The following substances discussed below need to be removed from your diet
However, it takes the body time to adjust and only after a couple of months will you get a true and fair picture of whether removing these foods is having an impact. Also, be disciplined if you want a true picture of whether these foods help to cause or aggravate your skin condition. It is no good following the diet for a week or two then eating the odd slice of pizza. You will be cheating yourself and remember the aim is to try improve your condition for ‘your’ benefit.

Yeast

Yeast is the first of the potential food allergies I will explain. I will now list foods that we commonly eat which are high in yeast and that should be avoided

Bread Including Pastry, Pitta Bread and Naan Bread. There are yeast free alternatives to normal bread that are widely available, such as soda bread which I now eat and black rye bread.
Beer
Foods containing yeast extracts. Many foods that you would not expect to have yeast in them have yeast extracts in them. It is advisable to check whether a food has yeast on the food label. Although this can be tedious at first when buying food in a supermarket, I have now become used to it. A quick glance of the label of a certain type of food you are unsure about will show whether it contains yeast. As time progresses, due to a lot of ‘label checking’ you will build up knowledge of foods that contain yeast.
Soy Sauce
Some Frozen Foods

Not only must these foods mentioned above be avoided, the potential growth of yeast in our systems must be avoided.

SUGAR

Obviously most of the foods we eat contain some sugar. Apart from the following foods mentioned another common source where sugar enters our diet is in tea and coffee. Most people drink either tea, coffee or both and often think nothing of having two to three teaspoons of sugar in their teacoffee. Sugar taken in this form especially white sugar can be very refined and processed which is not good for our systems. If you read any magazines or books with articles relating to dieting, de-toxing, skin problems etc. you will commonly find the advice to severely reduce the intake of sugary foods, as it not only greatly beneficial for your skin but your general health as well.

Dairy Products

This means eliminating milk, cheese, yoghurt and other dairy products from the diet. There are a variety of replacements for cows milk, such as Goats Milk which is easier to digest and Soya Milk which also contain first class proteins that are found in cows milk.

Eggs

Eggs are also another well documented source of food intolerance. You may find that if you suffer from a skin condition such as eczema you may unknowingly have an adverse reaction straight after eating an egg. If your condition is aggravated after this it would obviously be a good idea to stop eating eggs.

Red Meat

I have found that omitting these foods from my diet has helped to contribute to the improvement of my skin.

Coffee

Also, note that many other drinks have high caffeine levels such as energy drinks. Tea has caffeine although in smaller amounts then coffee. Some people may think an alternative to coffee would be to have decaffeinated coffee. My friend who has psoriasis used to drink vast amounts of coffee every day, noticed a vast improvement in his condition after he stopped drinking coffee.

Part 2 will contain what other important things which have to be removed from your diet for you to get clear beautiful looking skin.

Believe it or not, your skin is the biggest organ of the human body. The principle purpose of your skin is to protect your body from foreign agents. The skin is the first line of defense against disease and infection. It is also the skin that gives us protection against the sun.

However, it is also the skin that first betrays the effects of aging. Skin ailments such as psoriasis or dermatitis can be irritating and make our lives miserable. While we never needed things like wrinkle creams or moisturizers when we were younger and our skin more resilient, the fact is that some degree of skin care is inevitable as we age.

But skin care treatment is also necessary because of factors unrelated to our aging skin. Dry skin is caused by a number of conditions and therefore its treatment options will depend on the actual cause. Here are some causes of dry skin

Medication Side Effects

As a society, we have increasingly become dependent on medication for things like high blood pressure, tension headaches, and even depression. Skin care treatment for dryness may very well be necessary due to some side effect of your medication for a completely unrelated condition. For this reason, you always want to monitor any potential skin irritation immediately after starting any new medication. If you already have dry skin and cant remember whether or not it was a problem before starting your medication, you may need to consult with your physician and discuss an alternative medication in order to rule out side effects as the cause of your dry skin.

