We are all well aware of the need to protect our skin from the sun. Unfortunately, with the development of sun blocks with an SPF of 30 and higher, we have developed a false sense of security, thinking that a good layering of sun block will enable us to get out and enjoy the sunshine with no consequences. The fact of the matter is that SPF chemicals are very good at protecting us from UVB, the burning ray. So after a day at the beach, if we were careful enough to reapply our sun block, our skin looks c[...]
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Bestow wisdom
For some reason, the skin is the only thing that we feel happy to vigorously exfoliate. We would never think it was a good idea to erode our hair or our nails as we would instinctively know that it would weaken and damage them. But most ‘skincare’ brands encourage us to do just that to our skin! The Stratum Corneum is the most outer layer of the skin. It is made up of dead cells and this is why it has been considered expendable in the pursuit of smooth skin. However, it has recently been discov[...]
Most of us are familiar with the fact that our skin replaces itself every month. Skin cells take approximately four weeks (depending on our age as this slows with time) to make the journey from the lowest layer of our epidermis to the surface of our skin where they eventually slough off. On their travels our skin cells pass through four different stages of growth. At each stage the cell must go through a change or maturing process. One of the most important factors that determine whether or not you[...]
One of the most important minerals for skin health and anti-ageing is zinc, but unfortunately it is the one mineral most people are deficient in. Many medications including the contraceptive pill deplete our levels of zinc, and on top of that, our soils are Zinc-deficient and so is processed food. Zinc helps us produce healthy collagen, aids skin healing, helps to prevent scaring and makes the skin strong and resilient. To test for zinc you can do a simple ‘taste test’ at most pharmacies or health[...]
Most people assume that perspiration causes body odour, but the truth is that we have specialized glands found under our arms and in the genital area that are responsible for body odour. These glands are called apocrine glands and they secrete a sticky, milky fluid that on breakdown by skin bacteria results in the characteristic smell of body odour. These glands don’t start production until a person goes through puberty. This is why children never smell of body odour no matter how sweaty they get. I[...]