Health and Fitness

Clay has been used by Man since the beginning of time. The Greeks used it, the Romans used clay poultices to heal wounds and Cleopatra used it for beauty masks. Forgotten with the upbringing of modern medicine it is being slowly rediscovered. Despite all the controversies concerning the properties of the clay, it has been used far longer by man than modern drugs, it never required any experimentation on animals, and it is 100% natural.

According to Hippocrates, Theophrastes, Dioscorides and Galen, the Greeks made use of clays. According to Plines, the Romans used it. Avicennes favors it in his famous writings. Up to the beginning of the 20th century, the French and the Russian army used it to disinfect contaminated waters and to prevent dysentery.

Intestinal or digestive problems can be helped by taking clay internally or externally to help heal wounds. Animals know this instinctively and search for clay to heal these issues.

All clays are different as they result from a complex evolution and are very dependent of their environment. Here is a list of the most widely used French clays (easily distinguished by their colors), their properties, and what they are used for:

Green Clay: being prized by its users to exhibit great healing properties, to absorb toxins and clean the body, it is rich in minerals and gets its color from ferrous oxide (Fe++).

Illite – The most popular clay in France. Arising from the micas minerals of igneous rocks, it has a three layer structure accounting for its high absorption and adsorption properties making this variety the most efficient in natural health care both externally and internally. It has a high diversified mineral content. Montmorillonite – The second variety of green clay. Arising from the chlorite minerals of metamorphic rocks, just like the Illite, it has a three layer structure accounting for its similar properties regarding absorption and adsorption. The diversified mineral content is high. The color is of a lesser green than the Illite, due to a lesser concentration in ferrous oxide. This clay may be used internally as well as externally as well.

Red Clay: Can be found next to yellow clay and gets its color from red hematite containing ferric oxide and copper. It is a two layer structure and has one of the highest contents of Silica. There is an absence of aluminum, zing, manganese, chlorine and sodium. Due to its rich content in iron this type of clay is to be used by people deficient in iron. It is also widely used in skin care and cosmetics.

Yellow Clay: Found nearby red clay, yellow clay gets its color from a yellow-orange iron oxide and can be found on hilltops where it has been drained by rain (hence Aluminum, zinc, manganese, sodium and chlorine have been washed out). With a pH 5, a very high concentration in iron but practically no aluminum, this type of clay is recommended for bone problems and tiredness (it should be used in conjunction with green clay).

Pink Clay: It does not exist in a natural state. Pink clay is obtained by mixing red and white clay. The combined properties of both clays makes the pink clay ideal for beauty preparations. Pink clay is soft, it is recommended for sensitive skins, dehydrated skins, baby skins and facial creams. This clay is used for external purposes only.

White Clay: White clay results from the erosion of granular rocks. It is situated on sites subjected to heavy drainage by rain. White clay is a 2 layered structure with a pH of 5 and is recommended for beauty care. It is very effective with sensitive skins and is suitable for both children and adults. It is known for its healing properties with its high concentration in Aluminum and is devoid of phosphorous and chlorine.

Dr. Paul Petit is an expert on Clay Therapy in addition to a variety of natural health and beauty matters. His popular line of organic personal care products: Oblige By Nature and natural medicinal remedies under the brand name of Phybiosis, can be found in stores nationwide.

written by Dr. Paul Francois Petit \\ tags: Beauty, chemical free skin care, French Clay, Health, Illite clay, Kaolin clay, Montmorillonite clay, natural, Natural Beauty, Natural Health, natural skin care, Organic Skin Care, products, skin care

Want to know the easiest way to have natural beautiful skin? The key is to be gentle to your skin. Being gentle is not difficult if you know what to do and what to avoid.

Natural healthy skin care changes from one season to the next. Winter weather can be harder on the skin than summer weather, but better in other ways. Learning to care for your skin properly in winter and summer makes it easy the rest of the year. That’s because you’re faced with less extreme weather the rest of the year.

In summer one of the main issues is the sun. Applying lots of sunscreen to protect your skin from the sun’s damaging rays is the best way to take care of your skin. Be sure to do this any time you will be out in the sun for more than a few minutes.

Excessive exposure to the sun will damage your skin. The most visible damage is sunburn. The more fair your complexion, the more quickly and severely you will burn.

