Natural Rosacea Products & Rosacea Medications : The Common Thread

If you are one of the thousands of men and women suffering from the skin discorder rosacea or acne rosacea, you may already be familiar with the standard dermatologist-prescribed courses of action and medications.


What many people don't know, is there are actually non-prescription, natural rosacea products that are just as effective, if not more effective, than prescription rosacea medications and topical rosacea gels and ointments.
First, let's look at the common ingredients in pharmaceutical rosacea medications. Two popular topical prescription drugs for rosacea are Metronidazole and Azelic Acid.
As an oral medication for rosacea, physicians may utilize a variety of medications, mostly antibiotic in nature, to help control rosace by controlling severe facial flushing and swelling. Sometimes in severe cases, even cardiovascular medications are used to help control the facial flushing.
Because of the higher risk of negative reactions associated with the long term use of oral antibiotics, topical therapy is usually the preferred long term treatment method. There is also the danger of antibiotic resistence becoming a problem for people who are treated long term with anitbiotics.
Topically applied rosacea medications, especially those of a natural origin, are becoming more and more popular, since there is no risk of them becoming ineffective over a period of time, as there may be with man-made topical rosacea solutions.
In addition to topical rosacea gels, creams, and sprays, a complete skincare regimen including face wash and moisturizer should also be employed as a preventive measure for rosacea.
People with rosacea have skin that requires intense and very specific care, every day, from cleanser to makeup. It is important that anything that comes into contact with the face does not have any skin-aggravating properties, but rather possesses skin-calming and anti-redness peoperties. There are natural rosacea skincare systems that will do just that, and before you know it, you will be "back in the clear".
Danna Schneider is the webmaster and founder of CosmeticsGalore.com, a cosmeceutical and nutraceutical review site focused on natural self improvement and cosmetic correction. More information on the natural rosacea treatment system mentioned in this article can be found.

Emu Oil For Anti Wrinkle!

What is Emu Oil?
Emu oil was discovered by Aborigines many thousands of years ago as a skin moisturizer, antiseptic, and as an aid in the relief of sunburn, muscular aches and joint pain, as well as aiding in the healing of injuries. The emu oil is rendered from a thick layer of fat on the back yielding 5 - 7 liters of unsaturated, non-toxic, highly penetrating oil.
Over ten years of research done at Global Canyon Ranch (Texas) has revealed that the emu oil has unique thermodynamic properties. Combined with other ingredients, the oil can be used to machine stainless steel much more rapidly, thus considerable savings in labor results.
The emu oil is the greatest emollient in the world. It penetrates the skin better than mink or any other natural oil, and lacks long chain fatty acids which is conducive to a long shelf-life.
Emu Oil is considered a complete source of essential fatty acids. Essential Fatty Acids (EFA's) are fats that humans cannot manufacture or synthesize. We must obtain them from our diet. Like vitamins and minerals they are essential to the body's functions. Incredibly, this amazing oil contains omega 3,6,9 essential fatty acids and is a powerful skin moisturizer and possesses strong anti-inflammatory properties.
Emu Oil for Anti Wrinkle.
Billions of Microscopic Three-Dimensional Nanoprisms! Here's "so what." Almost nobody knows this... but... the human eye cannot see a wrinkle. What the eye sees is actually the shadow made by the wrinkle. And, since all those billions of microscopic nanoprisms refract light.
This effect will last until you wash your face and the invisible silicon dioxide is removed. And get this: Remember how I told you the main ingredient in this cosmetic cream is made from emu oil? Well, it turns out emu oil is probably the best cosmetic ingredient in the world. That's because its molecules are much smaller than the molecules in human skin.
Penetrate down through seven layers of human skin!

Best Home Tanning Beds

Control Excessive Hair Loss GuaranteedIt would be really nice to be able to tan at home. If you are looking for the best home tanning beds you should know some things that may make your search a little easier.
The best home tanning beds need to be safe. There are many differences in tanning beds. The best home tanning beds on the market are made by companies who care about the well-being of their customers.
The best home tanning beds on the market are available online. If you are looking for the best home tanning beds on the market you will need one that is well made. The best home tanning beds on the market are made from high quality materials. Look online and do some research.
To find the best home tanning beds on the market you should check publications that rate tanning beds. You may also find out more about the best home tanning beds on the market by asking questions at tanning salons in your area.
The best home tanning beds may not be the most expensive. Compare prices to find the best home tanning beds on the market. You may be able to find some of the best home tanning beds by looking in the newspaper. Sometimes people sell their tanning beds if they are moving or have decided to purchase a new one.
The best home tanning beds can sometimes be found at a local tanning salon. When these salons get ready to upgrade or go out of business they may have great tanning beds for sale.
You will be able to find the best home tanning beds if you do a little research and compare features and cost.
Timothy Gorman is a successful Webmaster and publisher of Tanning-Bed-Solutions.com. He provides more tanning bed information on tanning bed bulbs, tanning bed lotions and home tanning bed information that you can research in your pajamas on his website.

Skin Care: Caring for your Skin in Cold Weather

When temperatures drop it is time to think of how cold weather, chilling winds and dry air will affect your skin. We naturally think of bundling up during those frosty months but there are a few other considerations.
1. Keep your face protected by using heavier moisturizers, especially if you have dry skin. Always wear foundation when weathering the cold - give your face that extra protection. Don't forget the rest of your skin and use body washes instead of harsh soaps. Use lukewarm water and keep hot water off your face and body - it's drying in the best of times. Apply moisturizer after showering, while you skin is still damp.
2. During the winter the UV rays reflecting off the snow have an added ability to damage your skin. While skiing, snowboarding or enjoying any outdoor sports remember to wear a SPF of 15 or more. Don't forget that UV rays can harm your eyes as well, so keep them protected with sunglasses.
3. Keep your hands dry and warm during the winter months by always wearing gloves and keep moisturizer close at all times and reapply often.
4. Winter is the worst time of the year to keep nails in good shape. To avoid brittle nails moisturize your cuticles before going to bed (I use olive oil). Always protect your hands with rubber gloves when you use cleaning products. Some are harsh and will seep into your nails and make them brittle.
5. Keep your lips protected from dry, cold air by wearing lipstick regularly. Make a habit of reapplying lipstick so your lips area always covered (except when you sleep) and you will never have chapped lips.
6. Exfoliate your face and body regularly to smooth away dry patches or prevent them.
7. Visit a spa and get pampered.
Sheila Dicks is an Image and Wardrobe consultant who teaches women how to dress to suit their body type and look slimmer.

Seven Things to do Now to Look Good Always!

