By Retno Kuswantoro

Skin care products appear in many forms: cream, lotion, and gel. Each of them has specific characteristic related to active ingredients and ease of utilizing. A gel is a solid, jelly-like material that can have properties ranging from soft and weak to hard and tough. Skin care product which comes into gel form are hair gel, face cleanser, body wash gel, shampoo, eye gel, acne gel, face mask, exfoliating gel, etc.

Face gel

Facial gel

Eye gel

Compared with skin care cream and skin care lotion, skin care gel contains much water in its formulation, and usually oil-free. If applying on your skin this product give you light feeling and cool sensation. They also easily cleanse with water. If you have oily skin this form is a good choice.

In the same time, ease cleansing with water can become both its advantage and disadvantage. If you want active ingredients stay long on your skin, such as antibiotics in acne medication, or sunscreen, skin care gel is not a good choice. Active ingredients can be easily removed by sweat. Better you choose skin care cream or lotion instead.

Another disadvantage of skin care gel is this form can not contains fat soluble vitamins and other fat soluble active ingredients such as vitamin A and E, and natural oil. If you need skin care to moisturize your skin, skin care gel is not a right choice.

Dryness and feel tighten in your skin may come if skin care gel is applied in dry skin or sensitive skin type. It makes aging lines in your skin obviously. So don’t choose anti aging products that comes into gel form.

By Retno Kuswantoro


Nowadays, emphasis on image of youthfulness by the mass media and fashion, people like to have younger appearance. As we age skin sagging and wrinkles may occur because of loss of soft tissue and fat. Since ancient time people have tried to find procedures which give them younger skin. Skin Rejuvenation is any procedure used to increase or restore the appearance of a younger age to someone’s face. For specific term it refers to a set of surgical procedures.

Rejuvenate skin

Combinations of procedures usually do together depend on face area which needs corrections. They are combinations of brow lift, elimination of eye bags, eyelids lift, elimination of senile spots, skin aging, face lift and physical or chemical peeling, chin lift (reduction of double chin), restoration of facial hairline, etc. And don’t forget, clear acne take apart of younger appearance too.

Other medically effective to skin rejuvenations are: Botox injections, DMAE creams, facial toning, collagen injection, and microdermabrasion. Important thing you should aware is make sure all of those skin rejuvenations are done by dermatologist or doctor who trained and have experiences to do those procedures. These procedures are usually successful and in some cases achieve striking results.

By Retno Kuswantoro

Tighten skin

A lot of skin tightening products is rushed to the market to meet the demand of everyone who dreams to look younger. Their forms may come in creams, serum, or mask.

Companies claim that those skin tightening can tighten, firming, and reduce the visible signs of aging – fine lines, wrinkles, age spots and sagging skin. With look appealing of their jar or bottles and their advertisement with youthful looking model or a well known celebrity, those products may confuse you

The reality is most people simply won’t take any time to research products and understand what ingredients work and what ingredients are actually bad for your skin.

These are some tips to choose skin tightening products:

1. Start by looking for active ingredients found in skin tightening products. Make sure the skincare products contain pure, natural ingredients. Many product lines often contain chemicals and synthetic ingredients that will harm your skin if used over long periods of time such as parabens and mineral oil.
2. Some ingredients are well known can tighten and firming skin. When choosing a skin tightening product, it’s not just about find out good ingredients in its label; you should choose products that contain good ingredients in high concentration to get best result.
3. Don’t neglect another people’s experiences about using those skin tightening products. If you consider buying these products via internet better you read customer reviews first. They can help you to make a decision.
4. Be patient. Efficient products can heal your skin, make it tighten and firming after a few days of normal use. There is no products can fade away the visible signs of aging – fine lines, wrinkles, age spots and sagging skin dramatically. If you have acne, better you delay applying skin tightening products on your skin until you get clear acne.

By Retno Kuswantoro

Acne skin care for men

Both men and women can suffer from acne and to control acne they need acne skin care. Usually men have more oily skin and bigger pore than women, so actually they should need special acne skin care.

Acne skin care for men are not a new products, it comes in the market to meet men demand. But in fact, many men are not too aware of acne care products because men usually do not like doing excessively care they skin with skin care.

Nowadays, healthy and clear skin may increase someone’s performance and it is helpful to get a job, friends, love, etc. So for men, caring skin, especially men with acne, is a necessity.

For men who do not like excessively apply skin care on your skin these are simple acne skin care for you:

1. Skin cleanser: healthy and clear skin comes from good habit cleansing your skin everyday. Just twice a day, with mild cleanser. Better you avoid astringent or toner that contains alcohol. They may stimulate sebaceous gland to produce more oil.
2. Moisturizer: even you have oily skin, you should not discard moisturizer. Choose oil-free, non-comedogenic, and non-acnegenic formula. For simplify steps applying skin care, choose moisturizer contains sunscreen.
3. Shaving cream: be careful shaving can cause cuts, scars and irritation which only make acne worse. Choose shaving cream for sensitive skin, it is appropriate for men who have acne.

