Many people who desire to get rid of wrinkles turn to Botox, anti-aging creams and sometimes even make-up. Although these remedies work, their results are often short-lived. This is because they do not tackle the fundamental causes of wrinkles. The best way to fight wrinkles is to first of all tackle their physiological and psychological roots, and then awaken the body’s natural anti-aging mechanism to fight them. This is what face massage does.

Aside from being extremely relaxing and pleasurable, face massage is the natural way to fight wrinkles and look younger. This is so because of the following reasons:

Improving strenght and elasticity of the skin

Massaging the face improves the strength and elasticity of the skin around the face. Wrinkles usually form when the facial skin begins to lose its elasticity and thus starts sagging, folding or drooping. Massage can reverse this by improving blood circulation beneath the skin. According to Dr. Jody Albert Levine, a New York-based dermatologist, “If you move the muscles and skin on your face, it increases blood flow, which brings oxygen and nutrients to the area." The end result is that the skin gets the proper nourishment it needs to become healthy, vibrant and elastic.

Removing toxins from the skin

Aside from nourishment, face massage also encourages lymphatic drainage, thereby removing toxins from the skin. The accumulation such toxins usually causes the skin age faster thus becoming haggard, tired-looking and wrinkly. According to Dr. Jody, “as the lymph flows away from the skin, it is essentially decongesting the skin.” This means that the skin is able to regain its natural stretch, strength and elasticity. As such, the wrinkles disappear leaving the face smooth, vibrant and attractive. This is precisely the reason why the popular magazine Women’s Health wrote that “rubbing [the face] upwards can prevent wrinkles and stop sagging.”

Relaxing facial muscles

Face massage also fights wrinkles by relaxing the facial muscles and keeping them tight and well-toned. Wrinkles usually begin to appear when facial muscles begin to droop due to gravity acting on them. The reason for the drooping is the breakdown of the collagen and elastin fibers which hold the facial muscles and fat in place. According to Marie-Hélène Gaudinat, the L’Oreal Paris Science and Medical Communications Manager, face massage can slow the breakdown of collagen and elastin. She said “kneading and rubbing the face sends messages to the body to produce more collagen and elastin.” This has an effect of delaying the onset of wrinkles or – in case they have already appeared – causing them to disappear.

Fighting stress-induced wrinkles

Face massage is also the perfect way for fighting stress-induced wrinkles. It is generally known that prolonged stress, anxiety and worry can cause puffiness, facial strain and wrinkles. Face massage can eliminate such problems by alleviating the underlying stress and anxiety. These were the findings of a study carried out at the Japan’s Kyshu University in 2008. A similar study was carried out in Hong Kong with the help of massage therapists to find out the effect of face massage on the moods, stress and anxiety levels of women aged between 20 and 40. During the study, each of the 32 participants was given an average of 45 minutes of facial massage.

The researchers used electrocardiogram recordings to measure the women’s heart rates, as well as their parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous activity. The research findings published in the Journal of Biomedical Research showed that face massage can improve moods, and reduce both stress and anxiety. Since stress and anxiety causes rapid aging, facial strain and the development of wrinkles, by eliminating them, face massage keeps someone looking vigorous, vibrant and youthful.

In a nutshell, face massage is the perfect solution for anyone who desires to fight wrinkles and look younger. Apart from the above benefits, face massage can boost the immunity and make someone feel relaxed, vivacious and energetic. Therefore, besides just having no wrinkles and looking younger, a person ends up feeling youthful energy surging through their veins. As such, they not only look younger, but feel younger as well. This is the reason why many health experts now consider face massage as the ultimate natural anti-aging remedy.

Image source: MyTudut (fickr.com)

Written by: Romeo Demes

Black Chicken – Balm of Ages , an all purpose remedy from mother nature.      The unique and quirky name really caught my attention and I couldn't wait to try it. Black Chicken is actually named after the legend of an ancient medicine woman, renowned for her healing powers. 