Poor Nutrition

Skin care problems are often the result of poor nutrition. Our bodies require a delicate balance of nutrients in order to keep everything functioning properly, especially the skin. Vegetarians and vegans often run into dry skin issues as a result of not consuming enough animal fats in their diet. A vitamin B12 deficiency will cause your oil glands sebaceous glands to function improperly, generally leading to acne.

Basically, any attempt to address a skin care issue be it oily, dry, or even itchy skin should begin with a close look at diet. Dermatologists can best assess potential diet-related skin care problems and recommend corrective measures to naturally restore skin vitality. However, here are some foods to avoid where possible in order to keep your skin as healthy as possible

fried foods chicken, French fries
processed sugars
caffeine, coffee, tea, soft drinks
high fat dairy products like milk or cheese consuming low fat varieties of milk and cheese may not be great, but they are better for your skin!

Now the best thing that you can ingest for improved skin care is water. Thats right, water. Water naturally removes toxins from your bodyso the more you drink of it, the purer your body will be. Drinking lots of water is especially good for people with acne problems and it will also help reduce the onset of wrinkles.

Skin Care Problems Due to Sebaceous Gland Problems

If you have ever been to a dermatologist because of acne problems then you are probably very familiar with sebaceous glands. Because the skin needs to be lubricated, it is covered with oil secreting glands known as sebaceous glands. If these glands become clogged with dirt, then bacteria begin growing inside and a pimple is the result. However, sebaceous glands can either become clogged and dry skin is caused or they can produce too much and cause oily skin. More often than not, problems with the sebaceous glands are due to poor diet and can usually be corrected rather easily.

Skin Care Problems Due to Diabetes

Believe it or not, even diabetes can cause you serious skin care problems. A person with diabetes has trouble regulating the blood sugar levels. When there is an excess of blood sugar in the body, the excess must be absorbed. To do this, the body uses a lot more water than normal and that can lead to dry skin.

Skin Care Treatment for Dryness

While diet must always be part of any skin care treatment regimen, it is just a simple fact that our bodies will need more help as we age. For this reason, a moisturizer of some sort will ultimately be needed. To this end, it is HIGHLY recommended that you use a natural skin moisturizer.

Moisturizers using natural ingredients are far less likely to cause the irritating side effects mentioned earlier. Synthetic ingredients are often less expensive to use in moisturizers but they are not the best skin care option because the body is less receptive to them. Natural ingredients, on average, cause fewer side effects and are therefore better where skin moisturizers are concerned.

Skin Care for Wrinkles

Wrinkles are probably the biggest cause of all skin care treatments in the United States. As a person ages, the skin naturally becomes less elastic. As a result, fine lines begin to form on the face which ultimately become the wrinkles we hate so much. There are two main skin care strategies when it comes to wrinkles affect the muscles that reveal the wrinkles or fill in the skin so the wrinkles are less noticeable. The first strategy involves Botox and the second Collagen injections.

Botox Skin Care

A person is actually having a strain of Botulism injected in their face when they opt for Botox skin care treatment. Botox actually interrupts the transmission of nerve impulses to the muscles that reveal our wrinkles. It may sound radical, but these injections do actually reduce the appearance of wrinkles on the face for a significant period of time. Now these injections can be costly and they must be repeatedbut they are generally affective.

Collagen Injection Skin Care

Many people have a serious misperception about collagen injections. The perception is that collagen is a form of fat that is injected into your face to fill in the lines caused by wrinkles. Actually, collagen is an effective form of skin care treatment for wrinkles not because it is fatbut because it is protein. In fact, collagen is a special protein that helps cells and blood vessels connect to one another. When this happens, the wrinkles fade because the collagen helps the skin to rebuild in areas where wrinkles form and actually fill in the lines. Again, collagen treatments tend to work but they also are expensive and need to be repeated.

