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Business: Business to business article

Peter Grouwels — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 12:47:55 +0000

Business to business.

Perhaps you are looking to start your own business, but creating a business has a lot of angles you have to take into account.
You need all kinds of tools to even get started, but where to start?
You will have hundreds, if not thousands of questions going through your mind.
-Will it be an online business?
-Will i need a building to start working from?
-Will it be an office or a building full of craftsmen?
-Will i need a logo?
-How can i reach out to people just to let them know that i exist?

Not to even think about the administrative questions you might have.
Luckily we have the internet today, you can find all sorts of information before you even start without paying a dime.
There are forums filled with the same questions you have, already asked and answered by other people.
There are also a lot of nifty tools on the internet if you are starting your business.
Tools like:

-Website builders, so that anyone can make their own website.
-Logo design websites.
-Printing companies.

These tools help you get on your way before even starting your business, giving you time to prepare certain blocks before even regestering as a business.
So how will i get my business to be recognized by people?
Well, thank god again, we have the internet.
If you would log on to certain forums, specialized in your business, your are among the people you are hoping to reach.
These people read your comments, and as an autograph in the profile box, you can leave your website URL. Drawing interested people to your website is keen, and this is the way to do so.
Please keep in mind that you should never go to a forum just to post your website URL into all the discussions on the forum, this would just be spamming.
If you want to draw people to your online business, be a real contributor, so that people will notice you and start to respect you for your stories.
This will create a trust that will help people to come back to you!

Luckily the internet provides more than just forums to help you on your way with your targeted audience. There are websites helping you to optimize your website.
Also, think about your offline activities, think about drawing people in your neigbourhood.
Think about the marketing techniques not used by your competition.

There is a lot of information and there are a lot of websites that help you on your way in research, marketing tools and design issues.
To get a good look into all these options, take your time before you even start your business, because doing good research before you even start can give you a heads up if you register your own business, online or offline.

Any start-up, whether web-based or a brick and mortar business, is a tough proposition. The fact is that most businesses fail. The best advice a new business-owner can get is two simple words – be patient. Patience is the key to a successful start up.

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Books & media – Television article

Peter Grouwels — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 20:01:37 +0000

Television is an inescapable part of modern culture. We depend on TV for entertainment, news, education, culture, weather, sports—and even music, since the advent of music videos.

TIP: Create your own family TV-viewing traditions, such as watching Olympic coverage, the NHL playoffs, classic movies or a weekly comedy show. With the recent explosion in satellite and digital speciality channels, we now have access to a plethora of both good quality and inappropriate TV content. In this crowded television environment, the key for parents is to search out high quality TV programs for their kids, and whenever possible, enjoy them together as a family.

Television offers lots of benefits to kids, including:

Because of its ability to create powerful touchstones, TV enables young people to share cultural experiences with others.

Shared viewing gives family members of all ages an opportunity to spend time together.

Parents can use TV as a catalyst to get kids reading—following up on TV programs by getting books on the same subjects or reading authors whose work was adapted for the programs.

Great television can teach kids important values and life lessons.

TV programs often explores controversial or sensitive issues, which can make it easier for parents and kids to discuss them.

Educational programming can develop young children’s socialization and learning skills.

News, current events and historical programming can help make young people more aware of other cultures and people.

Documentaries can help develop critical thinking about society and the world.

Cultural programming can open up the world of music and art for young people.
How to choose good TV

How can you select viewing that is good for your children? Ask yourself the following questions:

Does the program actively engage my child, physically or intellectually?
Television watching doesn’t have to be passive. It can prompt questions, kindle curiosity, or teach activities to pursue when the set is off.

Do I respect this program?
Parents don’t have to like every show their children choose—in fact young people need their own district culture. But parents should trust that a program’s creators understand and respect how children grow and learn.

Does my child see others like himself or herself on television?
Young children believe that television reflects the real world. To not see people like themselves—in race, ethnicity, or physical ability, for example—may diminish their self worth. A lack of role models should spark discussion about how TV portrays different types of people.

How do makers of this program regard my child?
Some program creators see young people as consumers to be sold to. Others see them as students to be educated, as future citizens to be engaged in the community, or simply as children, whose work is play.

