbsp of the chopped herb to 150 ml of boiling water.  Then allow it to cool.  Mix two tbsp of the infusion with 3 tbsp of wheat germ and 1 tbsp of honey.  Make sure it is well mixed before smoothing onto the skin.  Then leave for twenty minutes. Remove the pack with tepid water and rinse with cold water. Pat the skin dry with a soft towel and apply your favourite moisturizer.

Fennel Seed Pack - a really good treatment for oily skin.

Mix together 50 g of yogurt, 3 tbsp of honey, 2 tbsp of oatmeal and 3 tbsp of a strong infusion of fennel seeds.  The infusion needs to be made from 3 tsp of crushed seeds, to 150 ml of boiling water, and left to cool.  Smooth on to the skin and leave for 10 to 15 minutes. Rinse with warm water and then DAB with cold water.  Pat the face dry with a soft towel and apply a good moisturizer.

Juniper Face Pack - another great herbal face pack, leaving your skin stimulated & glowing.  Make a strong infusion of juniper made by steeping 25 g of juniper shoots in 150 ml of cold water for 24 hours.  Mix into a thick paste, the white of an egg and 1 tbsp of kaolin (or fuller’s earth is just as good).  Then add 2 tbsp of the juniper infusion.  Spread the paste thickly over the face and leave to dry for 15 minutes.  Remove and rinse with tepid water then Dab with cold water. Pat dry and apply moisturizer.

For our skins to function properly, and they do have a function other than looking good! it needs to be well cleansed at least once a day.  Preferably twice a day.  A good skin cleansing program is important, as it has several necessary duties to perform.  First and foremost, cleansing removes dirt and old make-up.  It also takes away the dead skin cells which otherwise remain on the surface of the skin, spoiling its appearance and preventing it from breathing.  Cleansing also softens the skin. 

Cleansing Steps

Begin the cleansing process by using a suitable cleansing lotion or cream.  It should be smoothed over the skin; then left on for a few moments.  Then remove gently with a tissue. For most skins types, washing a good non-alkaline soap and warm water is recommended.  This ensures all traces of the cleanser or make-up are removed, leaving your skin ’squeaky’ clean.  Immediately afterwards use a freshening lotion, tonic or rinse.  Making sure it is suitable for your skin type of skin.  Finally, follow up with a light application of moisturizer.

Steam and Clean

Some skin types can be especially prone to feeling clogged or looking dull.  This can make people look grey, as opposed to the healthy pink glow that just shouts “healthy!”.  If you are looking a greyer shade of pale these days, a herbal facial steam will help put the colour back in.  Facial steams, using herbs, are a simple and effective way to deep cleanse and pep up tired looking skin. They also help the removal of blackheads and are very good for people suffering from pimples, acne or large pores.  For those, especially, a good skin cleansing program is important.  If you have particularly dry skin, a few drops of almond oil should be applied, as a film, before steaming. 

Acne is classified as a skin disease.  It is a medical problem, caused by the sebaceous glands producing too much sebum.  Sebum is an oily substance that our body needs to stop our skin and hair from drying out, but excessive amounts result in Acne.  The oil builds up in the hair follicle and leads to damage.  When the oil is exposed to the dust and dirt in our atmosphere, bacteria grows, this results in pimples, blackheads or spots.  It depends on your skin type, as which type of product is best.  That’s why it is best to choose an Acne treatment for your skin type.

When it comes to our facial washes, cleansing lotions, shower gels and even shampoo, we choose a product that is suitable for our particular skin type.  When it comes to treating Acne, we should make the same considerations about our choice of product.  The product base will dictate which skin type that Acne product is particularly suited for.  Lotions tend to be the best ‘all rounder’, good for most skin types and cause only moderate irritation to the skin.  Although treatments containing Propylene Glycol can leave the skin feeling a little dry. 

Water based and alcohol free, aqueous solutions, cause very little irritation to the skin, and are good for normal to dry skins.  These should be avoided by those with oily, or combination skin.  Ointments are good for people with normal to dry skin.  They tend to be low irritants, but due to their greasy nature they are only suitable for treating small areas of affected skin. 

