Lighten Dark Spots Naturally

Home remedies for age spots are not overnight successes, and if patience is not a virtue possessed then it may be best to visit your dermatologist for medical treatments.  Home remedies can take from six to eight weeks before results are noticeable.

 

 

CITRUS

The simplest is applying a lemon slice directly on the spots you want lightened. Apply up to two times every day. Leave in place for five minutes. Rinse thoroughly.
A mixture of 1 tsp. each of orange and lime juice with 1 tbsp. apple cider vinegar can be applied and rinsed the same way.
Citrus applications can dry and irritate your skin after prolonged use. It recommends a quality skin lotion after each rinse.

 Another common food equaling a lemon’s acidity is the red onion. One slice of red onion, rubbed into the skin daily is also touted with natural bleaching abilities for the skin.

 

NATURAL VITAMIN E

Natural Vitamin E consists of several compounds which include alpha, beta, delta, and gamma tocopherol. However, the most important ingredient is alpha-tocopherol due to its antioxidant properties. Alpha-tocopherol had been shown to reduce significantly the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, freckles and dark spots on the skin.

NUTGRASS ROOT

 It is a natural whitening ingredient that can brighten skin effectively by reducing melanin up to 40% without any harmful side effect. Clinical trials have shown that Extrapone nutgrass is effective in reducing freckles and dark spots due to its ability to inhibit the formation of the skin pigment melanin.

 

SHEA BUTTER

Shea butter, if applied in its natural form, on the affected skin area, can be very effective.  In addition to aiding in dark spot removal, shea butter also helps moisturize and hydrate the skin, rejuvenating and refreshing it.  ‘

 

BUTTERMILK

Buttermilk contains a natural bleach that will gradually fade the dark spots on your skin. Buttermilk helps your skin cells regenerate at a faster rate, helping replace the damaged cells in your dark spots and fading their color. Buy buttermilk at the grocery store, soak a cotton ball in the liquid and rub it on your dark spots. Hold the cotton ball on the dark spots for 10 minutes.

 

CHEMICAL PEELS

Try glycolic facials, which are offered by many spas and salons.  These facials help remove ark spots as glycolic acid is the main component used in these facials.  Glycolic acid helps in removing dead cells and the upper layer of the skin, thereby aiding in dark spot removal.  

 

ALPHA HYDROXY/RETINOL

Dermatologists often recommend applying a retinoid or retinol directly on age spots. A prescriptive retinoid is more effective and provides a faster result that the OTC retinol. The spots should diminish or even disappear in a few months.

 

An important drawback is that it also makes skin more susceptible to damage from the sun’s ultraviolet rays, which could make your age spots or scars darker. You must stay out of the sun while using lotions formulated with this ingredient to experience optimal fading of skin blemishes.

 

CHINESE HERBS

A natural remedy based on traditional Chinese herb lore is homemade ginsing and gotu kola cream. Mix 1/8 tsp. powdered ginseng root with 1/8 tsp. gotu kola. Moisten the blend with ginseng tea to form a paste. Apply directly on your pigmented spots, then rinse with cool water after 10 to 15 minutes. Use this preparation twice a day. Repeat until you see the degree of lightening you want.

 

Although home remedies are considered safe, there are side effects to be wary of as with any treatment. Natural acids from onion and lemon are completely safe for ingestion and topical application however when used for extended periods of time and in excess, skin burns can occur. Other factors to consider are over bleaching of your skin. This could leave age spots whiter than your other skin once treatment is complete.

 

You may prefer organic products formulated to diminsh dark spots naturally:

https://us.nyrorganic.com/shop/skincarebydonna/product/0568/wild-rose-beauty-balm-1-76-oz/?a=12&cat=0&search=rose%20blam

Contains 30% Rose Hip Seed Oil which is a natural retinol.

 

Organic Skin Brighteners

https://us.nyrorganic.com/shop/skincarebydonna/product/0037/brightening-serum-1-01fl-oz/?a=12&cat=0&search=brightener

 

https://us.nyrorganic.com/shop/skincarebydonna/product/0583/daily-brightening-3-38fl-oz/?a=12&cat=0&search=brightener

Acid Mantle? What is an Acid Mantle?

 

Have you ever heard of an Acid Mantle?

Yes! You have one… and caring for it is critical for maintaining healthy, beautiful skin.