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Books & media – News

Peter Grouwels — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 19:56:32 +0000

A lot of future-related information is available in news articles or Web pages. This information can however differ to large extent and may fluctuate over time. It is therefore difficult for users to manually compare and aggregate it, and to re-construct the most probable course of future events. In this paper we approach a problem of automatically generating summaries of future events related to queries using data obtained from news archive collections or from the Web. We propose two methods, explicit and implicit future-related information detection. The former is based on analyzing the context of future temporal expressions in documents, while the latter relies on detecting periodical patterns in historical document collections. We present a graph-based visualization of future-related information and demonstrate its usefulness through several examples.

archive search provides an easy way to search and explore historical archives. In addition to helping you search, News archive search can automatically create timelines which show selected results from relevant time periods.

Old newspaper articles are a great resource, regardless of whether you’re searching for your family’s history, or writing a school paper. Even if you’re just curious about historical events — the sinking of the Titanic, Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, or the price of gasoline in 1915 — there’s nothing quite like seeing the headlines, stories and advertisements from the actual newspapers of the day.

there are several excellent subscriptions sources for newspaper archives.

Think about what you want to search for. This may sound like a Big Duh!, but it pays to give some thought to the actual search terms you’ll be using.

Say you’re searching for news of your grandfather. If his name was Jedibiah Utzenpfeffer, you might have pretty good luck searching just on his name alone. But if grandpa’s name was Robert Smith, you’ll need some additional details — like a town he lived in, his job, big event in his life, spouse’s name — in order to narrow down the results.

It also helps to use special search tools. If you want old newspaper articles on the sinking of the Titanic, for instance, a search on ‘Titanic’ may bring up tons of articles about the movie, rather than the actual event. But using Advanced Search features to focus results on the period prior to 1915 will bring up news articles about the actual sinking of the ship.

Newspaper archives are a valuable resource for genealogists, but unfortunately many newspapers only have online archives for recent years. Newspaper Abstracts and The Olden Times are trying to solve that problem. The sites post abstracts from American newspapers in the 19th and early 20th centuries. The projects are growing, but you aren’t guaranteed to find the the newspaper you are looking for. The sites rely on volunteers to send in abstracts.

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Books & media – movie article

Peter Grouwels — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 19:52:06 +0000

