Cool Beauty Tips

Beauty Today: All Smoke and Mirrors?

2009-11-07T12:38:00.001+07:00

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Three Tips for Successful Weight Loss

2009-08-10T22:45:00.001+07:00

Weight loss isn?t just about eating less food. Healthy eating can accelerate your efforts in losing weight. The following are three tips to not only be healthy, but also to lose weight quickly.

Enjoy the Foods You Eat

Weight loss shouldn?t be a chore. If you believe the only foods good for you are those foods that taste badly, then you?re facing an uphill battle right from the start. Instead look at eating as a part of life, and find those foods that you enjoy (and maybe eat slightly less of them). Look to obtain a better balance so that while eating the foods you enjoy, also add some foods that are not processed, such as fruits and vegetables.

You can even start off with just those fruits and vegetables that you currently like and then experiment with expanding to that list, all while looking to maintain a balance between these fresh foods and the foods that may not be the healthiest. Given time, you may find that you acquire a taste for healthy foods.

Try some new recipes. If you don't like raw vegetables, try some steamed ones. If they taste too bland, try adding some spices. You?ll find that as you lose weight and get more energy, your body will start craving these better feelings of health by wanting more of those healthier foods.

Believe in Yourself

Belief is yourself is a necessary component to achieving your goal. If you don't believe what you are doing will work, eventually you?ll give up. Some people quit and blame it on the food, or blame it on where they live, or that they work too many hours to really eat any good food. But in the end, it all comes down to saying to yourself, ?I?m going to do it, no matter what.?

Food may be considered an addiction and the best way to break an addiction is a gradual leading away from the addictive habit, rather than a ?snap? withdrawal (a ?snap? withdrawal is bound for failure). Don?t worry as much about those calories, just tell yourself that you?re going to eat a ?little? less and then supplement the difference with healthier foods.

Eat Smaller, More Frequent Meals

Successful weight loss involves not hoarding food. Your body hoards the food you eat if you have infrequent, large meals. Weight loss success appears to be in eating smaller meals, frequently throughout the day (4-6 meals spread out every couple hours). Although smaller meals doesn?t mean 4-6 TV dinners every 2 hours. The successful way is have a regular breakfast, lunch and dinner, and then in-between there?s some light snacking, such as a protein bar or meal replacement powder(Muscle Milk from Cytosport is really good for this).

Try to have some fruit and/or vegetables with the breakfast, lunch and dinner. And if a special occasion happens and a piece of cake comes your way, enjoy it without guilt. The key is to be in control and not overdo it ... and don't allow any feelings of guilt to overcome your belief in yourself.

Make sure that you don?t starve yourself. If you start to feel extremely hungry, then you?re probably waiting too long between meals. You see, your body adjusts to the conditions you place on it. If you wait to eat, then your body will adjust by storing more food from the next incoming meal when you finally do eat. The net effect of the habit of waiting is just as if you ate a large meal, as your body stores more of the food, but you don?t get the benefit of eating more food. This is how the downward weight loss failure spiral works (the person eats less, the body stores more of the food, yet the individual feels more tired).

Having four to six meals per day will work if you pace yourself. If you are not hungry when it is time to eat meal number two, the next day adjust meal one so that it doesn't fill you up so much. On the other hand, if you are starving by the time meal two comes around, change meal one so that you are more satisfied (by eating a little more, or adding some healthy fats, or trying some different new foods).

Eating can be a pleasure. It is something we are blessed with and something to be enjoyed. Adjust yourself to eat when you are ready, not when it is time. When you feel it is time to eat, eat something (it?s ok to give yourself permission to do so). Strive for that balance to not have hunger pains and also a balance between processed and natural foods. Try this for a few weeks and you'll find that you?ll believe in yourself to achieve your goal.

It will happen for you and I?ll be so happy for you. Done this way, the weight loss can last you a lifetime, while the health benefits will increase the everyday quality of life for you.

Jessica Deets researches the internet and writes to help people. There's more weight loss news and information at the website at http://www.getthinweightloss.com

Free Radicals: Destructive Scavengers and the Vital Role Antioxidants Play

2009-05-18T18:39:00.001+07:00

Several years ago, it was all over the news. Free radicals were damaging - we all had them, and antioxidants were the solution. But what role really do free radicals play in damaging the body, and how are we supposed to best get rid of them? How do antioxidants work and what is the best way of adding them to our diet?

24 hours a day, while the body is constantly working, cells are metabolizing and creating energy as they carry out their tasks. This natural process results in free radicals, the same way driving to work in your car creates exhaust fumes. Some free radicals are natural byproducts of the ongoing workings of the body. Some are from environmental factors, such as pollution, radiation, and cigarette smoke.

A free radical is simply a molecule that is missing an electron. As soon as a molecule loses one of its attached electrons, it becomes unstable and seeks to re-stabilize itself by stealing an electron from the nearest molecule. This causes the attacked molecule to then become a free radical, and starts a chain reaction. Ultimately as the process continues this can lead to cell damage.

Free radicals become extremely damaging to the body as they steal electrons from your cells. They begin to spread like a wildfire through the years if your body does not have enough antioxidants to keep them in check. They can attack cell walls, get inside the cell, and cause damage to the DNA. This leads to cancer. Cancer is defined as a degenerative stress condition, and we can understand this better when we understand the role free radicals play.

The brain is the most active part of the body. It uses the most energy, and therefore is subject to bombardment with the most free radicals. The significance of this is not only that we feel negative effects in our mind - such as feeling tired and muddled - but also because brain is very important in its control of so many of the vital workings of our bodies.

When a free radical attacks, it can get into the cell and cause the mitochondria, the powerhouse of the cell, to die or cease to function fully. This can disrupt one of a multitude of processes. A dead or poorly functioning mitochondria in a cell can disrupt or slow down neuronal firing. Mental illness is largely due to imbalances in the neuronal processes of our natural brain chemistry. A poorly working or dead mitochondria can prevent certain natural functions from working, causing symptoms like hormonal imbalance.

Untreated, the damage from free radicals accumulates with age. They are the cause of many degenerative diseases, and are associated with many of the signs of the aging process.

Antioxidants are molecules loaded with extra free electrons. When we have enough antioxidants the free radicals get their electrons from the antioxidants in our body, rather than stealing them from our cells.

The body is naturally built to handle free radicals. Antioxidants are found in the vitamins A, C and E in the fruits and vegetables we eat. However even eating the 5-8 recommended servings a day, or using supplements still often does not do enough to combat the massive free radical damage.

Antioxidants from Vitamins E, C, and A actually pale in comparison to the phytonutrient antioxidants such as those found in red wine and blueberries. This is the reason for the French paradox, why it is being recommended to drink wine, eat chocolate, and drink green tea. They provide better sources of antioxidants.

There is an even better source: the newly discovered acai berry, of the Brazilian rainforest. It provides antioxidants in strengths 33 times more powerful than red wine. It floods the body with massive amounts of antioxidants and other essential nutrients. The acai berry is the number one ingredient for anti-aging recommended by Dr. Nicholas Perricone, in his book the Perricone Promise.

The acai berry can be best added to the diet in liquid form. A small dose of several ounces daily will flood the body with the vital antioxidants it needs. The acai berry is the best way to add to your diet the most powerful antioxidants combating free radical damage.

