laziness) and suddenly you realize that in one week you have to attend a wedding.

We all know tomatoes are healthy and delicious, but they've got a whole host of skin care benefits to boot. Packed with vitamins and antioxidants, tomatoes are perfect for shrinking pores, fighting acne and soothing rashes. The moisture-rich fruit can also calm troubled skin, and its astringent properties remove excess dirt and oil. If you've got an extra tomato lying around, you've got everything you need to make an all-natural face mask. It's gentle enough to use every day and effective enough to combat pimples, blackheads and other blemishes
.

Thinking about baking a pumpkin pie? Save a bit of that pureed pumpkin to pamper yourself with a facial, like this one from “Bonding Over Beauty” author Erika Katz. Combine 2 teaspoons of pureed pumpkin with 1/2 teaspoon of honey and 1/4 teaspoon of heavy whipping cream. Mix all of the ingredients until they make a thick paste, then apply to clean, dry skin. Leave on 10 minutes before rinsing off with warm water. The vitamin A in the pumpkin has healing properties and promotes tissue repair, which irritated skin will love!

This facial is sure to soothe your irritated skin, and it’s so simple to make. Apply 1 cup of plain yogurt (make sure it’s not flavored — save that for the kids!) to clean, dry skin. Leave on for 15 to 20 minutes, and then wash away with warm water. The lactic acid found in yogurt will help soothe your skin, and the probiotics work to naturally heal skin irritation. If you’ve been out in the sun for too long, consider mixing 2 teaspoons of aloe into the yogurt for an extra cooling effect.

The uneven edges of oatmeal make it a gentle exfoliant, ideal for sloughing off dead cells to reveal the bright skin underneath. Combine 2 tablespoons of uncooked and unflavored oatmeal with 1 cup of whole milk in a small pot, heating them until a thick mixture forms. The lactic acid in milk will also remove dead skin cells. Remove from heat and add 2 tablespoons of olive oil for moisture. Wait until the mixture is warm but not hot then apply to your clean, dry face. Wash off the mask with warm water after 20 to 30 minutes.

A lemon juice and sea salt facial not only smells delicious, but it’s simple to make and great for rejuvenating skin! Annie Berthold-Bond, author of “Better Basics for the Home,” recommends combining 1/4 cup of sea salt with lemon juice. It’s up to you whether you want the mixture to be thick or runny, so add lemon juice accordingly. Apply the paste to your clean, dry face, avoiding sensitive areas. Close your eyes and relax for a few minutes while you let the lemon juice slough off dead skin cells, then wash with warm water.

The enzymes in papaya make it a natural exfoliant that fights free radicals, so say goodbye to dullness with this facial from Skinny Chef, Jennifer Iserloh! Peel and remove the seeds of one papaya, then chop it into small pieces. Add 1/4 cup of honey for a natural cleanser. Using a blender or food processer, mix the ingredients until a paste is formed. Apply the paste to clean, dry skin, avoiding the eye area. Leave on for 10 to 15 minutes then splash off with warm water. Wash thoroughly, or the papaya juice could make your face look orange!

Grab two bananas for this moisturizing facial from “Reader's Digest”: one for your face, and one to use for a yummy banana split! (C’mon, you deserve it.) Mash a peeled banana until it turns into a paste, then mix in 2 tablespoons of honey for an extra skin cleanser. If the mixture is too thick, add a bit of water. Apply the paste to clean and dry skin, letting it sit for 10 to 20 minutes. Indulge in that banana treat as you wait, then wash the mask off with warm water. Your skin will feel soft and refreshed

The fatty oils in avocado are great for moisturizing dry skin. Mash up half an avocado until creamy. Add 1 tablespoon of honey, a cleaning agent, to the mix. If your skin is irritated, add a bit of plain yogurt for a soothing effect. If your skin is cryin’ for extra moisture, add 1/4 cup of pure virgin olive oil. Once all ingredients are well combined, apply the mixture onto your clean face and neck. Leave on for 15 to 20 minutes. For added relaxation, add a few drops of your favorite essential oil to the mixture before applying.

