The advantage of going organic in skin care is the fact you are minimizing your skin’s intake of harmful chemicals present in most synthetic skin care products.  There have been studies noting the adverse effects of substances especially those derived from petroleum and others that are possibly carcinogens. However, it’s a big question whether or not this is just a hoax originating from organic skin care product manufacturers to lure the public into their solutions.

Whatever the truth is, here are some organic skin care products for those who opt to go organic.

Here’s your clue to what organic means: they are food grown in the absence of synthetic pesticides, insecticides, fertilizers, herbicides, hormones, or other artificial substances for three consecutive years the minimum; no added artificial flavors or colors, and excludes GMOs.

To help you out further, in 2002 the US Department of Agriculture passed a new standard in classifying organic products labeling.  “100% organic” means the product contains “all” organic ingredients, which may bear the organic seal of USDA.

“Organic” constitutes products that have at least 95% organic ingredients, which may still bear the USDA organic seal.  And “Made with Organic Ingredients” pertain to products with at least 70% organic ingredients and no longer qualify for a USDA organic seal.  These labeling should broaden your knowledge on which organic skin care product to select.

Miessence’s line of organic skin care products claim to be “absolutely” free from synthetic detergents, colors or fragrances, artificial preservatives, petroleum by-products, tar derivatives or GMOs (genetically modified organisms).  Their organic skin care products also skipped animal testing, according to the makers.

The active ingredients in Miessence organic skin care products are orange peel oil, calendula, geranium, chamomile, and hops, lemon peel oil, witch hazel and burdock, bergamot, lavender, organic herbs, water-soluble botanicals, organic seed butters and oils for their moisturizers, organic flower extracts, horse tail, gotu kola, organic Echinacea, plantain, and so much more.

Miessence organic skin care products are available in the form of facial cleansers, facial scrubs, moisturizers, toners, organic skin serums, organic skin treatments, skin masks, hydrating and mists.

The ingredients they use in the organic skin care products can also serve as your guide in choosing other products available over-the-counter.  Remember to read the back labels.  Other advantages of using organic skin care products are that they are said to slow down the aging process in contrast to their artificial counterparts.  Moreover, being organic they may be more tolerated by and friendly to the body’s vital processes.

Milos Pesic is an expert in the field of Skin Care and runs a highly popular and comprehensive Acne Treatment web site. For more articles and resources on Skin Care related topics, Acne Treatments, Natural Skin Care Products and much more visit his site at: http://skin-care.need-to-know.net/

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Always read the labels on skin care products. The truth is that some ingredients may do more harm than good. The more ingredients are listed, the more potential harm they can do to your skin. Here is a list of some of the common ingredients found in skin care products that have the potential to irritate your skin:

• Ammonia
• Balsam
• Bergamot
• Citrus juices and oils
• Coriander
• Eugenol
• Fir needle
• Horsetail
• Lemongrass
• Marjoram
• Mint
• Papaya
• Sandalwood oil
• TEA-lauryl sulfate
• Arnica
• Bentonite
• Camphor
• Clove
• Cornstarch
• Fennel
• Geranium
• Lavender
• Lime
• Melissa (lemon balm)
• Oak bark
• Peppermint
• Sodium C14-16 olefin sulfate
• Thyme
• Balm mint
• Benzalkonium chloride
• Cinnamon
• Clover blossom
• Eucalyptus
• Fennel oil
• Grapefruit
• Lemon
• Linalool
• Menthol
• Orange
• Phenol
• Sodium lauryl sulfate
• Wintergreen
• Witch hazel
• Ylang-ylang

By tanning we mean changing the color of skin into a dark brown or bronze color, that’s what we call a tan color. When tanning captured the imagination of fashion freaks across the globe, the sun was only source to attain a tan color.

Sun tan was a preferred practice to get brownish skin. Now a days a good number of artificial or man made means have come on the block to substitute suntan. In America and else where in the west, women’s fascination with tan color never seems ending. Instead tanning rage is flourishing at its best.

The fashion that holds a lineage with ancient Greek civilization got a kick start in modern times by famous fashion face of France Coco Channel. She was the first to get noticed with body tan in early twentieth century. From then onwards the fashion kept gaining the momentum and ended up inspiring three generations.

Soaring urge of Americans to attain the tan color resulted in number of artificial ways to get tanned. It was not possible for everyone to spend enough time under the sun for tanning. These artificial tanning products in turn gave way to a full fledged tanning industry in America.

The industry is still blossoming and satisfying tanning requirement of people. However sun tanning still remains a preferred practice. People take couple of weeks off for beach holidays with the intention of attaining natural tan color. But even while undergoing suntan, suntan lotions and creams must be used.