Carina MacInnes is a writer and entrepreneur who chooses for her daily antioxidant supplement a powerful nutrient packed juice containing vital amounts of the acai berry. Try it yourself: http://drinkacai.com - For information on how to make a living distributing this top-quality product, visit http://imagineacai.com

Know How You Can Conceal Your Hair Loss

2009-05-15T00:33:00.001+07:00

For many people, thinning hair is a reality that they would rather deal without. No matter whether their hair loss is due to a medical condition, is hereditary or is stress related, many cope with trying to style limp, thinning tresses on a daily basis. For these people the thoughts of their ever thinning hair are constantly on their mind when they go out into public or attend a special function.

The billion-dollar hair loss industry has shown that when it comes to hair, people are willing to do just about anything to grow new locks or keep a hold on ones that are slipping away. From camouflage sprays and mousses to massage therapy and surgery, the amount of money spent each year on these hair loss products prove that people with thinning hair are serious about concealing the problem.

But what can you do when all of these alternatives have failed, and you cannot afford expensive solutions such as surgery? Is there anything that you can do to conceal your thinning tresses? The answer is yes. There is an amazing amount of things that you can easily and inexpensively do to make your tresses look thicker, and it all begins with the right hair stylist.

Often, thinning hair is the result of genes that have been passed on to your from your parents. Male Pattern Baldness, identified by hair loss centered on the top of the head and a receding hair line, is the most common, but it is also not uncommon for women to suffer from this condition. While it is rare for women to become completely bald, they can become extremely thin all over the head, and it only gets worse with age. Another thing that contributes to hair loss is physical health. Conditions such as Thyroid disease and heart disease can wreak havoc on a healthy head of hair. And the medications to treat these illnesses can also have a profound, negative effect on hair as well.

In many cases, these types of hair loss are irreversible and a struggle to deal with on a daily basis. That is why it is so important to find the right professional to keep your hair looking the very best that it can. By wearing the right style and using the right products, you can add a good bit of volume and virtually conceal any amount of hair loss. So, your first step in concealing hair loss is to find a professional stylist who knows how to work with thinning and fragile hair.

Once you have found a stylist that understands hair loss, you need to work closely together to achieve the best results. Often, this means a great deal of discussing your hair loss, your lifestyle and your styling needs. There are many tricks up a stylist's sleeve to make your hair appear thicker, but none of them will do you any good if you are unable to create the effect at home. So, be sure to speak up and tell your stylist if you feel that you are unable to get the desired results at home.

Here are just a few of the rules that stylists follow to camouflage hair loss.

Keep it short. Long hair styles tend to pull hair down close to the scalp, which can make it all too obvious that there isn't a lot of hair to deal with. On top of that, thinning hair often looks straggly and unkempt if it is kept too long. Shorter cuts, on the other hand, can give the illusion of thickness. There are multitudes of styles that are perfect for thinning hair so you will have a large variety to choose from. Be sure to choose a cut that compliments your facial structure and has a lot of movement.

Plump with hair color. Hair color is one of the few chemical services that stylists can use on clients with thinning and fragile hair without causing breakage. In fact, the process of coloring hair plumps up each individual hair strand and makes it appear thicker. In addition, using coloring techniques that infuse different levels of lowlights and highlights into your hair takes attention off of your scalp and onto your beautifully colored hair.

Style with soft curl and the right products. Soft curl and full-bodied styles gently lift your hair up from your scalp and give you the appearance of having thick, lush hair. Also a great help are hair thickening shampoos, conditioners and styling products. But before buying products that claim to make your hair thicker, be sure to get your stylist's approval. Many products on the market simply cause build up to make hair appear thicker initially, but that build up will cause a great deal of breakage and damage down the road.

As you can see from these few examples, there are many things that you can do to conceal your hair loss. And I'm sure that your stylist will have a few suggestions of his or her own.

By Rose Lenk
Get more hair care articles and information at http://www.haircaretoday.com

Beautiful Skin Care Starts With An Accurate Diagnosis

2009-05-12T15:01:00.001+07:00

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.

Finding Reliable Health Information Online

2009-05-12T14:57:00.001+07:00

The Internet is the source of a wealth of information, and it's getting easier and easier to by-pass the usual authorities and locate information on your own. But if you want to find reliable health information online, how much of this information can you trust? And when what you need to know is as important as your health how do you know which information is reliable and which information is best ignored?

The problems of self-diagnosis
The answer is not simple. Anyone using the Internet to get information about health is taking a risk, because self-diagnosis is dangerous. It is always best to see a professional when it comes to your health. But, if you want some background information, then by all means search the Internet but learn how to decipher the good and reliable from the bad and unreliable.

You can't believe everything you see
Anyone can post information on the Internet. The people behind the information can be a serious expert or a wacky profiteer. How can you tell the difference?

Always start by being sceptical. If you come across someone who is suggesting you stop taking your prescribed medication and start taking his very expensive cure, then think twice before you buy. Read through the website carefully. Ask the opinions of friends and professionals. Search the Internet for similar suggestions. Search the Internet for stories of other sufferers who may be using the same miracle cure. If you can, contact some other people who have tried the miracle cure.

Start with government agencies
When you come across a health site try to understand who is behind it. If you don't recognize the URL, then try to find the About or Contact page. If you still aren't sure, try to make contact with them and ask them who they are.

In all cases it is recommended to begin with the most legitimate providers of reliable health and medical information, such as government agencies or university bodies. Most of these offer informational pamphlets and brochures.

Here is a list of legitimate American health sites:

American Cancer Society: http://www.cancer.org/
American Heart Association: http://www.americanheart.org/
American Medical Association: http://www.ama-assn.org/
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: http://www.cdc.gov/
Department of Health and Human Services: http://www.hhs.gov/
Food and Drug Administration: http://www.fda.gov/
Healthfinder: http://www.healthfinder.gov/
National Cancer Institute: http://www.nci.nih.gov/
National Institutes of Health: http://www.nih.gov/

Dylan Miles, journalist, and website builder, lives in Texas. He is the owner and co-editor of http://www.healthcenterpoint.com on which you will find a longer, more detailed version of this article.

Serious Skincare

2009-05-05T18:55:00.001+07:00

Serious skin care vs. winter weather, cleansers, and stress. Serious skin care fights the moisture stolen from skin. The latest intensive creams are like dryness police, working night and day to protect and replenish.

When it comes to moisturizers, they can be too rich or too thick. Serious skin care goes well beyond cold cream and petroleum jelly, today's skin care products are remedies for dry skin and are packed with sophisticated ingredients. Now, natural skin care companies think they have fixed the final frontier, the ten-ply cashmere of hydration: super rich, long-lasting, and ultra-healing.

Dry skin is a probably the most common complaint. In a recent survey, 60% of a sample of women cited it as their top serious skin care concern, even ahead of wrinkles. Over 70% said their body was dry in winter and 40% said it was their face (vs. 34% and 15%, respectively, in the summer).

Since the 1970s, scientists have reported a global rise in the frequency of dry skin. Nobody knows why for sure. Part of the answer is linked to the increase in people's exposure to chemicals, pollution, and acid rain. Our hydration expectations have shifted from flawlessly powdered, matte skin to more realistic dewy complexions.

