Why Do Some People Have Large Pores?

OUR ORGANIC TEA TREE OIL NOT ONLY HELPS SHRINK PORES BUT MINIMISES RAZOR BURN. ADD 1 PUMP TO A GLASS OF WATER. PAT DOWN AREA WITH COTTON PAD IMMEDIATELY AFTER SHAVING. 

CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT TEA TREE OIL.

Reasons For Large Pores 

Oily Skin

Our bodies produce sebum, an oily substance we secrete to make the skin waterproof and to keep it from drying out. People who naturally have oily skin tend to have larger pores. This happens because when oil and dirt collect in your skin, your skin swells and your pores look larger than they normally would. Some people may also associate large pores with severe acne, but this isn't always the case. One reason for the misconception may be that small divots formed by acne scarring may look like enlarged pores.

Age

As you get older your skin loses its elasticity, which can cause pores to look bigger. Furthermore, sun has an accumulative effect. Meaning, the older you are, the more you've been exposed to the sun. This affects the appearance of pores. It makes your skin thicken, causing skin cells to collect around the edges of your pores, which stretch them out.

Sex

In general, males tend to have larger pores than females. Women might experience enlarged pores more often during hormonal changes, particularly during menstruation.

Genetics

If one or both of your parents have large pores, you might also have or eventually experience a similar condition.

Many of the factors which contribute to large pores are unpreventable. So, generally the best thing to do is disguise it.

Treatments for Large Pores

Large pores cannot actually shrink. That doesn't mean, there is nothing you can do. The appearance of pores can be temporarily reduced.

Keep Your Face Clean

Use a gentle cleanser twice a day, especially after you perspire to prevent oil from building up. Don't scrub too much. Over-dry skin compensates by producing even more sebum. Similarly, be sure not to scrub your skin with a washcloth or other abrasive materials. Using an exfoliating cleanser once a week will help, because it breaks down dead skin cells that clog pores and gives your skin a smoother appearance. Pore-minimising creams contain ingredients that boost the skin's production of glycoaminoglycans, which help to firm the skin around pores, minimising their appearance.

Retinol Creams

Applying a topical retinoid solution will only reduce the appearance of large pores. But you can also dissolve bacteria that cause acne and treat sun damage at the same time. You should always use sunscreen to protect your skin and keep large pores from becoming worse.

What Is Cellulite? The Basics!

ALL ABOUT CELLULITE

Cellulite is a condition in which the skin appears to have areas with underlying fat deposits, giving it a dimpled, lumpy appearance. It is most noticeable on the buttocks and thighs, and usually occurs after puberty.

Medically, cellulite is also known as adiposis edematosa, dermopanniculosis deformans, status protrusus cutis, and gynoid lipodystrophy. But it more commonly known as orange peel syndrome, cottage cheese skin or hail damage. 

3 Grades of Cellulite

Grade 1 - Cellulite is not visibly noticeable but an anatomical change under the  microscopic is detected.

Grade 2 - In addition to anatomical changes cellulite skin is pallored, is lower in temperature to the touch and has decreased elasticity.

Grade 3 - Skin is visibly orange peeled, along with all Grade 2 signs. Although cellulite affect both sexes, Grade 3 is more common in females. This is because women have more fat and connective tissue.

What Causes Cellulite?

The causes of cellulite are not well understood, but there are several theories that have been put forth as explanations. Among these are:

• Hormonal factors - Many believe hormones like estrogen, insulin, noradrenaline, thyroid hormones and prolactin are part of the cellulite production process.
• Genetics - Genes may predispose an individual to cellulite production. These may be gender, race, slow metabolism, distribution of fat underneath the skin and poor circulation.
• Diet - People whose diets are high in fat, carbohydrates and salt but too little fibre are likely to have greater amounts of cellulite.
• Lifestyle factors - Smokers, those who are sedentary and those who sit or stand in one position for long periods.
• Clothing - Clothing which restricts blood flow may increase cellulite formation.

How Can Cellulite Be Prevented?