Fashion magazines target people every day with lists and charts telling them the latest trends and techniques to look better, skinnier, smarter, where to buy the hippest clothes or the latest shoes! If you're a woman, you are probably bombarded more often than you like, and if you're a man, you may not get the information that you really want to know! Due to the glut of information available, most people know the obvious things to do to look elegant or well groomed, such as getting a good haircut or wearing certain brand name clothes. However, this may lead people to overlook some simple, basic things that can be done RIGHT NOW to add that subtle flair and polish to your everyday look!
Renu Dalal-Jain, a certified image consultant and the owner of Flair Consulting in Philadelphia, PA, works with men and women to help them put their best personal face forward in social or corporate settings. She maintains that there are seven essential things any man or women can do, and often overlook, to help them present a well-groomed, neat, and elegant appearance to the world! And all this without spending a dime!
1) Keep your skin and lips well conditioned. Ashy knees, flaky skin and chapped lips do not look nice, and will make your skin look old and tired. This is especially important in colder weather. If you wear lipstick, it is imperative that you keep your lips moist, because chapped lips are even more apparent under color. Keep lip balm in your car and your bedside table and apply it whenever you get in the car and before going to bed at night.
2) Make sure your nails are well shaped and all a similar length. Nothing says you don't care like ragged nails or nails that are different lengths! (Ladies, I know you worked hard to grow those nails but just because only one broke, you shouldn't think nobody would notice!) If you polish your nails, keep your everyday color one shade brighter than your skin-tone. This looks professional and clean and makes your hands look elegant, especially if you wear rings. If you like brighter colors make sure you repair chipped polish right away! Chips in bright polish are extremely noticeable and make you look sloppy.
3) Make sure your clothes and accessories are in a similar color family ? don't wear shades of beige or brown clothing with black shoes or a white belt. As a rule of thumb, make sure your belt, shoes, and watchstrap are in the same color family. Sometimes a strikingly different purse or shoes can make a statement, but it has to be well planned. The article in question must be of good quality and in good condition, since you want people to notice it.
4) Your socks or hose must match either your shoes or your pants. Do not EVER wear blue socks with brown shoes, or black socks with sneakers! If you are wearing sling-back or open-back shoes, make sure your socks or hose are the color of your shoes or nude-colored. If you are wearing sandals, do NOT wear hose unless it is patterned (think fishnets) and "deliberately worn to make a trendy statement".
5) Wear the highest length socks you can (at least mid to high calf-length). NOBODY wants to see shiny shins peeking out when you sit down!
6) Polish your shoes and clean your sneakers! The number one thing people forget to do when going out is to check their shoes for scuffs or dirt. Polished shoes show that you care about your appearance. The most expensive shoes in the world will look horrible if they are dirty or scuffed!
7) Keep your wallet or purse organized all the time. Nothing makes you look disorganized like an overstuffed wallet hanging on for dear life in your back pocket, or a purse bursting at the seams! Make yourself a system to keep the business cards, credit cards or receipts you don't need all the time, in your briefcase or at home.
And a bonus: an understated use of scent (aftershave, cologne or perfume) shows that you take an extra step with your grooming and can have a positive effect not only on your own mood but on those around you. According to the Social Issues Research Center in Oxford, UK, subtle fragrances can have dramatic effects in improving your mood and sense of well-being. In addition, in experiments, subjects exposed to pleasant fragrances tend to give higher 'attractiveness ratings' to people in photographs. The regular use of pleasant fragrances helps to reduce mood disturbances in men and women.

Tanning Bed Lotion

Apply a tanning bed lotion an hour before and immediately after every tanning session. Tanning bed lotions protect your skin and help to accelerate the tanning process.
Tanning bed lotions contain tyrosine, an amino acid that stimulates production of the skin pigment melanin. Tyrosine assists the UVB rays in stimulating melanin production. UVA rays oxidize the melanin, producing color.
Many tanning bed lotions contain Vitamin E. The anti-oxidant effects of Vitamin E, as well as those of tyrosine, work to prevent wrinkles and fine lines, especially on your face.
Copper, another common tanning bed lotion ingredient, works to reduce the visibility of scars and other minor blemishes. (Incidentally, copper also assists tyrosine in the production of important brain chemicals. This could help explain the mild euphoria experienced by regular tanners. Research into the possible anti-depressive applications of the tanning industry continues to this day.)
All tanning bed lotions have a moisturizing element, which magnifies the tanning effects of UVA rays, while counteracting the drying and peeling effects of UVB rays.
As if all this weren't enough, many tanning bed lotions contain hempseed oil, aloe vera, or any of a number of other nutrients to guard your skin from the relentless ravages of the natural environment.
Different types of tanning bed lotions exist for different purposes. Some are formulated as "tan accelerators" that contain ingredients amplifying the effects of the tyrosine. Others are used mainly as an after-tan to replenish lost moisture.
Be sure to choose one that is suited to your skin tone. If you are light skinned or do not yet have a base tan, choose a Type I or II. For moderate skin tones, choose a Type II, III or IV. For darker skin tones, a Type IV or V should be OK.
Tanning bed lotions come in thousands of scents for your olfactory pleasure. Do you have a thing for cappuccino? Key lime pie? Chocolate? There's a tanning bed lotion just for you. Your salon should have a full array of products for you to choose from. If you own your own tanning bed, ask your distributor whether they sell tanning bed lotion. Oftentimes they will pass their wholesale discounts on to you, as an incentive to purchase their equipment. For the best deals, however, scour the Internet.
Tanning Beds Info provides detailed information about home, commercial, and wholesale tanning beds for sale, as well as tanning bed lotion and other products and accessories. Tanning Beds Info is the sister site of Sunless Tanning Web.

3 Easy Tips to Keep Your Skin Healthy

There are plenty of articles out there about what to do to make your skin look young again. But what if you still have it? How do young women keep their skin looking the way it is now well into the future? The following five easy tips can help you keep your youthful glow.
1. Use Sunscreen, Never Tan. It's hard for young women to resist the warm glow that a few hours of tanning can bring. But the damage that it does beneath the surface accumulates over time--ultimately leaving the skin dull and thin. By the time premature aging becomes evident, significant amounts of damage has taken place below the surface. Rather than a week of beauty, think of long-term beauty. If you really want to give your skin an added glow, try shimmering lotions and makeups. Or, for a darker look, try artificial tanners (but be careful, they can sometimes leave you looking more orange than tan). Don't forget that you can experience the damaging effects of the sun even if you aren't deliberately trying to tan. Make applying sunscreen part of your daily routine. Purchasing moisturizers with sunscreen already in them can help. Remember, only 15 minutes of sun exposure each day provides you with the vitamin D you need to stay healthy.
2. Eat the Right Foods. You've always heard the phrase "You are what you eat" and that is exactly right when talking about your skin! What you eat is not just relevant to your weight. It also affects the health of your skin. Clinical studies have shown that eating diets rich in fatty acids and antioxidants can help skin retain its youthful appearance. Foods good for your skin include fish, vegetables, whole grains and fruits including all kinds of berries. Antioxidants in the diet may help reduce the appearance of age spots. Fatty acids are one of the components of metabolic processes within the body that are also integral to the maintenance of healthy skin. Making these foods a part of your daily diet can benefit you for years to come.
3. Clean and Moisturize! Don't neglect your skin. For normal skin, a gentle daily cleanser is all you need. Using a washcloth needlessly pulls and tears at the skin. Cleanse your skin with your fingers using gentle, circular motions, paying particular attention not to stretch the delicate eye area. Moisturizing the skin is also important to protect it from the effects of the elements including wind, pollution, and sun (if it is a sunscreen moisturizure). Not only does it protect the skin from the outside, but also helps it to retain its natural moisture from the inside. Keep in mind that spending a lot of money is not necessary. If your skin is oily or you have a problem with acne, use products designed specifically for your skin type. You may want to consult a dermatologist to seek prescription treatments. Never attempt to pop your pimples. This will increase the size of your pores and possibly cause scaring.
Essentially, if your skin is young, value it! Taking simple precautionary steps can help keep it that way. Think of the benefits of having healthy skin in the future. Use sunscreen, eat healthy, and following a daily skin regimine. You don't need alot of money to keep your skin healthy. All it takes is common sense and good lifestyles choices.

