There are 4 main cosmeceutical ingredients you should know about:

1) Antioxidants. You’ve heard about these for your insides (such as the benefits of ingesting green tea or pomegranate juice), but antioxidants can also work on the outside, keeping skin from aging and wrinkling prematurely. Some of the hottest cosmeceuticals use ingredients such as lipoic acid, Coenzyme Q10, resveratrol, and grape seed extract to nourish skin from the outside in.

2) Peptides. Peptides are one of the building blocks of protein, and certain peptides can drive skin repair and improvement. Copper peptide, for example, is one of the most well known ingredients in this category. Peptides can create certain chemical reactions which lead the skin to turn itself over more quickly, or to repair the skin damage caused by the sun, or wrinkling.

3) Retinol. Retinol has been around for a while, and is a favorite weapon for treating sun-damaged skin. Retinol can smooth away the aftereffects of too many days spent baking in the sun.

4) Glycolic acid. Glycolic acids have been around for some time, and are available in varying strengths. Some of the newer glycolic acids are geared towards those with dry skin. Typically, glycolic acids are used to accelerate the exfoliation of the skin, breaking down dead and old skin cells to reveal healthy, fresh, and younger skin underneath.

If your skin is looking tired and could use a pick me up, be sure to check out the new cosmeceutical inspired skin care lines. Your skin will not only look better, it will actually be better.

There are five main reasons for hair loss:

1) Diet. If you eat too little, or eat the wrong kinds of foods, this can decrease nutrition to your hair; weakening it and causing it to fall out.

Eating foods rich in Vitamin C, A, E, Biotin, Inositol, and the B vitamins can help reduce your hair loss. Foods to include would be meat, milk, cheese, citrus fruits, dark green vegetables, raw seeds, nuts, rice, fish, chicken, and whole grain cereals.

2) Time of year. Most hair loss tends to get worse later in the year; especially November and December. No, it’s not all just holiday stress. This relates to the end of the hair’s growing cycle.

3) Stress. This can cause your hair to fall out, especially when compounded by illness, excessive weight loss, and decreased iron in the diet. Thyroid problems can also contribute to hair loss.

4) Getting older. Unfortunately, our hair follicles start to die off as we age; and this can lead to our hair falling out.

5) Hormonal changes, like during or just after pregnancy. Changes in hormone levels can lead to hair loss as well.

If you are experiencing hair loss, take action. Improve your diet, use only a wide-toothed comb on wet hair, and satin pillowcase covers so your hair doesn’t pull in the night.

Minoxidil is the only FDA approved treatment for hair loss, but many hair loss sufferers have reported improvements in hair thickness and appearance by using Nioxin.

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I was looking around online and found this video on selecting the right facial scrub. I thought you might enjoy watching it.

[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HlG3JyDfZgQ]

The thing to be careful about with facial scrubs is that you first don’t get one that is too harsh for your skin- some brands make use of large pieces of shell or pumice, which can rip your skin and damage it. This is why you should never use a body scrub on your face. Your body can deal with a slightly harsher scrub; the tender skin on your face can’t. So you should pick a scrub that is designed for your face. The second thing to be careful about is that you don’t rub your face raw when using the scrub. Gentle, but firm strokes will be just fine for [tag-tec]exfoliating[/tag-tec] the skin without damaging or tearing it. 

Facial scrubs should be used at least once a week, sometimes more if your skin is oily. If you have active acne or breakouts, be careful when using scrubs as they can make your skin problems worse. Also, be sure to use a facial scrub after you’ve cleansed your skin. This will make sure that any top layers of oil or dirt have been removed, giving the facial scrub a chance to work more effectively.

One of my favorite facial scrubs is the Dermalogica skin prep scrub. You can find that here:

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First: exercise causes your body’s circulation to increase, which means better blood flow to problem areas. Better blood flow means more opportunities for your body to fight off diseases and infection.

The second reason exercise is good for your skin is because it causes you to sweat, which opens your pores and cleans them out, too. These are the two most obvious benefits of exercise for skin.

Exercise also improves skin by reducing your stress. Too much stress can lead to lowered immunity and slower cell repair. This is why people who are chronically stressed will, very often, have poor skin tone and high skin damage. The skin just doesn’t get the nutrients, rest, and other elements it needs to repair itself. As a result, you look older and unhealthy.

Getting regular exercise can be a challenge, though new research shows that getting even 10 minutes more exercise each day

If you, like me, tend to [tag-tec]exercise at home[/tag-tec], you will find it easier to get results by focusing on a few simple things. First, focus on consistency. Work out a little every day, as the benefits add up.

Keep your heart rate in the proper range for your age and fitness level. This will insure that you don’t hurt yourself or put too much stress on your body.

Finally, stay motivated. Look for improvements in your stress level, health, and overall appearance. This will give you the focus to keep on going.

Exercise is one of the best ways to fight bad skin. Why not get a little bit of exercise today?

While the best solution is always learning how to cure puffy eyes, sometimes even that doesn’t work.

Your next best plan, then, is to learn to conceal them. This video shows you how:

VideoJug: How To Conceal Bags Under Your Eyes