Serious skin care experts also state dry skin is a topic that is commonly discussed. There is no standard definition for the condition. Even if you recognize it only by its symptoms: scaling, tightness, lines, irritation, and itchiness. The immediate cause is a disturbance in the skins outermost layer, which is made up of skin cells and lipids, fatty substances that help maintain moisture in the skin. When the balance of lipids get upset, the skin loses water, and skin cells, normally shed unnoticed, accumulate as white flakes.

Serious skin care experts say many dry-skin sufferers inherit the condition, but stress can also be a trigger. In a recent study, researchers found when people reported high anxiety levels, their skin's permeability barrier (which retains moisture and repels irritants) was slower to recover after tape was applied to their skin and ripped off. The sale of specialty skin care products exploded when the study was understood.

Age is another cause of dry skin, since lipid levels decline over the years, especially when levels of estrogen drop during menopause. While teenage girls need to moisturize infrequently, the skin's need for lubrication asserts itself a decade later. A client of a skin care products company says, My roommate in college would moisturize after every shower, and I remember thinking she was like an exotic dancer, always having to oil herself.

The environment, including harsh winds, sunlight, and central heating also removes moisture from the skin. But the real harm comes from Americans' increasing indulgence in their favorite daily ritual. Younger women often shower two or three times a day, using harsh cleansers (and not moisturizing). The body just can't take it. Soap strips away lipids, and if lotion is not applied after a shower, evaporating water causes a rapid loss of moisture from within the skin. Not only is dry skin unappealing and itchy, but as its condition deteriorates, the skin become more vulnerable to bacteria, allergens, and chemicals. These, in turn, worsen the problem, causing the skin to relinquish more water and repair itself less and less effectively. IHD brings you Also with calming botanicals, DNA restorative enzymes, and age-fighting Gen III ingredients from advanced bio-technology. Also blended are the latest free-radical fighting vitamins and botanicals (vitamins A, D. B, and C, Japanese green tea extract, ginko biloba extract, and echinecea purpura).

This article is brought to you by IH Distribution, LLC.

Bringing you health, anti-aging and skin care products from around the world. Shop online: www.ihdistribution.com & www.ihd.myarbonne.com or contact us: sales@ihdistribution.com

Please share the content of these articles with your friends, family and colleagues. Reprint rights granted. All reprints, must include a link to www.ihdistribution.com. Content may not be altered and articles must be used as distributed by IH Distribution, LLC

Make Up in 2 Minutes

2009-04-28T18:49:00.001+07:00

Make up does wonder to the overall image. It makes the face polished and pretty looking. I have met one too many women who told me they have no time for make up application. These women are definitely at a disadvantage in the job market, because women who put make up on, makes about 35% more than those who don?t.

A perfect make up application has many steps. However, some days, women have to wake up and run out for work, with no time for breakfast or a long make up routine. If you are a busy woman with no time in the morning, follow this quick make up routine that will guarantee you looking simple and fresh.

These are the tools and make up you must have on hand ? face powder, big powder brush, lipstick, eyelash curler, mascara and concealer.

Be sure the concealer is a shade lighter than your face. By the time it covers the dark blemish, the colour of the coverage will be very close to your natural skin tone. The face powder colour is to match your own face colour. Use a lipstick that is a shade or two darker than your lips ? for radiance. As for mascara ? if you are a brunette, you may choose very dark brown to black. However, if you are blond or very fair, use taupe or medium brown instead for more harmony.

Here are the steps for a 2 minute make up application:

1. Wash, tone and moisturize your face, apply sunscreen, then put some lipbalm on the lips.

2. Dab on concealer using your finger tip ? preferably your ring finger. Dab it on on any blemishes you have, as well as on your undereye circles. Blend well.

3. Dust on face powder with a big fluffy powder brush.

4. Put on lipstick.

5. Curl your eyelashes, sweep on mascara.

Voila - simple and fresh. Now you are ready to rush out!

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

Holistic Skin Care Regrowing The Garden Of Youth

2009-04-24T12:02:00.001+07:00

To win the battle against the effects of time and the environment, we need to do more than just apply lotions and creams to our faces. No matter how sophisticated the ingredients grow, those anti aging creams only improve the appearance of the dead layers of skin on the surface. To reach the deeper, living cells, we need to nourish ourselves from within.

Juices are an great way to get vital antioxidants, phytonutrients, and vitamins in fruits and vegetables we normally would not eat regularly. For example, pomegranate juice has been found to prevent the thickening of the arteries if drunk daily, as well as slow down the oxidation of cholesterol. And new research indicates it may have a much stronger antioxidant effect than red wine and green tea. Beauty foods like these can be a very effective tool in improving the way our skin looks and feels.

Antioxidants are an excellent way to slow down the aging process on our skin. There are a variety of antioxidants found in fruit and vegetables. These include polyphenols, flavanoids, and proanthocyanadins. Proanthacyanadins help capillary walls stay strong, which is important in making sure all the right nutrients and oxygen get to our cells. If our cells are starving because of nutrient transportation problems, they are not going to be healthy, or look good. Blueberries and blackberries are rich sources of proanthocyanadins, so that's a great excuse to make these delicious fruits part of a regular diet. If you can't get fresh berries, or they're too expensive, try frozen berries as they still retain their nutritional value.

Paul Bedson, who utilizes traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) in his approach to the body, suggests these juices for good skin health:

Carrot, celery and lemon juice
Cucumber, lettuce, and pineapple juice
Half a glass of cucumber juice with half a glass of water

TCM sees healthy skin function in relation to how well the other organs of elimination function. The skin is considered an organ of elimination as it excretes about one quarter of the body's wastes through perspiration. The other organs of elimination are the kidneys, the lungs, the liver and the bowels. The rationale behind considering the excretory organs as a whole when addressing skin health, is that if one of the organs is overloaded, or not doing its job properly, it throws the whole system of excretion out of balance, placing greater stress on the other eliminatory channels. So juices, food and supplements that support these other channels of elimination should also lead to a corresponding improvement in the skin.

Herbs that support the eliminatory channels, and thus indirectly the skin, include burdock, cleavers, nettles, goldenseal, yellow dock, and milk thistle, or st marys thistle.

References: Paul Bedson, The Complete Family Guide To Natural Healing (Hinkler Books, 2005)
Erica Angyal, Gorgeous Skin In 30 Days (Lothian Books, 2005
http://www.nutraingredients-usa.com/news/ng.asp?n=62044-tesco-pomegreat-pomegranate

Do you suffer from acne? Would you like to learn 6 acne nutrition tips to help you manage your acne better? Or an acne diet article that discusses the link between insulin, bread and acne? Click on the links to find out.

Acne Solution

2009-04-13T18:08:00.001+07:00

Million of people suffer from acne breakouts young and old. If your doctor has you on topical or oral treatment and it is not working try other ways to cure the breakouts.

For example: Topical retinoids (Retin-A, Differin and Tazorac, for example)are helpful for mild to severe acne especially when they are used early on combining with hormonal antibiotics,or benzoyl peroxide treatments. When you discontinue the antibiotics you can maintain clear skin with retinoids. Another way to treat your acne is with laser light. The doctor applies a chemical called aminole-v-vulinic acid and then exposed to a sunlump called Clearlight. You need two to four treatments to kill bacteria and keep skin clear for 5 months or up to 2 years.