The Benefits of Human Hair Extensions

Several different types of hair extensions are available, including those made from human hair, animal hair, and synthetic fibers. Most experts agree that human hair extensions are the best and most natural looking. With human hair extensions, wearers are not locked into a particular color or style. The extensions can be washed, colored, and styled just like your own natural hair. Such a wide variety of human hair extensions are available that stylists can easily match the color and texture of your own hair with.
With expert selection, professional application, and conscientious care, human hair extensions are virtually indistinguishable from your own natural hair.
Human hair extensions are available in two basic formats -- strands and wefts. The strands format involves adding small sections of hair to your existing hair. Wefts are large clumps of hair attached at the top. Human hair extensions can be applied in a variety of ways. One popular method is to sew the extensions into small cornrows. Professionals will often sew strands with subtle color variations -- this tends to give the extensions a more natural look. Hair extensions can also be weaved, braided, fused, clamped, or glued.
Beyond the different formats, there are also large varieties of hair types available. Hair from most regions of the world is available, including Asia, Europe, and the Arctic. Arctic hair is chemically untreated, also known as raw or virgin. This hair is considered the best as it is most open to coloring, perming, and styling.
If you are considering adding human hair extensions to your hair, seek a licensed cosmetologist for consultation. It is also a good idea to check references or the stylist's portfolio.
Hair Extensions Info provides detailed information about human, fusion, clip-on, and wholesale hair extensions, as well as hair extension sales, prices, and more. Hair Extensions Info is the sister site of Salon Equipment Web.

The Best Tan is a Sunless Tan!

Never used a sunless tanner? Don't sweat it?it's a no brainer. These products are available in the local pharmacy, department store and/or from your local beauty consultant. They come in many forms; spray-on oil, foam, mousse, lotion, gel and creams. Always test a small area first, on your inner arm for instance. If you are happy with the results, then continue applying to the rest of your body. (You're probably thinking about the time you turned your entire body orange.) Fortunately, today's formulas are an improvement from the products of the past. Most contain a derivative of sugarcane or sugar beets that oxidizes with the top layer of the skin. This gives the skin a realistic looking tan without altering the structure or function of the skin. Since our body naturally sheds the top layer of dead skin cells regularly, you will see your tan fading fast. You will need to re-apply every two to three days, especially if you shower every day. Just refresh as necessary. A word to the wise, don't use your sunless tanner immediately after shaving. Shaving opens up the pores and the product will find its way into those open pores, giving you a polka-dotted appearance. Also, sunless tanners do not provide protection against the sun. Don't get lulled into thinking that the darker you are, the more protected you are! Sunless tanners provide ZERO sun protection. They are strictly cosmetic.
How to apply: The easiest way for a beginner, would be to use a cream or gel. Mousses, oils or lotions are sometimes difficult to control. Foam mousse dries fast, consequently, it can leave you with stripes, if you don't even it out quickly enough.
Step One: Exfoliate to remove dead surface skin cells. Since the product lays only on the top layer of your skin, you'll want to gently exfoliate around the coarsest areas like your knees and elbows. Then moisturize those same areas.
Step Two: Spread out a large towel or drop cloth to protect your floor and/or furniture.
Step Three: Pin up your hair. Use surgical gloves to protect your palms. (You don't want tanned palms?that's a dead giveaway.)
Step Four: Start at your feet. Apply using long, even strokes, first up and down, then across for an even distribution. You may need help with those hard to reach areas.
NOTE: Before applying sunless tanner to your face, make sure it is formulated for use on the face. You want to avoid clogging your pores.
Step Five: Finish by applying to the backs of your hands. Since your hands generally get washed and dried more frequently than the rest of your body, touch up as necessary.
Sunless tanners require a bit of practice for a perfectly sun-kissed look. But, your glowing new tan will certainly make your co-workers green with envy.
Have a Beautiful and Happy New Year!
I am an Independent Skin Care Consultant. My goal is to help my clients achieve and maintain healthy radiant skin while saving them time and money.

Permanent Laser Hair Removal

Many people are burdened by what society has deemed "unsightly" hair. Shaving is only a brief solution to this problem and quickly leaves tell-tale stubble. Plucking or waxing are painful and the results do not last much longer than shaving. So what is the best way to permanently remove hair from areas such as the upper lip, chin, neck, armpits, forearms, back, chest, legs, or bikini line? Many people are now discovering the benefits of laser hair removal, a non-invasive procedure that removes unwanted hair.
However there are limitations on who should have laser hair removal done. For starters, the laser works by searching for hair follicles to destroy based upon melanin. Melanin is the pigmentation in hair and skin. Thus, it is harder to target hair that is red, white, gray or true blond, and will not be as effective. Furthermore, people with more melanin in their skin (those who have dark skin or are tanned) risk skin discoloration by undergoing laser hair removal treatment because the laser will target the melanin in the skin. Thus, the ideal candidate for laser hair removal is someone with pale skin and dark hair.
For people who decide to undergo laser hair removal, there are different settings that affect the outcome of the procedure. First, the laser technician can set the pulse length, and most will chose longer pulses as long pulsed lasers tend to be safer. Second, they can adjust the fluence according to your skin. Different types of skin require different energy levels. Third, the technician sets the delay between laser pulses. The difference this gives is the time that skin and hair follicles are allowed to cool between pulses. Fourth, different spot sizes can be chosen. Larger spot sizes will reach deeper to the follicle. Last, cooling methods are chosen. The procedure can be unpleasant because of the heat emitted so the skin can be cooled by gels, sprays or lasers that have cooling tips which are pressed to the skin.
Want more Information about Laser Hair Removal Cosmetic Surgery?

Do You Read Labels?

The first ingredient of any product is what makes up the majority of that product. For example if the first ingredient of your cleanser is water, than the majority of your cleanser is nothing but water. That is why it is important to know what is in your products. Are you interested in knowing what you are applying to your skin? Just as there are healthy and unhealthy foods the same applies to skincare products.
Here is a list of skincare ingredients to avoid.
? Mineral Oil- A liquid mixture of hydrocarbons obtained from petroleum, mineral oil can attract dirt and causes blackheads and eruptions. It can accelerate free radical damage, thus speeding up the aging process, because it causes toxins to build up in the skin.
? All waxes such as PARAFFIN, BEEWAX, CANDELLIA WAX, CARNUBA WAX- Waxes are widely used in cleansing creams, eye creams and moisturizers. Waxes clog pores creating blackheads and whiteheads. They also smother the skin, which over a period of time, creates an enlarged pore problem.
? Lanolin- A yellow, semi-solid, fatty secretion from sheep's wool is widely used in skin and beauty care products. It can cause an allergic reaction in some people, as well as enlarged pores.
? PETROLATUM- This familiar semi-solid mixture of hydrocarbons is derived from petroleum. Literally, "paraffin jelly" or "petroleum jelly" ? it is not absorbed by the skin and suffocates pores. All petrochemicals pollute our water and destroy marine life-avoiding them is essential for humans, animals, fish, water, land and air.
? ACETONE- Used in nail polish and nail polish removers, this colorless, volatile liquid is often used in astringents, fresheners or clarifying lotions. It is extremely toxic and will dehydrate the skin while speeding up the aging process.
? BORAX (Sodium Borate Boric Acid)- Used in baby powders, eye creams, skin fresheners, and protective creams as a preservative- it is rapidly absorbed by the skin. And it is still widely used, despites repeated warnings from the American Medical Association.
? ALCOHOLS SUCH AS ISOPROPYL ALCHOL, SD ALCOHOL 40,
? ETYL ALCHOL- Alcohols dissolves the body's own natural moisturizers and strips the skin of its own protection, leaving it vulnerable to infection. Alcohols destroy the skin ph balance and since they absorb water they speed up wrinkling of the skin.
? FD&C- When this abbreviation precedes the name of a color, it means that the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) has certified it as safe for use in drugs and cosmetics, but not in food. D&C colors are usually synthetic, coal tar colors; they're toxic and should be avoided when at all possible.
I challenge you to read labels, to find out what is safe and effective and would benefit you and your skin the most. There are many safe products on the market today and they are not expensive and easy to use and will have your skin looking healthy and radiant.
Marylee EvansIndependent L'Bri Consultant
Commited to solving your skincare and beauty issues
Make your living in the world of beauty!

