Beauty Quotes

Health Benefits Of Nettle

2009-11-07T13:42:00.001+07:00

The stinging nettle (which is called ortie in France and Brennessel in Germany) was said to be introduced into Britain by Caesar's soldiers. They sowed it along the sides of the great straight roads; both the roads and the nettles survive. At the end of a day's march the cooler climate of England and the weary miles made their legs ache. They would gather the nettles and beat each other with them so warming the affected parts. Really an embrocate for the strong.

Culpeper says wittily that they may be found by feeling on the darkest night! He tells us that the juice with honey is a safe and sure medicine to open the pipes and passages of the lungs.

Today the herbal practitioner has found many uses for the humble nettle. The extract with alcohol is a stimulating hair tonic. Urtication, or beating with nettles, is sometimes used as a counter irritant for rheumatic sufferers. It is given to lessen bleeding in the mouth, in the form of a juice, and the juice will apparently greatly relieve painful piles or haemorrhoids if taken a tablespoonful (l5ml) at a time, three times a day.

The active constituents are many and include 5-hydroxytryptamine, histamine, formic acid and gallic acid, plus much readily assimilable iron. Research by Drs Herrmann and Neumann established that an increased metabolic rate took place over a period which lasted from the sixth to the twenty-second hour after taking a glassful. They said that this was very helpful when used in conjunction with therapies for removing -toxins from the blood, and for rheumatism.

For the same reason, nettle juice is a good addition to any iron therapy for anemia. It helps control diarrhea and is at the same time a diuretic which aids the elimination of uric acid. It is powerful so is usually taken a wineglassful at a time. The part of the plant to pick is the top leaves; you may wear gloves or 'Grasp it like a man of mettle and it soft as silk remains.'

Research by Dr Keeser found that the nettle could reduce the blood sugar level. The juice is often good for nervous eczema. The White Dead Nettle (Lamium album) although similar in appearance belongs to a completely different botanical family, but it acts as an astringent and is also effective for diarrhea.

Kevin Pederson has been managing a number of natural home remedies websites which have information on all the natural and home made remedies with the value and benefits of Nettle.

Hirsutism: What Is It And How Can You Get Over It?

2009-08-10T23:48:00.001+07:00

In the condition known as hirsutism, individuals will experience a larger than normal amount of hair growth on the body. While it can affect both men and women, it is usually ladies that will suffer more often. The hair is commonly found on the chest, on the face, on the stomach or the back. It will be dark, thick and coarser, in most cases, then hair found elsewhere. It is not a bad thing but it is uncomfortable and unwanted inmost cases.

Why Is It There?

Individuals who are dealing with hirsutism want to know first of all how it happens. In most cases, the problem for women is excessive levels of male hormones. It is important to understand that women have these hormones usually, but at much lower levels. When there are excessive amounts of them, specifically androgens, there are often results that are less than favorable such as with the occurrence of hirsutism. Individuals will likely have a deeper voice; they may have acne and menstruation cycles that are not balanced and regular. They may have more muscles than other women do. It is also important to point out that hirsuitism can also occur due to the follicles reaction to these excessive levels of hormone.

If you are taking medications such as birth control pills or steroids, the symptoms of hirsutism will also be noted in some women. Also, there are some cases in which women have the condition as a hereditary condition.

What Can Make Hirsutism Go Away?

- Overweight individuals often have the symptoms of hirsutism. If you are overweight, the best remedy for the condition is to actually lose weight. As you do so, your hormone levels will go back to a normal level.

- Depilatories are another option to use. You can use hair removal creams to help you as well. Make sure to insure you have no allergic reaction to these conditions prior to using them on large areas.

- If you pluck these hairs, they will likely come back faster. That is due to an increased amount of blood flow to the area.

- Bleaching products also work. Again, test for allergic reactions when using chemicals of any type.

- Electrolysis or laser hair removal are other options. Here, the follicle that produces the hair is damaged and this keeps the hair from re-growing. Although expensive, this can be a permanent solution to your condition.

- There are also a number of prescription medications that can help. Anti androgen medications will be regulated by your doctor.

The bottom line is that hirsutism is a condition that you can treat and you do not need to live with. To choose the right solution for you, consider your condition and severity of it. Also, find out from your doctor what is causing it as many medical conditions that can should be treated. Then, choose the method that fits with your preferences as well as your budget.

As a beauty consultant Nicola is always evaluating new products. Visit her site at http://www.epilator.info for resources, views and information about removing body hair.

Professional Tips To Summer Proof Your Makeup

2009-05-18T19:42:00.001+07:00

As summer temperatures heats up do you find your makeup literally melting down your face? By midday has your perfectly applied makeup fallen victim to the heat and humidity of summer and disappeared? Are you ready to surrender to Mother Nature and stop using any makeup in the summer? Well, now you can chill out, enjoy the summer and with these professional tips used by some of the world?s top makeup artists to look beautiful all summer long.

?Don?t apply makeup for at least 5 minutes after applying moisturizer.

?Use an oil free moisturizer or a moisturizing lotion instead of a cream.

?Use oil free loose powder.

?Apply a light dusting of loose face powder before applying foundation.

?Use a light weight liquid or powder foundation instead of a cream foundation.

?Use a tint moisturizer instead of foundation.

?After foundation and concealer is applied blot any oil built up with a clean tissue press gently into moist areas. This will allow the color to last longer and avoid a cake look.

?Use waterproof products.

?Keep your lip pencils, eye pencils and lipsticks in the refrigerator.

?Before applying eye shadow apply an eye shadow base.

?For long lasting eye color apply powder eye shadow with a damp brush.

?To keep eyeliner in place and color looking fresh, use an eyeliner pencil then go over the pencil with a thin line of eye shadow in the same color .

?Limit mascara to one coat.

?Avoid using mascara on lower lashes.

?After applying your color mascara apply a clear sealant mascara over it.

?For lip color that last; instead of using lipstick, apply lip balm to lips then fill in with lip pencil.

?To set make up and keep make up looking fresh longer spray face with a professional setting spray or a fine mist of water after applying your make up.

Eileen Hammel is a Nationally & Internationally Recognized Image, Style and Beauty Expert Ms.Hammel is President of Smarter Image, and Smart Skin Care - Smart Cosmetics by Smarter Image. http://www.smartskincaresmartcosmetics.com/

Vertical Locks: The Faux Hawk

2009-05-15T01:36:00.001+07:00

While the look may have been previously identified as a disturbing case of bed head, today the urban chic are calling it cool. The term faux hawk refers to a hairstyle in which a strip (or patch) of hair across the top of the head is longer and/or higher than the hair on the remainder of the head.

In Last Trends of Summer: The Fauxhawk (Chicago Tribune, August 26, 2003), Whet Moser explains the preparation and cult-following of the style:

The name is, of course, a play on the mohawk style, which it resembles only in principle: The hair is noticeably longer on top than on the sides. But whereas a proper mohawk is completely shaved on the sides and drastically high in the middle... the fauxhawk simply requires hair that's longer where the mohawk would be. The Extreme Version: A mohawk, but instead of a real mohawk where you shave the sides of your head, you just glue up the middle part of your regular hair so that it is in the style of the mohawk.

The definition of the faux hawk has evolved as it has been adopted by virtually all metrosexuals and other style-conscious modern men. More recently, women have embraced the faux hawk and elevated it to a whole new level.

Although the look demands far more effort than it would seem at first glance, the hairstyle is not highly manicured?a contradiction of styles, and is best achieved when it comes off as fortunately unkempt.

Anyone can obtain this precariously coiffed 'do: Men and women with shorter styles should crop the hair on the sides of their head considerably shorter than on top, taking a page from Mr. T and then spackling spikes haphazardly in place with plenty of gel, pomade, or wax.

Women (or men for that matter) with longer hair can take advantage of an arsenal of product and pins to secure a slicked back look along the sides of their heads, crowned by a gloriously voluminous, texturized mass of waves. Warning: in some cases, hair extensions may be required in order to complete the anti-gravity style.

This exaggerated version of the faux hawk - which has been especially popular among young female celebrities and on fashion runways - is an interesting ultra-modern synthesis of the eras that have heavily inspired the direction of this season's fashions: The glamour of the 1950s pompadour fused with punk, bad-ass, big 1980s hair.

Johneen Manning is Editor-In-Chief of http://www.GKFA.com, a hip, savvy and fresh online women's magazine for the 'Sex and the City' generation.

Your Weight Loss Problem: How To Cure It By Watching Movies Or Reading Books!

2009-05-12T16:06:00.001+07:00

I don?t know anything about you but if you?re anything like me then you struggle with a weight loss problem. Your weight loss problem consists of you struggling to keep your weight down or struggling to make your weight go down.

Most people who see me wouldn?t believe that I have a weight loss problem, but I do. I?ve battled bulimia and constant gains and losses in weight, of ten pounds each time. Thats what I call a big weight loss problem.

A lot of women and men with the same or a similar weight loss problem would sympathize with me I?m sure. I want to look good (who doesn?t?) so that always motivates me to go on a diet.

But after sticking to a diet for a week and dropping the unwanted weight my love for good tasting food overpowers my need to feel attractive and the weight piles back on pound by pound.

There is always exercise to help with a weight loss problem, I remind myself as I lie lazily on the couch chomping down on one of my non-diet treats. ?Sure!? I groan ?I don?t feel like wearing my butt out without seeing any results for weeks at a time.?

Whenever I start a workout regimen I only stick to it for a few weeks (usually less) and then I get bored and drop it. So my weight loss problem continues.

How many other women I wondered (or men, for that matter) get bored while exercising? I thought about that for awhile then I set about to find a solution to help all those poor people (and myself too, of course) with this weight loss problem.

First I asked myself: What did I like to do? What did I find Interesting?

?Hmmmm, well? I thought ?I like dancing, but long periods of it are exhausting. I like to read, to listen to music, and I really dislike being on my feet for over long periods of time.

What could possibly combine all or most of these to make my exercising interesting and help solve my weight loss problem?

The solution to my weight loss problem was amazingly simple!

I own an old stationary bike, and I do mean OLD, but the important thing is that it operates. You can do this with any form of stationary bike, whether it?s a twenty year old model or an up to date model.

It doesn?t matter whether you own the stationary bike or use a gym?s or your local YMCA?s or YWCA?s facilities.

My weight loss problem solution is this:

Find something engrossing to read. It could be a novel or your favorite magazine. Or listen to music that you enjoy, you could even use audio books or any different CD?s or things you could listen to.

I suppose if your bike was somewhere around a television or computer with a DVD player, you could even watch your favorite movie.

The next step is to mount your stationary bide and start biking while reading or doing any of the above listed activities, and not to get off for at least 45 to 60 minutes, except for an occasional rest every quarter of an hour.

I usually just keep biking away the whole time and sometimes I bike longer because I?m so engrossed in what I?m reading, and I won?t allow myself to read it once I?m off the stationary bike.

After a week of this, without change in my eating habits, or any dieting, I?m maintaining a healthy weight. Best of all I?m not putting on any new pounds, and my legs look visibly slimmer.

So I've kissed my weight loss problem goodbye, and I'm saying hello to slim jeans and size 6 dresses, and you can too.

For the first time in a long while I actually look forward to putting on a bikini ;-)

For more of Beth's expert advice visit her Article Website

Aging is All About Self Esteem

2009-05-12T16:00:00.001+07:00

Many of you probably think that aging is something that is just part of the normal life cycle. If your concept of the life cycle is then something like you're born, you age and then you die then it's not surprizing that this is where you are headed. Although you are likely not alone in believing this I would like to challenge you to take a step back from this belief for a moment.

What I'd like you to try now is to repeat the statement to yourself again once, and as you do try not to listen to the words. Instead listen to how the words make you feel inside. I know that this may sound strange or feel a bit callenging but try it anyway. Alternately you can allow someone else to read it to you as you focus on and listen to the feelings it evokes within you.

So again the statement is:

(A) You're born, you age and then you die.

Now if you are a sensitive individual I can guess that the feelings that emerged with hearing such a statement were not exactly pleasant. For instance did you feel any of the following: saddness, heaviness, frustration, anger, hopelessness, helplessness, a sinking feeling, feeling limited or trapped?

If so, what do you think these feelings are trying to communicate to you about statement(A)? Well, if you consider this long enough, you'll probably agree that these feelings are suggesting to you that that statement is not good for you i.e. it is toxic to you. Just think about it.

When you eat something that isn't good for your body how does it react? Not well, right? That reaction is your body telling you that's not good for you! In the same way the feelings you may have had about statement (A) are telling you the same thing about the statement itself.

So you see, your body reacts not only to foods, it also reacts to beliefs that happen to be inside you that are not good for you. A belief is simply a statement that you choose to keep inside of yourself because you think it is going to be useful to you in some way. I'm only guessing that all this may be a new revelation for you. If not, I congratulate you on your wisdom.

Now when you eat something that isn't good for you, what do you do? Well, you make sure that that food never finds its way back inside you, don't you? So my next question is: Why have you persisted in keeping statement (A) inside you if it makes you feel so bad? In other words why do you believe statement (A) is useful to you?

Well you might now say something like, It's not a question of whether it's good for me or not, it's just a fact, I can't change it. Well this last statement is another belief, isn't it? How does it make you feel? Probably the same way statement (A) made you feel, correct?

So are you beginning to see how many toxic beliefs you have inside you? By toxic, I mean something that makes you feel uncomfortable, uneasy, sick, sad etc.. It's no wonder you're body is deteriorating i.e. aging. After all isn't aging what happens to you when you take something toxic inside yourself and it stays there for a long period and undermines the normal functioning of your body so that it breaks down?

Now that you've followed me so far I want to add that the choice to take something toxic into ones' self is an issue of Self Esteem! That is, if you like yourself sufficiently, you are unlikely to choose to take into yourself something that is toxic to you, correct? Whether it's bad food, cigarettes, toxic chemicals, drugs or beliefs, the effects are the same.

You may even be surprized if I said to you that the latter are probably more toxic than all the others.

What's interesting about all of this is that you actually do have a choice! If you want to know more about how you can exercise this choice you may wish to visit the web site below in my bio.

Dr. Nick Arrizza is trained in Chemical Engineering, Business Management & Leadership, Medicine and Psychiatry. He is a Key Note Speaker, Author of Esteem for the Self: A Manual for Personal Transformation (available in e-book format at: http://www.telecoaching4u.com/ebook.htm), Stress Management Coach, Peak Performance Coach & Researcher, Specializes in Life and Executive Performance Coaching, is the Developer of a powerful new tool called the Mind Resonance Process(TM) that helps build physical, emotional, mental and spiritual well being by helping to permanently release negative beliefs, emotions, perceptions and memories. He holds live workshops, international telephone coaching sessions and international teleconference workshops on Physical. Emotional, Mental and Spiritual Well Being.

Personal URL: http://www.telecoaching4u.com

How To Remove Toxins From Our Body

2009-05-05T19:57:00.001+07:00

Detox diet is a regulated diet that helps reduce the toxins in a body. Toxins could be caused by a number of substances like alcohol, tobacco, pesticides and other elements. Detox diets help in clearing out these harmful toxins through the organs of elimination like skin, liver, kidneys etc. A detox diet strengthens the organs involved in detox and releases stored toxins. A detox program may consist of a special diet, nutritional supplements, herbs, hydrotherapy, exercise, breathing techniques and/or sauna.

Detox Diet: Toxin Elimination

The most important method of removing toxins from your body is through elimination of urine and stools. It is very important to have regular bowel movements to prevent the body getting back the toxic substances. Eat fibrous fruit and vegetables such as banana. You may even try flaxseed with water. This will have a mild laxative effect and help you clear your bowels. Lemon juice in water also has a slightly laxative effect and stimulates the digestive juices which are important for detox. Squeeze a wedge or 1/4 lemon into warm water and drink immediately after rising in the morning, before having the flaxseed drink.

Detox diet using simple food

There are various diets available. And these need not necessarily mean fasting or eating strange and unheard of fruits or vegetables. Your diet should consist of fresh and simple fruit and vegetables that are cooked in a very simple fashion without too much of spices or oil or fat and requires little preparation. Such foods are easily digestable and are easily absorbed and can easily be eliminated. Not only will this fresh food diet eliminate toxins, it will improve vitality and stamina, help you digest better, get you better mental clarity and focus, a feeling of calm and decreased allergic symptoms.

Kevin Pederson has been managing a number of natural home remedies websites which have information on home based natural cures and remedies for having a toxin free body as well as some other diet controlling measures.

5 Benefits of Tanning Bed Lotion

2009-04-28T19:51:00.001+07:00

Whether you tan year round, during the summer or only before a vacation or holiday you should always use a tanning bed lotion. There are several benefits to a good lotion for both enhancing your color and protecting your skin. Although the only safe tan can be obtained through sunless tanning, a good lotion will make the process safer than lying in beds with no protection at all.

The health risks of tan beds have been well publicized. The most common risks include melanoma, a dangerous form of skin cancer and premature aging of the skin. Using a good tan product won?t completely protect you from these risks, but can keep you from wrinkling like a prune.

5 Benefits of Tanning Bed Lotion

A good lotion moisturizes the skin. Ultraviolet light id drying to the skin on your body and face. A good lotion with high quality ingredients nourishes the skin and replenishes lost moisture. In addition, it firms and soothes the skin. An after tan lotion and moisturizer between sessions helps improve the condition of your skin.

A good lotion can help prevent some of the damage caused by exposure to UV rays. Antioxidant ingredients, such as vitamin E and grapefruit extract, help reduce fine lines and wrinkles. This helps reduce some of the signs of premature aging that are caused by the regular use of tanning beds. Special lotions are available to protect the skin around the eyes. You should also wear goggles to protect this sensitive skin.

They help shorten your exposure to Ultraviolet light. Since you tan faster with a lotion, you will need to spend less time in the bed than you would without a cream. More time in the bed results in a higher risk of skin damage or cancer.

Some products have a cooling effect on the skin. These are great for people with sensitivity to heat. A cooling lotion lessens this heat sensitivity and makes the tan bed experience much more comfortable.

Using lotion accelerates the tanning process. Ingredients in some products are added to accelerate the tan and give you a more intense color. These cause a tingling feeling on the skin.

Quality Ingredients in Tanning Bed Lotion

Choose a product with high quality ingredients for the best protection. Look for natural botanicals, plant extracts and essential oils. Some good ingredients include:

oMethyl Nicotinate is used to accelerate the tanning process
oAntioxidant ingredients are added to help reduce the signs of premature aging
oNatural plant extracts are added to soothe and moisturize the skin. These ingredients include aloe, coconut and other plant ingredients.
oEssential oils moisturize and nourish the skin

Choosing a Tanning Bed Lotion

When selecting an indoor tan product, consider your skin tone and level of tanning experience. Many products are labelled for skin type or level of tanning. Some products are intended for advanced tanning and should never be used by a beginner or someone with fair skin. Doing this can cause damage to the skin.

The owner of the salon can assist you in selecting the best lotion for your skin type and the bed you will be using. Some salons carry small, sample sized packages. These allow you to try a few products before investing in a large bottle. Once you have chosen the right product, look for it at discount or wholesale prices on the internet.

Ken Morris distributes lots of information to the internet site http://www.tanning-lotions-tips.com. The writer is featuring tanning bed lotion and various articles in the field.

Spoon Nails

2009-04-24T13:06:00.001+07:00

Spoon shaped nails are very common. Nail technicians can not usually recognize one when they see one. When it can be seen, it might mean that there may be a serious underlying disease. If it's only an aesthetic deformity a simple overlay can solve the problem. Spoon nails are caused by a trauma to the nail matrix. This results in a deformity of the nail. The edges of the plate curl up which then is called the spoon nail deformity.

What Is this?

Spoon nails are a deformity of the nail. Usually it will grow out in a few months, but if it does not, it could be a sign of a more serious problem. Clients who have spoon nails should seek medical attention before seeing a nail technician. If a technician knows the client, she can easily determine how to proceed with her nails. For example the nail technician knows that it is a hereditary condition. If it is new client for the nail technician and the nail seems unhealthy, it can indicate a fungus infection or even a more serious problem.

How does it look like?

