If you’re not one to accept nature’s cute little spots, you can reduce their appearance, or hide them with makeup. However, there are no easy ways to completely get rid of them.

Consult your dermatologist if you’re willing to spend a considerable amount of time and money. There are several different techniques to fade freckles, such as freezing, acid, sanding and laser treatments. This can take several sessions and you’re going to experience skin irritation — so it will get worse before it gets better.

Home Remedies to Fade Freckles

For those who prefer to fade your freckles with natural home remedies, there are many things you can try. Since the sun’s rays enhance freckles and dark spots, stay out of direct sunlight whenever possible and use a sunscreen with the highest SPF available.

Vitamins A & C should boost your defenses to the sun’s dangerous rays and might reduce the darker pigment over time. If you have a light skin tone, there are many fade creams available for freckles, age spots and liver spots. Use with caution. If your skin is medium to dark, the creams can cause hyper-pigmentation and darken the spots you’re desperately trying to get rid of. Alpha-hydroxy acids can increase the turnover of your skin cells and lighten freckles to an acceptable shade.

Other things to try are lime juice, lemon juice, and fruit and vegetable masks, such as apricot and cucumber. No one method is sure to work on everyone. Similar procedures may include those that fade age spots.

Apply Makeup

The best way to deal with unwanted freckles is also the easiest. You can cover them under foundation and a fresh application of loose powder. You can also try lightly rubbing in a little concealer that is closest to your natural skin tone.

You might be surprised that after all the fretting and remedies you tried to hide your freckles, you finally come to realize that they are endearing and downright cute. By then, they may be fading naturally because they do have a tendency to diminish with time.

Preventing Under Eye Wrinkles
You should always wash off eye make up using a gentle cleanser. Many over the counter products that are created to remove make up around the eyes are best because they are made to be gentle enough to not cause damage to the skin. One very good cleanser that is natural and gentle enough for even sensitive skin is witch hazel. This product cleans well all while still being gentle enough for that very sensitive around the eye area.

Fine Line Treatments
A good way to prevent this from happening is to use an eye gel or moisturizing cream in the morning when you first get up and again at night before you go to bed. As we age the skin becomes less elastic and can lose the soft supple look it had before. Staying well hydrated also helps the skin to continue to have that supple look. Ensuring that your moisturizers contain SPF will also help to ensure that the delicate skin around your eyes is protected from getting wrinkles that can be caused by sun damage to the skin.

Reducing Puffiness
Lymph nodes located under the eyes where toxins build up in the lymph system your eyes to be puffy and swollen. A good way to reduce that swelling is to apply a cool mask around the eyes. You can also gently press on the area using the third finger on each hand to massage this area to release the toxins built up in the lymph system. Many people also like to store a jar of eye cream in the refrigerator so that they can apply it cold to the skin to reduce the swelling and sooth the enflamed feeling.

Preventing Crows Feet
Crows feet or laugh lines around the eyes are very typically the first to appear because of how delicate and thin the skin around the eyes is. The best way to combat these types of lines and wrinkles is to use a product that contains glycolic acid, also known as alpha hydroxy acid or AHA. One product line that boasts to be gentle enough to be used around the eye as a wrinkle remover is Olay. Utilizing cosmetics that contain AHA will help you to diminish your fine lines and wrinkles around the eyes. There are many over the counter cosmetics that help get rid of your fine lines and wrinkles.

Natural Remedies
There are also many natural remedies that can be used to moisturize & soothe the delicate skin around your eyes. To reduce swelling and make your eyes more relaxed you can use slices of cucumbers on your eyes. To moisturize the delicate area you can apply a little olive oil around your eyes each day to give this area more moisture then the rest of the skin

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Common Facial Skin Types
Oily skin is described as shiny with a dull color to it. Chronically oily skin has large pores and often has blackheads or pimples that can be either large or small. There are many causes to this type of skin a few of which are hormone levels, heredity, diet, and the weather. Natural oils such as Olive oil are actually good for oily skin types, they help break down the body’s oil and replace it with good oil.

Dry skin can be described by a dull flat tight look. This skin type often suffers from a tight itchy feeling and the skin can flake or chap and crack easily. This skin type can be caused by a lot of the same things as oily skin such as heredity, diet, and hormones.

