The Fundamental Of Fitness

Physical fitness is a set of features a person has in regard to his ability to perform physical activities that require endurance, strength or flexibility and is determined by a combination of regular activity or exercise and genetically inherited ability. It also measures the ability to carry out daily tasks with vigor and without undue fatigue and with sufficient energy to engage in leisure-time pursuits and the vitality to perform at one?s fullest capacity.

Physical fitness is achieved by regular physical activity, proper diet and nutrition and proper rest for physical recovery within the parameters allowed by the genome.

Physical fitness is often divided into following types:

Flexibility: Joint rotation, Static stretching and Dynamic Stretching are all the various forms of flexibility exercises used in warm up.

Cardiovascular endurance: Aerobic capacity describes the functional status of the cardio-respiratory system which includes the heart, lungs or blood vessels. It is defined as the maximum volume of oxygen which can be consumed by ones muscles during exercise. The higher a cardio-respiratory endurance level, the more oxygen is transported to exercising muscles and longer exercise can be maintained without exhaustion which means a higher the level of aerobic fitness.

Muscular strength & endurance: Weight training is a form of exercise for developing the strength and size of skeletal muscles which can provide significant functional benefits and improvement in overall health and well-being.

Body Composition: In physical fitness, body composition is used to describe the percentages of fat, bone and muscle in human bodies. The percentage of fat is of most interest because it can be very helpful in judging health in addition to body weight.

An average healthy male's body should have 12~18 percent fat while in females it is 14~ 20 percent fat. Body fat percentage can be measured in several ways. The most common method is by using measurement calipers to measure the thickness of subcutaneous fat in multiple places on the body. Another method is Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA), which uses the resistance of electrical flow through the body to estimate body fat.

Agility: Agility is the ability to change the body's direction efficiently, and this requires a combination of balance, coordination, speed, and strength.

Balance: Equilibrioception or sense of balance is one of the physiological senses which allow humans to walk without falling. When the sense of balance is disrupted, it causes dizziness, disorientation and nausea.

Speed: Some biological factors that can determine a sprinter's potential are muscular strength, adrenaline use and anaerobic respiration capacity

Task-oriented fitness: A person is said to be physically fit for a particular task with a reasonable efficiency, for example, fit for military service.

NamSing Then is a regular article contributor on many topics. Be sure to visit his other websites Fitness, Exercise Fitness and Female Fitness

How to Improve Your Vision Without Surgery Simple Eye Exercises Work Wonders

We all know how important it is to keep our bodies fit. Going to the gym, jogging, and swimming are all on the good for you list of activities. But did you know that you can exercise your eyes as well? Exercising your eyes keeps them healthy, takes away eyestrain, helps you to focus and even improves your vision without surgery.

Exercise 1. Massage

  • First close your eyes tightly for 3-5 seconds, then open them for 3-5 seconds. Repeat this 7 or 8 times.
  • Then close your eyes and massage with circular movements of your fingers for 1-2 minutes. Make sure you press very lightly; otherwise you could hurt your eyes.
  • Press three fingers of each hand against your upper eyelids, hold for 1-2 seconds, then release. Repeat 5 times.

    • Exercise 2. Movement

    Sit and relax. Roll your eyes clockwise, then anticlockwise. Repeat 5 times, and blink in between each.

    Exercise 3. Mark on the glass

    Sit about 50 cm from the window. Make a mark on the glass at your eye level (a small sticker, black or red, would be perfect). Look through this mark and focus on something far away for 10-15 seconds; then focus on the mark again.

    Exercise 4. Follow a pencil

    Hold a pencil in front of you on a length of an arm. Move your arm slowly to your nose, follow the pencil with your eyes until you can keep it in focus. Repeat 10 times.

    Exercise 5. Writing on the wall

    Look in front of you at the opposite wall and pretend that you are writing with your eyes, without turning your head. It seems difficult at the starts, but with a bit of practice it is really fun. The bigger the letters, the better the effect.

    Exercise 6. Watch the time with your eyes

    Imagine that you are standing in front of a really big clock. Look at the middle of the clock. Then look at any hour mark, without turning your head. Look back at the center. Then look at another hour mark. Do this at least 12 times. You can also do this exercise with your eyes closed.

    When doing the exercises, make sure that you're not facing anybody, or else that they know you're doing eye exercises. Otherwise they might think you have gone nuts.

    If you can spare 10-15 minutes a day to do these exercises, it would be very beneficial for the health of your eyes. But it is even more important to do the exercises regularly, than it is to do them for a long time. Even 30-60 seconds of eye movement every hour is very helpful. For example, when your computer takes its sweet time to do something, most people just swear at the poor thing and waste the time, but you can make a few circles with your eyes. Even the first day you do this, you should notice that, when you finished working, your eyes aren't as tired as usual.

    See other simple tips for your eye health

    Tanya Turner is a contact lens expert and a founder of http://www.1-contact-lenses-consumer-guide.com/, where you can find unbiased information about eye health and all types of discount contact lenses with reviews and pictures

    Beauty Salons

    To pamper and take care of ourselves, beauty salons exist. Skin care is not just the hype of today?s world. Prevailing even during the ancient days, it has always been a way of life. Grooming our bodies has at all times remained a pleasure, both with the royalties and common masses.

    Setting up a professionally competent, efficient, and reputable beauty salon can be a daunting task. Any beauty salon rests on proper management, service, equipment, and products. And thankfully, to help us, multitudes of companies supply all the necessary things to enable us to set up a good beauty salon.

    Equipment and supplies are a must for any beauty salon to work successfully. Without them, no beauty salon can exist. Equipment needed for a beauty salon include salon chairs and stools, salon stations, shampoo bowls, styling chairs, hair steamers, reception furniture, facial beds, and many more things.

    Some brands which make good beauty salon equipment include TISPRO, Jeffco, Hotspa, and GiGi besides others. Equipment is generally costly, but they can be bought at a cheaper rate from some wholesale companies. Some starter packages are also good-value-for-money. Such packages include styling chairs, styling stations, shampoo units, and hair steamers. Besides this, there are other packages too, offering much more items at reasonable prices.

    Beauty salon supplies usually include all the necessary topical creams, gels, and other products used for styling and taking care of our hair, skin, nails, feet, hand, and hair removal. A huge number of products of different brands are all available in the market which can be bought at wholesale and even discounted packages.

    To modernize beauty salons and organize its work, we need beauty salon software. ?Inventory systems?; ?service support?; ?client history?; ?multiple users?; ?bar code support?; ?point of sale?; ?appointment booking?; ?sales tax report?; and many other features are provided by beauty salon software. Such software supports nearly all higher versions of windows and is quick and easy to learn.

    With support for learning and free demo CDs available, software companies have helped us greatly in managing the work of salons.

    Beauty Salons provides detailed information on Beauty Salons, Beauty Salon Software, Beauty Salon Equipment, Beauty Salon Supplies and more. Beauty Salons is affiliated with Natural Beauty Products.

    Dental Implants and the Risks Involved

    Dental implants are becoming more and commonplace in the world of dentistry but there are risks involved. In response to concerns over the health risks associated with dental implants the American Academy of Implant Prosthodontists has issued this message: ?Implants are made of biologically compatible materials which have undergone extensive testing over a period of several years. Since these materials are largely metals, such as titanium, and have never been living tissue, there is no likelihood of causing an antigen-antibody response which could cause rejection similar to that which sometimes occurs with heart and kidney transplants.?

    A patient?s risk of problems in regards to dental implant surgery should be assesses by the attending dentist before surgery is undertaken. A patient should be up front about his or her past medical and dental history in order for the dentist to be aware of any health concerns that might arise during or following the surgery. There are risks involved with the surgery and /or the anesthesia uses as well as other medical and psychological risks.

    Risks that are directly tied into the surgery include local and systemic infection, nerve injury and the possibly that there will be ?inadvertent perforation of the nasal sinus.? Psychological factors can also play a role in how a patient responds both during and after the surgery as well as to what extent he or she will follow the oral hygiene maintenance that is required of them after surgery in order to facilitate the healing process. What is happening in a person?s personal and professional life and the stressors they are facing make a difference as well. Some of these psychological stressors include, but are not limited to, the family, financial status, job satisfaction and health worries. People who have problems in regards to anxiety, depression, extreme neurotic behaviors, fears about medical procedures as well as past negative dental or medical experiences might need to talk there concerns out beforehand with a trained therapist or counselor at the hospital.

    There may be extra risks associated with dental implants for those who smoke, drink or have a dependency on drugs as dental implants are geared for the most part, for those who are in generally good health and have above average dental health and hygiene. Nutrition issues and post operative dental hygiene compliance procedures must be discussed in detail with patients who indulge in any of the aforementioned bad habits as they can pose risks as well as be deterrents to proper healing.

    Temporary problems and risks that can occur as a result of dental implant surgery include swelling, bruising and discomfort, problems with speech as well as gingivitis. Long-term risk factors include hyperplasias, nerve injury, local or systemic bacterial infection, local bone loss exacerbation, and lastly, infections endocarditis.

    Other risks include the financial costs which can run a patient into thousands of dollars. As well dental implants involve quite a lengthy time commitment on the part of the patient, and many visits to the dentist that could span anywhere from three months to a year and a half.

    Stephanie Dilson is a Dental Surgeon and in her spare time runs an informational site on Dental Implants for all those interested in the process to find out valuable information on the cost, benefits, risks and features of this increasingly popular procedure. For more information see http://www.dentalimplantsguide.com

    Is Your Face a Nightmare After Christmas?

    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

    How to Improve Your Skin's Elasticity

    If you are a woman in your late 30's or higher, you have probably noticed your skin?s elasticity is not what it used to be. For most of us this is inevitable. Other body parts begin to sag as we age so why should our skin be any different? Fortunately, there are options available that will help to reverse the effects of age on the skin and also improve elasticity in loose skin that's caused by weight loss. To better understand what exactly causes our skin to sag in the first place, let?s go over a bit of the physical side of the process.

    Your skin has two distinct layers called the epidermis and the dermis. The epidermis is on the surface and contains the pigment, epidermal cells, and proteins. The dermis is the layer located underneath the epidermis and contains the dermal cells, blood vessels and nerves, hair follicles, and oil glands plus it is responsible for providing the nutrients for the epidermal layer. It also contains the connective tissue as well as our skin?s collagen.