Over the counter products aren't strong enough to treat severe acne. Try using a product with 10% benzoyl peroxide plus another product with 2% percent salicylic acid. Keep a daily routine faithfully and if your skin doesn't improve see your dermatologist.

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

Makeup Tips for Busy Professional Women

2009-04-12T17:04:00.001+07:00

In today?s busy world many women are finding it hard, to have the time to look their best, but they must still look professional and make-up does make a big difference. But, how you can find the time to apply your makeup, cook breakfast, send your husband off to work, get the kids off to school and drop some off at daycare. This is not an easy feat for most women. But, I believe this makeup application tip will aid you in getting yourself ready and still be able to handle what ever is on your plate for the day.

First, a beauty makeup tip would be to purchase these items, a good moisturizer, and an easy to apply foundation, eye shadow, eye concealer, blush, and mascara. That?s it. Do not go over board on your beauty routine during the times you have to rush off to work.

Now, for the quick makeup application tip. First, if you can do without foundation, skip it. Do not forget the moisturizer; your skin needs the extra moisture. If you cannot do without the foundation, the quickest way to apply the foundation is to dot your forehead, chin, nose and cheeks. Now, with a sponge or a tad damp cloth smooth the foundation until it is blended completely on your face. Pay close to attention to your hairline, chin and jaw line. Applying the foundation will take the longest. Always remember to smooth upward, when you rub downward, you are only helping those wrinkles find their way.

The next beauty makeup tip is to use only one color eye shadow. You are not trying to win a beauty contest or become the next diva. Remember you desire to look your best in the shortest amount of time. The best eye makeup tip is to check and see if you have dark circles, they do appear from time to time and then you must apply an eye concealer, if not skip this step. Only use it when you have to, this will save you plenty of time and could be the best beauty makeup tip of all for those of us in a hurry.

Next, for your eye makeup tip, apply a small amount of eye shadow on the eyelid only, use the eye shadow as an eyeliner, and run the applicator under your bottom eyelashes. Add just a bit of mascara to your eyelashes. There the eyes are finished.

The next beauty makeup tip is to apply just a bit of blush on your cheekbones and brush toward your ears. Apply a tad of lipstick and you are out the door and ready for anything.

If you use these makeup application tips every day when you are in a hurry you should be able to completely apply all the makeup in about 5 minutes. Now that is one great beauty makeup tip that every women on the go will be happy to know about.

Natalie Aranda writes about beauty, makeup & skin care. In today?s busy world many women are finding it hard, to have the time to look their best, but they must still look professional and make-up does make a big difference. But, how you can find the time to apply your makeup, cook breakfast, send your husband off to work, get the kids off to school and drop some off at daycare. Beauty makeup tips would be to purchase these items, a good moisturizer, and an easy to apply foundation, eye shadow, eye concealer, blush, and mascara.

Pink Dazzle CHI Flat Iron

2009-04-07T20:26:00.001+07:00

Amazon.com Product Description

At StyleBell we love the CHI Pink Flat Iron in a dazzling pink and we love a great deal. You will too when you see this Pink CHI Dazzle Flat Iron. Youll get the professional CHI Original Ceramic 1" Professional Hair Straightener, one of our best-selling irons in, you guessed it PINK! With its ergonomic design and curved edge plates youll be straightening and curling constantly. This iron has the same Ceramic, ionic technology as the CHI Original, it's just in a cuter color. Perfect for you styling mavens who like your appliance to have a little style! And really, how can you pass up pink? Product Benefits: " ceramic plates Professional salon model Curved edge plate design to curl, straighten and flip Ceramic ionic technology eliminates frizz, creates silky shiny hair instantly Far infrared flash heating in only 6-10 seconds Fixed temperature setting from 302-356 degrees F Squeeze sensitive styles hair with minimal tension, no pulling or tugging Saves energy - CHI only uses 20-25 Watts of electricity On-Off switch on the inside prevents accidental turn off Lightweight, ergonomic design 110 volts US/Canada 10 power cord with 360 degree swivel cord Part of the CHI Original line of best-sellers Includes free heatproof bag

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

2009-04-02T12:38:00.001+07:00

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Salon Manicure a Users Guide

2009-03-30T13:04:00.001+07:00

If you are considering treating yourself to a beauty salon manicure - and why shouldn't you! - the following are the details of what you can expect to receive from a professional manicurist. Your manicure might not follow this procedure exactly, but it should be very similar. So there shouldn't be any surprises. So just go and relax and enjoy it!

Here it is - how to give a manicure - in 12 luxurious steps:

1. Remove the old nail varnish by wiping with a piece of cotton wool soaked in varnish remover. Once all the varnish has gone, rinse the fingers with clean water.

2. File the nails into the correct shape and buff to remove any little imperfections and rough edges.

3. Dampen the hands a little with water and apply a gentle exfoliator, using a massaging action. Then rinse the hands thoroughly and dry.

4. Soak the hands in soapy water, using a moisturizing cream moisturizing soap, not an astringent. Leave them in the water for about ten minutes.

5. Apply moisturizing cream to the cuticles.

6. Push back the cuticles using a hoof stick (usually a plastic stick with a rubber tip, specially designed for moulding cuticles).

7. Gently massage the cuticles and the whole hand with moisturizing hand cream until it is totally absorbed.

8. Remove excess dead skin around the cuticles and trim any hang-nails using special very tiny, but sharp, nippers.

9. Buff the nails to remove all ridges, imperfections and any unevenness.

10. Apply a rich moisturizing cream to the hands, wrists and lower arms, using a massaging action until the cream is thoroughly absorbed.

11. Then immerse the hands in a Vitamin E rich paraffin bath. This is used to open the pores and let the heat and moisture be thoroughly absorbed. This is done several times, with a short delay between each immersion, allowing the wax to build up in several layers. Once sufficient wax has built up, the hands are wrapped in some thin plastic film or plastic bags and placed into insulating mitts made from towel. After approximately ten minutes the mits and plastic are removed and the wax peeled away. The hands will be beautifully soft.

12. Finally, nail varnish is applied in the form of a base coat, then two layers of your color of choice, and a finishing protective top coat.

That's it. All over! Another perfect, luxuriating, relaxing and beautifying manicure, making you feel good all over.

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

The Right Beauty Supplies Will Make You Look Great!

2009-03-29T19:37:00.001+07:00

Use beauty supplies the right way and yours could well be the face that launched a thousand ships! Growing old may be mandatory, but looking it certainly isn?t. It?s just that one has to do it right. But that?s exactly what?s difficult. The mind boggles with the onslaught of unending types of beauty supplies, countless makeup and enticing brands. Am I using the right beauty supplies? Am I doing it correctly? What about side effects? Thankfully, makeup tips are not very difficult to find.

Trust the beauty supply expert.

Generally, you can always trust a beauty supply expert. And thankfully, one is almost always available without much trouble. The media abounds with beauty supply tips. And then there are brands that you can trust your skin with. Or use exotic mineral beauty supplies that are a great alternative to chemical beauty supplies. They use natural ingredients and causes less damage to the skin. Over a period of time, the presence of wrinkled skin could make that vital difference between skin that used regular beauty supplies and skin that used natural beauty supplies.

