Natural Skin Care Blog

Omega 3 and skin care do go together. Here’s why.

Omega 3 fish oil supplements are some of the fastest growing biggest selling supplements on the planet, and  for good reason. Science has confirmed over and over that Omega 3 fatty acids found primarily in fish are extremely good for us, and we all ought to be eating more.

But because fish is expensive and normally contaminated with some heavy metals like Mercury, we shouldn’t eat it all the time. So Omega 3 capsules are usually taken.

But there is also a link between Omega 3 and skin health. And so many people who take fish oil capsules do so for better skin as well as for better health.

One of the major reasons is that Omega 3 fats play a significant role in reducing inflammation in our bodies, and this is also extremely beneficial to the skin.

There’s a range of conditions that can benefit from fish oils supplementation. Studies have shown a lessening of wrinkles after some months of Omega 3 fish oil supplementation, and an improvement in skin firmness.

Not only that there is a strong link between Omega 3 and dry skin improvemeny. Fish oil has polyunsaturated fats, and these help replenish fats lost in the skin causing skin dryness or excessive flaking.

For example dry skin caused by strong winds or sun can benefit from more fish oil to replenish the skin fats lost to exposure. The dry skin benefits of fish oil are quite pronounced.

There are also various specific skin conditions that can benefit from fish oil supplementation, for similar reasons. These include eczema and dermatitis as well as psoriasis. All these benefit from the anti inflammatory qualities of fish oil.

One of the main fats in Omega 3 fish oil supplements in DHA, or Docosahexaenoic Acid. This is the primary polyunsatured fat in Omega 3s that is of benefit to both our bodies and our skin. Others are also beneficial, but DHA is the most important, and it’s essential to choose fish oil capsule that is high in DHA, not all are.

However although fish oil is extremely healthy for us generally, and is also very good for our skin, it is still taken internally. So if you’re interested in the best skin care taking fish oil supplements is only going half way. You need topically applied skin care products as well as fish oil supplements, and if you combine the very best natural skin care products with the best Omega 3 fish oil supplements you’ve got a recipe for great general health as well as greatly improved skin.

So remember, Omega 3 and skin care go together. Both are complementary to each other. Read the rest of this entry

Dangerous? How could a skin lightening cream be dangerous?

If you’ve read our site you’ll know that we warn extensively of the risks of dangerous ingredients in cosmetics and skin care products. Skin lightening creams are no exception, and are, if anything, worse.

The main issue is the skin lightening creams mode of action.  To lighten the pigment of your skin a bleaching cream has to use some pretty powerful ingredients. Some, in particular one called hydroquinone, have been found to be dangerous.

Hydroquinone is linked to cancer, as well as a condition called ochronosis which results in skin disfigurement. It is a toxic chemical used in photo processing and the manufacture of rubber, and in skin bleaching products. It’s use in skin bleaching is banned in Europe.

The other dangerous ingredient used in skin bleaching is mercury in the form of mercury chloride & ammoniated mercury. It too is dangerous (after all, it’s mercury!!)

Both, if purchased outright, come with warnings of toxicity on the label. You don’t want to be putting them on your face. They can also cause skin pigmentation variation and premature aging as well as skin cancer.

The risks of what are called skin bleaching creams, or lightening face creams, are such that the FDA has now issued a warning “that over-the-counter (OTC) skin bleaching drug products are not generally recognized as safe and effective”.

In other words skin whitening creams are dangerous to your health.

So, if you really want to lighten the color of your skin can you safely do so or do you take your health in your hands attempting skin lightening?

Good question. One that I hope we can answer for you in the affirmative today.

You see there are effective skin lightening cremes available that do not use the harmful ingredients that have led to all the negative publicity about skin bleaching. They use natural and known safe ingredients and, as well, they work to lighten the color of your skin.

And as well it has excellent anti aging properties as well.

Lets have a look at the Xtend Life Natural Whitening Day Cream.

Xtend Life is a niche skin care company that concentrates on making top shelf skin care products using only known safe, and effective, natural ingredients. Their natural skin care products are already considered to be some of the best skin care products in the world, period. Now they have a skin lightening cream as well.

In keeping with their philosophy of using only known safe, natural, effective ingredients they have used a safe, natural and effective ingredient as the functional ingredient in their lightening face cream.

It’s Extrapone Nutgrass. What it does is to inhibit the action of melanin. Melanin is a skin pigment responsible for skin color. The color of a persons skin is primarily determined by the amount of melanin in the skin. The more melanin, the blacker the skin.

Extrapone Nutgrass was originally discovered to reduce skin irritation, but it was soon found that those who were using it also experienced a lightening of the skin color. Attention was turned to finding out why, and it was found that Extrapone Nutgrass reduced the amount of melanin in the skin.

Nutgrass is a plant, sometimes known as sedge. It’s botanical name is cyperus rotundus. Studies have shown that when applied topically to the skin it results in skin whitening in a relatively short time, with no dangerous side effects.

But Xtend Life are not content to just produce a skin lightening creme. They have a commitment to product quality and so also include in their Natural Whitening Day Cream the range of ingredients used in their excellent natural skin care products.

So as well as getting the effect of lightening cream on the skin you’re also getting the right ingredients for combating the skin effects of aging generally. Read the rest of this entry