Natural Skin Care Using Tomatoes
High in Antioxidants and Lycopene, Tomatoes are a Versatile Fruit

© Robert Morris McCall
Apr 26, 2007

Health and nutritional benefits of the tender tomato. How to incorporate more of this red fruit into your daily skin care routine.
Tomatoes are an amazing fruit.

For a chef, they're an integral ingredient in many dishes, offering versatility, colour, flavour and nutrition, with high levels of both vitamins C and A.

Tomato sauce is a stock standard ingredient in many homes. Kids can't get enough of the stuff.

A study by the Harvard School of Public Health reported on the website Lycopene.org uncovered that tomatoes may reduce the likelihood of a range of different cancers, diabetes, and even heart disease. All of this due to the presence of the caretanoid, lycopene. Another study by the Centre for Food at Virginia Tech reveals that there may be a link between lycopene and the reduced risk of prostate cancer. Additional fruits and vegetables that are a good source of lycopene include papaya, watermelon, grapefruit, guava and rosehip.

Lycopene is high in antioxidants and fat soluble, with a small molecule structure that is easily absorbed by the skin. There is a drawback however. Lycopene is not dietary soluble (the molecule structure is tightly bound) unless cooked, so tomato pastes and sauces are a much better dietary source of lycopene.

Skin care products containing lycopene maybe difficult to find, and expensive. Like most skin care products, the cost over the course of a year can be incredibly high and the results mixed.

However, there is a do-it-yourself solution.


Most of the nutrients in any fruit or vegetable are found in the skin, and that's where you'll find a higher concentration of lycopene in a tomato. So the rest is easy.

You'll require 10 to 12 tomatoes.

Select organic tomatoes if possible as they are found to have a higher concentration of lycopene.

Put a pot of water on the stove and bring it to the boil. Dip the tomatoes into the water for a minute or so. Peel the tomatoes and separate the skins and flesh.

Wash your face of all dirt and grime. Tilt your head back, and have a friend or partner apply the tomato skins, flesh side down. Wait 30 to 40 minutes, remove the skins, wash your face and bingo. The results are immediately noticeable. You may also find your skin is slightly tanned looking, which is a result of the caretanoid pigment in the tomatoes, being absorbed into your skin. Remember, however, that tomato juice can sting your eyes, so keep your eyes covered with a cloth or closed for the duration.

With the pulp: pop it into a wizzer, add some ice cubes, and 2 tbsp of caster sugar. Puree and drink. Delicious! Alternatively, use the skinless tomatoes to make a relish, a puree, or de-seed and finely chop, as in a concasse

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Beauty to die for: health hazards of cosmetics and skin care products revealed

by: Leigh Erin Connealy, M.D.
Friday, January 20, 2006


Your medicine cabinet is one of the most dangerous areas of your house, and not for the reasons you may think. Lurking just behind your bathroom mirror, where all of your favorite beauty products are housed, is a virtual toxic nightmare. The growing list of synthetic ingredients manufacturers add to their products is turning the most innocent-looking shampoos and moisturizers into cocktails of toxins that could cause cancer or reproductive damage over years of sustained use. Modern cosmetics contain a host of dangerous ingredients, which would be more at home in a test tube than in our bodies.
Like most people, you probably assume that the ingredients found in beauty products have been thoroughly tested for safety well before they land on your grocery store's shelves. After all, the government has regulations in place for the water we drink, the food we eat and the air we breathe. One would assume that the FDA would also be overseeing the cosmetic industry to ensure the health and safety of consumers. Unfortunately, the FDA has little power when it comes to regulating the ingredients found in your beauty products. In fact, the only people ensuring the safety of personal care products are the very people who govern the industry: The Cosmetic Toiletry and Fragrance Association (CTFA). Scientists paid by the CTFA make up the Cosmetic Ingredient Review panel (CIR) and are charged with regulating the safety of the industry's products.

In 2004, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) released the findings of a study it conducted regarding the safety of beauty care products. Comparing approximately 10,000 ingredients found in 7,500 different products against lists of known and suspected chemical health hazards, the research revealed that the CIR was falling tragically short of ensuring consumer safety.


Of the 7,500 products tested by the EWG, a mere 28 had been evaluated for safety by the CIR. The EWG found that one in every 120 products analyzed contained ingredients certified by the government as known or probable carcinogens and that nearly one-third of the products contained ingredients classified as possible carcinogens. Astoundingly, 54 products even violated recommendations for safe use that the CIR had put in place, yet these products are still available for sale today.

Of the products tested, the worst offenders were those containing the cancer-causing ingredients coal tar, alpha hydroxy acids and beta hydroxy acids, and those containing the hormone-disrupting ingredient, phthalate.