Wear For Fun Colored Contacts

Wear for fun colored contacts are exactly what they sound like. Wear for fun colored contacts are cosmetic contacts and are available throughout the world. You can even get some of these wear for fun colored contacts without a prescription.
When you wear for fun colored contacts you should still make sure they are safe for your eyes. Many people think the wear for fun colored contacts do not require the same care as prescription contacts, but they are wrong.
If you use the wear for fun colored contacts you should see an eye doctor to make sure your eyes are healthy and suitable for the wear for fun colored contacts. Do this before you buy any of the wear for fun colored contacts.
You will also need to know how to insert the wear for fun colored contacts in your eyes and how to remove them safely. Do you know what to do if the wear for fun colored contacts get stuck in your eyes?
If you are considering wear for fun colored contacts, are you prepared to take care of them? Do you know how to clean them properly and are you willing to take the time to do so?
Have you thought about how you will store your wear for fun colored contact? This is important, too. Before you get the wear for fun colored contacts you should have all the contact care items ready to go.
Another thing to know about wear for fun colored contacts: do not ever share them with friends. Your wear for fun colored contacts may be super neat and your friends may want to borrow them. The answer should always be, "no." It is not safe to share your wear for fun colored contacts and if you do so you are putting your vision and the vision of your friend at risk.
Wear for fun colored contacts are great to have and easy to obtain but please use caution and take good care of them.
Timothy Gorman is a successful Webmaster and publisher of Vision-Doctor.com. He provides more contact lens tips and discount contact lenses that you can research and purchase in your pajamas on his website.

Tanning The Natural Way

This is a call to everybody. Save your skin, now before it's too late! Having a tan makes you look more healthy and gorgeous. But how do you do it without bad consequences?
There are a lot of people who would like to have golden brown skin. It is not a new sight when people go to the beach to lie almost naked under the sun just to have an equal tan. But, it is not so safe to do just that because of the super harmful UV rays. Instead of getting only a perfectly golden skin, one might suffer a serious case of skin cancer later, too.
There are plenty of options in tanning today. More modern ways are undergoing medical treatment to acquire a sun-less tan. However, there are still some modern techniques that use radiation powered machines to tan the skin. And radiation is also bad to the health.
There are more techniques that could give a person a perfect tan. But most of them cost so much because they are highly specialized techniques and reduces (or even eliminates) usage of radiation or UV rays. But to an average person who desires to have a golden skin, it would not be very practical to pay so much to have the desired healthy golden skin.
There are ways to achieve a perfect tan without exposing yourself to the sun and spending so much on skin clinics. There are ready-to-use products that are safe to use and are inexpensive compared to the services offered in skin clinics.
Here are some tips for a safe, sunless and costless tanning right in your homes. Remember that before applying those sunless tanners, the body must first be thoroughly cleaned and exfoliated by using loofah or soft cloth to wash off dust and dead skin cells. This way, even tan will surely be achieved. Use moderate amount on knees, elbows and other parts with thick, dry skin, as they will appear darker. Use a sponge paintbrush, about two to three inches in size, in applying tanner on the back. When applying in the face, avoid spreading in and around the eyes. After application, immediately wash hands thoroughly with soap and water. Use a make-up wedge when applying at the backs of your hands in smooth even strokes as well as on your feet and between the toes. Apply the tanner using both horizontal and vertical strokes or circular motion.
When using a spray tanner, avoid saturating it. Instead, spray and blend quickly and thoroughly over one body part then do the same to the rest of the body. After making sure the tanner is applied evenly, wait for about one hour before applying any moisturizer or foundation or going swimming/bathing. Also, avoid contact with carpets, fabrics, clothing, and furniture. If necessary, and for a deeper tan, repeat process.
A very important reminder for you: Stay away from the sun from 10:00 in the morning to 3:00 in the afternoon. That is when the sun is most harmful. Remember that wanting a beautiful skin is not merely an act of vanity. Taking care of your skin is also taking care of your health. Protecting it from the sun is the most important gift you could give your skin. Have a beautiful and safe tan just right in your home without spending so much.
Copyright © Sphinx Cyberworld Ventures
About The Author
The writer, Caryl B. Grecia, works for Sphinx Cyberworld Ventures whose website, features other proven natural beauty care tips such as skin care, acne treatment, dry hair/oily hair help, dandruff treatments, weight loss tips, help for puffy eyes and dieting recipes.

Non Prescription Contact Lenses Are the Best Way to Alter Your Look Without Altering Your Sight

Today's world has a staggering 75 million contact lens wearers, with 31 million living within the United States. Though it might seem as though this is an awfully large number of people who opt not to wear glasses, there are actually quite a few people who are wearing non prescription contact lenses to alter their look, but not their vision. Non prescription contact lenses are a unique way to change your appearance by way of your eye color, whether making a dramatic change, or a slight enhancement.
As long as you first visit an optometrist, you'll know the correct size so that you can find the contact lens that it best suited to your eye. After a brief period of initial adjustment, most people discover that they can't even feel their non prescription contact lenses anymore.
There are a number of different kinds of non-prescription colored contacts out there. Opaque coloured lenses are able to transform even the darkest natural eye color into a brighter or lighter shade. These lenses are clear in the center so that the wearer can see through the pupil, but the colorless part is surrounded by a wall of color. This allows for the most dramatic change even on the darkest background.
For those who have lighter eyes, enhancement lenses are usually the more natural option. These are still available as non prescription coloured contacts, but instead of being completely opaque, they augment the wearer's natural eye tint with more subtle and flattering hues.
For people who have a wilder streak about them, then there's a broad range of non-prescription novelty contact lenses that are currently all the rage. You can now look like an alien, as though you have cat's eyes, flaming eyes, or any other possible appearance that you could ever want. Essentially, if you want it, they have it.
Surprisingly enough, changing the look of your eye isn't the only reason that non prescription contact lenses exist. Many hospitals and clinics will utilize a special type of clear lens as a sort of bandage for the cornea, especially after the patient has undergone surgery for a cateract. Also, sports players and fanatic spectators will choose to use contact lenses that include filters for certain lights and colors so that they can better see the ball or whatever other target they may need to see.
No matter the reason that you choose to buy non prescription contact lenses, they're certain to be comfortable and satisfying for you. Take advantage of a free offer from your favorite brand, and give them a "test drive", so that you know that you can use them comfortably and without irritation.

Skin Care: Organic, Natural or Scientifically Advanced ? Which is Best?