This is now one of my favourite every day organic beauty items and I highly recommend it.   The balm can be used for anything and everything.    I use it on my lips, cuticles, cracked heels, scars and on cuts. You can pretty much use it in the same style that you would have used Vaseline, but this is by far the healthier choice, you can even use it to remove make-up and cleanse your skin.

Completely  100 percent natural and certified organic, with a calming boho woody scent. It contains 19 different healing oils, some of which include lavender,  sandalwood, patchouli, lemongrass, ylang ylang and  frankincense.  Other stand out ingredients are Cajaput oil, Arnica, Hemp Seed Oil, Coconut oil, Sea Buckthorn oil and Calendula oil.
If you use this before going to bed, the aromatherapy values will make you feel very blissful, sometimes I’d open the tin just for a whiff of the beautiful scent.

The soft, thick texture glides on smoothly and gently melts into my skin.    It sits on my bedside table and I use it every morning and night, my  favourite uses are as a lip balm , cuticle softener and for my cracked heels.  It's non-sticky, non-oily and is perfect for moisturising my dry hands.  

Black Chicken Remedies entire range of natural products look really interesting  and I’m looking forward to trying out a few more.     I love the look of their  packaging, beautiful black and turquoise colours, very basic, but visually appealing and eco-friendly.   The balm comes in a retro style tin, which you can re-use when you eventually run out, although this will take a long time, as it's extremely economical.   

The great thing about this product is that it saves you money by not having to buy so many different products.   The balm cleanses, moisturizes, smoothes frizzy hair, is an antiseptic, reduces scarring, stretch marks, heals rashes and excema.  

Black Chicken remedies is an Australian company based in Bondi, created by Chey Birch, an expert when it comes to healing skin with essential oils and natural ingredients. 

If you'd like to incorporate this beautiful product into your natural skincare routine, 
you can purchase it here, or scan the QR code below.

If you are like most women, you have an arsenal of skincare products for every purpose. The problem is that you most likely are unaware of how dangerous some of these products are. Unnatural skincare products are known to cause cancer, hormonal imbalance, infertility and more. The reason behind this is that unnatural skincare products contain synthetic chemicals, the most common of which are parabens, aluminum, and led. When using skincare products, the last thing that you should have to worry about is how your product is going to affect your health. This is why for your safety and peace of mind, it is time to reconsider the type of skincare regimen that you use.

Treat Your Skin Gently

Your skin is delicate, requiring gentle treatment and care. For this reason, when you do cleanse your face with facial cleaning products and scrubs, you should take care to not do so with ones that are heavy duty. Jeannette Graph, an assistant professor of dermatology at NYU recommends using mild cleansers such as foam, gels, milks, or cloths. These will prevent your skin from being damaged, still keep your skin clean, and remove dead skin cells. In addition, the cloths or materials that lather your skin with should contain plant-derived surfactants. This minimises the likelihood that your skin will become irritated from synthetic materials.

Natural Foods

Using the right natural skincare products can go a long way. But if you are looking for the best results possible, then a proper skincare regimen should also includes a certain diet. One of the best things that you can do for your skin is to swap unhealthy processed food for natural foods. The top foods are vegetables such as broccoli and carrots, fruits like strawberries and bananas, and proteins such as fish and almonds. Each of these foods contain skin-friendly components such as omega-3, zinc, beta carotene, vitamin E, and vitamin C. They promote clear skin, a glowing complexion, and reduce your risk of sunspots and wrinkles. Natural foods and natural products are the surest way to retaining that youthful beauty.

Natural Homemade Skin Treatments

Apart from using the right facial wash materials, eating natural foods, you can also make yourself a homemade skin treatment. Skin treatments are not meant to replace skincare products, but to invigorate your skin in-between uses. For example, one very popular way to prevent acne is to use a mix of apple cider vinegar and water. Simply dab the solution using a cotton ball directly onto the blemish. Afterwards, continue your moisturising routine like usual. Another way to improve your skin tone is to mix together yogurt and honey and add it to your face for a few minutes. Afterwards, rinse it and moisturise as usual. This mask will prevent outbreaks and soothe your skin.

