Wrinkle Remover
Green Thompson seedless grapes! It has one of the ingredients in those big time expensive wrinkle creams.
All you do is cut a grape in half and gently crush it on your face and neck. Make sure that you get the "crows-feet" and the lines around your mouth. Leave it on for twenty minutes or so and rinse with tepid water and pat dry.
Repeat every day and before you know it... those nasty old lines will be hard to find!
Don't forget to drink at least 8 glasses of water daily. And... eat veggies rich in Vitamin A, such as carrots, celery and spinach.
If you can, get 8 hours of sleep every night.
Apple Tart Soap Recipe
4 oz. Clear, Unscented Glycerine Soap
1 Tablespoon Liquid Soap
1 teaspoon Liquid Glycerine
1/2 teaspoon Apple Fragrance Oil
2 drops Red Food Color
1/2 teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
Melt soap in small pan over low heat or in a glass cup in the microwave.
Add Liquid Soap and glycerine and stir gently but well. Add fragrance, color and cinnamon. Stir and let stand a couple minutes, just enough to start to thicken so when you stir again the cinnamon will be more evenly distributed.
Pour into molds. Allow to set completely (in or out of freezer). Wrap in plastic wrap or use cellophane candy bags.
Blackheads and Whiteheads: What is the Difference?
By Anna Lynn C. Sibal
The presence of blackheads and whiteheads on the skin is a common problem for those in their teens and up. Teenagers and people in their early twenties suffer most from them, but even those who are in their thirties and forties can still have them too, especially those with oily skin.Both blackheads and whiteheads are forms of acne. We may have thought of acne as limited to those red, bumpy pustules, but that is not so. All forms of acne are considered disorders of the pilosebaceous units of the skin, which are made up of the sebaceous glands, the hair follicle, and the hair strand itself. And like all acne, the problem with blackheads and whiteheads starts deep down the sebaceous glands, or oil glands.
You see, the pilosebaceous units are the skin�s self-moisturizing mechanism. The sebaceous glands secrete oils called sebum, which are stored in the follicle. When the follicle is full, the oil is spilled off to the skin. The sebum is supposed to keep the skin healthy and moisturized.
But sometimes, that is not the case. Sometimes, the oil is trapped inside the hair follicle instead of flowing onto the skin. When this happens, bacteria develop in the follicle and leads to the infection we know as the pimple. Sometimes, instead of being infected, the follicle just gets all clogged up and forms comedones � the things we call blackheads and whiteheads.
What is the difference between a blackhead and a whitehead?
A blackhead is a comedone formed when the opening of the follicle becomes wider than normal. Because the follicle opening is wider, the sebum and the trapped dead skin cells there react chemically with the air, resulting in the oxidation of melanin, which in turn causes the dark coloration of the blackhead.
On the other hand, a whitehead is a comedone formed from a hair follicle that is not open to the air. It is also clogged with sebum and trapped dead skin cells, but the lack of exposure to the air does not lead to the oxidation of melanin, so the clogged matter stays white.
How do we get rid of blackheads and whiteheads? Ridding the skin of acne, not just blackheads and whiteheads, takes time, consistency and effort. It is also very simple. Because acne is not exactly triggered by the food we eat, we do not have to go on a diet. Because acne does not exactly mean that our skin is dirty, we do not have to continually wash our skin. Doing this will rob the skin of its natural moisturizer and will only cause irritation. Washing the face twice a day with mild soap or a facial scrub will do the work. It will take time, but it will do the work.
Blackheads and whiteheads can also be treated using antibacterial products like benzoyl peroxide and tretinoin. Benzoyl peroxide is good for mild cases. It treats the hair follicle so as to reduce the clogging. Tretinoin, on the other hand, forces the closed comedones (the whiteheads) to open up. In this way, the materials clogging the follicle can be easily expunged.
5 Healthiest Ways to Cook Your Favorite Meals
Even if you use the healthiest of ingredients in your recipes, certain cooking techniques can actually eradicate the goodness from foods.