Sunburn causes great damage to the skin. Your skin gets red, may blister and then peel several days later. When this happens you are actually losing a layer of your skin and that is not a good thing. The worst result can be skin cancer. But if you escape this, you aren’t off the hook. It’s a fact that long term exposure to the sun results in your skin aging prematurely.

It’s great to look tanned, but you don’t have to bake in the sun to get the look. Today’s tanning agents look natural, so why not choose one of these products instead?

In winter you are faced with a completely different set of problems. Wind, cold, and excessive dryness caused by furnace heated air team up to draw the moisture out of the skin.

You may find that your skin becomes red and irritated in winter. As important as sunscreen is in summer, a great moisturizer is essential in winter. And yes, even oily skins need to be moisturized. But with so many healthy skin care products available, just how do you choose the right one?

Here are a few of the best tips so you can make the right choices. Always keep in mind that you are aiming to treat your skin gently.

1. Avoid products that contain any kind of fragrance if you have sensitive or dry skin, as these scents may be irritating for some skin types.

2. Stay away from dollar store lotions and creams. They use cheap ingredients and with skin care products, you get what you pay for. This is not the place to cheap out.

3. Instead, buy name brand products. These companies work hard to establish a reputation so you can depend on getting good quality products.

4. Use a moisturizer on your face that has been specifically developed for facial skin, rather than an all purpose lotion.

5. Use lotions containing mineral oil, petrolatum, glycerin and dimethicone. When combined, these ingredients keep your skin hydrated and strengthen the skin’s natural moisture barrier.

6. Use natural healthy skin products. These are made using ingredients found in natural sources, so are much gentler on the skin.

7. Try to get in the routine of cleaning out your make-up bag at the beginning of each season. The best before date for some products is shorter than you might think. Don’t let your efforts to treat your skin gently be for nothing because you are using old cosmetics.

Natural beautiful skin can be yours. Treating your skin with tender loving care will go a long way toward making it happen.

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written by Christy Page \\ tags: Beauty, Cosmetics, Health And Fitness, natural beautiful skin, natural skin care, Organic Skin Care, personal care, product reviews, products for women, skin care, skin care naturally, Skin Care Products, skincare, women

With lots of roles for woman to juggle in the modern overly busy, high pressured lifestyle, there is certainly very little time for her to enjoy herself.

With tension, worries, anxiety and age, skin become less active leaving it drier, fragile, prone to wrinkle, lines near the eyes and mouth and losing the youthful colour and glow.

Failure of oil glands failing to release enough oils to moisturize and protect the skin results in dry skin. Environmental causes like dry air, harsh wind, hormonal imbalance, usage of aggressive chemicals, cosmetics or excessive bathing with harsh soaps saps the moisture from the skin making it dryer, flakier and chapped during winter.

Caring for Dry Skin

- Cleanse and Moisturize: The dry skin should be cleansed with a cold cream and alcohol-free skin fresheners to remove the cream. After cleansing, skin needs a lubricating emollient or a moisturizer when the face is damp after the wash.

- Splash your face with cold water or gently wipe the skin with rose water to tone the skin nicely.

- Avoid using highly alkaline soaps and detergents like washing sodas and powders.

- Avoid the sun, harsh winds and hot baths. Use oil-based creams and make-up products only. Use soft towels or wash cloth to avoid irritation to skin while wiping it.

- Smoking deprives the skin of oxygen and nutrients it needs for good health making your skin dry and leathery.

- Chapped or cracked skin – increase consumption of water. Keep chapped areas well lubricated and protected from the elements using a good nourishing cream or moisturizer.

- Use creamy, mild, pH-balanced products such moisture based cream gels, lotions, etc for dry skin care.

A well balanced diet of vegetables, fruits, grains, seeds and nuts provides the body with all the necessary vitamins and minerals needed for healthy skin. Drinking water and reducing solar exposure to a minimum is also beneficial. Garlic, onions, eggs and asparagus help to keep the skin smooth and youthful. Carrots, apricots, rich in vitamins A, C keep skin supple. Increase intake of foods like leafy raw green veggies, dairy products like yogurt, milk. Lessen fried foods, soft drinks, sugar, chocolates, junk foods, alcohol, caffeine and other foods that have diuretic effecting causing the body and skin to loose fluids, vitamins and essential minerals.