Oily or Acne-Prone Skin: Aspirin Facial

Oily or Acne-Prone Skin: Green Clay Facial

Oily or Acne-Prone Skin: Egg White Facial

Many individuals suffer with acne and struggle to find products that effectively remove blemishes. Harsh, chemical treatments can often irritate the skin further, leaving it red, dry and cracked. For those who want to take a gentler approach to removing blemishes, using a natural treatment is a good option. You can use several natural items to treat acne and remove blemishes. Even individuals with the most sensitive skin should be able to find a treatment that works for them.

Instructions

1. • 1
     Practice proper health routines that offer preventative protection from surface skin damage. Such routines include proper preparation for sun exposure, including avoiding the sun during its peak hours and wearing SPF15+ sunscreen. Additional preventative protection may include applying heavy moisturizer to guard against skin dehydration.
   • 2
     Implement a skin-healthy diet. The surface of the body is the human body's largest organ and may reflect the health qualities of your diet, or lack thereof. Ingest five servings of fruits and vegetables daily, as well as skin-friendly foods such as nuts and fish. Also, drink lots of water to stay hydrated and keep your skin moist. Dry, nutrient-starved skin may be more susceptible to dark skin spots, aging and wrinkles, and skin blemishes.
   • 3Consider natural skin remedies to bleach the dark skin spots so that you may fade blemishes and remove any unsightly markings. Natural, pure lemon juice is one of the most popular and accessible natural remedies that fade skin spots. Squeeze a fresh lemon, purchased from your local grocery store or organic farmers' market, into a glass or plastic cup. Dab a large cotton swab or cotton ball in the lemon juice and rub it on the sun spots, skin blemishes, freckles or other skin marks. Repeat twice a day. The natural acids in the lemon juice will naturally fade the freckles, blemishes and sun spots.
   • 4
     Incorporate commercially-formulated anti-aging creams into your daily skincare routine. Ingredients such as peptides, alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) and beta hydroxy acid (BHA) have all been clinically tested and proven to assist with fading skin sun spots and blemishes. Helpful ingredients can be found in common anti-aging products, such as Olay's Definity skin product line and Garnier's anti-aging fruit products (see Resources). Apply the skincare creams according to the manufacturer's directions, as each product's usage varies.

Skin care: 5 tips for healthy skin

Good skin care — including sun protection and gentle cleansing — can keep your skin healthy and glowing for years to come.

Acne Treatment

Causes of Acne

Acne is genetic. If you come from a family of sufferers you are more likely to be affected. Up to 80% of us experience it in our teens and early 20s and it is increasingly common in women over 40, because it's caused by fluctuations in our hormones.

Best Acne Treatments

If you have severe acne and it's causing you distress you should consider visiting a dermatologist (ask your GP for a referral), but there are things you can do to help yourself at home.
Do:
- Use products that contain glycolic acid. It loosens the dead skin cells trapped inside the follicle and encourages the plug to dislodge. When follicles are prevented from being clogged, acne is greatly reduced.
- Use products that contain salicylic acid, which improves cell turnover and kills the bacteria specific to acne. The pore then becomes unclogged and the acne bacteria is neutralised.
Don't:
- Over-exfoliate. Being too harsh on the skin can distress it and cause inflammation, which in turn exacerbates acne. Exfoliate gently using clay-based products or liquid exfoliants without harsh grains.
- Over-cleanse. Continue to wash your face twice a day but be careful about using products that foam. They tend to be very alkaline and strip the skin, which again can aggravate acne.

Diet and Acne

There are a lot of misconceptions surrounding diet and its effect on acne. Although it's true that the causes of acne are genetic - diet can contribute.
Foods that contain a high glycaemic index have been shown to worsen the effects of acne - think all white foods such as white bread, rice, pasta and yes, sugar. So although chocolate may not itself give you acne, it may unfortunately make it worse. If cutting out all sweets is too difficult, try to stick to dark chocolate.

Skin and Diet

Eating a healthy diet can make more difference to your skin than the products you use on it. Read on for tips on choosing the rig


Eating a healthy diet can make more difference to your skin than the products you use on it. Read on for tips on choosing the right foods for good skin.

