Sunday, August 1, 2010

Better understand the largest organ of your body and ensure a fresh and clear complexion all summer long

Boy or girl; young or old; vain or not - we all wake up in the morning and stare in the bathroom mirror at our skin.

There are good days, but there are the bad days too - when the hot weather, rich food or overdoing it on sugary drinks or alcohol leaves our skin a mess.

Having launched a new and affordable ‘Shine Control’ range, experts from Clean & Clear share vital beauty facts on how to keep our complexions healthy and shine-free all summer long.

* The skin is the largest organ on the body - it reflects the state of our general physical and emotional health.

* Skin oil is produced by the sebaceous glands, which are more active in the nose area than anywhere else on the face. If you have combination skin, it means the skin on your face is generally dry or normal but excessively oily around the nose, often extending to the chin and forehead.

* Sebaceous glands become less active as we age.

* Oil is important for moisturising the skin and oily skin also delays wrinkles, age spots and fine lines. But the problem, is that oil clogs the pores of the skin and this results in blackheads and pimples as well as enlarged pores and redness.

* People with oily skin are more prone to acne than any other type of skin. During teenage years, the sebaceous glands produce more oil and the extra sebum that is produced is the main cause of inflammation and acne.

* People with oily skin should take measures to keep their pores from getting clogged and forming acne.

* While there is no way to completely stop or prevent sebum production, people with oily or shiny skin can keep it under control with these tips:

 Before going to bed, make sure to remove all make-up and follow a cleansing and moisturising routine with products that are suited to your skin-type.
 Wash your face twice a day so that your pores do not get clogged.
 Avoid excessively oily foods and drink plenty of water throughout the day.

* Green tea is full of antioxidants and helps to reduce inflammation of the skin and also protects its membranes.

* Blueberries also have a high amount of antioxidants - these fight free radicals and make skin look much younger.

* Two other foods also essential for healthy skin - carrots, which are packed with vitamin A, and salmon, which is high in fatty acids (Omega 3).