Beauty supplies today not only means enhancing beauty that is skin-deep, it also means preservation of skin nutrition. After all, our skin is the largest organ of our body and needs adequate nutrition like any other organ. Consistent, healthy skin care is the best way to avoid wrinkles, sunspots and premature aging. It will pay off in the end. We spend our hard-earned cash on beauty and skincare. Lets make sure that its main beneficiary is our skin, not skin care product manufacturers.

About The Author

Mike Yeager
Publisher
http://www.a1-beauty-4u.com/

mjy610@hotmail.com

Beauty Secrets

2009-03-27T19:31:00.001+07:00

How many times have you looked at yourself in the mirror and wished you could change a minor problem? To look even more beautiful. Here are five helpful & easy ways to achieve beauty secrets.

Skin lightener

Lighten elbow and knee areas by scrubbing lemon juice and sugar. The lemon has a bleaching effect and the sugar will exfoliate the dead cells.

Shiny Hair

hair mix fresh orange juice, water, 1 tablespoon Honey and any type of vegetable oil.

For plumper lips,

Apply lipstick and lip-gloss.

Add a dot of eye shadow in the center of your lips and blend carefully. You might also want to check out City Lips Collagen Lip Plumping Treatment.

Dark circles

Tired looking people do not look attractive cover under eye circles with make up. Choose a color that matches your skin shade, avoid getting lighter shades. We recommend TheBalm TimeBalm - Under Eye Concealer

Fake Tan

Get a tan without exposing your skin to harmful sun rays.

DuWop Revolotion Tinted Body Moisturizer With SPF 15 and Shimmer

About The Author

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

keniamorales@kpatra.com

Acne And Carbohydrates Is There A Link?

2009-03-26T14:24:00.001+07:00

There has been a lot of speculation about how diet and food intake affects acne. There is a relationship between what we eat and how our skin reacts, although the exact interaction is not clearly understood. All food has properties that are helpful or harmful to our bodies. Most foods have a combination of helpful and harmful components and our bodies are designed to utilize the positive attributes of the food and to eliminate the negative. Sometimes, based on our bodies? ability to process food, there may be changes in chemical and hormonal balances caused by food. Some contributing factors to changes in body metabolism are:

- Change in diet
- Change in climate
- High stress levels
- Natural hormonal changes in the body due to age and development
- Illness and infections within the body

In this article we are going to explore the relationship between carbohydrates and acne.

Carbohydrates

There are low-carbohydrate and high-carbohydrate foods found in the average daily diet. Teenagers and adults who eat a high carbohydrate diet are more prone to acne and outbreaks. Teenagers and adults who eat a lower carbohydrate diet that limits the amount of refined sugars have significantly fewer acne problems and outbreaks. High carbohydrate foods include candies, highly processed foods such as white bread, sugary cereals and fast foods. It is believed by scientists and nutritionists that the high carbohydrate foods trigger a sharp increase in insulin production that in turn triggers hormonal increases leading to oily skin and clogged pores.

Best Diet Choices

If you have acne, we recommend that you try the following changes in your diet (after discussing it with your doctor of course):

- Eat as much natural food as possible such as fruits and vegetables.
- Limit high carbohydrate items and switch to whole grain wheat products.
- Avoid fried foods or foods cooked in oils.
- Drink at least six glasses of water per day.
- Eat high fiber foods. These high fiber foods tend to be generally low carbohydrate foods.
- Avoid any foods that you may be allergic to. Keep a record of what is eaten for a week and see if there is any pattern to outbreaks.

Mike Singh is the publisher of http://www.stopping-acne-now.com/ On his website, he shows how to cure pimples and articles about different types of acne.

90% of all Women do their Makeup Wrong!

2009-03-25T12:47:00.001+07:00

The reason why 90% of women do their make-up wrong is the complexity of techniques created over the last one hundred years as makeup artist as a rule use the subjective method and not the objective method. To further elaborate on this subject you are at the hands of a sole creation within the mind of an artist and how they perceive you or you are doing your own makeup application and you also use the subjective method that you have learned from books, magazines or your self creation of what you think makes you look good. The problem is you are inside looking out and not outside looking in. You see what you want not necessarily what really is going on.

The correct method of make-up application involves the objective method, which means you need rules to follow and a guide to all the variables contained there in. There are 10 rules to makeup application and these rules are fool proof, however if you break one rule you will do your makeup incorrect and will have defeated your purpose.

To the best of my knowledge I am the only research makeup artist who has spent 10 years of research and development of the ten rules that work on all women of the world, this means every face shape, skin tone skin hue, blending colors, non-blending colors and perhaps more importantly the in-between colors you have never considered, as well as the missing variables never put in print to this very day! This is the research that has been brought forward to the 21st century. Note: The 10 rules are not in this article, watch for them in future articles.

Once you learn your focal points and point-of-view and have a special tool that will guide you to the center of your face, your on your way to the perfect you and the ability to appear up to 7 years younger with the correct array of color choices that suit you own needs. Once you know the10 rules you can return to the subjective method, because you will be able to create any look or facial creation you so chose knowing that you will look amazing to say the least.

Here are a few makeup tips: If you have brown eyes never use blue eye shadow why you ask, well brown and blue are clashing colors and are also not-blending colors these colors together are not even close in the color spectrum nor can they create a balance to eye art in any way, however these colors can be used in fashion when the correct hues are mixed with a blending color. For eye art they are never to be used together.

If you ware red lipstick and you are not a true winter season you will washout your focal points and the point of view, as well as clash to tonal balance to skin tone and hue, a bad choice and the color red has sexual connotations and always have since the early 50?s all light skin such as summer and springs should never ware red also if you have red hues or tones to your skin, this color will have to much contrast and will washout. The only thing people will see is your lipstick need I say more, OK I will, red is harsh and is not a blending color to a women?s face in less your skin tone is very dark like ebony. Red depicts an aging factor to all women at any age it draws your viewer to a closer look to your age lines smile lines and frown lines, I don?t think you want to do this do you? If you are 14 years old and want to look older just use bright red lipstick and you will appear at least 5 years older. Dark red lipstick will age you even more.

Oil based foundation must be used with great caution as they clog your pores, this will be a paradox statement in that it does have one positive use and that is, it won?t aloud environmental impurities to penetrate your sheer mantle of skin. If you use it be sure to clean your face well and use the standard regime before application and only use an application that covers your face in a good balance to create the frame of your face don?t load it on. The newer foundations with a water base are better for you all around.

Lipstick tips: If your lipstick does not have built in sun screen apply some to your lips before the application, if you are out in the sun anything that shines draws the sun to that area and will make your lips chapped.

Blush Tips: This application is the biggest abuse of make-up application and has been for many years your goal is not to look like a clown but rather healthily this means a natural look. If you follow the guidelines of most make-up artist and magazines in print today you will have done it incorrect. Why you ask? I will tell you blush has only one place on your face and that is the apple of your check bone, not on your forehead, nose, and chin if you read this from an artist they are using methods that are outdated some one hundred years and in some cases longer than that.

The correct technique is to purchase a good brush and pick the correct color hue to your skin tone of course you must first know all the variables there in; as too are you a solid season or a crossover to dual season, this can be very complex at times but not for everyone. If you choose the wrong blush hue or tone you will age your self and destroy all makeup application, because the only thing that will stand out is your misuse of blush. If some one tells you to use plumb, deep rose or anything darker you must be a winter to the depth of ebony, should you be spring, summer or fall they are wrong!

