Dermatologists have known for years the most effective anti aging skin care program has three distinct and unique areas.

Nutrition
Lifestyle
Topical Skin Care

Nutrition
Heathy eating is at the core of true skin care. What we put into our bodies has a direct correlation to our overall health and the condition of our skin. Sadly, most our food is processed which means it is literally void of valuable nutrients if compared to fresh raw food. Our overall health and skin condition can gain a huge boost by eating a diet that has a wide range essential nutrients.

Researchers have found that if you are not receiving daily doses of vital nutrients your skin will lose elastin and collagen, in other words, the very structural components of your skin. When these two skin components decrease it directly results in sagging, blemishes, and wrinkles.

Bottom Line – We must take care of our skin literally, from the inside out.

Lifestyle
No secret here – our lifestyle choices have a direct influence on the health of our bodies and our skin. Studies have pointed to three lifestyle choices that will without a doubt – prematurely age your skin.

1. Stress – Of course stress resection is easier said than done however, statistics clearly show that if you make the effort to reduce the overall stress in your life it is one of the more powerful weapons in our anti aging arsenal.

2. Smoking – Research proves smoking accelerates aging, both internally and externally (your skin).

3. Exercise – We have all heard it time and time again, lack of exercise will age you plus your general health will deteriorate.

Topical Skin Care
This is an area where it is easy to make the wrong choices and end up spending a lot of extra money and not making any true gains in your overall skin condition. Using skin lotions and creams is a great first line of defense but in reality if you are doing topical skin care without good lifestyle and nutrition choices you’re not being nearly as effective as you could be.

It is easy to fall prey to convincingly crafted marketing and end up spending a small fortune on skin care products that simple do not meet their marketing claims.

The best skin care products provide 3 distinct actions.

1. Help restore collagen and elastin
2. Increase levels of hyaluronic acid
3. Reduce free radical damage.

What is the second thing to do? Focus on prevention. Use sun protection cream and foundation. This should be a non-negotiable part of your daily skincare routine. Prevent and slow down the aging process by using a broad-spectrum sunscreen that blocks UVA and UVB rays. Look for a sunscreen that is combined with antioxidants. Antioxidants will prevent premature aging of the skin.

What are the major beauty concerns of a woman over 40? Changes in skin texture, skin color, face and body hair, and in teeth color.

What is the #1 make-up mistake made by women over 40?
Wearing way too much makeup on your skin. Just as your skin begins to change, so does your hair. Keep your hair and skin tones so they compliment each other. As your hair begins to change to grey tones, allow your skin color to fade in intensity also. Makeup for a woman over 40 looks young and fresh when very sheer, luminous, simple, and the right color.

What is the #1 make-up recommendation?
The type of foundation you use on your face is key to younger, smoother looking skin. Makeup settles into wrinkles and fine lines. Find one that is perfect for your skin tone, is a long-lasting formula with sun protection. Get professional assistance; you can look at the options before making a purchase. More expensive foundation is available with anti-aging, skin firming ingredients. Consider using a makeup primer that contains peptides. A makeup primer fills in wrinkles and fine lines under the application of a foundation.

What is the #2 make-up recommendation?
Use a finishing spray to put a finishing seal on your foundation makeup. This is a spray that is applied after you have put on your foundation– it helps to keep your skin’s surface extra dewy, stops makeup from settling into the fine wrinkles and pores, and keeps your foundation from drying out. It is also a good component to an overall anti-aging routine.

What about your eyes?
Many women over 40 begin to stop using mascara. Don’t. Women over 40 can “lift” their eyes with the use of a volume building, lash-lengthening mascara. This type of mascara contains tiny fibers that give your eyes the longer lashes you used to have. Apply two light coats instead of one heavy one. An alternative is to become an expert in applying the new, light, very natural looking false eye lashes available. Try these at your department store cosmetic counter or makeup boutique before purchasing them. They are a viable option with practice.

What about your lipstick?
Try a glossy formula instead of a matte lipstick. Gloss provides more reflection of light from your teeth. Berry gloss colors will make your teeth appear more white. Don’t go too dark, you can get the opposite effect desired.

What about your teeth?
The natural aging process shows up in your smile. Teeth darken with age and use. Drinking coffee and tea, and eating foods that stain the teeth all impact the color of your teeth more readily with age. Smoking will very obviously color your teeth. Brush after eating or drinking. As your hair color take on a more grey color, your teeth will appear more yellow. Consult with your dentist about options for whitening your teeth, understand any risks that apply to your particular teeth. There are a lots of options available over the counter, just be aware of the risks to the enamel of your teeth that can come with overuse.