    Although it is located beneath the epidermal layer, it is changes in the dermal layer that cause the outer skin to wrinkle and loose elasticity as we age. As we grow older, the amount of fat found in our lower layer of skin decreases, our glands produce less oil, and collagen and elastin fibers loose their elasticity. The natural process of cell reproduction in the dermal layer also decreases as we grow older, resulting in a slower rejuvenation of our skin cells. So, now that we know just why this happens let?s talk about the part that is more important to those of us suffering from this affliction, the solution.

    Although there is no actual magic pill designed to stop this natural aging process, there are options available to slow down and, in some cases, reverse the signs of aging skin. Of course, surgery is always an option and a face lift can take years off your appearance. However, it is a major procedure and recovery is long and can be quite painful. If this is an option you would consider, make sure to do your research and only go to a board certified plastic surgeon with a well established reputation.

    For those looking for a less invasive route, there are a variety of products on the market today that offer an easier and less painful solution, though with less dramatic results. Many of these products contain ingredients like copper, Ginseng, elastin, collagen, and HGH (human growth hormone). These are all ingredients that have been proven to have some level of rejuvenating effects on the skin and its elasticity. Most products are geared toward sensitive skin and are generally to be allergy-free.

    Brian Fong
    http://www.NaturalVisage.com/

    There are options available that will help to reverse the effects of age on the skin and also improve elasticity in loose skin that's caused by weight loss.

    Little Known Method of Successfully Getting Rid of Unwanted Facial Hair

    Women don?t want all that hair in places other than on their head! With either heredity or age, the ladies are bound to get a moustache on their upper lip and it?s never ever welcomed. First there was shaving, and then came the plethora of creams, lotions and potions to remove hair, then there was waxing, and even electrolysis. Now gals, there?s yet another method you may choose to rid that unwanted stache on your upper lip. It?s called Threading.

    Threading is done at salons or can also be done at home. The process removes the fine and fuzzy hair right from the root. If it sounds painful, consider the options. If you shave your lip, it?ll come back stubbly, eventually like a man. What wants that? If you use a cream, you?re subjecting yourself to chemical reactions and it doesn?t rid the hair at the root, so it?ll likely just grow back faster and thicker. If you?ve ever had your lip waxed, ripping that sucker off hurts too. Not to mention the bright red upper lip for hours and the small beady blisters for a week. Ick. Ever try plucking your hairs out? Ouch is right! You could bleach that hair, but then you?ll just have a lighter colored moustache. Every method has its drawbacks.

    Many women say the best method of hair removal from the upper lip is threading. One of the benefits is that you don?t have to wait for hair to grow a certain length. The concept is that you?re going to get the hair twisted and spun into the thread and thusly yanking, gently yanking it off your face. It might be difficult for you to visualize the procedure, so you may want to have it done in a salon first if you?re not getting the full gist of what needs to happen.

    To start take about 24 inches of thread length. Yes, the sewing thread, any kind, nothing special so long as you use a good quality, strong thread. Take both ends and tie them, together in a knot. You?ll have a circle of thread when you?re done tying the ends together. Next hold the thread with both hands and wind them around (loop around) your hands about ten times. Then place the thread around the fingers of both hands. Push the part that is wound up towards one hand by widening the fingers of one hand and at the same time closing the fingers of the other hand. Use an alternating ?open/close? motion with opposite hands.

    By opening the fingers of the closed hand and closing the fingers of the other hand, you?re pushing the wound portion in the other direction. It will take some practice. Keep pushing the wound up portion back and forth until you are able to push it back and forth easily. Once you have the hang of it, you might be ready to start practicing on a body part. Don?t use the upper lip as a practice point. Try the leg or some other body part that is easily accessible.

    Begin by placing the thread on the portion of your leg or elsewhere that you are going to first try. Place the wound part on one end of the hair, and the thread from the other side should be on both sides of the hair you want to remove. Next, move the wound portion to the other side, making sure that it catches the hair while moving. It will then lift the hair from the root as it moves back and forth.

    After you?ve practiced this method and are fairly comfortable with it, move onto your upper lip. It?ll be quick and easy, taking only a couple of minutes every other day. How wonderful will it be to always have a hairless lip!

    If all else fails, you may not be an expert threader, but you will at least know what someone is talking about next time they mention threading and they?re not referring to cross-stitching!

    The information contained in this article is for educational purposes only and is not intended to medically diagnose, treat or cure any disease. Consult a health care practitioner before beginning any health care program.

    Emily Clark is editor at Lifestyle Health News and Medical Health News where you can find the most up-to-date advice and information on many medical, health and lifestyle topics.

    Abdominoplasty Prices

    Abdominoplasty, known as a tuck, is a very common cosmetic procedure. If you are interested in potentially having the surgery, you need to know the typical prices.

    Losing weight is the perennial battle as we grow older. It is the lucky soul who does not naturally gain weight as the years pass. Exercise and diet are undoubtedly the best way to attack this inevitable process, a fact repeated in the media and literature over and over. The problem, of course, is who has time given the hectic pace of life?

    An abdominoplasty is one option for battling the bulge. The costs of the procedures, however, may come as a bit of a shock if you aren?t aware of them going in. The prices tend to be a bit high given the nature of the procedure.

    While abdominoplasty is the name used for most cosmetic abdominal surgeries, there is not one procedure as suggested. In truth, procedures range from full tucks to mini-tucks and so on. The difference is purely a matter of what you are trying to achieve. As you might guess, a full tuck is going to take longer, which results in a higher price. Mini-tucks are more isolated and less expensive given the time in question.

    Abdominoplasty prices vary greatly depending on a number of other practical issues. The location of the tuck procedure is going to have an impact, to wit, Beverly Hills surgeons charge much more than surgeons in Oklahoma City. Further, there seems to be a direct correlation between the number of times the surgeon has been on television and the price. If you must have a celebrity surgeon, you are going to pay for it.

    In general, the cost of a full abdominoplasty will range from $4,000 to $7,000 dollars. Mini tucks will run as much as half of this figure, but the specific cost is entirely dependent upon what is being done.

    Abdominoplasty prices can cause serious sticker shock when you first get an estimate. Remember, health insurance rarely pays for plastic surgery.

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

    Beauty And The Beast The Answer To Being Beautiful

    It is said that absence makes the heart grow fonder - well so does Beauty - the more you peer at something beautiful the more you yearn for it. Beauty injects an essence of elegance - an emotion felt within which comes with feeling good about your self. But leading a healthy lifestyle has to be the most important of all.

    Health plays a major role in contributing to the beautiful feeling experienced when looking good. Many women tend to suffer from Beauty and the Beast syndrome - where one day an effort is made to look good and then the next - no matter what you do - it just is not happening. Why? Well it is no secret; there are two main key issues to take claim of being beautiful. and that is the (take 2 factor) number 1 look good and 2 is feel good - if you don`t feel good about yourself then don`t expect to look good.

    Transformation can take place in the beauty department if you make a stand and sort yourself out. Your health dominates how you feel - how you look and how you think so any concerns that are causing you sorrow whether it be a health or beauty matter then remember a problem shared is a problem halved. Speak with your local GP and once you are given the all clear - take note of the change in your whole entity, a personality change comes with looking beautiful.

    A fabulous way to find the beauty within - is to let it out. Inner beauty can be released by practising yoga. Yoga is an amazing exercise that understands what the body`s wants and needs are. Anxiety and tension bring on frowns - meaning more wrinkles, this is not part of any known beauty package. A beautiful person injects happiness and smiles that come from the heart (a healthy one)

    Feeling good about your self is the first step in the right direction to making your beauty regime a more pleasurable one - guaranteed. Once you have claimed a content mind minus any matters of concern - it is then after you apply your beauty cosmetics you will notice the mirror image of yourself will be that of a changed person. Confront the reflection of the beast in the mirror and watch the beauty transformation take place. Notice how the facial skin turns to that of a fresh complexion - see how the lip gloss is now a glow. All because you feel good.

    Beauty /Health magazines have wonderful ideas and tips on being beautiful and you will find many online support centres on beauty very fulfilling but what you have to bear in mind is, these beauty support groups on health and fashion do just that - give advice.

    This is about you and being beautiful so regardless of whether the advice given, is by Sharon Stone, you are never going to experience that feeling of walking along the red carpet unless you feel good.

    Beauty is in the eye of the beholder Fabulous Beauty at http://www.spotthepimple.com Personal Hygiene http://www.bodyodoursmell.com

    Fake a Tan with Sunless Tanning Lotion

    A great tan is associated with health and beauty. While a bronze look is desirable, especially in the summer or on holiday -- we all know the dangers of the sun's UV rays. Is a temporary tan worth the permanent sun damage, wrinkles, and skin cancer risk? Absolutely not!

    You can save time and avoid these risks entirely with sunless tanning lotion. Today's self-tanners give you a deep golden tan, not the orange look of years ago.

    Many new self tanning lotions are tinted and these are the ones I recommend. Not only do they give you an initial tan, you're more likely to apply the lotion evenly and avoid streaking.

    First, take a shower or bath and exfoliate your skin. Pay special attention to your elbows, knees and any other rough spots. These areas will soak up the self tanning lotion and turn darker so you need to get rid of any dead skin.

    Pat yourself dry and pin your hair up. Apply regular body or hand lotion to the dry spots you exfoliated. Allow yourself several minutes to completely dry.

    You may choose to wear thin gloves to put on the self tanning lotion and avoid getting it on your hands, but applying it with your bare hands will probably result in a more even application. It's your choice.

    Start applying the lotion from the bottom - up, bracing your foot on a chair or stool. Rub in lightly, you can always go back later and apply a second time.

    Don't forget the areas that would tan naturally in the sun, the back of your legs, knees, arms, and neck. When applying to your face, remember to smooth it on your eyelids and into your hairline -- avoiding your eyes and hair. For people with sensitive skin, there are self tanning lotions formulated specifically for your face and will result in a more natural look.

    If you will be wearing your hair up, don't forget to apply the self tanner on the back of your neck, and behind your ears to look more natural.

    When you're finished, wash your hands thoroughly if you chose not to wear gloves, so your palms don't turn an unnatural color. Use a hand towel to dry them completely.

    Before the lotion dries, it's more likely to tan what you're wearing too, so let yourself dry and put on some loose clothing. If you're going to be sitting on a cloth chair or couch, sit on a towel to avoid staining.

