Skin-friendly foods

You are what you eat! This age-old adage is especially important for your skin. Everything you put in your mouth can help or harm your skin. Fill your pantry with skin-saving superfoods and look better than ever!

1. Antioxidant-rich foods

Foods rich in antioxidants will make your skin glow. That means lots of colorful fruits and veggies:

Yellow and orange fruits and vegetables: Enjoy apricots, carrots, peaches and more.
Green leafy vegetables: Spinach, anyone?
Ripe juicy tomatoes: Add them to sauces, salads and sandwiches.
Berries: Blackberries, blueberries, strawberries and plums are have the highest "total antioxidant capacity" of any food, according to the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.
Other high antioxidant capacity foods include beans, pecans, prunes and artichokes.

2. Foods with essential fatty acids

Essential fatty acids, such as omega-3, promote healthy cell membranes, which affect what can and cannot penetrate your body's cells. Moreover, a healthy cell membrane helps contain moisture, which results in plump, young-looking skin.

Load up on omega-3-rich foods such as salmon, mackerel, walnuts and flaxseed oil.

3. Quality oils

You moisturize your skin on the outside, and ingesting healthy oils lubricates your skin from the inside. Look for the least-processed oils you can find, such as extra-virgin olive oil, which still contain important nutrients.

Include approximately two tablespoons per day in your diet. Any more than that might cause you to pack on the pounds.

4. Low-fat dairy products

The vitamin most often associated with healthy skin is vitamin A, and one of the easiest ways to boost your intake of vitamin A is with dairy products.

Foods such as carrots are high in beta-carotene, which your body can convert to vitamin A. But not everyone's body can easily make this conversion. Low-fat dairy products provide true vitamin A that every body can use.

So enjoy low-fat milk and cheese and stock up on yogurt. The live bacteria that are so beneficial for your digestive system will also do wonders for your skin.

5. Foods with selenium

Selenium promotes healthy skin cells, and foods containing this important mineral are easy to include in your diet.

whole-wheat breads and muffins
whole-grain cereals
turkey
tuna
brazil nuts
As an added benefit, these foods will leave you feeling fuller so you'll be less tempted by white-flour foods, rice and sugars — all of which may leave your skin looking less than healthy.

6. Skin-saving beverages

Green tea. This near-perfect drink will boost your skin in a way nothing else can. Anti-inflammatory properties protect the skin's cell membranes — research suggests that green tea may even help lower your risk of skin cancer.

Water. Plain water provides the hydration that soda and juice cannot. The oft-recommended "eight glasses a day" translates to about half a gallon of clean, still water.

In addition to hydrating, water helps carry nutrients in and toxins out of your skin cells, and it makes your body sweat efficiently so that your skin looks clean and clear.

It's no surprise that these skin-healthy foods are also good for your overall health. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is the best thing you can do for your skin.

Read more at: depkhoenews.com

No Animals Harmed: 7 Most Bizarre Beauty Treatments

When shopping for beauty products, we tend to look for a few key words on a bottle's label -- namely ones that assure us the product we're about to use has been tested on humans, not animals. But beauty treatments involving live animals? That's a whole different story.

There's a rising trend in the world of spa treatments of cutting out chemical filled products all together and going straight to a member of the animal kingdom for the sake of firmer, younger-looking skin and a truly transforming spa experience. When it comes to searching for the Fountain of Youth in skincare and returning to more natural roots, people are willing to pay to play the role of guinea pig and let animals do what they do best -- slither, poop, and chew away to their heart's desire.

There's no guarantee these eyebrow-raising spa treatments work any more than that new anti-aging cream that hit the shelves or the Thai massage that calls for contortionists, but at least we can appreciate these role reversals for entertainment's sake.