Combination skin is skin that has both oily patches as well as dry patches and is a very typical skin type for the face. Often the T zone is where the oily patches are; the T zone is the forehead, nose, and chin. Often this area is affected by acne or can be more greasy feeling then the rest of your skin. The dry patches are often the cheeks where they can become so dry some people may experience flaking or chapping.

Sensitive skin is skin that is thin or fine in texture. If you have sensitive skin you probably have allergic reactions to many products including detergents, cosmetics and alcohol that is used in many skin care products. Sensitive skin burns easily as well as can get windburned more easily.

Moisturizer Cream & Lotion Products with SPF
Dermatologists recommend that you always use a moisturizer that contains a sun screen. SPF is important to give you the sun protection you need. During the summer months you can even find moisturizers that contain tint for a nice tanned look.

Some products like Aveno have clearly labeled bottles that tell you what the skin type each different product is best for. Aveno is best for sensitive skin as well as to be used during winter months when dry skin can be at its worst.

Neutrogena is one of the top recommended products for skin care by dermatologists and can be found in just about any drug store, chain store, or super market. Neutrogena is a product that is especially good for people who suffer from oily skin types or acne that is often caused by oily skin.

You may also find that some organic ingredients work best for your skin. A natural deep moisturizer is olive oil and is often used even in luxury salons. This is one of the best moisturizers for a deep penetrating facial or all over body moisturizer. Choosing a product that is right for your skin will allow you to save money as well as find the right product for your skin type.

Preventing wrinkles
Preventing wrinkles is the best way to not have wrinkles. Your first and best defense against wrinkles is to stay well hydrated; this keeps the skin plump and smooth. It is recommended that you drink between six and eight glasses of water a day. While that sounds like a lot of water in all actuality it really is not that much water

A well balanced diet is also helpful to preventing wrinkles. If your body is getting the proper nutriment you will have healthy skin to go along with that. Foods rich in anti-oxidants and high in vitamins A, C and E are good for the skins appearance. Taking a good multi-vitamin can also be a way to help the skin.

Exercise is important to healthy skin as is moisturizing. When you exercise your body gets rid of toxins that can build up causing you to age faster. Using a good moisturizer will help the skin retain its elasticity making you appear younger.

Avoid the sun, smoking and limit your alcohol. These all have the power to rob your skin of its elasticity and youthfulness. It is recommended that you always wear an SPF of 15 or higher if you are going to be outside. You can also choose to wear protective clothing to avoid the sun and prevent wrinkles.

Age Spot Home Remedies
One of the most natural and easy to use home remedy is just recently being discovered by many people. Virgin Coconut Oil is one of the best skin care treatments because it has many antioxidant properties as well as the ability to be absorbed into the skin and cell structure helping to rejuvenate the skin. Virgin coconut oil that has not been refined does not break down the same as refined vegetable oils. You can even substitute virgin coconut oil in foods and further your health and skins appearance.

Extra virgin olive oil, avocado oil, peanut oil, or sesame oil is also very good for skin to help reduce wrinkles as well as prevent them from forming. These oils contain properties that are healthy for skin including antioxidants that help the skin retain its elasticity.

There are many home remedies for treating problem areas one home remedy for under eye treatment is to apply odorless castor oil with a cotton swab to the area. You can also use egg whites to firm and tighten skin. Or use apple cider vinegar with distilled water to balance the ph level of your skin.

Over the counter skin treatments
There are many over the counter skin care products that you can purchase to treat wrinkles at home. Dermatologists recommended products will contain vitamins C & E as well as have anti-oxidants in them. Products that also contain AHA help to remove the dead layers of skin to produce a younger appearance in the skin.

Many night creams contain retinol as well as aha. Retinol is a form of vitamin A and can be used to reduce acne as well as anti-aging by speeding up the turn over rate of your skin. This also helps to give the skin a younger appearance by reducing fine lines and wrinkles on the face. Retinol is recommended for under eye treatment as well as the fine lines and wrinkles around the mouth and corners of the eyes.

No matter how you choose to reduce your winkles and fine lines it is clear that you have many options that do not have to cost a fortune and it is clear that prevention is the best option for reducing those fine lines and wrinkles that age us all.

