Beauty Care

How to permanent Get Rid From Hair Removal?

2009-08-12T02:55:00.000-07:00

The effectiveness of treatment depends on many factors. The candidate must be suitable for permanent hair removal treatment. It has been observed that people do not react very well obscure the treatment of permanent hair removal. This is because the skin absorbs most of the energy of the laser apparatus and gets very little energy to the hair follicle. This prevents the hair from being killed by the laser energy. Or red hair people react similarly to permanent hair removal treatment because the hair absorbs the energy needed to cushion the follicle. It is best to take advice from a specialist before undergoing any treatment for permanent hair removal. Many things must be taken into account before the laser hair removal treatment like having a tan will adversely affect the health of candidates for all. This professional advice before and after treatment is of paramount importance.

How to permanent Get Rid From hair Removal?

Why hair is still growing, even after a permanent hair removal treatment is that the follicles that were not in a state of growth or were inactive during the first session of the permanent hair removal treatment were not affected by permanent hair removal therapy. Only ‘live’ the hair follicles were killed by permanent hair removal laser therapy. After therapy, the inactive follicles began to grow and this is the growing hair follicles not treated. This process of dormant follicles will continue to grow until all the follicles in the skin have been killed, only then stop hair growth. This does not mean that treatment is ineffective. Treatment needs many sessions until all the follicles are removed. Each time the hair grows the treatment must be done to kill the follicles. As time passes and sessions for hair growth will diminish and eventually stop. This is accomplished within three to four months and about as many sessions.

Laser hair removal is an easy way to eliminate an agency wanted the hair easily. The process is smooth, fast and very effective in helping to eliminate body hair permanently. However, unfortunately this type of treatment can not be used by everyone. For example, people with tanned skin and body hair are very clear they are not suitable for this type of permanent hair removal treatment. Therefore, an important prerequisite for a person to be conducive to the success of laser hair removal is that your hair is darker than the surrounding skin. However, despite its advantages, this form of permanent hair removal treatment does not produce consistent results in all those who use it. There are many variables that can influence the outcome and sometimes a person may require more than in other sessions to produce the same result. But while this is a very advanced and controllable way to remove body hair there is no guarantee that will work for you. Therefore, when looking to use the technique of laser for permanent hair removal must ensure that any advertising discount the reduction or elimination of hair.

Permanent hair removal If you’re tired of shaving, waxing and the use of creams, it is likely that those interested in finding forms of permanent hair removal. Two common options for removing unwanted hair so that it never gets laser treatments and electrolysis. Both are provision of trained professionals and can be very expensive, depending on the number of treatments required. The benefit of using these treatments is that they are suitable to remove hair from any part of the body. Receipt of the electrolysis of a trained professional, fine needles are inserted into the follicles, but not break the skin. When the needle is just at the right position, a electric current travels through the needle and destroys the follicle. You can do this process at home with a portable system. This system uses AC power to dissolve follicles without pain and without having to go to any salon or clinic. You do not use a needle with this system at home, but rather uses a system similar to the use of forceps. The system is quite small, so you can easily use in your bathroom. For laser treatment for hair removal, you need not visit a professional. This treatment destroys the hair follicle through the light. Melanin in the follicle absorbs this light and therefore destroyed. One problem with this method is that the laser can not remove white hairs and red or blond hair are very difficult.

Facts Of Laser Hair Removal Safety

2009-08-12T02:23:00.000-07:00

When people think of laser hair removal can have many ideas that are not based on facts. These ideas are in many cases, formed by myths. It can be a good idea to research the facts regarding the safety of this type of process. You may make an informed decision based on facts. Safe and effective laser hair removal treatments have become very popular with the technology available today. They have become permanent as they burn themselves follicles. Follicles are the roots of hair follicles and get rid of these would mean that the hair can not grow again. Laser hair treatments have many benefits and people are still very strong in many cases because of not knowing the facts of the case. People are afraid to hear some stories about the harmful side effects of those involved in the process of treatment. The stories are not based on facts, only fiction.

The use of laser beams directly on the skin can cause a terrible thought, but New Yorkers can be assured that is conducted by a certified professional, the process is not harmful. Laser hair removal is a proven and established alternative. This treatment is known to work best on dark hair and is suitable for many parts of the body. This includes arms, legs, face, back, armpits and bikini lines. The use of laser as a medical tool is considered safe, since it can be precisely adjusted according to different skin types and hair color. Although it is a proven method, its safety can be assured only if the professionals and patients to adhere to the guidelines and precautions. Lasers that emit heat can scar. To reduce these side effects, most professionals use modern techniques of fresh tip. The procedure may end up as unwanted if the clients do not follow the post-treatment counseling. Patients may experience minor side effects after a session. This may include a mild burning sensation of the skin or even cause tiny blisters. Professionals recommend specific medication for a long period to ensure successful treatment.

Laser hair treatments are performed by professionals and most of them are fully licensed. You can easily see if your state requires having a license. With highly skilled professionals, accidents are very rare. With rumors that have become myths, it is sad that people are afraid of these types of treatment safe. Laser hair removal treatments have become one of the most effective and most permanent solution to excessive hair growth for many people. Laser hair removal is primarily recommended for people with fair complexion and dark hair color. This is to minimize the possibility of burning. The best laser is absorbed by the darker colors. If the patient has a light color, the laser can focus on the hair follicles. This should not mean that the dark complexion individuals can not use laser hair treatment. Another disadvantage caused by laser hair removal is slight swelling in local areas. Patients with sensitive skin are more susceptible to this side effect. There is nothing to worry about, however, as the skin in this case is nothing more than adapt to the rigors of treatment ended.

Laser hair removal is not recommended for pregnant women. There is no scientific study linking the treatment of complications of birth, but as with everything else when it comes to pregnancy, the maxim “Better to be safe than sorry” is best practiced by at least nine months. With a little time spent on research is well aware that an informed decision. There are several sites you can use to do their research and gather valuable information to make the process easier. The process of laser hair removal treatment is very safe.

What Skin Care Products Do

2009-08-12T02:16:00.001-07:00

Many people use skin care products to help their skin, whether it is to get rid of acne, extra oil, because the skin is to dry, to get rid of wrinkles, and any other ski problem you can think of. The real question is, do they all work the way they say they do, or do some of the skin care products cause more problems?

First here is a little about skin care products in general. Most skin care products are designed to rid the skin off oils, sweat, dirt, and sebum. To do this they use something called surfactants. These surfactants work to do this by surrounding the oils and particles. It then works to dissolve them in water so that they can be removed by water running over the face.

The only real problems with the surfactants in the skin care products are that they can have a few potential harmful effects. These include dry skin, after care skin tightness, itching, redness, irritation, and damage to your skins barrier function.

There are many different interactions that skin care products have with the stratum corneum proteins. These proteins are called corneocytes. They are structured matrixes that are made from keratin threads. Most cleaners tend to bind to the proteins which causes them to swell because they over hydrate. Because of the swelling, the ingredients in the skin care products are able to work on the lower levels of the skin. This means that the skin care products are able to work on the nerve endings and the immune system which in turn causes the irritation and itching that many suffer from. After the water has finished evaporating, the skin is generally left much dryer and has a hard time rehydrating because of the damage done to the NMF, or natural moisturizing factor in the stratum corneum.

Though the exact thing that is occurring between skin care products and stratum corneum lipids are not really known, there are a couple of things that have been observed. For one thing, it seems that a few of the surfactants are able to get in between the lipid bilayers which causes both permeability and in some cases the bilayer even suffers from some disruption. Another thing is that surfactants seen in skin care problems are the damage that can actually be done to the structures of the lipids themselves. This can cause a reduction in the amount of lipids in your skin.

If you use skin care products like cleaners you should first apply them to your face, and then take a cool moist washcloth and gently rub in small circles all over your face. You should rinse the cleaner off as soon as possible, then pat your face dry and apply skin care products such as moisturizers to help minimize the negative effects of a cleanser. This will help keep your skin from drying out and avoiding the itching and irritation that often occurs after using cleansers.

The Effects of the Microdermabrasion System

2009-08-12T02:11:00.000-07:00

The microdermabrasion system is a system that is used to rejuvenate your skin for a healthier and smoother look. The oil on your skin decreases and dilated pores become less visible, and even a few of the fine wrinkles begin to smooth out. All of this contributes to the younger looking skin that people work so hard to get.

The Microdermabrasion system works because it causes a little trauma to the skin, which causes your skin to work harder to heal your skin, and as the skin heals it does so in a more organized manner than your usual haphazard organization people normally have. This is what causes you skin to appear to be younger than before using the microdermabrasion system.

The microdermabrasion can cause several different changes to the epidermis. These changes are seen before there are any changes to the dermis are noticeable. These changes often make the epidermis layer look healthier. First, the thickness is increase because of the new cells that are quickly being reproduced faster and in larger cells. Second of all, the cells in the lower epidermis are knitted more closely together in a basket weave that is much more consistent than the usual haphazard arrangement that people usually have. Usually using the microdermabrasion system will make skin unusually dry for the fist 24 hours.

Other effects occur on the dermis. This layer has the most dramatic changes for the better. After a series of treatments, the dermal layer also gets a bit thicker. Along with the increase in thickness, collagen fibers become thicker and increase in number. They are packed tighter and organized more consistently. The numbers of elastic fibers also increase, and their orientation changes to vertical instead of horizontal causing more of a spring to the dermis. The fibroblasts cells also increase in number and size. These are the cells that make up the collagen. A number of chemicals that are part of the inflammatory process prove that the inflammatory process is working to repair damages. Blood vessels undergo changes to increase blood flow to the dermis to help your skin to repair damages.

When undergoing the microdermabrasion system, it is best to undergo either 6 or 7 treatments that will all aid in the above. These treatments should be under gone either every 7 days or every 10 days. Usually you will be able to see a number of changes even after the first treatment. These include smoother and healthier skin than what you currently have. After you have undergone several treatments the oil your skin produces decreases and after all of the treatments are completed you will notice that your most dilated pores will decrease in appearance, thicker areas of skin are thinned out, and finally, fine wrinkles that have plagued you may start to disappear.

To achieve all of this, a machine sprays fine crystals over your face to remove your top layer of skin. After this, the loose skin and crystals are vacuumed off. The above has been proven to occur when undergoing these treatments.

Skin Laser Resurfacing

2009-08-12T02:08:00.000-07:00

Laser resurfacing is a technique that is literally used to resurface your skin, usually for the face. It is done by removing the top few layers of skin to bring out the healthier newer skin underneath. This also causes a reaction in your skin that makes it work to produce more skin cells and thicken the layers of your skin. This in turn smoothes your skin and gives it a younger, healthier look.

People who are looking into laser skin resurfacing are usually looking for a combination of several things. These things generally add up to a more youthful look for everyone and include a significant reduction in fine lines and wrinkles, tightened and smoother eyelid skin, a reduction in crow’s feet around the eyes, the ability to soften pucker marks as well as frown lines, even out the skin colors including splotches and brown spots, and it can also improve and flatten scars, repair smoker lines, and make an improvement to your overall skin tone and texture.

The word laser actually means light amplification by the stimulated emission of radiation. The lasers used during your laser resurfacing will work to remove the uppermost layers of your skin. These are generally the layers that make all of your wrinkles, scars, and acne all worse than they actually have to be. When these layers are removed then these skin issues, along with most that you may have, become less noticeable and as your skin kicks into overdrive to heal, some of the skin conditions heal faster and more thoroughly as well. Things like scars become less noticeable because they flatten out and become softer while blending in with your skin one better. The use of sunscreen before and after the procedure can keep the UV rays from farther damaging skin cells and making your scars more pronounced.

Lasers have the unique ability to produce a single wavelength, or color, of light. As these lasers become more advanced it becomes easier to make the procedure more precise and selective. These are so advanced now that safety levels during the treatment are available today that people could only dreamed of in the past.

The person who performs your laser resurfacing will use a hand piece that looks like a wand. This hand piece causes the old and undesirable skin cells to literally vanish, practically in a puff of mist, to help get rid of those undesirable traits that you may be suffering from.

When you go for a laser resurfacing you should look carefully before you choose who will perform your treatment. Generally the people who work with the lasers for laser resurfacing are called dermasurgeons. They are trained professionals who work to help you obtain healthier skin. You will want to find one who has already demonstrated that they have laser expertise and not one who is just starting out. See if they will allow you to talk with a previous patient and find out if they have been rated by patients or other professionals.

Considering a Thermage Face Lift

2009-08-12T02:04:00.000-07:00

If you are a person whose skin is just beginning to age, and looks like it may need a facelift soon, you may find that a thermage face lift is something you want to look into as an alternative.

A thermage facelift is not actually a facelift; it is what you should do to avoid a facelift or the surgery that comes with the facelift. For most people who are just beginning to really show their age, this will work. However, if you are in desperate need of a facelift and far advanced into aging, it will not work as well. That means that if you are looking for drastic results you should look into an actual facelift, but if you are merely looking for a little bit of an improvement, and not the perfect pace, then the thermage face lift will work for you nicely.

The thermage face lifts are really heating, and cooling to avoid burning your skin, applied strategically to your skin in order to help tighten your skin and which reduces wrinkles, the turkey like neck, or some of your loose skin. It may even reduce any acne or acne scars you may have, as well as improving your jowling and tightening your jaw line.

When you undergo a thermage face lift, your doctor will begin by using local anesthesia in strategic places all over your face. Depending on how much anesthesia and how high the treatment setting is you may feel little to know pain or discomfort during the treatment. Then a grid will be applied to your face in order to guide the treatment. And then starts the treatment. Your doctor will hold a treatment tip over your skin. This tip will deliver radio frequencies and the cooling that is needed to keep your skin from burning.

For the most part, if you are looking for better results then you will need higher settings on the thermage machine. In some cases though, it may just be that you are recommended that you use a mild setting and the just undergo yet another treatment in six months. The first treatment will improve your skin for that long, if not longer.

The thermage face lift treatments are a great thing for some people who either can not have surgery or who want to avoid undergoing surgery if at all possible. Despite this, there are a few things that a person who decides on these treatments will undergo that, though they aren’t as bad as facelifts, may be uncomfortable, painful, or visible. First of all, there is a chance of warm or even burning sensations during the procedure that can become quite painful. Usually after a procedure a person will suffer from red, and sometimes sensitive, skin for anywhere between a couple of hours and a few days after the procedure. There will also be swelling for at least the amount of time that the skin is red though normally it will last a little longer.

Peeling to improve and renew your skin

2009-08-12T01:47:00.000-07:00

Is the most revolutionary concept in facial and body aestheticism imperfections
Chemical peelings are made with topical formulas which are used exclusively by doctors and in clinics, and are different from each other in their composition accordingly to the results expected.

They are prescribed for the treatment of several skin pathologies, such as:

• Wrinkles
• Dyschroa
• Dehydration
• Aging and Photo aging (solar damage)
• Very greasy skin
• Acne
• Vanish scars
• Diminish strias
• Gives light and softens skin

The objective is to make a change, improving skin appearance from the inside, which means that the product used works inside the skin stimulating what is needed to return to the skin’s natural balance and increase collagen and elastin production; and the essential components to keep the skin healthy. This effect appears as a remarkable change in a short time and depends on the kind of peeling used and the depth of it.

Applying this kind of products stimulates the regeneration of the skin from the depth layers of it is and accelerates the superficial damaged parts.

There are uncountable formulations from the simple ones, old and still valid alpha hydroxyl acids till the modern ones, such as the lacto bionic acid, which one to choose depends on the symptoms and which skin layer is going to be treated to achieve the most convenient effect.

Within the concept of peeling is included the dermabrasion treatment, which uses a rotatory abrasive device of micro crystals of aluminium oxide or with diamond tips which is widely used to improve and eliminate strias

This kind of treatment is useful not only for the face but also for the body and is usually combined with others to achieve the desired objectives.

The treatment requires of a previous preparation of the skin, which in general is made in the first session and subsequent home care with products especially indicated for each case in particular.

Skin recovery depends on the kind of peeling done, that means the dermic layer to which it was directed to, and the frequency it is done will be according to the objective so as the agent used during the procedure.

How Tattoo Can Be Removed By Laser?

2009-08-12T01:41:00.001-07:00

In the past, before the laser tattoo removal is usually ineffective and unsightly scaring. The only way to remove tattoos that are working to remove the skin that were in tattooing. Fortunately with the development of laser technology, tattoos can be removed permanently and effectively leaving the skin healthy and free of scar. A great relief for everyone who finished watching a Japanese Yakuza after a heavy night drinking with some friends in less than desirable. The form of works of tattoo removal with laser is a concentrated pulse of light from a laser beam passes through the skin above the tattoo and are absorbed by the pigment in the tattoo. The pigment is broken down into parts small enough to be eliminated naturally by the body’s immune system. Black and blue tattoo absorb the energy of all wavelengths which are easiest to remove the colors green, red and yellow, while tattoos are more difficult to remove. Other factors such as the depth of the ink, the ink used and the age of the tattoo also effect what the tattoo is easily removed.

How Tattoo Can Be Removed By Laser?

Another thing that will affect the number of tattoo removal procedures of the person we need is the ink that was used to make the tattoo in the first place. For example, some older tattoos may have been implemented with ink, which is especially difficult to remove. When it comes to tattoos, more recently, the ink darker, more difficult to remove. Also, how it affects the placement of the tattoo will be difficult to remove. The thicker the skin in the area of the tattoo, the longer it takes to remove the tattoo. The removal procedure itself is performed in an outpatient center, and is performed by a dermatologist that specializes in this type of procedure. First, a topical anesthetic cream is applied to numb the area lightly, and then the dermatologist uses the laser to initiate the eradication of the molecules of the skin filled with ink. After each reunion, the area will be bandaged. Although the person will need to keep the area out of the sun, he or she can resume all regular activities.

After all, a tattoo is meant to be permanent. Something that many people who get a tattoo for the first time say that it hurts. This is because the electric needle for many small holes in the upper layers of skin at the same time, the tattoo ink is injected into the holes. Molecules of the skin then bond with the ink of the tattoo, and this, for people who do not like their tattoos, is where the laser tattoo removal in. Importantly, to avoid scars, tattoos, laser tattoo removal to get rid of gradually, over a period of weeks or months. The amount of time it would take to get rid of the tattoo depends on several factors, the first of which, obviously, has to do with the size of the tattoo. The larger the tattoo, the longer it will surely get rid of it. Laser removal is not cheap. You usually spend between $ 200-500 per session. Yes, you read right, that $ 300 tattoo can cost up to $ 10,000 to remove. Just a great investment. Once again, it really depends on how large and complex, and the number of colors that the doctor has to face during the process of elimination. To conclude, if you are considering laser removal be sure to visit a qualified doctor and ask about possible scarring, discoloration, and have to assess your particular situation.

Exposed Acne Treatment

2009-08-12T01:35:00.000-07:00

Acne is a common skin problem and people seek various forms of treatment to deal with it. One of the recent forms of treatment that has been developed is the exposed acne treatment. This treatment was developed by a group of naturopaths, chemists, dermatologists and cosmetologists. It makes use of the most effective medicines that are made available from nature and science to prevent and treat acne.

This treatment is a one of a kind skin care remedy that will treat acne and prevent any new acne from forming on your skin. The difference between this treatment and other methods of treatment that are available is that no harsh medicines are used. The aim of the exposed acne treatment is to give your skin that healthy balance it once had. The exposed acne treatment clears any acne you have, prevents new breakouts, evens your skin tone and reduces the acne scars that you have.

The treatment has three steps that include:

1. Cleansing

The cleanser gets rid of dirt and any excess oil that your skin may have but will not affect the natural lipid layer. Any dead skin cells which may be clogging your pores will be cleared to allow the addictive that kills the bacteria that cause acne to penetrate into the skin pores.

2. Clearing

This step involves the use of a clearing tonic that has natural and manufactured additives that open the pores and remove dead skin cells. The tonic also removes both white and black heads. The ingredients that are used help to soothe your skin and prepare it for the serum that will be used for the treatment.

3. Treating

This step uses a serum that is made of Micro-Benzoyl Peroxide which kills the bacteria that causes acne. The serum also helps to decrease the amount of sebum without drying your skin. The serum also has some natural addictives that are can help heal your skin if it is irritated.

There are a variety of active ingredients that are contained in the exposed acne treatment. First, there is benzoyl peroxide which is the active ingredients that kills the bacteria. This is the most important as once the bacteria are dealt with, acne is very easy to handle. The treatment also contains Alpha Hydroxy Acid which works well in getting rid of dead skin and the scars. The Beta Hydroxy Acids in the treatment will help to dry any acne that you have. This ingredient works on the pimples, zits, blackheads and cysts. The exposed acne treatment has green tea extracts that assist in controlling how much sebum your skin produces while clearing your skin at the same time. The olive leaf extracts will deal with any infection you may get and prevent the growth of bacteria. The tea tree oil that is used in the treatment helps your skin to heal and get proper nutrition. The other ingredients used in the treatment like aloe Vera, and licorice sooth your skin and reduce aging.

Beautiful Skin Care Tips

2009-08-12T01:28:00.000-07:00

What does make skin look beautiful ???

There are 2 main factors influence the beauty of skin:

1. External factors:
· UV Rays daily exposure
· Chemical residues
· Synthetic cosmetic products

2. Internal factors:
· The body immune system

Those main factors will create premature aging like sagging skin, fine wrinkles, thinning skin, dry skin, wide pores, pimply skin, age spot, redness, and blemishes.

The premature aging can be avoided by following simple tips bellow:

Tips to decrease external factors influences:

1. Use a good quality SPF Sunscreen to block sun exposure directly to skin. UV rays will create premature aging.

2. Avoid dirt, dust, chemicals like vehicle or machine fumes/smoke, hair spray or gel. They can clog pores of skin.

3. Avoid synthetic cosmetic products which have dangerous chemical additives. Chemical residue on skin can cause allergies and make it lose elasticity.

Tips to defend internal factors:

These tips below are to maintain the body immune system to enhance the ability of skin to produce fresh skin cells

1. Drink plenty of water at least 4 liters a day. Water is very essential to keep balance of skin moisture level.

2. Eat a healthy diet. Consume foods which contain rich Vitamin for skin to regenerate skin cellss like vitamin A, vitamin E, vitamin C and vitamin K, Omega-3 Fatty Acid, Natural Fats.

3. Beauty rest. Eight hours good sleep every day will make face fresh, radiant and youthful looking skin.

4. Avoid cigarettes and alcohol. Smoking will create fine lines around the mouth and sagging around the eyes. Alcohol can make pale skin and lose elasticity.

Healthy Food for The Beauty

2009-08-12T01:24:00.000-07:00

Apart from the external factor influences for maintaining healthy skin, eat a healthy diet can play a vital role in how the skin appears. Just as you must watch over you eat to take care of your body, you also must watch what foods to take care of your skin.

Here are healthy foods which contain vitamins and omega-3 fatty acid to defend internal body immune system to enhance the ability of skin to produce new cells growth and support skin cells turnover:

1. Vitamin E protects red blood cells and prevents destruction of vitamin A and C. Vitamin E is a naturally powerful and one of the best antioxidants that help protect the skin against damaging environmental elements, such as the sun, pollution and cigarette smoke. Helps to neutralize free radicals which are destructive molecules that attack cells and harm the skin. Vitamin E keeps balance of skin moisture and will leave your skin smooth and soft.

Vitamin E is found in green leafy vegetables, wheat, nuts, margarine, corn, soybean.

2. Vitamin A, commonly known as the "skin vitamin", is needed to support skin cells turnover and helps generate healthy new skin cells and diminish the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Vitamin A is found in spinach, carrots, squash, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, tomatoes, cheese, milk, eggs.

3. Vitamin C helps for the formation of collagen and produce of protein fibers to support skin structures, as well as keeps resistance to infection. Vitamin C works in the lipid soluble and water soluble layers of the skin. Vitamin C as a vital anti-aging ingredient, help reverse visible signs of aging.

Vitamin C is found in orange, pineapples, cabbage, lemon, grapefruit, strawberries, limes, green and red papers, collard green, cauliflower.

4. Vitamin K is necessary for normal blood clotting and synthesis of proteins. Helps fade away dark circles, blotches and uneven skin tones under eyes. Dark circles under your eyes make you look and feel older, tired and depressed.

Vitamin K is found in cabbage, cereals, lettuce, spinach, kale, eggs, meets.

5. Omega-3 Fatty Acid is needed to build and repair skin cells and to make enzymes and hormones that have it glowing.

Omega-3 Fatty Acid is found in avocados, salmon, walnuts, tuna, mackerel, fish oil, canola oil.

From Your Favorite Aroma to Aromatherapy

2009-08-11T02:10:00.001-07:00

Smells play very important role in our life. Our sense of smell is quite sensitive to give us many emotions coming from aromas. Sometimes smells are closely connected with certain events. Our brain responds to smell and causes our pleasant or unpleasant associations and memories that will not easily be erased, even we don’t remember about them in our everyday life. As a rule, this reaction is spontaneous. Even after many years the mother’s smell, causes feelings of the childhood. It is assignable to several causes, the primary statement is that being kids, we learnt world around in virtue of all sense organs. The other example: we usually can’t even smell the food we’ve poisoned any when.

This property is crucial in using smell therapy. There is a special term – aromatherapy. The aromatherapy is a treatment with use of various smells - aromas. These aromas, are given by essences, made from flowers, trees, bushes and herbs. Essences enjoy wide application in some bariatrics.

Aromas are also closely connected with human’s emotional condition; we owe our cheer and thoughtway to particular aromas much more frequently, than we can notice it.

Undoubtedly you have your favorite aromas: white lilac; bergamot; cherry; green-floral fragrance; green leaves fragrance; cinnamon and so on. They all influence you. Why not try to make this effect directional? In addition the aromatherapy may be defined as a treatment for some diseases. It is also an intense bacteria and viruses remedy. The aromatherapy strengthens natural forces of and helps to make our life more healthy and happy.

Seven Tips for Kissable Lips

2009-08-11T01:36:00.001-07:00

With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, here are a few tips to get ultra soft, smooth, kissable lips:

Apply Vaseline to your lips each night before bedtime. You may have another lip balm product you will want to use instead, but if not, good old Vaseline works wonders.
Keep an extra toothbrush handy and use it to lightly brush the surface of your lips each day to remove dead or dry skin. You will want to do this just as your Vaseline or other moisturizer is wearing off so that the dry skin comes off smoothly and easily. If you wait until your lips are already dry, it won’t do much good!
Always use a water-resistant lip balm with SPF protection (yes, even in the winter… and especially while skiing or snowboarding). The skin on your lips is ultra thin and delicate. Since you don’t need to “tan” your lips, too much sun exposure will cause your lips to burn, chap, or worse. This can make applying any type of lip color a nightmare. A protective lip balm will prevent damage and soften your lips all at the same time.
Use a lip liner that is close to your natural lip color. You don’t want to use one that’s too dark - your lip liner is there to help keep your lip color in place and make it last longer, not to create a distracting line around your mouth.
When applying lipstick, blot your lipstick with a tissue after applying each layer. This will give your base lip color extra staying power.
February is a perfect time to try fun, flirty shades in pink, red or berry. Once you’ve finalized your clothing choices, choose a shade that compliments your coloring and goes well with your outfit.
After applying your lipstick, finish off your look with a soft, shiny lipgloss. But be sure not to go overboard on the gloss - too much can take your lips from gorgeous to gooey. Also, by layering and blotting your lipstick as mentioned in the above step, you won’t have to touch up your lipstick during the evening, which usually requires precision - and a mirror. Glosses are lighter and easier to apply, so you can quickly and easily touch up the shine if needed.