Natural Anti-Wrinkle Creams

A cheaper, but slower, alternative to expensive skin care treatments for wrinkles is a simple cream. Anti-wrinkle creams work to rebuild the skin texture and helps with the elasticity over time. However, unlike Collagen or Botox injections, anti-wrinkle cream skin care treatment is only applied to the skin surface. This is why it takes so much longer. Still, an anti-wrinkle cream is a cost-effective and non-invasive treatment for wrinkles that does work if given enough time. Again, in order to reduce possible side effects, stick with creams that use natural ingredients as they will react better with your skin.

For the ultimate natural all round healing potion, try Honey. Thanks to Cleopatras milk and honey baths, Honey has become a favourite 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. Skin care 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 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 yoghurt. 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 skin will feel refreshed and rejuvenated.
- 4 tbsp of whole milk powder and 2 tbsp of honey make an excellent baby bath.

Not so long ago, the use of flax became a buzz word in health and fitness circles. In fact, even the great Mahatma Gandhi was once quoted as saying that flax is awonder seed. Wherever flax seed becomes a regular food item among the people, there will be better health., Gandhi proclaimed.
Some nutritionists, researchers, and scientists believe that it could be the most important health-promoting supplement next to a multivitamin. Nearly every system in the body can benefit from flax seed oil’s natural properties, including the cardiovascular system, immune system, circulatory system, reproductive system, nervous system, as well as the joints.
Flax seed oil comes from a blue flowering plant that is grown on the Western Canadian Prairies for its oil rich seeds. Also known as Linseed Oil, flaxseed oil is highly recommended as a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids that are needed to sustain health. Flax seed is composed of oil, fiber, protein and mucilage.
Twelve percent of flax seeds is mucilage which makes it a gentle, non-irritating, natural laxative. Flax mucilage is perfect for those who have a sensitive stomach, acting as a buffer for excess stomach acids, soothing ulcers or irritable bowel disorders.
Flax seeds are natural skin care components that are very rich in Omega-3 oils, those essential fatty acids that are so important for our health, especially to the skin. There are many skin problems today such as acne, eczema, and psoriasis that may be caused by the lack of omega 3 essential fatty acids. As a rich source of omega 3 fatty acids, flax seed is able to replenish the correct body levels of these fats and so it is a natural skin care gift from nature.
A lot of people are also using flax seed oil directly on their skin in order to make it smoother and less dry. Some even report that directly applied flax seed reduces skin inflammations, but much more research is needed before we can know for sure whether this is true, brought on by a completely different factor, or simply a case of placebo effect. Skin products made from flax seed oil can easily become rancid, especially pure flax seed oil where no preservatives have been added. Heat, light and oxygen will break down flax seed oil. To preserve its efficacy, flax seed oil should be placed in an air-tight container that should be kept away from direct sunlight. A spray top bottle with an extra lid is better than a normal bottle with a single lid because the spray construction reduces the possibility of air getting into the bottle. To prevent natural skin care products such as flax seed oil skin from turning bad, you should always store them in the refrigerator. The best flax seed oil skin products are usually those processed at low temperatures in dark environments.
Flax oil and flax seeds are being rediscovered as true health foods. They definitely merit being included on any top ten list of natural skin care products that are good for everyone.

Skin toners are the next step after a facial cleansing routine. Skin toners ensure complete removal from the skin of all cleansing preparations. They freshen and tone up the skin and prepare a clean surface for the application of make-up. They also restore the acid or alkali balance of the skin, because they are pH balanced. They are designed to penetrate pores, refresh and cool your skin while clearing away excess oil, impurities and dead skin cells that were not removed with your cleanser.

Toners restore the skin’s natural pH balance. When you wash your face, the pH balance of the skin is distorted leading to skin working overtime to restore pH levels; the process of skin restoring the pH levels on its own can take up as much as half and hour or more. By using a skin toner, the pH level of your skin is restored instantly.

Choose a toner appropriate for your skin type. A wide variety of toners are available. Alcohol dries the skin and harms the soluble collagen below the surface of the skin. It is thus safer to use an alcohol-free toner.

The common herbs used in toners include witch hazel, geranium, honey, lemon, ivy, sage, nettle and burdock. Witch hazel has a tendency to dry the skin. It is ideal to combine it with moisturizers such as Vitamin E, honey, etc. Rosewater helps keep skin and face moisturized, fresh and balances the pH levels.