The nail looks exactly like a spoon. In minor cases, the nail only has a little wave in it. In more severe cases, the nail becomes brittle and usually cracks inside the wave. It may even crack to the very end of the nail plate. The skin around the damaged nail is usually dry. Fungus infections can develop within these splits and may discolor the nail to a green or yellowish color.

Causes

The deformity can be hereditary, and in this case the nail seems completely healthy. Biting and an unhealthy diet (the lack of iron and nutrition)can also cause this kind of deformity. Different forms of trauma to the nail plate can also be the reason of spoon nails, but in this case the shape will sooner or later grow out, and can be filed off. If the nail technician recognises some kind of change on the clients? nails they should suggest the client to seek medical advice.

Treatment

In milder cases the problem can be solved by just letting the nail grow out. In other causes such as a iron deficiency or improper diet, taking some form iron supplementation or changing the diet may help. During the treatment the skin around the nail should also be looked after. for Nail Techs

If you think your client has spoon nails ask him or her and find out how long your client has this condition. If you do not know the client and see that the nails are unhealthy or discoloured send her to a doctor before doing the clients? nails. However if the nail seems clean you can safely put an overlay on it. Extra precaution should be taken to make sure that nail and edges are carefully cleaned. Apply the overlay just the same. Try not to miss any part of the nail. Make sure you properly fill in the wave (the overlay will be a bit thicker there)!

Remember that if a client appears with this condition, it is better to first refer them for medical advice than to be sorry later.

The biggest resource for nail technicians: http://www.nailart4me.com

Are Your Cosmetics Wreaking Havoc on Your Skin?

2009-04-13T19:12:00.001+07:00

We all have times when our skin looks less than gorgeous. At those moments we inevitably reach for the miracle products -foundations, concealers, powders-we rely on to cover up the flaws we?d like to hide. Yes, makeup is a great temporary fix, and it?s a wonderful tool for enhancing our best features. But depending on cosmetics to cover over your troubled complexion could actually be making the problem even worse.

Cosmetic Acne - What Is It?

If you use makeup regularly, then those blemishes you?re trying to hide could actually be caused by your cosmetics. You can usually tell if your acne has been triggered by a chemical, topic agent because it will look somewhat different from the genetic or hormonal type that?s often characterized by red bumps and pustules. Cosmetic acne is more rash-like and generally made up of tiny pinkish or flesh-colored bumps. These bumps can appear anywhere you apply the cosmetics - on your forehead, cheeks, chin or nose, or even on your neck.

People who mistakenly think that these little bumps are chronic low-grade acne of the type that requires topical creams or antibiotics may be tempted to cover up with even more makeup. They pile on the foundation, smothering the skin and creating a more persistent and noticeable rash.

It?s important to recognize that this isn?t true acne of the type caused by internal factors. Cosmetic acne is all about what you are putting on top of your skin. Therefore, it requires a different treatment. If you want to get rid of cosmetic acne there is a very simple fix: just stop using the makeup that?s causing it! In most cases, the acne will clear up within a few weeks of throwing out the offending cosmetics!

What Cosmetics Should You Use?

Does all the above mean makeup is a no-no? Of course not! But in order to avoid potential flare-ups, choose your cosmetics carefully. Opt for formulations made without oils and look for makeup marked non-comedogenic, which means that they have a lower likelihood of clogging pores. Avoid heavy, thick or greasy substances. And don?t be afraid to go bare-faced - we all tend to exaggerate our own flaws, but they are usually much less noticeable to other people. It?s good to let your skin breathe as much as you can.

What if you are experiencing isolated breakouts along the hairline or on other parts of the body? You should take a good long look at all the creams, soaps, shampoos and other substances you?re putting on your skin in order to determine what could be causing the condition. Sometimes using heavy conditioners can clog the pores around the scalp and even on the neck or back (especially if you have long hair that hangs down and touches your skin). Try switching to a lighter formula, or be vigilant about keeping your hair away from your skin.

If it?s your body soap that seems problematic, you may want to switch to a formula that offers extra exfoliation to keep pores clean. Consider one that contains the acne-fighting ingredient salicylic acid, which sweeps away dead skin cells and prevents clogs from forming in the pores.

Methods of Application

Finally, remember that sometimes it?s not just what we are putting on our skin that is wreaking havoc on our complexion - sometimes it?s how we are applying those substances that needs to change.

For example, scrubbing too hard when applying your facial soap can encourage your skin to produce more oil, leading to acne flare-ups. Rinsing with hot water instead of lukewarm can also promote breakouts, so keep your sink and shower water at a comfortable but not too steamy temperature.

And whatever you do, don?t dip your fingers directly into pots of foundation or apply concealer wands directly to blemished areas. Doing so allows oils on your fingers and acne bacteria to take up residence inside your cosmetics - and next time you use that foundation or concealer you risk spreading acne to your fresh, clean skin.

So make it a point to use disposable cosmetic sponges, Q-tips and tissues to keep your makeup pristine, and wash your cosmetic brushes regularly. Toss out any makeup that?s been sitting in your cabinet for longer than a few months to ensure that whatever you put on your face is clean and free of potential skin hazards!

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Man, woman, young or young at heart, enjoy free high quality in-demand cosmetic and natural skin care product offerings and free articles on sound skin care tips. For those who believe skin care is a 24/7/365 affair, a

Ten LowCost Ways to Look Good for Your Man (and for Yourself!)

2009-04-12T18:06:00.001+07:00

Face it ladies; the reason you want to look nice is to attract the opposite sex. And let's also face the fact that most men do not even notice half the things you spend your hard-earned cash on in the name of looking good for them. Whether you're a swinging single, have a boyfriend, or even a couple of boyfriends, you can still turn heads without blowing your entire paycheck on self-maintenance. Here are ten tips.

1. Grow your hair long. Forget the stacked and sprayed look, girls. Men want long, luxuriant locks that they can run their fingers through and maybe even give a gentle tug on once in a while to pay homage to their inner caveman. Save your money on expensive haircuts. Instead, have a friend trim those tresses at home (or do it yourself). Split ends are never in style no matter what look you're sporting.

2. Cut your hair short. I know; I just told you to grow it and now I'm saying cut it. If you're one of those pixie-face girls with milky skin and great shoulders who can leave the house wearing no makeup and still look hot... chop it all off! You're naturally feminine and can get away with it. Keep the hair goop to a minimum. Again: the idea here is soft and natural.

3. Put on a skirt. If you're married or have been dating the same guy for a while, you know the Skirt Reaction. It usually involves appreciative murmurs, spontaneous affection, and umm... well, I don't need to explain further, do I? Your skirt doesn't have to be Neiman Marcus. A denim mini that you paid 14 bucks for can look just as nice as whatever the models are sporting in your copy of Vogue, if you dress it up in just the right way.

4. Exfoliate. Ditch the foundation, ladies. Your boyfriend doesn't apply beige paint to his face every time he leaves the house and neither should you. Face makeup looks unnatural, and I'll bet your man would say it tastes kinda funny, too. Instead, pick up a tube of exfoliant for less than four bucks (it will last you at least five months). Scrub with it every four days or so, and you'll be bright, rosy and cheeky as a schoolgirl. If you're concerned about oil, buy a translucent powder compact at the Rite Aid and apply as necessary.

5. Paint your toenails and fingernails yourself. Do you actually pay other people to do your nails? Shame, shame. Manicures and pedicures rank high on the list of things Men Couldn't Care Less About. Professional French Manicure, Pink Piggies Done at Home or even Naked Nails... it makes no difference to him. Save your money and have a finger-and-toe-painting party with a girlfriend or two. Also, forget the Lee Press-On look. Teradactyl talons are terribly tacky. Go with short-to-medium length, natural and non-scary nails.

6. Neaten up those eyebrows. No miracle lipstick in the world is going to make a difference if your eyebrows look like two caterpillars curled up and died on your forehead! Eyebrow artillery: sharp trimming scissors, a good pair of tweezers. Step 1: brush eyebrow hair upward. Step 2: Trim straight across. Step 3: pluck stray hairs and define arches - and please don't overdo it! Think Jennifer Aniston, not Bette Davis.

7. Avoid the Lumpy Look. The lumpy look occurs when your clothes are too tight. If the jeans are too small, find a top with tummy coverage. If you're spilling over the bra cups, camoflauge with a thicker fabric shirt or sweater. The Lumpy Look is a semi-emergency situation that demands action. Either hit the stores for a bigger size, or get on Weight Watchers ASAP because girl, you're in trouble.

8. Eyes or Lips - not both. The key to being tastefully attractive is downplaying one feature while up-playing another. If you decide to go with smoky baby blues, then opt for bare or clear lips that day. To show off your perfect pucker, select a nice flattering shade of lipcolor. Paint inside the lines (this is important - no man likes the Rodeo Clown look) and leave the eye makeup to a bare minimum. This same theory applies to your clothing. Legs on display? Cover up the belly. Cleavage peeking out? Hide that junk in the trunk.

9. Forget the tanning bed. Yes, fake tanners, we are all talking about how silly you look behind your back. Keep up the year-round tanning, and in five years you'll resemble a Ball Park hot dog that's been on the grill for far too long. Tan in a bottle is no better, especially with those telltale brown creases behind your knees. Do your skin a favor and keep tanning to the summer months.

10. Feel good about yourself, and smile! By far the best way to be attractive is to actually FEEL attractive. If you're smiling and in a great mood, you'll be naturally sexy no matter what you're wearing. Put on your favorite tunes, go hang out with your best pals, get some fresh air and do the things you enjoy most in life. Real beauty comes from within, and has a lot more to do with the gleam in your eye and the spring in your step than an expensive haircut or anti-aging cream. So, let it all hang out, be yourself and be happy about it. After all, you're one of a kind... and that's pretty attractive!

Liked this article? Have more of the same emailed to your inbox each month. Sign up for the Copywriting and Marketing Ezine from Dina at Wordfeeder.com and learn to write search engine friendly web copy and market your web based business for free.

Homemade Facial Scrubs & Masks

2009-04-02T13:03:00.001+07:00

Make a paste from a little oatmeal and water. Apply to face and allow to dry. Gently wipe off with a damp wash cloth.

Mash 1/2 banana and add 1 tablespoon honey and 2 tablespoons sour cream. Apply to face and let set for about 10 minutes. Gently wipe off with a damp wash cloth.

Two tablespoons of cornmeal mixed with enough water to make a thick paste makes a great inexpensive facial mask. Gently apply to face and wash off.

In a food processor or blender, combine 1/2 cucumber, 1 tablespoon yogurt, a few strawberries, and 1 teaspoon honey. Apply to face and allow to dry. Gently wipe off with a damp wash cloth.

Grind 1 tablespoon almonds into a fine meal in a blender or food processor. Mix almond meal together with 1 tablespoon honey and 1 egg white. Apply to face and let set for about 15 minutes. Gently wipe off with a damp wash cloth.

To loosen blackheads, combine equal parts baking soda and water in your hand and rub gently on your skin for 2 to 3 minutes. Rinse with warm water.

Mash half of an avocado and apply to entire face. Let set for about 20 minutes and then gently wipe off with a damp wash cloth.

Soak 1 cup dried apricots in water until softened. Puree in blender or food processor with 2 tablespoons skim milk powder. Apply to face and let set about 15 minutes. Gently wipe off with a damp wash cloth.

Puree 1/2 peeled, sliced cucumber in a blender or food processor and add 1 tablespoon yogurt. Apply to face and let set about 20 minutes. Gently wipe off with a damp wash cloth.

Crush a handful of strawberries and mix well with 1 teaspoon honey. Apply to face and let set for about 15 minutes. Gently wipe off with a damp wash cloth.

Mix 1 1/2 teaspoons honey, the juice from 1/2 of a lemon, and 1 small carton plain yogurt. Stir in 1 whipped egg white. Apply to face and let set about 15 minutes. Gently wipe off with a damp wash cloth.

Rachel Paxton is a freelance writer and mom who is the author of What's for Dinner?, an e-cookbook containing more than 250 quick easy dinner ideas. For recipes, tips to organize your home, home decorating, crafts, holiday hints, and more, visit Creative Homemaking at http://www.creativehomemaking.com

What are Monofilament Wigs?

2009-03-30T13:28:00.001+07:00

If you have looked at websites that sell wigs, you have probably seen that some of them offer monofilament wigs. This type of wig usually costs a lot and is considered to be the most comfortable and desirable. But what makes it so? Learn what a monofilament wig is, and if it would benefit you to get one.

Most wigs on the market are machine-made and have fabric caps. In contrast, a monofilament wig cap is made from a special material which is very thin, mostly transparent and pleasing to the touch. In a monofilament wig, each hair strand is hand knotted to the cap, which lets it turn more freely.

Usually monofilament wigs are made from real human hair. A monofilament cap takes time to make, so there is no point in making top quality wigs from synthetic materials. Besides, synthetic fibers are not as durable as natural human hair.

Most modern wigs marked ?monofilament wig? are actually only partially monofilament. Usually the most important part of the wig, the top, is monofilament, while the back has a more traditional construction. This reduces the cost of the wig and makes it easy to adjust with tape tabs. These ensure that your wig fits snugly on your head and will not slide.

Advantages of monofilament wigs

Best for people with very little or no hair
Most natural looking, because your own scalp can be seen through monofilament material
A monofilament cap is soft and perfect for people with sensitive skin
Because the strands are knotted one by one, the wig ?breathes? and provides good ventilation

Many wig designers offer monofilament wigs. Wigs by Rene of Paris and Louis Ferre, in my opinion, are especially comfortable and natural looking. Unfortunately, monofilament wigs are never cheap - they take a lot of time to make. But on the bright side, hand-knotting makes the wig more durable. So with good care, your wig will serve you for several years - even if you wear it every day.

A monofilament wig cap offers a lot of benefits, but they will mostly be appreciated by people with severe hair loss. If you wear a wig just for fun over your own hair, a transparent cap makes no difference.

Visit Wigs Guide for tips on getting Discount Monofilament Wigs, price comparison and reviews of trusted wig and hair extension retailers.

Artificial Nails For Perfect Nails Every Day

2009-03-29T20:01:00.001+07:00

False nails can be applied professionally in the salon, or you can apply them at home using widely-available nail enhancement kits. They come with their own adhesive and are easily cut and shaped to the style you want.

So, assuming you want to fit the nails yourself, how do you get started? Here are the six simple stages:

1. First, clean and dry your own natural nails. Then file and shape them in preparation for attaching the artificial nails.

2. Then - very important - choose the right size artificial nail for each finger. File the edges if necessary to get an exact fit.

3. Now spread a thin layer of nail adhesive over the whole area of your natural nail that will be in contact with the artificial nail.

4. Position the artificial nail such that it is very close to, but not touching, the cuticle. Then apply a light pressure to the top for a short time to allow the glue to take hold and set.

5. Once the nail is set firmly in position, file off any rough edges.

6. Apply two coats of nail varnish of the color you require, then finish off with a layer of topcoat to seal it.

It's recommended that you don't wear artificial nails for more than a few weeks at a time - say a month maximum. Then remove them and give your natural nails a chance to breathe and refresh their growth.

It's also important that you always use proper nail adhesive and never just ordinary glue you might find around the house.

To remove artificial nails, soak them in a non-acetone polish remover until they start to dissolve and come away. It?s very important to avoid acetone and other chemicals with an acetone-base. They will damage the surface of the nail, affecting the shine and also thin and weaken the nail plate.

Also, don't try to peel off the artificial nails without first soaking them in polish remover, and certainly never, ever try to break them. This could result in serious damage to your own nails below.

You can find more information on acrylic nails by Bianca Tavares in her regular contributions at Makeup Girl?s Makeup Tips.

Health & Beauty: 5 Steps to PainFree Shaving for Sexy Smooth Summertime Legs

2009-03-27T19:55:00.001+07:00

Summertime is near. And with the days getting longer and warmer, out come the shorts, mini-skirts, and bare legs.

Like most women, I?ve tried it all: shaving, waxing, depilatories? you name it. While I do love the benefits of waxing, waiting a couple of weeks during the summer for the hair to get long enough to wax is not my idea of a good time. And I?ve never had success with depilatories.

So what?s a girl to do? Fall back on our old friend: the razor.

While shaving is definitely the easiest, quickest, and least expensive hair-removal option, shaving still comes with its own problems: most notably nicks, cuts, and the dreaded ?razor burn.? But it doesn?t have to. There are some very simple (and economical!) things you can do to avoid the pit-falls of shaving.

Follow these five easy steps that will keep you and your razor friends?all the way through the long, lazy days of summer:

Exfoliate, Exfoliate, Exfoliate. I can?t stress this enough. Exfoliation helps to smooth the skin by remove dead skin cells while softening the coarse hair on your legs. And that adds up to smoother, easier shaving.

Grab your trusty scrub puff or a washcloth and a moisturizing body wash. You don?t need to scrub hard, as the puff or washcloth will do most of the work. (And while you?re at it, wash your whole body like this?your skin will glow!

Save the Shave ?Til the End. While it?s not quite like saving the best for last, waiting until the end of your shower will make shaving much easier. Ask any man. They usually wait until the end (or after) their shower to shave, giving their stubble time to soften. Not only is it easier to shave, but it allows for a much closer shave.

The hair on your legs is coarse and needs time to soften in the hot water. Shaving at the beginning of your shower or bath, before the hair softens, will almost guarantee nicks, cuts and/or razor-burn. So to save yourself some pain?and get smoother legs?by saving the shaving until the end.

Use a New(er) Blade. This one may seem like a no-brainer, but so many women don?t change blades often enough. While I couldn?t find statistics from any of the razor companies as to how many shaves a you can get from one disposable blade, the women in my informal poll agree that a razor blade is usually only good for about 10 shaves. And that number can be even less if you have very heavy or very coarse hair.

You know when it?s not sharp enough. It may feel dull or like it?s pulling at your skin. It may look old. Or you may realize that you can?t remember the last time you changed it. But the rule of thumb: it?s better to change too often than not often enough. A dull blade is more likely to cause nicks, cuts and razor-burn.

So switch out that old blade with a new one. Just remember that a new blade is sharp?so always shave slowly and carefully!

Use Conditioner. If you only remember one tip from this article, remember this: conditioner is the best substance to use to shave with! Yes, I?m talking about hair conditioner. Conditioner provides a thin layer of protection on your skin, helps the blade glide smoothly, and further softens your hair.

I keep a large bottle of inexpensive conditioner in my shower (I get the jumbo size from Costco, with a pump in it?which also makes it easier to dispense) that is dedicated for shaving. Use about the same amount that you do when putting lotion on your legs. Make sure you rinse your blade well after shaving. Try this tip once and you?ll never go back to soap or shaving cream again!

Moisturize While Wet. This is the final step to the pain-free shave. You can moisturize with one of the new in-shower lotions, the kind that you put on and then rinse off in the shower. Or, after turning off the water but before reaching for your towel, you can moisturize with body oil or baby oil.

I keep a bottle of almond oil in the shower, and add my favorite aromatherapy oils to it. Not only will your skin retain more moisture this way, but you also won?t be rubbing lotion onto dry skin?a combination I have found almost guarantees razor burn.

Incorporate these simple tips into your shaving routine and you?ll be on your way to smooth and sexy legs, all summer long!

Kimberly Sobie is a freelance writer, consultant, executive coach, and tax attorney. She lives in Seattle with her husband, son, and cat.

An Overview of Cosmetic Procedures

2009-03-26T14:47:00.001+07:00

Cosmetic surgery this and cosmetic surgery that. To truly understand cosmetic surgery, one needs to get a grasp of the various cosmetic surgery procedures available.

Cosmetic surgery is one of the most talked about topics in the media today. People from all walks of life - from celebrities to soccer moms ? are going under the knife to have their faces and bodies modified. If you're considering having a surgical cosmetic procedure performed, you might be wondering what cosmetic surgery procedures are available to make yourself look and feel better. Well, the technology of body modifying surgery has been steadily evolving over the last 50 years, and now there are more cosmetic surgery procedures available than ever.

One of the most popular cosmetic surgery procedures that is performed on a regular basis is liposuction. Liposuction is the process of removing excess fat deposits under the skin by using a vacuum. A small incision is made in the skin of the area that you wish to remove fat from, and then a thin tube called a cannula is inserted. In order to aid the suction, fluid may be pumped under the skin that includes an anesthetic. Another option is to use an ultrasound probe to break up the fat deposits. The liquefied fat is then suctioned through the cannula. Since there is only a small cut made in the skin, recovery is relatively easy, and the procedure usually leaves only tiny scars or no scars at all.