In an age where fear of water impurities has millions drinking bottled water, and concerns about genetically engineered corn has others searching for "natural food sources", many people are also wondering what type of products to use for healthy skincare.
We are frightened by the new world we seemingly live in, and at first blush may think that organic or natural is the way to go - as the words "organic" and "natural" in and of themselves engender visions of a time when life was simpler, purer and more wholesome.
This fear often drives us to the multitude of publications promoting organic or natural lifestyles; however once we delve into their pages the information barrage may be overwhelming.
Are soy beans really good for us, and if so do we have to eat five pounds a day to see any benefit? Lemon juice may help bleach out age spots, but is all that acid really healthy for our skin? Can ginseng actually alleviate wrinkles, and if so, why doesn't every skincare company in the world use it as an ingredient?
The truth of the matter is: organic and natural skincare promotions cannot be trusted in a vacuum no more than any other information concerning our health. It is logical to believe that many substances which are an indigenous part of the natural world around us are extremely beneficial to our health, but let's use some common sense. We were given brains to scrutinize, analyze and research for good reason.
This is where scientific research comes into play. Unfortunately, high profile abuses by pharmaceutical companies and others have somewhat tainted the word "science" in our society, but we must admit that scientific research has more successes than failures to its credit.
The skincare industry, in particular, has been able to rely upon scientific research with great success, in part, because ingredients considered for skincare products can be researched without the high risks associated with products that are internally ingested.
Skincare research that not only investigates the benefits, safety and effectiveness of natural ingredients, but also explores how these ingredients can be enhanced to give us the healthiest skincare product possible, gives us the best of both worlds ? a wholesome natural approach that results in the most advanced skincare possible.
The answer to the question posed in the title of this article comes down to how we feel about the following: Would we eat mold to cure an infection? Absolutely not, but availing ourselves of the benefits of penicillin is an entirely different story.
Alpha Ward-Burns
Alpha Ward-Burns is a cancer survivor and co-founder of Skin Solved, a skincare company devoted to achieving healthy skin through the use of scientifically advanced skincare with natural ingredients.

Buying A Wholesale Tanning Bed

The tanning industry is showing no signs of stopping. If you ever wanted to open a tanning salon, now is the time to buy wholesale tanning beds. Many retailers sell tanning beds at wholesale costs. The best place to buy wholesale is online, since there are no warehouses or sales staff to pay. Online vendors have special buying relationships with manufacturers because of the high sales volume they generate. (Furthermore, even if you want to buy a single bed at wholesale cost, just contact a web vendor and ask whether you can piggyback on another customer's large order.)
Another way to buy wholesale is to contact the manufacturer. They are always looking for free advertising by selling to potential commercial tanning bed salon entrepreneurs. You can save even more money by proposing an agreement whereby you would market a manufacturer's products exclusively.
Used Tanning Beds
There are some used tanning beds out there that are as good as new, at a fraction of the cost. When considering purchasing a used tanning bed, find out the year, make and model, just as if it were a car. Is there built-in obsolescence? Why is the owner selling? Is the bed in violation of FDA rules? Is it malfunctioning? Has the warranty expired? How deep is the discount?
Discount Tanning Beds
You can buy discount tanning beds without giving up quality. Every so often, tanning beds are replaced by newer models, prompting manufacturers to get rid of their slightly out-of-date overstock brand new, at a used price. These out-of-date models can still include a full warranty.
Cheap Tanning Beds
Consider buying a tanning bed at auction. Sometimes salons go out of business and their equipment is auctioned off to pay off any outstanding debt. Keep an eye on online auction houses such as eBay as well as foreclosure notices in your local newspaper.
Otherwise, you can opt for a smaller tanning device known as a solarium. And not only do solariums cost one-tenth as much as tanning beds, they are easy to move and you can store them in a small closet.
Tanning Beds Info provides detailed information about home, commercial, and wholesale tanning beds for sale, as well as tanning bed lotion and other products and accessories. Tanning Beds Info is the sister site of Sunless Tanning Web.

Beauty Consultant Reveals Secrets to Beautiful Skin

If you're like many women you are confused about how to choose the proper skin care. Or maybe you have some knowledge of what is available but you are not sure what is a good choice for you. Cosmetics come in many forms and deciding which is good for you is often a matter of personal taste. However, in order to make a good decision here is some basic information that you should know.
Cleansers: Are used to cleanse the skin of impurities and restore it to its natural oil balance.
Types of Cleansers
Soap: Almost everyone uses it. If you have dry or oily skin be sure your soap is helping correct the problem. Medicated soaps are meant for acne and problem skin, hypoallergenic soaps are meant for sensitive skin and there are drying soaps for oily skin and oily soaps for dry skin. If you have problem skin it is best to see a dermatologist.
Liquid Cleansers: Are made for all types of skin. A good cleanser goes deep into the pores to loosen and lift excess oil and makeup.
Creams: Are used for dry skin
Pad Cleansers: Are thick wad of absorbent material and are good for touch ups throughout the day.
Grains: Are coarse cleansers that are used for oily skin
Refreshers: Are used to complete the cleansing process. They help tone; sooth and rehydrate the skin keep complexions clear and clean.
Types of Refreshers:
Astringents: Are meant for oily and normal skin types. They usually have alcohol as an ingredient that will stimulate the complexion and close the pores. This is not a product to use on dry skin.
Toners: Are mild refreshers and are meant for normal and dry skin.
Fresheners: Are recommended for dry, sensitive or problem skin.
Moisturizers: Replenishes moisture and nourishes the skin.
Types of Moisturizers:
Moisturizers for normal skin: Helps maintain the moisture in normal skin.
Moisturizers for dry skin: Helps restore skin's natural moisture balance.
Oil Control Moisturizers: Help control excess oil and prevent blemishes
Emollients: Are rich creams suited for extra dry skin that replenishes the natural supply of the skin's oil. This moisturizing cream forms a protective shield that minimizes moisture evaporation and allows increased hydration of dry areas.
Masks: Exfoliates dead surface cells as it hydrates and moisturizes the skin.
Types of Masks:
Facial Masks for normal to dry skin: Help relax facial muscles and remove dry flaky skin.
Facial Masks for oily skin: Refines skin's texture and deep cleans to help control surface sebum.
Pore Packs: Are designed to eliminate blackheads and reduce blemishes. Mostly used for oily skin.
Foundation Protection: Foundation protects the skin by keeping moisture in and dirt out with the added benefit of a flawless finish. This is a step that some women skip because they don't quit know how to apply it and are not getting the right look. A couple of suggestions: make sure you have the type that is compatible with your complexion, test the color on your jaw line and it should be the same color as your complexion and make sure you have exfoliated (if not the foundation will show up as flaky).
Types of Foundation:
Full Coverage: used for normal to dry skin for extra hydration.
Medium Coverage: used for normal to oily skin.
Whatever your skin type take care of it by keeping it clean. Cleanse, tone and moisturize every morning and every night. Irregular or improper cleansing causes skin problems and makeup that is left on the skin will dull the skin's surface; while oil and dead skin cells will clog the pores and cause blackheads.
Sheila Dicks is a wardrobe and image consultant who teaches women how to look slimmer by dressing to suit their body type.