    For a deep, dark tan before a special occasion, apply self tanning lotion before bed, and again in the morning. Before you go out, check yourself in the mirror for any streaks and correct them with a damp paper towel. Apply bronzing powder to your face and shoulders for a finishing touch, and hit the town!

    About The Author

    Lorene Radenz is a freelance writer and the founder of http://www.beautytipsonline.com and http://www.ibizedge.com - websites for online beauty and business.

    Body Care In Fall Nail Care

    As the weather becomes colder, proper nail care becomes more and more important. Here is the list of do?s and dont?s that will make your nail care procedure easier:

    DO?s & DON?T?s for nail care:

    Do not put your hands into any kind of washing up liquid

    Think about a leftover bowl of a chicken casserole and what happens when you squirt one bit of detergent on that. Now consider what that?s doing to the natural oils in your hands and the natural oils in the fingernails which is the only part holding the finger nails together. It?s totally destructive!

    It?s dangerous to cut the cuticles of your nails

    The cuticle is a natural seal where the skin bonds with the nail. If you open a cuticle up, you allow bacteria to have access straight into the blood system.

    The cuticle solution

    Cuticles should be removed with cuticle removing solution. Also, every time your hands are in the bath for a long time, rubbing the cuticle and moving it back removes the dead cells. They must be very soft to do that and be in the water for 15 minutes.

    Beware of fast drying nail polishes

    Fast drying nail polishes today have a high percentage isopropyl alcohol (IPA). This tends to make nails dry and crumble. Once the polish dries up it become brittle, flaky and begins to chip off. A nail polish that bonds really well is also the type that takes a while to dry. So it?s a trade-off.

    Be square!

    People tend to point their fingernails when they?re filing, which leads to filing away the sides of the nail. Because the sides is what gives the fingernail strength, pointed nails will tend to give you splits in the sides. Pointed nails break much easier. They should grow until there is at least an eighth of an inch of free edge before you start to point them. People started to wear their nails square (particularly in the USA) out of necessity because they needed the side wall of the nail to give it strength.

    Every thing you touch

    ... is an emery board. If you have the slightest snag on the ends of your nails, it will cause your nails to rip. Every time you touch something, fingernails bend. Fingernails are meant to bend but every time you do, that snag will open up more and eventually turn into a split. How do you avoid this calamity? Use a very gentle file, never a metal file.

    Best beauty tip in the world

    Use a thick hand cream, smother your hands in it, wear cotton gloves, then rubber gloves and then do the washing up. The heat will melt the cream, releasing the natural oils and in two weeks even the roughest hands will look like a baby?s bum. The transformation is amazing.

    And it?s a way to beat the household blues! It will make the fingernails grow too. The natural oils in the fingernails is what holds them together!

    http://allwomenstalk.com

    AntiAging Skin Care Products: The Evolution

    During the last 10 years more attention is paid to the anti aging skin care. Developments within this category were influenced by such factors as competition among the major brands, introduction of new technologies and new ingredients, as well as worldwide increase in demand for the so-called rejuvenating cosmetics. People have no intentions of putting up with aging. Today they are turning to alternative therapies and anti aging products; however, they will not spend money on products which do not produce the wished results.

    First anti aging skin care products appeared during the late 1980s. The first liposome ingredient delivery system was part of first generation anti aging skin care.

    David Jago, an expert in the market analysis for MINTEL, evaluates the changes, which have taken place since then: At present, the special properties, ingredients and benefits of the products are clearly shown on the label. In the late 1980s, it was only said that those products were firming, softening the skin, reducing lines etc., but their functional ingredients were usually not disclosed. Today?s press often informs us of specific ingredients and their benefits, thus contributing to the consumers? education. As a result, there appeared a category of skin care products intended for specific age groups or needs. Usually, women aim at making their aging skin look younger, or their young skin - healthier.

    In the beginning of 1990s, many anti aging skin care ingredients have been studied. The most important of those, Alpha Hydroxyl Acids (AHA), became the first ingredients to affect the aging skin. Sally Penford, of the International Dermal Institute, a postgraduate training school for therapists, comments: It stimulated women to start considering cosmetic surgery, glycolic acid peels and laser skin treatments.

    Another great revolution in anti aging skin care has been in the use of A, C and E vitamins, as well as group B vitamins and main fatty acids ? they all have a special role of agents preventing premature aging. Of course they do not make miracles, but can support the good condition of the skin. As skin ages and is repeatedly exposed to harmful UV rays, the level of vitamin A, produced in the body, constantly decreases. The skin renewal processes slow down and the epidermal layer becomes progressively thinner. Some of the research of the ingredients, such as vitamin C, was held in 1990s. Further, scientists identified two key chemical helpers to assist in the delivery of vitamin C through the skin.

    The formulations derived from it led to the development of anti aging skin care products, containing vitamin C and products, which contained a combination of vitamin C and pure Retinol (until recently, it has been extremely hard to combine both Retinol and vitamin C together in a stable formulation, as both ingredients are easily oxidized, when exposed to the air, and become inactive). In 1990s this type of skin care was already produced all over the world.

    Further on, a great deal of interest in the anti-oxidants has been shown. A lot of studies have been done which show that protecting the skin can delay the onset of aging. The SUVIMAX studies in France showed that the use of anti-oxidants on the skin slows down the aging process. It is also possible to reduce lines and improve skin firmness.

    Benefits of anti-oxidants were detected in grape seeds extracts. After that, cosmetic companies started using these benefits in their skin care products. Grape polyphenols are natural compounds derived from green grape seed extract which have been shown to have a powerful anti-oxidant effect. They shield the skin from the aggression of a wide range of free radicals and are known to help maintain the skin's moisture levels.

    In the middle of 1990s Estee Lauder has completed research into understanding more about skin cells losing energy. Dr. Maes, Vice-President Research and Development, Estee Lauder Worldwide, explains: We cannot make the skin look like when it was in youth. Technologies can decrease the lines by 50%, but we will never decrease them by 100%. We have studied skin samples and found that its thickness is already decreasing from the age of 20. In biological terms, if the cells are losing energy they will also lose their ability to protect themselves against the environment.

    He compares this loss of energy to that of a battery running low which needs to be recharged. Thus, to slow down aging and protect the skin cells, manufacturers started using anti-oxidants, sunscreens and skin energizing technologies to ?recharge? cells. They are described as a next generation skin nourishers that enable skin to tap into a fuel source of bio-available micro-nutrients.

    The scientists have studied different types of skin aging and it means that they are capable of developing skin care which will effectively abate aging. It is recognized that 90% of skin damage is caused by external environmental aging. This includes smoking, wind, chemicals, and, most importantly, UV radiation. The level of pollution increases so quickly that skin cells can not develop self-protection mechanisms. Free radicals or oxidants are naturally generated in the body as a reaction to the aggression of external, environmental factors as well as internal factors such as stress and tiredness. A consequence of this aggression is an acceleration of the skin's aging process. Most of skin damage is done in the early years and people do not see the results of this until they are in their forties and fifties.

    The reason for this is due to the skin's chronological aging, which we can do nothing about. Internal, chronological aging is largely a consequence of genetics and affects skin all over the body.

    Modern scientific research in skin care and the growing knowledge of the skin's physiology mean that it is possible to stop and even repair skin damage which occurs later on in life. Thus, the latest thinking and research is focused on developing skin protection not from a plain Sun Protection Factor but from the cells themselves. The case in point is a new area of cosmetology (allocosmetics) and skin care products of modern generation of late 1990s, which are based on cell extracts that have lately drawn much attention of scientists. Cells can segment themselves and reproduce identical copies, replace old skin cells by new ones of the same type, take part in biochemical skin processes. This is what we call lifetime self-rejuvenation.

    The strides made in anti aging technology over the past decade have been astounding and clearly show no signs of abating. We can be certain that there will be many more exciting achievements in anti aging skin care technology to come.

    Plazan youth-enhancing placenta cosmetics is a proven way to rejuvenate your skin and keep it looking great for year.

    We offer:

    • Facial Care Products

    • Natural Body Care Products

    • Professional Skin Care Products Line

    • Skin Care Products for Men

    All Plazan natural skin care products are clinically proven to be safe and effective.

    Please visit Plazan Skin Care web site (http://www.plazanskincare.com) to find out more about our anti aging skin care products.

    7 Beauty Tips for Looking Younger

    Ever since Eve took that first bite of the apple, the human race has been obessed with beauty.

    The truth is we begin the aging process just as soon as we pop out of the womb. Every day of our lives our bodies slough off and regenerate new cells. The speed at which that process takes place when we are children is vastly different as we get older.

    Every day you are bombarded daily with commercial messages and beauty tips that attempt to lure you into believing that the most recent miracle drug is just what you need to fight off the ravages of Mother Nature.

    We are living longer as a whole. Singularly, that can be a curse or a blessing, depending on your perspective. The best route to natural beauty and healthy skin is to take care of what you have. Sounds simple, doesn?t it? The truth is that your skin takes a beating from the environment every single day. Here are some of our favorite beauty tips for keeping your skin fresh and healthy:

    1: Stay hydrated and do it with plenty of water! That does not mean soda, caffeine or any other type of liquid, even if it is low cal. Soda (even diet soda) has a high concentration of sodium. Sodium retains fluids. You need fluid that will hydrate and flush your body free of toxins. Make sure you are drinking at least 8 glasses a day!

    2: Protect your skin from harmful ultra violet (UV) rays. We all love the sun. We love being in it and we love having a beautiful tan. The truth is you can poison yourself with too much sunshine. UV rays cause skin cancer and if that isn?t bad enough it causes your skin to age faster than it should, contributing to unsightly wrinkles. If you must play in the sun, make certain you are using an adequate sun screen. Don?t leave home without it!

    3: Keep your skin clean. Use a soft warm cloth. Skin does not require scrubbing. You will do more harm than good if you do.

    4: The best cure for wrinkles is to never have them in the first place! If you are like most of us, you didn?t listen to your Mom when she tried to tell you to stay in the shade, stand up straight and stop squinting!

    5: Eat healthy. Knowing how and what to eat, can make a huge difference in how you feel. Improper eating habits can cause depression, weight gain, illness and an overall lethargy.

    Weight gain causes your skin to stretch. As you get older, it loses it's elasticity and you're left with sagging skin. The best solution to this is to maintain a proper weight.

    A rule of thumb for eating habits are...don't eat more calories than you consume. Don't go one single day without doing something extra and physical for at least 30 minutes per day. This can be three ten minute walks. Or 30 minutes of vigorous aerobics, or 12 minutes of weight lifting and 18 minutes of walking.