Another cosmetic surgery that is performed routinely is a rhinoplasty. Rhinoplasty comes from the Greek words for ?nose? and ?to shape? and it is the medical term for a nose job. In rhinoplasty, surgeons reshape the nose by removing and transforming the cartilage in the nose, as well as changing the shape of the skin around the nostrils and smoothing out the tip of the nose. Surgeons can perform these types of cosmetic surgery procedures with only a small incision at the base of the nose, or some will do a ?closed? procedure where there is no incision required. Nose jobs have become commonplace among many different age groups and social groups, and many people elect to have this surgery to correct bumps and crooked appearance of the nose that was either present at birth or caused by an accident.

A third popular procedure is one that most people think of when cosmetic surgery procedures are mentioned. Breast enhancement surgery is very popular and one of the most performed procedures. The use of silicone implants, however, has been banned for some time. Enhancements are now done with saline solution implants or some derivative. With improvements in technology, however, silicone implants are about to become available again.

There are many more cosmetic surgery procedures available for those who wish to modify different parts of their body and face, such as face lifts, tummy tucks, and even buttocks implants. Cosmetic surgeons today specialize in helping to create a new look for patients who have small imperfections or large amounts of correction needed ? and the field is still evolving.

Ricardo de Silva is with PlasticSurgeonPractices.com - a directory of plastic surgeons.

What You Need To Know About Facial Hair Removal

2009-03-25T13:10:00.001+07:00

What is the best way to remove unwanted facial hair? Shaving is by far the most common method of hair removal for both men and women. Men have been shaving their beards and mustaches for thousands of years. One need only take a look at the huge selection of razors available today to support this. Shaving creams, gels, foams and other products facilitate the shaving process and help reduce skin irritation. But for women suffering with unwanted facial hair, their choices are not so obvious. Many men too are looking for alternatives.

Women with excessive facial hair usually see it along the upper lip, down the sides of the face, and on the chin. Unlike with men, shaving isn't the best removal option. So what's a woman to do? Because facial hair is typically much more than a few wayward hair follicles, plucking these areas isn't an effective method. It's time-consuming and painful! What's needed instead is a method designed for more widespread removal like depilatories and waxing or even electrolysis or laser treatment.

1. Depilatories

Depilatories are an inexpensive, short-term facial hair removal option. Available in gel, cream, lotion, aerosol, and roll-on forms, they contain a highly alkaline chemical - usually calcium thioglycolate - that dissolves the protein structure of the hair, causing it to separate easily from the skin surface. Extreme care must be taken when using on the face as these products can irritate and even burn facial skin. And because depilatories only dissolve visible hair, this method must be repeated frequently as new hair growth appears. The upside is, this process is inexpensive and can be done in the privacy of your own home.

2. Electrolysis

Electrolysis is a permanent hair removal technique that works by destroying individual hair follicles so that hair can no longer grow. Electrolysis and laser are better options. They're permanent facial hair removal methods and they work by damaging the base of the hair follicle so that hair growth no longer occurs. Both of these are expensive options and repeated sessions are generally necessary to remove all hair. But considering that relatively small surface areas are involved, many people are able to justify the costs, the risks and the discomfort involved.

3. Tweezing and Waxing

While depilatories remove hair at the skin's surface, epilatories, such as tweezers and waxes, pluck hairs from below the surface. Waxing offers many benefits and is the facial hair removal choice of men and women alike. Like with tweezers, when waxing the hair is 'plucked' from its root. This method doesn't damage the actual hair follicle, so new hair growth will continue to occur, but unlike depilatories, new hair growth won't appear on the skin surface as quickly. In fact, it usually isn't visible for several weeks. And, if you're brave enough, waxing facial hair can be done by you at home, however many opt to have someone else perform this procedure. Waxing and tweezing may be more painful than using a depilatory, but the results are longer lasting. Because the hair is plucked at the root, new growth is not visible for several weeks after treatment.

The cost, safety, effectiveness, and ease of use of the various methods, as well as the area and amount of hair growth to be treated, are some factors to weigh in choosing a method and deciding whether to go to a professional. Often, different methods are better suited for different areas.

Copyright 2005. Bridget Mwape writes for the Male Grooming Website at: http://www.male-grooming.org.uk/ and she's also a regular contributor to the Discount Cosmetics Website at http://www.discount-cosmetics.org.uk/

Beauty Routine

2009-03-24T12:19:00.001+07:00

1. I never ever ever go to bed with my makeup on, even if I have been out partying and had one too many. If you do, you will wake up the next morning, not only with a possible hangover, but with gunged, screwed up, dirty eyes that need loads of tlc. (tender loving care) So you must develop your own bedtime routine.

2. I try to get a good nights sleep as this, in my opinion, is the best beauty treatment you can have. And it's free. As we go through life this is not always possible with all the stresses and tensions that modern day living has brought to us. But as I said, I try.

3. In the morning I have a cup of tea, if I feel particularly virtuous I'll have a cup of green tea, ugh, and then get up to face the day.

4. Before I have a shower I tie my hair up and clean my teeth while waiting for the water to get hot.

5. After my shower I cleanse my face with one of those new style wipes and they are brilliant.

6. I spritz my face with a water spray then moisturise. I would not miss this for the world because moisturiser holds the water in your skin and helps keep your skin hydrated.

7. Next. Wow but Next. I always, without fail, use a TOTAL sunblock. My daughter says I look too pale but, if you don't want a pale face, the answer is to use either a brown cheek shadow, blusher or an artificial sun colorant.

8. Let the cream dry thoroughly before applying your makeup. This is a pain but necessary or your skin will be too greasy.

Then I have my two minute plan.

9. Take a large soft brush, like a shaving brush, and the dust your face with mineral powder make up. This is the best make up I have ever used for a day time make up. You can add extra if you want a more made up look for evening or if you want to conceal blemishes.

10. Then with a flat eye shadow brush and using a basic beige powder shadow I brush all over my lids, fading it out the closer to the brows I get. I normally accentuate the creases of my eyelids for a slightly more dramatic look with a darker shade.

11. Then a quick lick of mascara (brown) a touch of lip gloss and I'm off. I promise you that this quick beauty routine is all you need to have a beautiful look that will keep in all day and not look overmade up or take forever to apply.

Why waste your valuable time doing all that heavy smuck?

P.S. I only ever buy moisturiser and face creams from the local supermarket, because in my opinion, unless you have a problem skin that may need specialist treatment, the designer products are over priced, often celebrity endorsed and offer little value for money.

Jaks Lloyd, former photographic fashion model, is the author of the above article which appears in her definitive website http://www.eyebeautytips.com The Ultimate Cutting Edge in Eye Beauty.

Beauty Can Be An Ugly Business

2009-03-23T10:26:00.001+07:00

Last night I was at a show. The women looked so glamourous, and their make-up was so beautiful. Later, backstage, they looked garish and old up close.

This is a lesson that all women over thirty need to learn. Hard lines, perfectly applied streaks and dark eyeliner can look beautiful as you walk through the door at an event. But it is terrifying up close, it puts off men and women alike. It becomes a Halloween mask.

I see a real life example of this every single Friday. A woman walks by on her way to a business meeting, once a week I watch all of the men that attend my own meeting look up to admire this 50+ beauty as she walks through the door. She is dressed immaculately and she's in wonderful shape. But up close, in the words of my teenage daughter she's a mess.

She's not Tammy Faye Baker, but she channels her. Her foundation is two shades two dark and she does a flawless job of blending at the hairline, but the demarcation at th neck makes her carefully applied cosmetics looks mask like.

She wears false eyelashes, they are too long, but when she bends down to reach for her meetings agenda, the eyelashes become obvious. It's a bit like seeing what you believe is a beautiful piece of art and getting close to find its a crayon rendering.

As we grow older and want to remain looking youthful. Less is more. It's time to invest in one of the lighter, light reflecting foundations. Blend, blend, blend should be the watch words for those of us that no longer have a perfect canvas.

Am I saying we shouldn't update our look? No! (Update by all means, go to the Trish McEvoy counter and buy one of the new color wash eyeshadows. Yves Saint Laurent offers one of the best highlighters ever made, bringing light to our faces and actually giving us a youthful look. )

I am saying less is more. Leave the heavy handed make-up to twenty year olds and their forgiving complexions. The advantage of age is discretion, our experience gives us the upper hand and remember if it would look good on the runway...it would look scary up close.

Today's Beauty Affirmation, Today I acknowledge that aging beauty is not about covering up. It is about adding light to my best features and uncovering, not covering my beauty.

Jillian Hurley, Editor http://www.AmericanBeautyAdvisor.com to see a complete bio please visit About Us on our website.

The Evils of Tanning Beds

2009-03-22T16:43:00.001+07:00

OK, so you've had a few days of steady rain, and going to the beach isn't an option. But you're starting to notice your pasty white skin, and you'd like to do something about it. Or ... it's January, and tanning outside is a little brisk.

So you head to a tanning bed, and -- voila! -- in a few short minutes, you've got that tan you wanted.

What's the problem with this scenario? You're inevitably going to get complaints from people who tell you that a tanning bed is somehow dangerous.

Nonsense.

A tanning bed is not dangerous, is not a voluntary coffin, (to quote my mother's dermatologist) and isn't silly.

It's a way of getting tanned, a way of getting your body's needed dose of vitamin D.

Your body doesn't differentiate: the UV rays react on the skin whether you're out on the sand for a few hours, or spending 10 minutes on a tanning bed.

10 minutes is a good rule of thumb: it's roughly equal to an hour in the sun. It's easy, relatively cheap (look for specials) and is especially good for those times when you don't have time to spend in the sun, or can't because of the weather.

Of course, watch your time. Most places won't let you use more than 20 minutes at a pop, but even that's a long time, if you haven't had any UV exposure for a while. Start slow, ease in, and enjoy your tan.

And if it's December, enjoy the envy of your pasty-skinned friends. If your looking good bothers them, suggest they get therapy.

Jim Huffman, RN specializes in natural and alternative healing therapies. His first book is 'Dare to Be Free: How to Get Control of Your Time, Your Life, and Your Nursing Career,' and is aimed at helping other nurses find satisfying, dynamic careers. His website is http://www.NetworkForNurses.com and his health blog is at http://www.shababa.blogspot.com

Follow Homemade Beauty Tips ? For Beauty Is In Nature's Grips

2009-03-21T22:15:00.001+07:00

Beautiful people of all ages have maintained that beauty is not as much reflected in the rosy, youthful look of the skin. When questioned about the secret to their beautiful skins, they have always attributed it to a healthy lifestyle and a few homemade beauty tips. Healthy lifestyle and homemade beauty tips are mostly based on the refreshing, detoxifying effects of natural and herbal products with the former fortifying the system?s internal strength and the later protecting outwardly.

Homemade beauty tips, as such, are based on judicial choice of herbal ingredients for external skin care. Some home-based natural skin care tips would be as follows:

?Buttermilk/cream and yogurt make excellent skin cleansers.

?After-bath application of almond oil is undoubtedly a great treat for the skin ? the suppleness and glow it brings to the skin is unmatched by even the very best of moisturizers.

?Regular application of honey or yogurt makes the skin soft and has a gentle bleaching effect.

?Sea salt/sugar mixed with olive oil works as an extraordinary at-home body exfoliation preparation.

?Different natural and herbal products like Aloe Vera, Basil, Chamomile, Lavender, Marshmallow, Neem, Oatmeal, Sandalwood, Tea tree oil, Turmeric, Witch Hazel, etc. used as facial packs often help to dispose dead cells and impurities lodged in the skin to unclog pores. Side by side playing the roles of cleansers, the natural produces and elements strike water-oil balance of the skin.

If you find it too troublesome to go for natural skin treatments, the safest choice will be the TCA peels. The ready-to-be-used medically approved TCA peels have an answer for almost all skin problems ? right from acnes to wrinkles and skin pigmentations to dryness. With long lasting effects, TCA peels give back the skin its natural healthfulness. With no harmful side effects (nearing the gentleness of homemade beauty tips), TCA peels can be safely used for teen-age skin problems.

Two is undoubtedly ?company? but three is not always ?crowd?. TCA peels, balanced diets and a few homemade beauty tips make enviable company when it comes to revitalizing the skin. Therefore, surrender to the cares of the threesome and be the proud possessor of a youthful skin and look!

David Maillie is an alumni of Cornell University and specializes in biochemical synthesis for public, private, and governmental interests and manufactures various skin peels and acne treatments for doctors offices and medispas. He can be reached at M.D. Wholesale: http://www.bestskinpeel.com

10 Common Symptoms Of Depression

2009-03-17T14:14:00.001+07:00

Every year approximately 9.5 per cent of the American population suffers from depression. Depression is a grave illness that affects day to day life and destroys families. It is a disorder that controls the mind and its functions causing loss of appetite, sleeplessness, mood swings, and a deep sense of despair.

The symptoms of depression are varied and the severity changes with time. And, according to experts depression can be an inherited disorder, or caused by life threatening illnesses, or stress. Other causes are certain diseases, medicines, drugs, alcohol, or mental illnesses. Women are seen to experience depression more than men and this is attributed to hormonal swings, menstrual cycle changes, pregnancy, miscarriage, pre-menopause, and post-menopause.

Common symptoms are:

1.An unshakeable sadness, anxiety, or emptiness.

2.Overwhelming hopelessness accompanied by pessimistic feelings.

3.Extreme guilt, feelings of helplessness, and no sense of self worth.

4.Loss of energy, a slowing down of metabolism, and activity levels. Being plagued by constant fatigue.

5.A sense of helplessness along with an increasing inability to focus and indecisiveness.

6. Loss of sound sleep and development of extreme insomnia.

7.Inexplicable weight loss or weight gain. Triggered by loss of appetite or eating binges.

8.Brooding and suicidal inclinations.

9.Irritability, short temper, as well as restlessness.

10.Physical afflictions like headaches, digestive disorders, and chronic pain for no particular reason.

If you experience any of the above along with a marked change in behavior do consult your doctor. He will give you a thorough examination to rule out physical causes for depression as well as any underlying medical problems. Then if required he will recommend that you consult a psychiatrist or psychologist.

Take matters in hand and try and erase negativity from your mind. Cut out from you life terms like exhaustion, worthlessness, and hopelessness. Change your life by setting yourself a few goals. Try and relax, meditate, and enjoy music. Start new activities that absorb your time as well as interests. Go out and meet people and participate in group activities. Avoid the company of negative people. Make up your mind to enjoy a movie, ballgame, family outing, picnic, or trek. Be positive, self confident, and have faith in yourself. Faith is itself a great healer. Decide to change your world for the better. However do follow the doctor?s advice. Treatment can include: anti-depressant medicines, psychotherapy, as well as lifestyle changes. In extreme cases electroconvulsive therapy or light therapy are prescribed.

If your depression escalates or you are suicidal seek help from your family physician or health care provider. Do call a local health department, a community mental health center, or hospital or clinic. Someone will extend a helping hand and talk you through the crisis.

Paul Wilson is a freelance writer for http://www.1888articles.com/depression-articles-888.html, the premier website to find help on Depression Articles including topics on meditation, obesity, beauty, diabetes, fitness equipment, exercise, yoga, weight loss, aerobics cardio and more. He also freelances for the premier Medical Press Release site http://www.1888PressRelease.com/medical-0-27.html

History of Plastic Surgery

2009-03-15T19:06:00.001+07:00

When most people use the term Plastic Surgery, they more often than not use it in reference to cosmetic surgery. Few people actually stop to think that Plastic Surgery covers a far wider range of surgical procedures and that cosmetic surgery is only one type of surgery related to Plastic Surgery. The full scope of Plastic Surgery is quite wide if one stops to think about it and more often than not, is related to, and, plays a fundamental role in conjunction with other fields of medicine and surgical procedures pertaining to the field of general surgery. Plastic Surgery is basically concerned with the reconstruction of the surface of the body whether that has to do with the reconstruction of facial or body disfigurations that are either congenital in nature or, acquired due to accidents or illness for example, cancer related disfigurations.

Although Plastic Surgery goes as far back as Ancient Egypt the first physicians who actually placed a more scientific scope in the field of Plastic Surgery and, to be more precise, cosmetic surgery were two Sicilians Gustav and Antonio Branka . Father and son, in 1400, they outlined the basic guidelines which plastic surgeons should follow when undertaking reconstructive nose surgery. However, the first to ever create a center for Plastic Surgery and to take the first steps to making Plastic Surgery an equally accepted field of medicine was another Italian, Taliakosi.

However, it was not until after World War I that Plastic Surgery developed its full scope of use. This was due to the enormous amount of facial and body disfigurations which either resulted in Plastic Surgery being undertaken for aesthetic reasons, to regain functional abilities or, more often than not, for both.

From then on and up until today, Plastic Surgery continues to play an ever increasingly important role as a field of medicine in today?s? society either on its own when referring to simple cosmetic surgery or as part of, and in relation to other fields of surgical specialties.

Charles Kassotis is the Owner and Webmaster of http://www.PlasticSurgeryOrg.com and Many Other Personal Health and Wellness Websites. With a Strong Interest in Personal And Overall Health, he has Invested 100?s of Hours in Research, and Published countless Health Articles aimed at Better Educating the Public to their Choices when it comes to Personal Health and Wellness.

An Overview of Enzyme Peels for Your Face

2009-03-15T12:47:00.001+07:00

When dealing with the refurbishing of facial skin, peels are a popular option. Here is an overview of enzyme peels for your facial skin care needs.

An Overview of Enzyme Peels for Your Face

The enzyme peel is not a new technique at all. It has been performed for a long time ago but often without a deep knowledge on the matter. This is easily confirmed after an overview of those home remedies and cosmetics intended for skin care, such as papaya or green apple facemasks or lotions.

Papaya enzymes are not only good for nutrition but also to peel off epidermal cells, which aids in regenerating the skin. This property is also observed in aloe Vera, pumpkin, pineapple, and other fruits. Restorative enzyme peel is a type of exfoliating non-surgical procedure that uses natural or chemical products to produce exfoliation.

An Enzyme peel accelerates the natural exfoliate process of the skin to get rid of dead skin cells, promote young cell renewal, and visibly diminish scars, stretch marks, aging spots and lines, sun damage, and skin discoloration. Enzymes penetrate the upper layers of the tissue, cleansing pores and improving skin texture, tone, elasticity and tautness.

Although, some enzyme peels work with the aid of acids or mechanical granules, natural enzymes are the most recommended to prevent dryness or allergic reactions. In fact, some strong chemicals used for deep peeling, such as phenol, may cause cancer of the skin or side effects.

In order to obtain the most benefits from enzyme peels, whatever the product you choose or the natural home remedy, you can get the most from it by applying a thin layer to your clean and dry skin, rather than a thick coat. Enzymes work best by rubbing gently in a mild circular motion.

An Enzyme Peel produces results in the short term after begin the application, but you need to perform a routine exfoliation to see good results. Treatments with enzymes improve your skin look and feel, but do not stop aging. Furthermore, you will have to repeat a peeling treatment after a certain period of time to remove new damaged cells and keep your fresh and youthful appearance.

Ricardo de Silva is with PlasticSurgeonPractices.com - a directory of plastic surgeons. Visit us to read more plastic surgery articles.

At Last the Secret to Painless Hair Removal

2009-03-12T20:56:00.001+07:00

Is there such a thing as painless hair removal?

There are several types of hair removal products and systems that we can purchase today, but the biggest complaint has always been the pain of removing unwanted hair especially in sensitive areas such as under the arms and the bikini line. There are a few painless hair removal systems but most of them are expensive and time consuming.

Shaving is the most popular hair removal system because it is totally painless. It is very easy and does not cost a lot in supplies. But, you will have to shave every other day to keep your skin smooth. Waxing is another method that many women use, but this hair removal system can be very painful. Plucking the unwanted hair is also an alternative, but this take time.

Electrolysis has become popular among some women but it is also a painful experience. Electrolysis requires multiple sessions in order to achieve the desired hair removal results. Several women also use an anesthetic to aid with the pain. Laser hair removal is the most popular for hair removal which is still painful. Some only complain of a heat sensation, while others feel a type of bee sting. Both of these methods are very expensive and time consuming.