Lately this has become a serious question for a lot of people, especially when considering where to watch James Cameron’s movie Avatar… it has crossed my mind too, as there are cinemas with all of the three major 3D technologies where I live too. So here is a quick and short comparison between the three, along with information on which one I personally prefer, but you are also more than welcome to share your personal preferences too along with the WHYs.
IMAX 3D
This one is the oldest of the three standards that is famous mostly because of the very big screens present in these cinemas, but they are still not very widely available around the world with most of the IMAX cinemas present in USA. Up until very recently IMAX 3D was only analogue with the movies being shot on large frame 70mm film in order to achieve good image quality on the larger screens these cinemas use, as compared to normal 35mm film. The digital version was introduced last year and still very few cinemas use that and the resolution and respectively the projection screen sizes for these implementations are not as big as on the analogue ones. IMAX uses big linear passive polarized plastic glasses for the viewers that do not provide the best possible experience. Anyway, getting back to the user experience, there is something very specific for IMAX 3D and that is the fact that the movies shown there are usually optimized for more pop-out screen effect than depth. This means that most of the time objects literally seem to pop out of the screen appearing as if you can touch them, kids do love this effect, but this is also more tiring for the brain. So usually longer movies are a bit of a problem to watch and Avatar is close to 3 hours, so you should be carefully consider this, especially if you feel a little “out of this world” when watching movies in an IMAX cinema. Some other drawbacks that are not always present and most of the people miss are the lower contrast in some dark scenes, a bit more ghosting of objects and problems refocusing your eyes quickly enough to follow the whole picture in fast action scenes and thus you might miss some important parts. Anyway IMAX 3D is certainly the most easy way to achieve the WOW effect with just about anyone that is watching his first stereoscopic 3D movie, but it this is not the first for you, then the other alternatives might be better…
RealD
This is a bit newer standard, but a digital one from its start… digital here meaning that the movies are recorded in a digital format and the projectors being used are also digital. RealD 3D cinemas uses circular polarized plastic glasses instead of linear polarized to provide better user experience when watching stereoscopic content. Circular polarization is considered to be better, because viewers are able to move their head as they like without the loss of the 3D depth effect. With the linear polarized glasses you have to be a bit steady, not moving around too much and sometimes you might have trouble finding the right position for your head in order to achieve the best effect when watching the movie to fully enjoy it. The circular polarized plastic glasses used here are also cheap to produce, but this technology requires the use of more expensive silver screen for projection which makes it a bit more expensive to implement. Still at the moment RealD is the most widely used standard for stereoscopic 3D movie projections all over the world, so you will most likely have one of these cinemas where you live. The immersion experience with RealD is a bit different compared to what you get at IMAX 3D projections as here the depth perception is of actual depth so the action is more going inside the screen, and not popping out of it. This does not make things less impressive, although some people might get a little disappointed at first if they were expecting to have the IMAX 3D pop-out effects, but after some time of watching they still get the feeling they are right in the middle of the action. This way of going more in the projection screen and not out of it is also easier on your brain as it is not that overloaded with information and is considered better for longer movies. Also it is easier to keep track of quick action scenes and the ghosting is usually less, so most of the people prefer this technology, although it is still not perfect.
Dolby 3D
Also known as Dolby 3D Digital Cinema is the newest of the three technologies for stereoscopic 3D movie projection and as you can guess not only by the name it is as well digital like RealD. A lot of people find that Dolby 3D is the best stereoscopic 3D technology for them to watch movies in the cinema. Here we also have the typical cinema style plastic 3D glasses that use a bit more specific passive filters related to the main colors we see which is by far considered to provide the best results. Of course this special type of polarization brings the cost of the glasses up compared to the normal linear or circular polarized glasses the other technologies use, but there the projection screen doesn’t have to be specific (Dolby 3D at home, anyone?). Dolby 3D provides better color reproduction (colors look a bit brighter and more vivid) and a sharper image with more details visible (especially in darker areas), better contrast and almost no ghosting of the objects you see on the screen, which also are not that much popping out of the screen like in IMAX 3D, but rely more on inside depth, like with RealD. Still the stereoscopic 3D experience here is yet again not perfect as you might have trouble with the quick refocusing of your eyes on some objects moving fast from the back to front and some people might have weird troubles seeing the right colors some rare occasions.
And after all this you can say that it is still mostly a matter of personal preferences where you’ll watch 3D movies, but sometimes you might not have IMAX 3D cinema around or any other technology. Have in mind that with the case of Avatar, it is also being shown in some 2D cinemas, but that will be too stupid to do when the movie has been made especially to be watched in 3D. The only thing I don’t like about IMAX is that after about 40 minutes I’m a bit tired and I probably will have trouble watching a movies that is much longer than that. As for RealD and Dolby 3D for me there is hardly any significant difference between the quality and experience you get in cinemas equipped with one or the the other technology, although Dolby 3D seems to be slightly better. And don’t forget that sometimes not well enough built 3D cinema can ruin everything with the one at fault not the technology being used…

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Books & Media – Magazines article

Peter Grouwels — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 19:46:36 +0000

