Natural Anti Aging Skin Care

Here are some tips on the basic anti aging skin care products a girl must have in her beauty kit:

1. Moisturizer - Our bodies are mostly made up of water. Our skin expends moisture more frequently and in greater amounts than any organ in our body. That is why we must rehydrate our skin by using moisturizers. Make sure you use a moisturizing lotion or, if your prefer, body oil to seal in some of that water inside.

2. Cleansers - There are many skin cleansers to choose from, but select wisely based on your skin type and the sensitivity of your skin. Oily skin needs astringents and oil-reducing facial scrub to get rid of extra sebum, and a follow up use of facial toners to decrease pore size. Sensitive skin must use mild cleansers with milk to avoid skin irritation and maintain the pH balance of skin.

3. Anti Aging Skin Care Products - Delaying time's effects on one's skin is next to improbable but not impossible. There are many highly advanced products in the market now such as Philosophy skin care products that promise younger looking skin in a matter of weeks of use. Be warned, however, that what these products offer is a small reprieve. Time and nature will have their way and we will still look old no matter what we do. Just be careful in choosing the brands you use. There are many untrustworthy brands out there that can hurt your skin more than help you.

4. Diet, vitamins, herbs and exercise - These last group are more reliable when it comes to maintaining a healthier and younger looking appearance. Taking care of our bodies and making sure we follow our doctor's advice will greatly help in preventing detoxifying our systems from the day-to-day stressors we are exposed to. Our environments, the foods we eat and our lifestyle can have negative effects on our health, which in turn will encourage faster aging.

Photo by Cellach at Flickr.com

I wonder... Will snail extract cream be effective in fighting anti aging signs on skin? According to an Eye Beauty Tips article, it can! Apparently a paste made from the secretions of snails can plump up, smoothen and soften skin.

This amazing discovery was made by workers in a snail farm. Their skin became baby soft after handling the snails everyday. It seems snails can regenerate their shells when their shells were damaged or became diseased. The same substance that helps snails will also help human skin to regenerate and be rejuvenated.

It was mentioned in the Eye Beauty Tips article that a pharmaceutical company is taking advantage of this discovery to create an effective anti aging skin care product to combat wrinkles and acne. Additional ingredients are allantoin, collagen, natural peptides, proteins, vitamins and glycolic acid.

However, after researching the scientific name of the snail variety mentioned (extraviada natural Alantonia) in the said article, I couldn't find information on it. Instead I found several kinds of snails from different parts of the world. I don't know which of these were used for making this rumored upcoming anti wrinkle cream.

The following are just the basic elements of a healthy anti aging diet that will keep your bodies healthy and your skin younger-looking:

1. Water - Our bodies are made up of water anywhere between 55% to 80%. If the level of hydration falls below normal we may become dehydrated. This is why we are advised by physicians to drink at least 8 glasses of water (or equivalent fluids like juice or milk) daily: 3 in the morning at breakfast, 2 during lunch, 2 in the evening and one before going to bed.

Maintaining the normal level of hydration in your body will keep your skin moisturized, cleanse your system from toxins and encourage regeneration of cells.

2. Fruits and Vegetables - My great-grandmother reached the age of 99 years before dying in her sleep. She was a small, wiry woman whose mind remained alert and active, kept all of her teeth and didn't suffer from a bent back.

What made her live so long and kept her mind and body strong was her simple diet of vegetables, water and some exercise. She stopped eating meat in her later years and opted to drink water instead of juices and milk, which made her tummy ache either from the acid or the lactose.

3. Mental and Physical Exercise - There's a principle among health nuts that a healthy body keeps a healthy mind, and vice versa. My great-grandmother proved this to be true. She also liked to walk around the house or enjoy some fresh air outside on the terrace. This activity kept her in touch with her environment and the people who saw her and talked with her also made her happy.

Maintaining a positive outlook and keeping your spirits up will greatly help in making you look younger and your body function better. You will be able to adapt well to changes in your health and your appearance.

4. Antioxidants - These group of nutrients deserve a separate discussion. They may be found in the food we eat, especially in fruits. However, because of the advancements in science, we are able to extract these valuable nutrients and capsulize them.

Antioxidants have been found to fight aging well by cleansing our bodies from the toxins that we are exposed to everyday. They help us cope with stress well and encourage cellular growth more.

Rich sources of antioxidants include lemons, oranges, and grapes, and beverages such as green or white tea and green coffee beans. They are also found in tomatoes and cucumber. Also some use herbal extracts such as witch hazel and rosemary to provide supporting anti aging effects on skin.