Coal Tar
Seventy-one hair dye products evaluated were found to contain ingredients derived from coal tar (listed as FD&C or D&C on ingredients labels). Several studies have linked long-time hair dye use to bladder cancer, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and multiple myeloma.
A research study conducted in 2001 by the USC School of Medicine found that women using permanent hair dye at least once a month more than doubled their risk of bladder cancer. The study estimates that "19 percent of bladder cancer in women in Los Angeles, California, may be attributed to permanent hair dye use."

A link between hair dye and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma was established in 1992 when a study conducted by the National Cancer Institute found that 20 percent of all cases of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma may be linked to hair dye use.

While the FDA has not stepped in to prevent the use of coal tar in beauty products, it does advise consumers that reducing hair dye use will possibly reduce the risk of cancer.


Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA) & Beta Hydroxy Acids (BHA)
Alpha Hydroxy Acids and Beta Hydroxy Acids are commonly used in products advertised to remove wrinkles, blemishes, blotches and acne scars. With consumer complaints of burning, swelling and pain associated with AHA and BHA flooding into the FDA, the regulatory body began conducting its own research about 15 years ago. The findings linked the use of AHA and BHA with a doubling of UV-induced skin damage and a potential increased risk of skin cancer.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, skin cancer has reached "epidemic proportions," with 1 million new cases occurring each year and one person dying every hour from the disease. The agency estimates that, at the current rate, one in five people will develop skin cancer over their lifetime.

The FDA's study findings were presented to the CIR, but the panel approved the continued use of AHA and BHA "in spite of serious safety questions submitted by a consumer group and a major manufacturer," according to an FDA spokesperson.

Even though one out of every 17 products analyzed by the EWG study contained either AHA or BHA (with nearly 10 percent being moisturizers and 6 percent sunscreens), the most that the FDA could do was suggest that products containing the ingredients carry a warning to use sunscreen and to limit sun exposure while using the product. A puzzling solution, since some of the products containing the dangerous ingredient are designed specifically for use in the sun.


Phthalates
Phthalates are industrial plasticizers widely used in personal care products to moisturize and soften skin, impart flexibility to nail polish after it dries and enhance the fragrances used in most products. Studies indicate that phthalates cause a wide range of birth defects and lifelong reproductive impairments, targeting every organ in the male reproductive system and causing problems ranging from low sperm count to serious genital deformities that can lead to an increased risk of cancer.
While the EWG only found four products with phthalate listed as an ingredient (all nail care products), there is no telling how many products actually contain it. The industry is not required to list fragrance ingredients or "trade secret" ingredients on products, and phthalates often fall into one of those two categories.

In September 2004, the European Union implemented a ban on all beauty products containing phthalates. California Assemblywoman Judy Chu has proposed a similar bill (AB 908) to be voted on later this year that would implement the same ban in the United States. Opponents of the bill, mainly the CTFA, argue that changing labeling processes would present a huge economic burden and could infringe on trade secrets. A similar bill failed just last year.


Four Steps of Action
1. Go to www.ewg.org and check out the health risks of your favorite products. EWG has compiled a guide of 7,500 beauty care products and has ranked them according to their ingredients' potential to cause cancer, trigger allergic reactions, interfere with the endocrine (hormonal) system, impair reproduction or damage a developing fetus.
2. Visit the FDA's website at www.fda.gov and familiarize yourself with the steps that you can take in order to file complaints or concerns about consumer products.

3. Visit www.safecosmetics.org to learn more about how you can become involved with bill AB 908 to ban phthalates in beauty products in the United States.

4. Check out my recommendations for all-natural and safe products for both you and your family at www.scmedicalcenter.com. All products mentioned have been used safely and with wonderful results by my patients for years.

Dr. Connealy, M.D., M.P.H., began private practice in 1986. In 1992, she founded South Coast Medical Center for New Medicine where she serves as medical director. Her practice is firmly based in the belief that strictly treating health problems with medications does not find the root cause of the illness. Dr. Connealy writes monthly columns for Coast and OC Health magazines, and is a bi-weekly guest on Frank Jordan's "Healthy" radio show. She routinely lectures and educates the public on health issues.

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The top five foods for healthy skin

by: Jessica Fraser
Wednesday, September 13, 2006

The U.S. cosmetics industry raked in more than $32 billion in 2004, with sales of skin care products bringing in the largest share -- more than $8 billion. Americans are shelling out big bucks for expensive cosmetics to treat skin problems such as acne, wrinkles and dryness, but most consumers are overlooking the cheapest, safest and most effective remedies: healing foods.
A host of healthy, natural foods offer potent healing and preventative powers to remedy a wide range of skin troubles. These foods can dramatically improve skin for a fraction of the price of costly cosmetics or dermatologist visits:


Green Tea -- Green tea is rich in antioxidants that reduce inflammation and protect cell membranes. It has been proven to reduce the damage of sunburns and overexposure to ultraviolet light, which in turn reduces the risk of skin cancer. Green tea is also high in polyphenols -- compounds that eliminate cancer-causing free radicals.
Recent research by scientists at the Medical College of Georgia shows that the polyphenol most abundant in green tea -- EGCG -- also acts as a "fountain of youth" of sorts for skin by reactivating dying skin cells. In addition to its skin-healthy properties, green tea is also high in vitamins C, D and K, as well as riboflavin, zinc, calcium, magnesium and iron.


