Archive for July 10th, 2008

To know what to look for in an antiaging skin care product, it’s important to understand what causes deterioration in the skin over time. All aspects of aging, including slack skin, wrinkles and uneven skin tone are the result of free radical damage at the molecular level.
Oxygen molecules are the bad boys of the antiaging world. When involved in a chemical reaction, they frequently lose one of their electrons and then dash madly about trying to steal an electron from another molecule. This can start a destructive chain reaction of unstable molecules, called free radicals, dashing around creating more unstable molecules.
Think of it like a radical mob building to riot force. Free radical damage is also known as oxidation. On metal, it appears in the form of rust. So when we say we are getting rusty, it’s not really far from the truth!
Fortunately skin has amazing regenerative abilities that help it repair damage up to a point. As well, nature has provided an anti-riot squad called The Antioxidants. Antioxidants are found in the human body and elsewhere in nature. They effectively block free radicals from getting to other healthy stable molecules.
But there are factors that can accelerate free radical damage to the point that the balance of power shifts in favor of the free radical mob. Current thinking categorizes the factors into: lifestyle (meaning where and how you live); the natural aging process; and genetics.
Some of these skin risk factors can be changed and some can’t. As time and science march on, the list of factors which can be mitigated grows longer and longer. Lifestyle changes are frequently possible if you know what to do and are motivated to make the changes.
Thanks to fairly recent scientific findings, the natural aging process of skin can be slowed and even reversed to some extent. That leaves only the genetic factors of skin aging that we are stuck with. At least for now.
UV protection, in the form of SPF creams, is the first topical step to take for your skin’s health. The second is moisturizing. The third step is assisting the fight against free radical damage with antioxidants. Steps four and five are skin care products that help remove old/dead/abnormal skin cells and those that promote normal skin regeneration. Many ingredients shown to accomplish this demolition and renovation are found in the latest generation of face creams.
In addition to antiaging treatments that support physical health and beauty, there are also antiaging skin care creams that address cosmetic concerns like adult acne, uneven skin pigmentation and lines of expression.
While no one dies from these conditions, it is widely accepted that if we look better, we feel better. So though treatments for these skin conditions are termed cosmetic , they frequently have a mental health benefit in that they support a healthy self-image and increased self confidence.
This article is for informational purposes only. It does not purport to offer medical advice. Consult a qualified physician before using any of these products.
For a list of the most effective skin care ingredients and what they do, visit http://www.ageless-beaty.com/skin-care.html

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There is no doubt that long, flowing hair is in, but many people who desire to have long hair are unable to achieve the right look no matter how long they let their hair grow. For this reason, many turn to hair extensions to get that look they’ve always dreamed of. Whether their hair is sparse and thin or ethnic and curly, many have found that they can have long hair through hair extension.
There are two major types of hair extension: strands and wefts. Strands use techniques that apply 20 to 50 strands of synthetic or natural hair to your own hair by weaving, heat fusing, gluing, clamping, or using waxes and polymers. Hair extension wefts, on the other hand, use wefts of hair that are sewn into a small braid of your own hair that has been put across your scalp for the purpose of hair extension.
With both types of hair extension you can achieve dramatic results. You can thicken and lengthen your hair instantly. And the hair extensions can be matched up perfectly to your own hair. With hair extensions, you shampoo, style and do everything that you would normally do to your own hair. If you want to change colors, you can. If you want to perm, you can. (There may be some restrictions with certain types of synthetic hair extension).
As with all salon services, there is some upkeep associated with hair extensions. The cost and frequency of your upkeep appointments will depend largely on what type of extensions that you purchase. The amount of damage to your natural hair and longevity of your hair extension will also be determined by which type of hair extensions you choose.
” Strands. This type of hair extension causes the most damage to your natural hair because the technique always involves attaching the extensions to your natural hair shaft by chemical means. As you can imagine by the name of some of the application methods used such as heat fusing and gluing, the damage can be substantial. While the strand hair extension does not cost as much as other procedures, there is a good deal of upkeep. These hair extensions normally have to be completely re-done every few months. And because these types of extensions cause so much damage to your hair shaft, they are not a good option for allowing your natural hair to grow out while you wear the extensions.
” Wefts. Weft hair extensions are by far the best types of hair extensions. The weft itself looks like a curtain of hair attached together at the top and free flowing at the bottom. These hair extensions are attached to your head by sewing them into a tiny braid made out of your own hair. The effects achieved with this technique are very natural and no one can see the braids or wefts of hair unless you show them. Since hair growth will push your braids off of your scalp, in order to keep this type of hair extension looking fresh, you need to return to your stylist every 6 to 8 weeks to have your wefts taken out and put back in close against your scalp.
So, if you always wanted long hair but have never been able to accomplish it, maybe hair extensions are just what you need. But be sure to weigh all of your options and the costs carefully before deciding to get hair extensions.

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