    6: Don't worry, be happy. A happy outlook appears to trigger the release of endorphins. Endorphins relax the cardiovascular system and cytokines which alert the immune system to pay attention in detecting abnormalities like cancer cells. Listen carefully to yourself. If you have put yourself down since childhood, over a lifetime, negative subliminal messages can take their toll by turning you into a pessimist. Spend one week writing down the phrases you use in your ?self talk.? Chances are you will find that you repeat a dozen or so phrases over and over again that reinforce that negative image. If you know about them, you can change them. Outer beauty and inner joy go hand in hand.

    Here are a few quick tips for increasing joy, hope and optimism that will work no matter what your age:

    Make a list of at least 50 great things that happen to you every day.

    Laugh a lot. You?ll heal your body and your mind.

    Discover a new challenge each month.

    Try meditating for just five minutes each day.

    7: Sex After 50 ? Ha! How many of you jumped ahead to this section?

    The importance of physical intimacy actually depends on the couple. An alarming number of men used to give up on sex after 60 and many women used to feel that their sex life ended with menopause. Thankfully, that is no longer the case.

    Sex at middle age can actually become better and more satisfying than ever before. Maturity gives a couple more experience in lovemaking. The children are usually grown and left home. The pressures of building a career and day to day life are usually less stressful than in younger years.

    Is beauty really skin deep?

    The answer is yes and no. It?s a paradox, isn?t it? True beauty begins from the inside out. Don?t you wish there was some way to ?wriggle your nose? and regain that soft skin you had as a child? Well, until someone comes up with the true ?Fountain of Youth? we are stuck with what we have.

    Just remember that getting older doesn't have to mean getting old.

    Jill Miller is the founder of the Fit4Life Club. Discover the timeless secrets of everlasting youth and beauty. Go here to find out how. Timeless Beauty Tips

    Beauty Salon 12 Tips They Don't Want You To Know

    Hair Care Professional- Breaking One In

    Beauty Salon- It is so important for us to find the right beauty salon so that we can have the right look at the right time. However, there are certain things that beauty salon owners don't want you to know.

    According to the September 13, 2005 issue of the LA Times, soon after Hurricane Katrina passed through the states of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama beauty salons with power and water reopened. Women who had lost EVERYTHING flocked to those open beauty salons. They wanted to look good even though they did not have a place to live. They wanted and needed professional hair care.

    This fact alone confirms your intuition about the absolute necessity of finding the right beauty salon. This holds true for a beauty salon Santa Monica, or a beauty salon Long Beach, Mississippi.

    Let me give you some general guidelines and tips to use when you are looking for a new beauty salon. I will also include some helpful suggestions about how to deal with your hair stylist.

    1. How far is the beauty salon from your home or work? Is it convenient to either or both?

    2. Telephone the salon. Ask if their hair care stylists have experience with your type of hair. For example, is your hair long, curly, textured or exposed to frequent changes to hair color, heat and the elements?

    3. Search the Internet for reviews of beauty salons in your work or home zip codes.

    4. It seems obvious, but it's crucial: Who do you know whose hair looks fabulous? Ask them where (and to whom) they go.

    5. When you get to the beauty salon what does the atmosphere FEEL like to you? Is it peaceful or stressful? Which do you prefer?

    6. Are you greeted right away or are you forced to wander around or ?twiddle your thumbs? until someone attends to you?

    7. If you've made an appointment is it kept?

    8. Is the beauty salon clean and well organized? Does everything seem to be in its place?

    9. How is the staff dressed? Are they dressed appropriately to your taste?

    10. What does the hair of the staff look like to you? Is the hair of the staff professionally done or is it sloppy?

    Ok, you've decided that the beauty salon environment is satisfactory, now how do you deal with the hair stylist?

    11. Collect and bring pictures that are appropriate for your type of hair. The biggest beauty salon hair disasters occur when your hair stylist doesn't understand what you want. Pictures help convey your message.

    12. Don't immediately go for a cut, take it slower. Book a blow-dry with your selected stylist. Ask, if you were to cut my hair, how would you do it? Once you've set aside the time for a real consultation, here are some key questions to ask yourself as you talk to your stylist:

    ? DO YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE with the hair care stylist? You should like his or her sense of style. This means clothing, grooming, personality, everything.

    ? IS THE STYLIST ASKING YOU questions, giving ideas and suggestions that relate to your personality, rather than pointing to a style on the wall or in a book?

    ? IS THE HAIR CARE STYLIST ADDRESSING the health of your hair, not just proposing to cut off split ends? The two of you should be talking about conditioners and rinses that enhance shine and bounce, and special treatments that can prevent or repair damage done by the environment, such as pollution, sun, chlorine, humidity, or dry air.

    ? ONCE YOU'VE AGREED ON A LOOK, does the stylist preview how you'll need to blow it dry, wash it, and maintain it? These are all things to think about before actually getting the cut.

    If you can answer most of the questions to your satisfaction, then you've probably found a beauty salon and a hair stylist that will make you look fabulous. If you cannot, then move on to the next beauty salon on your list.

    Take the above tips with you when you come to Next Salon in Santa Monica, CA. We think that you'll find that you came to the right beauty salon.

    Noori Daili specializes in making women and men look luscious and desirable. She is the founder and owner of Next Salon at 2400 Main Street in Santa Monica, California 90405. Call now at 310-392-6645 and mention this article for a 10% savings on hair service appointments. For more info go to the beauty salon website. Online appointments are welcome.

    Faster Ways to Remove Unwanted Body Hair

    Most people are spending a lot of money on the latest techniques to remove unwanted hair on their faces, legs, arms, chests, backs and private areas. Is it possible to remove hair from such large surface areas? And more importantly, is doing so safe? The answer to both questions is, yes. Removing body hair is possible and if done correctly, and in some cases by a licensed professional, it is also safe.

    1. Hair Removal by Laser Treatments.

    One of the fastest ways to remove unwanted body hair is by undergoing laser treatments. Although this is the most expensive approach, laser hair removal is the most effective at permanently eliminating body hair. Unlike electrolysis, where each hair follicle must be dealt with individually making the process extremely time-consuming and painful, laser therapy can impact several follicles simultaneously, which greatly speeds up the process. It's great for removing hair from the back and chest, arms and legs.

    As stated already however, the costs are extreme. To do an area as large as the back will cost several thousand dollars, and that's per treatment. Several treatments are necessary because the laser technique can only impact hair that is currently in a growing stage. Also, there will be places where hair will regrow and although it will regrow finer and lighter, in order to be permanent, the hair follicle needs to be rendered incapable of growing new hair.

    2. Hair Removal by Waxing.

    The next best method of removing body hair is waxing. Far less expensive than laser treatments and even electrolysis, waxing works by extracting hairs out of their shafts. Because the hair follicle is not specifically and purposely damaged, hair will regrow, but it will take several weeks for it to reappear. Repetitive application of this hair removal process may ultimately affect the follicle and cause hair growth to cease, however, this is not guaranteed which is why waxing cannot be considered a permanent hair removal method.

    Waxing, or sugaring if you're sensitive to wax or prefer an organic solution, works by applying a layer of cold or hot wax or a sugar-based mixture directly on the area where hair is to be removed. After allowing to harden it is very quickly peeled away from the skin, in the opposite direction of the hair growth and viola ? the body hair is pulled free from that area. The process is repeated until the entire body surface is free of hair. It is possible to do this at home, but since most of us have a low tolerance to self-inflicted pain, you'll get better and faster results if you leave this type of work to someone else, at least for the first few times.

    If you think it's time to remove unwanted body hair, whether for cosmetic reasons, sports-related competitions or any other reason, go with laser therapy if you can afford it or waxing. They're the best for removing large expanses of body hair.

    Copyright 2005. Chileshe Mwape. Visit http://www.health-and-beauty-uk.org.uk/ and http://www.perfect-scent.co.uk/ for informative articles about health and beauty.

    Hair Extensions the Truth About Instant Long Hair

    Hair extensions - a few hours in the salon and you have long hair that looks like a dream. But is there a downside? Professionally made hair extensions can completely transform your appearance without affecting the health of your hair, but if they are done wrongly extensions can seriously damage your hair. You should know what to expect before going to the salon.

    Would hair extensions cost a fortune?

    Yes, extensions done by a professional hair extension artist and made from high quality hair would cost you several hundred dollars. The price really depends on the quality of the hair used - Asian hair is cheaper, while European hair costs 2-3 times more. If you want good looking hair - especially blond hair - you will have to pay for European material.

    Online you might find hair extension ?starter kits? with complete instructions, which aren?t difficult to apply. So if you feel adventurous, you can buy a do-it-yourself kit and save significantly. If done correctly, this type of hair extension looks as good as any salon made one. If you decide to follow this route, though, make sure that you order high quality hair.

    What types of hair extension are available?

    The two major types of hair extension are individual strands and wefts.

    Individual strands, as the name implies, are attached one piece at a time to your own hair, usually using glue, or with waxes and polymers. The problem here is that most of the attachment methods require coating your natural hair with rather unfriendly chemicals. Attaching these extensions isn?t a problem, but removing this type of extension can seriously damage your hair.

    Wefts, on the other hand, are braided into your hair, so no chemicals are needed. A weft looks like a curtain of hair held together at the top and hanging freely toward the bottom. It is braided into your hair around the midline of your head - about ear level. It is safer for your hair but, on the downside, as you own hair grows wefts have to be rebraided - about once every two months.

    What materials are used for hair extensions?

    First, hair for extensions can be either synthetic or real human hair. Synthetic extensions are cheaper, of course, but you get what you pay for - they look like artificial strands attached to your hair. They?re not very pleasant to the touch, either.

    Human hair used for extensions gives better results. Human extension hair differs by origin. The most common are hair from India and Asian countries. They are great, if you are an Asian woman yourself. Unfortunately this type of hair has a noticeably different texture from a Caucasian?s natural hair, so on Caucasian women they just don?t look right.

    European hair is of better quality, usually originating from Spain and Italy, is of better quality but costs more. The only problem is that its natural color is usually coal black. To make a blond extensions out of them, Italian or Spanish hair needs to be heavily bleached.

    There are also so-called ?raw? or ?virgin? hair. This is European hair coming from Central and Eastern European countries, like Russia and Poland. The advantage of this hair that it is naturally light and of a very high quality. However, this type of hair is difficult to find and costs an arm and a leg.