Salmon -- Salmon -- along with other fatty fish, walnuts and flaxseed -- is high in healthy fatty acids that are key for achieving healthy skin. Essential fatty acids such as omega-3s help keep cell membranes healthy by keeping out harmful substances as well as allowing nutrients to enter cells and exit with waste products. Omega-3s also reduce the body's production of inflammatory agents that can damage the skin.
Increasing consumption of omega-3 fatty acid-rich foods such as salmon will help keep the skin supple and youthful. A 1:1 ratio of omega-6 fatty acids to omega-3s is ideal, but the ratio in the typical American diet is more like 20:1, so boosting consumption of salmon and other oily fish can help bring that ratio closer to 1:1. Salmon is also rich in protein, potassium, selenium and vitamin B12.


Blueberries -- Blueberries are considered by many experts to be the highest food source of antioxidants, which target free radicals that can wreak havoc on skin cells. The antioxidants and phytochemicals (plant sources of nutrition) in blueberries neutralize DNA-damaging free radicals, reducing cell damage. When skin cells are protected from damage and disintegration, the skin looks younger for longer. Blueberries are also an excellent source of soluble and insoluble fiber, vitamin C, manganese, vitamin E and riboflavin.

Carrots -- Carrots are an excellent source of vitamin A, which is a required nutrient for healthy skin. They also contain high levels of antioxidants, which prevent free radical damage of skin cells. Vitamin A is required for developing and maintaining skin cells, and a deficiency of the vitamin can cause dry skin. Carrots are also a superior source of fiber, biotin, vitamins K, C and B6, potassium and thiamine.

Water -- Drinking plenty of water -- at least your individual minimum intake -- will help keep your skin young and healthy-looking. Water in caffeinated or sugary beverages does not count; water intake must be from pure, clean water, which rejuvenates skin cells. Water both hydrates cells and helps them move toxins out and nutrients in. Nutrition expert Liz Lipski, PhD, CCN, says when the body is properly hydrated, it sweats more efficiently, which helps keep the skin clean and clear.
In addition to consuming therapeutic quantities of green tea, salmon, blueberries, carrots and water, consumers should avoid certain foods that trigger bad skin reactions. Such ingredients include sugar, white flour, saturated fats and fried foods, which are especially bad for the skin, since they can trap oil and bacteria beneath the skin, causing acne and other skin ailments.

The skin is considered the outside indicator of inside health, and putting expensive creams, lotions and treatments on the outside of the skin can't alleviate problems that stem from inner nutritional deficiencies. Consuming the right foods and avoiding the wrong ones can reveal beautiful, youthful-looking skin without the high price tag of expensive cosmetics.

Note from Mike Adams: An important "overlay" factor on all this concerns raw foods versus cooked foods. Raw food juicing is the surest way to healthy skin, and I recommend juicing fruits, vegetables and nuts (soak them first) in a Vitamix to create superfood smoothies. People who drink raw juices on a daily basis have skin that absolutely glows. On the other hand, those who eat mostly processed, refined or cooked foods have skin that ages rapidly. So be sure to include raw food smoothies in your diet on a daily basis if you want great looking skin!

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Sunscreen SPF
Sunscreen helps protect against damaging UVA Rays and UVB Rays

© Chrissy Dolezal
Mar 7, 2007

Weather is warming up and it's time to take extra precautions for being outside in the warm sun. Wearing sunscreen will help give you the protection you need outside.
There are many products that contain sunscreen in some form from moisturizer to foundations. Here are some key ways to get the most out of your sunscreen and have the protection needed from the sun.

· First, make sure your sunscreen protects against UVA and UVB rays. Some just protect against UVA but you need the benefits from both types of sunrays

· Second, get in the habit of using sunscreen everyday on the face, neck and hands. These three body parts and exposed to the sun every day. They are also the three body parts that age the fastest. Keep a travel-size sunscreen in your purse for easy access.

· Third, pick a sunscreen product that gives you the most benefit of sun exposure that you need. Some of us are outside more than the next gal so make sure you are using a sunscreen SPF that has the highest protection that you need.
There is a simple equation to help know what you need in a SPF. First determine the amount of time it takes for you to start turning pink when you are outside. For the very fair skinned person, it is about 15 minutes. Multiply that amount by the SPF number in your sunscreen, most people use an SPF of 15. The answer is how minutes you can be outside without getting a sunburn using SPF 15. After this amount of time is over, you are too! You need to go inside for the rest of the day to prevent any sun damage. In this example, 15 x 15 = 225 minutes of max sun exposure.