The major makeup companies don?t know anything about blush; they just sell what you buy in fact you control the colors they make by buying them. Did you know allot of women have facial hair regardless of it being blond or very light, hair holds abuse amounts of blush this is why it is important to apply it always in a down ward stroke and before doing so always tap the excess blush on the brush by tapping it over a paper plate.

While making fish lips apply it on the upper check bone only and always finish with a natural translucent power on you entire face, this is the setting of makeup application and the end of the center of your face, which are your own best features. Now if you follow what others tell you and put blush on you forehead, nose chin or any other place you have done your makeup wrong. Honest is the best policy it never returns to bite you and this is why I am giving you tad bits of information. The end results of blush should be a slight color change to your skin hue and tone. The rule is a soft change that is not noticeable to the human eye, yet enough color to make you appear healthily. Here ends this tad bit of information I hope it was food for thought Serjame.

? 2006 Artemus by Serjame 90% of women do their makeup wrong!

I have been a makeup artist since 1963 yes I am old now, but not without wisdom. I have worker with Mr. Wetmore of Universal Studios and fashion artist across the globe. I started with models at International models & associates. I wrote a book on how to be a supermodel and was a feature writer for the western photographer. I am a research makeup artist with amazing makeup techniques with the end goal to make women appear 7 years younger and guide them to their correct technique too applying makeup correctly. http://www.artemusbyserjame.com

AntiAging Insider Secrets to Get a Beautiful Maturity

2009-03-24T11:56:00.001+07:00

A beautiful maturity awaits you. You only need to take to heart the following information to get your reward. Appetite is the only true guide to bodily need and will gauge this need exactly, and cut off short when enough for the moment has been taken.

The Flectcher eating style - see free ebook in link below - cannot provide a list of what to eat, when to eat, nor how much to eat; neither can anybody else. Be guided by your individual bodily signals and respond to these needs.

If fish is the preference, eat this. If it is needed late at night eat it then, but eat it right.

Understand the food filter at the back of the mouth as described in an earlier article, and adjust the eating to the needs of the pie.

If it is used properly, consumed at a thoroughly peaceful pace and all taste is extracted from the pie and it is swallowed only in response to the natural opening of the gate, restful sleep will follow.

Few of us will crave mince pie or Welsh rarebit late at night. The worker on a morning paper run may do so and often does.

He has earned his appetite, and sometimes it is so robust as to call for mince pie or Welsh rarebit; but if these are eaten properly they will then be utilized by the body, eagerly and easily.

This style of eating is to accentuate the fact that as we mature the need to get as far away as possible from irrelevant and tedious advice in the matter of food is essential. This can be both time consuming and irrelevant.

Ordinary people will more than likely discover an appetite leaning toward the simplest of foods, and away from frequency of indulgence.

Even this has the power to bring change to a body and life.

You can embrace this change with ease and have a beautiful maturity.

Patricia Little is a writer and the editor of a re-released classic ebook- it will show you how to get the best of health and wealth out of all your future years. For more go to ==> http://www.Young-at-Sixty.com

Remarkable How I Became Young at Sixty brings renewed vigor to your body, and hope to your mind. You Can Get your Free ebook How I Became Young at Sixty by going to http://www.Young-at-Sixty.com/get-your-f-r-e-e-ebook.htm

A Look at Nail Salon Equipment

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

The type of equipment required for a nail salon is different than that of a salon that solely offers hair styling services. This equipment can be just as costly as outfitting a hair salon, depending on the style of the pieces and materials used in manufacturing nail salon equipment.

There are several pieces of specific equipment that will typically be utilized in a nail salon. A manicure table is the most common piece of nail salon equipment found in virtually all nail salons. A manicure table is similar to a common desk and it allows a nail technician an ample, steady surface area to perform work on a client?s nails. Basic manicure tables feature storage drawers, a padded hand rest for comfort, and swivel casters. Additional features of higher-end manicure tables include vents, built in electrical outlets, and polish racks.

Typically, manicure tables are made of a wood laminate for durability and easy cleaning. Nail dryers are a separate piece of nail salon equipment that are often placed on a manicure table to allow the client to fully dry their nails after receiving a fresh coat of polish. Manicure tables are available through a large number of retailers and can vary in price from under $100 to over $1,000. The price is usually dependent on the features the table offers and the materials it?s made of.

A pedicure spa is a staple in salons that offer pedicure services. Pedicure spas are designed to offer a client extreme comfort while a nail technician performs a pedicure. Pedicure spa systems typically consist of a padded chair for extra comfort that often features a rolling back massage. These chairs are attached to a foot spa where the client can indulge in soaking their feet, prior to receiving their nail treatment. Foot spas often feature jets that offer a full foot and lower leg massage for ultimate relaxation. New pedicure spas typically cost between $3,000 and $4,000. An additional piece of nail salon equipment that is used in conjunction with a pedicure spa is a technician?s stool. This low stool allows the nail technician to face the client and provide nail treatment. These small pedicure stools are often easily adjusted to the correct height for each technician and client.

Nail salon equipment varies from extremely basic, inexpensive, equipment to costly high-end equipment featuring the latest in accessories. As with new equipment, there is also a high demand for used nail salon equipment. Used nail salon equipment may be a good option for a salon owner who is just starting out or values simplicity. Used nail salon equipment can offer huge cost savings to the buyer. When buying used equipment it is important to ensure that all adjustment mechanisms and electrical parts are in proper working order prior to making a purchase.

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

What Are the Hair Styles Trends for 2006?

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

Some people are just born with raw talent. David Biton, founder of Davis Hair Creation in Tel Aviv, Israel was born with a talent for hairdressing.

David immigrated to Israel with his family at the age of 2 months. At the age of 14 he enrolled in hairdressing school and shortly after completion obtained is first job at a leading Tel Aviv salon. Even at this early stage, David?s artistic approach and ease at performing delicate, at times complex formations were apparent. Artistic talent runs in David?s family as his father was a decorator and painter and now his son is a qualified hairdresser at Tony and Guy in London.

David eventually opened his own salon, specializing in bridal hair styles and special events hair styling. Over the years David has styled for Miss Israel competitions and fashion shows, has participated and earned acclaim in numerous hair styling competitions in Europe and started his top hair styling school in Tel Aviv. The key factors to David?s success have been passion, imagination, embracing change and most importantly talent.

As a leader in hair style fashion, David sees current hair style trends to include soft styles that are easy to form. He adds, ?The 60?s is a strong influence but the chignons are understated and not as puffed up as they were then. Women are beginning to feel more comfortable with wearing their hair up and just adding a few small styling touches, like soft back-combing and wearing a headband or scarf, to jazz it up. However, women do differentiate the day to day hair updos, which are more casually assembled, from evening and special occasion hairdressing, which usually possess more elegance and grace.?

The use of different colors and highlights can also create hair style fashions. In Israel there are many types of hairs, colors and shades as Israel is a country that has all types of people from all over the world. There are trends in the color industry to combine a few different colors together all over the hair or on the ends, which is currently favored by his younger clientele.

Another trend growing in popularity everywhere in the world is hair extensions. Hair extensions involve attaching human or synthetic hair to the natural hair by one of many different methods available today in order to create instant natural looking long, thick hair. David explains that in Israel most women prefer medium to long hair and use hair extensions to achieve the look. Hair extensions are very acceptable in Israel at this time and his salon offers all methods of hair extensions including human and synthetic hair for any and all hair types and requirements.