It is so simple, isn’t it? So there are no reasons to neglect caring your skin. Find out my other info about clear acne.

By Retno Kuswantoro

Men skin care products

Nowadays, men are increasingly taking care of their skin. Specially formulated men skin care products have transformed the way men look after their skin. No matter what personality or career they have, all men want to look good. Whether it’s looking good for a business meeting or a hot date, or face is the first thing people see, thus having a clean face is an important part of our aspect. It’s a good realize that men taking care of their skin not just about looking good, but it’s primarily about health.

You will have a refreshed skin, which looks health and gives you a youthful appearance if you start with a skin care routine. Men skin care products provide complete care for men’s type of skin and work to rejuvenate it, so that it remains healthy.  First you should start getting to know your skin: sensitive skin, dry skin, or oily skin.  Here is men skin care you will need.

1. Face Wash: use face wash for men according to your skin type.

2. Face Scrub: face scrub is used to exfoliate your dead skin cells. Use a face scrub only 2-3 times a week, preferably on the days you shave.

3. Shaving Cream: spread shaving cream. After rinse it will give your skin feeling soft and smooth.

4. Astringent: it will reduce excess oil and dirt on your face which the cleanser may have missed. An astringent is more potent than a toner and will contain more alcohol. Astringents are more useful for oily skin.

5. Acne care product

6. Moisturizer. I suggest you to choose men skin care moisturizer containing these ingredients:

• CynergyTK: This ingredient stimulates the growth of collagen and elastin for men’s young healthy looking skin.
• Nanobelle Coenzyme Q10: It seeps through seven layers of skin to remove effect of wrinkles and give a smooth skin texture.
• Natural vitamin E and active Manuka honey: It gives men’s skin youthfulness and plenty of nourishment.

By Retno Kuswantoro

Natural dry skin care

Dry facial skin care is facial skin care for people who having dry skin type. Dry skin is a very common problem of face and skin but for people that suffer from dry skin it can be the most difficult problem to deal with. Dry skin can be itchy and irritating, and gives a dull look to the skin and causes skin to age prematurely such as dry skin contributes to fine lines and wrinkles.


If you have dry skin type your skin needs moisture to stay smooth and supple. It is an important thing that you take proper care of your skin and consider dry facial skin care. These are few tips you need to know about taking dry facial skin care:

1. First, find out what causes your skin dry. Avoid them as possible you can. Few things that causes your skin dry are:

• Dry skin can be due to a genetic condition but it’s not common, and you can not avoid this condition.
• A very cold climate, the dry air from where you live in, or over exposure to the sun light contribute to dry your skin
• Clean your face too often or not use moisturizer routine

2.  Dry skin can be caused by bad nutrition, such as deficiency of vitamin A, C and D. Drink plenty of water, about 8 glasses a day.

3.   Using facial skin care for dry skin routine to get supple and radiant skin:

• Prefer use mild cleanser or cream cleanser than use soap to cleanse your face. Cleanse your face twice a day. Too often cleanse can cause your skin dry.
• Once a week you can facial your dry skin with exfoliating skin care. It will take the layers of dead skin off and reveal the glowing skin underneath.
• After cleanse your face you should use moisturizer, use the thick, oily-type which work better for dry skin. Apply cool compresses to any itchy areas. Use bath oils and moisturizers, or better yet, coconut oil, daily.
• If you have acne, it is better that you use acne product such as mild cleanser contains antibacterial.
• Before you sleep you can apply night cream and eye cream to your dry skin. It is good to delay skin aging.

By Retno Kuswantoro

Facial skin care

Everyone can suffer from acne. It may be a frustrating condition. When you suffer from acne you need skin care facial products for acne and you have to apply a special treatment and be more careful with your skin.  Together with that, topical therapy is recommended for the management of acne, especially for patients with non-inflammatory comedones and mild to moderate inflammatory acne.

These are just some tips for people who suffer from acne. Good skin care facial products will surely help to fight this infection that affects everybody.

1. If you have acne, you should gently wash your face with a mild cleanser, once in the morning and once in the evening, as well as after heavy exercise. Wash your face from under the jaw to the hairline and be sure to thoroughly rinse your skin.
2. If you have oily skin, avoid washing your face too often. Use mild facial cleansers so that your face won’t be stripped of all its natural oils. Using strong soaps or rough scrub pads is not helpful and can actually make the problem worse. Astringents are not recommended unless the skin is very oily, and then they should be used only on oily spots.
3. Make sure you use anti bacterial cleansers that kills acne causing bacteria. You can choose many form skin care facial products: anti bacteria gels, creams or lotions.
4. Choose noncomedogenic skin care facial products. They don’t promote the formation of closed pores. Noncomedogenic products are certified to not cause or exacerbate acne.
5. If you have dry skin, you may need to moisturize regularly in order to facilitate the healing process of acne. Use oil-free moisturizing acne products.
6. For men who shave and who have acne are recommended to use cream or soap before doing so. The cream or soap will soften hair. And of course be sure to use the right shaver.
7. All cosmetics you use, such as foundation, blush, eye shadow, moisturizers, and hair-care products should be oil free. As much as possible maintain your skin free from makeup. Use cosmetic treatments such as massages, only after consulting your doctor. It may exacerbate your acne.