The most economical way for a painless hair removal system is by using epilators. Well, let?s say not quite completely painless but better than any of the other options!

Epilators are now designed for a reduction in pain while ridding even your most sensitive areas of unwanted hair. The hair will be removed by tweezer type discs that will pull the hair by the root. This is done very quickly while holding your skin taunt for less pain. This is the fastest and most economic way to rid your body of unwanted hair and is almost painless hair removal.

As a beauty consultant Nicola Kennedy is always evaluating new products. Visit her site at http://www.epilator.info for the Best Resources, Views and Information to help you choose the Best Epilator for you.

The Healing Properties of Green Tea

2009-03-12T17:48:00.001+07:00

The healing properties of greeen tea have put it in the forefront of today's wellness news.

Known for its versatile and positive properties benefiting the whole body, it promotes blood circulation and increases the body's natural resistance, helping with oxygenation.

Proponents of green tea claims it achieves greater harmony and improves the body's ability to handle the external physical and psycological pressures of life.

Green tea also prevents tooth decay and make teeth more resistant to acids, promote digestion and cleanse the body internally.

Unlike black tea, which oxidizes as it dries, changing the characteristics of the tea, green tea is flash-steamed for about 20 seconds to retain the maximum amount of active properties.

Green tea contains vitamin B, as well as C and E. Many tea drinkers say that they actually feel less tired and brightens their whole outlook.

Mina Dimakis-Lev is an skincare specialist and professional makeup artist for the past 13 years. Her expertise in sincare and makeup followed by writing articles on how to take care of your skin, body,and applying makeup like an expert.

http://www.BeautyImagebyMina.com

How To Keep Your Skin Shiny and Beautiful?

2009-03-11T14:34:00.001+07:00

Most of us are gifted with beautiful skin but are not careful in preserving its original texture. Therefore during the climatic changes the tone of the skin changes and turns rough. If you regularly provide nutrition to the skin it is likely to remain glowing.

The food we consume also has a bearing on the way our skin looks. Foods containing greasy, oily and fatty substances make the oil glands overactive and therefore we are more likely to face various skin problems. Water is a very good as it cleanses the skin pores. It fights against all the toxins in the body. Therefore it is necessary to consume 8-10 glasses of water per day.

Besides, scheduling an exercise program everyday is very good. The excessive oily substances are drained from your body through the sweat that is produced when you exercise. The workouts also relieve you from all types of stress that reflect on your face directly.

Take care of your skin by applying the proper type of lotions or creams. Do not use the products that contain strong chemicals as it could ruin your skin. Do not smoke because it directly affects your skin and speeds up your ageing process.

Paul has been providing answers to lots of queries through his website on a wide variety of subjects ranging from satellite phones to acne. To learn more visit http://www.askaquery.com/Answers/qn1592.html

You are welcome to republish the above article only if you add our hyperlinked URL.

New Plastic Surgery Procedures Body Thermage

2009-03-10T14:40:00.001+07:00

The body thermage is a relatively new procedure sweeping the plastic surgery field. Yes, it is the procedure you see performed on many of the makeover television shows.

New Plastic Surgery Procedures ? Body Thermage

Many people wonder how celebrities can lose a dress size so fast with apparently doing anything. The answer is a procedure known as body thermage, which is generally used in the treatment of facial and neck laxity. Body thermage is considered an innovative and safe cosmetic option, which is based on radio frequency energy applied to the skin.

The body thermage procedure is often referred to as radiothermaplasty, therma-lift or therma-cool. The treatment is a non-surgical procedure that has shown effectiveness to temporary correct lax abdominal skin, but thermage can be also applied to lift other parts of the body including buttocks, thighs and arms.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the thermage procedure in 2002, originally for the treatment of facial wrinkles and rhytids. Since then, increasing references from TV shows promoting the results resulted in the procedure receive additional clearance for the extensive use of treatment anywhere on the body.

Although almost anyone can undergo body thermage, people whose age is between 35 and 60 are the ideal candidates for the procedure due to the mild to moderate skin laxity present at that age. The skin tightening procedure is meant to be permanent, but this can only be achieved with corresponding maintenance and follow-up programs.

In a massive breakthrough, thermage is also used to successfully treat stretch marks and loose abdominal skin after pregnancy or remarkable weight loss, particularly in obese patients. However, this procedure is not recommended for women immediately after childbirth, except if they are done having children because the effect will be lost with a following pregnancy.

A typical thermage procedure will last from 30 to 90 minutes depending on the area to be treated and pre-existing condition. People with implanted cardiac devices, including pacemakers, should avoid undergoing thermage procedures due to the radio frequency energy below the surface of the skin into the collagen. Specifically, the energy can interfere with the functioning of cardiac devices, a true disaster. Thermage does not require incisions, injections, or surgery. However, individuals taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID), such as naproxen, prednisone, and ibuprofen, must avoid it.

The decision to have a body thermage procedure is not one that should be taken lightly. Make sure to consult with a qualified plastic surgery to determine if it is solution to your condition.

Ricardo de Silva is with PlasticSurgeonPractices.com - a directory of plastic surgery surgeons.

Contact Lens Accessories At Wholesale Prices

2009-03-09T01:09:00.001+07:00

The Internet is a great place to source and find all those wonderful and tempting wholesale contact lenses and contact lens accessory offers.

You've probably spent hours in the comfort of your own home, surfing the 'net on your computer looking for those to-good-to-be-missed special offers. Looking at it that way any amount of time searching is worth it, if it means you're getting top-quality products at the lowest possible prices!

This is especially true of any contact lens accessories purchases you make at wholesales since these items help you to maintain your lenses in tip-top condition, keeping them safe for your eyes.

However, your eye safety doesn't actually start with the contact lens accessories wholesale Internet specials you found recently, though. It starts with an examination and prescription from your eye doctor or eye care professional.

As with everything else in life, everyone is an individual and although we look the same and some of us even share the same eye color, our eyes are truly unique.

That's why you must remember that contacts are corrective eye wear. They are prescription medical devices that only your eye doctor or eye care professional should prescribe and fit.

It's easy enough to practice good common sense eye care for yourself. For instance, don't borrow and wear other people's contacts as this could cause eye infections, damage your sight and lead to significant vision problems.

In cases like this no matter what contact lens accessories wholesale deals you got on the Web, even the latest and greatest must have accessory can't help you when you use lenses inappropriately and incorrectly.

And don't get complacent just because you've been using contacts for years - in fact, you're likely to have picked up bad habits and could actually be abusing your contact lenses and your special contact lens accessories.

It's important every year to make sure that you set an appointment to have your eye doctor or eye care professional review your prescription. That way, you can be certain that your lenses are the best possible fit and you can ensure they are as safe and beneficial as possible.

That way you can keep on surfing the 'net, finding as many of those contact lens accessories wholesale special offers you want, till your hearts content!

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Elaine Clay is the owner of Online Contact Lenses Guide.com. A one-stop online resource guide - find helpful information, tips, articles and advice all about the different types of contact lenses available.

Feel free to use the above article on your web site or ezine. Provided that it is published in it?s entirety, including my resource box above and a ?live? clickable link to: http://www.online-contact-lenses-guide.com.

Reveal Your Beauty

2009-03-08T02:11:00.001+07:00

It is a blessing for a child to hear that she is beautiful.

My family is small, just my parents, sister and me. My sister and I are three years apart. Ever since she was born, she received many praises from family members and strangers, on how cute and pretty she was. My mother too ? my relatives always complimented how good my mother looked. There are two experiences I remember vividly. My mom, sister and I were at a department store. A pretty lady from one of the make up counters rushed out and said to my mother: your baby daughter is so pretty! Then she looked at me and said nothing. Another incident happened while we were having a dinner with family and relatives. One of my aunts said to me: Noelle, I hate to tell you this, but your mother is more beautiful than you.

These incidents had hurt the heart of a little child of no more than 6 years old.

It wasn?t that I didn?t have anything good within me. I had the brains ? evident by my report cards from school. Yet brains rarely impress on first sight like beauty does. It is easy to be drawn to outer beauty. But what about the beauty we have within?

Comparisons of our looks continued throughout our adolescent and teenage years. Each one of them was painful. My mother, also drawn to outer beauty, has confirmed with others who said I was inferior in looks than my sister.

These experiences have prompted me to see beauty in all people. There must be something good in each of us. This is one of the reasons why I am now a personal image consultant, because there are elements in colour, clothing and communication skills that are harmonious to every individual. What is beauty anyway? To me, beauty is harmony. Nature is all about harmony. We can always draw inspirations from it. Take a look at the sky during daytime and night time; each flower; each blade of grass. Each is different, yet each is beautiful.

Yet, it is undeniable that people judge others in the first thirty seconds of meeting. We cannot go against this ingrained human nature and think people should not judge others by how they look, because in reality, they do. How can we make the best of what we have to bring out our outer beauty?

The key word is harmony. If your body is mainly straight and narrow, wear straight lines and stiff clothing. If you body has curves, wear curvy lines and soft, drapey clothes. If you are big, wear clothing with thick lines; if you are delicate, stay with thin lines. If your eyes, hair and skin tones are warm, wear warm colours. If cool, then wear colours that are blue based, rather than yellow based. Do not feel pressured by wearing what?s current. There are elements we can incorporate into our clothes and make up to keep our images current, but we do not have to be a slave to fashion and make up. Just pick out elements that are harmonious to you, and ignore the rest.

Most important, see beauty everywhere, each person you meet. From this you will appreciate your own beauty even more. If you are a mother with a daughter, see her inner and outer beauty, and tell her how beautiful and wonderful she is. It is a great blessing to a child. This is part of her foundation in self esteem.

What will you do today to see your own beauty?

Noelle Wong sees and unveils beauty in people. She is the owner of iN-IMAGE! Inc., a personal image consulting company in Toronto that offers one-on-one consultations and workshops to help people increase their personal presence. For inquiries please contact her at noelle@in-image.com. Her website is http://www.in-image.com

Why is a Mattress so Important?

2009-03-07T02:42:00.001+07:00

Buying a mattress can always be put off until later. Or can it? You shouldn?t scrimp on the single most used piece of furniture in your house. This single item has a lot to do with your health and well being also. How and why should I select a mattress that?s right for me?

First, you must understand two basic mattress construction terms. The core is where the springs and structure are. This is what determines the longevity and support. Old mattresses used an inner spring design. Usually, the more inner springs used in a mattress, the better it was. Not so anymore. A current mattress design uses ?zones? to locate the number and types of springs since our body weight is not evenly distributed, then why should the springs in our mattress?

The second construction term for a mattress is the upholstery. Several different types of foams, fibers, and materials make up this top layer. This gives the mattress the pillow top or soft feeling. Springs are there for support of this comfort layer.

I personally am sleeping on a Simmon?s Beauty Rest Back Care mattress. It has the wrapped spring coils and several comfort layers. It even has some memory foam. It is an excellent bed and it was reasonably priced.

I looked at several models today. It seems the inner spring mattress will be going to the way side after a few years. Everyone wants a memory foam bed. They have several to choose from, but they are all made out of the same material. This foam is nice and Sealy and Serta have finally come on board with their versions. The tepurpedic has been out there the longest and seems to be the best quality at the best price.

However, foam mattresses just don?t look like a regular bed. They look like a flashback to the days of the popular water beds. Its just not what we are accustomed to seeing. King Koil came out with a combination of this model. A traditional looking mattress, with contemporary foam for a core. You get the look of a regular bed with the benefit of a solid foam core. No more inner springs.

Comes to find out, the most sold mattress in the store where I was at, was the King Koil brand as I described above. Actually, the top 3 sellers were all King Koil brand, with only one of the three have an inner spring coil.

Beds weren?t meant to last forever. You can chunk it and get another. If it?s bad enough for you to get a new one, don?t pass it on and give problems to someone else, either. And don?t sell your old mattress as it is against the law in some states.

Stuart Simpson http://www.mattress-review.com

The Quest for Ageless Beauty

2009-03-07T00:51:00.001+07:00

Age creeps up on us all. However we no longer have to allow it to ravage us, unchecked. Antiaging research and development have been releasing studies and new antiaging products almost daily ? all to help us look and feel younger.

For those who want to stay the hand of time and remain youthful and active through and past middle age, there has been no more exciting time to be growing older.

Science has produced many new antiaging solutions. We now know that parts of the aging process can be slowed or delayed. There are steps one can take to support the body and keep healthy processes going.

We now understand the value of early and consistent sun protection, proper nutrition, vitamin supplements, and age-appropriate exercise. Thinning hair can be slowed and maybe even reversed with treatments such as minoxidil, propecia or copper peptide solutions.

Some signs of aging can be ?erased?. There are antiaging procedures such as face lifts, facial peels, dermabrasion and laser resurfacing techniques that quite literally erase facial wrinkles.

Hair replacement can erase a receding hairline by implanting healthy follicles where others have died an untimely death.

There are antiaging skincare products that camouflage signs of aging, at least temporarily. Cosmetics with special properties like light-reflecting particles, foundation shades that match skin tones and provide coverage without a mask like appearance, temporary ?lifts? that tighten facial skin all allow us to look years younger one day at a time.

AHAs, BHAs, Retin A and retinol preparations provide longer lasting results by uncovering more youthful skin beneath the surface and speeding up the skin?s natural rebuilding process. The latest antiaging firming creams for cellulite and slackening skin have performed well in standard industry tests, providing smoother tighter skin that lasts.

Most exciting of all are the new products that hold the promise of actually reversing some signs of aging. Newer antiaging cosmetic surgery techniques give more natural looking and lasting results. Botox, and perhaps the new serums that purport to mimic the muscle-freezing effect of Botox, prevent the formation or deepening of lines of expression.

There are new creams on the market that combine ancient herbal remedies with modern substances created in the laboratory and claim to actually rebuild collagen beneath the skin?s surface removing wrinkles from the inside out! Amazingly, they actually seem to work.

And there are the controversal hormone theraphies, such as HGH and DHEA. They seem to be effective, but at what cost to our future health?

All this has come just in time for the boomer generation, the leading edge of which is now turning sixty. There has never been a bigger demand for effective products to help them stay young and vigorous.

Everyone knows this lovely phrase written by John Keats.

A thing of beauty is a joy forever:
Its loveliness increases
It will never pass into nothingness?

Endymion, 1818

If you desire to take joy in a more youthful and beautiful ?you? and preserve your beauty, if not forever, at least as long as possible, you want to know about the most recent antiaging developments.

Just as importantly, you want to know which antiaging products are proven effective, look promising or are simply fads or marketing hype. You also want to know which product among competing ones offers the best value.

By Jean Bowler. For the latest in antiaging skin care and cosmetic procedures; diet, nutrition and exercise; hormone theraphy; hair loss and more, visit http://www.ageless-beauty.com

Selecting a Professional Body Waxing Salon

2009-03-06T21:36:00.001+07:00

When performed properly, waxing can be one of the quickest and longest-lasting hair removal methods available. However, done improperly it can be painful and dangerous, risking infection, deep tissue bruising, and torn muscle tissue, and worse. This is why finding a skilled, safe, and clean professional waxing salon is an important part of this hair removal method.

First, you'll want to scout out the prospective salons. Ask your friends, look online, look in the yellow pages. Remember, a good salon will have good things said about them.

Once you have several places in mind, time to get out the phone and make some calls. Talk to the aestheticians. Some questions you may want to ask, are... How long has she been waxing, and where did she train? What type of wax do they use? Is it hard wax, soft wax, or do they actually use sugaring? What does their procedure and consist of? Do they use any powder or lotion? What does their sanitation consist of? Also pay attention to her mannerisms. A good waxer should be friendly and make you feel comfortable. If she is cold or seems reluctant to talk about her methods this not a good sign. Also you'll want to discuss cost and the area you want to be waxed.

Now, once you have a feel for your prospects, pay them a visit and check out their facilities. Talk to the employees, they should be friendly and personable. Get a feel for the place. Everything should be clean and neat, akin to a doctor's office. Ask if you can view the area where the waxing is performed. It should likewise be clean and tidy.

So far so good. Time to schedule a visit. Remember, during the waxing procedure if anything makes you uncomfortable or concerned, you can tell them to stop right there. After all, this is your money and you deserve acceptable, professional treatment for it.

Prices can range from $30 to $100, depending on the area to be waxed and quality of the salon.

by Greta of http://hairemoval.blogspot.com/

Make Your Own Fashion Statement With Crazy Contacts

2009-03-06T02:19:00.000+07:00

Who would have thought that something as boring as a sight correction device could become a must have fashion accessory? But they have!

Contact lenses started out in the 1950s as hard glass lenses. Over the years they progressed into hard plastic lenses, which were both uncomfortable to wear and expensive to buy.

In the 1970s manufacturers developed soft plastic lenses and the contact lens revolution began... and now color and crazy contacts have become the latest and greatest fashion craze.

They're not called crazy contacts for nothing! There are an amazing variety of different looks that you can achieve with these lenses: you can change the color and even the shape of your eyes with ease.

Going out to fancy dress party? Then have some fun. Grab yourself a cat costume, a pair of cat eye contacts - with their yellow background and vertical black slit pupils - and you'll look 'purrrrrfect'!

Want to be a Werewolf instead? Easy. Wear the wolf lens with it's lunar yellow around the pupil and the black border - just make sure you don't go out on the full moon!

Going as Dracula? Wear the scary Vampire contacts with their blood red pupils and outer black rim and make an immediate impact. Suddenly you're transformed into a Spectacular Dracula!

Try out some of the other wild shapes available: like the Red Spiral, which transforms your eyes into a red and white spiral. Or the Fire contact lenses with their yellow flames circling your pupil around a red background.

Why not freak out your friends, put in your White lenses and turn the whole of your eyes completely white!

Have some fun after long night out on the town, next morning sneak in the Bloodshot contact lenses. With their criss-crossing red blood vessels they're sure to get a laugh!

Be a patriot! Crazy contacts also come in flags.. no guessing what your eyes will look like if you wear the Stars and Stripes contacts!

They also come in handy when supporting your favorite football team. Pop in the NFL lenses and proudly sport the logo of your team in the whites of your eyes.

Despite all the great things you can do with them let's not forget, of course, that crazy contacts are real contact lenses, so you'll need a prescription from your eye doctor.

Although anyone can wear them, even if you don't need them for vision, it's still advisable to see your eye doctor and get them fitted properly so you don't put yourself at risk from eye infections.

With all of their weird, wacky and wonderful patterns, shapes and color combinations, it's no wonder Crazy contacts have become a must have fashion accessory - they're fun with a capital F!

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Tanning Salon Equipment

2009-03-06T01:34:00.000+07:00

Tanning salons continue to be extremely popular in all areas of the country, during all seasons. Both men and women alike frequently purchase tanning services at their favorite tanning salon.

Tanning services, often sold in packages, allow clients to visit for a specific number of tanning sessions. This is a better value than purchasing individual tanning sessions. Prices of tanning packages and individual sessions may vary, according to the specific tanning salon equipment that a client chooses to tan in.

Typically, tanning salon equipment includes stand-up tanning booths and tanning beds. Stand-up tanning booths allow the client to tan while standing up. Tanning bulbs mounted behind Plexiglas safely surround their body. Most booths feature a cooling fan and also speakers that allow a client to listen to music during their 5-20 minute tanning session. Booths may have 48, 54 or 60 UV lamps. Booths are typically made of steel, plastic, or wood and most accommodate a large capacity to comfortably fit various body types.

Tanning beds in which the customer lies down in are also available in different size frames to accommodate various body types. A tanning bed is typically made of a steel frame and features 100-160 watt tanning bulbs. The client lies down on a bed of Plexiglas, which features a pull down cover that also encases the tanning bulbs behind Plexiglass. Lay-down beds typically feature 24-46 bulbs that may vary in watts. The number of bulbs and the watts they carry, in combination with individual skin type, will determine how long a tanning session should last.

All tanning salon equipment operates on a timing mechanism that allows the equipment to operate for only a predetermined tanning session. Safety cut-off mechanisms are also built into tanning salon equipment to allow a client to quickly power down the equipment in case of emergency or malfunction.