In addition to offering regular salon services, David offers training courses for hairdressers to learn his techniques to create various styles. To supplement his hair style courses, David created and published books and DVD?s to give students additional reference materials and also to document the vast amount of work he had achieved. His first book was a compilation of hair styling ideas and images from the past 30 years documenting various shows and ?chignons? he had styled.

The step-by-step books, available in English and French, were published following the recognition that this area is greatly under developed internationally and most books in circulation are outdated and not visually pleasing. Davis Hair Creation?s books offer a range of beautifully styled and finished images, ranging from modern classics to fashionable and abstract, all detailed in easy to follow steps. The books also feature classic chignons and push the boundaries to offer stylists the ability to learn more modern and artistic techniques.

The courses offered by Davis Hair Creation range from the very basic for hairdressers with no previous styling experience to advance techniques for the confident hairdressers. Davis Hair Creation has several new books coming up in 2006, including one for the consumer, along with a big launch show in Israel for the two step by step books/DVD?s and three gallery books. They will be participating in three European exhibitions and hopefully preparing for their first appearance in Cosmoprof Bologna in 2006.

In addition to his many achievements, David won first prize in the International hair competition in Cannes, and he was involved in a mega exhibition at Tel Aviv?s Cinerama where he presented on stage no less than 120 models in one evening. David represented Israel at the ?Peace Festival? for hairdressers in Egypt and was asked by the Governmental Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labour to train hairdressing teachers to teach his techniques in the official curriculum.

David also performs various demonstrations and shows in Israel with a more artistic twist. He specializes in integrating his hand made jewelry into his styles and creating chignons that are more like sculptures. A few previous figures include fire, hearts, bows and spirals. David?s shows are a celebration of imagination, fantasy and fun.

In short, David Biton is a prime example of someone who has achieved excellence in hairdressing. With over 35 years in the hairdressing business, multiple shows and awards, and literally thousands of very satisfied clients, Davis Hair Creation and founder David Biton offer men and women the ultimate gift?to have fabulous looking hair and/or to learn step-by-step how to create it for your own clients.

Rodriguez is the founder of Hair Resources at http://www.hairresources.com, http://www.hairresources.net, and http://hairloss.hairresources.net, global online resources for hair styles, hair extensions, hair loss, beauty salons and stylists worldwide and all current trends and styles for hair. Hair Resources receives nearly 2 million visitors annually.

Rodriguez is also the award-winning author of 2005's Most Popular Hair Extensions, Hair Extensions-The official consumers guide to getting hair extensions and Wedding Hair Styles. All E-books are available for immediate download at the Hair Resources Bookstore.

Visit Hair Resources for better hair days!!

The Mirror of Beauty

2009-03-21T21:53:00.001+07:00

The probe of human mind has marked every inch of success but the art of drawing parallels for what beauty is, has remained a great mystery. For some philosophers, beauty is the degree of attraction and admiration, provoked in an observer. But it is argued that the same beauty does not affect everyone the same way. It varies dramatically. A few think thanks have defined it as a degree of perfection, but perfection in one field may not be of any interest to an observer. So beauty is very difficult to explain fully, but it may be said that it is a game of comparison. Suppose there is only one woman in the world, now question is whether she is beautiful or not. The answer unambiguously is that you can?t say anything because you don?t have another woman to compare with.

But sailing beyond the ocean of imagination, one realizes that there is a factor that determines the degree of beauty, i.e. a personal dictionary, which translates the mortals and assigns degree of beauty. The holy words of human history will peep out from the gale of truth and will strongly proclaim that Juliet was a goddess for a Romeo a god for her and rest, the particles of dust. Heer for ranjha was enough, and he for her, to lead whole their life together with few straws of love. But remember, if all the lovers of the world of the world are invited to a party to ask who amongst all is the most beautiful, they certainly shall stamp the claim of beauty on the hearts and souls of their own beloved which indeed is not their narrow-mindedness but a natural fact that ?beauty lies in the eyes of beholder?.

One day a great historian whispered in my ears a story? ?once upon a time there was king so fond of beauty that he called his most loyal and faithful negro slave and ordered him to go from east to west and from north to south and fetch him such a paragon of beauty that neither moon would have risen with such splendors nor the oysters of ocean would have given birth to such magnificent pearls; neither ladies of paradise would have looked so charming not the preachers of beauty would have been able to give such bewitching example, neither any artist would have created such mind blowing portrait nor a poet from the depth of his imagination would have been able to compose such riveting verse; neither any dove would have its pinion soar such marvelously not the Aphrodite would have marked such excellence. And if I say for her that she is the most beautiful spirit God ever created, then the claimants of beauty should have said:? we are like lumps of coal in a mine and she a diamond among us.? So, go my man whose head crown of my faith rests, on whose shoulders stars of firm belief shine and on whose chest medals of sure obedience are stamped. Go and present me the beauty that should be praised and witnessed by the twinkling stars.?

The negro servant bowed down and went away calmly to the peaks from where the sun pierced its shining fingers into the dark curtains of night, from where Shakespeare and Shelley enjoyed drinks of inspiration, from where the portrait of Mona Liza was found and from where moon extracts its gleaming light; and thus he went through plains to mountains, through valleys to deserts, through unfathomable cares to celestial cities and through each and every inch of this world where life seemed breathing.

After indefatigable efforts, he went to the king, presented him what seemed the goddess of beauty to him, his Negro daughter. At this, the king asked, ?did you not find any soul more beautiful than this??

He kept silent for a while, then raised his head and said: ?Your Excellency, my blood shall be showered in your feet if I speak but the truth. You asked me to bring Aphrodite but I brought my Negro daughter; the reason was my loyalty. Your Excellency, for you her black complexion may seem coal in the dark but for me it is as beautiful as back rose or a diamond. To you her dry hair may look like that of a witch of some old myth dancing in woods but for me her hair is no less than the curtains of paradise. To you her wrinkled hands may seem as a deserted sight of this land but to me they seem as gods, to cope up the world?s fate in it has sketched these lines on it. To you her eyes may seem as those of angels when embodying eyes have mistaken but to me success. To you her wide nose may seem as dark, unfathomable caves of stone ages but to me it is no less than Noah?s Ark. Therefore, Your Excellency, my obedience and loyalty to you compelled me to bring my daughter to you.?

Then the historian smiled and said, ?Yes! Beauty lies in the eyes of beholder.?

In quest of defining and explaining the beauty, two schools of thought have emerged so far. One proclaims importance of inner beauty and the other preaches the pleasure presented by worldly beauties. But in fact all beautiful things are not necessarily good, charming and attractive but all good and true things are always beautiful. Therefore, it is well said by Keats:

Beauty is truth, truth beauty, That?s all ye know on earth And all ye need to know.?

The school of thought preaching inner beauty bore these words on the preface of its textbook:

?History is evident that the world has given birth to many worldly beauties which only could help to quench the thirst of people and awake beast in them. Many beauties passed by without any notice but the beauty of soul and conscience has claimed triumph over hearts of millions and marked its eternal existence. The people blessed with purity of soul, truthfulness of their conscience, goodness of their deeds and firmness of their faith have succeeded to scratch their name on the forehead of this earth and lead their nation to the peals of glory. And thus they are still breathing in the hearts of many mortals. Nobody asks whether Aristotle was handsome or not, whether Alexander was strong tall in stature or not and whether Anarkali when buried alive inside the walls posed like a queen or not. People do not ask such questions, but everybody does ask that how they climbed to success inch by inch. The open secret of their success, in fact, is their character, behavior, determination, zeal and enthusiasm which contributed towards their success and inner beauty.?