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written by Dina Mills \\ tags: Beauty, Dry Skin, natural skin care, skin care at home

For the ultimate natural all round healing potion, try Honey. Thanks to Cleopatra’s milk and honey baths, Honey has become a favorite with one and all to be used in beauty regime. Beside Cleopatra, there were other beauties from the past, who swear by honey being an indispensable ingredient in beauty treatments.

Pollution, dirt, and other chemical agents in the air make the skin lose its ability to retain water, making it look dry, wrinkled and aging the person bit earlier. The natural hydrating and antioxidant properties of honey trap and seal the moisture, rejuvenate the skin, cleanse the complexion leaving it soft and supple.

Honey in its purest form is suitable for all skin types’ even sensitive skin. Beauticians suggest using honey abundantly for radiant complexion. Skincare products like baths, shower gels, face creams, skin lotions, moisturizers, body scrubs and even newborns products contain pure honey.

Treat your self to some simple natural skin care remedies with honey at your home -

- cup of honey to your bath keeps your skin soft and supple.

- Dry skin = 1 tsp honey, vegetable oil each and tsp of lemon juice. Pat it on dry areas of your sensitive skin, leave for 10 mins and rinse with water.

- Make a moisturizing mask with 1 tsp of honey, 1 egg yolk, tsp almond oil and 1 tsp yogurt. Apply on your face, neck and other parts of your body. Leave for 15 minutes and rinse off with water. You skin will feel moisturized and polished with tightened pores.

- For the silky-smooth skin, mix cup of honey and 3 tsp of rosewater. Apply to face, neck avoiding sensitive areas around the eye. Massage well and rinse with lukewarm water and enjoy the sensation of an all different skin.

- Open the pores on your face by place a cloth dipped in warm water. Smear honey on your face for 20-30 minutes. Rinse first with warm water and then cold water to close the pores.

- Indulge your skin with the paste of 1 tsp of honey, 1 egg white, 1 tsp glycerin and flour. Smooth it over your face, throat, leaving it on for 10 minutes and then washing it off with warm water. Your sensitive skin will feel refreshed and rejuvenated.

- 4 tbsp of whole milk powder and 2 tbsp of honey make an excellent baby bath.

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written by Dina Mills \\ tags: Beauty, home made skin care, natural skin care, skin care at home

Bananas are certainly one of most high calorie fruits one can find available in the market. It has some of the best uses you can think of when it comes to skin care. As bananas are so common in many of the countries it is not that hard to use it as a beauty product. It may be an essential part of our life with respect to the benefits it provides us.

Banana is a good source of fiber, potassium and Vitamin C; these are very good for our skin. It has helped in curing some of the most fatal diseases like heart disease, problems with kidney stones and a type of cancer. It also helps in strengthening your muscles and maintains the blood pressure level. Having a banana a day would help you immensely as it contains eight amino acids which our body cannot produce on its own.

You can also find good amount of magnesium, potassium, iron, zinc, iodine as well as Vitamins like A, B (folic acid), E and F. These are very good for your body and can do great wonders. It is a treasure chest with other nutrients like vitamin B6, fiber, minerals which are great source of energy. This fruit helps women who have PMS problems as it contain a good amount of serotonin. It can be said as one of the nutritious product for new born babies as it is easily digested.

Some useful Recipes for your Skin

Mash 1 small banana; add 2 tbsp of fresh cream, 1 tbsp of honey and 1 tbsp oat flour. Mix it well till you get the consistency similar to that of yogurt.

Apply this decoction on your face and keep it for 30 minutes or so. Rinse it with water and dab rose hydrosol and letting your face dry. This Wrinkle Free Mask will nourish your face, avoid early aging and prevent untimely formation of wrinkles.

Skin Glowing Facial Mask would help in creating a radiant look for you. For this you would be needing 1/2 ripe banana, 2 tbsp. ground oats, Pinch of Nutmeg, 2 tbsp. Whole wheat flour, if need be fresh milk or cream.

Preparation: Add all the ingredients and whip them well. To get the right consistency of a soft and smooth paste, keep adding the cream..

Apply this mixture on your face for 5-10 minutes and rinse it thoroughly. Pat it dry. All the ingredients used in this facial mask have separate value and these nutrients help you with a glowing face.

Please Note: The reader of this article should exercise all precautions while following instructions on the recipes from this article. Avoid using any of these products if you are allergic to it. The responsibility lies with the reader and not with the site or the writer.

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written by Dina Mills \\ tags: bananas for skin care, Beauty, natural skin care