For healthy cooking, give the following techniques a try:
By Anna Lynn Sibal
It really depends on who looks at it, but hair found on the face, on the back, on the chest, under the arms, on the legs and in the bikini area is generally thought to be unsightly. Such unwanted hair prevents us from wearing some types of clothes, like sleeveless tops, skirts or skimpy bikinis. It also affects our self-confidence to a certain degree.
We women really spend some time and effort into getting rid of the unwanted hair on our bodies. Shaving is the most convenient way of doing it, but also the most time consuming. Sometimes, shaving the underarms and the legs can be a daily chore, and it puts us at risk of having in-grown hair. Some women resort to plucking and waxing, but oh boy, don't they hurt. Besides, they grow back, anyway.
There is a way, however, of dealing with unwanted hair more permanently, and that is undergoing laser hair removal treatment. In laser hair removal treatment, a dermatological surgeon focuses a laser on the part of the skin that is to be treated. The laser then creates a reaction in the melanin in the hair follicles of the treated area. The reaction is supposed to make the hair strand shed and to discourage the hair follicle from producing new cells that will lead to hair growth. Laser hair removal treatment takes four to six sessions to complete, as hair enters different phases of growth.
Laser hair removal treatment, however, works best only with people who have fair skin and dark hair. The laser machine is set to react to the melanin in the skin, so dark-skinned people stand the risk of having their skin being burned by the laser. The laser focused by the machine also generally does not react to blond or red hair, because hair with such colors does not have enough melanin in the strands.
If you think you are a good candidate for laser hair removal treatment, the first thing you should do is to check out the dermatological clinics in your area. You can come up with a list from the phone directory or from the Internet. Look for a clinic where the one operating the laser machine is a real doctor specializing in dermatology or cosmetic surgery. If you are comfortable with it, you can also go for clinics where the machine is run by technicians, as long as there is a doctor supervising the session. Read reviews as you make your list, or you can ask your friends or family members who have undergone the treatment for recommendations.
Once you have picked a clinic, the next step would be to make an initial consultation with the doctor of your choice. Visit the clinic and take note of how clean the premises are and how friendly and helpful the personnel in the clinic are. When you come face to face with the doctor, ask him questions about the field he or she is in, about the machine he or she is using, and the credentials he or she has. Ask as well what form of payment the clinic accepts.
If you already feel confident with your choice, then go ahead and make a schedule for your first session. On every session, all the people involved in the treatment - the doctor, the technician and you - should be wearing eye protection. After all, it is laser you people will be handling, so it is important to keep the eyes protected on every treatment. The treatment is not really painful, but the doctor or the technician will nonetheless apply a gel on your skin to make it numb.
The parameters of the laser hair removal treatment, such as the condition of the skin on the area to be treated and the condition of the hair, will be entered into the machine. The laser will then be allowed to pulse on the skin briefly to check if the data entered on the machine is correct, and then the treatment commences.
After every session, take a couple of days off to rest if you think it is necessary. Keep the treated area clean and moisturized, and use only products that are gentle on the skin. Avoid exposing yourself to the sun, because if your skin gets darker, the effectiveness of the succeeding sessions might lessen considerably. If there is a little swelling, apply an ice pack or cover the skin with soft and clean cloths soaked in ice water to relieve the swelling.
It is possible for complications to arise after each session of the treatment. If the swelling does not go away and blistering of the skin is present, you should go and see the doctor who did the treatment on you as much as possible. They should be equipped to handle such complications.
Laser hair removal treatment is a good way of getting rid of unwanted hair permanently. However, you must remember that this treatment is not for everybody. Consider your choices carefully before going through the process.
Firmer Breasts
To firm breasts and tighten the skin, mix one teaspoon of vitamin E oil with one tablespoon of yogurt and an egg.
Massage this mixture into breasts and wear an old bra over the mixture for at least twenty minutes.
Rinse off with warm water.
Stress Relief After a Long Day or an Eternal Week
By Cathryn D'Imperio
Constant stress can wreak havoc on our bodies, our minds and our souls. Some medical problems are triggered by continual stress, and emotional trauma, instability and mild forms of depression are also likely to result. By taking a few moments to de-stress when you feel the levels and intensity rising, you can save yourself from undue anxiety and potential health problems. Below are 20 stress relief options to help you eliminate the physical and mental feelings caused by stress.
