Today's post is brought to you by the lovely Gwen Lewis. She has provided many great articles around the web and I feel honored she wanted to write a post to my blog. So, if you are into skincare stuff, keep reading!
Feel Beautiful In The Skin You're In
Feel Beautiful In The Skin You're In
Every woman wants to feel beautiful. And while many times that beauty
starts with what's on the inside, the outside has to feel it as well. For
instance, if your skin is dry and itchy or oily and not clean, it can be hard
to feel as beautiful as you truly are.
Additionally, to really feel great about yourself, you have to feel good
about what you're putting both in and on your body. As we all know, a healthy
diet full of natural foods can do wonders for you both inside and out. And just
as important are the beauty and skin care products you're using -- if they're
full of ingredients that are not good for your skin, then you're wasting your
time and money, and possibly causing your skin to not be its best.
So how can you make sure that skin care products you're using every day
are worth your effort? That comes from knowing both what ingredients to avoid,
and what ingredients are
worth the splurge. Here's a look at a few ingredients
in both categories.
Ingredients to
Avoid
Parabens -- Parabens can be found in a number
of beauty and skin care products. The FDA says parabens are used in these products to
stunt the growth of microbials. However, according to an article on Huffington Post, parabens act like estrogen in a
woman's body and a study in 2012 found parabens in almost 100 percent of all
cancerous breast tumors.
Formaldehyde -- Formaldehyde and FRPs (formaldehyde-releasing
preservatives) can be found in quite a few beauty products, as they help stop
bacteria from growing. However, the ingredients can cause skin irritation and
there has even been a link between formaldehyde and leukemia.
Artificial Colors -- Color additives are regulated by the FDA, however that does not mean you
necessarily want to rub them all of your body. These synthetic colors
are normally made from petroleum or coal tar, and a study in 2007 linked artificial coloring to ADHD
in children.
PEGs -- According to the David Suzuki
Foundation, PEGs
(or polyethylene glycols) are petroleum-based compounds found in a variety of
cream-based cosmetics. When made, PEGs may be contaminated with other
substances that are possible human carcinogens and are harmful to the human
body.
Ingredients Worth the Splurge
Alpha Lipoic Acid
(ALA) -- Dr. Oz names this one of the top 5 ingredients to look
for in skin care products due to its powerful anti-aging, antioxidant and
anti-inflammatory properties. ALA is also 400 times stronger than vitamins E
and C combined!
Alpha Hydroxy Acids
(AHA) -- Naturally
derived from the sugars of fruit or milk, AHAs help your skin shed their dead
skin cells to reveal a healthy glow and the new skin underneath, according to
an article on Oprah.com. Plus AHAs can help fix
discoloration and shrink pores.
Ceramides -- Ceramides naturally occur in our
skin, however our body's production decreases as we get older. Scientists have
found a way to take ceramides from whole grain
wheat that can be
used by humans for their skin, providing moisture, firmness and protection.
Gwen Lewis is a
writer who lives in sunny California. She has been in the makeup and fashion
industry for 10+ years. She loves to write articles in the beauty field to help
others from her own experience.
Hyaluronic Acid -- Also naturally occurring in the body
-- it keeps joints lubricated -- hyaluronic acid is now being used to help plump up
and soften the skin.