Splitting Hairs - What Can You Do About Split Ends

Isn't it a shame when you have to worry about covering split ends (or trichoptlosis)-the bane of every self- respecting woman's life! They happen when the protective cuticle has been stripped away from the ends of hair fibers. Split ends are more likely to develop in dry or brittle hair, and typical causes of damage include excessive dying or vigorous brushing.
Once the hair cuticle is removed, it is impossible to replace. Typically, the hair splits into two or three strands, and can be as long or two to three centimeters in length. The best treatment is to cut off the split end of the damaged fiber.
But you don't necessarily have to go to the salon every week to keep your split ends in check. Back in the sixties and seventies, women used to burn off their split ends! Sure that's a little excessive. And there are easier ways to get rid of those dead ends before they split further... do-it-yourself hair trims.
These do-it-yourself trimming tips are for women who are happy with their hair; for those who don't need a restyle, but simply want to freshen things up with a 'homegrown' sort of look. If you are in any doubt, leave it for the professionals!
To Remove Split Ends:
* Take small sections of hair and carefully twist them in a gentle downward motion. Any split ends will automatically stick out.
* Carefully snip into the twist with sharp scissors. Don't cut right through; just cut into the thickness to remove the damaged cuticles and give a natural layered effect.
* Be careful to cut roughly the same amount from each twist. Remember, sometimes the simplest, and least expensive, ideas are the best. So get trimming! You'll not only save a bundle but also time that will ease your life.
Jane Preeter is a hair stylist who has great interest in her profession. She has studied many hair loss treatments, different methods of hair removal, and a wide variety of hair treatments.

How to Reduce the Appearance of Age Spots

Age spots are mainly caused by long-term sun exposure. Although sun is the number one reason for developing age spots, smoking, a poor diet, poor liver function, and a diet rich in oxidized oils are also contributing factors.
These age spots are a result of the overproduction of lipofuscin, a dark substance produced by our cells. Age spots usually begin appearing when we are in our 30's and, besides being unsightly, increase our risk of skin cancer. As is the case with most skin conditions, age spots are easier to prevent than to treat. Eating a diet rich in green leafy vegetables, carrots, yams, and other foods that are high in carotene will help reduce your chances of getting age spots in the first place. If you are already are suffering from age spots, don't loose hope. There are options available to you to reduce the appearance of age spots, as well as improve the overall health of your skin.
There are several products on the market today that will help in diminishing the look of age spots. Fade creams are a popular choice among consumers. These over-the-counter creams contain moisturizers with a two percent hydroquinone content which is a bleaching agent that will aid in the fading process. Best results are obtained with the cream is used in conjunction with glycolic acid moisturizer. Prescription creams that contain vitamin A, such as Retin-A or Retinova, work more effectively than the over-the-counter fade creams.
There are more invasive options available to you for those suffering from a more serious case of age spots. Chemical peels are one of these options. Using 30%-70% glycolic acid, the fading factor is much more pronounced than in either of the creams mentioned above. The treatment is simple and can be done in a short session, even on your lunch break if need be. You will need more than one treatment to reach the full effects of the procedure.
Laser resurfacing is another option similar to the chemical peel. In this procedure, the age spots are literally burned off the skin's surface with a laser and can be accomplished in one treatment. It does, however, have a recovery time of about one week and can be quite expensive.
For a more natural and cost-effective way to help prevent age spots simply limit your exposure to the sun and, when you are in the sun, wear sunscreen. Limit your alcohol intake and eat a well balance diet.

The Ultimate Beauty Tip: Good Posture

When you think of projecting a professional image, do you consider your posture? Most people don't think of it, but the way we stand, sit, and move affects just how professional we look. So, if we take the time to wear the clothing that best suits us, get the most flattering hairstyle and perfect our makeup, then it would make sense that we wouldn't want to ruin our look by having poor posture. And that's what poor posture will do ? it will ruin an otherwise professional look.
There are other advantages to having good posture:
1. Good posture will boost self-confidence. Try this: take a deep breath and stand straight. Do you feel better? More confident?
2. Good posture opens your diaphragm making your voice sound better.
3. It improves your health by allowing your organs to function more easily.
4. It also makes you look slimmer, younger and your clothes look better.
To know if you have good posture stand sideways in front of a full-length mirror and stand as you do naturally. Is your:
* Neck straight
* Shoulders square
* Tummy in
* Feet pointing forward
Or do you have:
* Slopped shoulders
* Drooping bust
* Chest caved in
To achieve good posture you must make it a habit by keeping your shoulders back, abdomen pulled in, your head lifted and chin parallel to the ground. This won't be easy if you are not used to it because you will have to build the muscles that keep your body in the correct position. It will take patience and practice. When you make a decision to work on your posture don't expect it to happen overnight but rest assured it will improve and you will see and feel the difference.
Sheila Dicks is an Image and Wardrobe consultant who helps women learn how to dress to suit their body type and look slimmer. You can reach her at to download her ebook, "Image Makeovers" and get "How to Build a Wardrobe" ebook free.