Used Tanning Salon Equipment is a popular choice for new salon owners who are on a strict budget. Many veteran salon owners who choose to upgrade their tanning salon equipment offer used tanning salon equipment for a great price. All tanning beds feature bulbs that are easily replaced. Used tanning booths and beds that have sturdy frames and properly working electrical systems are a great option for the tanning salon owner looking to save money.

Salon Equipment Info provides detailed information about beauty, hair, nail, tanning salon equipment, as well as wholesale and discount salon equipment. Salon Equipment Info is the sister site of Hair Extensions Web.

Protein Diet The Healthy Way Of Living

2009-03-05T22:36:00.000+07:00

You need protein for the repair and growth of the body. Protein is composed of chains of amino acids. There are only twenty common amino acids but they are combined in nature in an infinite number of ways so that proteins differ in structure and in their enzymatic qualities.

In the old days scientists spoke of first and second class proteins. Today we know that out of the twenty amino acids, eight are essential in that the adult cannot make them in the body, and the rest are called nonessential because they can be made from the essential ones.

One more amino acid, histidine, is needed for growing infants, and so is essential to begin with, but not later on. It is a mistake to think of the non-essential amino acids as being without value, for they too are found in the cells of our bodies; it is only that we can do without them if we have to. The essential amino acids are: isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan and valine.

Most vegetable sources of protein are lacking in one or other of the essential amino acids, but eggs, milk, meat and fish contain all the amino acids in the correct proportions. However if you mix grains, seeds, pulses, nuts and legumes so that your diet is not consisting of a single type of vegetable protein, then the biological value of the mixture is excellent.

Indeed such a diet is good because if does not contain the saturated fat commonly present in meat.The body does not need a great deal of protein, provided this supplies the essential amino acids in the right mixture. The unwanted amino acids are converted into heat and energy and not materials for the growth and repair of the cells.

Only recently did the World Health Organization realize that vast sums were being spent on giving too much protein to the starving and under-privileged millions, when all the poor were doing was to convert the excess protein to much-needed energy. When energy providing foods are given instead the protein levels usually do not need supplementation.

Kevin Pederson has been managing a number of natural home remedies websites which have information on home based natural cures and the importance of proteins and other necessary supplements required by our body.

7 Essential Beauty Tips

2009-03-05T18:13:00.000+07:00

Beauty

Beauty is defined as the phenomenon of the experience of pleasure, through the perception of balance and proportion of stimulus. It involves the cognition of a balanced form and structure that elicits attraction and appeal towards a host, creature, inanimate object, scene, music, idea, etc. It's as well seen as An assemblage or even graces or even properties pleasing to the eye, the ear, the intellect, the aesthetic faculty, or even the moral feel.

Beauty is the quality that gives pleasure to the mind or even senses and is associated with such properties as harmony of form or even color, excellence of artistry, truthfulness, and originality.

A common understanding of the word beauty suggests that it's the appearance of things and people. For illustration, we call miss globe or even miss universe the virtually all beautiful female on earth. Also a fully blossomed rose is as well called a beauty. Beauty can't be measured, not can it be counted. It's purely subjective in nature, and its comprehension changes based on data from perception set of individuals.

Beauty has always been revered from the time individual kind had developed basic senses. We've heard of umpteen number of stories in history when wars utilized to be inflicted upon for the desire of beautiful females. Beauty is all pervasive in nature and rises above any discrimination of race, caste, religion, etc.

Many theorists and scientists have tried to deconstruct beauty into even more understandable parts. 1 idea is to look at it from the point of see of how much symmetry is discovered in the object. A few of the main contributions in this regards are - The inborn inclination of people to be attracted to symmetry coupled with the natural want or even pursuit of happiness leads to the premise that symmetry is indeed the symbol of beauty.

Mortal beings are so engrossed with beauty that it's taken a awesome shape in economy in the form of beauty industry. There are many enterprises and organizations taking part in selling beauty products. These range from your next door beauty salon to a multi-billion premium branded marketing organization spread across 150 countries in the globe.

Beauty care is a outstanding act time and pastime for mortal beings, especially women. Beauty is perceived to offer attractiveness and confidence. Beauty care includes hair care, face care, skin care, nail care, proper diet, vitamins, etc.

There are many therapies dedicated to the cause of beauty care. Even more crucial among it is aromatherapy, cosmetology, laser coarse of action, hair coloring, slimming techniques, etc.

Many authors have written on beauty. A select few of the wonderful quotes are a thing of beauty is a joy forever by John Keats. True beauty lives in deep retreats, Whose veil is unremoved, Till heart with heart in concord beats, And the lover is beloved by Wordsworth. And We all know that a thing of beauty is a joy forever and that beauty lies in the eye of the beholder. Is not it interesting how the perception of beauty by Anon.

Helen Keller sums it all The virtually all beautiful things in the globe aren't seen nor touched. It is felt with the heart.

Codi Bellezia is the owner of a beauty z which is a premier resource for beauty information. for more information, go to http://www.abeautyz.com

The Secrets of Becoming More Beautiful

2009-03-05T02:08:00.001+07:00

Like every organ in your body, our skin requires adequate nutrition to function properly. Nutrients that enhance overall body health will also promote healthy skin and hair. It needs pharmaceutical-grade supplements that provide advanced levels of essential vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and cofactors in convenient morning and evening packets for a difference you will see and feel.

The skin contains natural enzymes that break down the extracellular matrix--proteins that keep skin looking youthful--leading to lines and wrinkles. And, these enzymes, or MMPs, become more active as skin ages. MMP inhibitors that reduce the activity of these enzymes help slow the signs of aging. A new scientific breakthrough increases cell turnover rate and maintains a firm and elastic intercellular matrix for visible results you will see right away.

The skin reflects the state of the body's health and looks its best when all cells in the skin's layers are properly nourished and hydrated. The skin is the last organ to receive nutrients from the body, and the first to show signs of nutritional deficiency, imbalance, or illness. While some nutrients can be applied topically, others can only be produced from within the body. Therefore, the secrets to becoming more beautiful comes from a synergy of internal and external nutrition, as well as protection from environmental toxins and oxidation damage, which can accelerate sagging and wrinkling.

To achieve this synergy of internal and external nutrition and a protection from environmental toxins and oxidation damage, you need to develop a beauty regimen that is designed to be a comprehensive approach to skin and hair care that takes into account the nutritional needs of both the skin and body. You would need to use outer nutrients that hydrate and reduce the signs of aging. This regimen is most effective when used in conjunction with pharmaceutical-grade supplements that help to replenish and nourish the skin cells from the inside out.

To achieve a results-oriented, morning and evening regimen designed to leave skin clean, hydrated, and healthy, begin with a deep cleanse followed by a soothing toning treatment that will leave your skin refreshed. Follow with an application of one of our powerful refining treatments to help diminish the appearance of uneven skin tone, imperfections, and signs of aging. Finish with a deeply hydrating moisturizer for your face and eye area to achieve a soft, smooth appearance.

Two to three times a week, enhance the benefits of this simple skin-care regimen by exfoliating your skin with a gentle polishing scrub, followed by a luxurious, pampering masque that will leave your skin incredibly hydrated and radiant.

When used together as a system, products are clinically proven to increase elasticity, decrease the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, improve texture, and boost skin's moisture levels. In just a few short weeks you could experience dramatically visible results.

Because of the close link between nutrition and the appearance of the skin, dietary supplements are also an important step in your daily inner and outer beauty regimen. Skin is the body's largest organ and it can absorb healthy and unhealthy substances that are applied to it. Pharmaceutical-grade products focus primarily on the cellular health of the skin and use the newest technologies available to create products that are both effective and safe. Pharmaceutical-grade complexes should be thoroughly tested by dermatologists, allergists, and ophthalmologists to ensure quality and safety. To ensure safety and quality, an independent, third-party laboratory should test them again to demonstrate effectiveness. Along with added trace minerals that encourage healthy cells, pharmaceutical-grade products should contain powerful ingredients that are clinically proven to nourish, revive, and refine the skin as they help defend against free radicals and oxidative stress.

Now the science of skin care has been revolutionized with groundbreaking, self-preserving technology. For years, scientists have worked to find an alternative to parabens, the traditional preservative used in beauty and skin-care products. After nearly ten years of research, the answer has been found in a unique, patent-pending blend of botanicals, antioxidants, and active ingredients that keep every product fresh without the need for parabens. It truly is the next generation of skin and body care.

PERMISSION TO REPUBLISH: This article may be republished in newsletters and on web sites provided attribution is provided to the author, and it appears with the included copyright, resource box and live web site link. Email notice of intent to publish is appreciated but not required. Mail to: eagibbs@ureach.com

Etienne A. Gibbs, MSW, Management Consultant and Trainer, conducts seminars, lectures, and writes articles on his theme: ... helping you maximize your potential. He offers a free health survey at http://eagibbs.usana.com; free state tourism guides at http://www.ExecutiveAndGroupTravel.com; and travel updates at http://www.executiveandgrouptravel.blogspot.com. Reach him at eagibbs@ureach.com or at 502-386-1175.

Healthy Aging Suggestions

2009-03-04T02:28:00.001+07:00

Youth is transient and aging is a natural process. However, it is also true that we all wish to remain youthful and healthy forever. All of us dislike the sufferings and miseries of illnesses of aging. Yet we all will age in the course of time. So, the amicable solution to the reality of aging and the cherished desire to stay fit always is to age gracefully while remaining fit, fine and healthy. Practicable steps for promoting the health and well-being should be adopted while the process of aging continues.

Criteria for healthy aging

Healthy aging involves promoting of all round care for ensuring the well-being of the individual. This comprises of physical fitness, social well being, financial security and mental fitness. This ascertains that you, the individual concerned, is never feeling bad or let down with the progress of years leading to your aging.

Promoting health and physical fitness

Regular exercising, maintaining a healthy diet with adequate balance of all nutrients- vitamins, minerals, proteins, carbohydrates and fats, and leading a stress free life are the essentials for maintaining good health through all ages. Morning walks, consumption of fresh fruits, vegetables, vitamin and mineral supplements, participation in recreational activities, games etc. and adequate rest and sleep are suggested. An occasional visit to a qualified physician for checkup needs to be made and suggested tests are to be carried out. In case any major illness is suspected, proper and thorough diagnosis needs to be done and treatments undertaken accordingly.

Fostering social well being

Old age and a retired life is the ripe time for socializing and participating in various activities of social interest. You can join clubs, associations and even political parties as per your aptitude. You can pursue traveling if it interests you and wander about in the world extensively to meet various people and expand your knowledge and mind. You may even take up some freelance work if you wish. Involving yourself in various community welfare programs will also keep you occupied while promoting well being of society.

Ensuring financial security

Retired life or old age cannot be enjoyable if financial security is not there. This serves as a support for everything you do. However, this often needs to be planned and carried out beforehand, in advance. Some measures can, however, even be taken after retirement and senior citizens may conveniently avail of several plans and programs which may be especially provided by various authorities for them. These plans and/or programs need to be thoughtfully and judiciously carried out or opted for.

Maintaining mental fitness

Staying mentally healthy and youthfully is very important. The very thought of aging makes you feel old. You must never let depression take the better of your sensibilities. Indulging in hobbies, recreation, intellectual pursuits, social services etc. keep the mind fresh and young. Exercising both body and mind regularly and eating healthily will go a long way to keep you free from serious mental diseases like Alzheimer's disease. Thinking positively and actively seeking variety and challenge in day-to-day life will definitely maintain a young mind in an aging yet healthy body.

For more infomative health and beauty articles or to browse our wide variety of quality herbal supplements visit http://www.natural-health-4-life.com

Laser Skin Enhancements

2009-03-03T22:31:00.000+07:00

Ah, the joys of modern technology. Plastic surgery benefits from our advances in technology just like any other industry or medical field. This brings us to the subject of laser skin enhancements.

If you think you might be in need of a procedure to rejuvenate your face and restore your youthful appearance, you might be considering facial plastic surgery. However, for some individuals, surgical intervention is not the proper choice due to medical conditions or the particulars of your situation. In such cases, laser skin enhancements offers corrective solutions not previously available.

A laser skin enhancement is performed by plastic surgeons using advanced laser technology. The laser is strong enough to burn the first layer of dead tissue and a few living cells on the surface of the skin, but does not affect the other layers of skin tissue. The laser also reaches down to the underlying collagen. Instead of removing the collagen, the heat results in a reduction of the collagen. This reduction results in the tightening up of the collagen and skin giving the patient a less wrinkled look. In practical terms, laser skin enhancements give you a bit of a lift and peel at the same time.

A laser enhancement is not the best procedure for all facial concerns. It does not work well on areas such as deep creases in the neck and cheek, creases around the lips and the upper eyelids. For smaller, fine lines and light wrinkles, however, it can be a less invasive choice than surgery. There are many advantages to choosing the laser procedure. There is less recovery time, general anesthesia is generally not necessary, and there is very little blood loss. There are also normally no scars following the procedure.

There are some potential side effects to having laser enhancements as there are with any cosmetic surgery. The recovery takes about ten days during which you can have very sensitive skin with some weeping. During this period, you will see a progression of skin color from red to pink to normal. There can also be a permanent lightening of the area treated, which can be a problem for some dark skin individuals. It is also not recommended for people looking to remove large quantities of skin or who have severe facial damage due to sun or age. If you are such a patient, laser enhancements can help but will not be a total solution.

Laser skin enhancements are a popular alternative to traditional facial surgeries. Make sure to speak with your doctor to find out your options and whether this surgery is appropriate for you.

Ricardo de Silva is with PlasticSurgeonPractices.com - a directory of plastic surgeons. Visit us to read more plastic surgery articles.

9 Easy Steps To A Pedicure

2009-03-03T17:56:00.001+07:00

Before putting on those sexy, comfortable open toe shoes make sure your feet skin is in good condition. With these easy nine steps you too will have silky feet. So go ahead get ready to do your own pedicure.soak your feet for 10-15 minutes in warm water containing Epsom salt or foot soak

Use a pumice stone, exfoliating scrub to gently scrub the soles of your all over your feet and heel to remove dead skin.

Dry your feet.

Trim your toenails and push back cuticles.

Rinse feet once again and pat dry.

Massage feet with plenty of foot lotion. Body lotion, petroleum jelly or cream can be use to replace foot lotion.

Wrap feet on plastic bags and cover for at least 15 minutes.

Paint toe nails. Make sure to apply at least to coats of nail polish and a top coat of clear nail polish to give it more shine. Give it enough time to dry, before putting on any shoes. If you put on shoes too soon your pedicure will get ruin.

Enjoy your self given & low cost pedicure!

About The Author

Kenia Morales is the owner and publisher of online magazine For Every Aspect Of Today's Woman. To find more beauty tips and other women related issues and topics visit her site at http://www.kpatra.com

keniamorales@kpatra.com

Skin Care Easy Control For Pores To Look Young

2009-03-02T22:46:00.001+07:00

Skin care and pores-

Pores play a major role as far as our looks are concerned. When we have large pores that look still larger when we reach the mirror, we feel disheartened by what we see. There is no need to feel helpless about the pores. Let me tell you how you can look young with tight looking pores.

Skin Pores- pores are for sebum, sweat and hair

Why do we have pores? We have pores so that the hair can come out of them. The pores are an outlet for the sebum. That sebum helps us in having a healthy skin. Sebum protects skin against microbial infections. Sebum also helps keep skin moisturized. Sweat also comes from the pres. sweat, as we all know is important to keep body temperature constant. A pore is important for that.

Pores- why do they enlarge?

Pores may be enlarged due to two reasons. One - genetic and oily skin, two- they look enlarged but are not so. Many of us inherit enlarged pores. We can do nothing about them, except keeping them clean and using makeup intelligently. Those with oily skin also have enlarged pores that can be controlled to a great extent by keeping the oils under control. Many times the excess sebum and dead skin cells accumulate around the pores and make them look enlarged. This problem can be rectified easily.

Pores- exfoliate and keep them open

Keep the pores open by regularly exfoliating the skin with topical retinoids. Use AHAs to remove the dead cells and use pH-balanced cleansers to keep oil under control. This will help you keep your pores clean and they will not look enlarged. Learn how AHas help our skin by clicking here- AHAs

This article is only for informative purposes. This article is not intended to be a medical advise and it is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult your doctor for your medical concerns. Please follow any tip given in this article only after consulting your doctor. The author is not liable for any outcome or damage resulting from information obtained from this article.

C.D.Mohatta writes articles on skin problems, skin treatments and skin care. For more information about how to have good skin that looks young and blemish free, please visit- http://www.doctorgoodskin.com/. You will also find solutions to wrinkles, scars, facial rejuvenation, latest laser treatments, skin blemishes and spots, hair care and hair loss and about keeping healthy nails. This site is dedicated to keep you healthy and make you look good. For keeping yourself young and healthy at all the ages find out more about the skin problems and how to cure them

Gel Nails For that Natural Look Whatever the Occasion

2009-03-02T16:47:00.001+07:00

Gel nails are perhaps the most natural looking of all nail additions and are definitely worth considering if you want to have longer and stronger nails which appear to be your own. You create gel nails by applying layers of an acrylic gel to the surface of your nails. These layers then combine and set to produce a solid nail. To harden the nails, they are then normally placed under an ultraviolet light or even sometimes simply an ordinary room light.

It can be difficult to apply gel nails yourself, although it is quite possible. It's certainly a lot simpler to get a nail specialist to do the job for you, but if you do wish to try it yourself, the following is a method for using the acrylic overlay technique.

1. Buff the natural surface of your nail using a buffer to remove the shine. Don't overdo it! Then shape the free edge of the nail plate to the correct size corresponding to your finger nail. Use a medium-grade emery board to do this.

2. Apply a drop of nail adhesive to the nail tip whilst holding it at a 45 deg angle with the tip against the outer edge of your own nail. Then slide the nail tip back and press it down when in position. Hold it in position for a few seconds until it is held securely by the adhesive.

3. Apply a single coat of acrylic bonding agent to the surface of your own nail only. Don't get it on the acrylic tip.

4. A small amount of acrylic liquid and acrylic powder should be poured into separate glass containers. Using a brush, dip it into the acrylic liquid, then press it lightly against the dish to release any excess acrylic. Then sweep the tip of the brush across the surface of the white powder until it has picked up as much of the powder as it is able to carry, and the resultant ball is big enough to cover the entire nail. Then take the brush and place te tip with the acrylic ball in the center of your nail.

5. As quickly as you can, but without rushing, commence by pushing some acrylic into the cuticle region, working towards the sides and forwards to completely fill in your nail behind the acrtlic tip.

6. When completed and dry, tap your nail gently on the infilled area using the brush handle. The familiar clicking sound will indicate that the acrylic has fully set.

7. To finish, file and buff the nails as you require. Then apply a base coat varnish, some polish and a top coat. It is also a good idea also to apply a drop of cuticle oil to the cuticle.

Note that all nail enhancements will need filling every two to four weeks, depending upon how quickly your nails grow. This means filling in the area in front of the cuticle to blend in with the existing acrylic fill.

You can find more information on gel nails by Bianca Tavares in her regular contributions at Makeup Girl?s Makeup Tips.

Reds Pinks or Peach for Your Lips and Cheeks

2009-03-02T01:20:00.001+07:00

When it comes to cheek color, the question I seem to get asked the most is, ?Exactly, what color should I be wearing?? That?s simple. Just pinch your cheeks gently, you?ll find that your cheeks will become flushed with a subtle hue. This is your natural blushing color, which you should attempt to match.

Others are not quite sure where to put their cheek color, in round circles on the apples of the cheeks or in a line of color up towards the temples? Once again, let?s revert back to nature to answer this question. Gently and with clean hands, press your fingers against your cheek area and find your cheek bone. Follow with your finger from the apple of your cheek (the puffy part that appears when you smile) and back towards your ear. This is where you will apply your cheek color. Be sure to blend?blend ladies blend! Use a large cheek color brush to avoid strong lines of color. If you do not have a large, fluffy brush, simply use your fingers or even a cotton ball. Just let nature be your guide.