    Tanya Turner is wig and hair extensions expert and a founder of http://www.WigsGuide.info, where you can find unbiased information about all types of wigs and hair extensions with pictures of most popular wig styles

    Should You Make Your Own Beauty Products?

    With the huge range of beauty products on the shelves, why do some people still make their own beauty products?

    I started making my own skin care products years ago. I got a book about natural skin care. You can actually make masks out of mashed fruit. They are really messy though, but back then, I was really broke. Could not afford to spend on good skin care so I made do with what I could get.

    I mashed watermelon and put in on my face. My face felt really clean, but there was a bit of a rash after that. I also read that papaya was used in spas for back exfoliating masks. In fact, the enzymes in papayas and pineapples are often used to exfoliate the skin. These can be rather harsh though, so I never tried that on my face.

    One thing led to another. I moved on to make my own creams. I went through a period of time where every body lotion I tried from the stores, from the cheap ones to the $20 ones, made my skin itch. That prompted me to make my own body cream.

    The cream recipes I found were mainly for cold cream. These were really heavy, oil based stuff. I wanted something lighter. A water based lotion.

    A cream is basically droplets of water suspended in oil, kept in that state by an emulsifier. For my creams, I used beeswax as an emulsifier.

    I experimented in the kitchen. After plenty of failed experiments. I finally came up with lotion in a texture I simply loved.

    A lotion is made of droplets of oil suspended in water, kept together by an emulsifier. I used lecithin for my lotion. Here are some of the lotions I made.

    By varying the water based part, using rosewater or tea instead of plain water, you can make all sorts of lotions. Likewise, you can play around with the oil part of the formula, with various infused oils, or a few drops of different essential oils, to change the lotion or cream. You can make tailor your beauty products to your personal tastes, and needs.

    I had lots of fun with that. My skin loved these home made creams when they were fresh.

    I even made a batch tailored specially for a cousin, using ingredients that she loves.

    Yet, I have since stopped making them.

    Why?

    Laziness is the main reason. Lack of time is another reason.

    So much care must go into making the lotions which don't keep. For me, even if I keep the lotions refrigerated, 2 days after making the lotion, if I use it on my face, my skin breaks out. 3 days later, if I use it on my body, my skin itches.

    Preservatives are put in commercial skin care products to prevent these from spoiling. Without preservatives, bacteria, mould and all these nasty things multiply rapidly, spoiling the entire batch, causing nasty reactions on the skin. These home made beauty products don't have preservatives. That meant that I had to make new batches of skincare almost everyday.

    Also, care must be taken to ensure all the equipment is sterile so the final product is safe to use. Carelessness could introduce lots of nasty germs into the beauty products you make. The water and oil component must be heated to the same temperature and drops of one are added to the other while mixing thoroughly or the batch might separate.

    It is so much more convenient to buy beauty products from brands that agree with my skin condition, than to make them from scratch. That is what I have been doing lately. Plus the reknown skincare lines are way better than what I can make. I mean, with their R & D budgets, they can afford to do plenty of research on creating the most effective beauty products for virtually any beauty need.

    At the end of the day, whether you make your beauty products or buy them off the shelf, it is a matter of your personal preference.

    The writer is the writer of the articles in Beauty from A Woman's Heart.

    Exercise Your Face to Look Healthier & Younger

    Do you have a problem area on your face that you would like to change? Double chin, droopy eyes, jowls, pouches, crows feet or marionette lines? Aging is as sneaky as sun damage and it seems that in a twinkling of an eye, your face can look so different that you might wonder just who is that person staring back at you in the mirror?

    Could facial exercise be the answer to the age old question ??Can I maintain a youthful appearance?? Must I spend my children?s inheritance to stave off Mother Nature?s footprints across my face?

    You can certainly turn back the clock with facial exercise that employs resistance and isometric contractions of the muscles using the thumbs and fingers. This doesn?t mean that you will look sixteen or even twenty again but shaving off ten or fifteen years from your appearance with exercise rivals the results of most plastic surgery procedures.

    Plastic surgery techniques do not stop the aging process; muscles in the face continue to make their downward slide dragging the skin unnaturally, creating the need for more and more surgical procedures. With exercise, the muscles become stronger, the skin looks revitalized and lifted. Most importantly, facial exercises can be performed inexpensively at home.

    The muscles of the face elongate just like the muscles in your arms, thighs and buttocks; in fact, the muscles in the face will have elongated about one-half inch by the time most people have reached the age of 55. The elongation is the result of atrophy of the muscles and gravity. Even though we talk, sing or laugh, the muscles continue to soften and become lax; it?s only when the facial muscles are specifically exercised do they begin to plump up and support your skin better.

    The elongation of facial muscles affects every area of your face. For instance, the ?apples? in your upper cheeks may not be positioned prominently, in fact, when a smile is made, rather than seeing fullness high on the cheeks, the muscles may appear flat and midway between the nose and mouth.

    If you add one-half inch to the length of your forehead, your eye area suffers because the downward motion compresses into the brows. What happens if you add one-half inch or more to the area under the chin? The dreaded wattle is developing. One-half inch added to the jaw line means jowls are forming.

    Beginning a facial exercise program to sculpt and contour the face may seem daunting at first because the movements and positioning feel somewhat awkward. Remember when you first learned to ride a bicycle? It was so scary! But after a few days of lumps and bumps, you were pedaling like you were a pro. It?s the same with facial exercise, once you become familiar with the movements, you will marvel that these simple steps can easily produce a younger looking face.

    You will want to take beginning photos before you start a facial exercise regimen so that you can track your progress and you will want to update your photos at the end of every third week. In about three weeks friends and colleagues will begin noticing that something is definitely different about you. They may think you have changed your hair in some way or that you are sleeping better but you will know what they?re seeing is your pretty face returning.

    In hardly any time at all, you will notice how smooth and refreshed your skin looks; your face glows with radiance from increased oxygenation to the muscles and those sagging, droopy muscles are now portraying a more youthful looking you. Without surgery, drugs or anything harmful you can turn back the clock and look at least 10-15 years younger.

    Cynthia Rowland is widely recognized as an expert in all natural facial fitness with over thirty years experience in health & beauty related fields. She has appeared on The View, Fit TV, HGTV and other popular shows. This author, speaker and television personality is leading the crusade to keep men and women looking vibrantly younger through natural techniques without spending their children?s inheritance.

    Cynthia Rowland, Anti-aging Expert I Save Faces http://www.Facialmagic.com

    Japanese Hair Straightening Is It Right for You?

    Japanese Hair Straightening, also known as Thermal Reconditioning, is one very popular hair straightening technique you just might want to think twice about before having done.

    Originating in Japan in the late 90?s the chemical products used in the process go by the names Liscio, Yuko and U.S. made Bio Ionics.

    The treatment can take anywhere from 3 to 6 hours and involves numerous steps with costs ranging from $300 to $1,500 depending on the salon.

    A cheaper price should raise some red flags as to the quality of the chemicals used or the expertise of the stylist according to the experts.

    The result is permanently straight hair but after 4 to 6 months any new hair growth will need to be treated as well. This usually costs close to the same amount as the original treatment because it is a more time-consuming process involving straightening hair closer to the roots.

    Because of the chemicals and techniques used you will not be able to curl the treated hair so you definitely want to take that into consideration beforehand.

    There is also a growing concern from some stylists that thermal reconditioning may not be the perfect hair straightening solution after all.

    First off, experts estimate that at least 80 percent of people that are having the treatment are not really good reconditioning candidates for several reasons:

    Any recent chemical processes done to your hair such as hair coloring, bleaching or hair relaxing can cause serious problems including hair loss and breakage if you elect to have the treatment done. A hair strand test must be done first to determine whether your hair can accept the chemicals. If the salon does not offer a strand test you might want to reconsider who you trust your hair to.

    It does not work on African hair because it is too fragile and can?t take the heat required during the straightening process. It is not the same as a hair relaxer which is made especially for African hair.

    In fact, a growing number of women are claiming serious hair breakage problems and it has been reported in the press that one of the top Hollywood celebrity hair stylists refuses to perform the treatment because she thinks it is too much of a risk to her client?s hair.

    Many women are led to believe that the process is actually good for your hair but there have been no clinical studies to prove this and by definition anything that physically alters the hair structure at the molecular level is damaging.

    Even though many women have had the Japanese Hair Straightening process done to their hair with great success you should know that there can be some risk involved and if you decide to have it done to your hair be sure you use a reputable salon with properly trained stylists that will test your hair first.

    For alternatives to permanent hair straightening please visit us at: http://www.hair-straighteners-experts.com. We specialize in information about sedu hair straightener products that offer great temporary hair straightening results.

    Fight Aging

    Developing an anti-aging program is the newest scientific approach to helping you live a longer, healthier and more active life. Some of the greatest benefits include improved mental and cognitive funtion, stronger cardiovascular system, increased lean body mass and decreased body fat, improve sexual function, fewer wrinkles, thicker skin and better skin tone. The main components of anti-aging to include in your program are:Optimal nutrition, proper skincare, regular excercise, hormone replacement therapy, and lifestyle behavioral changes such as smoke, stress management, and reduced alcohol asumption.

    Excercise is the simplest and least expensive anti-aging tool. You can work with a personal trainer, and better yet, participation in a regular fitness program will provide you needed exercise benefits. Be sure to check with your physician before beginning any rigorous exercise program.

    If your body is armed with the ammunition to defend itself, your body will have stronger immunity and reduced disease, and you'll find yourself seeking medical attention less frequently. Through the synergistic action of all these components, anti-aging scientists have observed a significant change and even reversal of some aging effects. Now it's your turn to observe these changes in your skin and body. Discuss additional options for addressing changes to your skin with your skincare professional professional.

    Mina Dimakis-Lev
    http://www.BeautyImagebyMina.com

    Toxic Cosmetics Exposed

    As a consumer, you must be on the look out for chemicals and toxic ingredients that may be injurious to your skin and your body. You would not even consider eating products that contained chemicals or cancer causing agents, so don?t let these toxins cross the threshold and enter your system through your beauty product either!

    Insignificant amounts of research are available to provide evidence of the safety or health risks of low-dose repeated exposures to chemical combinations like those in personal care products, but let?s get one thing straight?the absence of data should never, never be mistaken for confirmation of safety.