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The Dreaded Appearance of Brown Age Spots
Age spots, or liver spots, often appear on the backs of hands, arms, shoulders, and the face. They are flat, discolored areas and are mostly circular in shape, but can be irregular. These discolorations can range from deep brown to light tan in color.

It is important to note that any unusual skin blemishes require evaluation by a medical professional. Some skin cancers go untreated because they are mistaken for age spots, freckles, or moles.

Causes of Age or Liver Spots
There are many contributing factors in the development of age spots, but the bottom line is sun exposure causes age spots. Tanning beds and long periods of exposure to sunlight without proper skin protection produce these discolorations.

Other popular theories suggest impaired liver function, an overabundance of free radicals in the body, and poor diet contribute to the development of age spots when combined with sun exposure.

Genetic predisposition plays a role in the development of most undesirable conditions, and age spots are no exception. Some people will develop age spots despite preventative measures.

Preventing Age Spots
The best defense against age spots is protection from the sun. Sun block, protective clothing, and limiting time in direct sunlight will drastically reduce your chances of developing age spots.

Basic lifestyle changes are helpful in reducing the appearance of new age spots. Consuming plenty of pure water per day, eating fresh fruits, green leafy vegetables, and getting regular exercise assist your body in naturally defending itself from free radicals, skin damage, and toxin build-up. Medical professionals also recommend avoiding concentrated sugars, preservatives, caffeine, alcohol, tobacco, and fats.

What Skin reatments Are Available for Age Spots?
Fortunately, many treatment options are available. Some women are content with simply covering the discolorations with make-up. Others opt for bleaching treatments or removal of the damaged skin.

Bleaching
Women interested in reducing the visibility of age spots often choose over-the counter treatments to bleach the affected skin. Many women find relief from an old-fashioned beauty fade cream. These treatments fade the discolorations, but subsequent sun exposure will result in reappearance of the age spots.

Hydroquinolone creams are effective in fading age spots in fair-skinned individuals. These creams should not be used by anyone with dark skin, as a darkening of the age spots may occur with usage.

Specialty Facial Treatments
Many specialty facial treatments remove the discolored area to reveal lighter, undamaged skin as the body heals. Removing the damaged layer of skin often involves some level of discomfort and specially trained professionals perform these procedures. Treatments include laser surgery, chemical peels, freezing, and microdermabrasion.

Finding a Natural Remover
Many people seek out a homeopathic cure for age spots rather than resorting to harsh treatments. Some popular vitamin supplements are vitamins C and E, Zinc, Selenium, Beta Carotene, and Potassium.

One popular natural home remedy is pure lemon juice. Rub fresh juice into the affected skin, allow air-drying, and follow with moisturizer every day until faded. A honey and yogurt facial can help fade age spots as well.

Deciding to remove or fade your age spots is easier today, thanks to the number of options available. You can choose from cover-ups, natural remedies, bleaching, or complete removal. You do not have to live with unpleasant age spots; treatment can begin in your own kitchen.

It is so simple to make your own body scrub
You may have noticed that you’re paying a lot of dough for a handful of scrub. Read the ingredients: you’re paying for sexy packaging! Most scrubs contain salt, sugar or nut shells and you can buy any of those things for well under fifty cents a pound. But the seven ounce coconut scrub from The Body Shop sells for $17. How long does it take to use up less than one cup of body scrub? Not long!

You choose the natural ingredients to exfoliate
Make your own body polish! Choose your favorite fragrances, control the granularity of the scrub, avoid ingredients that you may be allergic to, and create a big potful of body polish with about $10 worth of ingredients. Or you can make a cupful for under a dollar and decide if you like the recipe. It’s a breeze: you’ll need a spoon, a bowl, and a container for storage.