When it comes to lips, try to stay within the same color family as your cheek color, just vary the color intensity for different looks. Don?t be afraid to be a little bold, your lips are the one area on your face where you can afford to play around with color. Intensity is the brightness or dullness of a color. You can lower the intensity by adding a lip gloss, making the color itself seem lighter or darker. Many cosmetics companies have made it easy for you to choose lipstick within a color family by grouping them as reds, pinks, chocolates, neutrals and so on. Generally, the darker your skin tone, the deeper the intensity of color you can wear. Your natural blush color will tell you where to start, you decide the intensity of color based on your comfort zone. It?s as simple as that.

Have a great day!

Dawn Hull
Professional Skin Care Consultant
http://www.MaryKay.com/ShopOnline

Sign up to receive a FREE monthly beauty newsletter: Beaut-e-News - Discover what's new, what's now ? what's changing the face of makeup and skin care! You'll find beauty secrets revealed and tips and techniques that will help you look your beautiful best. Click here to register: http://www.marykay.com/PWS/MyMK/Login.aspx?Moniker=SHOPONLINE

AntiAging and You!

2009-03-01T22:34:00.001+07:00

We are a product of our environment and must be realistic in knowing that the environment is not pure and because of the basic instinct of greed, we are living in a polluted world. The people who live the longest, exist in the high mountains where the air is not polluted, the water is full of healthy minerals and the food is free of synthetic chemicals. In the polluted world, we must recognize that polluted air, water and food produce free radicals and pathogenic germs that cause us to prematurely age with diseases and pain. For those of us that live in the chemical world, we can live 20 years or more longer, if we prevent free radicals and pathogens from shortening our life. Anti-aging depends on fighting free radicals and pathogens. Conventional medicine may let us live 20 years longer, but with the expectation of suffering. Fortunately, the choice is ours.

ANTIOXIDANTS:
Antioxidants are chemicals that defuse free radicals and other biologically damaging molecular fragments in the body.

They consist of nutrients such as Beta-Carotene, Coenzyme Q10, Selenium, Vitamin C and Vitamin E are well known for their antioxidant properties.

Antioxidants are found in a full-range of fruits and vegetables, as well as in some meat, like fish. However, fruits and vegetables are the key source of antioxidants.

Although, our bodies produce its own antioxidants, the level of product declines over time because of environmental factors and through the aging process.

ANTIOXIDANT THEORY -- HOW THEY WORK:

Free Radicals As part of the normal cell function, cells make toxic molecules called free radicals.

Free radicals are damaged molecules-molecules that are missing electronics

Free radicals are regarded as the primary force of destruction in nearly all-living things.

Free radicals take electrons from other non-damaged molecules. By doing so, the free molecules damage the cell.

As cell damage continues, it contributes to certain diseases and aging.

Free radicals can cause cancer, diabetes, cataracts, cardiovascular disease and wrinkles.

THE BENEFITS OF ANTIOXIDANTS:

Slowing Down Oxidation Antioxidants are good at slowing down the oxidation process.

When oxidation occurs in food, fatty acids undergo chemical changes

Fatty acids are also found in the blood, which can undergo similar chemical changes, as does food.

Mental Decline Resulting From Aging A study published by the Journal of Neuroscience showed that rats fed antioxidant-rich strawberries and spinach had better memories and slower decline of nerve cells functions than rats fed a standard diet.

Most of us knows that we need to consume more fruits and vegetables than meats. Fruits and vegetables plays an important role in protecting against and possibly reversing the cognitive declines seen from aging.

Free radical destruction is said to be a key factor to a decline in memory and motor performance seen in aging.

The brain is especially vulnerable because it is relatively deficient in antioxidants to begin with.

WHICH ANTIOXIDANTS ARE BEST THEN?

Two general types of antioxidants work together to protect the cells and tissues of our bodies. One type protects the aqueous (watery) portion of the tissues and the other the hydrophobic, or lipid (fatty) component. The aqueous environment is protected by vitamin C, and at least two additional antioxidants produced by tissues, glutathione and thioredoxin. Cell membranes are protected by the lipid-soluble antioxidants, including vitamin E, and the ubiquinols (CoQ10). Another antioxidant, alpha lipoic acid, is unique in that it can enter and protect both lipid and water environments.

When vitamins C and E react with and neutralize a free radical, the oxidized or spent vitamins are converted back to the reduced or recharged, active form. Vitamin C can donate electrons to oxidized vitamin E and convert the E back to its active state, leaving vitamin C oxidized. Vitamin C, in turn, can be recharged after reacting with glutathione or the more potent antioxidant, alpha lipoic acid.

The most versatile antioxidant in the cell is alpha lipoic acid. It is one of the more potent antioxidants, owing to its property of being the most easily oxidized. Alpha lipoic acid is the foundation of an antioxidant network involved in the conversion of the spent or oxidized forms of four different cellular antioxidants back to their active protective forms. The obvious questions, then, are how lipoic acid is regenerated and whether this process ever ends.

The answer lies in the unique property of lipoic acid, its solubility in both water and lipid. Lipoic acid can be converted from its oxidized state to its reduced state with the aid of a mitochondrial enzyme (the organelle within the cell where energy is produced). Unlike vitamins C and E, the cell has machinery specifically designed for the regeneration of reduced lipoic acid. Therefore, lipoic acid can itself react with and neutralize free radicals in addition to recycling vitamins C and E (as well as CoQ10, glutathione and thioredoxin). This is critical, since each antioxidant has a unique function. The conclusion, then, is that all of these antioxidants are required for optimal cellular health.

FOODS HIGH IN ANTIOXIDANTS:
Beta-carotene -- Found in dark green, dark yellow and orange vegetables and fruits.

Selenium -- Found in meats, fish, cereal, dairy products, Brazil and some other nuts.

Vitamin C - Found in orange juice, kiwi, grapefruit, strawberries, watermelon, green peppers, cauliflower and broccoli.

Vitamin E - Can be found in mayonnaise, margarine, salad dressing, sunflower seeds, almonds, cashews, crab, shrimp and fish.

RECOMMENDED DIETARY ALLOWANCE:
Make sure you get the RDA for vitamin C, E and beta-carotene. If you rarely eat dark-green or orange varieties of fruits and vegetables, take a supplement, which supplies 100% of the RDA vitamins and minerals.

Studies show that people, especially as they age, don't get the RDA for vitamin E. Good food sources for vitamin E again are breakfast cereals that are fortified with 100% of the RDA for vitamins and minerals, shellfish, mustard or turnip greens, kale and collards.

Ito Nakamura is a Internet Health Enterprenuer specialising in marketing health supplements; health exercise equipments & beauty products. http://www.detoxprofessor.com

Damage Control How to Transform Your Hair From Stressed Out to Strong!

2009-03-01T19:43:00.001+07:00

For most women, a healthy head of hair is a fleeting pleasure--a not-so-cheap thrill that seems to end the moment we tip our hairdressers. Even if we can prolong our post-salon glow, within a few weeks, it?s inevitably replaced by multiplying mobs of split ends and shower caddies resembling hair rehab clinics.

According to a recent Pantene survey, more than 70 percent of women believe their hair is damaged--a problem their stylists are all too familiar with. ?When hair is shoulder length or longer, it?s usually split or dry,? says Gil Ferrer of the Gil Ferrer Salon in New York City. The good news is, you can get your strands into shape by replacing a few bad habits with Beauty Addict's 12-step healthy routine.

Breaking the Cycle
Ironically, the same tricks and tools we use to improve our hair?s appearance often lead to lasting damage. According to Ferrer, ?color, perms and straighteners are all harmful, especially when they?re combined.? To create the desired effect, these chemicals disrupt the cuticle--the hair?s delicate outer coating. When that layer is permeated or frayed, hair becomes dull, dry and brittle.

Even so, an estimated 60 percent of U.S. women color their hair, and 40 percent of them opt to go blonde. Sadly, ?products that create double-processed, lighter-blonde shades are particularly hazardous,? explains hairstylist Matt Yeandle. If you?re determined to dye, Yeandle suggests sticking with a single-process color and avoiding re-coloring the same strands, which ?can cause serious damage.? In addition, many stylists recommend staying within two shades of the hair?s natural hue or using gentler, semipermanent products.

But the chemically dependent aren?t the only ones at risk; friction and hot tools can be equally unsafe. ?Going to bed with wet hair leaves strands more vulnerable to friction,? says Yeandle. After showering, he recommends lightly squeezing hair with a towel, using a wide-tooth comb to remove tangles and, once it?s dry, brushing gently, rather than vigorously. Alicia Trani, of New York City?s Mudhoney salon, also warns against overwashing, as well as potentially harmful accessories: ?Uncoated rubber bands and tight ponytails worn every day are going to cause damage,? she notes.

The 12 Step Program
As with most things, the road to hair recovery is paved with care, caution and self-control. Follow the experts? advice to get your tresses on the right track.
1. Cut and Run
To prevent split ends, experts stress the importance of trimming your hair every three to four weeks.
2. Beware the Razor
Be mindful of the tools your stylist is using. ?Although razors can create beautiful styles, they can compromise the hair?s cuticle,? says Yeandle.
3. Keep in Condition
According to colorist Erika Szabo, of New York City?s Louis Licari Salon, generous conditioning is crucial to maintaining a healthy mane.
4. Go Deep
Rather than relying solely on standard rinse-outs, Szabo also suggests ?saturating dry hair with conditioner, covering it with a shower cap, and keeping the cap on when showering, to let the steam activate the conditioner.?
5. Make an Investment
Poor-quality accessories can undermine even the best hair-care regimen. For best results, invest in an extra-gentle boar?s-hair brush and fabric-covered elastics, which create stress-free styles.
6. Choose the Right Tools
If you insist on heat-styling, stick with ceramic tools, which ultimately cause less damage than the metal variety.
7. Fight the Elements
Sun, wind, salt water, and chlorine can all damage the hair?s cuticle. Szabo recommends using UV-protective products, which also keep color from fading.
8. Beat the Heat
Blow-dryers, flatirons, and curling irons can all take a heavy toll on hair. If you?re unwilling to forgo the heat, limit yourself to weekly usage.
9. Hold Back
When blow-drying, use a diffuser or nozzle, and always keep the dryer at least six inches from the hair.
10. Keep It Moving
Flatirons should be kept in constant motion to prevent singeing, and curling irons should be carefully timed, following manufacturers? instructions.
11. Get a High-Pro Glow
Nourish your hair at home, but leave heavy-duty chemical processes to the professionals.
12.Shop Around
Remember that perhaps the most important step in preventing damage is choosing the right hairdresser: ?Make sure your stylist is knowledgeable, understands your hair, and won?t use damaging methods,? says Ferrer.

Happy Endings
Drugstores and salons are teeming with products that claim to restore, rejuvenate, and repair. According to Ferrer, ?there?s really no way to reverse damage; the hair has to grow back.? Fortunately, the following products can help improve the look of battered locks and prevent new growth from suffering the same fate.

Mild shampoos such as Bumble and Bumble Gentle, Jean-Marc Maniatis Anti-Frizz, and Garnier Fructis Fortifying are specially formulated to protect and nourish. Daily conditioners like Paul Mitchell Super Charged and June Jacobs Citrus Clarifying leave hair silky and manageable. For weekly hydration, try deep conditioners such as K?rastase Masqueintense or L?Or?al Color Care Dry Defense 3-Minute Treatment. For heat-activated help, V05?s Hot Oil Treatments offer first-class moisture, while Nutriol?s Hair Fitness contains 12 vials of patented strengthening serum. Clinique Quick Detangle gets wet tresses tangle-free; Infusium 28 Heat-Activated Leave-In Treatment fortifies strands while you blow-dry; and Neutrogena Triple Moisture Healing Shine Serum is a premium polisher, improving the appearance of split ends.

Tara Mattarazzo is the editor-in-chief of Beauty Addict Magazine http://beautyaddictmag.com. For more articles on beauty, hair care, skin care, makeup, fashion, shopping, fitness, women's health, and more, visit the Beauty Addict Magazine features page at: http://beautyaddictmag.com/thescoop/features/featureindex.html

Look Better Feel Better

2009-03-01T16:00:00.001+07:00

>Yikes! It?s that me, I though after seeing my reflection. What happened? I feel like a different person and I am right. I went from being a single, ambitious young woman to a loving wife, mother and entrepreneur. All this new roles that I have acquire through life, leave me with more responsibilities and less time on my hands.

So, does this mean I have to sacrifice my physical appearance? I don't think so! Who says that moms can?t be trendy or simply look more put together.

Just to make things clear, I am not talking about wearing over revealing clothes, expending every single penny on shopping sprees or basing your whole existence on the way you look.

My advice is to just make time for improving your overall appearance. Even if you are a stay at home mom, make sure you get up a couple of minutes before the kids and do your hair, apply some lotion and don't just wear worn out t shirt, sweat pants etc.

What ever your beauty routine is just make time for it. It is a proven fact, looking better will help you feel better and influence those around you.

Kenia Morales is the publisher of online magazine http://kpatra.com For Every Aspect of Today's Woman. Visit her site to find a variety of women related issues and topics.

Email: eniamorales@kpatra.com

How To Give A Manicure

2009-02-27T12:50:00.002+07:00

This guide will give you the basic directions for nail care, however, it cannot provide the same direction and hands-on experience offered by a Professional School of Cosmetology.

SUPPLIES: 1 - Nail scissors

2 - Small tray, about the size of a soap dish

3 - Gentle dishwashing detergent or other skin softening, bubbly liquid (such as some bubble bath products)

4 - Warm water

5 - Two to three hand towels

6 - Moisturizer or Hand Lotion with Aloe Vera, Cocoa Butter or similar ingredient to condition skin

7 - Clear Base Coat Nail Polish

8 - Colored Nail Polish

9 - Top Coat Nail Polish

10 - Small lamp or other radiant source of light

11 ? Table or desk so that, when seated, your arms can easily extend across from the relaxed position of a comfortable chair

12 - Hair dryer or similar device (not required)

13 ? Cotton swabs

STEPS: 1 - Fill tray with warm water and sudsy liquid (the trick is to add water at just the right temperature so it will soften skin without being too hot to the touch)

2 - Place one hand in tray and let it soak for several minutes

3 - If you're giving someone else a manicure, you can use oil or moisturizer to massage one hand while the other one is soaking

4 - Remove soaking hand and pat dry with hand towel

5 - Place other hand in tray to soak for several minutes

6 - While the second hand is soaking, you should carefully begin trimming cuticles that form around the edges of the nail itself (NOTE: Pay close attention to what you're doing, so you don't cut too close and end up causing skin to bleed. If you take your time and trim slowly with tiny strokes, you should be fine.)

7 - If your timing is perfect, you will be finished cutting the cuticles on that hand before the first hand gets wrinkled from being in the warm water too long. (Tip: Don't try to hurry the cuticle trimming process to make your timing work. Instead try to remember to check on the soaking hand half-way through the course of cutting cuticles. If the water is cold or the hand shows hints of wrinkling skin, that's your cue to stop the soaking operation and pat hand dry with hand towel, apply some lotion and go back to the trimming procedure.)

8 - When you have completed trimming cuticles on both hands, you should make sure all loose skin is removed from nail area. Begin to polish nails with clear base coat by applying a thin layer as smoothly and carefully as possible. Try to keep polish on nails only. If you accidentally apply too much or get extra polish on skin around nails, use a cotton swab dipped lightly in nail polish remover to correct your mistake.

9 - After applying base coat to both hands, choose polish color and repeat previous procedure beginning with the same hand you started with last time. Follow guidelines described above to produce best results.

10 - The next application will be a top coat to create a seal or protection for colored polish. Repeat previous steps to ensure success in this process. Remember less is better when it comes to nail polish. Thick layers lead to messy results.

11 - You have two choices to complete this process and make your manicure last.

(1) You can dry nails with a blow dryer or similar device set on slow speed at a moderate temperature. You should keep hands positioned under heat source for at least three minutes and then sit still, touch nothing, and wait for another minute or two to avoid smudges or smears that will ruin your efforts.

(2) You can skip the dryer process and sit still, touch nothing and wait for at least five minutes to creating lasting results that will make your manicured nails look their best.

Resource Box - ? Danielle Hollister (2004) is the Publisher of BellaOnline Quotations Zine - A free newsletter for quote lovers featuring more than 10,000 quotations in dozens of categories like - love, friendship, children, inspiration, success, wisdom, family, life, and many more. Read it online at - http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art8364.asp

The Truth About Soap

2009-02-27T12:50:00.001+07:00

When you step into the market to pick up a bar of soap, what is it you're really buying? Phrases like beauty bar, deodorant bar, moisturizing bar, and the list goes on and on, is only telling you one thing, you are not buying soap. What you are purchasing is a petroleum based detergent product.

Soap, by definition, is a cleansing agent made from the mixture of the sodium salts of various fatty acids or natural oils and fat. Because of FDA regulations, a cleaning product cannot be listed as soap unless it actually contains the fatty acids and natural oils combined with lye to produce soap.

So, what's the difference you may ask? Let me tell you a story about my son. For two years he suffered with severe allergies, chronic sinus infections, and was all around miserable. The first step in dealing with his problems was to remove his adenoids that had become infected. After the surgery, his sinuses cleared up for all of two weeks. Then once again he succumbed to yet another sinus infection.

Unable to determine the reason for the sinus infections, he was put through allergy testing. After two sessions and more than 80 injections covering irritants from pet dander, mold, trees, dust (and the list goes on), they determined that he reacted to absolutely nothing. And so we were sent home with instructions to monitor his diet for the next month in the hopes of determining weather or not he suffered from a food allergy.

I had a better idea.

While allergy testing covers most airborne irritants, it does not cover the common chemicals we subject ourselves to everyday. Since my daughter and I are both severely allergic to formaldehyde, a common preservative used in most hand creams, lotions, lip balms, and cosmetics, it occurred to me that he might suffer from a similar allergy. So, I stripped his bedding, pillows, clothing, curtains, and washed everything in a batch of homemade olive oil laundry soap.

The result: After two weeks his sinuses began to clear. Within a month all of the symptoms he routinely suffered; from migraine headaches to breathing difficulties, gradually faded away as though they had never existed.

Many people today realize that our homes are over-saturated with a host of chemicals, many of which carry moderate to severe side effects with prolonged exposure. What we fail to realize is how many of them are completely unnecessary.

Making your own soap is both a rewarding and simple process and one that can truly benefit your entire family.

MK Welty hosts an informational website dedicated to the art of making handmade soap. Find soap recipies, soap making instructions, supplies and more at http://www.youcanmakesoap.com or visit our sister site, http://usingherbs.com where you will find great information on herbs commonly used in soap making.

How to be Photogenic?

2009-02-27T12:40:00.001+07:00

Everybody likes to look good. Though many people look good naturally but when it comes to photographs the images do not justify their beauty. Although, snapshots are not the exact presentations of your look or personality, they become the objects of judgment according to many people. If you do not display a photogenic face, you are often ditched or taunted by people. So it is a good idea to try to develop a photogenic face. You can have a photogenic face if the photographer takes proper care of lighting, camera angles etc. The following steps could help you look better.

Wear suitable clothes especially the ones that will add a glow to your skin tone. The color patterns should be carefully studied. Choose an angle that will reflect a good texture of your hair and show the smooth texture of your skin. Stand or sit in a proper posture to make you look smarter. Give a natural smile, because a forced smile will make you appear as if you have forcefully stretched your lips. Compare your snapshots with your friends who have a photogenic face.

When all these tips do not effectively work out, then try out digital technology by editing, cropping and artificially enhancing your snaps to look better. You can find many photo retouching service providers online.

You are welcome to republish the above article only if you add our hyperlinked URL.

The Secret To Creating Beauty From The Inside Out

2009-02-27T00:35:00.001+07:00

Women wanting to be beautiful is as old as civilization. At different times in history, women have ingested arsenic to improve their complexions, used warm urine from young boys to remove their freckles and took belladonna to produce dreamy eyes. The beauty business is a $160 billion, a year, global industry. The cosmetic surgery business is a $20 billion business. These industries play on the fear of looking ugly as much as the need to look beautiful and for good reason. Attractive people are perceived to be more intelligent, more successful and better in bed. Although the beauty industry has traditionally marketed to women, the male market is increasing.