These tips will give you a perfect pout and help your lip color last much longer - throughout your entire Valentine’s Day date, perhaps?

6 Makeup Removal Tips

2009-08-11T01:33:00.001-07:00

Removing makeup every day is a tricky process as you don’t want to pull or tug the delicate skin around the eyes nor do you want to cause your skin to dry out by using a harsh cleanser and/or makeup remover. Let’s take a look at six important points to keep in mind when removing your makeup each night.

First of all baby shampoo is an excellent way to remove mascara that is resistant to other kinds of removers. Waterproof mascara can be one of the most difficult mascaras to remove as it is designed for staying power and a little bit of baby shampoo applied to a cotton ball or your finger tips should do the tricky nicely. Baby shampoos contain lower concentrations and softer detergents than other shampoos which makes them less irritating to the eye area. Baby shampoo can also be used to remove makeup on the face but use a very small amount as too much can be drying to the skin. Another option for the removal of waterproof mascara is extra- virgin olive oil. Olive oil is very gentle to the skin and ideal to use in the eye area as it is a natural anti-oxidant and does not contain any harmful substances. All you need to do is apply a few drops to your fingertips, a tissue or a cotton ball, and while keeping your eyes closed massage the eyelashes in a gentle motion until all traces of the mascara are gone. Then use a mild soap or cleanser and water to clean up further.

The majority of cosmetics are oil-soluble which makes baby oil an excellent way to remove all traces of eye makeup, blush, foundation, and concealer and so on. All that is needed is to apply a tiny bit of baby oil to a tissue and then gently wipe it all over your face until the makeup is all gone. After you finish there is no need to use soap of any kind, simply rinse your face with cool water and your skin should feel soft to the touch.

The fourth tip is one that can never be stressed enough - never ever go to bed with your makeup still on! Not only will you stain your pillowcase but also you will be contributing to the clogging of your pores that can lead to acne, breakouts, splotchiness and a host of other potential skin problems. No matter how tired you are, take the time to remove the day’s makeup and grime off of your face and let it breath and regenerate while you sleep!

The fifth tip is to always use a mild makeup remover - nothing harsh or drying to the skin- and never use makeup remover that is specifically for your eyes on other parts of your face. This is particularly important if you suffer from oily skin as this can lead to break outs. Pay attention to what the label says as it specifies these things for a reason!

The sixth tip is to not remove your eye makeup with any kind of cleanser. Keep in mind that the eye area is very sensitive and delicate and you don’t want to injure it in any way or cause an allergic reaction to take place. Also some people are prone to oily eyelids and you don’t want to encourage an overabundance of oil in this area. If oily eyelids are not a problem you might to consider using petroleum jelly (such as Vaseline) to take off your eye makeup but remember to be gentle! Use a tissue or cotton ball to take off your eyeshade and a Q-tip to get rid of the eyeliner.

It’s best to always start by removing your eye makeup first. Always choose a facial cleanser that is meant for your particular skin type and if possible purchase one that has been tested to both breakdown and remove makeup from the face. All cleansers are not designed for this purpose and some soap as well does not thoroughly remove makeup from the face. Go over your face gently more than once but be as precise as possible. Do the same thing when you rinse, rinse a number of times to remove all traces of both cosmetic and cleanser residue.

Care of lovely long legs

2009-08-11T01:31:00.000-07:00

No doubt in India, the legs are often neglected because they are hidden under their pleats of a saree or behind the flair of a salwar or a pair of jeans. But when one wants to have a great body and become a beautiful woman- or for that matter a strong and powerful man- this neglected of the legs, which are the veritable vehicle of our body, is unpardonable.

Swimming or brisk walking are top experiences for youthful, long legs. A sedentary life causes the tiny veins around the ankles or the calves to swell up and make ugly blue makes of varicose veins on and otherwise smooth skin. Lake of exercise for legs makes the blood circulate poorly in these earth-bound limbs and blood flowing downward tends to get trapped in the veins. Only an energetic use of the legs dancing, jogging, doing aerobics or swimming balances the speedy circulation of blood and keeps legs well-toned in muscle and skin.

Yet another problem -which more women than men suffer from- is retention of fluid and the resultant swelling of calves or ankles. This happens particularly in pregnancy or when the kidney function is not perfect. Premenstrual tension syndromes also cause water retention in the body. All these problems can be controlled by a balanced diet, a correct weight and regular exercise. Ramma Bans, the fitness expert who trained Lymaraina D'Souza and other beauty queens for years, gives useful beauty tips for maintaining beautiful legs and making them a proud asset for a woman. Follow the simple beauty tips to keep your skin beautiful smooth:-

1. Legs should be maintained with great fastidiousness. Dry skin, flaky surfaces and unwanted hair make them look unkempt and untidy. Every night, legs should be given a rub of a good skin cream. Once a fortnight or month - depending on hair growth - legs should be 'cleaned' by waxing off the hair or using any suitable depilatory process.

2. Tired feet should be often soaked in warm salty water and given a good scrub to remove hardened, dry skin on the ankles or between toes. Toe nails should be clean, well filed and not discolored. A good shade of nail-polish helps to accentuate the beauty of feet. A professional pedicure - which many consider a waste of money - is a must for feet beauty. Silver payals or toe rings are often worn in India to enhance the beauty of feet.

3. A brisk walk a day keeps the circulation going well and makes leg-stamina better and better. Some young people, including women, use small weights on the shoes to create an athletic look for the legs. While muscular, sports-oriented legs were made fashionable by supermodel Sushmita Sain, all women need not follow the same method.

4. Shoes must always be comfortable. High heeled shoes stilettos, walking or jogging shoes must be bought with comfort and activity in mind. On special occasions, when wearing a short skirt or during cold weather, sheer stockings may protect legs and lend them a glamorous look.

Legs should be washed and scrubbed well without using very hot or very cold water. If you enjoy soaking your body in a pool of water, be sure not to lie in a tub of very cold or very hot water.

5. III fitting trousers, jeans or shoes harm legs. All clothes worn below the waist, including a belt, must be comfortable and supportive of activity.

6. Exposure to the sun must be controlled. Though tanning is fit popular in India, there is an increasing amount of beachside or poolside life of leisure. So a good anti-tan lotion, or cream or oil massage after a dose of sunlight is good.

7. Avoid bruises, ligament lesions, minor or major fractures and other kinds injuries by being careful while climbing stairs, bending, jogging a getting in and out of vehicles. The more the use of technology used in a home and in public life, the more hazards there are for the who are careless or falsely valiant.

8. Eat plenty of fresh salads, vegetables and fruits. These give energy and avoid cracked skins. If you have a water-retention problem, eat less salt.

9. Massage tired legs with a soft-textured, non greasy oil gently, in upwards movements. Keep legs looking great always by keeping your posture straight and correct. Then alone will your legs remain your most useful limbs and give you self reliance for all your life

Some of us are lucky enough to be born with a smooth and beautiful skin, but others can follow the above simple beauty tips to achieve a good skin and maintaining beautiful legs and making them a proud asset for a woman.

Sleep tight and good night in 22 methods

2009-07-10T02:34:00.000-07:00

The sleep is important in related to losing weight, recovery and prevention of injuries, lack of focus and whole living and health.

We have 22 methods to help you sleep good -

If possible, go to bed around 22 o'clock. Since most of physical – as most of the physical restoration in the body produces from 22 o'clock to 2 o'clock. Such as the gallbladder get rid of toxins by this time. If you are still wake up so your liver will be worked too much and it may release toxins to the bloodstream.
Set up a habitually, relieving sleeptime pattern like sinking into bathtub with a hot water and relax by your easy-listening music or your favorite book. Some researches advise that taking a bath by hot water before sleeping will comfort the shift into sleep deeply. However it should be made soon enough that you will no longer sweating or overheating.
Establish the sleep-helping surroundings that is dark, silence, restful, chilled, and no disturb. Create your sleep surroundings to set up the environment you need for your sleeping. Besides set your bedroom return of the value you set on sleep. If there are still left even the smallest bit of light in room, it can interrupt the circadian rhythms and the pineal gland's generation of serotonin and melatonin.
Keep away from stimulating activity before going to bed such as doing the job, clearing bill, fighting in competing games or solving any personal serious problem.
Keep away from disclosure to bright light before going to bed as it give a signal to nerve cells which aid to manage the sleeping or waking circle that it is time to wake up not to sleep.
Do not turn on the light when you need to go to bathroom during the night. If you turn the light on, you will suddenly stop all production of the important sleep assist melatonin.
Taking the high protein light meal many hours before bed works for many but not all because it rely on metabolic type. It can make the L tryptophan needed to create melatonin and serotonin. Too, take a tiny piece of fruit. It can assist the L tryptophan pass the blood brain obstacle.
Keep away from foods which you might be sensitive to. It is especially real for dairy and wheat foods, because they might cause effect for sleep, for example causing apnoea, too much congestion, gastro-intestinal disturb, and gas. More rice will increase blood sugar and restrict sleep. After that if blood sugar falls too much which is called hypoglycemia, you may wake up and not be able to try to sleep again.
Always exercise. It is good to finish the exercise at least few hours before going to bed. Usually, always exercise will make you fall asleep easier and help to deep sleep. Anyway, exercising irregularly or immediately before bedtime will cause you more difficult to fall asleep. Besides letting us more alarm and awaking, the temperature of the body increase when you exercise, and run time up to six hours to start to fall down. A cooler temperature of body is connected with sleep beginning.
Put on socks when go to bed. Since they have the worst circle, the feet always feel cold before other organs. A research found that it decrease night waking.
Keep the clock away from eye sight. As you will be worried when you are looking the time.
Use the bedroom just for sleep and sex to support the union between bed and sleep. It is needed to keep away work matter, laptop and TV from your sleeping condition.
Use dimmer light in living room and bathroom before bedtime can be helping.
Writing diary. If you always go to bed with your mind running, it may be useful keep a diary and write down your thinking before bed.
Keep out from caffein such as coffee, tea, soft drinks, etc. near bedtime. It will make you alert because caffein is the stimulus that can create the alarming effect. Caffein still remain in human body approximate from three to five hours but some people may remain up to twelve hours or more. Although you do not believe that caffein have an effect on you, it might disturb and alter the quality of your sleep.
Keep away from nicotine such as cigar, tobacco. When smokers go to bed, they fell physical disturbance caused by nicotine which trouble your sleep.
Keep away from alcohol near bedtime. Even if most of people consider alcohol as the sleeping pill, infact it disturb your sleep, causing you wake up at night. Alcohol will keep you from getting into a deeper level of sleep as well, which bodies do most of their curing.
Do not use aloud alarm-clock. It is too tense on the body to be awaken immediately. If you are usually taking enough sleep, so it is needless.
Do not drink any liquid in two hours before bedtime. It will decrease the possibility of having to wake up and go to a bathroom or at least reduce the times.
Sleep on the comfortable bed and cushion. Make sure your bed is comforting and have comfortable cushion. Provide the room tempting and encouraging for sleep but also free of allergenic that may be effect on you and stuffs that may make you slide or flop if you need to wake up at night.
Listen to easy listening or recreation music. Many people look for natural tone such as waterfall, winds, or white noise relieving for sleep.
Herbal plants covering camomile and valeriana are treated as natural relieves tension.

Open Skin Pores – Large Facial Pores

2009-07-09T22:57:00.000-07:00

Our skin has thousands of tiny outlets not visible to the naked eye - these skin pores carry out the important function of eliminating water, salts, uric acid and oily secretions from our body.

An inadequate elimination of the toxic cellular waste leads to the poor health of the skin, infections and other skin disorders. Many times when our skin pores have to cope with an unusually high and excessive excretion, they enlarge in size giving the skin an unsightly look. The normally invisible pores become visible to our naked eye.

In other cases, when blockages appear in the skin pores, it results in the over-accumulation of the secretions within the glands in our skin. These are finally released by rupturing of the skin leaving gaping large pores behind.

Enlarged Pores on Face

How the Open Skin Pores Are Formed

The problem of enlarged pores on face or facial pores is commonly associated with excessive oiliness and acne. The excessive oiliness of the skin is in turn triggered by the hormonal changes in the body. It happens when the male hormones in the body become overly dominant during puberty. The activity of oil glands which is controlled and regulated by the male hormones increases fervently. The skin in order to cope with the overproduction of oil secretions has to manage its increased elimination.

As the traffic of the oil effusion increases, the mouth of the pore enlarges.

Factors for the Formation of Enlarged Pores

There are three main factors which are directly responsible for the formation of enlarged pores.

Deliberate Picking and Touching of Acne - The worst scarring and pits are a direct result of this. Artificial openings made in the skin to release the effusion from the whiteheads, pustules by squeezing, turn into pits and uneven indentations.

Improper Cleansing - Proper cleansing is foremost in every kind of skin-care routine. Unless the dead skin surface, make-up and grease are removed, they tend to deposit in the skin pores and restrain the flow of oil. The oil deposits attract grime and grease and apply pressure on the mouth of the pores to widen it.

Use of Wrong Cosmetics - Beauty soaps enriched in oil, make-up products that are oil based, and creams worsen the oily skin condition and therefore their use is prohibited. Acne and enlarged facial skin pore conditions are aggravated with the use of such cosmetics.

Large Pores Treatment – Large pores can be easily dealt with proper cleansing and frequent toning of the skin. A large number of vegetables and fruit and herbs help in tightening the enlarged pores. Steaming of the face for five minutes before toning is also helpful. First, follow the cleansing routine and then the home-care for arresting the large facial skin pore size.

Phenol Chemical Peel

2009-07-09T22:44:00.000-07:00

Phenol chemical peels are the strongest of the chemical peels available. Designed to remove deep wrinkles and scarring, phenol chemical peels contain carbolic acid and are therefore much more risky than most other chemical peel treatments.

Phenol chemical peel treatments require mild sedation and local anesthetic, and a full face phenol chemical peel takes one to two hours to complete, although treatment of smaller areas with phenol chemical peel can take as little as ten minutes. New skin forms within three weeks of the phenol chemical peel, and the skin will gradually fade to white over the following months. Results of phenol chemical peels can last for decades, and no special care is needed to maintain skin improvements from phenol chemical peels, unlike the regimens required after most other peel methods, although it is recommended that phenol chemical peel recipients use SPF 15 to protect the new skin.

Serious side effects are possible with phenol chemical peels, including scarring, permanent pigment discoloration and discomfort. For about two weeks following a phenol chemical peel, treated skin will be tight and red, and many patients feel uncomfortable in public. A phenol chemical peel often turns treated skin a ghostly white, and there will be a line from the phenol chemical peel, marking the pigment change between the treated and untreated areas. For this reason, phenol chemical peels are usually not recommended for patients with darker or heavily freckled skin.

More information on phenol chemical peels is available through plastic surgeons who use this treatment. Patients interested in receiving a phenol chemical peel should talk with a physician to determine if this course of treatment is appropriate.

Chemical Peel (Phenol and trichloroacetic acid [TCA])

Procedure

Chemical peel uses a chemical solution of Phenol, trichloroacetic acid (TCA) and alphahydroxy acids (AHAs) to improve and smooth the texture of the facial skin by removing its damaged outer layers. Chemical Peel is helpful for those individuals with wrinkles, facial blemishes, and uneven skin pigmentation. The precise formula used may be adjusted to meet each patient's needs.

Length

1 to 2 hours for full face.

Anesthesia

None, sedation & EKG monitoring may be used.

In/Outpatient

Usually outpatient. Full-face phenol peel may require admission for 1 to 2 days.

Side Effects

Both: Temporary throbbing, tingling, swelling, redness.
Phenol: Permanent lightening of treated skin; acute sensitivity to sun permanent loss of ability to tan.

Risks

Both: scarring, tiny whiteheads (temporary); infection; flare-up of skin allergies, fever blisters, cold sores.
Phenol: Abnormal color changes (permanent); heart irregularities (rare).

Recovery

Phenol: Formation of new skin: 7 to 21 days.
Normal activities: 2 to 4 weeks.
Full healing and fading of redness: 3 to 6 months
TCA: New skin within 5 to 10 days.

Duration of Results

Phenol: Permanent, Even though new wrinkles may form as skin ages.
TCA: Variable (temporary).

Exercises For Shapely Breasts

2009-07-02T12:45:00.000-07:00

Exercise 1:

Lie on your tummy with the elbows bent, and fingertips facing inwards. Rest your forehead on the floor.
Slowly raise your head and body, pushing down with hands, arching your spine and bending the neck backwards.
Pull in your stomach muscles and lift your stomach off the floor.
Slowly lower upper back and shoulders to floor to the original position. Relax.
Repeat.

Exercise 2:

Hold your arms straight in front of you, at shoulder level.
Bring your hands slowly, towards your shoulders clenching your hands as though you are pulling something strenuously.
Repeat 5 times.

What Can Exercise Do For Your Breasts?

Breasts contain no muscle but only fat cells, milk-ducts and glands, held together in a web of soft connective tissue. So by exercising you cannot increase your bust size. Neither will exercising directly reduce a heavy bust. This is especially true if your breasts are large but your body weight is what it should be. If, however you are over-weight, a weight reducing diet combined with regular exercises, will help you to reduce your weight as well as your bust size.

Exercising, however has several other advantages as well; it tones up the muscles on which the breast tissue lies. So, if your bust-line measures less than what you would like, exercising would give you a firmer and a more prominent line, making your bust appear larger. Similarly, if a heavy bust is your problem, you would lose some of the droop (which can spoil your shape) and gain a firmer contour, though there would be no loss of inches.

Apart from the exercises which we have already mentioned, swimming is a superb exercise for bust shape. It exercises the "breast muscles" considerably against resistance of the water- this really can do wonders to your shape.

Eyebrow Threading Tips

2009-07-02T01:45:00.000-07:00

Eyebrow threading is a Chinese technique. The eyelid is stretched to make the hair removal easy. Eyebrow threading is a depilation technique which originated in India, although it is also widely practiced in the Middle East. The hair removal technique is not just for the eyebrows: threading can be used to remove other facial and body hair as well. Eyebrow threading involves twisting a piece of thread, usually cotton, into a double strand. Eyebrow threading can be used to eliminate a unibrow, raise the arch of the eyebrow, or add shape and definition to the brow.

Because it removes hair by the follicle, it is a reasonably long lasting hair removal technique as well. Eyebrow threading also will not harm the skin like wax and some depilatory creams can. If done correctly, the skin should not be red or irritated for more than a few minutes after the eyebrow threading session.

Eyebrow threading has positive and beautiful results. These results include cleaner and straighter lines, balanced facial features and often lift the eyes. Eyebrow threading is very precise for an eyebrow shape that frames your face. It is commonly practiced by women in India and the Middle East. They use a pure cotton thread. They generally twist the hair and threading pulls out a whole row of hair, as opposed to tweezing where only one single hair is pulled out. Other benefits to eyebrow threading is no allergic reactions such as rashes, no chemicals are involved, it is a good technique for people with sensitive skin and the top layers of skin are not damaged when using this technique. Threading is highly recommended and an excellent option for those who use Retin-A or Accutane.

Tips for eyebrow threading

Here are some simple tips to tame your brows:

1. Spray a little hair spray on your brows and brush them using your toothbrush to keep them in place.

2. Eyebrows slanting upwards make you look angry, so be careful not to take off too much at the outer corners.

3. If your brows are sparse, use a freshly sharpened brow pencil to fill in the areas with light, quick strokes.

4. It is important to use the correct shade for your brows. Fair women can use blonde shades while olive colored women should choose tawny or brown.

5. In case, you have over tweezed certain brow area, try to fill the patch using brow shadow, applying in the direction of the hair growth.

6. Eye shadow gives more natural look to your brows than an eyebrow pencil.

Benefits of Eyebrow Threading

1. Eyebrow threading is a traditional way of removing eyebrow hair without the pain of using tweezers.

2. It is highly recommended and an excellent option for those who use Retin-A, Accutane, and similar products.

3. Eyebrow threading is the best method to shape your eyebrows in comprise to other methods.

4. This method is less expensive method in compare to other methods.

Whitening Tips for you

2009-07-02T01:40:00.000-07:00

Fair complexion is a dream and achievement of everyone. In the marriage market and dreams the first preference will be to those with a fair skin. Why should you stay away from this perfect appearance? Try these handy beauty tips and see the changes within a short period.

The dark complexion is primarily the result of melanin content in your body. Studies have proved that the presence of melanin rises as body heat increases. A daily application of the mixture of sandalwood and rose water-cools your skin as well as brings a fair glow to you.

You can make a fine paste of grinded almonds and rose water. A regular application of this paste on the face and neck will bring a natural fairness.

Vegetables have a wonderful power in enhancing fairness. Cut a tomato into two halves and rub it on your face. You can see the change within a few days. You can also soak potatoes in cold water for 10 minutes. Rub theses slices on your face, hands and neck. This regular act will bring a positive result within a short period.

You can do a fairness massage easily at the privacy of your home. Soak four almonds overnight. In the morning remove their skin and grind them fine. Make a paste by adding one teaspoon of gram flour, one teaspoon of milk and four drops of lime juice. A regular massage with this paste will assure a long lasting fairness to you.

Grapes work as magical potions for enhancing fairness. A regular application of grape seeds or the consumption of grape juice will give you the long desired complexion.

You can make a paste of cucumber with coconut water. Apply this paste regularly to relive your skin as well as to bring a glowing complexion.

Never forget the traditional beauty secret to enhance your complexion. Apply the turmeric powder and sandalwood paste daily to ensure better results.

Try these handy beauty tips and step out in confidence with your fair appearance.

Apply Makeup - In Seven Minutes Or Less

2009-07-02T01:35:00.000-07:00

You may not have 20 or 30 minutes to apply makeup because honestly, that is time you can use to accomplish another important task. I'm not going to encourage you to apply makeup while driving because that is so unnecessary and dangerous. You never want to put yourself or someone else in danger for vanity's sake. What I will do is tell you how to apply your makeup in 7 minutes or less, and the steps are pretty simple. This will give you the opportunity to leave home with a professional look without spending extra time in front of the mirror.

First, start with moisturizing your face. Make sure you have even distribution, and thoroughly massage the product into your skin. Always moisturize your skin before applying makeup to achieve a more natural result. A moisturizer containing SPF15 or greater is always best to protect your skin against the sun’s harmful rays. Next, apply foundation to your face. If you are using liquid foundation, place a pea-size amount of foundation to your cheeks, chin and forehead. Be sure to apply makeup to your nose also and blend outwards towards the cheeks. Use the same approach with a stick foundation and cream-to-powder foundation, but this time you dab the product onto your skin and blend in evenly. Dab concealer onto dark eye circles or problem areas, and blend out the edges. If your dark circles have a green tint, opt for a concealer that is salmon-colored to neutralize the darkness underneath your eyes.

Using your favorite sheer powder and powder brush, you are going to set the foundation by using light sweeping strokes to dust on the powder. Don't forget to cover the concealer to disguise it, and make sure your nose is covered thoroughly as well. Brush away any excess that may be left on your face. Next, you are going to fill in your eyebrows with a brow pencil or brow powder that matches your natural hair color. If you are using a brow pencil, light feathery strokes should be used to fill in any gaps you may have. If you prefer to use a brow powder, you may find that an angle brush is the easiest brush to apply it with. Again, use light feathery strokes when filling in gaps and defining the shape.

Let's rosey up those cheeks by dusting some blush onto those cheekbones. Make sure you blend in circular motion up towards the hairline to create a natural finish. Next, apply your favorite eyeshadow and blend with a blending brush. When blending, make sure you use the windshield-wiper technique by moving the blending brush back and forth along the crease of the eye -- this creates a much softer look. After that you can proceed with lining your eyes with an eyeliner pencil, and applying mascara to both the upper and lower lashes. Lastly, apply your favorite color lipstick or lip gloss to top of the look and put your best face forward!

Johansson – All Her Beauty Secrets

2009-07-02T01:17:00.000-07:00

Scarlett Johansson came on the big screen with a child-like innocence and the soft features and glowy skin to match. Today she is a modern bombshell who is anything but childish. Her newest movie is about to release in theaters and her character captures what she does best – innocence mixed with wild abandon and sex appeal. Her day-to-day personality is a low-key version of her star qualities and a love for the simple things that make her feel beautiful and carefree.

You’ll see Scarlett out and about in comfortable tees and hats, low pony tails and very little if any makeup. Her porcelain-perfect skin makes this look easy to wear whether she’s running errands or walking a red carpet. The secret to skin like hers – moisture. Dry skin will never glow or absorb any concealer. It will only leave you looking cakey. Allow moisturizer to soak into your skin for a full five minutes before applying any base or concealer. Then use a pink blush and bronzer mix to color the apples of your cheeks.

One of Scarlett’s trademark features are her bee-sting lips that pout like no others. If you weren’t blessed with a kisser like hers, you can still achieve full lips with plumping glosses and serums and strategic liner application. Line your lips first in the V of your upper lip, then draw in the liner from the outer corner to the center. Applying liner from the corner up will create a fuller top lip. The opposite is true for the bottom, line from the center to the corner for the fullest look. Stick to rose or natural and nude shades topped with a thin gloss to realize the perfect pout.

Scarlett’s eyes look amazing in shades of orange – not many can pull off those tones without looking like your eyes are sore and tired. If orange is not your color, stick to deep chocolates and taupes and blend dark gold with shimmer. It’s the gold tones that make her signature oranges pop. You can accomplish the same effect with browns and gold.

Scarlett is never afraid to use black eyeliner and mascara. Her liquid liner is normally thick and rims her eyes perfectly. You can always wash it off, so give it a try. To get Scarlett’s look, line the entire eye with black liner that extends past the outer corners. This keeps your eyes from looking closed. Lengthening mascara also helps to open up dark eyes. Although she is famous for her pout, Scarlett knows not to over-do the rest of her makeup when wearing dark liner and mascara. Your lips will attract attention without the use of overwhelming colors that can leave you looking like you’re wearing stage makeup.

Homemade beauty care tips

2009-07-02T00:32:00.000-07:00

We spend a good amount of money on beauty products for skin care. How many of us know that there are simple homemade ideas that will perk up our skin. Here are some of homemade skin care tips. What's important is trying these tips daily. You can't expect miracles just by trying it out once, but definitely you will see wonders on your skin if you follow at least some of them daily.

Cornmeal is a wonderful exfoliate. You need to use it once a week all over your face and neck.
After washing your face with soap, take some drop of vinegar and mix it water. Now wipe you face with this water. This will help in getting rid of the soap alkalis.
Avoid lathering your soap too much.
In order to make your skin firmer, rub beaten egg white over your face. Wait until it dries.
Then rinse with lukewarm water. This makes the skin firmer.
Don't over scrub your face (or anywhere) - over scrubbing can cause your skin to break out.
Use natural deodorants, like witch hazel or baking soda. They work just as well, and they're a lot more frugal and could even be better for your skin.
Witch hazel also makes a great aftershave, for guys and gals, too. If you men just have to smell, use a few drops of essential oil in a pint of witch hazel.
If you have chapped lips then use petroleum jelly, mineral oil, vegetable oil on your lips just before you sleep.
Drinking lots of water makes a great difference to your skin. It's the best beauty treatment available on mother earth.
Wet your hands in warm water, and then rub oil or fat of any kind into them. Keep rubbing until most of it has been absorbed. Wipe off excess with a clean cloth. This works great as an overnight treatment, also.

Yoga for Beauty

2009-07-02T00:01:00.000-07:00

Yoga is the art of meditation aimed at training a human soul the consciousness for a state of perfect spiritual insight and tranquility. It is basically achieved through the three paths- the path of actions, knowledge and devotion. Though yoga is always popularly recognized with fitness and health concerns, the art of Yoga hardly untouches anything on earth. Be it health, weight loss, devotion, concentration, spiritual enlightenment, ego-shedding or beauty, yoga is effective in each of them. Many famous personalities in the health and beauty industry swear on the names of yoga. Read on to explore that how yoga can redefine your beauty.