The Acid Mantle is a very thin layer, a barrier that lies on the surface of the skin. This acidic barrier is a mixture of sweat, sebum, oils and salt which is excreted naturally by our skin. The acid mantle naturally protects the skin by killing bacteria before it can get inside the skin. It also helps the skin hydrate and maintain it’s moisture.

The acidity of the acid mantle is measured by its pH. pH is measured on a scale of 1 to 14. Healthy skin usually has a pH between 4 and 5.5. Skin pH can vary in different parts of the body.

It is very important not to strip the skin with harsh alkaline soaps / cleansers. Doing this will allow for bacteria to enter the skin ~ disturbing the acid mantle leads to skin conditions such as dermatitis, eczema, rosacea and acne.

Your dermatologist, Esthetician or even your local pharmacy can recommend skin care products that are pH balanced. At-home PH testing kits are also available.

Balance=Healthy, beautiful skin!

 

 

10 Tips for Flawless Skin

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How to Choose and Use Sunscreen

 

Sunscreen is hands down THE most important skin care product you can use.  The number one cause of premature aging and damage to our skin is unprotected exposure to the sun.  Exposure to the sun can lead to wrinkles, uneven pigmentation, and in many cases skin cancers.

Short of staying indoors, your first and best defense against damage is the regular and repeated use of sun protection. 

How Do I Choose?

• SPF-  is a measure of a product’s ability to prevent UVB rays from damaging the skin.  Look for products with an SPF 30.  Any lower SPF and you may not receive as much protection; any higher and the increased protection is negligible. 
• Minerals- 84% of all sunscreen products are harmful to our health according to the Environmental Working Group.  Choose products with natural active ingredients such as zinc oxide or titanium dioxide (instead of chemicals like para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA), dioxybenzone, oxybenzone, or sulisobenzone).  These minerals act as natural physical sun blocks and are not absorbed into the bloodstream the way as chemical ingredients are. In addition, they offer broad spectrum protection by blocking harmful UVA rays.  Zinc is also the only ingredient FDA approved for use on babies.
• Price- Be aware that cost doesn’t necessarily indicate quality.  It’s all about the active ingredients, so if a less expensive brand contains those same ingredients you will receive the same protection as the pricier brand.
• Formula-  Opt for lotion, solid, or powder formulas that are applied directly to the skin.  Sprays do not provide as much coverage, so if you must use a spray, apply twice.

 

How Do I Apply?

• Application size is one full ounce!  That’s about enough to fill a shot glass or an adult handful. Don’t be stingy…in this case too much is better than not enough. Not using the proper amount most likely means you’re not protected. Be sure to shake the bottle well.
• Apply your sunscreen 30 minutes before going out in the sun. This gives the ingredients time to protect to the skin.  Try applying at home before you head out to the pool or beach. 
• Some studies indicate it’s a good idea to reapply your sunscreen once you’ve been in the sun for 30 minutes. This makes it more likely you’ll get the places you might have missed on the initial application.
•  Reapplying is critical to protect yourself from sunburn so definitely reapply every two hours or after swimming, sweating or toweling off. Yes, a whole shot glass full!  An 8 ounce bottle of sunscreen should last a family of 4 only one afternoon at the beach!
• Be sure to cover all skin exposed to the sun. Don’t forget your ears, behind your knees, and the back of your neck. 
• Be sure to apply and reapply every day, not just sunny days, at the beach, or in summertime.  It is important to understand that the sun affects our skin while we do yard work, drive our cars, or run errands, as much as 80% of the sun’s rays can reach you on a cloudy day, and during the winter the sun is actually closer to the earth than in summer. 
• Women using makeup containing SPF are most likely not using enough to get proper protection. Try layering your foundation with a moisturizer or finishing powder that also contains an SPF. Applying these products once in the morning will not provide you with protection by lunch time and must be reapplied. To reapply sunscreen over an already-done face, try a spray sunscreen designed specifically for the face or using a pressed powder containing an SPF.  Also available are brush-on mineral powder sunscreens that can be applied over makeup or on bare skin. 

No matter what products you use and how diligent you are in using them, some UV rays still reach the skin, so always opt for additional forms of protection such as sunglasses, and hats and visors, as well as taking frequent breaks in the shade when the sun’s rays are strongest( usually between 11am-3pm). 

 For a list of 700 name brand sunscreens and the toxins they contain go to www.ewg.org/sunscreen/