Sugar as the Exfoliating Ingredient
Try it sweet. Sugar isn’t as harsh as ground nut shells: it melts fast when it hits moisture, so if your skin is delicate, you’re probably not going to over-scrub it. The other benefit is the fact that sugar, unlike pumice, ground shells and other insoluble ingredients, will melt instead of sticking in your bathtub drains. Here’s what you need to make a large batch:

Homemade Sugar Body Scrub Recipe
8 Cups turbinado (raw) or light brown sugar
1 ½ to 2 Cups avocado, untoasted sesame oil or jojoba oil
½ to 1 Cup apricot or peach kernel oil
essential oil (we used ginger and vanilla)
honey for smoothing the texture

If you use turbinado, you will probably want more oil because turbinado has a coarser texture than light brown sugar. Turbinado, being a specialty ingredient, also costs a lot more than brown sugar. You can use either form of sugar, just make sure that with the brown sugar, you’re keeping a careful eye on the liquid ingredients so your scrub doesn’t dissolve into a thin paste. Use honey only if you find your scrub is too dry, or just increase the amount of oil you use instead. Mix oils into the sugar slowly, stirring to keep the consistency smooth, and stop when you can form the mixture into a slightly wet ball without it dripping through your fingers. Add the essential oils last: they are for fragrance, not moisture, and you’ll only need a few drops—maybe eight—to get the aroma strong enough. Never use “fragrance oils”—they are chemical fakes that have never been near a plant and can cause irritation or even allergic symptoms. Instead, make sure to use essential oils, which are the true plant oils expressed by pressing or by steam distillation from the actual plants. Before choosing an essential oil, make sure that it is considered to be good for the skin—some essential oils are irritants and are meant for other purposes. Some skin friendly oils include rose, rosemary, lemon, mandarin, lavender and chamomile.

Salt to exfoliate your skin
Salt recipe. In this body scrub, you can substitute 8 cups of coarse or kosher salt for the sugar in the recipe above. The nice thing about do it yourself scrubs is that you can then vary the ingredients to make your own favorite scents. Instead of essential oils, you may decide to add cocoa or coffee for a chocolate or mocha body scrub. Add vanilla; your scrub will smell fantastic. Here’s how:

Salt Scrub Recipe
8 Cups coarse pickling or Kosher salt.
2 Cups avocado, untoasted sesame oil or jojoba oil
1 Cup apricot or peach kernel oil
1 Cup unsweetened cocoa or ¼ Cup freeze dried coffee crystals
2 Tablespoons vanilla extract
honey for smoothing the texture

When you make your own scrubs, you can afford to use the best ingredients. Add a handful of ground dried white tea leaves to your body scrub and follow it up with natural cucumber extract for a soothing, summery fragrance. With some practice, you’ll understand how to make practically any scrub you want. And they make terrific gifts: buy some pretty jars and labels and package your own recipes for your friends!

Oily Skin and Acne Breakouts
Oily skin doesn’t necessarily cause acne, but it can be a contributor to breakouts if the skin isn’t kept clean enough. Acne occurs when pores are invaded by dirt and oil, get clogged and breed bacteria. The bacteria in the pore causes swelling and the typical pimple is filled with pus, which is the body’s attempt to fight infection using white blood cells. Keeping your skin clean and pores unclogged is one important way to prevent acne breakouts. And it all starts with the way you wash your face.

Skin Care and Makeup for Oily Complexions
Some people think that removing oil from the face is like washing it from dishes: they use the harshest soap and the hottest water to get their skin “squeaky clean”. They never moisturize, and may even wipe their skin with alcohol to dry it out. The bad news is that if you treat your oily skin with harshness, it will redouble its efforts to protect itself—it will actually start to produce more oil to cope with what it feels are harsh environmental conditions! Wash your face, but use a gentle soap and lukewarm water, and don’t rub or scrub. Treat your skin with love and compassion, and it will respond positively. Use an oil-free moisturizer to keep your skin protected, and protect it further by using a moisturizer that contains sunscreen. Keep the shine blotted down by using powdered mineral makeup, which is guaranteed to give you a matte finish without clogging pores. At the end of the day, remove your makeup with a gentle, alcohol-free toner, wash your face gently, and reapply moisturizer before bed.

Natural Beauty Product Suggestions for Oilier Skin
Oil free moisturizers usually contain glycerin and water, and some of the best products also contain tea extracts and oatmeal. Oatmeal has long been recognized as a soothing skin care product, and when used as a mask can brighten your skin without drying it out too much. Companies like Aveeno are making oatmeal based moisturizers and makeup that work wonderfully to care for the skin. Beauty tips columns always contain the oatmeal facial mask as a remedy for oily skin. Just puree oatmeal with a little water, wipe on the skin, allow to dry most but not all they way, and rinse off.