Essential oils are the gentlest way of toning up. Rose water for normal or drysensitive skin or witch hazel for oilier skins is ideal bases for fresheners. These can be applied with cotton wool, using smooth, gentle upward strokes or sprayed on to the face. Oily skin benefits from juniper or lemongrass whereas drier skins would benefit from rose or sandalwood.

Apply the skin toner to a cotton ball and sweep it gently across your face. The cotton wool should come out relatively clean when toning. If it is not clean it indicates the cleansing has not been done properly. Do not succumb to the temptation to tone the skin whenever you feel it has become dirty. It should be used only after the skin has completed a cleansing routine and not as a substitute for cleansing. So, remember that your toner must function as a toner and not as a cleanser.

Toning is pleasant and refreshing, can act as an additional cleanser on very oily or dirty skin, and is valuable in removing any traces of grease that the cleanser may have left behind. Think of it as the polishing touch in your skin care treatment.

Homemade Toner Recipes

Watermelon Toner
1 cup watermelon chunks, 2 tbsp witch hazel and 2 tbsp distilled water

Pure watermelon chunks in a processor or blender. Strain the liquid and discard the solids. Mix the strained liquid with the remaining ingredients, stir and pour into a glass bottle. Dab on face using a cotton ball. This is rich in sugar and vitamins A, B and cup Watermelon has astringent properties, and the super high water content makes it an excellent skin refresher.

Rose Skin Toner
3 cups of witch hazel, cup dried rose petals and 5 sprigs of fresh rosemary.

Mix ingredients together making sure it is all blended well. Strain the blend and splash on your face after cleansing.

The reader of this article should exercise all precautions while following instructions on the recipes from this article. Avoid using if you are allergic to something. The responsibility lies with the reader and not the site and the writer.

Spending a bomb to buy a facial product with claims of having all natural ingredients for beautiful skin and having drastic results on its usage is very depressing for any beauty conscious woman. We see wide varieties of cosmetics available in supermarkets, department stores, health food stores as well as internet and TV.

Not everybody has the same skin type. What product works on your friends skin, might not work for you and vice versa. If you buy a product for your skin type, it could have adverse effect as there could be some chemical or ingredient which could cause a reaction on your skin. Moral of the story Not all cosmetic products work well for everyones skin.

Cosmetics labeled as having natural ingredients do contain some amount of artificial chemicals or elements. With over priced cosmetics made from natural ingredients, many people have started preparing beauty products at home. Making a facial mask at home with all the ingredients available in the kitchen is quite easy and inexpensive.

- Create a salon like atmosphere while doing a facial at home. Ideally they tie your hair in high ponytail or make you wear a band around head. Choose to do what ever you feel comfortable about.

- Start by splashing tepid water all over your face. Massage your face gently with water. Repeat it twice or thrice and let your face air dry.

- While your face is still damp, massage vitamin E on your face. Let your face soak the oil for 5 minutes or so. Use a mild soap to remove the oil from your face.

- Again splash your face with water at room temperate. Repeat it for 2 or 3 times. Avoid towel drying your face.

- Next make your facial mask. Blend 1 egg white or fresh Aloe Vera juice of same quantity, 2 tsp vegetable oil and 1 tsp pure apple juice in a clean bowl.

- Dip your hands in the facial mask and apply the mask to your skin. Start with your chin, move upwards and then outwards skipping the area around the eyes and lips.

- Now you have to just sit back and relax. Cover your eyes with wet cotton balls or cucumber pieces. The mask has to dry completely. An ideal time for a small nap.

- Mask takes anywhere from 20 30 minutes to dry. You feel your skin tightened when the mask is dry. Splash water all over face and gently remove the mask with light massage strokes on your face. Continue doing this till your face is cleared of the entire home made facial mask. Let your face air dry.

Use this home made facial mask once or twice a week or depending up on the time you have on hand. You will feel fresh and have much younger looking face all the time.