What about unwanted face hair?
There are good home treatments available now. LHE Technology (light plus heat energy) is used for a number of skin treatments, including hair removal, pigmentation and vascular lesions, to boost collagen, to reduce wrinkles and rejuvenate skin surface, for the treatment of psoriasis and acne. Do test a small area before treating your entire face and definitely follow the directions provided.

What about professional skin procedures?

Botox is injected into frown lines and relaxes the tissue, lessens the appearance of frown lines. Like many surface procedures, it’s temporary. Work with a reputable plastic surgeon or dermatologist. You can inquire about other procedures available. Some procedures can be very expensive but can make a huge difference in your skin’s appearance; some are more long lasting than others. Obviously if you have any concerns about skin cancer, don’t hesitate to get to the doctor.

Dermatologists agree, for aging skin it is important to avoid using beauty products and skincare products that contain chemicals and substances that if used over an extended period of time would be harmful to your skin.

Known additives shown to be harmful to the skin include fragrances, parabens, and dioxanes which can cause dryness and skin irritation. Substances such as coenzyme Q10 and vitamin E have been shown to provide excellent skin results.

Word of caution: Experts say people with sensitive skin should be particularly careful in that a lot of the chemical additives used in your beauty cream, skincare products and facial cleaner are in reality toxic to the skin. Many of which may yield good results initially, but in the long term are unhealthy for your skin. Nobody if they actually knew would put harmful and dangerous substances on their skin. Remember, the skin also transports anything put on it, directly into your bloodstream.

When Purchasing the Best Skin Care Products

You should look for natural ingredients which have been shown to stimulate the production of elastic and collagen, which are the primary structural components of skin.

After using your favorite facial cleanser and you’re starring in the mirror you notice premature wrinkles and fine lines and at that moment you would probably do just about anything to get rid of them. Many have been frustrated with the mass marketed and in most cases, ineffective skin care products.

Effective skin care treatment and facial rejuvenation is not a mystery regardless of what advertisers would like you to believe. As the elastin and collagen breaks down, changes, or is damaged, the skin will sag and develop fine lines and wrinkles. Collagen is a fibrous protein that provides the skin with strength and firmness.

As collagen deteriorates due to damage and aging, skin looses it firmness and fine lines and wrinkles begin to appear.This is the primary reason to use the best skin care products combined with a quality facial cleanser.

Elastin is also a protein and like collagen helps aging skin maintain flexibility and firmness.When the skin is stretched it the protein elastin that determines the skins ability to return to its normal position.Most skin care and anti aging products only mask the issue by filling in lines and wrinkles essentially providing a temporary fix. And while you might feel good initially because it appears to have “worked” once it’s washed from the skin the results are sure to let you down. By contrast – the best skin care products contain active ingredients that have been shown to stimulate and restore collagen as well as elastin.

Buying the Best Skin Care Products can be Confusing

One of the tragedies of the skin care industry is that much of the advertising is confusing and manufacturers put attention on the good ingredients and downplay the bad ones.

By including known beneficial ingredients on the skin care product label manufacturers have figured out they can produce a cost effective, and in most cases substandard product. But the labeling and advertising looks very convincing. A typical consumer thinks they are getting a high quality product for a very reasonable price. Quality ingredients are expensive and as long as a manufacturer lists them on the label they can legally produce the product. Well there is the rub – they can be listed on the label but in reality they are in such small quantities they are of no real value to your skin.

When considering the most effective and best skin care products it’s wise to pay attention to the concentration of the ingredients. When you see good ingredients and high concentrations it is almost always a superior product.

Here’s a typically skin care product marketing ploy – Collagen: It would be reasonable to assume that buying a product containing collagen would be good thing. Or… at least that’s what they want you to think. Truth is… Collagen’s molecules are too large to physically penetrate the skin when applied topically. For a product to be effective the best skin care products contain ingredients that have been proven to not only moisturize they effectively stimulate collagen production.

Anti Aging Skin Care

Experts say sun damage is one of the primary contributors to increased free radicals which leads to a breakdown in cellular metabolism and structure ultimately resulting in facial fine lines and wrinkles. Good news is, researchers have discovered new ingredients for anti-aging skin care treatments that help facial rejuvenation. Natural skin care ingredients such as sea-kelp, coenzyme Q10, vitamin E, and olive oil all been found to help prevent and repair free radical damage regardless of skin type.

Skin Care Product Reviews

Everyone is concerned with fine lines and wrinkles and whether you’re looking for a new eye cream or natural facial products experts say it’s important to read feedback from other peoples experiences in the form of reviews of the best skin care products.