Yoga: The Real Aura Of Beauty

Yoga is a wonderful art that brings a perfect blend of physical strength and gracefulness in your life. Also, the beauty attained through Yoga is not an artificial and temporary achievement like cosmetic surgery and other such means. Yoga helps you lose all the flab in a right manner to the right extent. Apart from this the enlightenment achieved through yoga brings a shine of confidence over one's face. Yoga also acts as a stress buster which is in it self a very wonderful method to avoid ageing. The flexibility attained through Yoga also makes one feel good and thus look good.

How to attain beauty through yoga?

The first and foremost principle of Yoga is that until you do not feel good, you can't look good. Thus yoga through its asana like Sukhasna and Shavasana aims to provide complete relaxation to your body.
Yoga helps you gain physical fitness, helps in the healthy maintenance of mind and body. It also acts in removal of toxins from the body and increases flexibility of your body making you look younger. The Dog and Cat Pose of Yoga is certainly helpful in gaining flexibility and vigor.
Yoga helps improve the efficiency of the immune system. Through regular Pranayams like Kaplabhati and Anulom- Vilom, you can easily avoid little daily problems of health. Yoga is equally active in thyroid and weight loss leading to perfect shaping of the body and thus making you beautiful.
The perfect oxygen dose which we get through various Yoga Asanas and Mudras also helps in skin glow.
Regular yoga brings contentment in your life which reflects on your face.
Yoga helps you in delaying aging. A regular yoga practitioner remains young and active for quite longer than others who do not practice yoga.

Emergency Beauty Tips

2009-07-01T23:07:00.000-07:00

Its just hours before an important night and you're not looking good. There's no time to go to the salon, all the shops are closed and your friends are too busy making themselves beautiful to worry about you.

So what can you do? Actually, there are some really simple emergency beauty tips for just this type of situation!

The key to a good emergency beauty tip is that is has to be something fast, effective and easy to do by yourself. It should also use only household items. All these tips are great last minute ideas that anyone can put into practice!

Flat Hair

Two applications of styling cream or hairspray, and your hair is still flat? The worst thing you can do is to keep piling on the hair products, this will just make your hair greasy. Instead, mist your hair with water, then use your hands to work it through. The water reactivates the products already in your hair.

Puffy Eyes

Just lie down, relax, and place a slice of cucumber over each eye. The coolness of the cucumber will sooth your eyes, and it also has anti-inflammatory properties. If you have time, puree the rest of the cucumber to make a face pack!

Another simple solution for puffy eyes is to use cold spoons. Its easy, just put four spoons in a glass of ice water. Take two out at a time to place over your eyes, then put them back and replace with the cold ones.

Green Tea has so wonderful effects on your body and mind, and now you can even use it to cure your puffy eyes! Cool down some Green Tea bags in the fridge or freezer, then place over your eyes for 5 minutes. The Green Tea reduces swelling and soothes your eyes.

Eye Bags

Stress in your life means stress on your eyes, so its all too easy to end up with huge bags under them. Look in your medicine cabinet and apply a little Preparation H just under your eyes. Preparation H contains phenylephrine, which helps to constrict blood vessels and reduce swelling.

Pimples

Acne before a big day can be a disaster, but by dabbing on a spot of Hydrocortisone cream you can reduce the swelling and appearance of the pimple in no time at all.

If the pimple comes through the night before, put some toothpaste on it overnight. The toothpaste dries out the pimple and will reduce the swelling in time for the morning!

Self-Tanning

If you go for a last minute tan, chances are you'll end up with some streaks. The best way to even out your skin tone is by rubbing body scrub over the streaky area. It will also remove some of the excess color from your hands.

Nails

For a quick fix on your nails, spray a little hairspray on to them. Straight away, they'll have that shiny, straight-from-the-salon look again.

Celebrity Beauty Tips

2009-07-01T22:54:00.000-07:00

They always look beautiful on the red carpet, but celebrities and models don't wake up that way in the morning. In fact, some candid shots of celebrities without make-up look almost unrecognizable!

So how do they do it? On many occasions they have a collection of make-up artists and stylists to help, but much of the time they have to do it themselves. These celebrity beauty tips show us the home remedies that they have learned.

Of course, everyone is different, and our individual complexions and bodies require treatments that are designed with them in mind. One of the tricks to staying beautiful is to do exactly what these celebrities have done - find the beauty secrets that suit you.

Gwyneth Paltrow

The star of Shakespeare in Love, 36, swears by fresh organic food to keep her complexion glowing. She also drinks lots of water and regularly wears sunscreen outside to protect her skin.

One celebrity beauty tip from Gwyneth that you may not have have heard before - before Apple's birth, she found that taking prenatal vitamins was the best thing for her hair, so she still does it!

According to Gwyneth, "It doesn't matter if you are pregnant, I swear to God. I have double-processed blond hair, and it's so long and not damaged."

Catherine Zeta Jones

How does the Welsh actress, 38 this year, stay beautiful for her husband Michael Douglas? Catherine's grandmother passed on a variety of home remedies that she still uses on a daily basis.

To keep that perfect smile, she brushes her teeth with mashed-up strawberries. Strawberries contain Malic Acid, which acts as a mild astringent when mixed with baking soda.

To keep her hair healthy looking and shiny, Catherine brushes castor oil through it. Catherine obviously knows her ancient Egyptian history - castor oil was used by the Pharaohs to prevent hair loss.

Julia Roberts

America's Sweetheart, 40, is famous for her perfect smile, but her favorite celebrity beauty tip concerns her nails. She soaks them in olive oil for a few minutes every week.

Olive oil moisturizes your nails without weakening them, and softens your cuticles too. It also prevents "hang nails" that are caused by dry skin.

Julia, has a great hair stylist, Serge Normant, who does wonders with her hair. After visiting his salon she sometimes won't wash her hair for a full two weeks!

Jennifer Love Hewitt

Jennifer Love Hewitt, 28, has great skin and usually looks fantastic even without make-up, but what does she do when she gets those occasional pimples?

Answer - she treats them with plain old toothpaste. Applying a dab of toothpaste to the pimple overnight dries it out, in much the same way that prescription acne remedies do.

Hopefully by the morning the inflammation has disappeared.

Cindy Crawford

The 80s supermodel and mom of two, 41, keeps her complexion fresh by spraying her face with a mist of whole milk and mineral water.

This creates a dewy, fresh-faced effect that lasts all day long!

Here's a celebrity beauty tip that's out of reach for most of us - Cindy goes to a Parisian plastic surgeon who injects her skin with vitamins.

According to Cindy, "Pretty much every make-up artist I work with says my skin looks better than it did twelve years ago."

Teri Hatcher

This Desperate Housewife has aged incredibly well. Her secret? She loves a few glasses of red wine, but not just to drink!

Teri pours two cups of red wine into her bath every night to help soften her skin.

Make sure you only use the cheap stuff though, otherwise celebrity beauty tips like this will end up costing you a lot of money!

Mariah Carey

Mariah actually looks even better now that she did when she started her career.

One of her secrets? She applies a dab of peppermint extract to her lips before a public appearance.

Peppermint increases blood flow to her lips and gives Mariah a sultry pout that she loves.

Waterproof Cosmetics

2009-07-01T11:18:00.001-07:00

Makeup That Lasts: Waterproof Cosmetics

Waterproof makeup is very convenient because it helps keep makeup looking fresh and clean. Because of its unique qualities, water-resistant makeup is often used for special occasions like weddings, anniversaries, birthdays or maybe even prom night. The makeup will not run or come off on delicate clothing, and it stays looking great much longer. Waterproof cosmetics contain a special form of dimethicone called dimethicone copolyol. This is a waterproof version of the same oil, formulated to adhere to skin and hair.

There are some women who may choose to go with waterproof everyday because of their profession. Wearing water proof, smudge proof or sweat proof cosmetics means that you'll look great all day or all night. Waterproof cosmetics should not be used by women suffering from eyelid dermatitis. Eyelid dermatitis is an allergic reaction to compounds that come into contact with the skin. While waterproof cosmetics are useful for events such as weddings, anniversaries, prom night, or other special occasions, excessive use can lead to potential damage to the skin. The best option is to save waterproof make-up for those rare occasions. Water proof eye products are especially terrific because our eyes tend to water, to get rubbed and to be generally irritated more than the rest of our faces.

Most cosmetics have an ingredient called dimethicone, which is silicone-based oil. Dimethicone helps keep skin soft and assists in giving a smooth application of the product. Waterproof eye shadow means not having to reapply part-way through an evening at a hot, crowded club, and since those places never have decent mirrors, you'd better plan to go home with the same makeup you wore in. Many women prefer cream eyeliner and shadow because it goes on more smoothly, but you can also set it more securely with powder. Waterproof cream to powder eyeliner is a powerful makeup combination: getting your eye makeup in waterproof forms is a great way to beat summer heat, winter rains and raccoon eyes at the end of a long day.

Lemon and Skin Beauty

2009-07-01T11:12:00.000-07:00

Lemon and Skin Beauty

Or what else you need. There are so many natural tips to give you. These natural ingredients can give you different results with different combinations. But all depends on the type of skin and the ingredients. One specific tip may not give the same result in all skin types. Here you have to be patient to find out your suitable homemade tips with your convenient natural herbal ingredient.

Here today I am giving you the importance of fresh lemon. Lemon can be used for different purposes even for bleaching skin and hair. But if lemon used properly it can enhance your facial beauty. Here is a simple method to make your skin shining and give extra glamor.

Lemon Juice Skin Beauty

To achieve fairness to skin by using lemon we need fresh lemon juice, cucumber juice and olive oil.

Lemon juice-1tsp
Cucumber juice-2tsp
Olive oil-2tsp

This recipe you can use on face, neck, hands or all over body. Accordingly add more ingredients keeping the proportion.

Give a mild body wash and apply this on skin. Give light rubbing for 5-10 min. Then you can take a bath as usual. If you like use coconut oil instead of olive oil or any other oils you like. Oil keeps the skin moisturized. Cucumber helps skin be supple. Lemon gives extra shine. Together with lemon adds fairness and extra beauty to your skin naturally.

Carrot in Beauty Care

2009-07-01T10:52:00.000-07:00

Carrot has got multi level benefits for our body. In my experience carrot has got a high level result in our skin. So it is wise to use carrot in beauty care. We are doing so many things to enhance our skin beauty. Just add carrot in your beauty regimen and see the wonderful effect of carrot. We can use carrot in our skin as pack, drink as juice, eat raw carrot, make salad and eat, use it as pickle, make carrot jam etc. What we do with carrot it will be highly beneficial to our body and at the same time it will give an instant beauty or glow to our skin.

If we use carrot it will give a special glow and a smooth texture to our skin. If we apply carrot as face pack it will remove acne, spots and marks. You know applying carrot pack on hair will improve hair texture, health and growth.

Carrot salad

Cut carrot into small rectangular pieces and put in saline water for few weeks. If you like add green chilly also. This you can use as salad while eating food.

Green salad

When you make green salad add carrot pieces also together with other items. It is beneficial to your body.

Face pack

Make a face pack of carrot in a mixer/grinder and apply this as face pack. Leave it for 20 min. and wash it off with cold water.

Face glow pack

Make a paste of carrot, milk powder and sugar and apply on face. This will increase the face glow. Apply once in a week minimum.

Pigmentation pack

Carrot, oats powder, sugar and turmeric powder is so beneficial for pigmentation.

Oily skin

Carrot, orange juice and sugar-make paste and apply. It is so good to avoid oily nature of skin.

Whiteheads/Blackheads

Mix grated carrot, sugar powder and salt. Apply this on face for 20 min.Then massage face in circular motion. It will remove whiteheads and blackheads very naturally and mildly.

Makeup enhancer

Before applying makeup apply a pack of carrot and orange and do a circular massage. Wash it off with cold water after 20 min. Then apply make makeup. This will enhance the makeup effect.

Dark skin on elbow

Mix carrot, sugar and salt. Apply some oil on the elbow and then rub the elbow area with this regularly. This will remove the dark spots on elbow.

Dark skin around neck

Carrot, lemon juice and sugar powder. Mix well. Apply oil on the neck and do a massage with above carrot mix.

Above all the tips in my experience drinking a glass of carrot juice will shift away all your skin problems. Apply pack and drinking carrot juice- it is so important- carrot in beauty care.

Turmeric Powder in Beauty Care

2009-07-01T10:48:00.000-07:00

How can you use Turmeric powder to increase your skin complexion?

Yes, turmeric can be used to make your skin soft and glow. I hope that you all know now that turmeric powder is used in cosmetics and skin care products. It is having an antiseptic property also. It is used in Indian cooking as a spice or flavor or even as a natural colorant. It is found that the medicinal values of turmeric helps stomach problems.

From olden days turmeric powder is used as a main ingredient in beauty care routines. In Indian kitchen it is used with chilly and coriander powder to make curry masala. As it has got medicinal value as well as skin care usages, consuming it slightly along with daily food found useful.

Again, it is used to cure acne pimples also. So if you apply regularly it will avoid the appearance of pimples.

How to use turmeric powder in beauty care?

It is simple. You can buy turmeric powder and add some water to make a paste. You can add sandal powder also. While taking bath apply this paste to face and full body skin. After few min. wash it off. If you apply this turmeric powder regularly it will increase your skin complexion.

OR if you add some milk and turmeric powder to make it a paste is doubly good. AND add some sandal wood powder also is extremely excellent. Sandal wood gives good complexion as well as good fragrance to your body.

Apply it and see the results of Turmeric Powder in Beauty Care. Result will be amazing folks.

7 Diet Secrets of Stars

2009-06-30T23:45:00.000-07:00

Celebrities always look fabulous. Whether appearing in television or films or strutting down the red carpet during movie premiers and awards, they never cease to fascinate us with their larger than life presence. The truth is, it takes a lot of effort to look the way they do, and being the public figures that they are, they cannot afford to slack off when it comes to taking care of their physical appearances. Their livelihood largely depends on how they look. Aside from the clothes, the hair and the makeup, celebrities have to take good care of their bodies.

So it is no surprise that these stars have their own secrets when it comes to staying fit and gorgeous. Their health agenda can range from extreme workouts to well-planned meals. Who doesn't want to know their secrets in staying absolutely sexy? Here are some of the diet secrets of seven women celebrities.

Jennifer Aniston

The star of the phenomenal television show Friends not only mesmerized audiences with her adorable comic sense and her famous hairstyle, she was also known for having one of the sexiest bodies in Hollywood, as she appeared in countless magazine covers. To stay trim, Jennifer follows the 40:30:30 diet method. The diet consists of:

40% Low glycemic carbohydrates
-Foods such as beans, fruits and vegetables, legumes

30% lean proteins
-Tofu, fish, chicken, turkey, beef and low fat dairy products

30% essential fats
-nuts and seeds, fish and olive oils

It is essential that every meal should contain macronutrients to attain the balance of hormones and maximum weight loss.

Kate Hudson

The gorgeous daughter of actress Goldie Hawn gained 60 pounds during her pregnancy, which she needed to shed quickly before commencing on her next film. From her previous eating plan, she switched to a higher protein diet. She consumed high protein meals in smaller portions, and she combined this diet with an exercise program that includes weight training and cardiovascular workouts. After getting a lot of flak because of her post-pregnancy figure, Kate removed all that baby weight in only four months and has gained abdominal muscles that gained the envy of many in Hollywood.

Oprah Winfrey

As one of the most successful talk-show hosts in the world, there is no question that Oprah needs to maintain her physical appearance for her millions of audiences. Known as one of those celebrities who are constantly battling weight gain, she has recently toned up her figure and has never looked figure in age 50 by combining a regular exercise regime and diet plan. Oprah works out five days a week, spending 30 minutes on the threadmill and doing free weights. Her eating plan consists of legumes, fish, nuts, fruits and vegetables, chicken and dairy products that are lowfat. She limits her consumption of white sugar and flour. Oprah also credits her trim figure to her habit of not eating anything after seven in the evening.

Gwyneth Paltrow

A lot of people may find it hard to believe that the perpetually slim Academy award-winning actress actually needs to diet. Gwyneth actually follows a healthy eating plan that resembles Oprah's, avoiding sugar and white flour. She usually follows a macrobiotic diet, eating foods like vegetables, brown rice, and lean meat. She also eliminated dairy from her diet, and does yoga everyday.

Madonna

The pop star known as the Material Girl has always flaunted a body that is to die for, and has become a true fitness paragon over the years. She keeps herself in tip-top shape by having Ashtanga Yoga, and follows a strict diet that mostly shuns junk foods. She adopted a macrobiotic eating plan that includes organic foods rich in lean protein.

Claudia Schiffer

The bodacious German supermodel eats salad and steamed vegetables for dinner and eats only fruits before the afternoon. While on locations, she prefers to eat black grapes and drinks tomato juice and herbal tea.

Christie Brinkley

Long-time supermodel maintains her all-American good looks by being a vegetarian. She does not keep junk foods of any kind inside her home to make sure that she does not eat them when cravings occur. She snacks on sweet potatoes in place of candy bars, and she adopts a liquid juice diet when she needs to slim down fast.

Celebrities are just like ordinary people. They need to maintain their figures just like anyone else, and there is more pressure on their part since they are constantly in the public eye. Ordinary folks can have celebrity-like bodies, too, and by following these diet and fitness plans, they can also look like red-carpet worthy.

Bananas in skin care

2009-06-17T12:45:00.000-07:00

Sure banana is your favorite fruit. Bananas are very useful in all its qualities. This fruit has cellulose, protein, potassium, provitamin A, macrocells, organic acid (apple one mainly), vitamins C, B, PP and E. Pulp of banana used in cosmetic masks has perfect emollient, moistening and smoothing effects. That’s why masks from bananas are very useful and necessary for all women.

Firstly I offer some banana masks for all types of skin. Knead 1 banana as puree and mix with 2 tea-spoons of free sugar yoghurt or oatmeal. Put on the face for 15-20 minutes. Knead 1 banana and mix with some milk. Put on the face and in 15-20 minutes wash the face with milk.

Masks for normal and dry skin. Knead 1 banana and mix with 1 tea-spoon of sour milk. Put on the face for 15-20 minutes and then wash with warm water. For more effect you should take a course from 20 such masks – every day or every other day. Also you can mix 1 kneaded banana with 1 tea-spoon of honey. Put on the face for 15-20 minutes and then wash the face with warm water.

For dry and withered skin you should mix pulp of 1 banana with 1 egg yolk and 1 tea-spoon of sour cream. Put on the face for 15-20 minutes and then wash the face with warm water. You’d better to make this mask 2-3 times a week. The whole course is 20 masks.

If your skin is greasy, you should take a course from 20 masks like this. Knead 1 banana with 1 tea-spoon of lemon juice. Put on the face for 15-20 minutes and then wash face with warm water. You’ll get another variant of this mask if you add 1 egg yolk in the mixture of banana and lemon juice.

Recipes for grease and dry hairs

2009-06-17T12:08:00.001-07:00

You shouldn’t suffer from grease hair. Make the special lotion by yourself and use it after hair washing every time. This lotion will help your hair to be clean and will take surplus greasiness away. Pour 2 table-spoons of linden flowers with 500 ml. of boiling water. Boil 2-3 minutes on the light fire, and then filter. Add 1 table-spoon of vinegar or juice of 1 lemon, and 50 ml. of calendula extract (or eucalyptus) or camphor alcohol. Apply lotion on the dry hair after washing with cotton tampon.

To recover dry and thin hair you need to use oil masks. Before head washing you should apply castor oil onto hair roots. Cover the head with butter-paper and bath towel above. Leave mask for 2 hours, then wash head as usual. After washing rinse the head with mint infusion. To prepare it you should pour 2 table-spoons of mint with 200 ml. of boiling water. Infuse for 30 minutes and then filter.

Once a month make a special compress for hair recovering. Mix 1 beaten egg-yolk with 1table-spoon of castor oil. Rub warm mixture into head skin and apply on the hair. Cover head with piece of polyethylene and bath towel above. Leave for 1-2 hours. After compress wash head as usual.

Feet skin care tips

2009-06-17T12:02:00.000-07:00

Without doubt, your feet are the most active part of your body, even more than your hands. In fact, most of the time they are definitely overworked. Especially in today’s day and age, the big metros are so widespread that one has to cover long distances to get from one place to the next be it for job or other work. Therefore it is very much essential that one must take extra care of their feet in order to avoid having foot problems. Moreover you can try to make skin on the feet like babies have – soft and silk. Do you want to have such heels?

Then make a rule before going to bed daily pamper your feet with a rich moisturizing cream, vaseline or any child cream and wear cotton socks.

Use hot-cold water technique. Dip your feet in hot water and then after five minutes dip it in cold water. Do this for 20 minutes. This method improves the blood circulation.

Choose your shoes carefully and pick only the best quality.

Do not expose your feet to extreme climate i.e., extreme cold or extreme heat.

Use the special scrub for feet. To do it, mix sugar with olive oil.

If you suffer from excessive sweating of feet, make the fine remedy by yourself. Grind apricot kernels and mix them with water. Put the mixture on the feet for 15-20 minutes before sleep.

Make your nails hard

2009-06-17T12:01:00.000-07:00

Sometimes fragile nails need more drastic treatment than saline baths. In this case you should use the salutary qualities of herbs. Let’s make vitamin addition for your nails.

Mix the equal amount of grinded herb: Hypericum perforatum L., thyme, camomile and burdock-root. Spill 1 glass of boiling water 2 table-spoons of herbal mixture and stay closed. Put your fingers into warm infusion for some minutes.

After herbal bath rub the mixture of vitamins A and E into nails. To make this mixture you should crush some capsules of these vitamins in the small bowl and mix. Try to rub the vitamins in every nail at least for 30 seconds.

Don’t remember to take calcium every morning and in combination with vitamin procedure, described above, your nails will become hard and beautiful.

Dry Fruits for Skin

2009-06-17T11:57:00.000-07:00

Eat dried fruits to make your skin beautiful

Continuing the theme about purgation to help the organism to regulate metabolism, I offer the next recipe. Our bowels needs 25 gram of cellulose every day to work well. It helps him to take slags and carcinogens out, to organize the life of gut organisms.

All vegetables and fruits are rich with cellulose, and also nuts, bran and bread of coarse grinding. To diversify your menu I advise you to eat the mixture of dried fruits time to time instead of fruits and vegetables. So you will get the necessary amount of cellulose and at the same time a tasty dish.

Take in half a glass of raisins, prunes, dried apricots, fig and Circassian walnuts, wash them and scald with boiling water. Mince all dried fruits and add in half a glass of honey and unstrained infusion of ground linseed. To prepare linseed infusion take 2 table-spoons of linseed, pour it with 100 ml of boiling water and draw it for 20 minutes. Mix up all ingredients carefully.

Drink in 1 table-spoon of prepared mixture in the morning before breakfast and in 30 minutes before dinner or supper. Prepared mixture from dried fruits is kept in the fridge.

Take a half an hour to care about your hands

2009-06-17T11:53:00.000-07:00

You are going to the party. Look at yourself – the dress is nice, beautiful coiffure, refined make-up and your hands… Oh, they are horny, stiff, tired. And you have too little time to put them to rights. Don’t worry, if you have at least spare half hour, use my recipe and your hands will be perfect.

Dissolve 1 table-spoon of starch in ½ liter of warm water. Add 1 table-spoon of kefir and mix. Put your hands into the mixture and keep for 15 minutes. Then dry them out with a napkin and put nourishing cream. In 5 minutes you can put nail polish.

By the way, here are some advices about nail polish. Dark dull polishes dry longer than light limpid ones. Remember about it, estimating necessary time. Also if you use pastes in the manicure, don’t forget to cover them above by clear lacquer. Pastes last longer and sparkle brighter from it. Have a good time.

What about your elbows?

2009-06-17T11:52:00.000-07:00

In winter the skin on the elbows often becomes coarse and rugged. But to solve this problem isn’t very difficult. For beginning spoil your elbows with warm bath with baking soda (1 table-spoon for 1 liter of water) and liquid soap or shower gel. Keep elbows in the bath for 10-15 minutes, and then dry them easily.

Now your elbows are ready for peeling. Put any peeling mass for face or for body, which you have. Massage every elbow for 2-3 minutes. Then wash elbows by warm water, dry and put any nutritious cream. You’d better to choose the cream with vitamins A and E.

To keep your elbows in the ideal condition in the future, use my grandmother’s recipe. Take one lemon, divide in half, and put an elbow into every half. Keep for 15-20 minutes, then rinse them with warm water and put cream. The skin will be soft and smooth. Repeat this procedure 2-4 times a month. In the evening you should use rich cream to care about elbows.

Pay attention to your teeth

2009-06-17T11:50:00.000-07:00

In spring women often have problems with gums. They begin to bleed, to cover with small ulcers. What should we do? Look! Herbs, vegetables and fruits hurry to help you. Most of all various rinsers are popular.

Decoction from oak bark helps to treat gums very well. Pour 1 table-spoon ground oak bark with 1 glass of water and keep in the water bath on the light fire for 15 minutes. Then filter. Rinse mouth with this decoction twice a day, in the morning and evening.

Also rinse mouth with warm extract of Acorus calamus. It is easy to make at home. Pour 1 tea-spoon of cut Acorus calamus rhizome with 1,5 glass of boiling water and infuse it for 2 hours. Then filter.

During spring “rheumatic pain” in teeth you can use lemon juice. Squeeze juice of half a lemon into ½ glass of warm boiling water and rinse mouth with this liquid some times a day.

Calendula is well-known by its fine antiphlogistic and bactericidal qualities. If you suffer from stomatitis and gingivitis you need to rinse mouth in the morning and evening with aqueous extract of calendula. Pour 10 gram of flowers with 1 glass of boiling water and keep for an hour.

Also you can follow my plain advices. In spring and early summer conifers are covered with fresh thorny leaves. You should chew fresh thorns, not swallowing. They have pleasant taste and at the same time they manage many problems with gums. Another way is to eat sauerkraut. It contains a lot of vitamin C, which is very useful for gums.

Tomato for Skin Care

2009-06-16T23:30:00.000-07:00

It also contains fiber, vitamin C, E, K, B1, B6, B3, B2, iron, manganese, potassium as well as carotenes and many more to help you in every manner.

Tomato Skin Care Recipes

Tomatoes are of great help for your skin. If you happen to go in the sun and in that span of time you get tanned, there is an easy solution. Prepare cucumber and tomato juice mixture to be applied on the affected areas of your skin. Keep it for 10 minutes; later wash it off with clean water. You will notice the difference.

Anyone can have skin rashes and the main reason for these rashes is silicon deficiency. This problem is overcome by having good amounts of sprouts, tomatoes and other vegetables and fruits.

Make a mixture of honey and tomato juice to be applied on your face and neck. Wash it off after 15 minutes and within minutes you would see a glowing face in front of the mirror.

Another recipe for glowing skin is the mixture of 2 tsp tomato juice and 4 tsp yoghurt. Apply it well on your skin and wash it in 15 minutes to see the difference.

This recipe is for all those people who have oily skins, open pores and blackheads. Tomato has an acidic trait which also contains potassium and vitamin C which helps in cleansing the face. Rub a sliced piece of tomato on your skin and leave it for fifteen minutes. This would help the pores. Later wash it off with water.

For a good complexion spread the pulp of tomato on your face daily. Keep it for 1 hour and then wash it off with warm water. If done regularly the results will be seen.