Part of the challenge which the beauty industry faces is truth in advertising. Increasingly, consumers have tested products which make grandiose claims, only to be disappointed. The current trend is on well being as well as outer beauty. A healthy individual, in good physical shape, is perceived to be an attractive individual. Here are four factors which can help you to achieve beauty from the inside out.

Water. Water is an essential component of the human body. When we fail to replace lost water we can enter a state of dehydration. If you have ever been thirsty, you have experienced the beginnings of dehydration. A rule of thumb is: check your urine. If your urine is clear to light colored you are adequately hydrated. A lack of water in your system can lead to overeating. Sometimes, when we feel that we are hungry we are actually thirsty. When you feel hunger, have a glass or two of water and wait 15 minutes. If you are still hungry, eat something. I keep a 32 ounce bottle of water with me at all times and sip from it throughout the day. I usually finish two bottles a day.

Oxygen. According to Dr. Spencer Way in the Journal of American Association of Physicians, ? Insufficient oxygen means insufficient biological energy that can result in anything from mild fatigue to life threatening disease.? Sufficient oxygen is necessary for a healthy life. We can exist for up to 40 days without food, 4 days without water but no more than 3 minutes without oxygen. Due to pollution and the thinning ozone layer, oxygen levels in our air are believed to be around 21%. Adequate oxygen levels are very important in that hostile organisms cannot live in an oxygen rich environment.

Colostrum and Leptin. Colostrum is a natural food, rich in anti aging and immune factors. Leptin is a small hormone-like protein primarily produced by fat cells. Small fat cells produce more leptin than large fat cells. Leptin is important because it sends out a signal to suppress appetite. Some of the benefits of the colostrum/leptin combination are: inch loss, building of lean muscle, high energy levels, tightening and toning of the skin, better sleep and much more. I believe this to be an essential combination in achieving beauty from the inside out.

Sleep. Adequate sleep is important on more than one level. It is the number one defense against stress. Cortisol, a hormone, is released during stressful events and can, over time, lead to a risk of infection and disease. Sleep is also important in minimizing weight gain. Many Americans that are sleep deprived are also overweight. The amount of sleep suggested for the average person is 8-10 hours. When Sophia Loren, a popular actress and reigning beauty in the sixties and seventies, was asked how she still looked so beautiful at an older age, her answer was that she naps every day.

As a final note: If you are taking vitamin supplements, your urine will be darker for several hours after taking them. There are many companies that advertise products that profess to raise oxygen levels in your system. As always, use due diligence in your choice of products. If you try and follow this guide to beauty, you should see results in the form of looking and feeling younger and healthier.

Constance Weygandt is an author, speaker and balance mentor. For more information on health and beauty or to receive her newsletter, visit her at http://www.balancedwellnessonline.com

Constance Weygandt is an author, speaker and balance mentor. For more information on health and beauty or to receive her newsletter, visit her at http://www.balancedwellnessonline.com.

An Insight Into Colored Contacts

2009-02-25T00:55:00.001+07:00

Since they were first developed as hard glass lenses in the 1950s, contacts have gone through many transformations and technical improvements in quality, look and feel.

Today, with the modern advancements of disposable lenses and toric lenses, more and more people are changing from spectacles and enjoying the benefits of corrective eye lenses.

The latest, exciting development and daring innovation in the contact lens industry, however, is the fabulously varied colored contacts that are now widely available and gaining in popularity.

Gone are the days when contact lenses were worn as a sight correction device. They are far more than just functional corrective eye wear - they're now funky, fun and an outrageously theatrical fashion statement!

Colored contacts let you suggestively enhance the color of your eyes on a permanent basis or just for an occasional night when you want to accessorize with a particular outfit.

Now - whatever the occasion you can make a truly unforgettable 'eye catching' appearance and show off your extraordinary 'eye catching' style!

There are four different types of colored contacts for you to choose from - visibility tints, enhancement tints, opaque-color tints and light-filtering tints.

But the best thing of all is most of these come in styles that can be worn by people who do not necessarily need corrective eye wear. These style contacts are known as plano form lenses.

Visibility tint colored contacts have a practical application. They have a light blue or green tint that, although not visible when being worn, allows you to see them when you are inserting or removing the lenses. And when (not if!) you drop them they are much easier to find!

In contrast, enhancement tint colored contacts have a translucent but darker tint to them. These lenses are not meant to alter or change the shade of your eyes but rather to enrich and enhance your existing eye color - hence, their name.

The Opaque color lenses with their dazzling array of colors have the most dramatic impact and can completely change your eye shade from brown to blue, blue to purple, etc. Wear them as a fashion statement or just for a change of mood if you want.

Light-filtering contacts also have a practical application. When wearing these they will greatly enchance certain colors in your field of view, making them easier for you to see.

Having trouble driving that tiny little golf ball down the fairway? Wearing a pair of these performance lenses will make that golf ball stand out and easier for you to hit. These performance tested lenses will be the next step forward in corrective eye wear.

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Lady Godiva Hair

2009-02-25T00:47:00.001+07:00

I love long hair! Especially mine.

Yes, I live in a hot coastal town with 95% humidity and 95 degrees all summer long. So what? I refuse to cut my gorgeous hair for 3 months out of the year. That just doesn?t make sense. I can?t grow it back in the remaining 9 months, not to past my waist where it belongs. Sorry.

Yes, I have friends, both male and female who seasonally crop their beautiful locks to get their hair off their shoulders and necks for the summer. I hate that. Have they no sense of esthetics? What is wrong with putting it up for a couple of months? I ask you!

But no, they have to go and cut it. I don?t even let my friends say the words, ?cut? and ?hair? in the same sentence around me. I don?t. Ask them. We trim our hair. We do not cut it. That goes double for my boyfriend. I don?t look twice at these guys whose hair doesn?t even extend below their earlobes. What fun is that?

My sweetheart has the most beautiful waist-length blonde hair on the planet. I can tolerate the fact that he puts it in a ponytail for work. Can?t have those suits getting all annoyed that their programmer fellah ain?t dressed right, now can we?

The minute he hits the door, though, I want those silky tresses out of their hair tie and back where it belongs: in full sight. I?ll never forget the first time I saw him. We met at a party. The first thing I saw was that hair! I immediately asked a friend nearby who the new guy was. She said she didn?t know, but Angel would. So I wandered over to Angel and inquired.

Angel said he was new here. He had just arrived from Michigan. Well, isn?t that nice? Next thing you know he has my phone number. Isn?t life sweet? Now that we live together, he promises never to cut his hair. I?ll hold him to it, too. If he ever wants to break up with me, all he has to do is cut that hair and I?m outta here. He won?t, though. I was careful. He loves his long hair as much as I love mine.

We go out to the beach and put those tresses up in a ponytail. Slide it aside to apply suntan lotion and we are set. We?ll wash it later. I?ll sometimes put mine up in a bun, okay, but it comes down the minute I?m off the beach.

Are you one of us? Do you love your long hair summer or winter? I see that you are. It?s really beautiful that way.

About this author -
Christy Mettarod went into hair styling right out of college. She has been styling hair for 30 years. You can read more articles about hair at Your Hair.

Foundation Top Picks!

2009-02-20T22:26:00.000+07:00

Hi, I'm the Fashion & Beauty Consultant for Estate Jewelry International where we don't just sell jewelry but pamper the whole you!

It's always tough finding the perfect foundation for your skin type, color, and texture. Some products are heavy,some don't cover so well, others don't blend well. We'll review a few of the products which we tried.

Tinted Moisturizers

* Laura Mercier tint moisturizer that leaves your skin feeling fresh. Comes in 7 shades all very natural. It has an SPF of 20 and is fortified with age-defying antioxidants.

* Elizabeth Arden tint moisturizer blends easily with enough coverage that you don't feel naked. It doesn't build up on dry patches. Demotologist tested. It has a SPF of 15

* Hydramax tint moisturizer is a lightweight hydrating lotion balancing moisture and coverage with natural-colour tint. Extract of Butterfly Lavender helps boost hydration by stimulating the water-trapping proteins essential for skin's proper moisture balance. Comes in 2 shades.

* Bobbi Brown tint moisturizer won the Best New Foundation award in Nov 2004 in Health Magazine. This formula is rich and luxurious so its perfect for anyone with extra dry skin. It blends easily and gives skin light coverage. Deeply moisturizes skin, to help reduce the look of fine lines. Dermatologist tested.

* Avon tint moisturizer is great for younger skin, however it has a tendency to stick out like a sore thumb on dry skin. I tried applying it as a foundation with a make up sponge and as a moisturiser using my fingertips and both times my skin looked terrible. It has a nice feel and a pleasant floral scent but the overall look it gave me was not natural in any way, the dry spots on my face seemed to show badly. Perhaps better suited for pre 40's skin. Liquid Foundations

* Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk liquid foundation is lush yet feather light with a very sheer texture. It is exceptional at correcting discoloration, elimating redness and blotchiness. Comes in 14 shades.

* L'Oreal True Match liquid foundation is a nice light weight and has terrific texture. No oils, fragrences or pore clogging materials. Contains vitamins B & E as well as glycerin to nourish the skin. Available in 24 colors.

* Laura Mercier liquid foundation is water based yet exceptionally creamy with a nice smooth finish. It has great coverage for a non oil based product. It isn't greasy or drying and the color matches well. Application is best with a sponge, and you can get more or less coverage depending on how much you apply. Takes a few minutes to set.

* Revlon Age Defying liquid foundation has great coverage and does not feel heavy. It does have a fragrance which does not go away. May hot be the best choice if your skin is at all oily. By mid day face may tend to feel oily and some experience zit outbreaks. It has an SPF of 30. Limited colors.

* T Leclerc Hydrating Fluid liquid foundation is best applied with a sponge or fingers. Its super thin so you hardly know its there. Comes in 6 shades. It has an SPF of 8. Mousse Foundation

* Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse is my all time favourite foundation. It gives great coverage but you feel like you've got nothing on. It's lighweight and easy to apply. I find it's best applied with fingers. If your skins a little on the dry side apply a moisturizer and then the mousse and it says light weight. It lasts all day and I've never had a break out using this product. It's advertised as a revolutionary whipped formula and that describes its texture perfetly. Available in 10 shades.

* Elizabeth Arden Flawless Finish Mousse is easy to apply and it never looks cakey or thick. Good coverage for such a sheer foundation. Great for dry skin. If you have oily or dry skin you may find yourself oily by mid day. I must say the smell can be a little harsh. If your at all sensative to smells have a whiff before buying. Dermatologist, clinically, allergy tested. Recommended for all skin types, except extra-oily.

* Erno Laszlo Absolute Finish Finishing Mousse Foundation is water free, air whipped providing flawless coverage. It is good for almost all skin types except for very oily skin and those that have a sensitivity to salicylic acid. Its very light and coverage can be sheer to complete. Stays on all day. Its a water free air whipped. Contains Emu Oil and essential fatty acids for non greasy moisturizing. Antioxidants vitamin A, C, & E to defend against free radical damage. It has UVA and UVB protection, and it is Dermatologist tested.

Wouldn't life be grand if one product worked for all of us. However, that's not the case so although I try and review products I cannot tell you how they will work on your skin. Most reputable cosmetic companies will refund or exchange a product if you are unhappy with it. When you find a product that works for you stay with it.

Remember your fashion statement includes the whole you from your hair to the polish on your toes, from your hat to your shoes, from your earrings to the rings on your fingers. So be sure to let the world know who you are and Make Your Fashion Statement!

Sher Matsen from Estate Jewelry International have been serving customers for over 20 years, providing affordable estate jewelry, and a wealth of information on jewelry, fashion, designers, and beauty with on staff industry professionals. Please visit us at http://www.estatejewelryinternational.com/

Health and Beauty Tips

2009-02-19T10:53:00.001+07:00

Our society is one which is somewhat obsessed with appearances. Magazines, movies and television feature those with beautiful faces and bodies almost exclusively. Characters in a television shows or movies are often stereotypes rather than independent characters lending credence to the theory that beauty is more important than other aspects such as intelligence, personality and creativity. While this may not be true it is certainly the image which is promoted in the media. This focus on the beautiful people of the world has ignited a thriving beauty industry.

Nail salons are opening in large quantities all around the world. Although women make up the majority of the clientele in these establishments, men are also flocking to salons and spas for manicures and pedicures. Manicures and pedicures used to be considered luxury treatments reserved for special occasions such as weddings and other formal events but today many women visit salons weekly for nail care treatments.

Nails aren?t the only part of the body get a great deal of attention lately. Gleaming white teeth have become an asset desired, and achieved through treatments, by many. Both over the counter whitening products and dentist performed procedures are becoming increasingly popular. These products and procedures help people to obtain a coveted bright smile. Salons and spas are also offering services and treatments to help individuals gain desired hairstyles. These treatments and services can help a person to achieve a completely different look. Those with short hair can have hair extensions, made with real hair, attached to create the illusion of longer hair. This can have the result of creating a dramatic effect. The extensions can be either very natural looking or completely outrageous. Hair straighteners are also popular options for those who want straight locks. Those with curly or wavy hair can have chemicals applied to remove the curl from their hair or may employ the use of products such as flat irons to achieve the desired effect.

Laser hair removal is another service offered by spas for the purpose of beautification. Laser hair removal can be somewhat painful as well as expensive and time consuming but many women still invest in these services. Laser hair removal is used to permanently remove hair through the use of lasers applied to the hair follicles.

These treatments are most effective in areas involving a small surface area such as the face, the underarms or the bikini line.

Some who are seeking physical perfection are taking even more drastic steps than those mentioned above in their pursuit of beauty. Laser vision correction is one such extreme measure those looking to improve their appearance are undergoing. Surgery to correct vision is often utilized by individuals who do not wish to wear glasses anymore. Although contact lenses are a viable

solution for correcting vision without surgery, many individuals are not satisfied with the use of contacts because there are still times when they are required to wear eye glasses. For these individuals corrective eye surgery is worth the risk in return for not having to wear eye glasses anymore.

Allen Maccey writes for several health websites and magazines including Feeling Lighter, Feeling Fitter and Beautiful Body and Face

5 Tips to Eliminating Women's Facial Hair

2009-02-19T10:43:00.001+07:00

Unlike some men, who relish a bushy beard or a fashionable moustache, most women do not want to make decisions about styling facial hair. In fact, they do not want to think about it at all. Lip, chin, or cheek fuzziness is not considered a female attribute in our society, which is why many cosmetic manufacturers ardently work to create useful hair removal products. These can vary from sharp razors to soft creams, but all have the same goal of trying to remove hair shafts and follicles that grow in unwanted places on the female face.

Over the ages and across many cultures, women have tried many methods of hair removal, some of which have proven more effective than others. Here is a rundown on some of the ways you may want to try or recommend if you, or someone you know, is struggling with this problem.

1. Pluck out unwanted hair with tweezers. Since females use tweezers to shape their eyebrows and sometimes remove unwanted nose hair, they also may try to pull out those fine, dark hairs over the top lip or sprouting on the chin. Sometimes they explore around the ear area, too, in search of fine hair growing downward as though to simulate a shadowy beard. These are hard to grasp individually, so tweezers work best for individual long hairs or those that can be more readily visualized around the lips.

2. Try a depilatory cream. By following the product directions carefully, you can get rid of visible unwanted facial hair in most areas. Just be careful about using these products around the eyes. You may have to apply the cream over several days? or weeks? time to see consistent results.

3. Experiment with hair bleaching products. If you can?t remove the hair or don?t like the idea of peach fuzz or stubble, you can try a bleaching cream, though you may have to experiment on small, hidden areas of your face first to be sure you don?t lighten too much the areas where the hair is located. As with other chemical products, be careful when using it around the eyes on the brow areas.

4. Sharpen your razor. Use a steel or plastic razor, preferably one made for women, to scrape away surface hairs around the mouth, on the chin, and over the cheeks. The down side to this method is you may have to keep doing it, since a razor doesn?t get at the hair follicle, which will continue to grow. You also may feel a light stubble if you have a lot of facial hair that needs to be removed, as some women with special conditions do.

5. Cover it with cosmetics. If all else fails, apply enough natural-looking foundation to cover any mild hair growth so others can?t see it.

You also can get electrolysis for hair removal, which may be permanent or require repeat visits. Contact a local doctor or a plastic surgeon for more information, or visit online websites for details.

For more information on eliminating women?s facial hair, Visit The Hair Removal Directory

Inner Cleavage!

2009-02-19T10:31:00.001+07:00

I read an article back in March 2005 that had the words of the title of this article in it. I picked it up at the Cancer Center at Beaumont Hospital, in Detroit Michigan. It was a heartfelt story of a woman who had lost her breasts to Breast Cancer. The story went on to talk about Melissa Etheridge and of her deliberate boldness at the 2005 Grammy's, when she came out with a bald head, after her cancer treatments, as if proudly displaying it as her gift of life. The story went on to talk about women who in desperation for survival had in some ways traded their beauty for life.

I related to the story, being a breast cancer survivor myself. But, what truly touched me about that article was the woman in the story talking about how when her outer beauty had faded away, and during treatments, she was left with spirit, raw and powerful and hanging on with claws, daring her to live.

What a concept. Have you ever been dared to live? Tim McGraw has an old song titled Live like you were dying, about a man, who seemingly is given a certain number of years or months to live due to some type of fatal disease. In the song when asked what he was to do about this news, he replied with, skydiving, mountain climbing, and a wish to all of his friends to one day know what it feels like to live like you were dying.

I remember what it felt like going through my cancer treatments. I remember the ugliness of my body and the forced humbleness of a deep seeded pride. I recall wondering if I would live through it, the pain, the blisters and stress. Looking back, I realize, I lived every day. I lived more then each day then I sometimes do now. Why is it that we have to be faced with something tragic to appreciate LIFE? What is it in our human-ess that makes us forget the grace and mercy of God and the power of prayer until we are brought to our knees at a crucial point in our life and MADE to remember? Funny, how God sometimes has a way of reminding us of the fragility of life. I believe He does this just so that we DO remember.

I recently was reminded again last week when another lump was found after almost two years of survival. I'm a prayerful, faithful woman, but I found myself even MORE prayerful. I found more time to enjoy my days, to kiss my kids and tell my husband I loved him. I also found a lot more time for God. Hmmm, makes me wonder why. But isn't life funny that way? We move along forgetting that our time is short, our days are numbered, our fate is destined and we truly have no idea when Gods hand will reach down and pluck us from our busy, appointment filled, carpooling, grocery shopping, house cleaning, business building days. These precious days that we can't seem to find time to get on our knees and give thanks because we don't have the time. Why, because our lives are just too full. Too full. I want you to remember that last statement. Life IS full. Praise God our lives are filled! Live every single day of it!

We have one month, one day a year to get our families together to gather in praise and thanksgiving. A National Holiday will do that for most of us. But how about not waiting for that Thanksgiving Holiday or that crucial moment of unknown fate.

When you find yourself on your knees at times like these, stay there. We could all stand to kneel a little longer. My hope is that this year we remember Gods graces and appreciate our lives and everything in them because God is good! Something as simple as feeling your pulse each morning is proof of that. Keep on remembering. While you're at it, remember those full days when your inbox is so full that you can barely find time to breathe? Those are the days to be grateful for. Those are the days to get on your knees in praise because when your in-box is empty, you're dead.

By the way that lump in my breast? Nothing but a small cyst. Cancer Free another day! Praise the heavens for this and every day. I intend to fully live ALL of mine. How about you?

Melissa Privett is a Transformational Workshop Leader and Keynote Speaker. She is intensively trained to facilitate a myraid of seminars and workshops for personal and spiritual growth and self-acceptance. Her workshops are highly praised for their inspirational empowerment of women. Melissa is also available for Spiritual Life Coaching by phone or in person and Chakra and Energy Balancing by appointment. She can be reached at 248-231-8018 or visit her website at http://www.lifepathworkshops.com

Makeup Tips According To The Seasons Introduction

2009-02-19T01:16:00.000+07:00

There is a concept in makeup now of listing it in terms of warm and cool. This can cover foundations, powders and even blushes. It comes from a system introduced a few decades back that can be loosely described as color coding. It was, in basic terms, a system where a person (mainly women but men too) could figure out how to choose their clothes and even makeup according to an individual's skin complexion. Each skin complexion would match up with a particular season of the year. If a person had very fair skin tone, that person would be considered a spring and would match their clothes and even makeup to what was considered spring colors. If a person had a medium skin tone, that person would be considered a summer and would match their clothes and even makeup to what was considered summer colors. If a person had a more tan skin tone, that person would be considered a fall and would match their clothes and even makeup to what was considered fall colors. If a person had a more rich skin tone, that person would be considered a winter and would match their clothes and even makeup to what was considered winter colors.