Luckily, caring for your oily skin has never been easier, since a tremendous range of products ensures that there’s something for everyone. Treating oily skin is done at two levels; prevention and blemish control. Gentle treatment, the right oil-control makeup and proper nutrition can help prevent oily skin. Blemishes can be treated with tea tree oil or one of the natural remedies including green or white tea extract (powerful antioxidants) and skin calming oils such as lavender or chamomile.

Does diet and nutrition contribute to skin oils?
Some people think that chocolate or fatty foods can cause oily skin, and if you are allergic to a particular food, it may show up in the way your skin behaves. Chocolate has not been shown to increase skin oil or breakouts; in fact, dark chocolate contains antioxidants that are good for your brain and your body. But junk food like chips, high fat, high salt burgers and other fried foods may impact your skin as they do your entire body. If you’re a junk food junkie and have oily skin or breakouts, take a month off from your favorite foods to see if your skin condition improves.

Antiaging therapy in the form of creams or lotions containing plant or milk acids often dry users’ skins as the acids remove the top layer of skin cells from the complexion. Check out moisturizers containing alpha lipoic acid, which may decrease the oil in your skin after a short time of use.

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Not long ago, acne was believed to be the result of out-of-control oil glands combined with a failure to keep the face clean. Acne medications were harsh and often relied on eradicating the oil in the skin by use of alcohol. Hardly a solution to the proble. Now, we understand that acne is a result of hormonal fluctuations that act on bacteria in the skin. We also know that it’s possible to have acne and dry, irritated skin too. The best acne medicines are formulated to soothe the skin while providing acne-fighting medicine.

Fortunately, there are new natural home remedy approaches to acne control. One of the new herbal antibiotics is tea tree oil. An extract from the Australian tea tree, it combines antifungal and antibiotic properties with a soothing and warming feel. The smell is something like eucalyptus–very strong. Tea tree oil can be applied directly to pimples, zits, insect bites, stings, burns, itches and other minor skin irritations. It is also effective in controlling dandruff and can be used to fight athlete’s foot. Tea tree oil is sort of a medicine cabinet in itself.
Other more mainstream, but innovative, acne products exist on the market for teens and adult, such as laser acne treatment and ProActiv solution skin care line.

Doctor’s Dermatologic Formula (www.ddfskincare.com) puts out an acne-fighting medication called DDF Benzyl Peroxide Gel with 5% Tea Tree Oil. The combination of peroxide and tea tree oil works to cleanse the skin, kill bacteria and heal breakouts.

Vitamins and Natural Oils that May Help Dry Skin
Drinking lots of water is one remedy for dry skin, but if your skin is very dry, you may need additional help. You may have noticed that many skin care creams contain vitamins: although Vitamin E has been shown to work externally to correct dry skin, most other vitamins don’t have a noticeable effect. Look for Vitamin E enriched skin creams, and increase its effects by also taking Vitamin E capsules, which help strengthen skin from the inside.

Another benefit of taking Vitamin E is that it works on the skin all over your body—hands, feet, face and everything in between. Other natural remedies for dry skin include Evening Primrose oil, flaxseed oil or Omega 3 oils derived from fish. All of these nutritional supplements have been shown to increase skin’s elasticity, its rebuilding capacity and its moisture. You can get these treatments at any health food store, and most pharmacies carry them too.

Diet and Nutritional Changes that Will Improve Skin’s Appearance
Support the health of your skin by eating plenty of fresh fish (providing you with Omega 3). Adding a tablespoon of flax seeds to your morning cereal tastes good and increases your essential fatty acid intake. These nutritional steps do more than fix your dry skin: they’re also natural cures for everything from stomach problems to heart disease.