The tomato lotion helps in shrinking the enlarged pores and this can be made by using tomato juice mixed with 2 or 3 drops of lime juice. Apply this solution on your face and then wash it off for 15 minutes.

A great recipe to remove sunburn can be made by adding 2 tsp tomato juice in 4 tbsp of buttermilk. Apply it all over your skin. Wash it off after keeping it for 1/2 hour.

You can easily make a homemade cleanser by using tomato and milk. Use tomato juice by straining the pulp and mix it with equal parts of milk. Store this in a bottle which can be refrigerated to be used everyday. Apply this on your face and neck by using your fingertips. Keep it for 10 minutes and later wash it with cold water.

Dandruff

2009-06-16T23:21:00.000-07:00

Vinegar Wonder

Add six spoonfuls water, two spoonfuls pure vinegar and apply it on the scalp with cotton wool before going to bed. Tie a towel around your head to protect the pillow. Wash your hair next morning. After shampooing, rinse again with vinegar water. Continue this once a week for at least three months.

Mix a spoonful of lemon juice with two spoonfuls of vinegar and massage on the scalp. Wash your hair with an egg shampoo after this.

Methi Power

Soak fenugreek (methi) seeds in yogurt overnight and apply the curd on your scalp for half an hour before washing in the morning.

Just soak the fenugreek seeds overnight in water to soften the seeds and grind in the morning to make paste. Before hair-wash, apply this paste on scalp and hair and leave it on for half an hour. Wash off with shampoo later.

An Egg Pack

Beat two eggs and add two tablespoons of water to it.

Wet the hair and apply the egg mixture over the hair.

Now massage your scalp and let the mixture on for ten minutes to fifteen minutes. Then rinse the hair with lukewarm water.

Amla Power

Amla is rich in iron and considered to be very nourishing for strong and healthy hair. Add amla juice to lemon juice and massage your scalp with firm fingers.

Wash after half an hour.

Physical Appearance

2009-06-16T23:15:00.000-07:00

What Constitutes Physical Appearance?

Physical appearance or the combination of facial features that constitute a person’s individuality is a significant factor in determining how the person is perceived in human society.

Physical appearance is often regarded as a measure for judging attractiveness and sensual appeal and recent studies show that it is instrumental in maintaining relationships, making new ones, getting a job, inspiring confidence or other feelings of either positivity or negativity and also for individuals to decide their self-worth.

Aspects of Physical Appearance

Physical appearance is an amalgamation of special features or qualities that confer superiority, distinction, merit, perfection, virtue and beauty to a person.

Sociological Aspect

Physical appearance can determine the attractiveness of a person and is dependant of an individual’s perception of the physical traits of an individual human person or a group, race, or type of people. This judgment of attractiveness is based on physical appearance as a whole or individual feature and distinctive traits and is partly universal to all human cultures, and partly decided by individual preference.

Anthropological Aspect

The difference observed by humans in judging their male or female counterparts on a day-to-day basis is largely dependant on their physical appearance. In fact, anthropologists believe that these observations, made in context with humans in society are an important factor in the development of personality and social relations, especially the factor of physical attractiveness. They claim that even though there is a relatively low sexual dimorphism between human males and females in comparison with other mammals, human beings are acutely sensitive to variations in physical appearance. Some anthropologists link this with the theory of evolution. Darwin’s theory of evolution laid emphasis on the individual variation within a species and defined the function of that person within a social setting.

Psychological Aspect

Psychologists have taken a leaf out of Darwin’s book and furthered this thinking by introducing to the world enamored with physical appearance, the Trait approach. This trait theory focuses on the heritable traits, which determine behavior and result in particular characteristics developing and types of individuals. According to Gordon Allport, a 1937 or thereabouts existing scholar, physical appearance initiated, guided and formed adaptive and expressive behavior.

The most capable source for understanding how people's natural or existing traits affect the responses of the society lies in the examination of the traits with which people are born and physical appearance is the most notable among these. Psychologist believes that physical appearance affects the environment and determines how people in society will treat an individual in much the same way as their personality does. In fact, studies prove that specific elements of appearance like hygiene and selection of clothes that are also functions of personality, determine physical appearance, which in turn affects the environment that in turn affects personality.

Natural Remedies For Blackheads

2009-06-16T02:23:00.000-07:00

Blackhead Removal

Blackheads can be really annoying and embarrassing and everyone wants to get rid of this nuisance either with the help of natural remedies or through strips or some extraction method (which can have adverse effect if not done correctly). You can use fresh Garlic (I know it stinks but if you can bear the smell you don't have to worry about blackheads), Lemon (some people are allergic to citrus fruits so its not a good option for them), Fenugreek are some of the safest natural remedies for blackheads. Luckily, I don't really get blackheads, I guess its because of my skin type which is normal to dry but my hubby's skin is oily and acne prone so I try these natural recipes on him. People with oily and acne prone skin find it very irritating because it keeps coming back so the best way is to use these recipes on a regular basis instead of waiting for the blackheads to come back.

I will tell you how you can prevent and get rid of blackheads with these 2 simple steps.

How To Loosen Blackheads

Before trying out any recipe, loosening these blackheads will make the process super easy and very effective. When they are loose they tend to come out easily.

Take 16oz (400ml) water and boil it, add some fresh or dried basil leaves. Once it is boiled add 2-3 drops Lavender oil (you can use any essential oil that helps you with acne some examples are tea tree, rosewood, sandalwood). Drape a towel around your head and take a steam for a few minutes so that the pores open up. People with sensitive skin, be extra careful not to burn your face.

Now your blackheads are ready to be removed.

Mix one tbsp. Baking Soda with enough water to make a paste. Apply it on the blackheads and keep it on for about a minute or so and gently scrub. Rinse it off with warm water and finish this process by splashing some cold water so that the pores are closed.

By now, your blackheads would have gone. This simple process also makes your skin soft and smooth. Some people are allergic to baking soda(specially people with sensitive skin) so your skin might become red for a few minutes.

You can use these ingredients on a regular basis but make sure that you don't steam your face very often because too much of steaming can make your face dry.

Benefits of Skipping

2009-06-16T01:17:00.001-07:00

Are you fond of skipping ropes? If yes, then you are on a route towards a healthy life, and if you have not tried skipping a rope, then you must start this immediately as skipping a rope is equivalent to skipping ailments and embarking on a healthy and happy route of life. If not convinced, read below and find out the various health benefits of skipping.

If that extra pound on your tummy or your thigh is refraining you from wearing your favorite dress, then just skip those extra pounds away. Skipping is helpful for people who want to reduce weight as it helps in the burning of calories. It has been found that skipping a rope for one hour at a decent pace can help you to burn up to 1000 calories. Not bad at all. So why get depressed with those extra pounds. Now, embark on the natural route of weight loss rather than depending upon pills and crash dieting.

Not only does skipping help you in weight reduction, but it also helps in enhancing the coordination of the body. That is to say, skipping aids in strengthening the coordination between your arms and legs along with improving your reflexes and balance. Also, along with a slim body, you’ll be gifted with well toned arms and a thigh as skipping is a good way of toning your body.

Skipping also helps in improving your attention and concentration skills. This is because you need to have proper coordination between your hand and leg movements and thus skipping is a natural way of making you more alert and sharp. Thus, along with well toned and strengthened muscles, you’ll get a sharp and alert mind.

Skipping has many benefits. It helps your joints and makes them strong. Also, skipping is an exercise that is not restricted by gender or age. Thus, skip everyday and have a happy and a healthy life.

Choosing Moisturizers

2009-06-16T01:13:00.000-07:00

Most of the women find that they eventually require some good moisturizers. Even if she has had oily skin all her life, in many cases, it would still be beneficial from a light moisturizer for applying after cleansing the skin. There are dozens of moisturizers available readily in the market but then which one to choose as the good one!

A woman got to think about many considerations while looking for any moisturizers. She requires thinking about the skin type, her individual skin care requirements and whether she got sensitive type of skin or something else.

Moisturizers – how are they available?

There are three basic types of moisturizers available: Gel, Lotion and Cream. Gel is the lightest formula that is followed by the lotion and finally the cream that provides the heaviest dose of moisture. Generally, the woman with advanced age uses the cream, since the there skin requires the most moisture. Also, moisturizers often have lighter formula if they are formulated for daytime use, under the makeup, with some heavier formulas for nighttimes, after deep cleansing.

Woman having normal skin, oily or normal with an oily "T-zone" (the area that covers the forehead, nose and chin) probably wants to begin with Gel-kind of moisturizer. This provides the moisture without any greasy or heavy impression. It is also a nice choice for any skin tone for daytime moisturizers, under the makeup. This is particularly important in chilly weather, when the drier, freezing air can really sap the moisture away from the skin. Woman, who lives in more arid climates like as the Southwest US, also requires being more painstaking about applying moisturizers, since the air does not contain a lot of ambient moistures.

Different moisturizers for different individuals and climates

Those women with normal or dry skin may want to try a moisturizing lotion. These will provide a heavier dose of moisture for skin that loses it more quickly. Dry skin also tends to be sensitive, so a woman will need to consider this. Fortunately, there are good moisturizers available that are fragrance-free, and designed especially for sensitive skin. A woman who knows ahead of time that her skin is dry and fussy will probably want to try one of these moisturizers first.

Women with more mature skin will likely to go for cream moisturizers. They will also be opting for the preparations that favor to make skin look more vernal and firmer. Again, this is greatly a question of individual’s requirement and how sensitive the skin they have. Some women are very sensible to the products that contain Alpha-hydroxy derivatives as well as citric acid or even ascorbic acid.

Women who go for products having Alpha-hydroxy should also be aware that they got to avoid sunlight exposure as it might cause the damage to the skin. Another modern conception in the quest for having smoother skin is the addition to the sunscreens. Many moisturizers would have sunscreen added. Many companies of foundation makeup also add sunscreens, so it might depend upon what a tolerance of the skin of the woman when she goes to select moisturizer. Some are sensitive to the sunscreens, others aren't. Nevertheless, moisturizers with sunscreen contradict the requirement for it in foundation makeup, and in opposite case, it is also a fact.

Generally, moisturizers with sunscreens are intended to be used under makeup, during the day. It is not all the time to look for some formulas that contain sunscreens while choosing a nighttime formulation.

The place – an important factor

Some women believe that only the department stores cosmetic lines carry a great quality product. However, this is not necessarily to be fact all the time. Many drugstore brands can also offer great moisturizers. In fact, some are just the drugstore lines for the departmental store product. And with the skyrocketing quality of generic brands, even the high-ticket drugstore brands often offer generic or store brand equivalents those are cheaper but contain the same effective ingredients. This is another area where the women can compare. If the drugstore brands have essentially the same ingredients list as the department store lines, one can go for the cheaper brands with confidence. Many departmental store cosmetic lines have their products’ ingredients described on their websites so it is not a bad idea to check that out.

Causes of Hair Loss

2009-06-15T01:13:00.000-07:00

Hair loss is a natural daily phenomenon, re-growth is generally a given. But this shedding of hair cannot be the main cause of hair loss. Every strand of hair on a human head is genetically programmed to a cycle that includes growth, stabilization, aging and shedding. On the average, a human head sheds about 50 – 125 (depending on gender) but most of them will come back after the resting stage as the follicle itself is not destroyed. Trouble begins when the loss exceeds re-growth, or the re-growth is weak and unhealthy. These are the main causes of hair loss.

Other causes of hair loss are as follows

Genes

Genes can give you stunning looks but may also be a cause of hair loss for you. In a vast majority of cases, hair loss is hereditary, passed down the genes from either side of parentage. Some studies indicate that baldness from the maternal side has a greater chance of it being passed along.

Here is the most common explanation how genes can be a cause of hail loss:

During the fetus formation stage, some hair genes make hair follicles susceptible to a hormone called Dihydrotestosterone, more commonly referred to as simply DHT. When this link is established, the follicle starts to shrink, sprouting thinner and weaker hair at every cycle. Eventually, the follicle or root dies and baldness is complete.

Stress, Trauma, Diet

Other causes of hair loss could be surgery, medication, high level of work or family related stress and diet or nutrition changes all these can contribute to hair loss. These causes of hair loss are generally short lived and hair growth is restored once the situation normalizes. In any case, the above mentioned causes of hair loss rarely contribute to baldness

How To Treat Hair Loss Naturally

Identifying the cause of one’s sudden hair loss and treating it naturally, is the best way to recover from stress related hair loss; but it is not always the easiest thing to do. In some cases, stress has become such a major and vital part of one’s daily routine that it can be very difficult to separate oneself from the need for it. Statistics show that over 80% of people are overstressed, in some capacity, and may be suffering from some health condition because of it. Most Americans live such busy lives and suffer from the weight of responsibilities with jobs and family that we allow our health habits to fall. Sudden hair loss is not a direct side effect of stress, but it comes as a result of an unhealthy diet and lifestyle caused by the reality of stressful conditions in our lives. Therefore, it is very important for every individual suffering from sudden hair loss to understand what causes stress, how it affects one’s health, and how to either get rid of or cope with one’s stress.

The following is a list of things one can do to cope with stress. In order to completely get rid of your stress and cure it, one has to devise a list of all of your problems and deal with them head on. Ignoring your problems and disassociating yourself from stressful events only serves to bring temporary relief but not a permanent cure. The following list are ways one can cope with stress.

Exercise

Researchers have discovered that regular exercise decreases the production of adrenaline and will counteract the stress response. Physical activity of any kind is an effective way to relieve stress and will usually leave you feeling relaxed and rational about your problems. Researchers have also found that those who exercise regularly sleep and relax better.

Sleep\Relaxation

Having healthy sleep habits and relaxation rituals are a very important part of eliminating stress. If you set aside at least 20 minutes each day in a quiet room to relax your mind and focus on good thoughts, you will notice a change in one’s attitude toward stress. You can also use this time to pray and meditate on bible scriptures. Finding some time during your day to quiet oneself can be very therapeutic in producing an effective and appropriate response in stressful conditions. Proper sleep is also important in coping with stress. Everyone knows how much sleep they need, but too much or too little sleep can affect one’s health in different ways. An abnormal sleep pattern can cause skin deterioration and sudden hair loss.

Diet

Stress at home and at the workplace can have a drastic effect on one’s eating habits. The abuse of alcohol, drinking coffee, and smoking are all effects that stress can have in improper nutrition and diet. Lack of certain vitamins and minerals in your diet can lead to iron deficiency or anemia that can contribute to sudden hair loss. A fundamental principal in natural hair loss treatment is that the same foods that are good for your health, are good for your hair. Although sudden hair loss can be caused by many other variables, lack of proper nutrition will cause hair loss in most people. Foods that are high in protein, low in carbohydrates, and have reduced fat content can help in maintaining healthier hair and preventing sudden hair loss.

The list above is only a means to stress relief, and not a cure for stress related hair loss. The best possible way to treat one’s sudden hair loss is by dealing with the root problem behind the stress. Exercise, diet and sleep can never eliminate the problem but can only help you cope with it in a positive and healthy manner. As a society, we blame stress on everyone and everything except ourselves and the fact is the only person responsible for your stress is you. Having the wrong attitudes, and our fears\ phobias contribute to creating more stress in our lives. Dealing with fears and anxiety with a positive attitude can help you overcome the stress in your life. The good news is, that one’s sudden diffuse hair loss can be dealt with and there are easy and effective ways to deal with stress and thus prevent sudden hair loss.

Natural Tips For fighting Body Odor

2009-06-14T23:57:00.000-07:00

Body odor is a term known to every one. It’s basically the sweat that our body produces to regulate its temperature. Sweat, essentially odorless, can become rather pungent once exposed to bacteria. Therefore we experience that bad unpleasant smell of the sweat. Body odor is often a result of improperly eliminated toxic waste. Although everyone has a slight body odor, it can sometimes become offensive. Unfamiliar body odors can cause self-consciousness.

Causes of Body Odor:

There are various causes which trigger unpleasant body odor. It’s often due to

Poor hygiene or excessive sweating, when perspiration remains on the body long enough for bacteria to breed.

It is also related to nervousness, anxiety and stress, since poor internal health causes odor. Problems detoxifying via the kidneys, liver or bowels will increase body odor, as more toxins remain in the body and must be eliminated through the skin.

A sluggish liver and constipation are common problems today.

Strong-smelling food spices, like garlic and curry, are emitted through the pores of the skin causing strong body odor.

The smell of cigarettes and alcohol remains in the body and on the clothes for many hours.

Useful Suggestions to Help Prevent Body Odor:

Shower daily, especially after exercise or strenuous physical work. Moderate exposure to sun helps kill bacteria and gives the body a healthy, pleasant smell.

Use natural deodorants which inhibit bacterial growth but do not prevent you from sweating. Antiperspirants are not recommended because they restrict sweating, which is a valuable means to regulate heat, water and minerals, and to eliminate toxins. Sodium bicarbonate, commonly known as baking soda, can be powdered all over to help eliminate odor without causing skin irritations

Change underwear daily. Wear loose, natural-fiber clothing such as cotton, wool, linen or silk.

Natural Treatments for Preventing Body Odor:

Nutritional Supplements

A number of nutrients help to improve metabolism, the first step in the removal of waste. The B vitamins are especially important. Ensure that the B complex you choose contains all the B vitamins. Otherwise, supplement them separately. Zinc reduces strong body odor. Chlorophyll tablets or the chlorophyll in many green food supplements also help reduce body odor by supporting the liver and detoxifying the body.

Daily Dosages:

Vitamin B complex, 50 mg one to three times daily

Chlorophyll, chlorella or other green food supplements, 1 tbsp.

Zinc, 30 mg, with 3 mg copper

Herbal Remedies

In addition to maintaining proper nutrition and hygiene, herbs can help eliminate the sources of body odor.

Essential oils of thyme and lavender kill bacteria. Add 5 drops of each to bath water or shower gel.

Mix 5 drops lavender oil with 2 cups distilled water. Keep in a glass bottle and dab onto areas of the body that perspire easily.

A cleansing juice fast of bitter herbs such as dandelion, endive or angelica, along with enemas of fenugreek seed infusion are advisable for cleansing the intestinal tract. Take 1 tbsp. of herbal juice daily.

Home Remedies for Skin Whitening Care

2009-06-14T23:31:00.000-07:00

Here are some simple home remedies for skin whitening that you can do to lighten the skin tone and get a lighter complexion. However, they must be done regularly and best results are obtained if they are inculcated as a part of daily routine.

Mix 1 tsp of milk powder, 1 tsp of honey, 1 tsp of lemon juice, and ½ tsp of almond oil. Apply on face and wash off after 10-15 minutes. This pack helps bring shine to the skin and also removes tan.

Mix oatmeal with curd and tomato juice and apply on the face. Keep it on for 20 minutes and then wash it off with cold water. It helps remove the tan and lightens the skin.

Place sliced raw potato on the face. It helps reduce blemishes and other marks.

Applying turmeric powder along with lime juice removes the tan. Lime juice is a natural bleach.

Dried orange peels mixed with curd also help reduce blemishes and scars. Wash off this mixture with cold water after 15 minutes.

Soak 4 almonds overnight. Grind into a fine paste using milk. Apply on face and neck and leave it overnight. Wash with cold water in the morning. Do this daily for 15 days, followed by twice a week.

A tbsp of gram flour mixed with 2 tsp of raw milk and 2-3 drops of lime juice works well for lightening dark skin. Apply this mixture and leave it for 15 minutes before washing off. Repeat for 4 weeks and follow up with once a week.

Apply a paste of fresh ground mint leaves and leave it for about 20 minutes. Wash with cold water, continue for 15 days.

Apply a mixture of grated tomato with 2-3 drops of lime juice on the face. Leave it for 20 minutes before washing off. Do this twice a day for 15-20 days for best results.

Diet for Getting Rid of Dark Skin

Although there are no particular foods that will lighten your skin instantly, a balanced diet definitely helps by giving your skin a healthy glow. Drinking an optimum amount of water hydrates your skin and keeps it blemish free. Some recommendations regarding diet are as follows –

Avoid excessive consumption of heavy and oily foods.

Incorporate whole cereals, pulses, fresh fruits and vegetables in your diet.

Drink at least 4-5 liters of water every day. Water washes out the toxins from the body.

Other suggestions for Dark Skin

Use a good quality sunscreen when going out in the sun to protect the skin from tanning as well as the sun's UV rays.

Facial Exercises

2009-06-14T23:20:00.001-07:00

EYES & FOREHEAD EXERCISES

Sit upright and close your eyes. Slowly look down, up, left, then right as far as possible. Repeat 10 times.

Sitting upright with your eyes still closed, lift your eyebrows and stretch your eyelids down as far as possible and hold this position for 5 seconds. Relax for 10 seconds and repeat exercise 5 times.

Sitting upright with your eyes closed, imitate a frown and bring your eyebrows down and toward each other as much as possible. Hold position for 5 seconds. Then lift your eyebrows and open your eyes as wide as you can and hold this position for another 5 seconds. Repeat exercise 5 times.

Now lie on your bed with your face towards the ceiling. Scoot to the edge of the bed until your head is over the edge. You may want to place a folded towel beneath your neck to cushion it against the edge and make the exercise more comfortable. Lift your eyebrows as high as possible, open your eyes as wide as you can, and hold position for 10 seconds. Relax your face for 10 seconds and repeat exercise 10 times.

FACE & NECK WARM-UP EXERCISES

Sit upright, tilt your head back and keep your lips closed and relaxed. Look at the ceiling and begin chewing with your mouth closed for 10 seconds. Tilt your head forward, close your eyes and relax for 30 seconds. Repeat exercise 10 times.

Still sitting upright, tilt your head forward even more so that your chin almost touches your chest. Roll your head slowly first in a clockwise motion, then in a counter-clockwise direction. Repeat exercise 3 times.

Now lie on your bed with the back of your neck hanging over the edge. Place a folded towel beneath your neck to cushion it against the edge and make the exercise more comfortable. Gently bring your chin towards your chest and keep it there for 15 seconds. Lower your head and relax for 20 seconds. Repeat 5 times.

LIP & CHEEK EXERCISES

Sit upright, tilt your head back and keep your lips closed and relaxed. Look at the ceiling and pucker your lips for 10 seconds. Tilt your head forward, close your eyes and relax for 20 seconds. Repeat exercise 10 times.

Sit upright and facing forward. With your mouth closed, separate your teeth by dropping your lower jaw and then push your jaw forward. Hold this position for 10 seconds. Relax and bring your jaw back into its normal position. Repeat 5 times.

Sit upright and facing forward. With your mouth closed and teeth together, smile as widely as possible with the edges of your lips turned up and towards your ears. Hold this position for 5 seconds, then immediately pucker your lips for 5 additional seconds. Relax your lips for 5 seconds and repeat exercise 10 times.

Sit upright and facing forward. With your teeth and lips closed, blow air under your top lip and hold air for 10 seconds. Move air to your left cheek, hold for 10 seconds, then to your lower lip, hold for 10 seconds, and finally to your right cheek and hold for 10 seconds. Repeat exercise 5 times.

Chemical Peels

2009-06-14T23:07:00.000-07:00

A chemical peel is a body treatment technique used to improve and smooth the texture of the facial skin using a chemical solution that causes the dead skin to slough off and eventually peel off. The regenerated skin is usually smoother and less wrinkled than the old skin. Thus the term chemical peel is derived. Some types of chemical peels can be purchased and administered without a medical license, however people are advised to seek professional help from a dermatologist, plastic surgeon, maxillofacial surgeon, or otolaryngologist on a specific type of chemical peel before a procedure is performed.

Types

There are several types of chemical peels.

Alpha hydroxy acid peels

Alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) are naturally occurring organic carboxylic acids such as glycolic acid, a natural constituent of sugar cane juice and lactic acid, found in sour milk and tomato juice. This is the mildest of the peel formulas and produces light peels for treatment of fine wrinkles, areas of dryness, uneven pigmentation and acne. Alpha hydroxy acids can also be mixed with a facial wash or cream in lesser concentrations as part of a daily skin-care regimen to improve the skin's texture.

AHA peels are used to:

reduce fine wrinkling

treat areas of dryness

reduce uneven pigmentation

aid in the control of acne

smooth rough dry skin

improve the texture of sun-damaged skin

Beta hydroxy acid peels

It is becoming common for beta hydroxy acid (BHA) peels to be used instead of the stronger alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) peels due to BHA's ability to get deeper into the pore than AHA. Studies show that BHA peels control oil, acne as well as remove dead skin cells to a certain extent better than AHAs due to AHAs only working on the surface of the skin.

Salicylic acid is a biosynthesized, organic, beta hydroxy acid that is often used. Sodium salicylate is converted by treating sodium phenolate (the sodium salt of phenol) with carbon dioxide at high pressure and temperature. Acidification of the product with sulfuric acid gives salicylic acid. Alternatively, it can be prepared by the hydrolysis of Aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) or Oil of Wintergreen (methyl salicylate) with a strong acid or base.

Jessner's peel

Jessner's peel solution, formerly known as the Coombe's formula, is a combination of salicylic and lactic acids, and resorcinol. It is thought to break intracellular bridges between keratinocytes.

Retinoic acid peel

This type of facial peel is also performed in the office of a plastic surgeon or a dermatologist. This is a deeper peel than the Beta Acid peel and is used to remove scars as well as wrinkles and pigmentation problems. This type of facial peel often requires the use of a mild anesthesia, although the doctor is not likely to put you totally under.

Although a Retinoic Acid peels works very well, it will take a few days to heal from this procedure, so you may want to schedule some time off work before you have this done. However, if you are troubled by deep acne scars or have problems with pigmentation on your face, this is an excellent facial peel.

Trichloroacetic acid peels

Trichloroacetic acid (TCA) is used as an intermediate to deep peeling agent in concentrations ranging from 20-50%. Depth of penetration is increased as concentration increases, with 50% TCA penetrating into the reticular dermis. Concentrations higher than 35% are not recommended because of the high risk of scarring.

Trichloroacetic acid peels:

are preferred for darker-skinned patients over Phenol

smooth out fine surface wrinkles

remove superficial blemishes

correct skin pigment problems

Phenol peels

Phenol is the strongest of the chemical solutions and produces a deep skin peel. Recent studies suggest that phenol is most likely only the carrier for another active component in the solution, namely croton oil. In fact, phenol alone produces only a light peel which is ineffective for restructuring the deeper dermal structures (such as wrinkles). The term Phenol/Croton oil peel has been proposed as a more accurate descriptor, but the established terminology phenol peel continues to be of dominant usage, as the role of croton oil in the mix is not as widely understood.

Effects of a phenol chemical peel are long lasting, and in some cases are still readily apparent up to 20 years following the procedure. Improvements in the patient’s skin can be quite dramatic. A single treatment usually achieves the desired result.

Phenol peels are used to:

correct blotches caused by sun exposure or aging

smooth out coarse deep wrinkles

remove precancerous growths

BELL'S PALSY FAQ's

2009-06-14T22:43:00.001-07:00

WHAT IS BELL'S PALSY?

Bells palsy is a condition that causes the facial muscles to weaken or become paralyzed. It's caused by trauma to the 7th cranial nerve, and is not permanent.

WHY IS IT CALLED BELL'S PALSY?

The condition is named for Sir Charles Bell, a Scottish surgeon who studied the nerve and its innervation of the facial muscles 200 years ago.

HOW COMMON IS BELL'S PALSY?

Bells palsy is not as uncommon as is generally believed. Worldwide statistics set the frequency at approximately .02% of the population (with geographical variations). In human terms this is 1 of every 5000 people, and 40,000 Americans every year.

IS BELL'S PALSY ALWAYS ON THE SAME SIDE?

The percentage of left or right side cases is approximately equal, and remains equal for recurrences.

