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One of the most effective and pleasurable ways to maintain the health of your skin is through the use of skin masks targeted for specific benefits. There are a variety of nutrient-rich masks for home use that will help nourish and restore the skin’s healthy appearance. Following are some of the most advanced ingredients in today’s scientifically-based home facial masks.

ANCIENT TRADITIONS, MODERN ADVANCES
The science of natural skin care dates back as far as the 4th millennium BC. The ancient Egyptians were the first to develop natural skin care treatments based on a variety of general skin conditions. In the writings of the first century Roman historian Pliny the Elder, we even find a reference to an actual beauty regimen once used by Cleopatra herself. This recorded royal treatment began with a mask of black asphalt mud from the banks of the Dead Sea, followed by an invigorating scrub of Dead Sea salt (still used in skin care products today), and finished with a scented massage of fragrant oil to hide the pungent smell of the pitch and mineral salts.

Like long ago, the science of natural skin care today still involves using botanically-sourced ingredients (such as herbs, roots, essential oils, and flowers), combining them with naturally occurring carrier agents and manufacturing them in a way that preserves the integrity of the ingredients. Unlike our ancient predecessors, who relied heavily on guesswork and mystical incantation, we now have the benefit of scientific technology that is able to verify the efficacy of new plant nutrients and assess the value of their therapeutic properties. Modern extraction techniques also provide raw materials that are extremely concentrated and free of impurities, for vastly improved results over a shorter period of time.
These advancements in natural science and technology have enabled the creation of powerful, targeted formulas that specifically address certain skin conditions.

ANTI-AGING MASK: RESTORING A YOUTHFUL APPEARANCE
Exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light from the sun, environmental toxins, stress, and other factors readily generates free radicals that can age your skin. The damage caused by these free radicals results in your collagen protein molecules breaking down and then linking back up again in a different way. This process, known as cross-linking, causes the normally mobile collagen fibers beneath your skin to become stiff and less yielding, resulting in the appearance of lines and wrinkles.

Over time, free radical assault can also do damage to the sensitive lipid bilayers of your skin cell membranes, allowing them to lose water and be comedry and dehydrated. Skin trauma caused by other oxidative agents also releases pro-inflammatory messengers like nuclear factor-kappa B that can destroy your skin’s elasticity and thickness.

Since ancient times and now in today’s most advanced medical spas, therapeutic masks applied to the face are used to correct many of the factors of aging. To help restore your skin’s youthful elasticity, tone, and texture, a new Anti-Aging Mask has been developed that features a unique combination of scientifically proven ingredients that not only reduce fine lines and wrinkles, but hydrate, moisturize and protect your skin from age-accelerating free radicals.


Squalene is one of the ingredient used in advanced skin health; apart from the other ingredients, discusses Gary Golfaden, MD.

SQUALENE

Squalene in the Healing Mask has a very similar chemical structure to vitamin A. The value of squalene stems directly from the fact that it is the principal hydrocarbon found in your sebum, where it amounts to approximately 12% of the total fat content.

A natural emollient that imparts suppleness to your skin without an unpleasant greasy feel, squalene readily forms emulsions with fixed oils and fat-soluble substances, yet it does not oxidize or turn rancid. Squalene is quickly absorbed into your skin, penetrating deeply to assist in the acceleration of new cell growth. It also helps to discourage the growth of microorganisms that can block normal healthy cell development by forming a protective anti-bacterial and fungicidal coating on your skin.

Squalene also has a stimulatory effect on the healing process. Not only does squalene boosts your body’s natural ability to regenerate, nourish, and hydrate the skin tissue, but it is also uniquely valuable for its ability to increase the rate, depth, and penetration of other topical healing agents. {1-3}

Nutrient-rich facial masks offer advanced solutions for today’s most common skin problems. Using time-honored botanical extracts combined with cutting-edge nutritional agents, you can achieve a radiant, youthful complexion

REFERENCES

1.     Newmark HL. Squalene, olive oil, and cancer risk. Review and hypothesis. Ann NY Acad Sci.
         1999;889:193-203.

2.     Kelly GS. Squalene and its potential clinical uses. Altern Med Rev. 1999 Feb;4(1):29-36.

3.     Murakoshi M, Nishino H, Tokuda H, et al. Inhibition by squalene of the
        tumor-promoting activity of 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate in mouse-skin
        carcinogenesis. Int J Cancer. 1992 Dec 2;52(6):950-2.