• "Your skin is the largest organ in your body and skin cells are renewed every 15 to 30 days," nutritionist Fiona Hunter tells us. "If your diet is even marginally deficient in any of the key nutrients, your body doesn't have all the right building blocks to make healthy new skin cells. This is very quickly reflected in the condition of your skin."

• The right vitamins and minerals - such as Vitamin C, Vitamin E, selenium, zinc and iron - all protect the skin, improve elasticity and help healing. They can be found in fruit, vegetables, nuts, seeds, pulses, grains and meat. But that's not the whole story: your skin also needs protein, found in lean meat, chicken and fish, and omega-3 fatty acids, found in oil-rich fish.

• If these don't sound like the type of foods you normally eat, don't go for a complete overhaul all at once - it's more difficult to stick to. Try introducing a couple of new things a week and experimenting with new recipes. To give yourself the best chance at making long-term changes, go with what appeals in the supermarket rather than forcing yourself to eat something you don't like the look of.

Top Tips for Healthy Skin

1. "Say no to crash diets: they tend to be deficient in key nutrients, and when body weight yo-yos, skin loses elasticity and can start to sag."
2. "Fruit and vegetables are your skin's best friends. Plant-based foods are the best source of antioxidants that can help neutralise the effect of free radicals. Free radicals are formed when molecules break up, and have been linked with ageing and wrinkles."
3. "Don't be afraid of fat. Foods like oil-rich fish, avocados, nuts and seeds contain essential fatty acids which the body can't make; these can help improve skin's elasticity."
4. "Keep skin hydrated: moisturise from within by drinking plenty of fluids, especially water."
5. "Snack sensibly. 'Low GI' snacks like nuts, seeds and dried fruits will release glucose more slowly and steadily, which can help balance blood sugar levels as well as provide you with skin-friendly nutrients."

Cleansing to Remove Blackheads

1. 1
   Use honey and cinnamon. Honey is a natural antibiotic and works to pull out dirt from your open pores. Mix a tablespoon of honey with ½ a teaspoon of cinnamon and use your fingers to dab it onto your dry skin. Rub it in a circular motion for three minutes and then wash off with warm water.
   
   
   
2. 2
   Try an egg-white mask. Egg whites help to tighten pores and pull out any clogged dirt giving you smooth, clear skin. Remove the yolks from two eggs and smear it into a thin layer over your face. Give it two minutes to dry, and then add the remaining whites in a second layer. Give the complete mask an additional 10-15 minutes to dry, or until the whites are smooth to the touch and your skin feels tight. Use warm water to rinse the whites off your face.
3. 3
   Create a clay mask. There are many different kinds of cosmetic clay available to purchase in a powdered form, each with the specialized property of drying out oily pores and removing unwanted residue. Mix a tablespoon of powdered clay with enough apple cider vinegar to make a paste, and spread it over your face. Leave it for 10-15 minutes until it is dry to the touch, and then rinse off with warm water.^[1]
4. 4
   Cleanse with oatmeal and yogurt. The lactic acid in the yogurt and the calming qualities of oatmeal mix to create a blackhead-blocking formula. Make a paste of three tablespoons yogurt, two tablespoons whole oats, and a few drops of lemon juice and olive oil. Mix between your fingers and apply it to the skin by dabbing onto the affected area. Allow it to set for ten minutes, and then rinse off with warm water.
5. 5
   Use a paste of fenugreek. Fenugreek? That’s right - use the leafy green blended with water to form a paste. Besides its numerous other health benefits, fenugreek has shown promising results for removing blackheads. Spread this paste over your face and allow it to sit for ten minutes, and then rinse off.
6. 6
   Try turmeric and mint juice. Both spices you likely have in your kitchen cupboard, turmeric and mint help to clean out dirty pores. Create a brew of mint tea and allow it to cool. Then, add two tablespoons of the liquid with a tablespoon of turmeric powder and apply it to your face. Leave it on for ten minutes and then rinse off with warm water.
7. 7
   Make an epsom salt cleansing solution. Epsom salt mixed with iodine form a bacteria-fighting combo perfect for removing blackheads. Mix a tablespoon of epsom salt with hot water and a few drops of iodine. Let this mixture sit, stirring occasionally to dissolve the salt completely into the hot water. Then, use a bit of cotton to dab the solution onto your skin, allowing it to dry onto your face. Then gently rinse the mixture off with clean warm water.
   