Take a Hot Bubble Bath - The soothing suds and warm water can wash your cares away while relaxing your tired, aching muscles. If you want to enhance the healing effects, turn on some soft music, dive into a good book, or just daydream the night away.
Pamper yourself with a Pedicure and a Facial - The softness and smoothness returned to your weary feet may be enough to relax you and help you reduce your stress level, but don't stop there! Use a gentle cleanser and apply a mud-mask and sit back for 10-15 minutes while it works its wonders. If you're feeling especially energetic, cut two cucumber slices to place over your eyes. Think happy thoughts and drift away from the things that trouble you.
Throw on your Comfiest Pajamas and Grab a Good Book! - Snuggling up under the covers in your cozy bed with soft, comfortable clothing can be enough to relax you almost immediately. Find your favorite magazine, pull out a book you have been meaning to read or just put on one of those cooling eye-masks to alleviate them from the cares of the day.
Take a 20-minute 'Power-Nap' if you've got more things on your To-Do List - Right when you get home from work, shed your business attire and hop into your bed-set your alarm for 20 minutes if you have other things on the evening's agenda, or allow yourself to awake naturally if you have a free schedule. Your energy should return to you in no time!
Exercise - Go for a jog, do some abdominal workouts, aerobics or lift some weights. Exercising renews the body and gives the mind an easy escape from daily troubles.
Fix yourself a Cocktail! - Don't jump overboard with the bottle, but something as small and innocent as a strawberry daiquiri or a fuzzy navel could turn your mood around in a flash. If you aren't old enough to drink yet, make a milkshake in the blender or find a great fresh fruit smoothie recipe online. Munch on some snacks or enjoy the view from your favorite window. Forget your cares and just revel in the moment while you slowly sip your favorite beverage.
Have some Delectable Desserts in the house and Indulge! - Cakes, cookies, pastries, brownies: they are all comfort foods to me. Treat yourself to something extravagant and delicious.
Light an Aromatherapy Candle and Play some Soft Music - Close your eyes and imagine whatever peaceful moments come to mind. Relax and think about your hopes and dreams for the not-so-distant future. (Be careful not to leave candles burning unattended).
Convince your Sweetheart to give you a Massage! - A simple back massage or foot massage has been known to greatly reduce stress and send the recipient into a super-relaxed state. Just don't forget to return the favor when your sweetie is having a bad day!
Kick Back in Comfortable Clothes and Look through your Photo Albums - Memories of happy times can easily bring a smile to your face and take you back to days when the tides weren't so turbulent. Plan a vacation or a get-together with friends for another photo-taking opportunity to add to your scrapbooks, and the simple act of having something to look forward to should significantly help you cope with your stress.
Start Keeping a Diary or a Journal, just for yourself! - Record your innermost thoughts and feelings, and vent out your angst of the day. It can be very effective to get your troubles off your chest and onto a sheet of paper, where they'll stay for the rest of the night.
Immediate Results for Urgent Needs: Deep Breathing - Take deep breaths when you feel your stress levels begin to escalate. Start by counting to three inhaling and then to three while exhaling. Gradually increase it to five, six or seven as you try to calm yourself from the aggravating element.
Immediate Results for Urgent Needs: Stretching - Especially if you find yourself irritated at work, raise your arms above your head, arch your back and give it a good stretch. Get up from your desk and walk around-five minute breaks are definitely allowed when your sanity is at stake!
Immediate Results for Urgent Needs: Go Somewhere to Be Alone and Have a Good Cry or Confront the Source - I have been on the brink of tears while on the job, and sometimes the best solution to an overly stressful day is to lock yourself in a room (failing that, your car) and let loose. The relief and renewal experienced by letting out a couple of tears rejuvenates the body and the mind. Get mad, get upset, but get over it; cry in privacy or express yourself to the afflicting individual-chances are you will feel much better once you confront the agitating factor.