    The more we investigate low dose contact with these products, the more we comprehend that they can cause adverse effects ranging from the subtle and reversible, to effects that are more critical and permanent. On the whole, our research of product safety reveals a cause for concern.

    Interestingly enough, 450 ingredients that are used in this country are banned for use in cosmetics in the European Union by the industry. The dictatorial vacuum in the United States gives cosmetic companies enormous leeway in selecting ingredients, while it shifts potentially considerable and unnecessary health risks to the users of the products.

    Cosmetics and personal care products are promoted based on the quality and ingredients of their formulas. Numerous products allege to be filled with expensive vitamins, oils, and perfumes. Others profess to use an all-natural formula. How can you be certain that the products you purchase contain the ingredients they claim to have or that they are safe? Read the label? Guess again! Unless you happen to be a scientist or a chemist, the ingredient list on the majority of cosmetic and personal care products will look like a laundry list of monotonous, tongue twisting names that make no sense at all. If you want to educate yourself, there are several books that will really bring you up to speed on what is in your personal care products. One would be, Dangerous Beauty, by Mark Fearer; and the other is called, Drop Dead Gorgeous, by Kim Erickson. Additionally, there are many groups that are pushing for safe products such as WomenandEnvironment.org.

    Why should you have reservations about the safety of ingredients in body care products that you spread over your body and hair? There are many reasons, yet here is the most compelling one:

    Hongran Fan and her coworkers at the Veteran Affairs Palo Alto (Calif.) Health Care System and Stanford University School of Medicine planned to demonstrate the effectiveness of intramuscular gene injections by comparing them with simply dripping a DNA vaccine solution onto the skin of mice. Well, they discovered that it was possible to distribute the vaccine through the hair follicles on unbroken skin.

    So, if you can absorb an effectual prescribed amount of a vaccine simply by having it come in contact with your skin, how much of the toxic ingredients that are in your personal care products are you absorbing through your skin? Think about it?you are literally bombarding your tissues, your organs and your brain with man-made chemicals and their processing residues!

    Judy Phillips is the founder of Jash Botanicals, a manufacturer of physicians grade herbal extracts and medicinals. A naturopath and herbalist with over 25 years of experience, her passion for producing herbal formulas of exceptional purity and strength grew from a dissatisfaction with mainstream herbal products. She is an author of various natural health topics, from detoxification to dietary modification, and works to assist the expansion of knowledge to individuals in search of natural treatments. JashBotanicals.com offers a wide range of informative articles, including a monthly newsletter and a natural health blog.

    An Insight Into Colored Contacts

    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.

    =============================================

    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

    How To Make Your Eyes Irrisistible

    The Eyes Have It

    Remember the dreamy eyes of your first love? Who can resist a beautiful set of eyes? Your eyes are one of your

    most important features. Do you treat them like the treasures they are? Even if your eyes are not 'to die for', you can make them truly memorable.

    Eye Care. Do you care for them the way you should?

    Sunscreen on your lids? Sunglasses? Carefully cleaned and stored contact lenses? Makeup remover made expressly for eyes? Adequate sleep? These aren't merely suggestions. They're requirements for stunning eyes.

    Eye Color. Do you take the time to make up your eyes every day.

    Take a minute to add some extra color and your whole face will light up.

    Medium and dark complexions can?t go wrong with universal earth tones.

    Going to work? Apply brown tones on the lower lids, highlight with a light taupe at the inner corners, sweeping up and outward to the brow bones.

    Going out on the town? Add a complementary bronze or deep gold to your outer lid, gently swept from the middle of the eyelash line to the corner of the eyes. Fair faced women should use lighter colors as their basic palette.

    Conservative? Use two colors for day - apply medium-gray or mushroom all over the lids to the brow bones, and from the middle of the lash line outward with a coordinating lighter shade from the same family. At night, add a shimmering gold dust overcoating.

    Eyelashes and Eyebrows

    Let?s talk mascara. Brown is becoming ever more popular because it complements all iris colors. It works on everyone, as does the standard black. And even though it's available, avoid blue and green tinted mascara, unless it matches your ultra-colorful dye job. Waterproof mascara is really not for everyday, unless you're especially weepy. A water-soluble mascara leaves your lashes in healthier condition, and healthy is beautiful.

    No one has the perfect arch without a little help from tweezers or a lot of help from a stylist. All eyebrows need taming, whether it?s tweezing to remove one stray hair or an all-out waxing at the salon. Tweezing is cheap, which is great. And you don?t need an appointment. Oh, and if you use tweezers...

    Did you know that some estheticians (that?s a highly trained skincare professional) will create a template for you to use when tweezing? If you want to deal with your brows on a less frequent basis, investigate having your eyebrows waxed at a reputable salon. It hurts, but many women feel the irritation is worth the gorgeous results.

    Eyeglasses. Wear them if you need them?

    Of course.

    They're not just an accessory of necessity. Carefully chosen spectacles look great and can draw deserved attention to your eyes. Just think how smart they make you look. And smart is always in style!

    ----------------------------------------------------------

    Allison Saunders is a MAC qualified Make-up Artist and the author of an amazing new course, Hollywood Makeup Secrets a step-by-step simple video system for maximizing your inner and outer beauty potential. You can learn more about Allison, and subscribe to her free newsletter by visiting:

    http://www.hollywoodmakeupsecrets.com/dt/s.php?id=9

    (c)2005 HollywoodMakeupSecrets.com. All rights reserved. ----------------------------------------------------------

    Reduce Wrinkles Prevent Aging Skin With A Scientifically Proven Approach

    Many skin products that claim to reduce wrinkles and/or prevent aging skin generally consist of static chemicals that prop up the skin temporarily or give it a more appealing appearance.

    Healing and/or reversing the effects of skin damage must go deeper than that if one is to achieve more effective results. It must actually strive to repair the damage itself.

    Damage to skin is often the result of persistent assaults to the DNA of cells that sustain and support the organ we call or skin. The damage is most commonly the result of exposure to harmful sunlight and/or toxic chemicals applied to the skin in the form of skin care products over one's life time.

    The effects of such factors on the skin can include a change in the overall texture, a decrease or unevenness in the tone, thinning, the development of age spots, wrinkles all of which undermine overall appearance.

    This process which many accept as the aging process is also accompanied by a decreased ability to produce collagen, a protein that is responsible for the integrity of the top layer of the skin, also known as the epidermis and thus leads to thinning of the skin. Collagen is normally produced by cells called fibroblasts under the skin. These fibroblasts tend to produce less collagen as one ages. Aging as you likely also know is in large part related to the overall integrity of the functioning liver (please see my article: If You Look After Your Liver You Will Live Forever).

    The liver's function is to detoxify the body regularly. If it starts to under function toxins can accumulate in various organ systems, including the skin, and disrupt their normal functional capacities. This along with the damage done to the skin directly by factors mentioned above are in part the reason that fibroblasts under function with age. Much of this under functioning is the result of damaged DNA fragments in the nuclei of these cells.

    Unless skin care products can repair or reverse this damage in some way one is being fooled into believing that any real benefit is being afforded by them.

    A new scientifically tested product known as ART developed by Gary Young N.D. has been designed to specifically address this very issue.

    Two enzymes in ART i.e. Photolyase and Endonuclease act to a) replenish damaged DNA fragments and b) repair damaged sections of DNA with these replenished fragments respectively. The net effect is to restore fibroblast activity and collagen producing capacity.

    These enzymes are also supported by the presence two Essential Oils that have been used to address skin cancers: Frankencense and Sandalwood

    The benefits shown to accrue from this approach have been documented wrinkle reduction, increased elasticity of the skin, softer skin, increased and more even skin tone, and a firmer appearance to the skin. All of this in under two months of using ART.

    To view before and after photos or to get more information on ART you can visit: http://art.youngliving.com/science.html

    Alternately you can visit my web site below.

    Nick Arrizza M.D. is trained in medicine and psychiatry. He is also an international healer and coach as well as the developer of the powerful Mind Resonance Process(TM) MRP.

    Web Site: http://www.youngliving.org/arrizza

    Hot Wax Therapy and Beauty Bath

    Do you have aches and pains in the joints of your hands? Do you have rough, dry or cracked hands or feet? If you have either condition, a Hot Wax Bath may be the ideal answer for you. It is relaxing, soothing and conditioning.

    What is a Hot Wax Bath? It is simply a heated container of specially formulated wax. The vessel automatically melts the wax when you turn it on. It keeps the wax at a safe temperature for your sensitive skin. Once the wax (paraffin) is melted, you dip your hand or foot into the container of melted wax. Then you pull your hand out and let it dry a moment and repeat this process five to ten times.

    After this process has been repeated you will have a hand coated in layers of warm wax. You then put your hand into a plastic bag that comes with the wax. This protects against oils in the wax getting on clothing or furniture. Next, you put your hand into a terry cloth mitt or wrap it in a towel. You can do two hands or just one at a time.

    How many ways can you relax for fifteen minutes? Put on some soft music. Light a few candles. Start heating your aromatherapy dish of fragrance. Step into a soothing hot bath. Just relax in your favorite chair with your eyes closed while the wax works its wonders.

    A daily treatment of hot paraffin on your hands and feet will do you a world of good physically and emotionally. It really is a treatment that can soothe the skin and calm the soul.

    Once you are done, peel the wax off of your hands and put it back into the wax container to melt and use again. If this was in a therapy or salon situation, you might want to discard the used wax. But, since this is your personal wax unit, why not reuse the wax each time? You did wash your hands before starting, didn't you? Discard or reuse, it is up to you.

    You can get the wax melting pot and wax at major department stores such as Wal-Mart or even your local pharmacy store. They come in different sizes and price ranges. Different companies make them. Two brands are Dr. Scholl's and Homedics. You can get a home unit that holds 3 pounds or 6 pounds of wax. The larger unit is easier to put hands and feet into or even an elbow.

    You can get scented waxes to go into your wax tub. Pick your favorite fragrance, tangerine, rose, lavender, citrus, peach, wintergreen and more. If you can't fine them at your local medical supply store or beauty store, they are available online.

    Scott Morris manages the site on healthbeauty shop.

    What Condition Is Your Hair In?