Books were written and home parties were hosted on this color coding technique. It was unique in that when a person thought they knew what season they were under, some people on a few occasion were surprised to find themselves under another season. It was assumed that people of an Ethnic background would automatically be classified as winters, but some Caucasian people quite often fell under this category as well. To give a general idea how this all worked, the season winter will be used in the following examples and suggestions.

Winters would pick foundations under cool shades and with a rose base. Examples of cool foundation shades were rose and sand. Test a foundation on the jaw line to get the proper matching shade. Cover dark scars and blemishes with a cover stick in the cool shade category. Blushes were to be chosen in the cool shades particularly the rose family. Examples of cool blushes ranged from blue-pink to burgundy with the exception of clear red.

Lipsticks were to be chosen in the cool shades particularly in rose tones. Examples of cool lipstick shades were pinks, plums, burgundies, (the plums and burgundies can also be brownish) blue-reds and clear reds. The reds could be used as a base for the other colors. If any of the lipstick colors turned blue; it was suggested to try a frosted lipstick. A lipstick brush or pencil was to be used to outline the lips. When buying a lipstick brush, one that a sable tip was suggested.

Eyebrow pencils were to chosen in the cool shades. Examples of eyebrow pencils in the cool shades were charcoal brown, or the ones with grayish and/or taupe tones. Eye shadows were to be used in powder form. If using crayons, a creamy crayon was recommended.

Michael Russell Your Independent guide to Beauty

How to Look Great Without Spending a Dime

2009-02-17T18:34:00.001+07:00

It?s important to develop a smile that delivers a balanced message between ?I?m happy you noticed me,? and ?I wasn?t born yesterday so don?t even think that you just won round one.?

In other words, you want a smile that is bright, alive, and attractive without making you look like a grinning idiot. And that?s easier to do than you might think.

A good smile is like a good makeup concealer; it can cover up a face that might not be as attractive as you wish it was, or it can draw attention away from some other part of your body that you don?t necessarily want him looking at for the moment. Developing a good smile is just like developing any other character trait. It takes practice and here?s how you get it.

Go into any room where there is a mirror and where you can be alone. Bedroom, bathroom, it doesn?t matter. Then stand in front of the mirror and smile. Smile wide, smile big, smile hard. Make funny faces and laugh at yourself. Think about funny things.

Notice the difference when you smile naturally over something humorous and when you force a smile to appear. Smile until your face hurts, take a break and then start smiling again.

Try to spend at least 30 minutes every day practicing your smile until you can paint it on your face with no effort at all.

If you can?t hit your stride and are unable to find a smile that ?works? seek some help from people who smile for a living. Seriously, go to the magazine store, buy some glamour and Hollywood magazines, and bring them back with you to your smile room. Leaf through the magazines until you find a smile you like and then practice, practice, practice until that smile appears whenever you need it.

Caterina Christakos is the founder of stillagirl.com - the positive place for women and girls. For more beauty tips go to: http://www.stillagirl.com

Health Benefits Of Dandelion Juice

2009-02-17T18:14:00.001+07:00

Dandelion leaves, when young, are a tasty salad vegetable. Dandelion roots can be dried, roasted and then ground as a good coffee substitute without caffeine and which has beneficial healthy effects on indigestion and on rheumatic complaints.

Nutritionally, dandelion juice is of remarkable value with a high iron content, quadruple the carotene content of lettuce plus rich supplies of calcium, potassium, and vitamins C and E.

With the juices of the stinging nettle and watercress it is the ideal basis for a 'spring clean' and is used this way in Germany as pan of a two week course combined with a diet without meat or much sugar or starch. This treatment helps to make the liver and the gall bladder normal, and it has a beneficial effect upon the nervous system.

The secret of growing your own is to use well dug soil and then to remove the flowers as soon as they appear. This avoids the random seeding of the plant and ensures a lush growth of leaves for several years. It is best to select seeds from a broad leafed variety as those are more tender and juicy. It is often mixed with the juices of the leaves of carrots and turnips.

As a diuretic, it can be taken alone. The Romans called the plant Herba urinaria, but this effect is the consequence of a dose of several ounces a day, whereas for other uses 2floz (50ml) is sufficient.

The humble dandelion is so often seen as an annoying weed in the garden and in the farmer's fields. Yet this attractive golden sunburst is a herbal medicine of renowned effect and great antiquity. The Germans call it Lowenzahn, or Lion's tooth, but the French Pissenlit, which means 'wet the bed' is more descriptive of its diuretic properties. In Belgium the dandelion plant is grown as a crop.

The botanical name Taraxacum comes from a Greek word which means to alter or to stir up and this refers to its medical properties. The specific word officinal used to be given to all officially recognized herbs.

Kevin Pederson has been managing a number of natural home remedies websites which have information on information on various vegetables, their benefits are being provided with the inclusion of dandelion and other juices.

Rejuvenate Your Skin with a Simple Seaweed Facial Mask

2009-02-15T16:53:00.001+07:00

A few years ago I discovered how to make a simple facial mask that left my face feeling incredibly soft, smooth and looking absolutely radiant. This mask contains kelp, honey, and aloe vera.

Seaweeds have been traditionally used to detoxify the body both internally and externally. They are rich in nutrients which help to both tone and nourish the skin. Seaweed contain mineral salts that can help the skin to hold it?s moisture better, which helps to smooth fine lines.

Adding honey to your mask adds additional moisture to the skin. Honey is a natural humectant that is rich in vitamins, minerals, enzymes and sugar. The sugar and enzymes in honey is a gentle exfoliate for the skin. When possible use raw honey to ensure that you get the maximum quality and benefit of this wonderful golden treat.

Aloe Vera has been known for its amazing healing properties for centuries. It has been used to help heal burns, eczema, sores, acne, insect bites, and more. It?s an antiseptic, highly lubricant, and penetrates deep into the skin.

To benefit from these ingredients, create this simple mask:

1 TBSP Kelp powder
? TBSP honey (raw honey is best)
? TBSP Aloe vera gel (99.9% pure)

Mix all ingredients in a bowl and apply to a clean face. Leave the mask on for 15 minutes and rinse with lukewarm water.

To enjoy glowing, healthy looking skin, use this mask 2 times a week.

I promise you will enjoy this mask and make it a regular part of your beauty program.

Danielle Sims explored her library of alternative health, herbal books, and aromatherapy books and created a blueprint for making her own body wrap formulas at home. Now she offers this information in an e-book entitled Wrap Yourself Slim: Body Wrap Exposed. Monthly newsletter is also available at her web site. For more information go to http://www.wrapyourselfslim.com

Avon's Skin So Soft: Not Just a Bath Oil!

2009-02-14T00:55:00.001+07:00

Did you know that AVON?s Skin-So-Soft Bath Oil is more than just a bath oil? Just look at the list of uses we?ve found, ?tried and true?!!

1. It?s a bath oil.

2. It?s an after shower moisturizer.

3. It can be used to remove makeup.

4. It?s a suntan oil (not a sunscreen, however).

5. Pour a little in the water of your foot saver to help moisturize your feet while you relax them.

6. It?s a hot oil treatment to soften nails.

7. It?s a good massage oil for those overworked, sore muscles.

8. It?s a good insect repellent for people and their pets (as recommended in Outdoor Life and Field and Stream magazines, plus ?Dear Abby?).

9. It helps relieve itching caused by insect bites and dry skin.

10. Sponge it on screen and around doors and windows to keep crawling bugs, as well as, flies and mosquitoes out.

11. It?s a good wood cleaner, conditioner and polish for natural wood. (Cuts grease and dirt from kitchen cabinets with ease).

12. It removes chewing gum from hair, skin, and most nonporous surfaces.

13. It removes glue and gum left from price tags and labels from glass, metal and most plastics.

14. It cleans tape marks left by bandages from skin.

15. It cleans ink from skin and most vinyl and painted surfaces.

16. It gently cleans heavy grease and oil from skin and nonporous surfaces.

17. It removes soap scum from shower doors, shower curtains, windows, and bathroom and kitchen fixtures.

18. It removes lime and hard water deposits from windows, fixtures, shower doors and tile.

19. It removes tar spots from car finishes without damaging paint finish.

20. It?s an oil lubricant for fitting pipe joints that won?t slip together as easily as they used to.

21. It removes paint and stain from skin ? much gentler than turpentine!

22. It cleans paint brushes easily, and leaves them as soft as new.

23. It removes gum from carpet.

24. It cuts grease and dirt from range hoods.

25. It removes candle wax from furniture, carpeting, and clothing.

26. It removes scuff marks from patent leather shoes.

27. It removes Liquid Nail (paneling glue).

28. Two glass bowls or glasses stuck together? Drizzle a little SSS down the sides and they?ll come apart easily ? no breakage!

29. It removes ?ring around the collar?.

30. Wipe down vinyl surfaces inside your car to preserve the vinyl.This article originally appeared in the June 2000 issue of Jet Aviation's Flight Attendant News.

Matt manages the Corporate Flight Attendant Community website at http://www.corporateflyer.net and http://www.cabinmanagers.com

Beauty Today: All Smoke and Mirrors?

2009-02-12T00:18:00.001+07:00

Did you ever notice that the bar is continually being raised on exactly what physical characteristics define beauty? As I sit in front of the TV, I am bombarded by beauties with pouty lips, perfect bone structure, flawless skin, more voluptuous upper regions, size 2 waists, and hair that resembles spun silk. Take these same beauties and plop them back in time 20-30 years, when the advent of modern cosmetic technology had not even begun to reach its full potential. Do you think they would have had those same attributes you find yourself longing for when faced with these images? My guess is probably not, or at least not to the same extent.

True, genetics play a role in physical beauty, but with the likes of total extreme makeover reality TV (The Swan, Extreme Makeover, Dr. Beverly Hills) and abundant publicity, we see that beauty and cosmetic improvement can now be achieved by a few thousand dollars and a good plastic surgeon. Not only that, but cosmetics in general are now so technologically advanced, you can improve your looks by personal makeup application and home treatments.

There are now do-it-yourself cosmetic treatments such as home microdermabrasion kits, chemical peels, botox creams and gels, teeth whiteners, hair removal treatments, cellulite treatments, professional hair straighteners and colors, self tanners, lip enlargers, acne treatments, and the list goes on and on. Cosmetics marketers and science have joined forces to give women everything they ever wanted to be their most beautiful, and feel better about themselves. Women are benefitting by so many companies competing for a piece of these fairly new markets by lower, more competitive prices.

Not only are there new breakthroughs in the world of cosmetic science, but there are constantly new studies and discoveries in the field of nutrition, fitness, and wellness. Combine this with the new wave of technologically advanced cosmetics, supplements, and treatments, and you've got a recipe for a healthier, longer, more satisfying life for those of us who decide to take advantage of the advanced knowledge of our time.

So, does your desire to be your best and most beautiful self make you shallow, less credible, or somehow jeopardize your feminist agendas? Unless you've somehow compromised your integrity, morals, or core beliefs along the way, the answer is ABSOLUTELY NOT! As long as you are not putting yourself at high risk for physical harm, obsessing endlessly, or spending your life savings, investing time and money into your beauty ultimately is an investment in your well being, self esteem, and many times, mental and physical health. Feeling beautiful is part of what makes us women. Come on, it's just plain FUN to experiment with different looks and different products! It feels good to be noticed, and when you feel beautiful, you tend to radiate confidence and power. It is inherent in our nature to want to feel feminine and look and feel our best, and there is nothing wrong with it, as long as it is not all-consuming.

As a self-proclaimed product junkie, I can attest that many of these newly engineered products really do work, as I have tried nearly all of them in the quest to look and feel my best. I can't wait to see what they'll come out with next, as every new product seems to top the last. Hey, women have come a long way, and we deserve to feel sexy and confident - beyond smoke and mirrors!

Danna Schneider, Webmaster
Provides unbiased cosmetic and beauty product reviews, along with sophisticated beauty and makeup advice, through her website CosmeticsGalore.com Cosmetic Product Reviews and Comparisons

Hair Removal: Permanent Or Temporary?

2009-02-12T00:12:00.001+07:00

Unwanted hair is no fun, and it?s not as easy to remove as you would like it to be. Yet, there are solutions to your unwanted hair. Removal can be one of two types. First of all, it can be simply temporary, such as shaving the hair away. Or, it can be made to be permanent.

Why Remove Hair?

Why should you bother with having costly procedures done to remove hair? There are many reasons. For example, many athletes have hair removed so that they can shave seconds off of their times. Or, many fashion conscious people want eyebrow, leg, arm and private areas hair free to stay with the current style. Some men enjoy having their hair styled into a specific fashion statement such as a moustache or goatee. Sometimes, individuals need to have it removed for medical reasons. Still, others just want it gone.

Why Permanent?

For many individuals the best way to get hair gone is through investing in permanent solutions. You?ll likely need to see a licensed Esthetician for this procedure and it will cost you. But, if you get it done, and it is done significantly, you will not need to keep worrying about the hair.

What Permanent Options Are There?

There are many. Here are some of the many that you can choose from.

Laser treatments: these are by far becoming some of the most popular. The process, which is FDA approved, actually uses a small laser to destroy the hair follicles. It takes seconds to do. But, many individuals can not have this procedure as you will need the right colored skin/hair for it. The procedure is expensive, up to $3,000 per procedure in which you may need more than one treatment. Experience is helpful in having a good experience the first time.

Electrolysis: This is another option for permanency. In this procedure, a probe is placed into each follicle (yes, it takes a long time for large areas!) and will then use an electric charge to destroy the follicle. It is painful to an extent, and you will likely need more than one treatment. Again, it can cost up to $3,000 for this procedure.

Photo epilation or pulsed laser treatments: These are much like the laser treatments in that they use pulsed light to work at destroying the follicles and it can be very effective for under arm hair as well as that of the bikini area. There are few limitations here, and it will cost you slightly less at about $2,000 per treatment.

Temporary?

There are many temporary methods for hair removal. You can use processes like shaving and waxing to help remove hair. You can use creams as well as plucking. Temporary or not, these are less expensive and often less painful methods of hair removal.

Which solution is for you? Base your decision on your budget and your preferences. Talk to your local dermatologist for recommendations. Whatever you do, get rid of the hair!

As a beauty consultant Nicola is always evaluating new products. Visit her site at http://www.epilator.info for resources, views and information about removing body hair.

Acne Blemish Laser Treatment Tips

2009-02-11T01:10:00.001+07:00

A successful acne blemish laser treatment may include various types of laser exposure such as carbon dioxide lasers or nonablative lasers. Eliminating the negative effects of zits and pimples becomes a reality with such techniques. Most acne blemish laser treatment methods are painless and effective, but they also come at a noticeable price.

Acne laser treatment costs

Most procedures cost around $500 for a 15-20 minute laser acne treatment session. That is a lot of money, however, for some patients, it may be even cheaper than buying other expensive medications and ointments for a much longer period of time. Many feel that the laser acne treatment price is acceptable given the success rate and fast cure.

How does acne laser treatment work?

This recently approved form of treating severe acne and curing pimples should give you more confidence in the safety and success of the procedure. The laser device emits a smooth laser beam that focuses on the affected areas ? one of the best methods for acne blemish laser treatment. It emits pulsating heat below the skin's surface and diminishes the size of the sebaceous glands, which are responsible for acne. Patients of acne blemish laser treatment use creams to numb the area where the laser will be applied, so the process is virtually painless.

Laser acne treatment ? types of lasers

Nonablative Lasers. These types of lasers work go underneath the skin to stimulate collagen growth and help tighten underlying skin. Some of the positive results include a good skin tone, a reduction in fine lines and a noticeable effect in skin appearance, thus constituting and excellent acne blemish laser treatment.

Erbium (ER) Lasers also go through the skin, but heat is passed on to water molecules in the skin. Erbium treatment is frequently used on patients who have shallow to moderate facial wrinkles and blemishes. It is a good choice for zit treatment as well as for removing acne blemishes.

Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Lasers emit short bursts of high-energy light to the skin. The damaged tissues are vaporized layer by layer. It works well for removing all types of zits and pimples and is a serious candidate to the position of best acne treatment.

Side effects of acne blemish laser treatment

Some of the commonly encountered side effects include skin discoloration, skin crusting and, in some cases, swelling of the affected areas. The Carbon Dioxide laser is also known to produce higher levels of pigmentation during the acne blemish laser treatment. In most cases the level of these acne blemish laser treatment side effects is low so most patients can have increased confidence in the procedure.

Please visit our site for more updated acne treatment and laser treatment information: Click here to go to the webpage.

* Acnexpert
* Asthmaxpert

Is Your Face a Nightmare After Christmas?

2009-02-11T01:04:00.000+07:00

The party's over and the morning after Christmas brings along the dread of watching your haggard face in the mirror. Hectic partying does that for you -- let's face it. And so we might as well start looking for ways to beat the post party face catastrophe.

WATER YOUR BODY

Your body needs it as much as your plants do! Late nights and alcohol can bring about serious depletion of moisture from your face. Drink as much water as possible throughout the evening. If it is not possible to drink much water during the party, be sure to drink a glass when you come home, before going to bed.

Next morning, over a couple of hours, try to drink a whole bottle (at least 750 ml) of fluids like water, herbal tea (jasmine or chamomile also helps hangovers), lemonade, fresh fruit juices etc. For the rest of the day, keep spritzing your face at regular intervals. You could also go in for a light, fruit-water based moisturizer.

SENSITIVE SKIN

A healthy, glowing skin, if heaped with lots of various makeup ingredients, takes no time to turn into an irritable, sensitive skin. Try to use mild and protective products and don't punish your face by applying a little bit of everything you can find in your makeup box.

Find ways to maximize your look with minimal cosmetics. Always cleanse, tone and moisturize before you apply your makeup. It keeps makeup from looking chalky and also acts as a protective layer.

C-L-E-A-N-S-E

Remove all traces of makeup from your face as soon as possible. Cleanse well before going to sleep that night and cleanse again in the morning.

Besides water, use good quality makeup removers and make it a must to use a good eye makeup remover for the eyes.

Over cleansing can strip protective oils from your skin and make your skin more sensitive. But since its absolutely essential that you remove your makeup when you return, use a gentle cleanser. A cream-based cleanser is the gentlest.

Don't forget to tome and moisturize after you have removed your makeup. Massage your skin with an enriching moisturizer for about 5 minutes to stimulate circulation and glow naturally.

EYE CARE

If you are beginning to get dark circles due to lack of sleep and poor circulation, use an eye cream.

A great remedy from the kitchen is to place potato or zucchini slices on your eyelids for about 5 minutes and apply slight pressure. This helps to drain out excess fluid and soothes your eyes.

PUFFY FACE

The best way to deal with a puffy and zitty face is to cool it down. The 'tried and tested' used tea bags and cucumber slices work well. Another remedy is using ice cubes of rosewater. Chill a tray before leaving for parties and rub it all over your face in the morning.

You can also grate a cucumber, soak a cotton ball in it and wipe your whole face with it. Fifteen minutes in a steam room or a cold shower also works wonders for a puffy face.

So now there's nothing to stop you from enjoying your Christmas and New Year Parties and Bashes. Just get equipped to beat the post-party face catastrophe and party hard!

Lata Tokhi is the Founder and Editor of Dot Com Women (http://www.dotcomwomen.com), a premier women's website and fast-growing online community. For more beauty tips and advice, makeup tricks, interviews with famous Fashion personas, seasonal styles and trends, visit the 'Beauty & Fashion' channel at http://www.dotcomwomen.com/beauty

History of Plastic Surgery

2009-02-03T22:47:00.001+07:00

Lady Godiva Hair

2009-02-03T16:46:00.001+07:00

I love long hair! Especially mine.

Are you one of us? Do you love your long hair summer or winter? I see that you are. It?s really beautiful that way.

About this author -
Christy Mettarod went into hair styling right out of college. She has been styling hair for 30 years. You can read more articles about hair at Your Hair.