Do Something for YOU - Play an instrument, knit or crochet, work on a scrapbook or partake in another of your hobbies. Lose yourself in the moment and do not think about your stress until you must. Go to bed early with a light heart and dream of happy and carefree moments ahead.
Enjoy a cup of Herbal Tea and a few Cookies or a Good Book - Soothe yourself with a warm beverage and some sweets or get lost in some good reads. Reading can be a great escape from stress because it requires your mind to focus on something other than your own problems.
Order-Out! Indulge in some Comfort Foods or a cup of Hot Cocoa - Avoid making dinner or dessert for the night and call for a pizza, pick up some Chinese food or find a place that makes great seafood to go. Whatever your palate desires, treat yourself (and your family) to a night of take-out.
Try something like Yoga or Meditation to Relieve the Day�s Stressors - Beneficial results occur by relaxing the body through yoga exercises. Mental, physical and spiritual responses to yoga and meditations can very powerfully reduce stress's effects on your mood and your body in general.
Break out of the Routine! - Do something unusual and avoid the stressors. Your laundry can wait another day or two, run the dishwasher tomorrow and just relax! Get together with a few friends and go on an adventure-leave the town you know and the buildings you inhabit day after day and take a hike, hit up the beach or go sailing on a beautiful body of water.
Spend Time with Loved Ones and Pets! - If they are the ones making you stressed out, you may think about some alone-time, but more times than not, there's nothing quite like that unconditional love freely given by our furry friends who look to us for the same affection.
No matter what stressors affect you from day to day, it is important to try to combat them before they get out of hand. Job related stress could follow you home and may then have an effect not only on you and your body but on your family, too. Do what you can to reduce stress and ask those who are close to you for advice if you can't find a reasonable alternative to the taxing feelings forced upon you by stress.
Remember: worrying does not get you anywhere - all it does is take up time. Get out there and do something about it!
A BEAUTIFUL NIGHT
By Radika Meganathan
All of us want to look young and beautiful. But how many really stay that way? As they say, Rome wasn't built in a day, and if you want to look attractive and fresh, you should follow not just an efficient beauty regime, but also a regular one.
For busy homemakers and corporate executives alike, it is not always possible to maintain a regular beauty regime, unless it is a habitual visit to the nearest beauty salon. Instead of spending money on artificial and expensive treatments, here is a simple schedule to groom yourself naturally. Just before you go to bed, allot a period of ten minutes. Yes, all it takes is just that little time to keep you looking young and glowing.
Foot Care
Feeling terrible after a tiring day? As soon as you return home, soak your feet in a basin of warm water mixed with a handful of fragrant bath salts. After 10 minutes, wash your feet (a simple soap and water wash is sufficient).
If you aren't feeling sleepy by this time, take a foot filer and scrub your heels. Using a toothpick (orange stick) clean the edges and grooves around your toe nails, to remove the dirt that gets accumulated. Apply cold cream or moisturizer before winding up. This will make the skin soft and prevent people from running away at the sight of your feet.
Face Wash/Scrub
Cleansing your face before going to bed is essential to take away the dirt you might have picked up in your day. Walnut scrub is ideal for oily skin. Make sure you scrub your face in circling motions and wash with cold water. For those with dry or sensitive skin can use baby oil or wet cleansing pads, followed by a night cream.
Night Cream/Moisturizing
The right time to apply any treatment, especially moisturizer - be it for whitening the skin, under-eye cream or simple moisturizing. It will revitalize your facial skin and work wonders on skin, which had been exposed to all the dirt and grime in the daytime. It would be a good idea to use it on your arms and neck, too.
Your Hair
While oil is not the elixir of life to hair, it IS essential in keeping it well conditioned and supple. Leave oil overnight and wash in the morning with shampoo to get better results.
Heat a little amount of oil (olive oil, almond oil, or plain old coconut oil) by placing it in a small container and swirling it in hot water. After the oil gets considerably hot, massage the scalp with your fingertips, in rotating motion, for at least 8 - 10 minutes. You can do this while soaking your feet in warm water.
Castor Oil
Applying pure castor oil to your eyebrows and lashes, particularly those who have scanty growth, will make them grow thick and long. For tired or puffed eyes, place a cotton pad soaked in chilled rose water. Keeping thin slices of cucumber ready in the refrigerator beforehand is ideal.
