This post is about what I have experienced and learned in 2010. It’s not at all about skin care, but it is all about what I’ve been up to the last year.
We’ll start in January when my boyfriend and I moved to Spain, dog and all.
We got sick of our cold climate and decided to get a move on. It was very exciting!
Living in Spain
I learned it’s not that strange or hard to live in a foreign country, but there are lots of small differences.
Like the way you sort your garbage, the way you greet each other, how fast the tap water gets hot, when the stores are open, and whether it’s okay to double dip your food utensils at social gatherings or not. 
When you meet people at a social gathering in Spain you’ll most likely kiss cheeks, even if you’ve never met the people before. In Scandinavia when we meet someone for the first time we shake hands and when we meet friends we just say hi, and sometimes hug.
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Paraben-free skin care has become increasingly popular as more studies suggest parabens may be a health threat.
Here I’ll guide you how to find skin care products that are not only free of parabens, but also really effective and good for your skin.
What Are Parabens?
Parabens is the name of a group of synthetic preservatives found especially in moisturizers, gels, lotions, and other skin care products.
Some studies suggest they may cause an increased risk of breast cancer, while others say they are okay. They can also cause allergic reactions such as skin rashes.
Extra Tip: Avoid Mineral Oil
Mineral oil is a petroleum by-product found in most lotions and even in paraben-free skin care products. It does your skin a disservice by covering it with a layer that can clog your pores and then strip the skin of its natural fats.
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I find it ironic that people who need natural skin care the most are usually the ones not getting enough of it. I’m talking, of course, about skin care for the elderly.
When you’re young you can’t do enough to pamper your skin, you might spend hours on end exfoliating and wearing face masks.
But as you grow older, you stop giving your skin the care and attention it deserves. This is a bad idea and I’ll show you why.
Common Skin Problems of the Elderly
As you approach your golden years, your skin becomes thinner and gradually loses its ability to retain moisture.
This leads to dry, flaky skin that is prone to dermatologic problems such as itching, infections, allergic reactions and eczema.
To make matters worse, wrinkles become more pronounced and the skin begins to sag.
Yes, growing old is not always fun, but there are some things you can do to keep your skin nice, clean, and healthy.
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Take a close look at your skin.
Does it look rough, old and damaged? Don’t feel bad. Underneath that layer of dead and dying skin cells you will find new, young skin.
Exfoliation removes excess dead skin cells. To reveal your skin’s youthful glow you need to know how to exfoliate very oily skin.
Oily Skin is Good
Consider yourself lucky if you have oily skin. Oily skin actually tends to age better than dry skin. It looks more youthful and has fewer wrinkles than dry skin of the same age. Also, people with dry skin can have more worrisome skin problems.
But You Can Have Too Much of a Good Thing
This does not mean, though, that oily skin is problem-free. Too much oil can clog skin pores. Clogged pores contain a waxy substance called sebum that can result in blackheads and acne, especially when the skin is exposed to dust, dirt or pollution.
And That’s Why You Must Exfoliate
To get rid of excess oil, it’s necessary to exfoliate very oily skin. Skin exfoliation reduces the clogging of pores that can cause acne. Exfoliating oily skin controls the oil and makes the skin soft.
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You’ve probably heard before that your skin is your largest organ.
Even though it covers the outside of your body, it is just as much an organ as the ones on the inside that you can’t see.
If your body isn’t fed properly then it will show on the skin, and when you improve you nutrient intake your skin’s health improves right along with the health of your whole body.
That means no more dark circles under your eyes, bags, or anything like that. Or at least you’ll be able to reduce them significantly
The Layers of the Skin
Your skin has three layers: epidermis, dermis, and subcutaneous tissue. The epidermis is the most outer layer of your skin. It’s made up of cells that are continually sloughing off and getting replaced by newer ones.
You can’t actually see the skin cells when they shed (they’re microscopic), but your skin has a cycle where healthy cells are replacing old ones constantly.
Next is the dermis, the middle layer of your skin. This is where there is pigment, collagen, and elastic tissue. These things give the skin its tone, color, and firmness.
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If not for wrinkles and sagging skin growing older would be much more fun. But as you age, the skin loses its elasticity and gravity will eventually takes its toll. The result? Sagging skin.
Before things get any worse, you should find ways to firm sagging skin. They say it’s never too late to start, but when it comes to skin the opposite is true as well. It’s never too early to begin caring for your skin so that it will stay firm and smooth for a long, long time.
What Causes Sagging Skin?
Why does skin sag in the first place? If you know the reason why, you’ll know how to avoid getting sagging skin and it’ll be easier to avoid it.