Brightening bird poop facial

You know we're truly in the era of #FirstWorldProblems when people are dropping $180 to get their faces slathered in bird poop -- a treatment known as the geisha facial. "Why not stand next to my vehicle and volunteer myself as target practice?" you may ask. Because these aren't your average city pigeon droppings. No, these prized droppings come from organic-fed, Asian nightingales, whose poop contain the enzyme guanine. Even though you've never heard of it, chances are, you've used it in your beauty regimen. The amino acid is added to shampoos, lipsticks and nail polishes to get that pearly, iridescent shine. In facial form, guanine is said to have bleaching qualities due to its ability to gently brighten and exfoliate skin.

For centuries, geishas and kabuki performers relied on bird poop facials to cleanse their faces of the heavy, white makeup they regularly used, (the same makeup that was also loaded with dangerous zinc and lead, but I digress). Shizuka New York's modern-day version of the geisha facial mixes the poop with rice bran for extra exfoliation. The treatment is then finished off with a green tea collagen mask to up elasticity.

Scaly snake massage

If the thought of having a stranger's hands all over your bare back make you squeamish, perhaps you'd prefer the more impersonal option of snakes. According to Ada Barak, who runs a spa out of her carnivorous plant farm in northern Israel (nothing odd about that), their cold, scaly skin replicates the soothing sensation of a cold compress. If you say so. Also, the slithering movements coupled with hissing sounds relay a soothing, relaxing experience without an artificial noise machine, making this option energy-efficient as well.

Not sure whether you want a deep tissue or Swedish massage? No problem. Barak simply customizes your massage by snake size -- she uses bigger snakes for a deeper, kneading rubdown on the back, and lighter, small snakes for a more delicate massage on the face. Lucky recipients of this treatment can be covered in up to six snakes at a time, ranging from Florida king snakes, California king snakes, corn snakes and milk snakes -- which are all non-venomous, don't worry. If pythons tickle your fancy, there are willing masseuses at the Bali Heritage Reflexology and Spa in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Fishy callus-removing pedicure

If you're prone to feeling waves of guilt for subjecting a human being to your cringe-worthy feet come pedicure time (guilty), a garra rufa pedicure should soothe your conscience. Instead of relying on grating razors or ticklish pumice stones to scrape off dead skin, you can have your calluses and scales nibbled away by tiny fish known as "doctor fish."

First used in Turkey and Asian countries before making their way stateside (even the Kardashians have given this animalistic pedicure a go) these tiny tooth-less fish can live on skin alone and thrive in hot water, making gumming away at your smelly, flaky feet a breeze. Each garra rufa session lats about 15 to 30 minutes ... depending on how ticklish of an individual you are. Kourtney Kardashian sat back and relaxed like it was any other day at the nail salon, while her sister Kim screeched, squealed and was on the verge of tears (out of disgust or amusement, we're still not sure).

Slimy snail facial

Outside of the French culinary realm, snails don't have much going for them. They're slow, slimy and are really nothing more than slugs with a mobile home. But they're currently enjoying their 15 minutes of fame by crawling and secreting all over the faces of clients looking for the next big anti-aging facial.

Your average ground snail's mucus is packed with proteins and antioxidants that help it slowly, but surely, get from point A to point B. This slime is also rich in hyaluronic acid, an ingredient used in lotions, serums and even lip balms for its intense moisturizing and anti-wrinkle properties. When applied to human skin, it is said to stimulate collagen formation and boost elasticity to keep skin as smooth and firm as a baby's bottom. A snail facial cuts out all those extra additives and instead, lets three of these gastropods inch over your wrinkles and crow's feet with their slimy trails of youth.

Now think about all those times you sprinkled salt on those poor, unassuming snails, and what they could've done for your skin.

Read more at: depkhoenews.com

TURMERIC ROOT TEA – TASTY DRINK THAT IS GOOD FOR YOUR SKIN

Turmeric is a popular substance in Asia, particularly India and other countries in the sub-continent. It is used in cooking as a base ingredient in many curries. It is also used for healing and features heavily in many Ayurvedic treatments. For instance, adding turmeric powder to a cut with help it to heal quicker. The thing is, turmeric has many applications, one of which is for the skin. It can do wonders for your skin as this article will show. We’ll also cover a tasty drink you can prepare that makes it easier to get your fill of this versatile spice. So let’s get into it.

