Soap, naturally!

In the Middle Ages, people had no concept of germs. They certainly couldn't be seen, but the effects of these invisible critters surely made an impact on the health of the people of the times. People died on a very regular basis, due to germs, bringing disease and serious illness upon one and all. Although people were aware of the illnesses brought about by spoiled food, they were unaware of the culprit. They did know that preserving foods with salt and a variety of herbs and spices, prevented many illnesses. However, other diseases and illnesses persisted and remained a mystery, until the age of science matured to the discovery of germs.

The germ became the nemesis of every household, with many a mishap laid at the door of the ubiquitous germ. It was found that the hands were the major transporters of the germs. It also was discovered that cleaning the hands frequently reduced the incidence of illness. Who knows who was the first mother to pronounce, "Wash your hands!" in motherly and righteous indignation? This information is lost in time, but we're still hearing it today, and with good reason.

When you wash your hands out of respect for Mama, a dab of soap never hurts. In fact, soap and hot water is a simple recipe for removing germs from your daily list of worries. They go down the drain, and your now clean hands are free of dirt and grunge and are now less likely to pass on germs that cause disease.

The problem is that, although we now all know better, Mom's old plea to wash your hand before eating has become a simple nagging statement. It's been so long since germ-borne illness has had a major impact on health, Mom's good advice has become time-worn and out of date. No one really believes that fixing and eating a ham sandwich before washing your hands is going to amount to anything dangerous.

Are we back to the Middle Ages mentality? Today, we have salmonella cropping up in eggs, vegetables and meats, causing illness and even sometimes, death as a result of not washing your hands before preparing food. The E-coli bacteria has sickened thousands of people and killed some, simply for a lack of heeding Mom's standby phrase, "Wash your hands, Please!"

Yes, folks, the germ theory has been proven beyond a doubt. Just because we now have new mutations of germs does not negate the fact that germs cause disease. That germs have changed and become more prevalent in newer, more vicious forms doesn't mean the germs of the Middle Ages are not still with us today. The threat of germ borne illness is as viable as it was in centuries past.

Granted, modern medicine has devised complex miracle drugs which can defeat the germs. Unfortunately, the invisible germ has adapted to the times, modifying its capabilities via mutation, to defeat the miracle drugs. At this point in time, the germs are winning on some fronts.

Many of our common germ-based illnesses might be held in check on a very short leash, provided we all get a reality check. Wash your hands after sneezing, coughing, visiting the restroom and prior to preparing food.

After all, we've got running hot water, bars of soap and a minute to spend, sending those nasty germs down the drain.

Natural Concepts Hand Soap

The statement that we are a nation of consumers has never been truer than it is today. If you want merchandise there are no limits on the way you can get it. There are catalog shopping, online, shopping, online auctions, mega mall and superstore shopping and there are small shops and specialty shops. With all the retail possibilities that are available there are times when there seems to be too many choices. I have found myself standing in an hour for half an hour reading labels and trying to choose which item to buy.

I had this dilemma a few weeks ago when I was trying to find a skin care product for my poison ivy. The week before I had been standing in the medicated creams aisle looking for something to help relieve the itching. I was going crazy trying not to scratch. When I did scratch it would begin to hurt. I bought several different lotions that were supposed to relieve the itching. I ended up doing some research and found the home remedy of rubbing the affected area with oatmeal. Within ten minutes the itching was gone and it did not return for eight hours. Now that I was through the itching and weeping stage I wanted something to help sooth and heal the area. I was in a superstore and went to the skin care product aisle. There were so many products that I did not know where to begin. I knew that I did not want anything with a heavy scent because the scented creams I had at home had seemed to irritate the area. I had heard that vitamin E is a good vitamin to promote the healing of the skin and that aloe was a natural soothing ingredient. I thought that concentrating on these two ingredients would narrow down the number of skin care products that would be available. That was not the case. It seems that these are two of the main ingredients in well over half of the skin care product available on the shelves. After about thirty minutes of reading labels my husband came looking for me. He could not believe that I had stayed in one aisle since we walked in the store. He started looking at the different skin care product that was available. He found one that combined oatmeal to sooth the itching, vitamin E to prevent scarring and Aloe and a natural healer. This seemed to cover all the bases so I decided to buy that one. It was unreal to me that there were so many different tubes, bottles and jars. It was one time where there were too many choices. The cream that I did pick had healed the poison ivy.