The following white paper takes a look at ten key indicators of the strength of magazines and why they are a “have to have” medium compared to other media, including:
1. Magazine readership growth
The number of magazine users has grown over the past five years at a higher rate (+5.7%) than the number of users of all other media except for the internet, according to Mediamark Research & Intelligence (MRI).
In fact, the increase in magazine users over the past five years exceeded the growth rate of the total adult population (+4.8%). TV and Outdoor matched the U.S. adult population growth, but did not exceed it. Radio grew at a slower pace during this time, while newspapers lost users.
And, contrary what some people may believe, the number of young readers (18-34 year olds) has also grown over the past five years, by 2.6%. (To see a chart showing a five-year trend in media usage click here or go to page 7 of the Magazine Handbook.)
2. Number of issues read
Over the past five years the average number of issues read in the past month has trended upwards as well, going from 11.0 issues in 2004 to 11.5 issues in 2008. This represents an increase of +5.0%. Additionally, the number of magazines read by adults 18-34 (during the same period) rose from 12.1 to 13.1, or +8.3%. (To see a chart showing the five-year trend in magazine readership by number of issues read click here or go to page 7 of the Magazine Handbook.)
3. Subscriptions are highest in a decade
Magazine subscriptions hit a ten year high in 2008, in part because the percent of new subscriptions coming from the internet climbed to 21% last year. While newsstand sales have declined during this time, consumers still spend more than $93 million each week at retail on single-copy magazines.
4. Number of consumer magazines
In the past five years, the number of U.S. consumer magazines grew, averaging more than 6,800 titles annually. In fact, 2008 marked a high point since the last recession. While some magazines will fold in this downturn, largely due to declining ad dollars, consumers and advertisers have a broad array of titles to meet their needs.
5. Age of magazine readers
The median age of magazine readers (43.1) has been consistently younger than the median age of total U.S. adults (43.9) over the past five years. During this time, the median age of primetime TV viewers (44.8) and newspaper readers (44.7) has been consistently older than the U.S. adult population.
6. Media engagement
Magazines continue to score significantly higher than TV or the internet in ad receptivity as well as all other engagement dimensions, including “trustworthy” and “inspirational,” according to data from Simmons’ Multi-Media Engagement Study.
7. Magazine advertising effectiveness continues to grow
Magazine ad effectiveness hit an all-time high in 2008. The two measures of ad effectiveness for magazines—ad recall and actions taken as a result of seeing an ad—have both grown, according to Affinity’s VISTA Print Effectiveness Rating Service. Ad recall has increased by six percent over the past four years; action-taking increased by 10%.
8. Magazines excel in driving web search
Magazines perform better than any of 12 other media at influencing consumers to start a search for merchandise online—far ahead of internet and email advertising, online communities, and word-of-mouth. What’s more, magazines are the only medium to rank in the top three media for driving web search by gender as well as by all age segments.
9. Magazines readers are influencers
Heavy magazine readers are far more likely to influence family and friends across a range of product categories than are heavy users of other media. Magazines are also the medium that best complements the web in reaching the social networkers who build buzz.
10. Magazine brands continue to evolve
Magazines’ printed versions and digital extensions keep pace with changing consumer habits using new technologies. New innovations enable printed magazines to get to market quicker and to customize editorial and advertising content to fit subscriber profiles. Technology has also yielded new cover options, such as the first-ever digital cover (Esquire) and interactive 3D cover (Popular Science).
Consumer magazine companies announced 76 digital initiatives during the first quarter of 2009, a 10 percent increase from the same period last year. Among the new initiatives announced so far in 2009 are iPhone and other cell phone apps, video for websites and mobile devices, Twitter feeds, content-sharing partnerships, integrated marketing initiatives, and online social networks.
At the same time, magazine ad measurement is becoming even more accountable. Magazines are the only medium with syndicated data on ad recall and actions taken as a result of seeing an ad, and now a service produces the first-ever ad ratings for consumer magazines.

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Books & media – Books article

Peter Grouwels — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 19:42:33 +0000

Information! It has been called everything from the new gold standard to the fundamental building block of universe and civilizations. No matter where we live or what we do for a living, it is omnipresent in our lives. No wonder our age is called the information age. The information age is characterized by a revolution in the way we collect, organize, store, process, and transmit information. This revolution has also led us into thinking about the fundamental nature, properties and workings of information. In the information age, the information theorists are arguably the most important thinkers of our time. For the first time in the history of ideas, the concept of information is being applied, by a great many philosophers and scientists, in explaining a range of phenomenon, be it the realm of nature or the domain of culture.
The fundamental intuition underlying information, is not the transmission of signals across a communication channel, but rather the actualization of one possibility to the exclusion of the others. To learn something is to acquire information, which is to rule out other possibilities. For there to be information there must be a multiplicity of distinct possibilities any one of which might happen. When one of these possibilities does happen and the others are ruled out, information becomes actualized.
Currently, just to consider one of many areas where the concept of information is at the forefront of the issues, there is a heated debate going on between evolutionists and creationists, about the presence and role of information in the emergence of life on the planet. Information perspective is being employed by creationists to develop a bridge between science and theology. These scientists claim that intelligent design in nature can be unpacked as a theory of information because information is not reducible to natural causes. Therefore, information becomes a reliable indicator of design and therefore of God.
Creation and evolution theorists assign fundamentally different attributes and relations to the notion of information in explaining their respective positions. Creationists claim that the DNA molecule is the medium not the message. Information and matter are incommensurable domains and they have to be considered separately. The kind of information found in the DNA does require an intelligent author. Natural causes are incapable of generating complex specified information. Since biological organisms contain complex specified information they can only have been produced by non-material intelligent design. Complex biological information cannot just arise from natural processes. But according to evolutionary theorists, unintelligent material processes create the genetic information. They claim that information fed into the modern genome by natural selection is actually information about ancient environments in which ancestors survived.
Evolutionary theorists therefore deny that genetic information comes from an intelligent source. But creationists propose the analogy that the information in the computer software (and the hardware too) comes ultimately from an intelligent source outside the computer and is not merely an emergent property of silicon and electricity in combination. Why should this also not be true of the virtually more complex genetic information?