Successful Anti Aging Skin Care Treatment Plan

1. Use a top quality formulated facial cleaner.

2. Moisturize with the most effective cream containing the best ingredients you can afford.

3. Treat yourself and buy the best skin care products for natural skin care and make certain they contain the most effective anti wrinkle ingredients formulated for your skin type.

These are the key components of the Mediterranean diet, and it is the overall diet that results in the health benefits, not just one particular food component. Because this diet has been a european lifestyle for a long time, studies comparing the resulting health characteristics are very convincing.

The Mediterranean diet has been proven to result in reduced stroke and other cardiovascular disorders, as well as Type 2 diabetes and cancer. The Mediterranean diet improves endothelium functioning of the lining of the blood vessels, thereby improving the strength and growth of the healthy nerve cells in the blood vessels.

The result is reduced incidence of cardiovascular disease, including stroke and related diabetes circulatory issues.

Olive oil is a major component in the Mediterranean diet, as is Salmon and other fish that provide Omega-3 fatty acids. Olive oil has been shown to be a positive factor on the effective production and processing of serotonin in the body. Fish oils have been proven to produce a positive impact on the functioning of the central nervous system.

Combined, the result is an improved ability for the body and mind to process daily stress. So, recent studies in which eating patterns and health symptoms were documented, groups eating the Mediterranean diet were shown to have a lowered incidence of depression when compared to current US statistics.

The American diet is a major cause of increased health issues, but until US consumers change their food choices, overall diet will continue to be serious factor in both physical and mental health.

VITAMIN D – Essential for:

• maintaining proper calcium and phosphorus levels in the body
• ongoing growth, including bones and teeth in children
• maintaining muscle strength
• maintaining regular heartbeat
• maintaining a strong immunity system
• prevention and treatment of breast and colon cancer, osteoporosis, hypocalcemia and osteoarthritis

Vitamin D is usually obtained by the body through exposure to sunlight. Sunlight triggers a chemical reaction in our skin which generates ultraviolet-B (UVB). Vitamin D also comes in fortified milk. Unfortunately people living in areas of the world where sunlight is limited, are most likely not getting enough Vitamin D in their diets. Consider the US areas that are north of the parallel line between San Francisco and Philadelphia; sunlight levels between October and March are minimal.

Additionally, African Americans and others with dark skin usually have even lower levels of Vitamin D; darker skin does not produce as much Vitamin D as lighter skin types. As you get older, the conversion of Vitamin D in the skin lessened. Elderly people tend to not get less sunlight exposure, which impacts the level of Vitamin D produced within their bodies. The elderly, especially women, should consider spending a little more time enjoying the sunshine as well as taking a Vitamin D + Calcium supplement. Ask your doctor to order a bone scan to determine the true condition of your bones and if you have need for prescription level treatment.

For everyone, the National Institutes of Health’s (NIH’s) Office of Dietary Supplements recommends at least three servings of foods that are rich in calcium every day. Start young, develop and maintain strong bones. Even by meeting this recommended dietary intake, most Americans still do not get enough Vitamin D and calcium, and are developing health issues related to the deficiency.

Low levels of Vitamin D can cause a burning sensation in the mouth and throat, visual problem, weight loss, diarrhea and insomnia. The New England Journal of Medicine reported that of a group of people without other risk factors, 57 percent were below normal levels.

IMPORTANT: Take Vitamin D ONLY in combination with calcium. Too much Vitamin D by itself can be extremely toxic.

The food form of Vitamin D is available to the body only after nutrients have been processed through the liver and kidney. People with compromised liver and/or kidney function have low levels of Vitamin D, which is an added complication.

Diet Recommendations for Vitamin D:

fish liver oils (cod liver oil)
salmon, sardines, tuna, other seafood
eggs, butter, buttermilk, other dairy products
dark green leafy vegetables
asparagus, broccoli, cabbage
almonds, sesame seeds, filberts
oatmeal
parsley

CALCIUM – Essential for:

• maintaining energy levels
• proper nervous system transmission
• maintaining a regular heartbeat
• developing and maintaining strong bones and teeth
• maintaining property cell membrane permeability
• maintaining healthy skin
• maintenance of healthy gums
• muscular growth and contraction
• prevention of muscle cramping
• normal blood clotting
• maintaining proper blood pressure
• cancer prevention
• prevention of preeclampsia during pregnancy (the number one cause of maternal death)

If your body is low in calcium for basic functions, it will automatically pull it from your bones. Calcium is the foundation of strong bones and teeth. Without adequate calcium, bone looses density and increases osteoporosis. Most Americans are getting less than 20 percent of the Vitamin D they actually need.