There are so many different types of soaps out there, all of which are targeted for specific skin types. So what is the magic ingredient, the kind that is great for all skin types? Glycerin! Glycerin is great for dry skin, acne, wrinkles, you name it!

Glycerin has been proven to have many benefits for dry skin. It helps to attract water to the skin, which helps to provide dry skin with just the right amount of moisture it needs to hydrate dry skin. Also, glycerin is incredibly gentle, so it won't cause irritation, and will actually help to soothe skin. It is great inside moisturizers, which will help to soften skin and reduce flaking and itching caused by dry skin.

Glycerin is also great for Acne. I get acne from time to time, and I find that no matter how many skin care products I try, I always go back to neutrogena glycerin bar soap. It is totally soothing, and helps to bring down redness and inflammation caused by acne. It is an all natural ingredient that works to heal acne but doesn't strip your skin of its natural moisturizers. Most harsh soaps dehydrate you skin, therefore drying it, and causing your skin to make up for the extra dryness by creating extra oil. This extra oil only works to clog your skin and create even more skin problems. Glycerine is great because it is so gentle, and really does give you healthy skin. It always helps to get rid of my zits.

This wonderful ingredient can also work wonders on wrinkles, and skin that is fighting to stay young. This is because it attracts moisture and keeps it locked in. It provides your skin with constant hydration and keeps your skin smooth with its natural properties, and leaves your skin soft and supple up to several hours after you have washed your face. It promotes elasticity and provides enough moisture to keep your skin youthful.

Overall, Glycerin is a product that everyone can use to achieve healthy, beautiful skin. It truly is the magic ingredient.

What are the secrets of a nice, clear complexion? A proper face washing procedure and a good diet

We're all living our lives at the speed of light, sometimes necessarily, sometimes not. In any case, many of us don't prioritize our daily tasks to our best advantage. One such task is the daily act of face washing. Another is taking the time to eat right. Neglecting these two simple undertakings can mean disaster for your complexion. Let's first take a look at the face wash and then get to the merits of a good, healthy diet.

While you probably wash your face at least once a day, you should always remember to wash morning and evening. Plus, there is a right and wrong way to do this simple 5-minute task. Just wetting your face, lightly soaping up and rinsing won't get your skin truly clean and ward off blemishes. Here's how to do the job right in 5 minutes.

Start with wetting the washcloth with water that's pleasantly warm to hot. Wring the excess water out and hold the washcloth over your face for just 2-3 minutes, replenishing the water as it cools. This opens the pores, where dirt and oils have lodged inside. Cleanse your face thoroughly with a mild soap.

Oatmeal soap is good for those with oily skin, while a lavender, glycerine or hypoallergenic soap is good for sensitive or dry skin. Rub the soap in with your fingers with a gentle circular motion, avoiding the areas immediately around your eyes. This skin is very delicate and by soaping there you can easily stretch this skin, leading to baggy or wrinkled skin in the future.

Rinse the skin well to remove all traces of soap. This is most easily done with a wet washcloth with warm water, holding your face over the sink to catch the drips. Rinse three times. Now soak the washcloth with cool water, squeeze it out and hold over your face for just 30 seconds or so. You've now completed the correct process of a face wash.

All that's left is to protect the pores from invasions of dirt and oil during the course of the day. Use witch hazel, or if you prefer, a commercial cosmetic astringent to close the pores of your skin. For oily skin, you can leave it at that. For dry skin, follow up with a day cream formulated for the face.

Now for the diet factor. If you follow the correct face washing procedure to the letter, but eat poorly, you're still in an uphill battle. A good looking complexion also is dependent on the right nutrients to ensure good cell strength and regeneration. The most important of these vitamins and minerals include vitamins A, C, E and zinc. Where do you find these nutrients in abundance? You've probably guessed. Fruits and veggies. Produce also provides an abundance of fiber and antioxidant properties, which are best known as cancer fighting agents, in that they prevent free radical damage.

Combine a good face wash with a healthy diet and you'll improve your health and complexion incrementally. Just a few months of this regime and you'll have a nice, clear complexion, with a radiant appearance.