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Books & media – Audio books article

Peter Grouwels — Sun, 11 Apr 2010 19:38:54 +0000

Audiobooks are readings of books down by usually one reader. They can be Abridged or Unabridged (more about that later). They can also be dramatised with multiple actors reading different characters.
Why listen to Audiobooks?
Human Beings have long had an oral tradition. We used to sit around the campfire listening to stories. Children love having stories read to them. Audiobooks are in that oral tradition. More than that you can listen to audio books when you are doing something else. Many people get terribly car sick (well car sick, bus sick, plane sick…any kind of motion sick), and for them there is no way to read a book while in a car or a bus (or anything moving). An audio book is fantastic on along car/bus/plane/boat journey. The just time flies as you are taken away on an imaginary journey that is just like reading (except you can keep you eyes closed)

Audio Books are great when you are doing boring things. When you do the vacuuming, cleaning the house …. Take an audio book while you do the gardening, taking a walk ..

Audio Books are good for all sorts of other people
Audio Books are great for children on long car trips, boys (its usually boys) who don’t like to read – get them to listen to an adventure Audio Book and they will be hooked. – Good for older people with failing eyesight. Sitting in hospital, or recuperating from an illness can be much more enjoyable listening to an Audio Book.
Truck Drivers and other long distance drivers often use Audio Books for fatigue management. Its a great way to keep you alert and attentive on a long drive.
Audio Books can give you a different perspective.
For example listening to an Audio Bible can be totally different to reading the Bible. Some Bible Audio Books are voiced with multiple actors voices giving the Bible a theatrical feeling. Some other Audio Books have been recorded with multiple voices – BBC Lord of the Rings, the Star Wars Trilogy, the New “Dune” AudioBook. These Audio Books become more like movie versions of books than standard Audio Books.

Abridged vs Unabridged
Abridged Audiobooks, and a cut-down version of the book, which may be anything to a quarter of its length to three quarters. Unabridged Audiobooks have every word of the book read.

Learning new things with AudioBooks
There are many Business Audio Books , audio books that allow you listen to great business ideas while you are driving around to appointments. Audio Books likePsychology of Selling, Freakonomics and Buffetology. There are some great History Audio Books titles as well. Stephen Ambrose Band of Brothers , John M Barry The Great Influenza, Bill Bryson - A Short History of nearly Everything.

Great Motivation from AudioBooks
There are great motivational Audio Books like Anthony Robbins Audio Books (Awaken the Giant, Live with Passion…) Dr Phil Audio Books for solving life’s problems and Zig Ziglar for example, which you can listen to time again. Some people listen to Anthony Robbins while lifting weights at the Gym…

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Beauty – fragrances article

Peter Grouwels — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 19:34:51 +0000

Do keep your fragrances safe from extreme cold or heat.
Once a bottle of perfume is opened it should be used. Otherwise it will begin to fade or change its character with time. Long exposure to strong sunlight or extremes in temperature can disturb the delicate balance of the perfume and change its scent. Perfume, to last, should be kept in a cool, dry place away from direct light, preferably in its beautiful box. Just as books must be read… records played… fragrances must be worn to be enjoyed.
Do make it a rule never to try more than three scents at one time when you are shopping for a new fragrance.
Your nose will lose its ability to tell the difference. Apply fragrance directly to the skin when you are testing new scents. You cannot get a true reaction to the fragrance from the bottle. Apply a few drops to your wrist. Allow the heat of the body to develop the fragrance on your skin and then sniff. If you would like to test one or two additional scents, apply one to the other wrist… wait…and then apply the third to the inside bend of the elbow. If you want to delay your decision while you shop, be sure to write down which fragrance you put where, so you’ll be able to refer back to it later on.
Do introduce the enjoyment of fragrance to every young person you know.
It is never too soon for them to experience the fun and benefits of fragrance.
Do use fragrance throughout every day.
It will increase your feelings of well being… add a special degree of graciousness to daily living… make life for you and those around you infinitely more pleasurable and enjoyable.
Don’t hoard your fragrance.
Open each bottle with anticipation and pleasure. Enjoy its fragrant contents regularly or you may be disappointed to discover it has spoiled or evaporated before your eyes.
Don’t put fragrance directly on furs or fabrics.
It may stain.
Don’t make your final judgements on a new fragrance
until at least ten minutes after you have applied it. By that time the alcohol will have evaporated and the blending of the fragrance with your own skin’s chemistry will give you a true impression.
Don’t choose a fragrance because you like it on someone else.
Fragrance is never the same on different people. Everyone is created equal until they use fragrance. It is your individual body chemistry which makes a fragrance special, unique and flattering for you.
Don’t forget fragrances for men.
They have never been more of a basic part of masculine good grooming. Colognes, shaving foams, after-shaving lotions, skin conditioners, soaps, after-shower body rubs, talcs, all add a refreshing and delightful dimension to the masculine living.