When you are not getting enough Vitamin D you may experience increased muscle pain and weakness, aching joints, brittle nails, hypertension, insomnia, nervousness, numbness in legs, and/or arms, rheumatoid arthritis, tooth decay, depression, cognitive impairment.

Osteoporosis actually begins at an early age. Because the body builds 90 percent of it’s bone mass prior to turning 19 years of age, calcium intake should be strongly encouraged at an early age. Encourage children and young adults to choose milk over soda; it’s a long term investment in many areas of health. A daily calcium supplement is recommended.

A 2006 7-year study of 36,000 older women showed that even taking Vitamin D and Calcium supplements for that period provided only marginal protection against bones becoming brittle and breaking easily. Because of that study, physicians concluded that many elderly women with low bone density and women with early signs of osteoporosis need medicines that go beyond what can be obtained through foods and over-the-counter supplements.

Keep in mind that over 10 million Americans suffer from osteoporosis— which results in over 1.5 million bone fractures each year. Bone fractures are a serious threat to long term health, the beginning of a cascading effect that begins with a hip fracture. Bone scan testing has become a more common part of both elderly men and women’s health exams, both for preventative reasons, and for immediate treatment evaluation.

Lysine is needed for calcium absorption and is found in cheese, milk potatoes, eggs, fish, soy products, lima beans, red meat and brewer’s yeast. It is also available as a supplement to be taken with calcium.

Not sure about vitamin D and calcium supplement guidelines, this article will help.

There are a number of reasons for these dark circles, including exposure to sun and insufficient amount of sleep. Another cause, however, is allergic reactions and allergies. For example, did you know that drinks and foods containing alcohol or caffeine can cause dark under eye circles?

Look closely at the drinks and foods you are consuming. If the cause of your dark eye circles is allergies, an antihistamine may help the circles from developing, while helping reduce other allergy symptoms. An over-the-counter antihistamine works for most people.

If it helps, then you may find it helpful to continue such a medicine for a longer term period. The allergy medicines intended to be taken just one per day on a continuous basis are the best option. Consider discontinuing alcohol and caffeine from your diet to see if the circles under your eyes are noticeably reduced.

Try the use of a gel or cream that contains Vitamin K. This vitamin can lessen the appearance of dark circles, especially when used in combination with Retinol. Because these two compounds are somewhat difficult to find in one cream, try alternating use of each nightly.

Retinal has strong anti aging properties, so you can reduce wrinkles at the same time you are addressing dark circles. Make sure the type of cream or gel you choose is intended to be used around the eye area.

Exposure to sun has been found to increase the development of dark circles under the eyes. Ensure you are protecting your face, as well as the skin tissue around your eyes. Look for a sunscreen that is specifically intended for the eye area.

Using sunscreen as part of your daily routine is a good habit for both preventing dark circles and for preventing skin damage caused by overall sun exposure.

Chocolate is number one. Eating chocolate boosts your brains production of natural anti depressants like dopamine and serotonin and according to researchers at the University of Arizona savoring about five Hershey’s Kisses can make you feel happy and relaxed in as little as twenty minutes. Carful though, don’t go too far.

Chewing gum – A British study proved that chewing gum for three minutes dramatically improves problem solving and recall abilities. Researchers believe the chewing action soothes tension making it easier for you to sit still and concentrate.

Think about it… That means the doughnuts sitting in the break room at work or the cookies on your kitchen counter. It’s there and you will eventually eat it – you or someone else will.

In fact, there was a study done where people were severed soup from a trick bowel that never became empty. It kept refilling itself from a hidden container under the table. Every single person in the study ate more that they normally would because the soup was there – it never went away.

#2 – Another Food Trap is Unit Food. This is food that is supposedly a single serving like a burrito or chicken pot pie. We perceive these things as units of food and something we should consume in a single sitting, regardless of how big they are.

#3 – Blob Food. Third on the list of things that cause us to overeat, is blob food. Items like casseroles have no real shape and we eat more because we are confused about the portion size.

#4 – Foods with Seduction Names. Last on the list of reasons we overeat is foods with seductive names. People eat more if a food has an enticing creative description or seductive name. You are absolutely more likely to ever eat mamas homemade double fudge caramel brownies than plain generic labeled vanilla ice cream.

Hopefully, knowing these things will help you control your overeating.

The real answer is, “Wherever you will get the best quality.” We have seen high- and low-quality supplements from all three sources, so you should buy where you feel the most comfortable. You may seek a direct recommendation, but if you know exactly what you want, you may prefer mail order. Do whatever is most convenient, as long as you are getting high?quality supplements from a reputable manufacturer.

How do I know which supplements are the best quality and which manufacturers are reputable?