· Fourth, use a sunscreen that is waterproof. Even in your day to day life of just heading to the office, a waterproof sunscreen will give you the ultimate usage of the sunscreen.

· Fifth, and the most important, reapply your sunscreen throughout the day. Read the back of the bottle and determine how often it needs to be reapplied. Especially if you are going to the pool or the beach. All sunscreen needs to be reapplied after you are wet.

The best time to apply sunscreen is before you apply your makeup, after you moisturize. If you use a moisturizer that contains an SPF, then you are covered. However, it is better to not use a foundation that has SPF. Foundation wears off or goes on uneven, leaving you with no sun protection!

Sunscreen is vital to give you the max protection from the damaging UVA and UVB sunrays. Remember that there are safe ways to get a tan now days without going to the tanning beds or the beach. There are many products on the market to give you a great tan, in a safe way.

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Wrinkles - How To Eliminate Them And Look 10 Years Younger!

By: Ken Black


What Causes Wrinkles?

As a person gets older, their skin undergoes significant changes:

-The cells divide more slowly, and the inner layer of skin (the dermis) starts to thin.

-Fat cells beneath the dermis begin to atrophy (diminish).

-The underlying network of elastin and collagen fibers, which provides scaffolding for the surface layers, loosens and unravels.

-Skin loses its elasticity. When pressed, it no longer springs back to its initial position but instead sags and forms furrows.

-The sweat and oil-secreting glands atrophy, depriving the skin of their protective water-lipid emulsions. The skin's ability to retain moisture then diminishes and it becomes dry and scaly.

-Constant facial expressions also form characteristic lines.

-Gravity exacerbates the situation, contributing to the formation of jowls and drooping eyelids. (Eyebrows, surprisingly, move up as a person ages, possibly because of forehead wrinkles.)

-In addition, the ability of the skin to repair itself diminishes with age, so wounds are slower to heal.


Also, many other factors can cause your skin to wrinkle and wear out, including :

*Sunlight damages collagen fibers (the major structural protein in the skin) and causes accumulation of abnormal elastin (the protein that causes tissue to stretch). Enzymes called metalloproteinases are produced and can repair the damage for the most part. Repetition of this rebuilding process over and over again causes wrinkles.

*UV radiation from the sun also promotes oxidation, the release of damaging and unstable oxygen-free radicals. Oxidation contributes to wrinkling, possibly by activating the metalloproteinases that degrade connective tissue.

*Cigarette smoke (Smoking) :

1. causes thickening and fragmentation of elastin, which are the elastic fibers that are long and smooth in healthy skin.

2. diminishes the level of estrogen in women to cause dryness and disintegration of skin tissues.

3. reduces the amount of oxygen supplied to the skin by reducing circulation. -leads to a decrease in the formation of collagen, the skin's main structural component, and may reduce the water content of the skin.

4. compromises the skin's ability to fend off free radicals, the highly reactive substances that are present in tobacco smoke that cause cell damage.


*Air pollution - Ozone, a common air pollutant, may be a particular problem for the skin. One study reported that it might deplete the amount of vitamin E in the skin (an important anti oxidant).

*Rapid weight loss can also cause wrinkles by reducing the volume of fat cells that cushion the face. This not only makes a person look gaunt, but can cause the skin to sag.

*Heredity - you may have inherited some of your skin characteristics from your parents.


The skin only needs to be poorly moisturised for it to dry out and become lined. In other words, the appearance of wrinkles and loss of firmness.

Wrinkles and fine lines are the most easily visible signs resulting from the obstacle course the skin has to face. Helped along by the sagging of the tissues, these wrinkles and lines result in the formation of a type of canvas covered with cracks of varying depths.

As time goes by, they deepen, reaching the dermis, which is the skin's supporting mattress. When the dermis loses its elasticity, it becomes slack and deeper wrinkles begin to form. These wrinkles are more than 0.05 millimetres in depth, therefore they are the longest and widest.

Things you can do to minimize wrinkles

Although everyone tends to get wrinkles as they age, there are a number of things you can do to reduce the wrinkles you already have and hopefully minimize wrinkles in the future. The most important of these include:

1. Avoid the sun and/or use sunscreen
2. Don't smoke
3. Use a topical anti-wrinkle cream
4. Moisturize daily
5. Drink plenty of water
6. Exercise
7. Eat plenty of fruits & vegetables.


By following the above 7 items regularly, a person will be taking important steps to maintaining a youthful appearance and reducing the onset of wrinkles.

About The Author


Ken Black
Anti Wrinkle Product Reviews


Article source: ArticleFever.com

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