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Beauty – Cosmetics article

Peter Grouwels — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 19:31:42 +0000

Skin Anatomy
The skin contains many different cells and structures and it constantly changes as layers are shed and replaced by other layers. Skin varies in thickness throughout the body and different people have different layers of thickness. There are three layers of skin, the epidermis, the dermis and the subcutaneous tissue. The epidermis is the outer layer of skin. The top layer of the epidermis (stratum corneum) has dead skin cells which shed approximately every two weeks. The dermis contains three types of tissue (collagen, elastic tissue and reticular fibers). The subcutaneous tissue is a layer of fat and connective tissue.

SKIN TYPES

There are four skin types. Different skin types may need different approaches to achieve healthy skin. It is important to use the appropriate skin care tips for each skin type.
1.Normal skin has the proper balance between oil and moisture, so that it is not greasy or dry. It looks clear, supple and healthy. Normal skin still needs good skin care, but requires less treatment than other skin types.
2.Dry skin cannot retain moisture as well as normal skin. It may flake and it is prone to wrinkles and lines. Important skin care tips for dry skin include the regular use of a good moisturizer.
3.Oily skin has an over secretion of sebum. There is excess oil on the surface of the skin. Oily skin often develops spots and pimples. Important skin care tips for oily skin include regular and thorough cleansing.
4.Combination skin is a combination of both oily and dry skin. The forehead, nose and chin may be oily, and the cheeks and other areas may be dry. Each area should be given the right skin care that is needed for that skin type.
What Is Dry Skin and How Is It Caused?
Dry skin (or xerosis) has a low level of sebum, which is the skin’s natural lubricant. As it does not have enough sebum, it dries out easily and is unable to retain the right amount of moisture needed for healthy skin.

A number of factors may cause dry skin. It is more common in winter when the cold outside and the heat inside contribute in drying up the skin. It can also be caused by hot water or harsh soaps. Poor diet or smoking can also cause or aggravate the problem. Dry skin may also be a symptom of other conditions, including dermatitis, eczema, ichthyoids, psoriasis, an under active thyroid and diabetes. Dry skin becomes more common as people age.
Problems Faced by People with Dry Skin
People with dry skin may find their skin cracks and peels or becomes flaky. Dry skin may look parched and feel tight after washing. It can also become red, irritated and inflamed. Dry itchy skin is a common problem for people with dry skin. In extreme cases, there may be deep fissures that bleed.

Dry skin ages more quickly than other types of skin. Wrinkles and fine lines can often become a problem.
Techniques for Dealing with Dry Skin
There are a number of things you can do for effective dry skin care. Baths and showers should be taken in warm, instead of hot, water, and should be kept as short as possible. Soap should be used sparingly. Mild cleansers and pure soaps are better. When drying your skin, use patting motions and avoid rubbing the skin too much. Try massaging your skin to increase the flow of natural oils.

Because cold and heat exacerbate the problems of dry skin, people with dry skin should protect their face and skin when going out into the wind or sun, and they should always wear a sunscreen.

Exercise, a good diet and enough sleep will all help keep your skin healthy.

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Beauty – Bath & body article

Peter Grouwels — Sat, 03 Apr 2010 19:25:12 +0000

The Basic 4-Step Skincare Regimen Step 1: Cleansing

Simple is key here. You need to find a good cleanser that your skin responds well to, and stick with it. See the best cleansers for your skin type.
You can find a good cleanser at the drugstore. There’s no need to spend $40 on a fancy wash. Avoid bar soaps as they tend to dry out the skin. According to Rona Berg, in her book, “Beauty,” a French cosmetics executive once told her, “Soap should only ever touch your skin from the neck down.” We agree. Choose a creamy cleanser if you have dry skin or a clear cleanser if you have oily skin.