Finding a good Acne treatment for oily skin can be tricky.  Foams are good, and can treat large areas of affected skin.  Their drawback is their price, they do tend to be a bit on the expensive side.  If the budget’s a bit tight, creams might be a better choice.  They tend to be more economical and are much less greasy, than many of the products on offer.  Creams are also absorbed quickly, making them good for treating larger areas.  It is important to use an Acne treatment for your skin type.  Do some research and make sure you choose what’s right for you.

The Major Cause

Pimples are blockages within the tiny hair follicles of the face and body.  Most often, caused by hormonal imbalances, which can the sebaceous gland to over react.  The sebaceous glands produce an oily substance called Sebum, and this is why the follicles block.  The result is, the pimple.  Young people, during puberty, are the number one sufferers.  A mild case of teenage pimples can be a problem.  When it becomes more that that, it can affect the teenager, mentally and physically.  Unfortunately, teenagers and pimples, do seem to go hand in hand, most of the time.

Treatment

Pollution and dust do not help, they too can block pores and cause pimples.  In a modern world, short of living in the Antartic, these two elements are hard to avoid.  Combined, teenagers can find themselves with a major problem.  Sensitive and oily skin is also more prone.  Following a healthy diet and making sure you drink plenty of water, can help improve the condition.  When it comes to pimples, the saying, prevention is better than cure, definitely applies.  Herbal remedies and  supplements can help.  There are also some great, over the counter, medicated, facial washes, ointments and lotions available.  Especially formulated for teenagers with pimples.

Research

There are only two herbs which have been researched, and actually proven to fight teenage pimple problems.  They are Green Tea, and Tea Tree Oil.  Recent research shows that herbal treatments, containing these, can be very effective for controlling pimples and Acne.  However, due to the fact that the cause of the pimple is hormonal, they will not stop the cause.  Medicated treatments have been researched far more, so the results are more conclusive because of this.  They include all prescription drugs, and some antibiotics.  If a pimple condition seems to become worse, it is always best to seek advice from your medical practitioner.  Maybe teenagers and pimples don’t have to be hand in hand, after all.

There are lots of Natural Acne Treatments you could try, including cleansing products, techniques and supplements.  There are things you can do, and things you can’t do, if you want to improve the problem.  To get you started, here’s a quick run down, of some simple and easy ways, to improve Acne.   

Diet: As with most things, related to our physical health, diet has a big part to play.  DO drink plenty of water, as dehydration can greatly aggravate the problem.  DO keep your sugar and carbohydrate intake under control.  Watching what you eat can produce welcoming changes, to an Acne effected skin.

Herbal Extracts: For centuries Aloe Vera has been renowned for it’s anti inflammatory and analgesic qualities.  Many people have used in creams and lotions, but when ingested this plant extract can work wonder’s on problematic skin.  It is bursting with anti oxidants, so is good for the treatment of Acne, as well as many other physical ailments.

Cleansing: Keeping skin clean, without stripping it of it’s natural lipids, is important when cleaning Acne affected skin.  A great natural mask, you could try, is Green Clay.  When mixed with a little water, and applied to the face, it draws out unwanted toxins and dirt in the skin.  Especially important for those suffering with Acne.  Just leave to dry and rinse!

Homeopathy:  More and more, this completely drug free treatment is being used to treat Acne.  Results seem to depend greatly on the individual, but no matter what, at least side effects are a rarity.  Homeopathy works on the principle of treating a person as a whole.  A Homeopath does simply concentrating on the symptom, which in this case, would be Acne.

Today there are some really effective Natural Acne Treatments Available.  Many of them are as good for your body as they are for your skin.  People might be suffering from it either severely, moderately or mildly.  How an individual manages Acne would depend greatly on the severity of the condition.  If you do not seem to be able to keep it controlled, the best thing to do is, seek the help of a professional dermatologist.

Herbal Acne Treatments:

Acne can flare up due to many things.  Often it appears during puberty and pregnancy, because of hormone peaks in the body.  Stress, steroids and various medicines can also aggravate the condition.  Herbal Acne Treatments can offer be a successful solution for many people suffering from Acne.  However, it can be more than three weeks, for any real visual results to happen.  Herbal Treatments need time to build up in the system, there are no overnight miracles, and they must be used consistently to have effect.  There are several, popular remedies around, commonly used to effectively treat for Acne.

One of the most popular herbal treatment use the oil derived from the Australian Tea Tree.  Tea tree oil has been used for centuries for it’s antiseptic quality and recent tests found it actually inhibits the growth of Acne.  Even when cases are severe.  Echinacea boosts our immune systems, and this can also help reduce the spread of Acne.