Face Off

The other day, I indulged in one of my many guilty pleasures. Specifically, I watched a programme called "Face Lifts From Hell."
Like many factual programmes, you can learn a little something from "Face Lifts from Hell", and tonight I took away this little nugget: It's not immigrants or asylum seekers that are putting a drain on the national health service. It's idiots from this country.
One woman on tonight's programme (and I don't want to appear misogynistic, but there were no men featured; draw your own conclusions) went on a surgery holiday. The basic premise is that you go on a package trip with a group of other desperate people, and they cart you off to Poland to have various bits of your anatomy sucked, snipped, sliced and tightened.
This woman, who, due to numerous face-lifts, looked like she was constantly hurtling forwards at about 97 miles an hour, had some sort of breast-enhancement and, after surgery, was taken to a small apartment in a block with all the other patients and left there to recuperate. She was essentially dumped in a flat in Poland and left to her own devices with a group of equally vacuous and recently-mutilated women.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, she contracted an infection.
She then came back to the UK and, at a cost of £5,000, had to have things fixed. (Her bosom was left comically lopsided, to my great amusement, but this is a serious point. Ironically, a serious point is also what one of her boobs was left with.)
If this was an isolated case I could let the matter go, but the entire programme was like a hit parade of idiots who now had bodies as defective looking as their brains almost certainly are.
One woman - I swear this is the truth - was talked into cosmetic surgery by a travelling face-lift salesman. I'm not making this up. Someone came to this woman's door and convinced her to get a face-lift she didn't really want. I have enough trouble figuring out how my dad always seems to end up with windows and bank accounts he didn't have any intention of aquiring after someone knocks on the door, but how in the name of all that is holy can you even consider listening to someone who goes door to door trying to convince people to be drugged to unconsciousness so that a stranger can slice into them and pull their skins on tighter?! Am I the only one who would hear alarm bells ringing in my head if this happened to me?! Possibly, yes, as this woman leapt at the chance and was genuinely surprised when things ended in tears.
Another woman travelled from Turkey for liposuction, and woke up a week later in a different hospital with what can only be described as a seam. She now looks like you could unzip her and keep pencils in her stomach. Apparently the surgeon, who, wouldn't you know it, had a history of this sort of thing, botched the operation, severed an artery, and had to rush her to a (stop me if you see this coming) NHS hospital for treatment.
While I'm ranting, I may as well mention the lap dancer who wanted her breasts increased from a B cup to a C. She woke up with an F (am I the only one who pictures her relatives standing around with deeply interested looks and yelling "SURPRISE!" as she comes to?) and as a result could no longer lap-dance. Not to fear. She's since become a teacher. Perhaps this goes some way to explaining the state of the education system, too, but that's another story.
Our penultimate contestant tonight was a heavy smoker with a heart condition (who, funnily enough, was starting to look a little aged.) She was, to be charitable, nothing special to look at anyway. She also happened to neglect to mention her heavy smoking and heart problems to her surgeon, and ended up having a stroke from the stress of the procedure. What a shocker.
However, our prize winner tonight was a woman who had two children and put on weight (she actually put on the equivalent amount of weight of two ten-year-old children, by my calculation) and was offered a stomach reduction and lyposuction on (just the girls! People on the left! All together!) the NHS. Her operation wound became infected, and she contracted gangrene. But this isn't the end of the story. Oh no. After three days, she was allowed home, and was, in her own words, in agony. She then suffered several fits. This, I'm sure you'll agree, is where most of us would plan a return to the hospital. Instead, without going into the exquisite and mind-numbingly sickening detail she indulged in, she waited a further five days (with her condition becoming progressively worse) and nearly died.
Now, is it me, or is there a pattern, here? From what I can see, the sort of people who have cosmetic surgery are the same sort of people who travel to a Polish ghetto for operations, accept advice from travelling facelift salesmen, who don't think that mentioning your liability to have a heart attack mid-operation is anything to trouble your doctor with, and decide that having a series of fits following an operation should be considered a "wait and see" sort of situation.
People who go in for cosmetic surgery, by and large, are stupid.
Now, I'm not for a moment suggesting that there aren't good reasons. If you've been burned or damaged in some severe way that wasn't your fault, or if your body really does look terrible for whatever reason, I can understand the desire to do something about it. Otherwise, here's a pretty solid, iron-clad law of physics from someone who was a straight C student in science: People get older!! Believe it or not (you probably will, I'm quite dull) you've aged since you started reading this. Yeah, you. You, there, in the chair, looking at the screen with the slightly slack-jawed expression you didn't realise you adopted when you read things.
Most people just accept it and move on with things.
If you can't, here's the first of my tips: Stop smoking. Without exception, every single woman of 50-something I've ever seen cram her flabby, drooping body into an outfit far too low, high, tight and stretchy for her has also had a cigarette in her mouth. And too much makeup, but one thing at a time. If you want to stay young-looking, stop poisoning your lungs and skin with nicotine. It'll do you wonders.
Secondly, here's my tip for losing weight without having to have a vacuum cleaner inserted into any orifices or incisions. It's a simple equation: Less food, more exercise. Or, even, equal it out. Exercise proportionate to how much you're eating. Keep an eye out for this, you'd be surprised how many fat people seem oblivious to this law.
As soon as people start to accept that shit (and age) happens, and begin to look after themselves, they'll stop being a drain on the NHS from their botched face-lifts ("Who knew 'Crazy Achmed' wasn't a reputable surgeon?!") and everyone else with real injuries might get some frigging treatment.
This, more than anything else, is the problem with the world today. Years of increased convenience (remember when you had to walk to a certain part of the house just to make a phone call?!) has left western humanity softer than an impotent marshmallow and just desperate for someone or something to blame, and for someone or something else to fix it. "I'm 50 and don't look as good as I did at 19! There must be someone to blame and some procedure I can have!" It's just going to happen, people, and until we all start to face up to the simple and oft-overlooked fact that life has a habit of sucking, we'll never get anywhere. And the people who can't accept that, of course, also can't accept it when their desperate, sad attempts to beat the cosmic house fail, and so they complain about that. I guess, at the end of the day, I'm trying to get across a simple message: You were the one who chose to have that operation, madam, and if it doesn't turn out well, there's nobody to blame but yourself.
Incidentally, I have another weight loss tip. If you can't bear to exercise and cut back on what you eat, just smoke yourself thin. You'll look old, but I can give you the number of a really good plastic surgery salesman. Honest. He's just knocking on the door, now...

What the Peat Bog People Can Tell Us About Beauty

Over the past centuries, remains of many hundreds of people-- men, women, and children--have come to light in peat bogs in northwestern Europe, especially in Ireland, Great Britain, the Netherlands, northern Germany, and Denmark. Peatlands are most extensive in northern regions. They develop where drainage of water is blocked, precipitation is retained, and decomposition of organic matter is slowed. Because of their highly acidic nature, wetness, low temperature, and absence of oxygen, northern bogs have become a repository of past life.
The bog people are amazingly well-preserved with fingernails, hair, and teeth in excellent condition. How is this possible when the dates range from 8000 B.C. to the early medieval times?
The peat (Moor Peat) contained in the bogs has amazing preserving properties which contribute to its ability to both combat aging and enhance health. Peat has excellent moisture- retaining qualities which improves skin elasticity.
When peat is applied to the skin, penetrates partially between the epidermis cells of the skin. A, producing an exchange reaction of ions is produced when the binding process with albumin in the skin occurs. The harmful positive ions in the skin tissues are exchanged for the rejuvenating negative ions in the moor peat. These particles are captured by the blood vessels in the system, carried throughout the body to help healing.
The rejuvenating benefits can be attributed to the abundance of essential oils, fatty acids and lipoids. These penetrate into the skin re-establishing the skin's natural pH balance. When you apply the moor peat to your skin, the increased flow of blood to the skin can be seen by the flush of color seen on the skin when the peat is rinsed off. This characteristic of Moor Peat makes it most effective as an addition to any anti-aging and beauty treatment for the skin.
The soluble organic and inorganic active ingredients leave the skin detoxified, purified, and toned. It's naturally hypoallergenic and powerful and yet gentle.
The anti-inflammatory, bactericidal astringent and its bioavailability properties of Moor Peat make it an excellent skin treatment both for healthy and problem skin.
It has been found to be helpful in treating acne, eczema, psoriasis, burns, scars, stretch marks, and cellulite.
For Cellulite, an inflammation of the subcutaneous tissues caused by a build up of toxins, poor blood circulation and fluid retention due to weak lymphatic flow, Moor Peat improves both the inflammation and its causes, making it an excellent treatment for cellulite and an aid to weight loss.
In fine spas Moor Peat (or Moor Mud) is regularly used as bath, body wrap, and facial treatments. Cost for these treatments can be as high as $150 for a body wrap, $100 for a bath, and $85 for a mud mask or facial mask. These spa treatments can be done successfully at home for fraction of the cost by purchasing fine quality Moor Peat from a quality supplier such as Moor Mud Baths (http://www.moormudbaths.com).
Danielle Sims explored her library of alternative health, herbal books, and aromatherapy books and created a blueprint for making her own body wrap formulas at home.

Sunblock. Your Most Important Cosmetic

Your Most Important Cosmetic? Sunblock by a mile!
Are you a skin care junkie? Is your bathroom closet overflowing with bottles and jars? Does the content of these bottles and jars actually do anything to improve your skin?
My guess is "sometimes". We all get seduced by promises of younger looking skin or banish wrinkles overnight. But the sad fact is a lot of the pretty looking products out there do not do what they promise and the wrinkles, acne, broken veins or whatever ails you is still there the next morning.
There is one cosmetic that stands head and shoulders above the rest - Sunblock.
Sunblock is the best preventative of aging skin you can buy in a bottle. It won't make you look younger in a few applications, you need to use it regularly - like every day - but over time it will make a tremendous difference to the appearance of your skin.
Sunblock can be found as lotion, gel, roll on, or spray. If you're on a tight budget you can usually buy a bottle for just a few dollars from a supermarket or drugstore. Test it on an inconspicuous part of you first in case you have an allergy to it! This is more important for the cheaper brands.
Use sunblock even if its cloudy outside. Ultraviolet (UV) rays can penetrate clouds by up to 80%, yes even if its raining. If you're driving, UV rays can penetrate glass, they can also be reflected off glass or water.
And don't just use sunblock on your face. Put it on your hands, feet, arms or whatever bits of you that are not covered up. This is not just for appearances, sunblock can prevent potentially fatal skin cancers and melanomas from developing.
Even if you have never used sunblock and you've already developed premature aging, its not too late! Regular use of sunblock and staying out of the sun can actually reverse some of the damage.
Make sure you use a sunblock which has a sun protection factor (SPF) of over 15 and apply it fairly generously for best results. Its also best to apply at least 20 minutes before venturing out.
Remember - prevention is better than cure!
Like to have better looking skin will give you detailed information on all facets of skin care. The author, Wendy Owen has had a lifetime interest in general and alternative health and skin care.