    Our hair can be categorized in three different ways:

    • Healthy

    • Dry

    • Damaged

    Characteristics of Healthy Hair

    • Smooth texture and feel

    • Shiny

    • Hair loss is 75?100 strands per day

    • Hair loss consists of entire hair strands (contains bulb)

    • Holds curl well

    • Relatively easy to comb while wet

    • Good elasticity (hair strand stretches when pulled)

    • Healthy scalp

    • No breakage

    • Minimal split ends

    Characteristics of Dry or Stressed Hair

    • Hair loss is 75?100+ per day

    • Hair is dry to the touch but responds well to moisture

    • May have some scalp problems

    • Dull appearance

    • Itchy scalp

    • Loses curl easily

    • May be frizzy

    • Hair has poor elasticity (does not stretch before breaking)

    • Breakage (hair strands are short)

    • Split ends

    Characteristics of Damaged Hair

  • Dull

  • Dry

  • Coarse

  • Frequent use of oil does not help retain moisture and/or the effects do not last long

  • Tangles easily, difficult to comb while wet

  • Frizzy

  • Breakage is severe in spots

  • Visible split ends

  • Scalp may be unhealthy

  • May have excessive dandruff

    About The Author

    Nicole Elizabeth Smith, the author of Healthy Black Hair (2003), is a freelance health and beauty writer and a graduate of Michigan State University. She and her son Zack live in Michigan. Currently, she is beauty editor for www.myhairbook.com.

    nicole@myhairbook.com

    • History of Plastic Surgery

    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.

    How to be Photogenic?

    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.

    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/qn1560.html

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

    What Does Beauty Really Cost?

    Yes! We all want to be beautiful no matter what. We are shown what is classed as as beauty on a regular basis by the media. Fashion models who look like bean poles and who cant possibly eat chocolate or cream cakes as this would be the ultimate sin.

    In reality they probably eat very little!

    We are all made to be beautiful in our own way! it might not necessarily be in the way the media portray.

    This is a good thing as it would be a rather boring world if we all looked exactly the same.

    Time is also a big factor as we struggle to fight against it,nobody likes growing old, but are we really winning or delaying the inevitable?

    What is all of this really costing us? we spend millions of pounds a year in the UK on beauty products and treatments.

    How many of us know what we are really using in these products? We heard recently about parabens possibly causing cancer yet manufacturers still produce products containing them which we buy and use!

    We need to look at what we are buying and what they contain!

    Would you knowingly eat something containing poison or harmful ingredients? I know i wouldn't,yet we regularly buy and use thing to so called make ourselves more beautiful without reading the labels.

    Here are some of the many things to look for:

    DEA,MEA,TEA(not the kind you drink) are irritants which dry the hair and skin ,also known as allergens
    METHYL,PROPYL,BUTYL & ETHYL PARABENS: are food grade preservatives-used to preserve products and extend there shelf-life. considered to be highly toxic and have been found in cancerous tumors ,also allergens.
    ISOPROPYL:poisonous solvent used in many products.
    IMIADAZOILDINYL UREA:formaldehyde-forming preservatives,known to weaken the immune system.
    PROPYLENE GLYCOL: wetting agent and solvent main ingredient in antifreeze and brake fluid.
    POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL(PEG): is a caustic substance used to dissolve grease. found in oven cleaner and most skin cleansers.

    Are we taking unnecessary risks by not doing a simple thing like reading a label?

    Is it worth risking your health for the sake of beauty,when these days there are more and more natural alternatives available in our retail stores,supermarkets and online so we can have a more natural way to enhance our beauty. Without the extra costs!

    Alison Jones http://www.pureessenceproducts.bravehost.com

    Natural Beauty Products That Don't Cost The Earth.

    Beautiful Skin Care Starts With An Accurate Diagnosis

    One of the problems with skincare is that it is often too late to repair the damage done when it appears on our face or body. Or at the very least, the cost is greater, the road to recovery longer, and more invasive or stronger repair methods are needed.

    Fortunately, scientists have developed an imaging system that analyses skin and predicts how it will age. It's called Visia Complexion Analysis, and not only can it predict how our skin will age, but the rate at which it will. It provides a snapshot of what damage has already occurred, and can thus provide a realistic assessment of our skin. The system looks at the major issues in skin aging - brown spots; pores; the bacteria underneath the skin that causes acne, redness, and uneven skin tone; as well as wrinkles, and UV damage. It's a great way to quantify the effects of our environment and our current skin care regime.

    Beauticians and store consultants are then able to really tailor a preventative program to address problems before they appear on our face. One advantage, aside from the obvious one of actually having products that will be highly targeted, is that money can be saved by not spending on products we think we need - but actually don't.

    This technology highlights the importance of preventing skin problems before they occur. The subject of beauty foods and beauty supplements, and anti aging, is vast. But as a general rule, nutrition, and specifically antioxidants, play a vital role. For example, scientists have found that by drinking blackcurrent juice, the Japanese women participating in this study reduced the bags (discoloration) under their eyes. Their skin also sagged less. And it was the polyphenols, which are antioxidants, that were responsible for this improvement in the dark circles under their eyes.

    Blood flow to the face improved, which would also be great if you suffer from a sallow or dull complexion. Added benefits to drinking blackcurrent juice are the boost it will give to your whole body. Blackcurrents are a great source of vitamin C, and have been shown to reduce eye strain.

    So don't overlook the benefits of adding skin nourishing foods to your diet. They can have a more powerful effect over time than the topical skin creams we so often reach for when we want to slow down the effects of time on our faces!

    References:
    http://www.labtechnologist.com/news/ng.asp?id=59494
    Australian Healthy Food, February 2006.

    Do you suffer from acne? If you enjoyed this article on a holistic approach to a beautiful skin care program, you'd enjoy these articles on natural acne treatments and acne home cures. Learn natural approaches to treating acne, and why its important to heal it from within.

    Skin Care Body Rhythms and Sleep

    Most of us are all too familiar with that ?dreaded? internal clock that wakes us at 7:00 AM on the weekend, despite our desire to sleep in. We fail to appreciate that this internal clock is part of a natural body rhythm that can dramatically impact our skin.

    Scientific studies have revealed that our skin?s biological functions follow ?circadian cycles? which vary over the course of a 24 hour period. In the skin?s biological clock, epidermal cell renewal and the permeability of the skin are both highest during the night.

    The trick to good skincare is taking advantage of this knowledge and utilizing it to enhance our skin?s health. Because the permeability of the skin is higher at night, more water loss naturally occurs at night. Consequently, a moisturizer that offers greater skin permeability and prevents water loss, should be applied before bedtime, to ensure moist, hydrated skin.

    To provide the greatest effectiveness, a moisturizer should meet two tests. First, it should contain certain natural ingredients that have been specially formulated to be easily accepted by the skin. Green tea compounds, for example, are a must for today?s moisture creams, as these compounds are seen by many scientists as skin cell rejuvenators.

    Secondly, moisture cream should contain the latest silicone technology. Silicone molecules in a moisture cream provide a more even coverage than the molecules in hydrocarbon-based moisturizers by forming a sheet of hydration over the skin.

    We sleep for approximately one-third of our lives, so let?s make our sleep useful by developing good sleep habits and utilizing products that rebuild skin while we sleep. With ingredients that are formulated to work on a sub-cellular level and provide extra hydration to your skin, you?ll be working with your skin?s natural rhythms.

    Copyright 2005 Alpha Ward-Burns

    Alpha Ward-Burns is a cancer survivor and co-founder of Skin Solved, a skincare company devoted to achieving healthy skin through the use of scientifically advanced skincare with natural ingredients. You may contact Alpha at http://www.skinsolved.com

    The Maharishi Ayurveda Approach to Beauty and Skin Care with Nancy Lonsdorf M.D.

    ?Every person is born perfect. Inferiority is a mistake of the mind, a cloud covering the light. Dissolve the clouds by observing a balanced life with healthy habits. Nourish your mind and body. Connect with your own inner self. Celebrate your own magnificence and your beauty will always shine through.? -Dr. Rama Kant Mishra, renowned Ayurvedic physician and dermatologist

    The Three Pillars of Beauty

    Maharishi Ayurveda (MAV), the modern, consciousness-based revival of the ancient Ayurvedic medicine tradition, considers true beauty to be supported by three pillars; Outer Beauty, Inner Beauty and Lasting Beauty. Only by enhancing all three can we attain the balanced state of radiant health that makes each of us the most fulfilled and beautiful person we can be.

    Outer Beauty: Roopam

    The outer signs of beauty - your skin, hair and nails - are more than just superficial measures of beauty. They are direct reflections of your overall health. These outer tissues are created by the inner physiological processes involved in digestion, metabolism and proper tissue development. Outer beauty depends more on the strength of your digestion and metabolism, the quality of your diet, and the purity of your blood, than on external cleansers and conditioners you may apply.

    General Recommendations for Outer Beauty

    As we will discuss, the key to skin care is matching your diet and skin care routine to the specific skin type you have. Meanwhile, there are some valuable recommendations for lustrous skin, hair and nails that will be helpful to everyone, regardless of skin type.

    1. Diet: Without adequate nourishment, your collagen layer thins and a kind of wasting takes place. Over time, your skin can shrivel up like a plant without water from lack of nourishment. To keep your skin plump and glowing:

    A. Eat fresh, whole organic foods that are freshly prepared.

    Avoid packaged, canned, frozen, processed foods and leftovers. These foods have little nutritional value and also they are often poorly digested which creates impurities that localize in the skin. The resulting buildup of toxins causes irritation and blocks circulation depriving the skin of further nourishment and natural cleansing processes.

    B. Favor skin nourishing foods.

  • Leafy green vegetables contain vitamins, minerals (especially iron and calcium) and are high in antioxidant properties. They nourish the skin and protect it from premature aging.

  • Sweet juicy fruits like grapes, melons, pears, plums and stewed apples at breakfast are excellent for the skin in almost everyone.

  • Eat a wide variety of grains over different meals and try mixed grain servings at breakfast and lunch. Add amaranth, quinoa, cous cous, millet and barley to the wheat and rice you already eat.

  • Favor light, easy to digest proteins like legume soups (especially yellow split mung dhal), whole milk, paneer (cheese made from boiling milk, adding lemon and straining solids) and lassi (diluted yogurt and spice drinks).

  • Oils like ghee (clarified butter) and organic, extra virgin olive oil should be included in the diet as they lubricate, nourish and create lustre in the skin.

  • Use spices like turmeric, cumin, coriander, and black pepper to improve digestion, nourish the skin and cleanse it of impurities.

  • Avoid microwaving and boiling your vegetables. They lose as much as 85% of their antioxidant content when cooked in this way. Steaming and saut?ing are best.