   
   

Exfoliating to Clean Your Pores

1. 1
   Try a lemon and salt exfoliant. The purifying qualities of lemon mixed with the scrubbing effects of salt help to remove all the grime buried deep in your pores. Mix lemon juice with a tablespoon of yogurt, a tablespoon of salt, and a bit of honey. Use this to scrub your blackhead-prone areas for 2-3 minutes and then rinse with warm water.
   
   
   
2. 2
   Make a green tea scrub. Green tea is great to drink, and also great for refreshing your skin. Packed full of nutrients, a green tea scrub works to remove dirt while supplying your face with healthy antioxidants. Mix a fine green tea mix with a bit of water and rub over your face. If you want, you can leave it to set for 2-3 minutes after your scrub, and then simply rinse off with warm water.
3. 3
   Use baking soda to exfoliate. Baking soda is one of those magical substances in life that is great for myriad purposes. Besides being a natural cleanser, the fine grain of the powder clears away dead skin cells. Use baking soda and a bit of water to create a paste, and then gently scrub in a circular motion over the entire surface of your face. If you have particularly bad blackheads, dab a thick coating of the paste to the affected area and allow it to dry for 5-10 minutes before rinsing off.
4. 4
   Mix cornmeal with your facial soap. Cornmeal is used as an abrasive exfoliant when combined with your regular liquid facial soap. Mix a teaspoon of the cornmeal with your favorite face wash and scrub your face gently in a circular pattern. Be careful not to scrub too roughly, as this could inadvertently damage your skin. Rinse the soap and cornmeal off with warm water.
   
   
   
5. 5
   Use a milk and nutmeg solution. Possibly the best smelling exfoliant, the lactic acid of milk combined with the tough granules of nutmeg remove your blackheads quickly and in a pain-free manner. Mix a tablespoon of milk (particularly buttermilk) with enough nutmeg to create a paste. Apply this mixture to your face while gently scrubbing to remove dead skin and dirt. Then use regular warm water to rinse the mixture clear of your skin.^[2]
6. 6
   Try a store-bought exfoliant. If you aren’t up for making your own exfoliator at home, look into exfoliating products at your local beauty supply or drugstore. Use these on a regular basis to help clean out your pores and remove your pesky blackheads.

Using Spa and Chemical Treatments

1. 1
   Use pore cleansing strips. These are great little strips of a cotton material backed with an ultra-sticky solution that dries to your face. Follow the package directions by getting your face damp and applying the strips to your blackhead-prone areas. Wait 15 minutes for the strips to dry, and then rip them off quickly to pull out your blackheads. This option offers immediate results, but must be followed by one of the aforementioned cleansing routines in order to give long-term results as well.
   
   
   
2. 2
   Try a facial peel. Gels containing salicylic acid dissolve away the dead skin and dirt that gets trapped in your pores. Purchase a salicylic acid peel from your nearest drugstore or visit a local spa for a professional treatment. Use by applying in a thin layer to the affected area, allow time to set, and then rinse off with warm water.
   
   
   
3. 3
   Get microdermabrasion. This is a special spa process which works by using a specialized brush and chemical cleanser to clean out dead skin cells. These are often only available at spas and your dermatologist’s office, but some beauty supply stores offer an at-home version. Get these treatments on a regular basis in order to receive the best results.
4. 4
   Use a retinoid cleanser. Retinoid cleansers are packed full of skin-approved vitamin A, which helps to improve skin growth and prevent oil buildup. You can find retinoid cleansers and creams at your favorite drugstores. Use 2-3 times a week in addition to your regular skin cleaning routine to keep your pores blackhead free.
   