Eating healthy, low fat foods, exercising regularly, maintaining a healthy weight, and reducing stress are recommended to prevent cellulite. In addition wearing thongs, boy-shorts or looser fitting undergarments can prevent cellulite.

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What is a Wrinkle Exactly? How does damage in each layer of your skin contribute to wrinkling?

A wrinkle or rhytide, is a fold, ridge or crease in the skin. Permanent wrinkles typically appear as a result of ageing or weight loss. Age wrinkling in the skin is promoted by habitual facial expressions, ageing, sun damage, smoking and poor hydration just to name a few. 

HOW DAMAGE IN EACH LAYER CAN CONTRIBUTE TO WRINKLING

Epidermis

The epidermis is the outer layer and functions as a barrier to the external environment. The cells of the epidermis move from the bottom layer of the epidermis to the top layer building up a large amount of keratin and developing a tough outer shell. Once these cells reach the top layer, they flake off. If this process becomes abnormal the skin can look dry and scaly. 

Dermis
The second layer of skin is the dermis which contains the skin's connective tissue. There are various types of connective tissue. Collagen gives the skin its strength, glycosaminoglycans gives the skin its turgor and elastin fibres gives the skin its elasticity.

Dermal-Epidermal Junction
The junction between the dermis and the epidermis is an important structure. The dermal-epidermal junction interlocks forming fingerlike projections called rete ridges. The cells of the epidermis receive their nutrients from the blood vessels in the dermis. The rete ridges increase the surface area of the epidermis that is exposed to these blood vessels and the needed nutrients.

Subcutaneous Tissue
The bottom layer of skin is the subcutaneous tissue containing fat cells. These fat cells provide insulation to the body and make the skin look plump or full.

REASONS SKIN WRINKLES

The Effects Of Time

As a person ages the epidermal cells become thinner and less sticky. The thinner cells make the skin look noticeably thinner. The decreased stickiness of the cells decreases the effectiveness of the barrier function allowing moisture to be released instead of being kept in the skin. This causes dryness. The number of epidermal cells decreases by 10% per decade and they divide more slowly as we age making the skin less able to repair itself quickly.

The effects of ageing on the dermal layer are significant. Not only does the dermal layer thin, but also less collagen is produced, and the elastin fibres that provide elasticity wear out. These changes in the scaffolding of the skin cause the skin to wrinkle and sag. Also, sebaceous glands get bigger but produce less sebum, and the number of sweat glands decreases. Both of these changes lead to skin dryness.

The rete ridges of the dermal-epidermal junction flatten out, making the skin more fragile and making it easier for the skin to shear. This process also decreases the amount of nutrients available to the epidermis by decreasing the surface area in contact with the dermis, also interfering with the skin's normal repair process.

In the subcutaneous layer the fat cells get smaller with age. This leads to more noticeable wrinkles and sagging, as the fat cells cannot "fill in" the damage from the other layers.

The Sun 
Exposure to ultraviolet light, UVA or UVB, from sunlight accounts for 90% of the symptoms of premature skin ageing. Most of the photo-ageing effects occur by age 20. The amount of damage to the skin caused by the sun is determined by the total lifetime amount of radiation exposure and the person's pigment protection.

Effects on the Epidermis - Changes in the epidermis caused by the sun include thinning of the epidermis and the growth of skin lesions such as actinic keratoses, basal cell carcinomas, and squamous cell carcinomas.

Sunlight Effects on the Dermis - In the dermis, sun effects cause collagen to break down at a higher rate than with just chronologic ageing. Sunlight damages collagen fibres and causes the accumulation of abnormal elastin. When this sun-induced elastin accumulates, enzymes called metalloproteinases are produced in large quantities. Normally, metalloproteinases remodel sun-injured skin by manufacturing and reforming collagen. However, this process does not always work well and some of the metalloproteinases actually break down collagen. This results in the formation of disorganised collagen fibres known as solar scars. When the skin repeats this imperfect rebuilding process over and over wrinkles develop.