Grated cucumber, by itself or mixed with carrot juice, can be spread under the eye, to reduce black circles and sagging skin.
Lip Guard
And finally, a smear of Vaseline on your lips, and you can sleep like a child and get up like a fairy!
Practical nutrition tips for a hectic lifestyle.
NUTRITION Month Malaysia (NMM) 2008 was launched in April with the theme Eat Right, Enjoy Life! I have summarised the main NMM educational materials in a previous write up of NutriScene (April 20).
In a further write up on NMM 2008, I had summarised the contents of three educational articles that were published to further strengthen the key messages of NMM.
Beans and legumes are not only good sources of protein and dietary fibre, but are also rich in healthful phytochemicals. In this instalment, I would like to share with readers excerpts from the three remaining articles. I certainly hope they will provide you with further tips on healthy eating and active living.
There’s more to some foods than meets the eye
Nutrition experts are always exhorting you to eat more fruits, vegetables, rice and other cereal products and legumes. This is not merely to ensure that you get your daily dose of vitamins, minerals as well as the all-crucial dietary fibre. Indeed, there are another reasons that may just surprise you!
Something else to chew on
Foods like oranges, cabbage and oats, like all other food, do indeed provide you different nutrients and vitamins. But these everyday foods, however, do more than just that. They also contain numerous naturally occurring components, which are thought to provide physiological and health benefits that go beyond just your basic nutrients.
These components are known as functional components, and foods containing them are called functional foods. In recent years, much attention has been generated on the potential health significance of these components and how they can reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension and coronary heart diseases.
Fruits and vegetables
Fruits and vegetables contain a good amount of bioactive components called phytochemicals, which are compounds found in plants. Carotenoids are good examples of these phytochemicals. These are found in the orange-red pigments of fruits and vegetables.
Some carotenoids include lycopene (in papayas and tomatoes), lutein (in green leafy vegetables), and beta-carotene (many green leafy vegetables).
Other healthful phytochemicals in fruits and veggies are glucosinates (eg cabbage, cauliflower, kai lan, pak choy) and flavones (veggies such as celery, bell pepper and lettuce).
Beans, legumes and soy beans
You may have been consuming soy beans by drinking soy milk, eating tofu, tempeh, taufu- fah, fu-chok, and other beans such as red and green beans in your bubur as part of your daily diet.
But do you know beans and legumes are not only good sources of protein and dietary fibre, but are also rich in healthful phytochemicals?
Some bioactive components identified in the humble soy bean are isoflavones and phytosterols, which have been demonstrated to be able to lower blood cholesterol level.
Tea
Tea contains important bioactive components that comprise a group of polyphenol compounds called flavanoids, which have been linked to lower risks of coronary heart disease and certain cancers.
Yoghurt and cultured milk
Yoghurt, yoghurt drink and cultured milk have been associated as “healthy” beverages because they contain probiotics (added by manufacturers) – friendly and healthy living bacteria that maintain the balance of your body’s intestinal flora and facilitate digestion. They can also contribute to the gut’s resistance to “hostile takeovers” by harmful bacteria. The two “friendliest” probiotics are lactobacilli and bifidobacteria.
Don’t let your emotions eat you up
There’s no doubt that eating habits are sometimes influenced by mood. For instance, you may eat or drink too much during a happy occasion.
On the other hand, you may end up eating or drinking too much when nothing seems right. This could be related to work stress, family or personal problems, or simply because nasty weather has prevented you from going shopping!
Overindulging once in a while is normal. However, things become less healthy when occasional bouts of overeating become habitual.
Disappointment makes me eat
You may dislike having excess flab and decide to lose weight. So you begin to starve yourself, which in the long run is self-defeating and biologically impossible to sustain.
You then eat (perhaps more than you should), but feel guilty for doing so. You may also feel disappointed for having violated your diet regime.
Instead of picking yourself up, you spiral downwards into an all out binge that lasts longer than your attempt to lose weight. You then gain weight and feel bad about your physical condition, which triggers another vicious dieting cycle.