Introduction of tanning beds brought a new surge in the tanning fashion. Tanning beds offered a less time taking and comparatively safe procedure for tanning. Tanning equipment manufacturers came up with two types of tanning beds: one for commercial purpose and other to be used at home. Home tanning beds are very popular among all tanning enthusiasts. With the help of the bed they can get their desired level of tan.

With the advent of tanning salons in eighties, the fashion ventured into commercialism of a new kind. Quick tanning ways of these salons became very popular and folks in flocks started paying visit to salons. You too can visit a near by salon for giving fashion a try.

Emergence of tanning lotions, sprayers, pills and bronzers have brought a revolution in the world of tanning. The fashion seems to rule over elite and has successfully made an inroad into the lower strata of the society as well. Young girls are particularly crazy about it and women seem obsessed with tan color. Perhaps the fashion has turned out to be a passion.

To get more information on tanning, tanning myths and tanning facts visit http://www.easy-tanning.com/tanningbeds/

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Download the Sunless Tanning Guide: The Safe Way To A Gorgeous Long-Lasting Tan

According to this article, a new Consumer Reports study has found that cheap wrinkle creams outperform the pricey ones. Despite making claims such as “scientifically proven” and “breakthrough treatment,” the benefits of most anti-aging creams are barely visible to the naked eye, a study by the publishers of Consumer Reports magazine has concluded.

The luxury brands, some priced over $300, don’t perform any better than more moderately priced drug store versions, which sell for less than $20, the non-profit consumer research group also said in its first-ever study of anti-aging products.

Olay Regenerist, priced at $19, was the top performer, while RoC Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Night Cream scored the lowest.

After 12 weeks the top-rated products did smooth out some fine lines and wrinkles. But even the best performers reduced the average depth of wrinkles by less than 10 per cent, a magnitude of change that was barely visible to the naked eye.

The differences between the top and bottom scoring creams were “marginal,” the authors noted. However, consumers can improve their chances of getting better results by trying various brands as the same product performed differently on different women, the study showed.

The makers of top performing Olay Regenerist gave the report high marks. The most expensive product tested, La Prairie Cellular, which sells for $335 an ounce in the U.S., ranked second least effective. The Toronto Star was unable to reach the Swiss company for comment last night.

The consumer group also tested a brand that is currently the subject of a class action lawsuit in the U.S. and a Health Canada review over some of its health claims. StriVectin-SD Intensive Concentrate for Existing Stretch Marks, which sells for $135 in the U.S., scored seventh out of nine products listed.

The best prevention for wrinkles is the old standbys: Stay out of the sun, wear sunscreen, avoid tanning salons and don’t smoke, the report concluded.

Alpha hydroxy acids are now in common use by dermatologists, cosmeticians and the many people buying over the counter skin care products. They are available in moisturizers, cleansers, eye creams, peels, foundations and anti-wrinkle preparations.

They are most commonly used for dry skin care, but can tend to be too harsh and therefore damage the skin further. The damage can be repaired with a shielding lotion, but it might also be a good idea to try some of the gentler alpha hydroxy acids Mother Nature has to offer instead of those on the shelves.

Alpha hydroxy acids are plant extracts that, in themselves, are not harmful unless used in very high concentration - which can cause redness and swelling that may last for weeks. Their major benefit is in their ability to accelerate exfoliation. Dead skin cells are stripped away, leaving your skin looking fresh and young.

The acids also improve fullness and elasticity by stimulating the production of collagen and elastin. As dead skin cell build-up is more common with dry skin than other skin types, and as dry skin tends to be thinner and less supple, these properties are especially benefical in dry skin care.

If you would like to try these acids au naturel rather than in expensive treatments or preparations, here’s where you can find them:

* Bilberry extract - Bilberry is a shrub with leaves and fruit that have toning properties. The extract is a good source of natural alpha hydroxy acid and is available in health food stores.

* Citric acid - most concentrated in lemons and limes, is it high in both antioxidants and alpha hydroxy acids. Both lemons and limes are helpful for dry skin care and are easy to prepare. You can squeeze them for juice and apply them, or simply cut the fruit in half and run it in.

* Sugar cane and sugar maple extracts - extracted from the juicy pulp of sugar cane and the Sugar Maple Tree, these are both good natural sources of alpha hydroxy acids. Although these may be hard to find in stores, a quick search online will produce many sources.

Although bilberry, lemons, limes and sugar plant extracts may be easier on the skin than the usual products, the exfoliation process can still leave it a little raw and vulnerable. So make sure you follow your alpha hydroxy treatment - natural or otherwise - with a good shielding lotion specially formulated dry skin care.

Author, Gloria MacTaggart, is a freelance writer who contributes articles on skin care for Gloves In A Bottle, Inc. For more information, visit www.glovesinabottle.com.

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