   
   
5. 5
   Get a facial. Although using a blackhead removal-tool on your own can cause damage to your skin, getting a professional facial can give you the same immediate results with blackhead removing tools. Ask your dermatologist or esthetician for different facials that are offered and decide on which is best for your skin type. Getting these blackhead facials once every 2-4 weeks can help to keep your skin clear over time.^[3]

Avoiding Worsening Your Skin

1. 1
   Never pick or pop your blackheads. Using your fingers to try and remove blackheads actually adds more dirt and bacteria to your pores, making your blackhead-filled skin worse. As difficult as it may be, avoid touching your skin and removing your blackheads with force at all times.
   
   
   
2. 2
   Don’t use your own blackhead removal tools. Many stores now offer your own blackhead removing instruments to give yourself an at-home facial. However, these tools often get full of bacteria and can scar your skin. Leave using steel instruments to the professionals and stick to using cleansers and exfoliants.
   
   
   
3. 3
   Avoid ultra-abrasive exfoliants. If you have sensitive skin, using harsh exfoliants can just irritate it and make your blackheads worse. If you are ever in pain from an exfoliant, stop using it and go with a more gentle cleanser. Try using oatmeal as the most gentle exfoliant if you are having issues with harsher scrubs.
4. 4
   Wash your face twice daily. The cause of blackheads is dirty skin, so make sure yours is clean and clear by washing it once in the morning and once at night. Always be sure to remove all makeup before washing your skin (if you’re wearing any). Follow up your face wash routine with a gentle facial moisturizer to keep your skin from over-producing oils which cause blackheads.
   
   
   
5. 5
   Wash your pillowcases. Your pillowcases catch dead skin cells and excess oil from your face when you sleep on them at night. Wash them at least once a week to remove the buildup of dirt from the fabric to help keep your face clear of blackheads.
   
   
   
6. 6
   Don’t touch your face. Even if you aren’t picking at your blackheads, touching your face transfers bacteria from your hands to your skin. Your hands are the dirtiest part of your body and are often the cause of many cases of blackheads. Avoid resting your face on your hands or needlessly touching your skin.
   
   
    

    

1. First, wash your face with a light cleanser, or at least splash with cold water.
   
   
   
2. 2
   Apply your moisturizer of choice. If you don't use daily moisturizer, just skip this step.
   
   
   
3. 3
   Put on your liquid foundation, covering all the discolored areas on your face.
   
   
   
4. 4
   After you've put on your foundation, use a very small, oval, fine-haired brush, and rub it in your concealer stick. (This stick should be the same color, if not a tiny bit lighter than your foundation)
   
   
   
5. 5
   Place the tip of the brush with the concealer on it to the culprit zit, and dab until the red/black color is as hidden as possible.
   
   
   
6. 6
   Cover the whole thing with a light dusting of translucent powder to whisk away any shine you might have.
   
   
   

So what is the best acne treatment for men? After having a lot of experience fighting acne myself using products such as AcneFree, Proactiv and Clearasil creams, the best acne treatment I discovered is actually not an acne treatment at all. I found that one of the biggest reasons people get acne is because of the foods you eat, such as heavily greasy junk food and highly processed foods tend to cause acne.
What I did was try out a combination of things such as detoxifying my body with fruit blends, as instructed in Acne No More. I did this for a week, and I had good results. But I still had some pimples, so I set out to get rid of these red marks once and for all. What I did next was a variation of all-natural solutions and over-the-counter creams which I then discovered what the best acne treatment for men consists of.
One method I implemented was washing my face and then applying a very light amount of all-natural almond oil over the pimples, and then about 1 minute later I applied a general acne cream I got from the drugstore. This ended up helping reduce the size of the pimple but not get rid of it, and it dried up my skin a bit, I didn’t like that.
I did like the almond oil though, it made my skin feel hydrated. So what I did next was instead of applying a generic store brand of acne cream after I apply the almond oil, I used Queen Helene’s amazing mint julep masque, which may make us guys look weird but wow it really does make a difference. Not only was my skin moisturized but the mint julep masque didn’t cause any irritation and actually made my skin feel rejuvenated. And what else? The pimple was barely noticeable after I washed off the masque. That’s when I knew the best acne treatment for men has to be a combination of essential oils and acne-reducing masks.
So to all the men in the world, the best way to clear away all of your pimple problems to wash your face daily, detoxify your body by following the Acne No More guide, and then use an all-natural oil such as almond oil for moisturizing, and a very good mask for reducing pimple size such and the mint julep mask I used.
Another thing you can try to get rid of your pimples in addition to these methods, is take some used green tea bags chilled or warmed, and place them on your pimples. The all-natural ingredients found in tea has acne clearing agents that reduce the “swelling” look of acne pimples. It’s a very cost-effective alternative to traditional acne medications, which may even dry your skin up and not clear away your acne.
Is this the best acne treatment for men that you can try? In my case, I had already tried traditional medications with substandard results. The AcneFree worked okay but it was pricey at around $50 for only a month supply, and it irritated my skin. I recommend you try what I tried to help get rid of my pimples using the illustrations from Acne No More, almond oil, and the mint julep masque. Best of luck and please leave  your comments ^^.