When this pattern becomes a long-term habit, you may end up with a higher risk of becoming overweight or obese.
Eating under pressure
Long-term or chronic stress can also affect your regular eating habits. There may be times when you’re so stressed because of work or personal responsibilities that you turn to food or drink for comfort.
During these times, you also tend to increase your consumption of alcohol, become less active and feel decreasing levels of self-control and self-esteem.
Any attention you may have been paying to what you eat and all other concerns about food and diet go out the window during times of chronic stress. Instead of controlling your food, it controls you.
Beating the bingeing blues
If you are in the habit of overeating, the first thing you need to accomplish is to develop an awareness of your eating behaviour.
Remember, there are so many other enjoyable things that you can do when you’re feeling happy, sad or stressed instead of just eating and drinking!
Shift your focus from food to other feel-good activities. For instance, try exercising (which tones your body and also increases your self-confidence and self esteem), meditating, spending more time with family and friends, going on vacations or taking breaks from work.
Eat right and get moving to keep moving!
You have a busy lifestyle, one that keeps you on your toes most days, dividing your time between work and personal commitments.
On some days, however, you find yourself out of steam, tired and listless. You barely have enough energy to crawl out of bed.
What’s going on? You’re eating, but why the lack of oomph? The food you consume everyday should provide you sufficient energy to keep you on the go, shouldn’t it? Is there something missing?
Eating right is part of it
You may be eating regular meals, but maintaining a busy pace of life day in and day out requires more than just eating on time. You also need to practise healthy eating habits, as the proper nutrition provides you the essential nutrients and other food components that enable you to maintain your hectic pace of life.
When it comes to eating right, it’s crucial to eat a variety of food because different foods provide diverse combinations of energy and nutrients. To ensure you get your daily requirements, eat a varied diet that combines cereals, legumes, fruits and veggies, meat, fish, poultry and dairy products (with an emphasis on the first four types of foods). You also need to cut down on your intake of fats, sugar and salt. And drink lots of water!
Get moving!
Staying active is equally as important as eating healthy to maintain an overall sense of wellbeing. In fact, proper nutrition and physical activity go hand in hand. This is because the right diet provides you the energy you need to stay active.
Among the numerous advantages of physical activity is that it allows you to sustain your energy balance i.e. it burns excess calories to keep you fit and trim, not overweight or obese. It also helps you maintain a healthy body weight and improves your cardiovascular fitness, strength and flexibility.
Exercise also appears to be especially effective when it comes to boosting your health in various disease-specific areas, including cardiovascular diseases (it helps strengthen heart muscles), hypertension (reducing high blood pressure), diabetes (regulate your blood glucose level), obesity, and osteoporosis.
If possible, you should try to exercise at least 30 minutes daily on most days of the week. If you’re on the heavy side, don’t go all out and start with a 20-minute jog once you begin your exercise routine! Instead, try some light stretching and maybe a 5-10 minute walk.
Once you see the pounds coming off, you can slowly ease into a more vigorous workout programme.
Too busy?
You may find it hard to slot in some time for physical activity. But if you’re really serious about your health, you can always find ways to sneak in some exercise into your daily routine. Here’s how you can stay active.
So you see, if you adhere to a combination of eating right and obtaining a regular dose of physical activity, you’ll not only look great and glow with health, but you’ll also have more than enough energy to work, think, play and continue to enjoy the busy lifestyle you’ve become accustomed to each and every day!
If you have not obtained the NMM Guide book or missed the supplement or the educational articles, or if you wish to obtain more information on NMM 2008 activities, visit the Nutrition Society of Malaysia website: www.nutriweb.org.my.
NutriScene is a fortnightly column by Dr Tee E Siong, who pens his thoughts as a nutritionist with over 30 years of experience in the research and public health arena.Krysta Lyon
Natural ingredients of rejuvenating beauty products along with a complete line of body care.