IS THERE ANY DIFFERENCE BECAUSE OF GENDER OR RACE?

The incidence of Bells palsy in males and females, as well as in the various races is also approximately equal. The chances of the condition being mild or severe, and the rate of recovery is also equal.

WHAT CONDITIONS CAN INCREASE THE CHANCE OF HAVING BELL'S PALSY?

Older people are more likely to be afflicted, but children are not immune to it. Children tend to recover well. Diabetics are more than 4 times more likely to develop Bells palsy than the general population. The last trimester of pregnancy is considered to be a time of increased risk for Bell's palsy. Conditions that compromise the immune system such as HIV or sarcoidosis increase the odds of facial paralysis occurring and recurring.

CAN BELL'S PALSY AFFECT BOTH SIDES OF THE FACE?

It is possible to have bilateral Bells palsy, but it's rare, accounting for less than 1% of cases. With bilateral facial palsy, it's important to rule out all other possible diagnoses with thorough diagnostic tests.

CAN BELL'S PALSY AFFECT OTHER PARTS OF THE BODY?

Bells palsy should not cause any other part of the body to become paralyzed, weak or numb. If any other areas are affected Bell's palsy is not the cause of the symptoms, and further testing must be done.

HOW DO THE SYMPTOMS OF BELL'S PALSY PROGRESS?

Very quickly. Most people either wake up to find they have Bells palsy, or have symptoms such as a dry eye or tingling around their lips that progress to classic Bell's palsy during that same day. Occasionally symptoms may take a few days to be recognizable as Bells palsy. The degree of paralysis should peak within several days of onset - never in longer than 2 weeks (3 weeks maximum for Ramsey Hunt syndrome). A warning sign may be neck pain, or pain in or behind the ear prior to palsy, but it is not usually recognized in first-time cases.

IS BELL'S PALSY CONTAGIOUS?

No, it is not contagious. People with Bells palsy can return to work and resume normal activity as soon as they feel up to it.

WHAT ABOUT RECOVERY FROM BELL'S PALSY?

Approximately 50% of Bells palsy patients will have essentially complete recoveries in a short time. Another 35% will have good recoveries in less than a year.

Regardless of the trigger, Bell's palsy is best described as an event - trauma to the nerve. As with any other injury, healing follows. The quality and duration of recovery is dependent on the severity of the initial injury. If the nerve has suffered nothing more than a mild trauma, recovery can be very fast, taking several days to several weeks. An "average" recovery is likely to take between a few weeks and a few months. The nerve regenerates at a rate of approximately 1-2 millimeters per day, and can continue to regenerate for 18 months, probably even longer. Improvement of appearance can continue beyond that time frame.

IS MUSCLE ATROPHY A CONCERN?

Not as a rule. It takes longer for the muscles to start to atrophy than it takes for most people to fully recover.

IS BELL'S PALSY LIKELY TO HAPPEN AGAIN?

The possibility of recurrence had been thought to be as high as 10 - 20%. These figures have been lowered as more has been learned about conditions that are now diagnosed as other types of facial palsies. Estimates of the rate of recurrence still vary widely, from around 4 - 14%. Most recent reports hover at 5 - 9%. The average timespan between recurrences is 10 years.

Botox

2009-06-14T22:40:00.001-07:00

Botox For Residuals

In the early ’70s Botox was used to relax overactive eye muscles in cross-eyed patients. It has since been approved for many uses, including for spasmodic neck, facial and eyelid muscles. Facial muscles have a tendency to become hypertonic (overactive) after paralysis. Weakening or re-paralyzing the muscles with Botox can temporarily ease the effects of some synkinetic and hypertonic muscles. Spasms can be reduced along with the pain and discomfort associated with them.

Cosmetically, Botox can effectively enhance the appearance. With Botox injected into the eyelid muscles, the squint associated with synkinesis or hypertonicity can be lessened; sometimes significantly. If there is tightness or spasms in the cheek area, the Botox injected in the muscles around the eye may also reduce those spasms. Botox can also be injected into the muscles of the cheek or neck areas directly. The overall result can be a more symmetrical appearance plus increased comfort. Over an extended time period immunity can build up, and the procedure may become less effective. To avoid or postpone antibody formation, the smallest effective dose should be administered, and the interval between injections should be extended as long as possible.

Patients who are using muscle relaxants such as baclofen, dantrolene or diazepam can continue taking these meds for further assistance with muscle spasms or tightness if needed; they will not interact with Botox.

Botox can be combined with neuromuscular retraining to try to maintain improved motion patterns and appearance without continuing injections. While Botox is preventing inappropriate muscle movements, exercises are performed daily to reinforce correct, isolated movements. The exercises are continued after the Botox wears off to further reinforce the new pattern.

Botox is botulinum toxin type A - not live bacteria. It is a genetically engineered protein that weakens or inactivates muscles. After injection Botox enters the nerve ending of a muscle, binds to pre-synaptic receptors and blocks transmittal of nerve impulses at that point. The muscle will not contract because the signal from the nerve has been stopped.

Tiny amounts of Botox are injected into the muscles using a small gauge needle. It will begin to take effect 24 - 72 hours after treatment, and the full effect will build up over a period of time. Gradually new nerve sprouts form and neuromuscular control returns a few months later. It is a temporary solution that works for 3-6 months. After that, the injections must be repeated.

Restylane

2009-06-14T22:32:00.000-07:00

Restylane

Generic Name: Non-animal stabilized hyaluronic acid (NASHA) injectable gel.
Treatment for: Facial Wrinkles

What is Restylane?

Restylane is the first and only FDA-approved dermal filler made of a biodegradable non-animal stabilized hyaluronic acid (NASHA). Hyaluronic acid is a natural substance found in all living organisms and provides volume and fullness to the skin.

Restylane is formulated as a clear gel and uses a dual mechanism of action to correct wrinkles and folds. Upon being injected beneath the skin's surface, the Restylane gel adds natural volume and lift to smooth wrinkles and folds. Restylane gel integrates into dermal tissue then attracts and binds to water molecules to help maintain volume. Restylane is gradually degraded by the body's own mechanism and disappears without any residue. Results can be seen immediately following Restylane treatment and last six months, or even longer.

Restylane is marketed and sold in more than 60 countries outside the United States where it has been used in more than one million procedures. Since 1996, dermatologists and plastic surgeons outside the U.S. have used Restylane to contour and restore volume to skin and temporarily eliminate wrinkles and facial folds. Additionally, in countries other than the U.S., Restylane is also approved to enhance the appearance and fullness of lips, although the safety or efficacy of Restylane for the treatment of lips has not been established in controlled clinical studies submitted to the FDA.

Restylane Clinical Study

The 6-month randomized, multi-center double-blind study evaluated 138 patients seeking correction of bilateral nasolabial folds (smile lines). Patients received Restylane (non-animal stabilized hyaluronic acid 20 mg/mL) in one nasolabial fold and Zyplast(R) (cross-linked bovine collagen 35mg/mL, INAMED Corporation, Santa Barbara, CA) in the opposite nasolabial fold.

Clinical efficacy assessments were then conducted at two, four and six months after baseline using the Wrinkle Severity Rating Scale (WSRS)(1) and Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale (GAIS)(2). Adverse events were assessed by the treating investigator for severity and relationship to the study treatment.

The study found that Restylane showed a statistically significant difference over Zyplast with respect to the change (from pre-treatment) in WSRS score at all post-baseline timepoints (p less than 0.0001). Specifically, at six months post-baseline, Restylane was better than Zyplast in 56.9 percent of patients while Zyplast was better than Restylane in 9.5 percent of patients (less than 0.0001). In addition, at six months, 67.2 percent of Zyplast-treated folds had returned to pre-treatment condition, compared with only 29.9 percent of Restylane treated folds. Further, the total injection volume needed to produce an "optimal cosmetic result" was lower for Restylane (mean 1.0mL; range 0.3-2.8mL) than Zyplast (mean 1.6mL; range 0.1 - 5.0mL).

The most commonly reported adverse events were redness and swelling, which typically occurred at the injection site and were transient and mild to moderate in intensity.

About Restylane

Restylane is the first and only dermal filler made of crystal-clear gel called NASHA (Non-Animal Stabilized Hyaluronic Acid). NASHA is developed using a unique stabilization process that results in its long duration of effect in contrast to non-stabilized hyaluronic acid, which lasts only days to weeks, at most. As opposed to other hyaluronic acid products, NASHA is not derived from animal sources. It is produced biotechnologically by natural fermentation in a sterile laboratory environment. This significantly diminishes the risk of transmitting diseases between species or of eliciting allergic reactions in patients who are sensitive to common foods, such as beef, chicken and eggs. NASHA has been extensively researched for over a decade and proven to be safe and effective. Restylane does not require any allergy or skin test prior to injection.

Oral Health and Dental Care

2009-06-10T02:15:00.000-07:00

Dental care is integral part of general health, and good oral health gives the sense of overall well-being. Tooth decay is the most common health problem in many countries, and it shows the poor emphasis on the dental care by the general public. Unbalanced diet, poor brushing habits and negligence to daily oral care leads to various dental problems calling for dental treatments, which can be time consuming, expensive, painful and complex. Most of the dental problems can be avoided by paying attention to the daily oral hygiene.

Important Dental Care Tips

It is advisable to use the soft bristled brush with synthetic rounded bristles. When buying a brush, look for the seal of approval from American Dental Association. The toothbrush must be replaced every 2-3 months, or when the bristles are bent or worn. For good dental care, replace your toothbrush after you have suffered from cold.

Proper brushing technique is important for dental care, and brush outside, inside and inside surface of lower and upper jaws. Brush your tongue to freshen up your breath as bacteria and debris on the tongue cause bad breath.

The ideal dental care involves brushing the teeth at least once everyday, preferably at bed time. Brushing after the breakfast helps in thorough removal of plague daily. To clean each tooth properly, change the position of the brush after few strokes. Good dental care does not require too much of paste, and pea-sized fluoridated toothpaste is sufficient. It is essential to avoid brushing teeth too vigorously as it can wear down the tooth structure. It can also cause the gums to recede, exposing the root surface.

For good dental care, good flossing techniques must be used. But, many people do not enjoy flossing, as they are not aware of the proper technique, and hence hurt the soft tissues of the mouth during the attempt. A safe and effective alternative to flossing includes use of brush picks, floss picks, tooth picks and special plague removers.

Some dental specialists and dentists advise using the plague removers instead of regular flossing for dental care. The picks can reach the nooks of the mouth that are left unavailable for floss and toothbrush. Toothpicks are great for dental care, but they are not able to reach all the desired places such as behind the last wisdom tooth.

For good dental care, you can also make the toothpaste at home by mixing baking soda, salt, glycerin and peppermint. But, never swallow the toothpaste, as it may cause the fluoride toxicity. Brush mildly for 2-3 minutes as brushing vigorously for longer time does more harm than good.

Many studies have indicated a strong correlation between oral health and general health. Not paying attention to the dental care can lead to many health problems such as osteoporosis, heart disease, diabetes, respiratory disease and pregnancy problems. The bacteria causing the periodontal infection can enter the blood stream carrying the infection to many major body organs, leading to various health problems. Consider a periodontal evaluation if you have diabetes, osteoporosis, heart disease, respiratory disease or if planning to conceive a baby.

As a good dental care program, smoking must be avoided as it can cause tooth discoloration, bad breath, tooth decay and gum disease. Some of the other ill-effects of smoking include mouth bores, hairy tongue, shifting teeth, delayed wound healing, altered sense of smell and taste and jaw bone loss.

For good dental care, mouthwashes have effective antiseptic properties that kill the bacterial plague. It is also important to maintain a well-balanced diet, and minimize the consumption of sugary and starchy foods that are known to cause tooth decay. To maintain proper dental care, avoid eating between meals as it makes teeth more prone to decay.

It also helps to visit your dentist once in 3-4 months so that any oral concern can be diagnosed early. There are no symptoms associated with most of oral health problems till the disease has progressed to the advanced stage.

Skin Care - Wrinkles

2009-06-10T01:58:00.000-07:00

We all know how unpleasant is to find a new wrinkle on your own face. Fortunately, we can do much to prevent wrinkles and smooth out those ones that have already formed. You can extend your skin youthfulness and prevent wrinkles taking care of number one. Balance your body interests, lead a healthy life and it won’t be a back-breaking problem.

Let’s hammer out the facts of wrinkles causes. There are two kinds of wrinkles as it is. The dynamic wrinkles are in view when the underlying muscle is abbreviating. These can be in evidence in more mature skin, as a general rule. Have you heard about Botox injections for wrinkles? The case in hand is treatment for dynamic wrinkles. The second type of wrinkle is a static wrinkle. These wrinkles are measurable even when the facial muscles aren't abbreviating. Static wrinkles originate in consequence of collagen and elastin level recession. When these components decline, the skin is incapable to snap back as hitherto. This causes the static wrinkle.
As we age, our skin loses ability to regenerate, in the wake of aging, gradual thinning of the surface of the skin arises. The thin skin architecture decrease ability to absorb important nutrients.

By the way the collagen and elastin level recession have influence with wrinkling transition. Some collagen and elastin are unavoidable lost little by little due to the natural aging process. Take heed! The majority of elastin is lost under the influence of sun and by UV radiation. So you can realize the use of good sun protection is essential.

The plain truth is that any woman should prevent wrinkles the sooner the better. Dry skin is uncommon in the twenties and there is usually no need to moisturize frequently. But keep in mind your skin's oil arrearage are not unlimited, avoid too much pilling. It is also best to avoid alcohol-based toners and other drying agents at this age.

A proper diet program should be used after 30, of course you can indulge, but your general diet should be healthy. Healthy food for a woman of thirty includes a lot of antioxidants to promote collagen and elasticity production and firmness in aging skin.

Do you know that tomatoes are suggested as an excellent wrinkle prevention food because they contain lycopene? Red peppers contain Vitamin A and Vitamin E, as well as bioflavonoids, which have skin rejuvenating effect. Beets and carrots (and other red and dark orange vegetables) are also healthy foods to prevent wrinkles. Welcome news is that an adorable summer berry – strawberry is the best means for wrinkle care; eat it in any quantity, use as a component of skin masks.

Four Bad Mistakes To Make In Acne Care

2009-06-10T01:55:00.000-07:00

Today, there are many acne care options on the market and through your doctor. Many individual acne sufferers fight to choose the specific treatment that works the best. It is very hard, for those looking for good care, to be cheerful around those who have clear skin. The struggle to have a good skin care regimen is difficult especially when life is so fast paced. Attention must be given to acne care and the focus should be centered on what can be done to have an acne free life. To find the best acne regimen, it will take dedication and patience. Experimentation with many products might be necessary until the correct combination of treatment is found. In the trial and error period, there are four mistakes that must be avoided to bring about clear skin in a shorter amount of time.

Acne Care Mistake 1

Those of the female gender should avoid adding cosmetic cover-ups to hide pimples. These cosmetic ingredients can clog the pores and make the acne worse. Do not get the idea that using cosmetics to hide the acne is a bad idea, it is simply choosing the correct type of product. Cosmetics need to be water based and made for sensitive skin. Hypoallergenic cosmetics are best because they are more sensitive to the skin.

Acne Care Mistake 2

Keep the hands away from the face as much as possible. This is the biggest mistake an individual can make when trying to get rid of acne. You could be touching your face without even realizing how much you are doing it. The hands carry bacteria that can stay on the face and cause acne breakouts. Washing your hands before you touch any part of your face will help to keep you acne free.

Acne Care Mistake 3

Never squeeze acne. You might be bothered by an acne breakout area or a simple pimple and be tempted to squeeze it. This simply is not a good idea because the bacteria excreted can spread to other parts of the skin. The bacterium causes an infection to form and the breakout will become worse and take longer to clear.

Acne Care Mistake 4

Many individual acne sufferers think that acne will eventually go away on its own if you do nothing to it. This is not true. Those with acne problem skin need to create a care regimen to fight the causes of the breakouts. Lifestyle changes will also be beneficial for those who have acne as a result of stress. Lifestyle changes also mean a change in diet and exercise routines. A healthy diet is best for reducing the acne as greasy foods only serve to aggravate the condition. Exercise is great for helping the body to clean out the toxins and bring back a good blood flow to the skin. It also helps to clear out the pores when you sweat. The body will begin to run more smoothly and efficiently keeping the bacteria at a lower level for acne free skin.

Tips to Look Thinner

2009-06-10T01:22:00.000-07:00

Choose darker solid colors such as black, navy blue and gray. Black rules!

Dress monochromatic, all in one color, top to bottom, no patterns.

If you want to wear patterns, go for smaller ones that overlap.

Avoid horizontal stripes. Look for thin vertical and diagonal lines for a fluid look.

Select accessories to draw attention from trouble spots.

Wear clothes that fit. Not too baggy but not tight and clingy.

Avoid bulky sweaters and sweatshirts.

Always try on clothes. Different designers have different size charts.

Avoid pleats. Flat front pants and skirts are instant slimmers.

Low-rise pants that hit just below your navel will lengthen your torso.

For longer looking legs, skirts should fall right above the knee.

Forego the frills. Extra ruffles and material only add bulk.

If you have a large bust, invest in a good support bra.

Avoid shiny fabrics such as velour and satin.

High heels add height and shapes’ your legs. That's why you always see runway models in heels.

Dark panty hose will make large legs appear thinner.

Stay away from patterned leggings.

Wear undergarment foundations such as control top pantyhose and shapers.

If you prefer wearing a sleeveless dress, cover your upper arms with a sheer, elegant shawl.

Choose open collar shirts and scoop necklines.

Avoid small handbags. Stick with a medium-sized bag in proportion to your body.

A dress with matching coat can hide bulges.

Match your belt and shoes to your skirt or pants to make your legs appear longer.

Don't tuck your shirt in. Buy those that fall just below your waist, but aren't too long.

V-neck shirts will make your torso appear longer.

You can still wear bright colors, just not on your problem areas.

Frilly clothes are a no-no and just add to your overall size.

Avoid too-tight pants that cling to your hips and thighs. Instead, try trousers with comfortable legs and wide cuffs.

For longer, thinner-looking legs, opt for an asymmetrical, tiered skirt.

If you're a petite woman, wear the highest heel you're comfortable with to add some height.

A thick waistband helps flatten the tummy.

Neck Care Tips

2009-06-08T01:14:00.001-07:00

If you moisturize your face then do the same for your neck, if you are using a night cream for your face then apply it on your neck also.
Do not lean over your work table. Work at angles that help you maintain your head straight or sit closer to the table.

Daily before bath, for a minute or two, massage the neck area with downward strokes one hand following the other using any cream or skin oil.

Apply lemon-turmeric paste on the neck to eliminate the color difference in face and skin.

Using yoghurt can also help remove the tan on the neck. Apply a layer of yoghurt over the neck area. Leave it on for around 20 minutes and rinse with warm water.

Apply some regular moisturizer and massage gently.

Apply lemon-turmeric paste on the neck to eliminate the color difference in face and skin.

Use a natural scrubber on your neck daily to keep the lymphatic glands active and also to remove dead skin.

Buttermilk is a very good cleanser for the neck, especially for those with oily skin.

Neck is prone to getting tanned very easily. So during the time of sun-bath you need to take good care of this part of the body and protect it from direct exposure to sun. A wide rimmed hat will save your neck from direct exposure to sun. But it is better to use a high factor sun block cream.

When you apply the facial masks don't forget to apply it on the neck too.

Daily before bath, for a minute or two, massage the neck area with downward strokes one hand following the other using any cream or skin oil.

It is recommended not to sleep over a soft bed, while natural sleep.

When you are lifting something then use your legs rather than back. This will not put excess strain on your neck.

Buttermilk is a very good cleanser for the neck, especially for those with oily skin.

Try not to use pillows for sleeping or use lower pillows. It will prevent your neck from curling more down and will help it stretch properly. A good posture is a remedy to many problems, and thus also a remedy to neck problems. Back straight, chin up always appeals like a young personality.

Hold your head up. It improves the posture and is good for the neck.

Massage your neck towards the chin in an upward motion with gentle hands. You can use a moisturizer or a massage cream. It facilitates the smooth blood circulation and hence brightens up the complexion.

Regularly exfoliate your neck that will help drive out the dead cells and will give space the new cells.

Take a chair be seated, then look up to the ceiling. But do not open your mouth and do not make any other movements, now the stretch that you fell in your neck is going to benefit you. Then after you have made your pose, start to chew with your mouth open. This exercise is beneficial to improve the posture.

Bath Tips

2009-06-08T01:08:00.000-07:00

Advice on how to make the most of your bath at no additional cost.

Do not expect miracles from pots and tubes. They are there to make you look more attractive, not to transform you completely.

How clean is clean enough? No skin can ever be 100 per cent clean, for it discharges sebum and sweat constantly. But yes, the superficial debris must be cleared away regularly, or pores will clog.

A few inches of fresh ginger will warm the body and soothe joints. Slice, simmer in boiling water for a good half hour. Strain and add to warm bath water.

For an aroma therapeutic bath, keep tub water tepid. Hot water will cause those volatile oils to evaporate far too quickly.

Do exercise in a warm bathtub. Experts say there is definite additional benefit from exercise done under warm water.

Dry armpits thoroughly before applying deodorant as wet skin gives rise to bacteria.

Mix two tablespoons of shampoo, one of oil (olive, for instance) and a few drops of your favorite perfume in a bottle. Shake vigorously and pour into your bath water. The shampoo will break the oil into millions of fine oil globules that cling to your zillions of open pores as you leave your bath. This is excellent for dry skin.

Oil your body before you go for your bath, as then scrubbing with soap will take away more dead skin than normally.

Scrub along with loofahs- they are dried seed pods of tropical gourds. They have an abrasive texture which scrubs very well.

Five Tips to Beautiful Feet

2009-06-05T04:25:00.001-07:00

Five Tips to Beautiful Feet

Soften your skin by filling a basin with warm water and add the juice of a lemon with one cup oatmeal. Soak feet for ten minutes. While soaking, rub the oatmeal all over your feet to exfoliate. Rinse with warm water.

Make a highly effective foot tonic by microwaving a cup of milk, one tablespoon dry mint leaves, one teaspoon rosemary & one teaspoon peppermint extract. Apply the mixture to feet with a clean, dry cloth. Brush off residue and wrap feet in plastic wrap. Wait 5 minutes and rinse thoroughly.

Make your pedicure last twice as long by choosing a metallic polish. These polishes contain minerals that adhere to the nail better, and give off a flattering sheen from any foot.

Get rid of corns by soaking your feet in warm salt water. Buff the affected area with a coarse emery board, and then apply a pineapple slice for 5 minutes over the corn. The enzymes will help to further dissolve the corn.

Combine ½ cup sugar, ¼ teaspoon poppy seeds and 1 teaspoon baking soda with a few drops of lemon juice. Scrub briskly with a vegetable brush, then rinse thoroughly.

Tips for managing Dark Skin

2009-06-03T05:12:00.000-07:00

Dark Skin - Tips for managing Dark Skin

Dark skin tends to scar and develops dark blemishes and marks. Dark skin is all about the hyper-pigmentation of the skin. Hyper-pigmentation occurs when certain skin cells release more pigment i.e. dark color. Dark skin can result from sun exposure and may sometimes occur from redness and bruising.

Darkening of the skin may be due to "blueness" is called cyanosis or purple skin. Certain chemicals and dietary items can also changes the skin color. Skin darkening or hyper-pigmentation can be the symptom of severe diseases i.e. Addison's disease and Scleroderma.

It doesn't matter, what type of your skin is, but a universal tendency is that skin tends to darken when expose to sun. Dark skin protects against those skin cancers that are caused by mutations in skin cells induced by ultraviolet light. Due to having more pigment in dark skin, it can withstand exposure to the sun much better.

Dark skin prevents UV-A radiation from destroying the essential B vitamin foliate. Foliate is needed for the synthesis of DNA in dividing cells and too low levels of foliate in pregnant women are associated with birth defects. A darker skin is more prone to scarring and hyper-pigmentation. Dark skin protects vitamin B, it can lead to a vitamin D deficiency.

Tips for darker skin:

The regular use of sunscreen will prevent the skin from turning blotchy.
Exfoliate to remove dull, dead skin cells but test the product on a small patch of skin first.

Irritation may lead to disfiguring hyper-pigmentation. Products that may irritate the dark skin includes: fragrance, alcohol, propylene glycol, dye and lanolin.

Dark-skinned people who live in less sun-intensive regions often lack Vitamin D.
For removing dirt, oil and makeup, always cleanse your skin. But avoid abrasive cleansers, which can irritate skin of color.

Cleansing too often or too roughly will harm the dark skin.

Avoid using home micro-dermabrasion and chemical peel kits too roughly. Use according to the directions and discontinue use if irritation occurs.

Measure Your Bra Size

2009-06-03T04:07:00.000-07:00

It is found that around 70 to 80 percent of women wear wrong-size bra. All most all women report about loose or tight band sizes, unfit or improper cup sizes, and many more faults.

Your bra size changes as your body structure and shape changes. Sometimes you go on continuing with a specific size without realizing that your body has already changed, it is not properly fitting you any more and causing you many discomforts. Here is a guideline for measuring your bra size:

How to Measure Your Bra Size?

Steps

Wear your well fitted, most comfortable, perfectly supported bra which you fill is your best bra.

Take a flexible measuring tape. You can take help of your friend for perfect measurement.

Measure your band size: Keep your arms down. Take a measurement around your ribcage, just under your breasts. Add 4 or 5 inches to get your band size. If the measurement is an odd number, round up it to the nearest even number since band sizes come only in even numbers.

Measure your cup size: Stand straight and keep your arms down. Measure the fullest part of your bust. Don’t wear padded bra while measuring cup size. Now subtract the band size from the cup size to get the right cup size. Each inch represents a cup size. For ex. if your band size is 32 and your cup size is 34, the difference is 2 inches, it means yours cup size is a B cup.

NOTE: The measurement procedure given above is generally a reliable method. Figure and other aspects of body size differs from woman to woman, so accordingly try several sizes along with your style and comfort levels and get a right one for you.

Here is chart showing bra cup size:

Less than 1 inch - AA cup
1 inch - A cup
2 inches - B cup
3 inches - C cup
4 inches - D cup
5 inches - DD cup
6 inches - E cup (US DDD)
7 inches - F cup (US DDDD)
8 inches - FF cup
9 inches - G cup

NOTE: This chart is mentioned only to give an idea of what the appropriate size you can try on. The shapes and sizes of women differ a lot. Many factors like breast shape, back shape, and many more reasons affect you’re a bra size and can cause pain. It is always wise to get measured by professionals and seek their advice.

How a bra professional can help you out?

After doing all this, still you can’t find a perfect bra with the perfect size for you, then go to a bra professional and take your measurement. A bra professional can measure your size perfectly and can help you out finding a bra that you and your body needs.

A Perfect Bra

2009-06-03T03:49:00.000-07:00

It is highly important to wear a perfect bra because it is concerned with your health, comport levels and style. It is true that getting a perfect bra is not an easy task as shape, sizes, forms and cuts differ wildly from manufacturer to manufacturer. Here is a guide line on finding and knowing a right bra for you.

Every woman wants a perfect, comfortable and well fitted bra, but no one tries to know “what is a perfect bra?”, as it is reported that 70% to 80% of women wear the wrong-size bra.

An improper bra causes back, neck, chest and shoulder pain. Experts say that it may even cause pensive psychological effects and breast cancer at the later part of a woman’s life.

How you can find a perfect bra for you?

Take your own measurement or else seek the help of a bra professional.

Decide what type of bra you want whether a normal one or a padded one or a sports one.

Take enough time for a good search.