Be careful not to cleanse too often. Washing at night should do you. If you have dry skin, consider cold cream like Pond’s, which the French use. Simply apply cream, then wipe off, no water needed (if you have hard water it can be especially harsh on skin). Most women prefer the water method: Use warm water to loosen dirt and clogged pores. Use a dime-sized bit of cleanser, then rinse with cool or lukewarm water. You’ll also want to take off your makeup with a proper makeup remover.

In the morning, a splash of lukewarm water is all you need (we find it’s great for removing excess oils from your nightly moisturizing). Never wash your face with hot or cold water (both can cause broken capillaries). Also be careful about overcleansing skin, see signs you are overcleansing your skin.

Step 2: Exfoliate

Exfoliation is the step most people skip in their weekly skincare routine. But trust me, if you start properly exfoliating your skin, you will notice an almost immediate difference. According to Berg, one of the reasons men’s skin looks more youthful than women’s is because men tend to exfoliate daily when they shave. There are several ways to exfoliate skin: Microdermabrasion, chemical peels and retinoids.
See my list of the best facial scrubs and microdermabrasion kits.

Scrubs work by removing the top layer of dead skin cells that tend to dull your complexion. We find exfoliating skin once a week with a microdermabrasion kit keeps skin glowing year-round. Make sure you use a gentle scrub with tiny grains. Big grains in cheap scrubs can tear skin and cause more harm than good. My favorite microdermabrasion kit is made by Lancome.

In the hour it takes to get a chemical peel, you can take off five years from your face. Can’t afford the price tag for a monthly peel? Try some over-the-counter peels that work over the course of a month. I prefer MD Skincare’s.

Retinoids (such as Retin-A or the more moisturizing Renova) also work by removing the top layer of dead skin cells while also generating collagen in the skin. “Collagen is the skin’s structural fiber,” dermatologist Dennis Gross said in O Magazine. “As we get older, it breaks down, creating lines and large pores.” Skincare experts disagree on all sorts of things, but most of them consider retinoids to be a miracle skin saver. I’m addicted to Retin-A, which I pick up in Mexico on my yearly jaunts.

Should you use a toner? Some people swear by toners, but many beauty experts do not (I once read a skincare expert claim, “toners are only for copy machines”). Toners are meant to remove all remaining traces of oil, makeup and dirt, but a good cleanser should do this. I firmly believe it’s up to you. If you like the way your skin feels with a toner. Buy it. Use it. Enjoy it.

Step 3: Moisturize

While I know of at least one famous beauty editor who swore skin doesn’t need moisturizer, basically everyone else I’ve read disagrees and is an adamant believer in it. A basic law of beauty is that everyone, no matter her skin type, should moisturize. Even if your skin is oily, it will benefit from moisturizers. (The only exception is those with acne). Why? Moisturizers seal moisture into skin (Berg calls this the “Saran Wrap effect”). So how much should you moisturize? Your skin will tell you. When your skin is tight, it’s crying out for moisture. Be careful not to overmoisturize — this can clog pores.
See my list of the best moisturizers on the market.

Are eye creams necessary? Well maybe. Some beauty experts strongly recommend eye creams. Why? The skin around the eye contains no fatty tissue and is therefore very thin and susceptible to wrinkles. Special eye creams are formulated to “thicken” this area. Yet other experts (including the beauty editors of Allure in their new book) claim your daily lotion works around the eyes just as well.

See my list of the best eye creams.

Step 4: Apply Sunscreen

O Magazine ran an article featuring interviews with several top skin care experts and dermatologists (check it out here). Every single one of them said sunscreen was the most important part of your skincare regimen. It was the secret they would pass on to their daughters.

The number-1 cause of wrinkles is sun damage, so it’s important to use sunscreen from your early years on even in winter and on cloudy days. A great trick is to purchase two moisturizers: One for night and one for day that includes UV protection. Don’t use moisturizers with sunscreen at night, the ingredients are not meant to be used 27/7 and can aggravate skin. When choosing a sunscreen, make sure it contains Mexoryl (found in my favorite sunscreen La-Roche Posay) or Helioplex, found in Neutrogena products.

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