When it comes to the best lip balm, there is no doubt Burt's is king. Burt's Bee lip balm has excelled to another level on the shelf of every check out counter of Whole Foods, Barnes & Noble, not to mention filling the beauty aisles of drug stores around the country with delicious natural products like Milk and Honey Lotion and Lemon Cuticle Cream. What many people don't realize is that why Burt might be the king of bees, Roxanne Quimby is queen of the balm.
In the early 80's in the backwoods of Maine, Roxanne Quimby had just gone thru a divorce and was a mother of young twins. She met Burt Shavitz while he was peddling quarts of honey out of the back of his pick up truck. It wasn't long after that Roxanne was turning Burt's leftover beeswax into candles, shoe polish and the ever-famous lip balm that is the company's signature product today.
Roxanne and Burt created a natural line, of cruelty-free lotions, soaps, and cosmetics mostly packaged with recycled materials. Their production line went from Roxanne's kitchen, to a vacant one-room schoolhouse and then into a converted bowling alley. Eventually, ending up with a headquarters and massive production line in North Carolina.
More than just honey
Burt's Bee has expanded from a simple honey lip balm to lotions, body wash, and a clean and fresh line of shampoo and conditioners. Natural Milk & Shea Butter body wash (US$8, drugstores) it an amazing clean and fresh feeling in the shower, recommended by both women and men. A product off Burt's newest line is Chemical Free Sunscreen SPF 30 (US$15, drugstores), it's high protection from the suns harmful rays are the essential. The bonus is that it's gentle enough even to use on children. Men have also become huge fan of Burt's with their men's lines of lotion, body wash and after shaves. Natural Skin Care for Men Shave Cream (US$10, drugstores) leaves skin clean and smooth. It also helps soothes and hydrates the skin, the featured ingredient is Calendula.
As Roxanne Quimby continues to amaze us with all natural products, she still remains behind the scene of this hive. In 2000, she launched the Wings of Love cosmetics line. She is hard at work today on her launch of Happy Green Bee, a colorful organic cotton baby wear line.
Easy Treatment for Dark Under Eye Circles
Grated potatoes can lighten under-eye circles. Potatoes contain an enzyme called catecholase, which is used in cosmetics as a human skin lightener.
Run one spud through your food processor and stuff the raw mash into a piece of cheesecloth.
Apply to the area directly beneath your eye; don't let the potato juice come in contact with the eye itself, and leave for 15 to 20 minutes.
Wipe away the starchy residue
* Wear colour where you’d normally wear black
Make-up artist Rachel Wood says: “To work out where you could use super-brights on your eyes, think about where you usually wear black make-up. Coloured liner or mascara is a great way to try this trend.”
* Keep your look simple
“Never use bold colour on lips and eyes,” Rachel warns. “And limit the rest of your make-up to concealer, foundation and mascara, otherwise you’ll look like a fashion victim.”
* Match your make-up to what you’re wearing
“If you can’t decide which shades to choose, match them to the tones in your wardrobe,” Rachel suggests. “So, for a black dress with an electric pink bow, pick up the pink tone with a lipstick or eyeliner.”
BLUE AND TURQUOISE shades help all eye colours stand out. Nervous of taking the sea-blue plunge? A shot of eyeliner is the boldest and easiest way to work the look. Draw Clarins Waterproof Eye Pencil in Turquoise along the upper lash line, starting at the inner corner and ending with a flick beyond the outer lashes. A slick of blue mascara, like Urban Decay’s Big Fatty Mascara in Electric Blue makes eyes stand out.
RED AND PINK are a great place for colour virgins to start as they suit all skin tones – but they’re best confined to lips. Chanel’s Rouge Allure in Vertige is the perfect pillar-box red for a make-an-entrance pout. Or for a more summery look, try a bubblegum pink like Nvey Eco Organic Lipstick in Shade 359.
ORANGE AND CORAL are the newest trend for lips, as seen at the Spring/Summer catwalk shows. A great suits-everyone coral shade is YSL Fard a Levres Rouge Pur Lipstick in Shade 21. But if you’re looking for a hot shot of orange then try Sisley Long Lasting Hydrating Lipstick in Mandarin.