Products, Lotions and Skin Care that May Help Keep Skin Hydrated
If you’ve recently started using an antiaging lotion or cream, you may suddenly develop dry skin. Creams that contain retinol, alpha lipoic acid, or either alpha or beta hydroxyl acids work by chemically exfoliating (breaking down) upper layers of skin. If you experience peeling, redness, scaly skin or a rash, stop using your new cream and try something with milder ingredients or a lessened concentration of the main ingredients. Some people have gotten contact dermatitis from the very skin creams that were supposed to solve their dry skin problems!

The best products for your complexion are usually the simplest: look for creams that have not been tested on animals and whose main ingredients are natural. Read the ingredients list on the back of the label! Consider ingredients like beeswax, plant oils, herbal extracts and basic ingredients such as glycerin and water.

Acne treatment can lead to peeling or dry skin; especially over the counter products containing salicylic acid or peroxide. Allergies to menthol, camphor and eucalyptus can also cause scaly, irritated skin, so if you’re using a Noxzema type product or a nice-smelling toner, you might want to switch to something that doesn’t contain those ingredients.

For Extreme Dry Skin Treatment and Relief
Extreme dry skin can get relief through intensive therapy by way of daytime moisturizer lotion, night creams and increased home humidity. If you suffer from dry facial skin or dry skin all over your body, especially in winter, it may be because the heat in your house is drying you out. Try putting a cool mist humidifier in your bedroom at night, and you may see a difference in a few days. A popular home remedy for dryness is the moisturizing facial mask. Use a half of a ripe avocado, pureed. Rinse your face with lukewarm water and apply the mask while your face is still damp. Leave on for 15 minutes, then rinse off with lukewarm water and pat dry. Apply your favorite moisture lotion.

Skin Conditions that Lead to Scaly, Itchy Skin
Eczema starts out looking and feeling like extremely dry skin, with itching and redness increasing until you may have scaly patches, clear, fluid filled bubbles , or welts on your arms, legs, face, eyelids or body. Eczema isn’t dry skin, however: it’s your body’s allergic response to causes in the environment, and it can be worsened by stress. If you think you have eczema, talk with your doctor to find out about treatments: although dry skin remedies may be part of controlling eczema, you may also need treatment with corticosteroids, antihistamines, a special ointment for relief of itching, or other prescription drug therapy.

What causes your puffy eyes?
There are several causes for under eye bags, puffiness, or dark circles. Some of these are: heredity, water retention, toxin build up, a change in weather, hormones, allergic reactions, as well as health issues or complications from medications.

Having allergies may cause you to wake with puffy eyes from time to time. Sleeping with your head elevated slightly can sometimes help alleviate this by helping the sinus cavities to drain. Preventing the allergic reaction by avoiding your known allergens will help you to avoid an occurrence of puffy eyes. You may also want to take an over the counter medicine like Benadryl to help avoid the allergens that cause your reaction.

How can you prevent puffy eyes?
One of the steps you can do to prevent your under eye puffiness, bags, and dark circles is to have a healthy well balanced diet and stay well hydrated. Drinking plenty of water will help your body flush itself of any toxins as well as reduce the chance of water retention. Limiting your caffeine intake can also help reduce water retention. Sodium is also a big culprit in helping the body retain excess water and to reduce the bags under your eyes you may want to drastically reduce the salt in your diet.

Are there natural cures & treatments?
There are many natural remedies that have been used over the years to help aid in the reduction of puffy eyes. Cucumbers are really good at helping to reduce puffiness under your eyes. Lavender is also a nice soothing topical treatment when applied to the eye area in a floral water mixture and reduces swelling to the eye area. Chamomile or other tea bags also work to reduce swelling under the eyes. Choose the treatment best suited to help get rid of your puffy eyes. Once you have completed that treatment you can apply makeup to help hide any remaining puffiness.

Over the counter quick fixes
When turning to over the counter treatments you will notice that many of them utilize natural ingredients as well. Many people notice that gel ointments work better and more quickly then creams, but keep in mind that everyone is different and your results may vary. Be sure to buy products that clearly state they are for puffy eyes.

Possible Medical Causes of Puffy Eyes
There are also many serious health concerns that can cause puffiness or dark circles under or around the eyes. A few examples of these conditions are a thyroid condition, and diabetes. If you have chronic puffiness, dark circles, or bags under your eyes you should consult a physician to determine if the bags are a symptom of a more serious health concern.