On the contrary, the school of thought preaching worldly beauty is thanking his God in these words:

?Thanks my God, for you have blessed us such beauties, whose single glance shuns off our day-long tiredness, whose heart may prove as a place of eternal peace to our souls, whose sight reminds us of your Excellence. Thanks my God, you have bestowed upon us such beauty, the wish to achieve, which proves a source of fuel for our body, mind and soul. This beauty has decorated this terrifying and worthless world; and it cheers us up when we are cooped in the cells of gloom, worries and misfortunes. Oh God! Really the beauty that you have blessed us with is a source of living in this frightful world.?

In fact, since the creation of this universe, beauty has been neglected and stigmas of frailty have been marked on its forehead. Beauty seems to be an emblem of nothing but thirst rubbing machine. Those who dwell in this world have been really mistaken in understanding the true beauty. When the beauty reigns its lost crown these mortals will see with their eyes open and sense smelling the truth that worldly beauty was just a mirage. Praise be to the Lord, who gifted us these praiseworthy inner beauties which indeed enabled mankind to kindle flames of love even in the dark. And, therefore, we must stop lauding the beauty only. We should also extol its creator, the Almighty GOD.

NAVEED AHMED CHANDIO, A person with bundles of knots to untie. The thinking fuel for him has been love, beauty and the inner rebelion. Most of the times, he would prefere to let the things be interwoven for the beauty of life remains in having some reason to fulfil. He is a fairly good student of Nature and feels proud of it. The unthoughtfulness, cruelity, trachery and hatred are few things that he never liked or perhaps he never got aware of. Naveed chandio lives in karachi, Pakistan.

Reduce Wrinkles Prevent Aging Skin With A Scientifically Proven Approach

2009-03-17T13:52:00.001+07:00

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

Dry Skin Causes and Solutions For Great Looking and Feeling Skin

2009-03-15T18:45:00.001+07:00

Dry skin, also referred to as xerosis or eczema or asteatosis, and erroneously as icthyosis, is a multi-faceted condition which periodically afflicts most of the population regardless of race or sex at one time or another, and through a wide age range. Dry skin may become more pronounced with aging if not treated when young. The symptoms of dry skin range from mild to severe, and may afflict virtually any part of the body. Arms, hands and legs are most frequently involved. Most dry skin conditions arise from conditions which can be modified or prevented and treated without medical intervention.. People residing in areas where climatic conditions include cold dry air accompanied by strong winds are most often affected during the winter months. Dry skin results from lack of water in the outer layer of skin cells known as the stratum corneum. When this layer becomes dehydrated it loses its flexibility and becomes cracked, scaly and sometimes itchy. The stratum corneum contains natural water-holding substances, including urea, which retain water seeping up from the deeper layers of the skin. Water is also normally retained in the stratum corneum by a surface film of natural oil (sebum) and broken-down skin cells, which slow down evaporation of water from the skin surface.

The skin dries out when too much water evaporates from its surface. This increases as we get older, and is made worse by washing, because hot water and soap remove the layer of natural oil on the skin surface. When urea is applied to the skin it penetrates the stratum corneum, where it readily absorbs and retains water. This increases the capacity of the skin to hold moisture, and the skin therefore becomes rehydrated. The moisturizing base that the urea is mixed in, especially when it contains Shea Butter or Jojoba Oil, also provides a layer of oil on the surface of the skin, which helps prevent water from evaporating from the skin surface. Both actions soothe and soften the skin, and reduce the scaling and itching of dry skin conditions such as eczema and ichthyosis.

Common dry skin should be treated by:

1. Decrease the frequency of bathing/showering; maintain tepid water; and limit the duration to 5 minutes or less.

2. Use a mild bar soap. Liquid soaps are more drying. Avoid glycerin soaps and those which contain deodorants.

3. Always apply a good moisturizing lotion after bathing/showering. Eucerin lotion is a moisturizer that contains urea as the active ingredient. Urea is a substance that is found naturally in the skin, which by its nature is very attracted to water. It is used to help rehydrate dry, scaly skin. Lotions and creams which contain urea, Shea Butter and/or Jojoba Oil are effective in mild to moderate cases of dry skin, whereas lighter petrolatum-containing lotions should be applied for less severe conditions. Petrolatum is the chemical name for Vaseline.

4. Operating a humidifier in your home during cold climates, especially in the bedroom, may add moisture to the air and protect the skin when the heat is on.

5. Apply a moisturizer-sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or greater to all areas of the body exposed to the sun.

6. Finally, and very important, drink plenty of water and liquids to keep the skin moist from the inside.

We can't rule out other pathology. Dry skin may be a symptom of a more complex problem, i.e.Ichthyosis commonly referred to as fish-scale skin. This is a medical problem and must be treated by a physician specializing in dermatology. The origin of this condition is frequently hereditary with associated metabolic factors, i.e. under active thyroid. In addition to those precautionary measures indicated for the treatment of dry skin, your physician may prescribe a topical steroid and various emollient creams and lotions.

If you want to learn more about Hygiene and Health issues, especially for kids, Please visit KidsHygieneAndHealth.com

Kaaryn Walker is the creater of KidsHygieneAndHealth.com Offering free advice for hygiene and health related issues for youth and teenagers. Kid's Hygiene and Health has an Ask the Expert section which covers such topics as body odor, skin conditions, oral hygiene, etc.

Makeup Makeover

2009-03-15T12:26:00.001+07:00

Do you need a make-up makeover? You can easily spruce up your look by adding a few key seasonal products to your make-up bag. The goal is to have fun and find products that create a look that makes you look and feel great. Many Professional Beauty Consultants will let you try-before-you-buy and will assist you in making smart color choices. Still feeling a little intimidated? Here are some steps you can take to prepare for your first color consultation:

1.Take an inventory of your current makeup bag. Keep in mind that cream and liquid based makeup like foundations and concealors have a shelf life. If your makeup begins to separate, in the bottle or cake and break?get rid of it. Mascara should only be used for one season. Bacteria could develop on the brush. Your products should be fresh and bacteria free, after all, you are putting them on your face! Taking an inventory will also help you determine what you need and what you can live without.

2.Note colors you like and colors you absolutely hate. How many times have you gotten home from the store, so excited about your new lipstick, only to find that you have 3 others in almost the exact shade? Bring your favorite colors with you to avoid duplicating or to match up colors you love that are getting low.

3.Be willing to try. It?s only makeup. The beauty of cosmetics (no pun intended) is that they are temporary. If you don?t like the look, it will wash right off.

4.Have fun. Remember, when you were a little girl playing with your mother?s makeup. You and your best girlfriends crammed in the bathroom, pink, blue and bright purple powder everywhere. Sparkly, glittery pale blue lips with hot pink eye shadow and enough body glitter to light the Lincoln Tunnel. Oh yes?those were the days. Playing with makeup is fun. Sit back and enjoy the ride!

Have a great day!

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

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