Thursday, January 6, 2011

Flawless Skin

 Keeping Skin Flawless
Natural Lightening Treatments for the Skin


I am always fascinated by flawless skin. With the environment and stress factors in our world today it becomes a great challenge to keep skin looking beautiful.  Uneven skin tone and  hyper-pigmentation, are quite common, and can appear for a number of reasons. Inflammation caused by skin irritation, rashes, or acne blemishes can cause skin discoloration, as can pregnancy or birth control pills. Years of sun exposure can produce brown spots, commonly known as age spots, and certain medications can cause hyper-pigmentation as well. A number of natural lightening treatments for the skin can help to reduce the appearance of hyper-pigmentation.
Lemon Juice 
Lemon juice has been used as a home remedy for skin lightening for many years. Lemon juice contains a mild acid that will help remove the top layer of skin, a process that can eliminate mild discolorations or lighten more serious ones. However, regular use of lemon juice can be very drying to the skin, so be sure to moisturize after use. Lemon juice will not offer instant results, but treating dark spots twice daily can yield results within four to six weeks.

Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide has also been used for many years to bleach dark spots from the skin. However, it must be used carefully, as it is more acidic than lemon juice, and can be more drying. It also helps to speed exfoliation, allowing new, lighter skin to emerge more quickly. To use, dab it onto those dark spots, let it dry, then be sure to rinse well to avoid skin irritation. Moisturizing the skin after use can avoid some of the drying effects of hydrogen peroxide.
Milk
The lactic acid in milk can help to reduce the appearance of dark skin patches. Lactic acid gently promotes exfoliation, removing dead skin cells to reveal the bright, new skin underneath. Regular milk, however, will yield very slow results, as the lactic acid content is not very high. Concentrated forms can be more effective, and are available in natural food stores or as an ingredient in many skin care products.
Potatoes
Raw potatoes are another common home remedy for dark patches on the skin. Sliced or grated potatoes can be placed over the darkened area for 15 minutes, once or twice daily. Again, this natural treatment will not produce instant results, but is said to lighten spots after several weeks of use.
Almond Paste
A paste made of ground almonds and milk can help to fade away dark spots on the face. Allow the ground almond to soak in the milk for several hours, then apply the paste to the darkened area, leaving it on overnight. This treatment is said to produce noticeable results for some people after two to three weeks of use.

Increase intake Vitamin C to enhance skin color and suppleness. This will help keep your skin strong by maintaining its basic support structure—collagen. You can increase Vitamin C intake. Eating more foods that contain Vitamin C. This includes citrus fruits/juices, strawberries, sweet peppers, tomatoes, cantaloupe, and green peas. Taking Vitamin C pills. If you chose to do it this way, you should take 250 mg/day. 
Eat more Vitamin A. Foods that are high in Vitamin A include nonfat milk, oysters, and egg yolks You can also get Vitamin A by eating foods that are high in beta carotene. In addition to being a good source of Vitamin A, beta carotene will help minimize the effects of sun damage to your skin. To up your beta carotene intake, eat foods such as carrots, watermelon, papaya, tomatoes, or other dark colored produce. Since your skin is basically composed of Retinol, 
 Minimize your exposure to sunlight and Pollution. UVA/UVB rays are know to be harmful to your skin because they slow down your body's ability to repair damaged skin and clear dead out cells.
Drink 8-10 glasses of water a day. This will help keep your skin from drying out.5
6
Make a face mask.
The following options will whiten your skin and improve your complexion.
         Recipe 1: Put a cucumber, 1/4 cup of lemon juice, 5 teaspoons of honey, and 5 teaspoons of milk into a blender. Blend until well mixed. Pour mixture into a bowl. Stir in flour until the mixture gets a thick consistency. Refrigerate for 6 hours. Apply to your face one daily after you shower. You should leave it on for 15-20 minutes, and wash it off with warm water and a clean towel.
         Recipe 2: Blend 1/4 cup of amaranth juice with a small amount of turmeric powder. If desired, add 1/2 cup of lime juice and milk as well. This should be applied to your face with a cotton ball. If you chose to add the lime juice and milk, massage your face and neck with the solution for 20-30 minutes. Rinse your face with lukewarm water when finished.
         Recipe 3: Put a handful of almonds, fresh rosebud paste, and 5 tablespoons of fresh mint juice and honey into a blender. Blend until creamy. Apply the cream every night before bed. If refrigerated, the cream should last about a week.

Flawless skin can be achieved by  taking care of the inside of our bodies as
well as the outside!  Eat healthy and protect your beautiful skin daily!