Free Radicals
Free radicals are unstable oxygen molecules that have only one electron instead of two. Because electrons are found in pairs, the molecule must scavenge other molecules for another electron. When the second molecule looses its electron to the first molecule, it must then find another electron repeating the process. This process can damage cell function and alter genetic material. Free radical damage causes wrinkles by activating the metalloproteinases that break down collagen. There are several factors that start this cascading process including exposure to even small amounts of UV radiation in sunlight, smoking, and exposure to air pollution.

Hormones
It is likely that there are skin changes as a result of the hormonal effects of menopause or decreased estrogen production. However, studies in humans have not documented which skin changes are specific to decreased estrogen and which skin changes are a result of sun exposure or just normal chronological ageing. In animal experiments lack of estrogen can cause a decrease in collagen levels of 2% and a decrease in skin thickness of 1% per annum.

Muscle Use
Habitual facial expressions cause the skin to wrinkle as it looses elasticity. Frown lines between the eyebrows and crows feet radiating from the corners of the eyes develop as the tiny muscles in those areas permanently contract.

Gravity
The effects of gravity make the loosening of the skin more apparent as skin sags more. This causes jowls and drooping eyelids.

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The Basics : Reasons and Treatment for Dry Hair

The Basics : HOW TO TREAT DRY HAIR 

Why Is Your Hair So Dry?

Scalp isn't Making Enough Oil

Hair has no natural lubrication. It relies on oils made in the hair root to keep your hair moisturised and looking lustrous. As you age, your roots naturally make less oil, leading to dry hair. Furthermore, a very dry scalp will peel and shed. This is dandruff.

Damaged Hair Cuticles

Each strand of healthy hair has a protective layer called the cuticle. Just as shingles shield your home from rain and sun damage, the cuticle shields your hair from heat damage. In a healthy cuticle, the layers lie tightly together and keep moisture in. When a cuticle’s layers separate and peel away from hair, its ability to hold moisture is compromised – some oil escapes.

What Can Damage Your hair?

• Over-washing or using a harsh shampoo strips away your hair's natural oils.
• Blow drying your hair too often, especially with alcohol-based styling products.
• Using heated hair straighteners or curling irons.
• Exposing your hair to lots of sun, wind or dry air.
• Applying chemical treatments, including dyes, perms and relaxers.

The Solutions

• Wash your hair less often. You may be able to get away with washing once or twice a week instead of every day (many people can). As a bonus, when you shampoo less frequently, you won't need to blow dry and heat-style it as much.
• Use a mild shampoo made specifically to help dry hair. It contains fewer drying detergents.
• Use hair products that don’t have alcohol. They are drying.
• Follow the shampoo with a moisturising conditioner. It will keep cuticles lying flat so they hold in natural oils.
• Massage jojoba oil or coconut oil into your scalp to replenish moisture.

After you've tried these techniques, if your hair is still dry and brittle, ask your stylist about a professional deep conditioning treatment. Be warned! Your dry hair may be a symptom of a larger health issue if it is accompanies by fatigue, intolerance to cold, muscle weakness or hair loss.

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My Armpits Are Flaky ... Help!

Keeping with the incidental theme of underarms, I've recently noticed that my underarms are feeling very dry. I have been using Rexona's roll-on which is very high in ammonia to help keep my perspiration at bay, and it works. Never going to give that one up! (This product incidentally is not sold in Singapore, which is where I'm living ATM, so I buy it from Australia when I go back.) The unintended consequence is that is has dried out the skin under my arms and if I'm wearing tight clothing around there, it hurts my skin.

I first tired applying Rosehip oil there, but I didn't see any results. In fact, I actually started to get mood swings - I'm positive it wasn't my imagination. After all, the armpits have immediate access to your bloodstream when anything is applied there and Rosehip has very strong hormonal balancing properties.

I've since moved on to 100% Pure Argan Oil and ... success. My skin has repaired itself! 

I still use my Rexona super antiperspirant during the day, so I rub just a little under my pits before I go to bed at night. 

Any of you facing the same issue and got a better solution? Would love to discover new products or ideas.

For More Info On What Argan Can Do For Your Skin, CLICK HERE!

Some People Can't Smell Their Own Stink

EUCALYPTUS & TEA TREE'S STRONG ANTI-BACTERIAL QUALITIES KILL THE BACTERIA WHICH TRANSFORMS SWEAT INTO SMELLY FATTY ACIDS THAT CAUSE ODOUR. 