What’s Turmeric

Turmeric is a plant that is indigenous to South and South East Asia. It is related to the ginger family of plants. In terms of use, the root is usually used in cooking and medicine but I’m sure the leaves of the plant might go well in a stir fry or salad (although I’ve never tried it).

The root is dried and then ground into a powder or spice. It has a deep yellow or orange color that will give whatever you cook the same color. It is also used as a food coloring in some places.

You can also use the fresh root in cooking or for medicines. Use it just like ginger – peel off the skin and chop finely. It won’t color your cooking as much as the powder but it will give it a distinctive taste. Personally, I think using it fresh is a better option if you want to get the health benefits from it.

What’s So Good About Turmeric

As we have noted, turmeric has been part of the Ayurveda traditional healing system for thousands of years. Ayurvedic practitioners recommend it in cooking and also use it in medicinal recipes.

The active ingredient in it is called curcumin. It has been claimed that curcumin can help prevent various diseases ranging from cancer, diabetes and Alzheimers disease due to it’s antioxidant and anti-inflammatory nature.

As yet, none of these claims have been conclusively proven to be true. However evidence is being collated as more clinical tests go on. It is thought to be good for the skin though which is fairly easy to confirm by trying it yourself.

Why Is It Good For The Skin ?

As we have already mentioned, treating a cut with turmeric speeds up the healing process. Adding it topically to acne blemishes, blackheads, and age spots can also help these conditions.

The antioxidant qualities of curcumin are thought to prevent dry skin keeping it supple and elastic. This in turn reduces the chances of fine lines and wrinkles developing.

Outside of cooking, a good way to get turmeric into your diet is to drink it as a tea.

Read more at: depkhoenews.com

Winter Skin Tips: How To Fix Dryness And More

We're more than halfway through winter, but if you're anything like us, your skin may be reaching peak dryness. Thanks to cold temperatures, dry indoor heat and the dehydrating effects of the long, hot showers that warm us up, we're actually up against a sizable adversary during these winter months.

"In winter, humidity is always lower in the cold air, and when it gets breezy, that dry air wicks moisture out of the skin even quicker than normal. Then we go inside to get warm, and the heat on inside dries us out too. We can't win: so we try getting in a hot, steamy shower to get a little moisture, and don't realize that the water itself actually takes water out of us by osmosis," explains Dr. Jessica Krant, a board-certified dermatologist and Assistant Clinical Professor of Dermatology at SUNY Downstate Medical Center. "Not only that, the heat and water strip our natural moisturizing oils out of our skin. Then we get out of the shower, and that last bit of dampness evaporating away dries us out even more."

So what can you do? We asked the experts to find out:

Choose Cream Over Lotion
"The best way to fix and protect winter skin is to seal it and heal it," Krant says. "Yes, I just made that up."

That means choosing a moisturizer that locks in moisture and provides some protection of the dermis to encourage healing, but still lets the skin breathe. Krant recommends choosing a thick, fragrance-free cream instead of a lotion, which can be watery, and putting it on after

Skip The Perfume
Your perfume can irritate your skin and, thanks to its alcohol content, can interfere with your skin's ability to maintain moisture levels.

"Avoid fragrance, as this can cause mild irritation that further compromises barrier function against drying elements," Buka says.

Cut Your Shower Time
Shortening your shower time and cooling the temperature of the water won't feel so great in the moment, when you'd like a little steam heat in your life, but your skin will thank you later.

Hot, long showers strip our skin of its natural moisturizing oils, according to Krant. And Buka recommends bathing no more than once a day.

Drink More Water Than You Want To
"Drink more water each day than you expect to really need," advises Krant. That will help replenish the water you're losing, thanks to windy, cold weather and overheated houses.

Read more at: depkhoenews.com