PURPLE AND VIOLET are a fab summer alternative to the grey and charcoal smoky eye of 2007. Brush Bourjois Ombre Stretch Eyeshadow in Profond over your lids and all the way up to the brow. Follow with black mascara. Deeper purples work well on lips – Maybelline Moisture Extreme Sensual Satin Lipstick in Velvet Wine is a great shade for a night out.
GREEN AND YELLOW eye colours look best on darker skin types, as these tones can make fair girls look tired. To keep citrus shades looking modern, choose products with a matte finish. Try Shu Uemura Cream Eyeshadow in Yellow or Lancôme Colour Design Eyeshadow in Green Bikini. Wear on your lids or blend up to your brow line for extra va-va-voom.
Lips:
* Colour accentuates dryness, so exfoliate lips gently with a spare toothbrush.
* Keep lips supple with balm. Apply five minutes before your lipstick, so it doesn’t make the colour slip. Blot with a tissue to keep colour on longer.
* Draw a line of concealer round your outside lip line before applying lipstick to stop colour bleeding.
* Apply straight from the stick if you’re a lipstick pro. If not, use a brush like Famous By Sue Moxley Lip Brush and paint on colour gradually.
* Avoid lipliner – it makes bright colours look harsh and dated.
Eyes:
* Apply foundation or concealer on your lids first, to give the shadow something to stick to and stop it clumping into creases.
* Wear two or three layers of shadow to help the pigment last.
* Use fingers for smooth application, as brushes can give a harsh finish.
* If you’re not sure about blending, only apply one bright colour on your lids.
* Colour can sometimes magnify under-eye circles so try a sheer concealer like L’Oréal Paris Touche Magique Concealer over any shadows.
I’m a huge fan and proponent of the traditional Japanese diet. After several trips to Japan, my partner and I became hooked on all of the healthy aspects of the Japanese style of food. Not only did we find ourselves satisfied and full after rich meals, we also lost weight. A year after we adopted the Japanese style of home cooking 12 pounds disappeared from my body.
Here are some highly attractive qualities of both the food and culture of eating in Japan:
1. Foods are packed with nutritional punch. Some of the most frequently consumed items are things like seaweed, green tea, miso, and ume.
2. Freshness is vital. People search for the freshest ingredients at the grocery store and meals are made based on what is fresh in the grocery store.
3. Seasonal Eating. The Japanese celebrate seasons more than any culture I’ve encountered. As seasons shift and colors of cherry blossoms or brilliant maple leaves change so do the magnificent foods. Foods are celebrated when their time is ripe.
4. It’s all about Quality, not Quantity. It is inherent in the Japanese culture to produce fruits and vegetables of the most impeccable quality. Unlike in the US, where agriculture is based on mass and genetic modifications to increase yield. Japanese are likely to pay more (or grow their own) to obtain the highest quality.
5. Meals delight the senses. The entire eating experience is an art in Japan. Food is adorned with natural elements like leaves and edible berries. Splashes of color enhance the texture, smell, and taste.
6. Small portion size. Americans may devour an entire bowl of edamame while in Japan people are often served a dish with only 2 delicious pods. By serving food in small dishes, portions are naturally smaller and people eat less.
7. Non Dairy and Less Wheat. Dairy is a rarity in Japanese food. Rice replaces wheat as the most commonly used carbohydrate. Therefore, this cuisine is ideal for those with wheat and dairy allergies.
When I eat in Japan or if I prepare Japanese food in my own kitchen I always feel thoroughly satisfied. There’s no need to grab a midnight snack because my body is not deprived of all the delightful elements of eating.
Naomi Moriyama describes the principles of a good Japanese diet in her book: Japanese Women Don't Get Old or Fat: Secrets of My Mother's Tokyo Kitchen. She also shares some fun recipes from her mother’s kitchen. This book gets mixed reviews partly because it doesn’t necessarily speak to a greater (suburban, American, mother) audience. However, Japanese Women Don’t Get Old or Fat is ideal for people who:
1) Are interested in taking the time to prepare rich and healthy meals at home
2) Enjoy Japanese cuisine (beyond sushi)
3) Have struggled with the standard American diet and are looking for alternatives
4) Are looking for support and encouragement to create healthy lifestyle changes