We all know that generally men perspire more than women, but did you know that genetically some people are unable to smell their own odour? Also, certain medical conditions like thyroid disease and carcinoid syndrome can make sweating worse, as can the side-effects of some medicines like antidepressants.

What Causes Body Odour?

Perspiration itself does not smell, but it's the bacteria that lives on our skin that breaks down sweat into aromatic fatty acids which produce the unpleasant odour. So, body odour can be reduced by either reducing sweat and/or reducing the amount of bacteria on the skin. 

Body odour can also be caused by food. Foods that contain a lot of fats, oils and pungent foods like garlic can lead to odor. This is caused by the release of aroma occurs in the pores of the skin and mixes with sweat.

Find Out More About Body Odour Here

Everything You Need To Know About Tea Tree Oil

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My Guide To Using Essential Oils : The lazy version

I'm Dianne and I discovered the power of essential oils on skin while I was pregnant. Like a lot of mums, I was applying Rosehip furiously on my tummy (and other enlarged body parts) to prevent stretch marks. It worked! Then I thought, what else can essential oils do for my skin. I researched more and discovered that with the right know-how you really didn't need to use any big-brand name skin care to achieve excellent skin. Honestly, its not hard. True, there are many many many essential oils. But you don't need to know about them all. Just a handful is really all you'll need to tackle the more common skin care challenges. I've chosen ROSEHIP, TEA TREE, EUCALYPTUS and ARGAN. These 4 are really the basics in skin care in my opinion. 

You can visit my website at www.thelittleessentials.com if you want to discover more about the science on why these oils work and how you can use them.

But in the meantime, I wanted to share with you how I personally use essential oils in my day. Hopefully it will give you some ideas on how to use it in yours.

Diffuser

In my car : I reuse Glade car fresheners (the kind that comes in a bottle and clips onto your air-con vent. I wash out the wick and bottle and add lemongrass. Its a fresh and uplifting scent. 0.5 pumps of lemongrass into a diffuser. It makes my bathroom smell like a spa.

Skin 

Day : Eucalyptus spray under my arms. It kills odour causing bacteria which deodorants do not do. However, I use an antiperspirant after it dries to reduce sweat as essential oils do not help with this.

Night : Replace moisturiser with Rosehip or Argan

Day: Use a lemongrass spray on my legs. I'm prone to insect bites. Eucalyptus works too but doesn't smell as great.

Hair 

Agan on my tips to prevents fly-away hairs and repair split ends.

I use a tea tree hair spray to give my hair a nice scent. 

In the Pool : I rub Rosehip onto my hair to seal the shaft. It prevents chlorine from entering into it and drying it out. Rosehip is a dry oil so it won't dissipate into the pool

Face 

Day - Tea tree spray as a face toner. I suffer from acne and tea tree is toxic to bacteria found in acne. 

Night - I use 1 pump of Argan under my eyes, my face and neck. I do not own night cream. Although I'm prone to acne. Argan oil has actually reduced my acne.   

Wrinkles and Dry Skin : How Argan Oil Can Help

DRY SKIN AGES FASTER THAN WELL MOISTURISED SKIN. 

ARGAN OIL NOT ONLY KEEPS THE DERMIS WELL HYDRATED BUT PENETRATES THE SKIN, LIKE A SERUM AND INFUSES THE SKIN WITH VIT E, VIT C AND OTHER FATTY ACIDS WHICH KEEP SKIN YOUTHFUL. 

ARGAN IS GREAT FOR CROWS FEET, RABBITS FEET AND UNDER EYE CIRCLES. 

Find Out More About How Wrinkles Are Formed Here

Secret Tip #3 : Keeping Your Hair Hydrated After A Swim

Hair often gets dry and frizzy after going into the pool. Hair not only absorbs the chemicals in the pool but it's odour as well. To prevent this, thinly comb through rosehip

oil into your hair. It seals the hair shafts. And because rosehip is a dry oil, it won't dissipate into the water.