Obviously, aging is the major cause of loose skin. As you grow older, the production of collagen and elastin in the skin slows down and the skin begins to sag.
Other causes include drastic weight loss, illness, smoking, stress and over exposure to sunlight.
How To Firm Sagging Skin Naturally
The good news is you don’t need surgery to firm sagging skin. There are natural ways to tone your skin and reduce wrinkles. Just check out the following anti aging tips:
1. Firm sagging skin with a toner. A good toner will improve blood circulation and rejuvenate your skin. Here’s a recipe for a skin toner that you can make at home. Slice a cucumber and mix it with half a cup of plain, unflavored yogurt. Apply it on your face and leave on for 10 minutes. Rinse off with water. You can also apply the contents of a Vitamin E capsule on your face. Vitamin E protects skin cells and prevents wrinkles and sagging skin.
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Parabens is the name of a group of synthetic preservatives found in a wide variety of today’s skin care products. Most regular skin care and hygiene products contain parabens, and if not it usually says paraben-free on the label.
Some say to avoid them like the plague, while others tell you they are safe, or at least okay. I do avoid them as much as I can. Personally I don’t buy products with parabens, although I don’t beat myself up about it if I happen to use something with parabens sometime.
Are parabens bad for your skin?
Well, it is possible to get an allergic reaction like a skin rash. But as far as the researchers know, parabens aren’t really directly bad for your skin.
But there are other possible dangers of parabens, that aren’t directly related to your skin.
Some studies show that they affect your hormones. For example, they can imitate estrogen hormones which may promote breast cancer. So if they contribute to a hormonal imbalance, it is possible that this also causes your skin to react and for example break out, although this would probably be after long term use.
Another study shows that they can negatively affect the male reproductive system. Most studies are probably done with animals, but it’s possible that we’ll react in a similar way as other mammals.
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A few days ago my boyfriend Henri, doggy Cleo and I returned to northern Sweden after spending almost a year living on the southern coast of Spain.
In Spain the weather is more humid than I am used to, and it is sunny most of the time.
A couple of weeks after I arrived in Spain in January last winter, I actually quit using most of my moisturizers because my skin got so moist just from the humidity in the air.
Growing up in northern Scandinavia, in the winter I always had dry skin on my hands, feet, lips, and sometimes cheeks.
Working a few years in a restaurant also took its toll on my hands, since I had to wash and disinfect my hands throughout the day.
This resulted in rough skin that looked older than the rest. I used a few different hand lotions that helped repair the skin, but they didn’t become as soft as before unless I used the lotion all the time.
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In the not-so-distant past no self-respecting man would be caught dead reading an article on skin care tips for men. But times have changed and men now realize that they have to take good care of their skin. So to all you men out there, listen up and learn all about the best natural skin care tips for you.
Skin care for men (and women, for that matter) should focus first on keeping the skin clean. This is a no-brainer. After all, you can’t have skin that is healthy and glowing when it’s clogged with dirt and grime. The following skin care tips for men will show you how to keep your skin healthy and wrinkle-free, the natural way.
1. Wash and Cleanse Skin Regularly
Okay, I know you’ve been doing this since you were in kindergarten but now that you’re a bit older you definitely want something that’s gentle on your skin.
Many commercial soaps and facial cleansers contain harsh ingredients that can strip your skin of natural oils, leaving your skin dry and dull-looking. Instead, use mild herbal soaps and cleansers. Use warm water to open up your pores. For the final rinse, use cool water to close the pores.
2. Improve Your Digestion
In alternative medicine good skin indicates a good digestive system. People with acne, psoriasis, eczema and other skin disorders often suffer from digestive disorders such as constipation and leaky gut.
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Let’s talk about something that at least 75% of the teenage population can relate to. I’m talking, of course, about acne, zits and pimples.
No matter what you call them, we all agree on one thing. They’re ugly and nobody wants them.
By now you may already know that acne is caused by excess production of oil that clogs your pores. Pimples and zits can get infected and inflamed. Not a pretty sight.
You can treat acne with topical creams and facial wash, but doctors and dermatologists agree that improving your diet is the best long term treatment.
If your skin easily breaks out, it may be a good idea to processed foods and sugar overload. Fatty foods and foods that are high in refined carbohydrates are known to cause acne. And acne is just a step away from acne scars.
Now that’s something we’d all like to avoid at all cost.
If you want to keep your skin as smooth and clear as a baby’s (or pretty close to it), be sure to include in your diet the following 10 powerful foods that help acne, zits and pimples:
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