Go to a lingerie shop not to a megastore. In a lingerie shop, incase you can’t find a perfect one; you can have a clear discussion with professionals whom you can find in the shop itself. They will take your measurement and within sometime can help you out.

After your final selection, try the bras in the trial room and find out which one is the right one for you.

Find a bra that matches your skin tone, not with the color of your garments.

Never do a mistake of coming out of the lingerie shop after the professional shows you your right size without trying it out.

Always buy a quality bra because it is all about your health.

How can you know whether the bra you have selected is perfect for you or not?

Below are some signs of a wrong bra that will tell you whether you are wearing a perfect bra or not. Have a glance at them and find a perfect bra for you.

When you raise your hands above your head, your breasts should not fall out below the band line. This shows your bra’s band size is wrong.

If your breasts are bulging out over the cups or coming out of the sides of your bra, then it is not a perfect one for you.

If the band size is going up on your back, it shows the size is too big.
If your breasts are not properly and comfortably fitting into the cups, it shows your cup size is wrong.

The center part of your bra that sits between the breasts on the rib cage should sit flat on your rib. If it’s not, then you are wearing a wrong bra.

It is normal that a new bra may cause redness for few days but it should not continue. If it happens avoid that bra. Red marks indicate a bad fit.

Hair Removal Tips

2009-06-03T03:37:00.000-07:00

Hair removal has been in vogue for many thousands of years and ancient Arabians as well as people of South Asia practiced methods of hair removal like threading and waxing for removal of hair to achieve smooth, silky skin.

Hair Removal Tips

More and more people are keener than ever to do away with face fuzz, hair on the armpits, legs, bikini line and any other body parts, especially women. While the old stand-by, shaving, has given way to bleaching, waxing and newer treatments like lasers, the latest to join the fuzz-busters gang is Vaniqa.

Vaniqa is a prescription-only topical cream that has been FDA-approved for reducing and inhibiting the growth of unwanted facial hair. The active ingredient in Vaniqa is eflornithine hydrochloride, used to treat African sleeping sickness and certain cancers and this product works by inhibiting an enzyme that is needed for cell reproduction and other cell functions necessary for hair growth. Application requirement is twice daily to areas of unwanted facial hair with noticeable results observed after 4-8 weeks of therapy. Its makers claim that Vaniqa continues to reduce facial hair growth for up to 8 weeks after discontinuing treatment.

Shaving is a temporary method of hair removal since it cuts the hair off at the skin surface and is fast to put into practice. Shaving for hair removal is recommended only after applying moisturizer to the skin, like water, shaving gel, body wash or hair conditioner, to help the razor glide over the skin so it does not cut or scrape it.

Waxing is popular in many cultures as it keeps hair growth away for a longer time than other methods. Waxing also removes superficial tanning from the skin and makes it smooth as dead cells are removed. It is especially effective in removing large amounts of hair at one time and involves using previously warmed wax, spreading it over a section of the skin in the direction of hair growth, then applying a clean cloth or disposable waxing strip over it, patting it in place then, after ensuring the hair has become embedded in the wax, quickly puling it off in the opposite direction of the hair growth. This action pulls out hairs from the follicles. Another version of waxing includes cold waxes, available usually attached to strips, which are patted onto the skin. Caution is advised when waxing as excessively heated wax can burn the skin.

Depilatories and Electrolysis are other favorable methods of hair removal. A depilatory is applied to the area with unwanted hair and left on for 3 to 15 minutes, during which time the chemical dissolves the hair and the resulting substance is wiped/washed off after the appropriate time to reveal smooth skin. Electrolysis involves inserting a fine needle into the hair follicle and applying an electrical current to the follicle root. This procedure actually burns the hair root, theoretically preventing it from producing more hair and though it is slow and expensive, electrolysis is great for permanent hair removal.

Hair Conditioners

2009-06-03T02:51:00.000-07:00

How are Hair Conditioners Helpful?

Understanding your hair structure, type and care is very important in determining the looking after it needs at your hands to remain healthy life-long. This is why it is imperative for people to understand the mechanics of a good hair conditioner for their hair type and maintain it as is needed.

Nature and Type of Hair Conditioners: what they are and how they work

Hair conditioners are far more complex than any other hair products, be it aligning them with shampoos, gels or de-tanglers is concerned or judging their merits by advertising claims may be involved.

The primary function of a good hair conditioner is to treat the hair after shampooing has taken place and keep it nourished and tamed.

Essentially, hair conditioners help replenish the look and feel of the hair after shampooing so they look shiny, healthy and smooth.

Effective hair conditioners help moisturize, add gloss and manageability to hair after it has been subjected to a head-bath with shampoo or other detergents that deplete its natural protective coating. Thus, in this manner, hair conditioners function much like fabric softeners work for clothing: as a softening after-wash for detergents.

Tips for Using Hair Conditioners

Care should be exercised in purchasing hair conditioners and just going by the brand name is not enough to ensure you are getting the quality your kind of hair requires. Even the amount of conditioner applied and the method of application on certain parts of the hair is a fundamental part of deciding whether you will have a good hair day or your ‘bed-hair’ look will continue to haunt you through the day.

It is important to understand that hair conditioners must be applied to the hair shaft and the ends, especially, the ends only. Never apply a hair conditioner to the scalp as it will lead to buildup and create a limp look. The ends and the hair shaft are dead protein so are chemically inert and insoluble, which is why they can be coated protein or polymer to simulate smoothness and thickness.

Select a hair conditioner after considering your hair type-dry, frizzy, oily, under-nourished, limp, colored, curly etc. and also hair growth-whether thick or thin. This information will help in defining the type of ingredients you should look for in your hair conditioner.

Choosing Hair Conditioners

A hair conditioner helps to replace natural oils removed by the detergents in shampoos. Therefore the best product for hair that needs the oil, i.e. dry, curly, often frizzy and coarse hair are conditioners containing cetyl or stearyl alcohol, panthenol and methicones, silicone/dimethicone, or essential oils and botanicals like avocado, jojoba oil or shea butter.

Volumizing hair conditioners give body and temporarily fluff up fine, limp or damaged hair to give it a lush appearance. These are labeled re-constructors and coat the hair with a layer of protein that fills in gaps if the outer cuticle is damaged, giving the hair a smoother look.

Those with color treated hair will benefit from a conditioner meant for chemically processed hair.

Haircut and Hairstyle Tips

2009-06-01T01:38:00.000-07:00

Understanding the type of hair you have got and your face cut is very important and based on these two essentials, we have outlined the importance of haircut and hairstyle tips for you.

Importance of a Great Haircut:

The most important part of a great haircut is that it must maintain a healthy head of hair that looks stylish and is easy to maintain while suiting your face cut and lifestyle.

Look to the mirror for help! Yes, your mirror is your best friend when it comes to figuring out your features and what kind of a face cut you have: heart-shaped, round, oval, square-jawed or long.

Your best haircut is determined by your face and every great hairstyle is dependent on this; therefore, the one that works for you is the hairstyle that will accentuate balance and beauty and be one that you can follow at home on your own.

Discuss with your stylist and make your face cut and maintenance of hairstyle an important determination in your new look. Look up as many magazines and hairstyling journals to check the styles suggested for your face type and go accordingly, with guidance from your stylist who can tell you whether you have a head of hair for that particular haircut or not.

You can sort the shape of your face by pulling hair back into a tight, structure-revealing ponytail and judging the outline of your face; this includes the size and shape of your forehead as it compares to your cheeks and chin.

Deciding the Haircut and Hairstyle

Round faces can add a bit of volume to the top of the head to slim down. Avoid spiky and short topside styling to your hair and any haircut that gives width or volumizes the sides of your face.

Those with a square jaw line can take the edge off with a softening style that features side parting and longer hair at the nape of neck. A must avoid is a center parting or straight cut hair around the jaw line or even square bangs on the forehead. These geometric lines will only accentuate the strong structure of a square face even more.

Oval faces are considered perfect for hairstyling and afford a lot of experimentation to the stylist too. However, much depends on the quality of hair one has: thin, lush, wavy, straight, silky etc. Oval faces look good with a haircut that adds volume to the top of head to slim down the forehead. Such faces would smartly avoid hairstyles that include spikes, short topsides or too much volume on the sides.

Long faces can layer it on for fullness on sides. Such faces must avoid short cuts, jaw-length bobs, or styles that add height on top.

Heart shaped faces have can opt for bangs and a length that frames the jaw line, while avoiding a short hairstyle at the nape.

Threading

2009-06-01T01:33:00.000-07:00

Why Choose Threading?

Threading is an ancient method of hair removal practiced by people of South Asia and Arabia. It is a delicate procedure and as the name suggests, involves hair removal with the means of highly skilled hands using special thread to pluck and pull hair out from the roots.

How Threading is Used?

Threading requires a lot of practice and precision in making the hair removal as painless as possible for the receiver. The person dispensing the beauty treatment for hair removing via threading is required to gently and precisely twist a certain length of cotton thread around both hands and twist and catch each hair strand that is to be removed. This twisting action of the thread traps the hair and lifts it out of the follicle.

Benefits of Threading

One of the greatest benefits of threading is that is less messier and faster as compared to waxing and tweezing for hair removal, especially hair on the upper lip and eyebrows and also a lot more effective and less painful.

Threading is a relatively cheaper method of hair removal as compared to any other method and if a person goes in for it regularly, threading helps slow down hair re-growth and makes it finer and sparser after regular treatments.

As in the case of waxing and shaving for hair removal, in threading the top layers of skin are not peeled or traumatized in the process; it is especially recommended as an option for those who use Retin-A, Accutane and similar products.

If the eyebrows are required to be shaped, threading is an excellent choice for achieving that perfect, classic eyebrow shape that everyone wants since it allows the beautician closer access to each hair growth since it is done individually.

Benefit of Threading:

Threading is an ancient art of hair removal and is still used in many countries with as much popularity as before. In the Western world, demand for threading as a hair removal option for facial fuzz is on the rise as this is an excellent technique that results in clean lines, shaping the face well. Threading works well for the majority of people and is comfortable on everyone’s pockets even if done fortnightly. Threading is beneficial for people with sensitive skin as it does not cause breakouts, excessive redness or pigmentation like waxing or shaving can. This makes threading the most effective method of hair removal on the face for everyone especially since waxing hair on the face means damaging the thin, delicate skin on the face, which inevitably leads to wrinkles in the long term.

Threading is a great method of hair removal for both women and men with excess hair and if done on a regular basis, threading weakens the hair follicle so hair growth becomes less dense over time.

How to Color Your Hair Well?

2009-05-31T22:23:00.000-07:00

Understanding the concept of hair color

Many persons fall prey to unwanted hair color disasters due to the lack of understanding of the basic hair coloring laws of color and how to apply these to their hair color and type. The foremost law is that hair color is not the same as hair paint, but actually the reflection of light off the colored pigments in the hair shaft. Whatever the shade of color reflected off the light may be, it is determined by the nature of light falling on it. Therefore, hair color appears different under fluorescent lights as opposed to when seen in natural sunlight, be it natural hair color remedy or a bottle solution.

Hair Color Levels: tips and guidelines

There are several levels in the realm of professional hair color and these determine how they will impact your hair color, depending on the degree of lightness or darkness of color reflected or perceived by the eye.

Manufacturers of hair color number these levels of hair color between 1 to 10, with 1 being black and 10 assigned to the lightest blonde shade available. So, we understand that black reflects very little light and lightest blonde reflects the greatest amount of light.

By this reasoning of hair color rules, a level 10 blonde would be two shades lighter than a level 8 blonde. This system of hair color levels applies to all colors and almost all brands commonly found in the market today.

Different Kinds of Hair Color

There are different types of hair color. These can be roughly categorized into:

Permanent Hair Color- makes a permanent change in the pigment of the hair shaft and does not wash out for a long time, but may eventually fade out with time. It is not easy to remove or restore the hair’s natural color as all hair colored this way has the natural color pigments irreversibly chemically altered.

Single Process Color- is the kind even amateurs can try a hand at and is the only safe home coloring kit recommended by hair experts for initial trial use for permanent color achievement. This process requires the color to be lifted and deposited in one step.

Semi-Permanent Color- works to cover the gray in your hair and make it grow darker; however, it cannot lighten hair. This kind of hair color can last for varying lengths of time depending the product chosen and is available in home use kits.

Deposit Only Color- is a user-friendly type of hair color option that colors hair in one step. It is a popular choice that allows the home-hair-color-kit user to experiment with glazing or achieving a translucent hair color by using very low 3 percent peroxide to activate the color, lightening one level.

Use a swatch book or ring to compare your hair color to reach at the best levels and tones in natural light possible for your hair. Ask your salon specialist for shades and products that will suit your hair type and complexion best.

How to Shampoo Your Hair Effectively?

2009-05-31T22:19:00.000-07:00

Hair care and healthy growth of those tresses begins with simple steps like beginning right and keeping to it on a daily basis. This includes right way of shampooing hair with the products meant for your particular hair-type and conditioning and nourishing it so it looks glossy and healthy-and remains that way too.

Importance of Shampooing Hair

For thousands of years, our hair has been the indicator of our health and any changes in our vitality has reflected on our hair, which is why it has been stressed that our tresses need adequate and timely first-aid before they lose this important part of their basic structure. Of course, a lush, luxurious mane is greatly influenced by genetics and healthy diet but it is as important to choose the right products, be aware of the right way to wash hair and how best to nourish it so it remains at its healthiest best always.

Tips For Right Shampooing

The way you shampoo your hair is responsible largely for how it turns out when you style it. The right products and method of shampooing hair can help bring it texture and life so that your hair reflects your beauty and inner health. It is a myth that has fast been broken that washing hair daily washes away essential oils and makes them under-nourished or results in hair loss. This is in no way true as we wash off the daily grime and like the feel of cool, refreshed bodies after a daily shower, the same applies to shampooing hair.

Hair care experts agree that keeping your hair clean is very important and the right way to clean it-not over-clean- is as important too!

Shampoo is essentially soap meant for the hair and since hair is actually dead protein, it is necessary to keep it clean. Shampoo works with water droplets and lather to get between your hair and the dirt flakes and lift up grime particles so they can be easily washed away.

A follow up with a conditioner helps hair look good as it moistens, smoothens and nourishes the outer cuticle layer of your hair so it appears smoother and silkier.

Persons with dry hair should avoid a clarifying shampoo, as it will strip their hair of essential moisture. Instead, a deep penetrating protein rich shampoo with large quantities of herbal extracts will help soothe frizzy and brittle fried hair, especially if enriched with oils such as jojoba oil and emu oil.

Persons with oily hair can opt for shampoos containing herbal extracts like thyme and sage to help control oil on the scalp and even the skin. These extracts help to purify the scalp.

Normal hair types can benefit from shampooing hair with products that contains aloe, glycerin, honey, amino acids or natural oils for moisturizing.

A great conditioner for using after shampooing hair can be made at home by adding six drops of lavender, bay and sandalwood essential oils to 6 ounces of soy oil.

Rose: The secret of beautiful skin

2009-05-27T01:48:00.000-07:00

Rose is a unique flower. There is no other universal symbol of beauty, in the history of mankind, as the rose. This role has been proceeding through centuries and cultures. Rose has harmonizing and healing properties and is suitable for soft, sensitive and allergic skin. Besides, the petals contain high level of natural fatty acids, which restore the protective properties of skin cells. So, rose is an effective anti-aging mean. Here are some wonderful recipes.

Rose water (against irritation)

Put the petals of 4-5 big dark-red or maroon roses in a jar and pour with 1 liter of water. Add 200 grams of sugar (preferably, cane-sugar), brew it for 2 hours, toss it and strain. Store in the cool place.

Egyptian cream (for dry skin)

Squeeze juice from two aloe leaves (don’t water the plant for two days before cutting the leaves - to accumulate useful components in them), mix with 2 tablespoons of filtered water, 3 tablespoons of rose water (or rose petals tincture) and a teaspoon of honey. Put the bowl with mixture onto boiling water and gradually mix with 100 grams of lard. Put the prepared cream into non-metallic cans, cover it properly and store in a fridge. Apply a thin layer on the face daily.

This is a good remedy when your skin is tightened and against the premature wrinkles. This cream is forbidden to people with rosacea because it contains honey which has the vasorelaxant substance.

The rose lotion (against wrinkles)

Mash 2 avocados; add petals of 2 white lilies and 4 big pink roses. Pour with half a liter of vodka and leave it for 3 weeks. Then strain. Dilute before use: for half a glass of tincture add half of glass of filtered water, then glycerin and lemon juice, in 1 tablespoon of each ingredient.

The lotion wonderfully moistens and nourishes your skin, prevents dehydration of skin and, eventually, the appearing of premature wrinkles. The lemon juice whitens your skin and nourishes it with vitamin C. Using this lotion you’ll see that your face freshens very quickly.

Rose petals tonic

Put petals of 5 middle-sized red roses into half a liter of apple vinegar. Put into tightly covered non-metallic can for 3 weeks. Then the mixture should be strained. Dilute with equal quantity of filtered water. It cleans and tones up every type of skin well.

A good remedy for gentle cleansing of skin.

Beauty Tips for Younger Look

2009-05-27T01:45:00.001-07:00

Aging can be hard on anyone, not just women. However, it’s them who always have to come up with ingenious ways of slowing down the passing of time or, if not possible, to make its marks less obvious for others. If plastic surgery is not an option, and neither are expensive spa treatments, there are a few things, simple things we can all do to take the years off our appearance.

For starters, hair is everything for a woman’s face. A bad ‘do can ruin even the prettiest of faces, not to mention the damage it can do to a middle-aged one. So, thicker bangs are in order in the latter case, to hide the wrinkles on the forehead and create the impression of a more youthful countenance, as it will no longer make the wearer look haggard on early mornings. However, a stylist must be consulted first before getting bangs, because they might not go with a certain type of face shape, so it’s best to play it safe.

When it comes to makeup, aging women must pay the utmost attention, stylists say. Dark shades of lipstick are no longer to be used, since they accentuate not only the lips, and whatever wrinkles are around it, but also the skin of the face, which can come off parchment white. Instead, stylists say we should use sweeter, more natural tones like peach, pearl, coral and other pinks. At night, a lipsalve is a must, useless to say if we don’t want our lips to give our age away.

The same amount of attention has to be paid to the eyebrows. This is the time to accentuate them as much as possible, so as to attract the attention to the area above the eyes and not that below them, where the wrinkles are. Stylists advise us to have the eyebrows professionally plucked, the only thing we still have to do afterwards being to make sure we keep them neat. For more contrast, we can use an eyebrow pencil the same shade as our natural color.

Speaking of coloring, stylists also advise us to get highlights. After a certain age, women come to the realization that not all shades work as they once did for their countenances. So, instead of choosing bold and strong colors like blue black or violet, which only accentuate the imperfections of the face, it’s best to keep it natural with neutral, soft shades with highlights.

One last thing we must bear in mind if we’re trying to avoid looking our age is to get our teeth professionally whitened. Forget about magical toothpastes and solutions that promise the world and deliver nothing, stylists advise us: the best way to get this done is to go to a specialist, who will make sure our smile will positively light up the room. And, since a pretty smile does make a pretty face, stylists also tell us to never forget to do so. Come to think of it, no one likes a woman who can’t but frown and sulk all the time, not to mention that smiling is known to efficiently fight wrinkles.

Skin Care Tips

2009-05-27T01:39:00.000-07:00

One of the most crucial factors in skin care is cleansing.

This is because dirt, pollution, residual makeup, etc. can cause havoc to your skin leading to skin ailments and even hastening the aging process.

Tips for skin care:

Always wash your hands first. This will prevent transfer of bacteria to your face.

Begin with your hairline, as hairstyling products attract dirt. Then sweep the cleanser over your face and lips and then down you neck to beyond where you apply foundation.

After you have applied your cleanser, massage it in gently with the balls of your fingers. Then leave it on for a minute or so to let the make-up melt away. After that, use a soft cotton ball to wipe away dirt, pollution, and cosmetic build-up – without tugging at your skin.

Lastly, wash your face with water and a good quality face wash so that all traces of dirt are gone and your skin becomes perfectly clean.

Skin toning

Skin toning is absolutely necessary for all types of skin and ought to be made a part of daily skin care. It is refreshing, enhances blood circulation and adds a healthy glow to your skin. This is how you should ideally do it.

Steps for skin toning:

Soak cotton wool pads in a skin tonic and wipe your face in outward and upward strokes.

Each movement must end at your temples. Apply gentle pressure at your temples.

While applying toner on your forehead, start from the center and move outwards on either side, again ending at your temples.

Apply toner on your chin only in circular motions.

Tone your neck as well, stroking downwards from your chin.

Tone around your eyes, but very, very lightly.

Vitamin C and Skin

2009-05-27T01:34:00.000-07:00

L- Ascorbate or Vitamin C skin benefits are far and varied.

This has resulted in the use of Vitamin C in a number of skin care products and remedies. However the practical use of Vitamin c is difficult because it is highly unstable when exposed to air.

Once it is exposed to air, it undergoes oxidization and becomes ineffective. In some cases it is even potentially more harmful. To counteract this problem, Vitamin C derivatives are widely used in skin care treatment medication as they are easier and safer to use. Consult your doctor though before using any type of prescription skincare medication.

Vitamin C Skin Care Benefits

Ascorybl palmitate: A fat soluble derivative of vitamin C, Ascorybl palmitate is considerably more stable than Vitamin C. This Vitamin C skin treatment solution also contains fat soluble anti- oxidants and protects the skin from free radical damage.

Magnesium Ascorybl phosphate: This derivative of Vitamin C is good for the skin and is just as effective in stimulating the skin collagen synthesis process. It used to treat sensitive skin and is water soluble.

Topical vitamin C: Topical Vitamin C for skin has been found to be effective in protecting the skin from excessive UV damage by reducing the intensity of the skin’s natural oxidization process and also the formation of sunburn cells. Vitamin C does this by restoring the photo-protectant levels of the skin. The vitamin also reduces fine lines and wrinkles, stabilizes collagen, reduces scarring, and helps the wound healing process. It has also been found to stay present in the skin for about 30 – 36 hours after application.

Wrinkles: Vitamin C skin benefits also include getting rid off wrinkles. Vitamin C plays an important part in the development of proline into collagen and also helps form elastin which is needed to keep the skin firm.

Vitamin C skin whitening: Known for its powerful antioxidant properties Vitamin C helps reduce the effect of the skin’s oxidative process and the intensity of skin pigmentation, thus it lightens skin tone. The vitamin also inhibits the formation of ‘tyrosinase’ present in the body which is also responsible for pigmentation.

Scarring: Vitamin C skin treatment is also useful to reduce skin scarring. The procedure uses high doses of vitamin C in order to increase the formation of collagen. The increased collagen levels help the scar heal better thus making it less noticeable. Vitamin C skin treatment can also be carried out by consuming a diet that is rich in fruits and vegetables, especially citrus fruits.

Summer is the season of décolleté

2009-05-26T23:21:00.001-07:00

Sure summer is the best time for vacation. We enjoy sun, sea, warm sand. Women wear open clothes, sabot. And almost every piece of skin is opened rapt looks of men. And of course, one of the most important parts for women in summer is area of décolleté. Today I offer some recipes and tips for skin in the area of décolleté.

If the skin isn’t very clean, with acne, you should rub skin on the shoulders, upper parts of the back and breast with lotion from calendula. To prepare lotion, pour 1 table-spoon of dried flowers of calendula with 2 glasses of boiling water and leave for an hour. Then add 2 table-spoons of vodka or cologne.

To make breast skin healthy and to saturate it with oxygen, prepare rejuvenated lotion. Boil 2 tea-spoons of dried mint in the ½ liter of water for 2 minutes. Then add fruit vinegar and keep to cool. Add 2 table-spoons of rose water and rub upper parts of breast and back regularly. Keep lotion in the bottle from dark glass.

Generally you can make very simple masks for décolleté skin care. Put sour cream, kefir or sour milk on the neck, area of décolleté, shoulders. In 15 minutes wash mask with warm water. Such masks nourish skin very good and renew its elasticity.

And finally here is the special mask for area of décolleté. Mix 1 table-spoon of curd with 1 table-spoon of any cream (I use Nivea in blue tin). Put the mask on the skin for 20 minutes. Then wash the mask with warm water and rinse with cool water.

Masks for breast skin

2009-05-26T23:17:00.000-07:00

Spoil breast with homemade masks. Remember that you ought not to touch mammilla and area during cosmetic procedures. Though cold is more useful for breast, but offered masks are better to do in the bath or sauna. When skin is steamed, cosmetic ingredients penetrate deeper into inner skin sells.

Make mask from rose-petals, which has fine tonic effect. Grind dry rose-petals in the coffee-grinder till flour state. Take 2 table-spoons of this flour and mix with 1 table-spoon of sour cream. Put on the breast and leave for 15 minutes.

If you see small wrinkles on the breast you should make special potato mask. Knead half of one boiled potato (without salt) by fork. Add 1 tea-spoon of honey, 1 tea-spoon of sour cream and 50 ml. of vegetable oil. Put on the breast skin for 20 minutes. Such mask will smooth wrinkles and make skin soft, if you make it once a week.

Manicure Tips

2009-05-25T01:27:00.000-07:00

Manicure tips -improves the appearance of the hands and nails

Giving a manicure, or manicuring as it is called professionally, was once considered only a luxury for the rich. More and more women (and men) now have regular manicures. Manicuring is derived from the Latin word manus which means hand and cura which means care. Manicuring improves the appearance of the hands and nails. Giving a manicure isn’t hard once you know the basic steps.

Remove the old polish. Moisten a cotton ball with nail polish remover. The type of polish remover depends on your personal preference. Press the cotton ball over the nail for a few seconds to soften the old polish. Wipe gently with the cotton ball on the nail starting at the base of the nail to the tip. This keeps old polish from smearing into the cuticle.

Shaping the nail is the next step. The fingernails should be filed into oval tips. Begin on the left hand with the little finger and work towards the thumb. Hold the finger between your thumb and the first two fingers of the left hand. Hold the fingernail file in the right hand. Slant the fingernail file so that the filing is done mostly to the under side of the nail. File each fingernail from the corner to the center, going from right to left and then from left to right. On each side of the fingernail, stroke in one direction only. Repeat the process on the right hand.

Softening the cuticles is accomplished by soaking the fingers in a small finger bowl filled with soapy water. A few drops of mild dish soap added to water in the finger bowl works well. Carefully dry the hand by holding a small towel and place, the hand on the towel. Dry the hand while simultaneously pushing back the cuticle and skin on each fingernail. Be very gentle.

Apply cuticle remover by following the directions on the cuticle remover tube or bottle. Gently loosen the cuticle with an orangewood stick or cuticle pusher. Keep the cuticle moist while working. Wash gently and dry.

Clean under the free edge of the fingernail by dipping a cotton-tipped orangewood stick in soapy water and cleaning under the nail from the center outward to each side.

Sometimes it is necessary to remove dead cuticle or hangnails with small scissors or cuticle nippers. Be very careful when you do this.

Apply cuticle oil or cream at the base of the nail. Brush nails gently in a soapy water with a downward motion. Dry the hands and nails thoroughly. Next use a very fine emery board. Buff nails giving them a smooth beveled edge. Wipe nails to remove any particles of cuticle or dead skin.

Apply base coat using long strokes. When the base coat is dry to a light touch apply polish. Apply polish lightly with strokes from the base to the tip. Excess polish on cuticle or nail can be easily removed with cotton tipped orangewood stick moistened with polish remover. Apply a top or seal coat. Brushing the top or seal coat around and under the tips of the nail will give the nail added protection.
The final step is to apply lotion. This can be done if time permits. Nails need to be completely dry. Start at the wrists moving down to the fingertips with light rubbing motion.