    Caring for outer beauty through knowledge of skin type

    Besides these general recommendations the key to Outer Beauty is to understand the difference in skin types so you can gain the maximum benefit from your individualized skin care regimen. MAV identifies three different skin types based on which of the three main metabolic principles (doshas)- present in everyone, but to different degrees- is most dominant in your body.

    Vata Skin

    * Description: Vata is composed of the elements of air and space. If you have a vata skin type, your skin will be dry, thin, fine pored, delicate and cool to the touch. When balanced, it glows with a delicate lightness and refinement that is elegant and attractive. When vata skin is imbalanced, it will be prone to excessive dryness and may even be rough and flaky.

    * Potential problems: The greatest beauty challenge for vata skin is its predisposition to symptoms of early aging. Your skin may tend to develop wrinkles earlier than most due to its tendency to dryness and thinness. If your digestion is not in balance, your skin can begin to look dull and grayish, even in your 20?s and 30?s. In addition, your skin may have a tendency for disorders such as dry eczema and skin fungus. Mental stress, such as worry, fear and lack of sleep, has a powerful debilitating effect on vata skin leaving it looking tired and lifeless.

    * Recommendations for care

    With a little knowledge, you can preserve and protect the delicate beauty of your vata type skin. Since your skin does not contain much moisture, preventing it from drying is the major consideration. Eat a warm, unctuous diet (ghee and olive oil are best) and favor sour, salty and sweet tastes (naturally sweet like fruits, not refined sugar) as they balance vata. Avoid drying foods like crackers. Drink 6-8 glasses of warm (not cold for vata types!) water throughout the day and eat plenty of sweet, juicy fruits. Going to bed early (before 10 PM) is very soothing to vata and will have a tremendously positive influence on your skin. Avoid cleansing products that dry the skin (like alcohol-based cleansers) and perform Ayurvedic oil massage to your whole body (abhyanga) in the morning before you shower.

    Pitta Skin.

    * Description: Pitta dosha is composed of the elements of fire and water. If you have a pitta skin type your skin is fair, soft, warm and of medium thickness. When balanced, your skin has a beautiful, slightly rosy or golden glow, as if illuminated from within. Your hair typically is fine and straight, and is usually red, sandy or blonde in color. Your complexion tends toward the pink or reddish, and there is often a copious amount of freckles or moles.

    * Potential problems: Among the many beauty challenges of pitta skin types is your tendency to develop rashes, rosacea, acne, liver spots or pigment disorders. Because of the large proportion of the fire element in your constitution, your skin does not tolerate heat or sun very well. Of all the three skin types, pitta skin has the least tolerance for the sun, is photosensitive, and most likely to accumulate sun damage over the years. Pitta skin is aggravated by emotional stress, especially suppressed anger, frustration, or resentment.

    * Recommendations for care

    Avoid excessive sunlight, tanning treatments and highly heating therapies like facial or whole body steams. Avoid hot, spicy foods and favor astringent, bitter and sweet foods which balance pitta. (Again, naturally sweet, not chocolate and refined sugar!) Sweet juicy fruits (especially melons and pears), cooked greens and rose petal preserves are especially good. Drinking plenty of water helps wash impurities from sensitive pitta skin. Reduce external or internal contact with synthetic chemicals, to which your skin is especially prone to react, even in a delayed fashion after years of seemingly uneventful use. Avoid skin products that are abrasive, heating or contain artificial colors or preservatives. Most commercial make-up brands should be avoided in favor of strictly 100% natural ingredient cosmetics. And be sure to get your emotional stress under control through plenty of outdoor exercise, yoga and meditation.

    Kapha Skin.

    * Description: Kapha dosha is composed of the elements of earth and water. If you have a kapha skin type your skin is thick, oily, soft and cool to the touch. Your complexion is a glowing porcelain whitish color, like the moon, and hair characteristically thick, wavy, oily and dark. Kapha skin types, with their more generous collagen and connective tissue, are fortunate to develop wrinkles much later in life than vata or pitta types.

    *Potential problems If your skin becomes imbalanced, it can show up as enlarged pores, excessively oily skin, moist types of eczema, blackheads, acne or pimples, and water retention. Kapha skin is also more prone to fungal infections.

    * Recommendations for care

    Kapha skin is more prone to clogging and needs more cleansing than other skin types. Be careful to avoid greasy, clogging creams. Likewise, avoid heavy, hard to digest foods like fried foods, fatty meats, cheeses and rich desserts. Eat more light, easy to digest, astringent, bitter and pungent (well-spiced) foods as they balance kapha. Olive oil is the best cooking oil and a little ginger and lime juice can be taken before meals to increase your characteristically sluggish digestive fire. Take warm baths often and use gentle cleansers to open the skin pores. Avoid getting constipated and try to get some exercise every day to increase circulation and help purify the skin through the sweating process.

    Inner Beauty: Gunam.

    Happy, positive, loving, caring individuals have a special beauty that is far more than skin deep. Conversely we all experience the quick and deleterious effect on our skin from fatigue and stress.

    Inner beauty is authentic beauty, not the kind that shows on a made-up face, but the kind that shines through from your soul, your consciousness or inner state of being. Inner beauty comes from a mind and heart that are in harmony, not at odds with each other, causing emotional confusion, loss of confidence, stress and worry. Inner peace is the foundation of outer beauty.

    Maintain your self-confidence and a warm, loving personality by paying attention to your lifestyle and daily routine and effective management of stress (I highly recommend the TM technique for its scientifically-verified benefits on mental and physical health and reduced aging.) You will also be healthier and feel better through the day if you eat your main meal at midday and make a habit of going to bed early (by 10 PM is ideal.)

    Remember, kindness, friendliness and sincerity naturally attract people to you. On the other hand, being uptight or tense makes people want to walk the other way, regardless of your facial structure, body weight, or other outer signs we associate with attractiveness.

    Lasting Beauty: Yayastyag

    In order to slow the aging process and gain lasting beauty there are two additional key considerations beyond those already discussed,

    1. Eliminate toxins and free radicals in the body: The main deteriorating effects of aging come as toxins and impurities (called ama in Ayurveda) accumulate throughout the body. These toxins may begin as free radicals in the body, or over time may become oxidized into free radicals, all of which contribute to premature aging in the body. For lasting health and beauty it is essential to avoid and neutralize free radicals, to prevent impurities of all kinds from accumulating and to remove those that have already become lodged in the body.

    The most powerful cleansing therapy in Maharishi Ayurveda is panchakarma therapy, a series of natural treatments ideally performed twice yearly, that involves 5-7 days in a row of massage, heat treatments and mild herbal enemas. Ayurveda emphasizes the importance of undergoing this cleansing program once or twice a year to prevent impurities from accumulating, localizing and hardening in the tissues. Just as we change the oil in our cars regularly for optimal performance and lifespan, Ayurveda recommends that we cleanse the ?sludge? from our tissues on a regular basis through panchakarma treatments.

    Best of all, panchakarma treatments are luxurious, blissful, and make you feel (and look) completely rejuvenated in just a few days time. I have had many a patient who told me that friends asked them afterwards if they had gotten a facelift, they looked so fresh and youthful!

    Other free radical busters include: reducing mental stress, eating antioxidant foods like leafy green vegetables, sweet, juicy fruits and cooking on a daily basis with antioxidant, detoxifying spices like turmeric and coriander.

    2. Add rejuvenative techniques to daily living:

    The daily activities of life in the modern world systematically wear us down and speed up the aging process. Ayurveda maintains it is crucial to practice daily rejuvenative regimens to counteract the stressful wear and tear of everyday life. According to Ayurveda the most important rejuvenative routines for your life are:

  • Going to bed by 10:00 PM. This simple habit is one of the most powerful techniques for health and longevity, according to MAV.

  • Meditate daily. Any meditation that does not involve concentration (which has been shown to increase anxiety) can be very helpful. I highly recommend the twice-daily deep rest and enlivenment of the Transcendental Meditation (TM) technique, whose benefits have been verified by over 700 published research studies.

  • Eat organic, whole fresh food that is freshly prepared. There is an Ayurvedic saying: Without proper diet. medicine is of no use. With proper diet, medicine is of no need. Be sure to avoid those leftovers, processed and microwaved foods for better nutrition and vitality.

  • Perform Ayurvedic oil massage in the morning (abhyanga). Morning oil massage purifies the entire body, reduces anxiety and stress, helps prevent and heal injuries and supports circulation. It is especially helpful in creating a radiant complexion and keeping your skin youthful. Research shows it may also help prevent skin cancers.

  • Practice yoga asanas. Maintaining flexibility and circulation is key to health.

  • Practice pranayama (yoga breathing) techniques. Pranayama enlivens the mind and body. Ideally practice the following sequence twice a day. Asanas, pranayama and meditation.

    Summary

    Everyone's unique beauty shines forth when they have radiant health and personal happiness. Beauty is a side effect of a balanced, fulfilled life. Supreme personal beauty is accessible to everyone who is willing to take more control of their health in their day-to-day life through time-tested principles of natural living.

    For most of us, beauty is not a gift but a choice. Every woman can be radiantly beautiful simply by beginning to lead a healthier life. You will be rewarded by the glowing effects you will see in your mirror each day and the powerful, bliss-producing effect your special beauty has on everyone in your life.

    About The Author

    Nancy Lonsdorf M.D. received her M.D. from Johns Hopkins and did her postgraduate training at Stanford. She has studied Ayurveda with some of the world's most renowned Ayurvedic physicians in India, Europe and the U.S. Dr. Lonsdorf has 17 years of clinical experience with Ayurveda and is currently the Medical Director of The Raj Ayurveda Health Center in Vedic City Iowa.

    Dr. Lonsdorf has authored two books on Ayurveda and women's health:

    A Woman's Best Medicine (Penguin/Putnam 1995 ; ISBN 0-87477-785-2) describing the Ayurvedic approach to the major issues in women's health

    A Woman's Best Medicine for Menopause (Contemporary/McGraw Hill 2002; ISBN 0-8092-9335-8) describing the Ayurvedic approach to menopause

    Doctor Lonsdorf's contact information is:
    Nancy Lonsdorf M.D.
    1734 Jasmine Avenue
    Vedic City, IA 52556
    641-472-8246
    web site url: http://www.ayurveda-ayurvedic.com/

    info@ayurveda-ayurvedic.com

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