One thing is certain: quality is not indicated on the label. The decision requires an industry insider such as a nutritionally oriented doctor or nutritionist. Such professionals learn about quality by seeing the results of various products they have recommended in treating their patients. If you ever consult with one, be sure to ask this very question.

Should supplements be taken with or away from meals?

Most supplements should be taken with meals for the simple reason that you tolerate them better when food is in your stomach.

Herbs should ideally be taken about twenty minutes before eating, but they can also be taken with food if that is more convenient.

Buffered vitamin C powders and amino acids involved in mood enhancement should be taken before meals.

Minerals such as calcium and magnesium should he taken with only water on an empty stomach before bed, preferably in a cap?sule form that will dissolve easily. This will help you take advantage of their natural relaxant properties.

The following supplements are best taken with a meal that contains some fat or oil:

• vitamins A, E, D
• tocotrienols
• carotenoids
• lycopene
• lutein
• COQI0

Why? All are fat are soluble, and eating them with fat helps you absorb them better.

I started taking a high-potency multivitamin, and my urine is a bright yellow. Is this Okay?

Yes, it’s perfectly normal. The phenomenon comes from a metabolite of a B-complex vitamin, riboflavin, and is a sign that your body is metabolizing vitamins well and that you are taking enough B complex.

If I take only one supplement per day, what should it be?

This is a difficult answer, because for optimal health we should take a minimum of four to five supplements per day. (Combining the essential nutrients in one pill would make that pill the size of a hockey puck.) However, if forced to pick just one, it would be a high-quality multivitamin rich in vitamins B, C, and E, with adequate amounts of trace minerals like zinc, selenium, and chromium.

Can I take my supplements all at once, or should I try to spread them out throughout the day?

For optimization , you will probably be taking too many supplements to ingest comfortably at one sitting. Therefore it should not be surprising that the best advice is to spread out your supplement intake over the course of the day. The GI tract can absorb only so much at once, and certain nutrients compete for absorption, so the more you spread out your supplement intake, the better.

My physician told me that I can get all the nutrients I need from my diet. What should I tell him?

Tell him/her, respectfully, that you have great difficulty accepting his premise, and offer two responses.

• First, how does he know you are getting all the nutrients you need? Has he ever performed nutrient blood tests or mineral challenge tests?
• Second, how does he know how much enough is? Heart disease- and cancer-preventing amounts of vitamin E, for example, are not available from any food. If you do not take a supplement of E, you cannot get optimal amounts of this potent heart and immune system protector no matter what you eat.

Fortunately the discussion among physicians today is becoming more and more .pro-nutrient. It is not whether to take supplements, but how much to take.

I am on many medications, and my doctor told me not to take supplements. What should I do?

As Dr. Carlton Fredericks, often said, “Why do doctors advise people against supplements when they still let them eat food?” Supplements are concentrated, therapeutic amounts of nutrients, and that’s all, and if you can eat food, you can take supplements. If anything, taking medications increases the need for nutrients, particularly vitamin C, the B complex, and liver-supporting herbs like milk thistle.

There are occasions, however, when supplements interfere with the active mechanism of some medications.

• For example, you do not want to take calcium, magnesium, or other minerals at the same time as the antibiotic tetracycline, because minerals will bind to the drug and render it inactive.
• You should avoid vitamin K if you are depending on warfarin’s anticoagulant effect.
• And limit folic acid if you depend on methotrexate to help you. (However, taking a limited amount of folic acid when using this drug is not only harmless, but also helps counter some of its side effects.)

By and large, however, adverse drug-nutrient interactions are actually quit rare. The overwhelming majority of interactions are positive.

• Vitamin C has been found to enhance the benefits of many drugs, including chemotherapy.
• Niacin enhances the benefits of cholesterol-lowering medications.
• And in some cases, using drugs increases the need for nutrients.
• It is well known that oral contraceptives increase the need for B vitamins.
• Drugs like sulfasalazine, used to treat colitis, deplete folic acid.
• Even using aspirin regularly depletes nutrients like vitamin C and folic acid.
• Diuretics deplete minerals.

The list goes on, so your best bet is to find a physician well versed in complementary practices who can give you the best of both conventional and nutritional medicine.

Should I keep my supplements in the refrigerator?

Only a few supplements need to be refrigerated, such as fish oil liquids and capsules, flaxseed oil, and other essential fatty acid supplements like borage and evening primrose oil. COQ1lO should also be kept refrigerated to preserve potency. Keep all other supplements in a cool dark place (refrigeration may have negative effects because the moisture in the refrigerator may cause a decline in the supplement’s potency).