Green Tea extract is believed to be as effective as Benzoyl Peroxide, a treatment often prescribed for the treatment of Acne.  Very effective when applied as a cream, and also found to be somewhat successful when taken in tablet form.

Marigold Tea, also known as Calendula, has also been known to bring relief when washed over affected skin.

There has been little research, but there seems to be a general belief, Cayenne, Alfalfa, Dandelion and Burdock roots, and Red Clover, are all effective in helping to treat Acne in adults.  Besides taking the treatments, the skin should be kept clean without being stripping of natural lipids.  Harsh exfoliating scrubs should be avoided as they can spread infection and damage the skin.

There are literally thousands of Herbal Acne Treatments around.  Each have a different combination of natural plant and herb extracts.  Which one is right for you may very well be a simple case of trial and error.  Herbal treatments are not the only alternative to prescription drugs, there are lots of other options available.  Even reducing carbohydrates and sugar in your diet can help.  Whichever your decide, use it religiously and it should give the desired result.

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Pimples can be a nightmare for teenagers, but adults are not immune to the problem either.  Pimples can be caused by the skin reacting to high testosterone levels in the body.  Hence teenagers reaching puberty are the number one sufferer’s.  High testosterone levels make the sebaceous glands over produce an oily substance our hair and skin needs, sebum.  This blocks the hair follicles, causing blackheads and pimples.  In serious cases it can lead to Acne.  This when most girls will be asking the question, will makeup worsen my pimples?  The answer is no, but you should take care.  Here’s a few of the do’s and don’ts, regarding how to apply make up when you have pimples too. 

For larger areas of effected skin, some of the most famous make up artists use a technique known as ‘icing’ to treat the pimple, before applying any coverage.  To do this, gently rotate a small piece of ice all around the affected area.  If your condition is more isolated, small pimples are best treated with any concealer containing salicylic acid.  This will help dry the pimple out and camouflage it at the same time.  There are lots of products available, just ask your pharmacist. 

If your pimple is raised and red, firstly, don’t be tempted to squeeze it!  That will just cause more problems tomorrow.  For this, find a product that combines salicylic acid with camphor.  Normally, a dab of this will help reduce the problem.  Stay away from heavy based foundations, they can contain Pomades.  This describes waxy type substances, like petroleum jelly and mineral oils.  If you are still finding it difficult to master how to apply make up when you have pimples too, consult a professional.  If your skin is really bad, it is always best not to wear any make up at all.

Firstly, wearing less make up does not mean less attractive.  It is possible to look polished and presentable with applying very little to your face.  But there is a knack to looking good with minimum make up.  Keeping your skin healthy is all important, so the first thing to do is follow a good skin care regime, that will leave your face clean and glowing with health.  Most professionals recommend using a cleanser morning and night.  Either cream or a facial wash is fine, but take your time to choose a product that is best suited for your skin type.  Toners will remove every last trace of impurities and make up.  Follow up with a good moisturiser to re-hydrate the skin.

1. Nicely shaped eyebrows are essential to emphasise the eyes.  Keep them brushed and clear of straggly hairs for a polished look.

2.Curl your eyelashes.  This will make stand out more without the use of a mascara.  If you want, use a clear one to add more definition. 

3. Avoid wearing foundation.  Use a spot concealer to hide any blemish’s or scars.  Opt for a naturally coloured, tinted moisturiser to even out skin tone without being ‘caked’.

4. There are some pretty powder blushers available and glimmers for the cheeks.  Some of them can also be used on the eyes  Stick to nude tones, just to add a warm glow to the face.

5. If you feel ‘bare’ without eye shadow, stick to the cream versions in shades of lilac and green.  They tend to look the most natural. 

6. Bold lip colours are out.  Choose a tinted lip balm or gloss, to keep things looking minimum.

Nowadays, there are lots of fabulous products around that can help you look great, without being overdone.  It doesn’t matter if you’re on a budget, shop around and check out the sales.  There are often some great offers being help by some of the top brands.  It doesn’t even have to take up too much of your time.  All you need is the know how.  Hopefully, these simple tips to looking good with minimum makeup will get you started.  Before you know it, you’ll have it all down to a fine art!