Skin Pigmentation

2009-05-25T01:23:00.000-07:00

Pigmentation is a disorder of skin complexion and color.

It occurs mainly due to the malfunctioning of the endocrine glands and the liver. Skin pigmentation problems occur as either an excessive coloration or darkening of the skin or a loss of color and pigment in the skin, over the entire body or just in patches and spots.

Causes of Pigmentation Problems and Disorders

Pigmentation is more widespread amongst the middle-aged women. Very few women in younger age suffer from pigmentation, and the extent of the problem is minimal with few exceptions. This in fact is related to the endocrinal changes that occur when women reach middle age.

The severity of pigmentation problem is associated with several diseases and disorders.

To understand the unusual occurrence of pigmentation, we need to understand these internal disorders.

The Internal Disorders That Cause Pigmentation

Pigmentation of the skin is a symptom common to sever internal disorders. We ought to make a correct diagnosis of these diseases and disorders so as to effectively clear up the pigmentation. An outbreak of dark freckles and spots all over the body could be due to Addison’s disease. This disease causes the damage and impairment of cortical part of the adrenal glands. Due to over-absorption of iron from the food in the intestinal tract, a bronze pigmentation appears all over the body. The skin gains a brownish pigmentation or the colors of other compounds also absorbed. For example, women using nasal drops regularly absorb excess quantities of silver present in the drops and develop a silver grey pigmentation in the skin.

Jaundice is another cause. The skin turns yellow due to the presence of excess bile in the blood and the body tissue. This disorder appears when the liver becomes incapacitated or when an obstruction appears in the bile tract.

Sometimes, during pregnancy, dark brown spots appear predominantly on the face. The main reason for these brown spots is the hormonal imbalances caused during the pregnancy.

When the skin turns bluish or purplish, it is due to the lack of oxygen in the blood. The oxygen-poor blood is bluish red in color. Women suffering from pneumonia, long diseases and some heart problems are troubled with this type of pigmentation.

Menopause results in decline of the hormonal level which in turn affects the secretion of the coloring pigment in our skin. In case of surgical menopause by removal of ovaries and uterus, the pigmentation is more obvious and severe in nature.

Amoebiasis is a chronic intestinal disorder. It causes excessive purging of the bowels, dehydration and results in shallowness of the complexion and loss of color.

Deficiency of iron, calcium, Vitamin A, E & B complex results in patchy and spotty discoloration of the skin.

Lack of Vitamin A results in thickening and darkening of the skin. Vitamins E and B complex deficiency can cause excessive skin pigmentation problem.

How Is the Excessive Pigmentation Caused?

The production of the coloring agent melanin in our skin is influenced by the hormones produced by our endocrinal system. Certain internal conditions such as menopause and disorders have adverse effects on the endocrinal system causing hormonal imbalance. These further results in an over-secretion of the coloring pigment. Coupled with this, an excessive keratinization, a condition characterized by the presence of the dead cells on the skin’s surface causes the darkening of complexion. In fact, our horny skin surface absorbs excessive melanin and therefore appears dark. In the other condition of liver disorder, it is found thin excess bilirubin seeps out of the blood vessels into the spaces between the tissue cells. This imparts a yellow complexion to the skin.

What You Need for Natural Beauty Care

2009-05-25T01:19:00.000-07:00

Millions of dollars are spent for beauty products in the world every year. Each woman is ambitious to look sweet-and-twenty to make healthy glow, sparkling eyes and shiny hair to feel her skin fine and silky, wrinkles less visible and lips healthy and flamboyant.

Money is spent… but very often the result is minimal. Why? A recipe for success of any woman is to follow her natural specifics to find her own way of natural beauty care. It is impossible to use standard beauty products and await the magnificent issue. Your skin needs something special, convenient for it.

Daily we are descended up by information stream about different cosmetically products. The advertisement disqualifies us. We have to take on trust all information and believe this particular face-cream, eye care cream, tanner, lotion, shampoo, body milk and so on, will handle all our problems. Clarify: Any skin care product in no circumstances will make you beautiful. Your body needs something absolutely different. Are you interested in it? Read hereafter.

Your perfect skin, your wonderful body, your attractive hair, your spellbind eyes need you attention. If you are taking care about yourself with love and pleasure you body loves you back. If you cover your body’s requirements, think about your appearance with enjoyment and delight, you will stay young for long years. Is it enough? Not quite. Your skin needs cosmetic and make up, but it is not the main point.

You should think twice about your cosmetic preparations. A lot of them include chemical substances that are harmful for your skin and your organism as a whole, you need natural beauty care. If you treat yourself decently, find other more appropriate cosmetics. Don’t forget, natural is the best for us and you shouldn’t underestimate the value of natural beauty care products. Remedies that are available with nature can benefit you. They’re easy to find, inexpensive, and don’t include any harmful chemicals. Verify that natural beauty care is best for you.

There are only some of natural products you can use for your beauty.

Water: Water is an absolutely necessary thing for all our body. It is one of the most important partials for beautiful skin. It releases us from toxins. A necessary space is 40 ml\1kg of water per day. Which is to say if your weigh 50 kg you need 40*50 = 2000 ml = 2 liters of water per day. A well hydrated skin looks young and healthy.

Fruits: Fruits are one of the best gifts for us from nature. Most of them are low in calories, and can give you a whole lot of energy, besides you can use them for all-type skin masks.

Baby Sun Care Guidelines

2009-05-25T01:16:00.001-07:00

The best way to protect your baby is to keep your baby out of direct sunlight as much as possible, especially between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., when the sun’s rays are strongest. Routinely dress him in a hat, lightweight pants, and a long-sleeved shirt for outings during the middle of the day. Tightly woven clothing protects better than loosely woven fabrics (to see how tight the weave is, hold the fabric up to a light - the less light that shines through, the better). Add UV-protective sunglasses if your baby will wear them. Use an umbrella, stroller canopy, or sun-protective tent to protect your baby while he’s outside.

You can use sunscreen on babies under 6 months if adequate clothing and shade aren’t available, but check with your pediatrician first. If you use organic sunblock you can avoid chemical interaction altogether. That doesn’t mean you should slather your baby in sunblock, though. Just apply a small amount of lotion to exposed areas.

For babies over 6 months, use a waterproof sunscreen designed for children. Choose a sunscreen labeled “broad spectrum,” which means it protects against both ultraviolet B (UVB) and ultraviolet A (UVA) rays. Zinc oxide and titanium dioxide sunscreens are good to use on particularly sensitive spots, such as the nose and lips.

Specialists of Dermatology recommend an SPF of at least 15, but many experts recommend SPF 30 or higher for babies, and many baby sunscreen formulas have even higher SPFs. If possible, apply sunscreen 30 minutes before sun exposure and reapply it at least every two hours, especially if your baby has been playing in the water or has been sweating (even if the sunscreen is waterproof).

Tattoo Art

2009-05-25T01:11:00.000-07:00

Since the last decade, the tattoo art has gained immense popularity.

The body art tattoos are ruling the fashion conscious people. Youngsters are simply crazy about body art tattoos. Now, there are much more design options to choose from, ranging from tribal art and urban tattoos to celtic and sacred ones. In the contemporary times, tattooing and piercing is going hand in hand with each other. Body piercing has become extremely popular among the youth, which is further accentuated by getting the area tattooed.

People get their bodies tattooed due to different reasons. For some people, tattoo makes a great fashion statement, while others use it to reveal certain aspects of their personality. For some people, it is an expression of love feelings that they have for the other person. Thus, every person has his own reason to go in for body tattoo. There are people who consider tattoo as a fabulous art and their body as an empty canvas. Well, it becomes easier to decide on the design, if you are sure about the motive behind getting your body tattooed.

In this section, we will cover the following aspects related to body art tattoos:

History of Tattoo

The word Tattoo has been derived from the Polynesian word ‘tatao’, which means tapping or marking something. This term was first coined by Captain James Cook in the year 1769, when he met the Tahitians during his voyage, who had decorated their bodies with tattoos.

Tattoo Design

Tattooing is not a new trend. Infact, the tradition of making tattoos on the body is being practiced since ages. This art work has made a niche for itself in the fashion arena. It is driving the entire world crazy. As more and more people are getting their bodies tattooed, either temporary or permanent, the tattoo artists are coming up with wide variety of designs.

Tribal Tattoo

Tribal tattoos have always been in vogue. They take you back to the primitive times. However, the tribal tattoo designs have now undergone a major transformation. Infact, they have been constantly evolving and morphing into what has come to be known as the neo tribal tattoo designing.

Lower Back Tattoos

Tattoos on the lower back have always fascinated the youngsters, especially females. Tribal designs have been increasingly finding their way in the making of lower back tattoos. Having tattoo designs on the lower back has become a very popular fashion.

Celtic Tattoos

Celtic tattoos are mainly popular amongst the people of Celtic origin. Being universal in nature, the Celtic symbols have always been a popular choice to be considered by the tattoo artists. Nowadays, most of the tattoo artists prefer mixing the tribal and Celtic design so as to create a new blended tattoo style, known as tribal Celtic tattoos.

Chinese Tattoos

Chinese tattoos have always been in fashion. Initially, having Chinese tattoos on the body was considered to be the privilege of the criminals and mafias. Fascinated by the Chinese tattoos, the Hollywood stars thought of giving a try to this wonderful Chinese tattoo body art.

Henna Tattoos

There are many adverse effects of getting your body tattooed. It is here that Henna comes to play a vital role. It allows you to beautify your body and that too in a natural manner. It is a temporary tattoo that is absolutely safe for the skin. There are no risk factors associated with the Henna Mehndi tattoo.

Open Skin Pores – Large Facial Pores

2009-05-25T00:34:00.000-07:00

Our skin has thousands of tiny outlets not visible to the naked eye - these skin pores carry out the important function of eliminating water, salts, uric acid and oily secretions from our body.

An inadequate elimination of the toxic cellular waste leads to the poor health of the skin, infections and other skin disorders. Many times when our skin pores have to cope with an unusually high and excessive excretion, they enlarge in size giving the skin an unsightly look. The normally invisible pores become visible to our naked eye.

In other cases, when blockages appear in the skin pores, it results in the over-accumulation of the secretions within the glands in our skin. These are finally released by rupturing of the skin leaving gaping large pores behind.

Enlarged Pores on Face

How the Open Skin Pores Are Formed

The problem of enlarged pores on face or facial pores is commonly associated with excessive oiliness and acne. The excessive oiliness of the skin is in turn triggered by the hormonal changes in the body. It happens when the male hormones in the body become overly dominant during puberty. The activity of oil glands which is controlled and regulated by the male hormones increases fervently. The skin in order to cope with the overproduction of oil secretions has to manage its increased elimination. As the traffic of the oil effusion increases, the mouth of the pore enlarges.

Factors for the Formation of Enlarged Pores

There are three main factors which are directly responsible for the formation of enlarged pores.

Deliberate Picking and Touching of Acne - The worst scarring and pits are a direct result of this. Artificial openings made in the skin to release the effusion from the whiteheads, pustules by squeezing, turn into pits and uneven indentations.

Improper Cleansing - Proper cleansing is foremost in every kind of skin-care routine. Unless the dead skin surface, make-up and grease are removed, they tend to deposit in the skin pores and restrain the flow of oil. The oil deposits attract grime and grease and apply pressure on the mouth of the pores to widen it.

Use of Wrong Cosmetics - Beauty soaps enriched in oil, make-up products that are oil based, and creams worsen the oily skin condition and therefore their use is prohibited. Acne and enlarged facial skin pore conditions are aggravated with the use of such cosmetics.

Large Pores Treatment – Large pores can be easily dealt with proper cleansing and frequent toning of the skin. A large number of vegetables and fruit and herbs help in tightening the enlarged pores. Steaming of the face for five minutes before toning is also helpful. First, follow the cleansing routine and then the home-care for arresting the large facial skin pore size.

Whiteheads

2009-05-25T00:17:00.000-07:00

Like blackheads, these are caused by accumulation of hardened sebum or oils, in the pores of the skin. The difference is that in areas where the skin is fine and delicate, the clogged grease is not exposed to air. Oxidization does not take place and does not darken the tips as on case of blackheads. The white heads appear in the form of tiny, pearly, white raised spots. They are common on the area just above the cheekbone, nose, or where the skin is fine. On oily skins, they may appear as a part of a “problem skin condition”, with blackheads, pimples and acne.

Deep pore cleansing with beauty grains helps to discourage them. The mixture of beauty grains and skin tonic is rubbed gently on the affected areas, before being rinsed off with water. The gentle dermabrasive action discourages their formation and also helps to dislodge them after a period of time.

White heads should never be removed forcibly, even with a blackhead extractor. In case of white heads, or milia, as they are called, the pore is not open. Forcible removal will only damage skin tissue and cause infection. With external care, you should include adequate amounts of fresh fruits and vegetables in your daily diet. Drink plenty of water and fresh fruit juices. A glass of warm water with the juice of lemon, helps to cleanse the body of toxic residues and improve the elimination of waste.

Blackheads

2009-05-25T00:13:00.000-07:00

Keep the face clean. Steam it and scrub little with soap and water. Then apply an oatmeal paste.

Boil some oatmeal in a little water. Cool it and add some lemon juice and mix it well. Apply on the face.

Make a lotion with equal parts of lime juice, almond oil and glycerin and apply on the face. It not only cures blackheads but the discoloring spots on the face too.

Beat an egg white stiff. Add 1 tsp honey and with a cotton swab apply on the face and leave for half an hour. Rinse with warm water and pat it dry.

Party Tips

2009-05-25T00:04:00.000-07:00

Make-up that looks just fine in the sunshine can look faded and washed out under artificial lighting. Use warmer and deeper colors for the evenings.

If your face is too full, use a little blusher on the high part of the cheek, closer to the nose. Blend lightly across the too full area.

If your face is too slender, create an illusion of width. Place your blusher on the curve of the cheek, slightly away from the nose. Blend well, out and above to the temples.

If your face is square and heavy along the jaw line, soften the angles of the jaw-line by shadowing. Pat on blusher, then blend down across the square part.

A soft blending of rouge under the jaw line or chin takes away a heavy drooping effect .Your jaw line can look more clear-cut with this trick for the evening.

To accentuate the cheek bones for evening makeup, use a liquid foundation a shade lighter than usual. Apply it in little dabs on the top of the cheek bones and on to the corners of the nose. Blend well.

To focus extra attention on eyes and mouth, circle the outer edge of the face very lightly with blusher .Blend with feathery strokes.

Powder blushers give you color without shine— oily skins should avoid cream blushers.

Does your face look terribly oily halfway through the day? Your complexion can look and stay natural and soft all day if you try this trick: Take a blusher brush, clean it with cool water and allow to dry. Then sprinkle some baby powder into the open bristles. Dust this powder over your face before applying your foundation.

If your complexion is too sallow, don’t be tempted by a clear beige or very pink foundation. Avoid yellow or green colors in make –up, these two colors bring out the sallow color of your skin. Go in for warm beige foundation and clear blue eye shadows. Lipsticks are best in medium tones.

If your complexion is too pale, don’t use a pink foundation. Choose a clear natural foundation for a natural look. Avoid very dark eye shadows and lipsticks. They would make you look too intense and tired. Go in for dull rust or brown eyeshades. Use a soft blusher on cheeks, chin and forehead.

Never try to match eye shadow color to your eye color and lip color to nail color - result will be too dated.

If you wear false eyelashes, make them look natural by brushing both the false and real lashes with a little mascara after putting them on.

To achieve a subtler look, instead of using eyeliner draw the thinnest possible line at the roots of the eyelashes with a soft dark brown eye shadow.

In winter use pearly-gray and shell-beige eye shadows. Avoid highlighters during the daytime, as they would look too harsh.

If your lips are too thin and straight, apply your lipstick from slightly above the line of the upper lip and slightly below the line of the lower lip. Curve the lines slightly with a lip pencil. Make your lips look fuller by using a darker and richer shade of lipstick in the center and a lighter one in the corners.

Follow these tips and get on the journey to a new you.

Yellow Nails

2009-05-24T23:58:00.001-07:00

Yellow nails – Cause of yellow fingernails & how to get rid of yellow finger nail?

If you are troubled with yellow nails, there are some things you can start with almost at once. The first thing to get rid of yellow finger nails is to stop wearing nail polish completely. One of the primary causes of yellow fingernails is constantly wearing nail enamel. This does not allow your nails to breathe clean and fresh air. You will have to start thinking in these terms and along these lines if you are going to be taking care of your nails. Once you have left your nails bare, you can start with a cleansing routine for them. Keep a toothbrush which you use only for the purpose of cleaning your nails. Dip this in a diluted mix of hydrogen peroxide and use to scrub your nails. You can scrub for maybe a minute or more. You really need to do only this much for excellent results and get rid of yellow nails. Once you have finished cleaning your nails, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water. After this, massage your hands, paying special attention to your nails, with any cream or lotion that is specifically formulated for dry skin. This is all that is required to work on your nails as well. You do not need to use anything that is specifically formulated for dry or over exposed nails. You can also use olive oil at this point. Make this a weekly routine, and a matter of lifestyle. Do not think that doing it once will help you to take care of the problem in the long run – it will not.

You can also begin using lime juice to clean your nails every morning. This will also help to lighten the yellow tinge that has appeared on the nails. Make it a point to keep your nails covered with any light oil or cream at all times. You would need to do this for few days at least to get rid of yellow fingernails. Once your nails have cleaned up and are looking well maintained and much better, you can stop keeping the oil or cream on at all times. You also need to ensure that your nails are trimmed and kept short. This would also add to the general good health of your nails. Long nails have a tendency to become brittle over time. Make sure you do not expose your nails to too much water. If you must keep your hands in water for long times, make it a rigid rule to always wear gloves and work.

Grooming Tips for Men

2009-05-24T23:49:00.000-07:00

We live in a time when it pays to look younger, whether it’s in the workplace or in the dating world. One of the keys to success is good grooming, experts say.

An increasing number of men are making grooming a priority because they want to maintain a youthful appearance and a winning edge.

Top Grooming Tips for Men

Get Rid the Gray Hair

The fastest way to take years off of your look is to get rid of gray hair. It’s less noticeable and more natural to begin coloring your hair when you first begin to go gray. An easy-to-use product formulated specifically for men can be used at home to cover gray hair with natural looking results.

Go Short if You’re Balding

Balding is another common problem among men. Opting for a comb-over just dates your look. Get comfortable with your changing look and opt for a modern short haircut.

When men begin to lose the hair on their heads, they may begin to notice unwanted hair in other places, like their nose, ears or back. Be sure to trim or wax unwanted hair for a clean, contemporary look.

Protect and Pamper Your Skin

The best way to prevent wrinkles and skin cancer is to protect your skin from sun damage by using a daily moisturizer with sunscreen.

A good daily skin care routine includes cleansing, followed by a gentle facial exfoliant scrub, which also enhances shaving ease and comfort. Follow with a moisturizer containing sunscreen for day and at night a moisturizer with AHAs to encourage skin regeneration.

Pay Attention to Hands and Feet

Don’t forget to include your hands and feet in your grooming routine. Well-manicured nails and toes contribute to good hygiene and grooming habits. Make time to clip and file your nails at home.

Foot odor is a common problem among many men, and is relatively easy to treat. Scrub your feet daily and dry them completely. Insert a pair of Odor-Eaters Insoles into your shoes, which will absorb wetness and odor.

Quick Grooming Tips

If you don’t iron your clothes, remove them immediately from the dryer so wrinkles don’t set.

In hot weather, wear light-colored, cotton clothing and socks. This will absorb less heat and “sweat stains” will be less visible.

Consider trimming your arm pit hairs in warm weather. Less hair, less bacteria, less smell. Think about it.

Don’t be reluctant to trim or tweeze any stray eyebrow hairs.

Good dental hygiene means a dazzling smile.

Open your eyes. If hair is the frame for your face, the eyes are the windows. Use eye drops to whiten the whites of your eyes for a fresher, younger look.

Extend the Life of Your Razor Blades

All you need is a bottle of mineral oil and some rubbing alcohol.

After shaving, thoroughly clean and dry your razor blades and then completely immerse the razor head in a shallow dish filled with mineral oil. Use the rubbing alcohol to wash away the oil next time you need to use the razor.

By immersing the blades in oil, you stop the oxidization process that dulls their sharp edges. A daily mineral oil soak can double or even triple the life of your cartridges.

Beauty Tips for Men

2009-05-24T23:30:00.000-07:00

Most men will not admit to needing beauty tips but deep down some men are just as insecure about their looks as women are. Men freak out at the sign of gray hair as much as women do, the best way to years off the way you look is to get rid of gray hair. You should begin covering it up as soon as you begin to see it, if you wait until there is a lot then it becomes more noticeable.

If you have hair that is a little on the long side and you start to notice that you are going bald. Try cutting your hair to a shorter style. Avoid the comb over altogether it just makes you seem older. As you begin to lose hair on top you may notice nose, ear and back hair. You can trim ear and nose hair and if you wish to you can get a wax to remove any unwanted back hair.

For skin care, try using a light moisturizer on the skin with sunscreen. It is just as good for men to get into a daily regimen for skin care. Do a cleansing then use an exfoliate scrub or mask and then follow with a light moisturizer. Once your skin begins to get smoother and softer, shaving won’t be such a chore. Also include your hands and feet in your daily grooming routine. Use a pumice stone to remove dead skin cells and then moisturize, you don’t have to use the pumice every day but try to do it at least once a week.

Some extra grooming tips are: If you are not the ironing type of person then right after drying your clothes in the dryer remove them so they do not wrinkle. In the warm and hot weather, wear light colors and cotton clothes. These fabrics will absorb less heat and any stains will be kept at a minimum. Also, to avoid embarrassing stains, consider trimming or shaving your under arm hair. There will be fewer odors and you will actually be cooler.

Here is a tip for extending the life of your razors, buy a bottle of mineral oil and some rubbing alcohol. When you are done shaving, clean out the razor and dry them. Then completely submerse the razor head in a shallow dish of mineral oil, use the rubbing alcohol to wash away the mineral oil.

Teeth Whitening Facts and Myths

2009-05-24T23:22:00.000-07:00

Why Teeth Get Dark

There are many causes of tooth discoloration. The most common include genetics, aging, consumption of staining substances (smoking, coffee, tea, and colas), tetracycline (antibiotic) staining, excessive fluoride, and old fillings. Whitening toothpaste can remove stain that is on the outside of the teeth. Dentists call this extrinsic staining. However, whitening toothpaste and professional dental cleanings will not change the color or intrinsic staining of the teeth. That is why tooth whitening (sometimes called tooth bleaching) is so popular

Here’s How Tray Teeth Whitening Works

A whitening gel is placed in a tray that fits over your teeth. As the active ingredient in the gel, carbamide peroxide, is broken down, oxygen enters the enamel and bleaches the colored substances. The structure of the tooth is not changed; only the tooth is made lighter and whiter. Fillings, Crowns, and Bonding will not lighten.

The fit of the tray is critical to success of treatment. Impressions are made by your dentist. Accurate models of your teeth are obtained from which custom fitting whitening trays can be made.

How Safe is This?

Dentists have known for years that tray whitening or bleaching is a fast, safe and predictable way to whiten teeth 2-5 shades in a matter of days.

What is the difference between laser whitening and custom mouthpieces?

Laser is done by a dentist who applies a 35% Hydrogen Peroxide solution on your teeth. Once this solution is on, a light is held a couple of inches away from your teeth to speed up the chemical reaction of the Hydrogen Peroxide. Many dentists advertise that this works better than tray type whitening. There is NO clinical data to indicate the laser whitening works any better than tray whitening. NONE! The problem with this procedure is that after a year of your normal eating habits (drinking coke, tea, coffee, etc.) your teeth become slightly discolored again and develops a new stain. With the laser whitening, you will have to go and pay $500 plus to have white teeth again. With the custom mouthpieces, you already have the custom mouthpieces that you can wear a year later for a night to take off the new stain at no cost.

How Does the Tray Whitening System Compare to Crest Whitestripes?

Crest White Stripes are a new plastic strip that is coated with Hydrogen Peroxide and placed across the front teeth. The strips do work…sort of. Tests by Crest show that teeth are lightened an average of 1 to 2 shades. They tend to whiten only the front teeth while and the visible premolars are still dark.

How Long will Whitening Results Last?

For most people, the treatment is long-lasting. Exposure to coffee, smoking, red wines, and some medicine products will gradually darken teeth again over time. After an initial treatment, most people do touch-ups one day about every 3-6 months.

How long will it take and How white will they get?

When wearing the trays Carbamide Peroxide is slowly broken down to Hydrogen Peroxide which whitens the teeth. The 16% gel whitens more slowly but causes less tooth sensitivity. The 22% gel whitens quickly but can cause temporary sensitivity to temperatures. Both the 16% and 22% gels need to be worn for about 10-14 days to achieve maximum whiteness.

Virtually everyone who whitens their teeth will see improvement.

The ultimate whiteness will be determined by the length of time the teeth are exposed to the whitening gel and the mineral composition of the teeth. Teeth whitening is kind of like a reverse suntan. Some people get great results in only one or two days while others need more treatment time.

The American Dental Association (ADA) has recently made public a review by the Cochrane Collaboration of 25 studies of home-use tooth whitening products. The 25 clinical studies looked at the effectiveness of home-use whiteners including:

Home whitener kits given out by dentists
Over-the-counter whiteners
They looked at all forms of tooth whiteners except whitening toothpastes:
Films (which are painted on the teeth)
Gels (applied in trays)
Strips (applied to the teeth)

The tooth-whitening agents used by all the products were either carbamide peroxide; or hydrogen peroxide Each home-use tooth whitening product was used for two or more weeks. After two weeks, the teeth looked whiter than if no whitening product had been used, and differences in effectiveness were due to levels of active whitening agents in the ingredients. Store-bought kits have weaker whitening agents.

Bias in the studies

The Cochrane review noted that all 25 studies were conducted by manufacturers of tooth-whitening products and had “moderate to high levels of bias”. They also noted that reviewing these studies of at-home users was particularly difficult, “given the significant variation in whitening products, concentrations of active ingredients, study designs and application methods.” The reviewers also called for some long-term studies (at least 6 months) of at-home tooth whitening, to evaluate its potential health effects, and effectiveness.

Summary

Tray teeth whitening procedures have been common in dentistry since the late 1980’s. The procedure typically takes about 1-14 days to complete. Side effects are minimal. The most common side effect is tooth increased sensitivity particularly to cold. These symptoms go away when whitening is discontinued.

Tooth whitening is currently the safest and most conservative dental cosmetic procedure. As dental care is moving from being a boring chore to another way to be glamorous the popularity of this treatment is sure to continue.

Types of Facials

2009-05-19T23:36:00.000-07:00

There are many kinds of facials that are suitable for your skin and a particular skin problem.

A basic clean up

A clean up cleanses, exfoliates and moisturizes facial skin. Ugly blackheads and whiteheads are cleared by gently steaming the face. Regular clean-ups can prevent and reduce skin problems. The skin is first cleansed under steam, and then very gently scrub granules are massaged over the skin. After removing the scrub, another creamy cleanser is applied and the skin is exfoliated further with a soft rotating electric brush and massaged. These are recommended for all skin types and can be done on people under the age of 25.

The advantages of Clean-up are:

It reduces tanning
Removes dirt and blackheads
Provides a clean and glowing complexion.

Normal facials

These facials are a simple cleanse, steam and massage affair. They’re the least expensive of all facials. They’re also the best option for normal skin that isn’t prone to acne. The difference between these facials and a clean up is that the skin is massaged for a longer period of time in a facial.