It can be hard for men to figure out ways to keep their skin looking great and healthy. A lot of men are a bit shy to talk about skin care since it’s something “only girls do.” But there are a lot of guys that want to have healthy looking skin too. It’s always good to do a deep cleanse of your face at least 2-3 times per week to keep your skin looking great. Here are 8 tips for glowing skin for men.
As I stated above, you need to wash your face daily, preferably using an exfoliator of some sort so you get rid of old skin and reveal new and healthy glowing skin. I use Queen Helene Mint Julep Face Wash regularly for my daily facial cleansing, it works great and keeps my skin looking so youthful and bright. If you really want that super fresh look, you guys really need to discover the mask version of this facewash, you just leave it on your skin for about 15 minutes and it will totally make your skin look amazing! Check it out here: Mint Julep Mask.
Not just on your face, but all over the skin you want to be vibrant and healthy like your hands. My hands tend to look dry and pale. You can try your average hand and body lotion, but what works very well to moisturize your skin is all-natural Almond Oil. You can use it as a body moisturizer as well as a facial moisturizer. It really does work wonders on how it gives your face a healthy vibrant glow, works great for men with dry or pale looking complexions.
One of the best tips for glowing skin for men is water not only keeps your skin hydrated, but it helps your body remove impure toxins by flushing them out, giving you a young-looking impression. Everyone needs at least 80 ounces of water everyday for good health. You can even drink more water to lose weight, as it also gives you a boost to weight loss.
Men are prone to facial razor burn, and that can really irritate your skin and make it red. What I do to prevent razor burn is use Gillete Fusion Gel when I shave, but I also add a dab of Aloe Vera Gel and a few drops of all-natural Almond Oil. Since then, I’ve never had razor burn, and this formula keeps my facial skin looking so alive and vibrant. You will absolutely love it .
Smoking cigarettes has very bad detrimental effects on your skin and can make you age much faster. If at all possible, stop smoking if you are just starting out to be a casual smoker. In the long run, it will indeed ruin your skin and overall health.
8 hours should be enough. Lacking sleep can thin out your skin, especially around your eyes, which would increase vessel visibility. To stay looking youthful and vibrant then make sure you get plenty of sleep.
You can use warm or chilled Green Tea Bags that have already been used to make tea. These are great to purify your skin all over not just on your face, and the caffeine found in green tea has beneficial effects for dark circles around the eyes as well. If you drink green tea daily, you’ll also have more energy and would help you to lose weight as well. Keep your used tea bags for later use for skin therapy, I keep mine chilled in the refrigerator as I find them to be work better when chilled. All you do is lay down with a few used warm or chilled bags over your face or anywhere you want to purify the skin.
Fruits and veggies are loaded with tons of vitamins and minerals which your skin needs to look great. Another ingredient found in fruits and veggies is fiber, which helps your body get rid of potentially hazardous materials in your body and keep your skin healthy. A few more hot tips for glowing skin for men is to reduce soft drink intake and greasy food intake, as these have been proven to cause bad skin conditions as well as dryness. Highly processed foods are full of chemicals that your bodies don’t know how to function with, it’s best to not eat too much junk food, or none if at all possible.