Facial Dry Brush Exfoliation

One exceedingly popular approach to skincare is known as Dry Brush exfoliation. Using a soft brush, make circular movements on your face for a few minutes. This entire process, usually done before a shower, will eliminate dead skin cells and help your skin detox. It improves your blood circulation, decreases puffiness, and calms your nervous system. Doing this a few times a week will keep your skin luminous and it does wonders for your skin and health before you add any skincare products. It will also let your skin breathe, preventing blemishes and skin marks. Just keep in mind not to brush your skin too intensely.

Choose the Right Products

Lastly, when taking care of your skin the natural way, the next be way that you can do that is to use the right products. When it comes to natural skincare products, people tend to think that they are ineffective because the ingredients are natural. This cannot be more far from the truth. Natural skincare products take care of your skin far better than synthetic ones, and they are also not harmful to your health. Natural skincare products are also luxurious, like natural skincare oil cleansing products mentioned on Nourished Life. They utilise organic oils to gently remove the day's grime and makeup, while also ensuring that your skin retains an equal oil balance. In addition to oil cleansing products, Nourished life is also a great source for other organic and natural skincare products and information to help you make the right decisions regarding your skin's health and beauty.

Summary

Overall, your skincare routine does not need to leave your skin damaged and worn out. Take the above recommendations into action can give you the luminous and healthy skin that you deserve without forcing you to utilise dangerous chemicals and synthetic materials.

Image: Some rights reserved by dermatology.com

If you haven't heard of snail serum before, it may sound a little strange at first, but snail serum is taking the beauty world by storm.  

Snail Serum facials are now used by some of the top International Beauty Salons, as snail serum is full of collagen, a natural skin plumper and contains many other skin nutrients.  

In Japan they even use live snail facials.   

The serum has become a big trend in Hollywood, fast becoming known to be an elixir of youth. I think it's a trend which is here to stay.  

One of the first facts you probably want to know is - how is it made and were any snails hurt?   The serum is not actually made out of snails, it's made from the secretions the snails leave behind through a slow and natural process and this is a process which is performed humanely, snails are not harmed.   

When I first received my bottle of SUAY skin repair snail serum, I wasn't sure what to expect, for some reason I was expecting a thick type of lotion, but  I was pleasantly surprised when I placed the serum on to my skin, the serum is very light, non-sticky and it blended into my skin instantly.   I read that snail serum can repair quite a number of skin ailments and one of these includes scars, so I experimented by
using this on a couple of red scars I had from a minor operation and applied it to my face twice daily, concentrating on the fine lines around my lips and eyes.    

After using this for a few weeks I definitely noticed an improvement in the texture of my skin in these areas.  I felt like it had a tightening effect.   Apparently the snail serum replicates human skin and helps it to regenerate and is very good for damaged skin.   Some of the components of snail serum are collagen, elastin,  Glycolic Acid, Vitamin C and proteins.   This combination removes dead skin cells and repairs damaged skin.

It's 100 percent organic, the serum smells surprisingly pleasant, there is barely a scent there, so suitable for anyone with allergies and sensitive skin.

I loved the packaging of this product, it comes in a glass jar with a beautiful gold dropper lid, making it such a pleasure to apply.    Glass bottles are my preference for 
beauty products, to me it makes the experience feel a bit more luxurious.  Even though plastic bottle these days are BPA free, I still prefer glass, I find lotions will be kept fresher if stored in a glass jar.

Some of the many other benefits of snail serum are preventing pimples, reducing acne scars, age spots, stretch marks, keeping skin looking and feeling soft and young.

SUAY snail serum is a very affordable anti-aging, skin healing treatment.      

If you want to give this intriguing beauty product a go, you can purchase it at SUAY, an Australian owned small business, they also offer International shipping.   

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