Special facials

These are a step-up from the normal facial. Specially formulated hypoallergenic creams are used to moisturize the skin. Face packs are applied depending on different skin types and special cleansing and rejuvenation techniques are also part of the process. These are recommended for people with sensitive skins.

Bio-lift facials

In addition to cleansing, massage and rejuvenation techniques, these facials include treatment that targets dark circles under the eye. The characteristic of this facial is the bio-mask, which tones and tightens the skin on the face, making it look younger.

AHA (Alpha Hydroxy Acid) facials

AHA acids, which are derived from fruits and flowers, are known for their anti-aging effects. These facials use creams formulated with AHAs, which help the skin look smoother and healthier. They are also recommended for people who have pigmented skin, and are prone to wrinkling easily.

In these, creams containing flower extracts are used, which improve action of the capillaries, skin texture and tighten pores– inducing relaxation and calming the mind. In ancient times, the fragrance of rose, lavender, jasmine, neroli, etc., was used to cure depression, insomnia, anxiety and other mental states. Fresh fruit facials are done with pulps of fresh fruits; mostly seasonal fruits. For e.g. Orange or sweet Lime pulp. Fresh fruit facial is very good for very sensitive skin, which cannot tolerate any chemically prepared cosmetics. Fruits are chosen according to the skin type. Banana for dry skin and Orange for oily skin.

Paraffin facials

These facials are offered as part of bridal beauty packages. It involves the application of a special paraffin mask on the face over layers of gauze, which helps seal in the special anti-aging and rejuvenating creams applied to the skin. It aids better absorption and brings back the radiance of the skin.

Anti-oxidant and pollution-fighting facials

This facial uses creams and masks enriched with free-radical fighting agents like vitamin A, beta-carotene and vitamin E. Pollutants are first removed and the skin is then deep cleansed in this procedure. This is recommended for people who have to be outdoors often-on account of their work.

Acne Facials

A treatment for those who suffer with troubled skin; particularly effective on teenage and adult acne. After cleansing this treatment begins with enzyme or glycolic acid exfoliation and a warm vapor mist, followed by extensive manual deep pore extractions, electric disencrustation and a skin-calming, anti-bacterial masque. This facial should be performed at regular, two-week intervals until problem clears.

Collagen Facials

This type of facial includes use of a multi-phase technique of exfoliation, warm vapor, deep pore cleansing, lymphatic drainage massage and self healing mineral or paraffin masque over a freeze dry collagen sheet to ensure the ideal hydrating effect. Normally in this kind of facial, liquid nutrients in the form of vials or ampoules are used and for quick absorption of liquid nutrients in the skin, laser or galvanic treatment is done. This is an effective preventative treatment against harmful environmental damage, wrinkles and dark circles. Recommended for all skin types.

Aromatherapy Facial

In these essential oils are used, which have potent and specific curative properties that are of particular benefit to the skin. They are effective for relaxation of body and mind. Aromatherapy facials help clear skin congestion and improve the normal functions of the skin. The mask, which is applied at the end of the massage, also contains essential oils. The elimination of toxins, the improvement in the skin’s normal functions, including cell regeneration and the uplifting effect, all combine to make aromatherapy facials revitalizing and rejuvenating.

Galvanic Facial

In this Galvanic gadget is used, by which a steady, direct galvanic current is utilized, to introduce water-soluble substances through the skin. It heightens the skin’s capacity to absorb and improves the penetration of the products. The treatment of specific problems becomes easier. This benefits dry, dehydrated skins, improving moisture retention. It also helps remove congestion.

Gold Facial

This facial makes use of creams containing 24-Carat pure gold, which penetrates the skin easily. It is a powerful rejuvenating treatment. Gold has a powerful effect on lymphatic drainage, facilitating the removal of toxins and wastes. This accelerates the regeneration of new cells. Masks, containing gold, are also applied. The gold facial helps to restore youthful qualities, like softness, smoothness, elasticity, resilience and radiance.

Facials

2009-05-19T23:31:00.000-07:00

One of the joys of womanhood is taking the time to pamper ourselves so we can face each new day looking and feeling our best. Our skin is our largest organ, performing several functions, including protecting us from invasion by foreign substances and serving as the transfer point for the release of toxins from our bodies. The skin provides an honest mirror of our inner health and well-being. It is thus especially important to use only natural, gentle ingredients on our skin whenever possible. Application to the skin of fresh, natural products such as essential oils, plant waters (also called “hydrosols”) and cold pressed unscented oils helps maintain a youthful, glowing complexion. Essential oils and hydrosols are the fragrant liquids that are distilled from different plant parts, such as flower petals; herbs leaves and tree barks, and are fundamental components of any solid, natural skin care regime. Cold pressed unscented oils are extracted from various fruits, nuts and seeds, and include olive oil, sweet almond oil, avocado oil and jojoba oil. Used in tandem, essential oils, hydrosols and cold pressed unscented oils work together to soothe and nourish the skin, encouraging a healthful, radiant complexion.

Facials are deep skin treatments that cleanse, rehydrate and rejuvenate the skin, apart from minimizing skin blemishes, acne, dry skin and, of course, wrinkles. Facials vary depending on your skin type, the kind of treatment you’ve chosen, the products used and the person’s age. However, it is advisable to start having facials in your late 20’s.

The benefits

Facials involve a cleansing procedure, a massage and steam, and the application of a facemask. What they help to do is remove the dead, dull outer layer of cells that make up the skin’s surface or epidermis along with pollutants. The massage, which is an important part of a facial, helps blood circulation, which in turn aids lymphatic drainage (the removal of toxins and waste from the body). A massage also relaxes the facial muscles and is very important to delay the onset of wrinkles. The face is steamed during a facial for two main reasons. Firstly, steam helps the skin absorb cream better. Secondly, it helps in softening blackheads and whiteheads so that they can be removed easily. The application of a facemask in the end helps tone and clarifies the skin. Facemasks are also used to treat dry and acne-ridden skin.

Sunscreen Myths

2009-05-19T13:38:00.000-07:00

Myth 1

Children need a lot of direct sun exposure, or they will develop a vitamin D deficiency.
False
The average child in NSW gets enough Vitamin D from their everyday activities, even when well protected with hats, sunscreen and clothing.

Myth 2
If my baby is jaundiced or has nappy rash, exposure to direct sunlight is helpful.
False
Expose your baby’s skin to fresh air, not sunlight. Jaundice should be monitored by a doctor.

Myth 3
Sunscreen use may actually increase skin cancer rates.
False
Research shows that problems can arise if people use sunscreen to prolong their time in their sun. If used correctly, broad-spectrum sunscreen can lower skin cancer rates.

Myth 4
My child has olive skin therefore they are not at risk of skin cancer.
False
Anyone, regardless of skin type, who spent their childhood in Australia is at high risk of developing skin cancer.

Myth 5
I’m not concerned about skin cancer, if it happens I’ll see it, it’s easy to treat and only old people get it.
False
Skin cancer can happen to you when you’re young and treatment can result in permanent scarring. Check your skin regularly and consult your GP immediately if you notice any changes.

Myth 6
It takes at least half an hour to get sunburnt.
False
It is possible to get burnt in as little as 11 minutes due to the high levels or UV radiation year round. It’s important to be protected whenever you’re out in the sun, even for short periods.

Myth 7
Sunscreen is toxic.
False
There is no evidence of any long-term harmful effects associated with the use of Australian sunscreen. Cancer Council sunscreen has the least amount of chemicals possible.

Myth 8
One application of sunscreen in the morning is enough.
False
No sunscreen provides 100% protection and it should always be used in conjunction with other sun protection methods. Sunscreen needs to be reapplied every two hours.

Myth 9
By using fake tan I’m darkening my skin so it’s protected from the sun.
False
Fake tanning lotion is like dying your skin - the change is only external. There is no improvement in your body’s ability to protect itself from the sun.

Myth 10
You can’t get burnt in the car or through a window.
False
Glass significantly reduces transmission of UVB rays, but only a third of UVA rays. Both UVA and UVB radiation contribute to sunburn and skin cancer.

Lip Care

2009-05-19T13:07:00.000-07:00

Lip Stick

Manners’ makes a man but a lipstick makes a woman!! Find out how you can attain sexy and sheer lips guaranteed to seduce!!

Firstly we all need to understand that lips also need protection even more so than our facial skin. As their protective layer known as stratum corneum is very thin so choose a non medicated stick like the Nivea Lip Care Daily Care and apply it daily to keep lips soft and supple. For serious flaking or soreness, look for products that contain camphor, menthol as both are soothers and always remember to apply lip balm underneath lipstick as it makes the lipstick easier to remove and cause less damage.

Some best tips to Sexy lips

Here’s the best bet to setting your lip color. No matter what the texture of your lipstick is always apply lip balm first to soften and smoothen the skin. If your lips are chapped apply some Vaseline and softly rub your lips with a soft muslin cloth to remove dead skin leaving your lips looking healthier.

The first step to a fashionable mouth is to define your lip-line, if you want to make your lips appear smaller use colors like dark berry or chocolate shades which make lips look thinner also apply the liner on the inner boundary of your natural line. On the contrary if you want a fuller look recreate your lip-line slightly above your natural line and use a sheeny or sheer moisturizing lip stick in warm coal, rosy pink or a bronzed caramel tone. Make even more of your mouth by applying little gloss in the middle of your lower lip.

After a proper definition apply your lipstick with a lip brush this gives a more even and lasting look to the lipstick, then blot with a tissue. You can dust some powder through a single ply tissue to achieve a sophisticated matte look or reapply another coat of lipstick for intense color.

If you always land up with lipstick on your teeth than simply put your index finger in your mouth, close your lips around it and slowly pull it out of your mouth. The residue will stick to your finger.

The new -look of glossy shimmering lips can be achieved easily by applying a gloss that matches your lipstick color so it enhances the actual tone as well as add shine. Or think of updating a tired browny lipstick with a lick of shiny gold shimmer- its instant sun-kissed splendor on your lips.

You can also choose a nude shade close to your own skin coloring and apply carefully with a brush all the way to the edges of the lip-line and add a new dimension with a touch of sheer gloss for a striking effect for day and night.
You can also opt for one of the most versatile, classic and ageless color red. By tapping your ring finger onto your red lipstick and apply them to your lips by dotting on the color and then spreading it. Apply sheer gloss to add a touch of class. You can also decrease the voltage of red by applying a nude/natural lipstick as base color.

General Tips for Lips

Apply cold cream or moisturizer or lip balm before applying lipstick.

To get natural pink lips apply beet root juice before bed.

Grind rose petals and apply on lips to get smooth pink lips.

If you have thinner lips use more neutral lip color.

If you want different shade of lip color mix two or three lipstick colors together and use as new lip color.

If your face is bumpy, irritate or ruddy, or rash don’t use true red color, till you get normal skin. Red will show more attention on the skin.

Pale shades make lip look fuller.

Apply menthol based lip balm and take an old brush and brush gently on lips (don’t rub too hard, because lip are very sensitive) to get rid off chapped lips.

How to get those oomph lips

Follow the natural contours of your lips, outline the lips with a lip pencil. Match your lipstick or use one shade lighter or darker. Fill in lips with pencil for extra staying power.

Dab some lipstick onto the back of your hand to warm and soften the color. Dip a brush into the lipstick on your hand, then apply it over the liner and carefully fill in the lips.

With a tissue wrapped around your index finger, gently dab at the lip line to blend and soften any hard pencil lines. Reapply lipstick for the last finish.

Basic Lip Gloss

1/4 cup beeswax

1/4 cup castor oil

2 tbsp sesame oil

Beet juice

Melt beeswax in top of double boiler. Remove from heat and add oils. Add as much beet juice as desired for color. Store in jar. Transfer a small portion to a purse sized container for use when away from home. Any favorite essential oil may be added from fragrance.

Apricot-Orange Lip Gloss

1 tsp beeswax

1 tsp apricot kernel oil

1 tsp calendula oil

3-4 drops of essential oil of orange

Beet juice

Melt beeswax in top of double boiler. Add apricot kernel and calendula oils, stirring constantly. Remove from heat, add beet juice if desired, for color. When partially cooled, add oil of orange. Store in jar. Transfer a small portion to a purse sized container for use when away from home.

Beauty Products for Daily Skin Care

2009-05-19T13:02:00.001-07:00

A woman is never too young or too old to start taking care of her skin and looking for beauty products. To tell the truth, skin and body care should be an essential part of our health. It is natural, isn’t it? Take care of your skin and you will have a thousand of benefits, such as well-tended appearance and high self-concept. But usually the problem is to find a beauty product that will work for you. Many products claim to improve your skin condition.

You should know more about basic skin care products then you can determine which product is best for you. You can find some types of skin care products for daily skin care. They are cleansers, moisturizers, sunburn creams, eye creams, toners, retinoids, herbals, and skin treatment supplements.

Cleansers are necessary to put out the dirt, pollutants and sweat secretion that gathered on your skin throughout the day. They may come in liquid or bar form.

Moisturizers can moisturize dry skin and prevent wrinkles or make them noteless. They come in cream, lotion, and oil form. Oil based moisturizers are preferential for intense dry skin. A cream or lotion form is a better choice for the skin prone to be dry. Apply it after a bath or clearance.

Sunburn cream protects your skin in summer and spring. Abundance of the sun leads to skin damage. If you have fair skin, you should be doubly careful than swarthy people. But dark skin can become damaged too. Apply a natural sunburn cream with an SPF 15 to prevent sun damage.

Eye Creams: Your skin around the eyes is intensely sensitive. Use eye cream to improve its. It helps to hydrate and protect this area. Some creams can help to remove dark circles.

Toners: Skin toner is a complementary remedy for extra cleansing to combination or oily skin. Avoid using a skin toner for dry skin. It usually contains alcohol or acetone, and they can fret dry or sensitive skin.

Retinoids: Topical vitamin-A based products. For wrinkled skin.

Herbals: Herbal antioxidants, such as green tea can be included as a compound of beauty products or taken orally to neutralize free radical damage to the skin. Appropriate for all types if skin, approve its overall appearance.

Supplements: Coenzyme Q10 is a naturally occurring cellular antioxidant that is positioning as a preparation for prevention and treatment of several diseases, such as heart disease, Parkinson’s disease, diabetes, some types of cancer. It is also included as a compound of many moisturizing beauty products as a wrinkle reducing remedy.

Women Health and Beauty

2009-05-19T12:58:00.000-07:00

Most women think that it’s okay not to look into the future in far as is concerned health and beauty, but it’s not. Some of us think: “Give and spend, and God will send”. This philosophy is not good for everything. Till you are young and beautiful you don’t take thought for the morrow. But be sure it’s not easy to look in a mirror with sad hair and dry, wrinkled skin. Negative emotions increase the risk of depression. The best way to avoid this negativity is to preserve your health and beauty now. Save your skin now, before it’s too late!

The main features in beauty are hair, nail, skin, teeth, lips etc. Beauty can better be specified as a major exercise of a positive expression in an own existence. Beauty is not just an appearance, but a complete person who possesses an ample knowledge about happiness, self-control, politeness and positiveness, a person who sees beautiful things and lives up to the hilt. So beauty is the attraction of a person not only by outside but also by inside aspects. As you can see, health and beauty have both physical and inner psychological parts.

Everyone wants to be more beautiful and handsome. The fair, healthy and beautiful skin makes a person attractive. General recommendations for skin come to the statement “your skin condition is a mirror for the whole organism condition”. A healthy positive woman has a healthy good-looking skin. But there are some well known skin problems. They all can cause serious problems hereafter at thirty or forty, so it is easier to prevent them. Think hard about your health and beauty right now.

Acne is usually caused by outbreaks of lesions which call pimples. Skin’s oil and infection are the main causing factor for acne so the first rule is cleaning and peel-off clarifying. Sometime acne can lead to permanent scarring and mutilating.

Dryness: Another skin problem is skin dryness. With the increase of years skin becomes dry and wrinkled. You should use damper to avoid dryness. Don’t forget to drink enough of water. Water is one of the most important partials for beautiful skin. Keep in mind you need 40 ml\1kg of water per day. A well hydrated skin looks young and healthy. Some appropriate ointments, lotions and creams should be used for dry skin.

Skin diseases: Such skin problems as atopic dermatitis, eczema, exudative diathesis create serious, even insoluble problems. They can turn into chronic form. If your have reddened skin with spots and feel skin itch, please consults to your doctor immediately.

Winter Makeup

2009-05-19T12:47:00.000-07:00

Come winter and the season takes a toll on your skin. The cold winds and freezing temperature leads to cracked, dry skin and chapped lips. The augment of winter also rings the bells for the advent of the party season. For all those party poopers out there, winter is all about hopping from one place to another, doting on loads of eateries and lazing for endless hours in front of the fire.

Winter Make up is not just about wearing the right colors and blending in loads of gloss, but begins with a ritual of proper skin care. Don’t forget that chapped lips cannot carry any lipstick with ease. Therefore, you must eat right, stay fit and keep yourself hydrated to glow throughout the winter. Your skin care routine and cosmetics need to undergo a major hauling in order to embrace the chilly months. You need to look more glamorous and in control during the season.

Skin Care for the Chilly months:

From dry, chapped hands to crackling heels, the winter skin blahs are endless. As such we all dread the nasty mismatch of humidity, icy breezes and freezing temperatures as soon as the mercury dips. With a few tips you can brush aside the winter beauty woes and tame your looks.

Hand care: Chapped crusty hands are an outcome of excess exposure to cold and rough weather. To get rid of the dryness, wash them with lukewarm water before going to bed and apply milk cream. Wear gloves overnight to let the formula work on your winter wrecked hands. Another traditional remedy is to apply a concoction of glycerine, rose water and lemon juice to soften the hands.

Body Care: As soon as winter sets in, throw all the soaps out of your bathroom window. Soaps tend to strip the moisture from the skin leaving it dull and dry. Avoid hot baths during the winters. It is recommended to go in for a lukewarm water bath for not more than 10 minutes once a day. Dry yourself with a towel and rub in a moisturizer when the body is still damp.

Winter make up essentials:

Wearing the right colors:

With winter comes the need to look your best. Colors such as coffee, mahogany, burgundy, berry, mocha and cherry replace the summer pastels and frosted shades. Deep purples, grays, moss greens blended with sheer silver, gold, copper and platinum hues dominate the fashion circuits in the winter months. Glitter and gloss are an all-time trendy buy for stuffing up your make up bag. The citrus and spicy tones of make up are a rage during the chilly months.

Foundation:

It is recommended that you use a matt finish foundation during the winters. Either your foundation or your moisturizer must have an adequate SPF to block the harmful UV radiation of the sun that is prominent even in the winter months.

Eyes:

The smoky look for the party season is evergreen. You can blend shades of green, purple, mocha, blue or even neon colors to get a perfect smoky effect. Use silver, champagne or golden hues for the subtler look. Remember to wear nude lipstick and blusher with a smoke eye effect.

Black mascaras work wonders for your eyes during the winter months with eyeliners in dark blue, purple, kohl and browns.

Go Glitter:

The glitter effect is back with a bang. Mix your favorite glitter with your best body lotion and apply it all over your body. Remember it must be either on your body or on your face but never on both!

Blushers:

Rich and creamy shades are in this season. You can opt for rich pinks, browns, reds and coppers to get an instant glamorous look. Creamy blushers look great during the winters.

Fragrance:

You can stick to the rich aroma of essential oils and create your own winter blend to rock the party. Spicy aromas such as cinnamon, woody and balmy fragrances are a big hit during the winters.

Lipsticks:

Try vitamin enriched lipsticks with build in moisturizers for the winters. Shades such as red, mahogany, caramel, coffee, mocha, wine and burgundy are a hit throughout the season. Extra sheen can be created by dabbing lip gloss for that sizzling sparkle.

Nails:

You can do up your nails with a ravishing French manicure or color them with dark reds, burgundy, browns and rust. No winter make up routine is complete without achieving the perfect nails. You need to be versatile. Change your nail color as and when you feel the need to and moisturize your hands regularly.

With these winter make-up tips you are likely to rock the party and sail gracefully through the winter months with ease.

Anti Aging

2009-05-19T04:25:00.000-07:00

Anti aging is the process of preventing, slowing or reversing the effects of the aging process and helps individual’s live healthier and happier lives. It promotes longevity and is based on promoting overall wellness of the body and mind. It is based on the theory that beauty is not skin deep and focuses on the overall health management, beauty treatment and spiritual management.

The entire age defying process encourages individuals to undergo stress management along with finding remedies for various diseases such as diabetes, obesity, stress, anxiety, Alzheimer’s and the anti ageing psychology. It includes various spheres of research and applications in genetic engineering, tissue engineering and life extension. The cosmetics industry is filled with a number of products that claim to reverse the process of ageing and delay it. Ranging from Botox shots and face uplifts to vitamin E enriched creams and anti aging make-up, the cosmetics market is flooded with various solutions.

In order to delay the process of ageing, you not only need proper nutrition, exercise and sleep but also need certain hormone replacements, vitamins, supplements and herbs. Alternative healing and holistic treatments are the latest rage in the world of anti ageing and are regarded as the most viable age defying solutions.

Choosing the right cream:

Different individuals have different factors that affect the ageing process. Some individual age early based on external factors such as pollution, environmental degradation, exposure to the harmful ultraviolet rays of the sun and stress while others fall prey to genetics and hormones. The search for an ideal anti ageing formula goes on. Almost every week a new product is launched in the market that claims to be the ultimate solution. However, you need to test the product for a certain period of time in order to determine if it is the right solution for you or not. Never buy a product just because someone else has tried it and it worked for them. You must buy a cosmetic that is entirely meant for your skin type and environmental condition.

Going high on vitamins and minerals:

It is essential for you to take adequate vitamins and minerals to support the natural aging process of the body and prevent it. You must intake vitamin E on a regular basis combined with vitamin B complex and eat loads of fresh fruits rich in anti oxidants and minerals. Eat a well balanced diet rich in an adequate amount of carbohydrates, proteins, essential fatty acids and vitamins and minerals.

Keep yourself hydrated:

Water is the ultimate solution to most of your ageing woes. It keeps the body hydrated, flushes out the harmful toxins and improves skin elasticity. You must drink at least 8 to 10 glasses on a daily basis.

Avoid sunbathing:

It is unwise for you to expose yourself to the harmful ultraviolet rays of the sun irrespective of the fact that you are wearing sunscreen or not. You have higher chances of coming down with skin cancer and you are more prone to develop wrinkles at an early age.

Exercise:

In order to enhance your body, you need to adhere to a physical fitness routine on a daily basis. This can comprise of a short walk, skipping, running, jogging, swimming, working out in the gym or walking on the treadmill or stationary bike in the privacy of your home. You can also opt for fitness balls and get in shape. Exercising helps bust stress and releases happy hormones or androgens that are most likely to keep you in good physical and mental shape.

Most anti ageing treatments work with the right attitude, determination and products. It is advisable for you to get in touch with a good therapist in order to identify your skin type in order to avail the best treatment.

Causes of Dark Circles

2009-05-18T06:51:00.000-07:00

Our face attracts the most amount of attention. Therefore, we pay most attention to the way our face looks. We take special care of our face, its skin, its appearance and we try to present our face in the most beautiful manner we can. In a person’s face, it is the eyes that catch the attention of the observer. If the eyes are beautiful the beauty of the face is enhanced. But a problem that a number of women face is dark circles under the eyes. When a woman has dark circles under her eyes, no matter how beautiful her eyes are their impact is diminished because of these dark circles. If we understand the cause of dark circles then we may be able to deal with them and treat them if possible. There are a number of reasons for dark circles under the eyes.

Given below are some of the common causes for the unsightly dark circles.

Heredity: Dark circles under the eyes can be an inherited trait. If you have dark circles, then it is likely that other members of your family have dark circles too. The skin under the eye is very thin. When blood flows through veins close to surface of the skin it can produce a bluish tint. If your skin is transparent then the darker the circles will be. Transparent skin is also an inherited trait.

Exposure to Sun: Exposure to sun especially during the summer months can make the skin under the eyes look darker. This is true for dark skinned people as well. Suntans are caused by an increase in the natural pigmentation of the skin, as a result of exposure to the sun. This increase in pigmentation is drawn to the surface. This applies to the skin under the eyes as well.

Allergies and Eczema: Any infection of the eye that leads to itching can contribute to dark circles as rubbing and scratching the eyes darkens the skin. People who suffer from hay fever will notice that dark circles appear when the allergy is at its height. Certain food allergies can cause dark circles too.

Medication: Any medication that dilates your blood vessels can cause dark circles under the eyes. As the skin under the eye is delicate an increase in blood shows through the skin in the form of dark circles.

Nutrition: An improper diet, an unbalanced diet or lack of a nutritious diet can cause dark circles under the eye.

Tiredness and Lack of Sleep: A lack of sleep or excessive tiredness can cause the skin under the eyes to become pale, thus, making the blood flowing under it visible.

Pregnancy and Menstruation: During pregnancy and menstruation the skin becomes pale and the veins under the skin become visible.

Age: As you grow older there are greater chances that you will have dark circles and they may become more prominent and permanent. If there are too many folds in the skin under the eyes, it will make the dark circles more prominent.

Baby Skin Care

2009-05-18T06:45:00.000-07:00

Baby Skin Care

A baby’s skin is very sensitive. Before you use any baby linens or baby clothes for the first time, wash the items in a hypoallergenic detergent or soap formulated for babies. Also, use only soap or bath solution meant for babies when you bathe your infant. Adult products are too harsh for a young baby’s skin.

Babies don’t get very dirty, so you don’t need to bathe your baby every day if you keep the face, head and diaper area clean. Wipe your baby’s face and head gently with a soft, wet washcloth or dampened cotton balls. Be sure to get into all skin creases, especially where dribbled milk might collect. And clean your baby’s bottom well with each diaper change.

When dressing your baby, choose loose-fitting, soft garments and layer for warmth. Be sensitive to your baby’s environment, and be ready to peel off a layer or two when in a warm car, shop or restaurant.

If your baby has little pimples along skin folds, especially on the neck, back, shoulders, chest or diaper area, she may have prickly heat, which can be remedied by avoiding heat and humidity, administering cool baths and dressing her in light, loose clothing.

Even young babies can go outdoors to get fresh air. Just dress your child appropriately. You need to protect him from the sun. While the sun is an important natural source of vitamin D, it can also damage a child’s skin. Shield your baby from direct sunlight by dressing him so he is completely covered and by keeping the stroller hood up.

Once your baby is six months old, you should get in the habit of using sunscreen on your child year round, even on overcast days. Choose a hypoallergenic, PABA-free sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher that blocks both UVA and UVB rays. When applying sunscreen, avoid your baby’s eyes and keep it off your baby’s fingers as your child might rub his eyes. Also, avoid or limit exposure to the sun between 10am and 3pm.

Dark Circles Under the Eyes

2009-05-16T13:31:00.001-07:00

Following are some of the simple tips to prevent dark circles under the eyes:

Drink 8-10 glasses of water daily.

Take proper rest and good amount of sleep. It is very helpful in preventing dark circles under the eyes.

Take a well balanced diet including green vegetables and fruits.

Try not to smoke or drink alcohol.

Do not eat junk foods and other processed foods as they contain artificial colors which lead to dark circles under eyes.

Make yourself happy and stress free. Practice meditation.

Never use bleach, always go for natural face packs. They are free from harmful effects.

Diet rich in Vitamin K is good for your eyes. Apply Vitamin K rich herbal creams to get rid of dark circles under the eyes.

Keep herbal tea bags on your closed eyes, this not only keeps your eyes cool but also removes dark circles.

Drink fresh natural fruit juice. It detoxifies your body and prevents dark circles under eye.