By Retno Kuswantoro

You know that facial skin care products barrage the market. Making a decision to consume natural one is a right choice. Natural facial skin care products are suitable for all skin types. Don’t confuse to buy all products. All you need is facial skin care products routine.

The prime thing is about understanding your skin type, and your skin’s special conditions such as acne, allergies, aging, etc. Find out your skin needs, and you can prepare any of the tips and continue applying regularly to the skin to look appealing.

Here are my reviews for best natural skin care products:

1. Natural facial cleanser

Komenuka Bijin’s exclusive blend of rice bran with mineral-rich sea kelp and moisturizing aloe extract will smooth out your complexion, creating a more balanced skin tone. Your skin will be clean but not tight, and will look and feel softer and tighter. You will see new brightness in your cheeks and around your eyes. Most people notice a difference in as little as 3-5 days.

2. Natural facial moisturizer

This light, non-greasy moisturizing facial cream is suitable for all skin types, and good for day & night. Rice bran and rice oil soften and promote regeneration of healthy skin, resulting in smoother, refined & delicare complexion.

3. Natural anti aging skin care

This product really comes from natural rice bran. Use once or twice a week to rejuvenate your skin.

By Retno Kuswantoro 

Best facial moisturizer

What is Cosmeceutical Facial Moisturizer? 

Cosmeceutical Facial Moisturizer is cosmetic that are applied to the face to moisture the face skin to get youthful appearance. This face care product represents a marriage between cosmetic and pharmaceutical and contains ingredients that influence the biological function of the skin. Facial moisturizers can improve appearance, and they do so by delivering nutrients necessary for healthy skin. 

An important thing you should know is according to the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act “does not recognize any such category as “cosmeceuticals.” A product can be a drug, a cosmetic, or a combination of both, but the term “cosmeceutical” has no meaning under the law”. The term “cosmeceutical” is often used in cosmetic advertising, and may be misleading to the consumer.

Cosmeceutical facial moisturizer usually contains active ingredients such as vitamins, phytochemicals, enzymes, antioxidants, and essential oils. These are some of them:

1. Vitamin A and its derivatives act as antioxidants. As antioxidants, they protect cells from oxidative damage.
2. Vitamin C has been used effectively in facial moisturizer to stimulate collagen repair, thus diminishing some of the effects of photoaging on skin.
3. Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) is the major antioxidant in plasma, membranes, and tissues.
4. Panthenol, the alcohol analog of vitamin B-5. It is converted in the skin to pantothenic acid, which is an important component to lighten and whitening the skin.
5. Lipoic acid is a unique free radical protector.
6. Allantoin promotes cell proliferation, aiding in the healing process.
7. Liposomes. The use of liposomes in facial moisturizer also has many benefits, including improved penetration and diffusion of active ingredients, selective transport of active ingredients; longer release time, greater stability of active, and reduction of unwanted side effects. 
8. Papain, an enzyme found in the papaya fruit can be used to exfoliate dead skin cells.
9. Chamomile which stimulates healing process of the skin cells and has anti-inflammatory properties.
10. Ginseng, as active ingredients in facial moisturizer will stimulates the healing process of the skin cells.

By Retno Kuswantoro

Facial skin care products

Facial care products in the market may be confusing you. One of best facial care you can consider as your facial skin care is masks. Masks are being used since ages as a means of facial treatment. Mud masks are made from effective minerals and herbs to remove dead skin cells, absorb excess oil and clean the skin from impurities. It can help enliven the dying condition of your skin. Some herbal mud masks facial care products contain kaolin or china clay, botanical extracts and thermal mud to make your skin look younger, fresh and clean.

Some mud masks facial care products commonly used are listed below:

1. Yoghurt mud musk, made from clay added by yoghurt, white egg, and honey to smooth skin, moisten, and cleans pores. It is good for dry skin.
2. Avocado mud musk made from avocado to absorb extra oil, clear pores and improves blood circulation. It is good for normal to oily skin.
3. Dead Sea mud musk contains rich mineral as come from Dead Sea and herbal such as aloe vera. The mask is effectively used for tightening, toning and nourishing the skin with its mineral contents.
4. Exfoliating mud musk. Usually contains aloe vera, apricot, almond and walnuts to exfoliate dead skin cell to get smoother skin.
5. Oatmeal mud mask is facial care product made from oatmeal mixed with white egg and non fat milk to remove all the dead cells present in the skin and get soften skin. It is good for normal skin.

Choosing mud masks as your facial care products have some benefits. Besides clean the skin off all impurities, dirt and debris, mud masks absorb excess oil to make the skin soft, smooth and supple. Mud masks act as skin whitening too, at the time they work to repairs sun damage to the skin and exfoliate the dead skin cells, they lightening the face skin. These facial care products comes from natural ingredients, it is good for your skin healthy.