Safety With Essential Oils

Essential oils are highly fragrant, volatile oils that are extracted from the flowers, leaves and other parts of plants. Essential oils generally go by the name of the plant from which they were extracted. For instance, lavender essential oil comes from lavender and sandalwood essential oil comes from sandalwood. Essential oils have several properties which make them extremely useful for hair and skin care. For instance, grapefruit essential oil (scientific name Citrus x paradisi) has been found to stimulate hair growth, french lavender essential oil (scientific name Lavandula angustifolia) has been found to help combat dandruff, and tea tree essential oil (Melaleuca alternifolia) has been found to help clear up acne.
Essential oils are extremely potent. Having an essential oil is like having a concentrated liquid form of that plant. Because essential oils are so strong, you should be sure to follow the following safety precautions before using them:
1)Keep all essential oils out of the reach of children. Some essential oils can have harmful or fatal effects if ingested.
2)Don't apply any undiluted essential oil to your skin unless you know that it is safe to do so. Some essential oils (such as cloves and cinnamon) can be extremely irritating to the skin.
3) If you are pregnant, or seeking to become so, check with your doctor before experimenting with any essential oils.
4) Wait to go out in the sun if you plan to wear any product that contains a citrus essential oil. The citrus oils (bergamot, lemon, lime, sweet orange, mandarin, tangerine, grapefruit, etc.) make the skin more sensitive to ultraviolet light. They can cause rashes or a temporary darkening of the skin, if they are on your skin and you are exposed to strong sunlight.
5) If you are in a state of delicate health, consult your physician before using essential oils.
If you follow these safety precautions, working with essential oils will be a pleasant experience.
Ololade Franklin.
Ololade Franklin publishes Making Good Scents(TM), the newsletter of handcrafted cosmetics, soaps and perfumes. For information about Making Good Scents(TM) visit.

Drop The High Street Drag - Shop For Style Online!

Surely it's considered a major fashion faux pas ? turning up somewhere in the same outfit as someone else. If the current crop of high street shops are anything to go by, however, you'd be forgiven for thinking that clothing conformity is something we're all striving towards.
Let's face it, for those of us looking for something a little bit 'different', high street shopping can be a pretty dreary and dispiriting experience. Just imagine that you're blindfolded and parachuted into a UK city's shopping street ? your blindfold is removed ? do you know where you are? The answer is that there will probably be very few clues, as you will find exactly the same shops wherever you go. The 'usual suspects' will be side by side, churning out similar-styled garments and cashing in on the latest 'celebrity style' craze with cheap copies of couture pieces.
To those who crave individualism and want to dress with a bit of flair and originality, this copycat culture is depressing. Kate Moss only has to appear looking stunning dressed in her own inimitable style ? inimitable being the moot point here - and suddenly we're being bombarded by 'where to get the latest look' articles and fooled into spending our hard earned cash on faked fashion which isn't going to make us look a million dollars, and won't make us look like Kate in a million years. When it comes to mock fashion the real mockery is the one we make of ourselves.
Don't despair! The internet is a fantastic resource for anyone seeking their own unique style. There are plenty of places to shop online offering distinctive, desirable apparel and accessories which will set you apart from the 'clothing clones' without breaking the bank. The benefits of buying online are many; no more trooping round town elbowing others out of the way, no queues, and no last minute buying because the shop's about to shut, only to get home and discover your panic purchase looks terrible on or has traces of cosmetics on the collar. Instead you can shop from the comfort of your home, browsing and buying at your leisure.
Small businesses and solo fashion designers use the web to showcase their products, and because their overheads are lower (no huge retail premises to maintain and large staff to pay) you have a real opportunity to purchase gorgeous garments and attractive accessories which won't cost the earth. There are also sites selling quality second-hand and vintage fashion pieces, allowing you to track down your own style statement for a fraction of the price of buying new. If something is described as 'hand made' don't let memories of Auntie Dot's amazing asymmetrical unravelling knitwear cloud your judgment ? handmade usually means lovingly crafted with great attention to quality and detail, and can definitely denote a one-off, original clothing item which will be the envy of others and a fashion favourite for years to come.
If you're more concerned about the look you want than the designer label you're wearing, there are a few points to consider when buying over the internet. Search for sites with decent product photographs and detailed descriptions, not tiny little 'thumbnail' images. After all, you wouldn't buy a product from a catalogue unless you had a good idea what it looked like. Use careful keywords to narrow and speed your internet searches. For example, if you'd prefer a product in a quality fibre, include 'wool' or a more specific term such as 'mohair' as one of your search words to find precisely what you want faster. Vague, all-encompassing search terms will only drag the high street to your desktop, and you'll end up ploughing through 'virtual' polyester! Make sure sites offer secure checkouts that encrypt your credit-card details; safe and trusted payment methods include PayPal, WorldPay and NoChex, although there are plenty of others.
Finally, enjoy the experience! The internet gives you a great choice, and buying online from a smaller supplier often means you'll receive a much higher quality product and level of service than you'd find in a vast anonymous 'bricks and mortar' store. Independent online retailers are keen to involve their customers in a real relationship, and you'll find yourself returning regularly to your favourite fashion sites. Shopping to suit yourself can be very rewarding, and not just financially.

LipoSelection? by Vaser®

Vaser® LipoSelection? is a revolutionary advance in ultra-sonic liposuction. People with fatty areas of the body, resistant to diet and exercise, can now enjoy a gentle and quick body contouring solution with results that are far more predictable than those of traditional liposuction. The key to LipoSelection is the ability to target only the unwanted pockets of fat for removal, leaving the surrounding areas of the body, such as nerves, blood vessels, and connective tissues, relatively undisturbed. This is an exciting breakthrough, so gentle that it originated from the treatment of brain tumors!
Liposuction by Vaser®, called LipoSelection?, accomplishes this selective tissue removal by using a combination of surgical elements. First, the targeted area is filled with a numbing saline-solution that liquefies the fat pockets. Then, only the fat cells are removed with a gentle combination of suction, dispersed ultrasonic energy, and massage. Because the probes used in LipoSelection? are smaller, 3.5mm to 4mm, the necessary entry incisions are extremely small.
Vaser® LipoSelection? surpasses traditional liposuction in a number of ways. The lesser invasion of the body promotes faster healing, meaning less bruising, less pain, and a faster recovery. Imagine getting the smooth and shapely look that you've always wanted and being able to return to your normal activities in only days!
Dr. Downs at The Centre PC is the first cosmetic surgeon in Indiana to offer Vaser® LipoSelection?. For more information email us, or call ?.
Disclaimer: LipoSelection was approved by the FDA in September 2002 for the removal of fat from the human body. The new procedure carries a reduced risk of complications such as contour irregularities, lengthy periods of swelling, blood clots, seromas, skin discoloration and prolonged numbing. When complications do occur with LipoSelection, they are often less severe than when they are associated with typical liposuction. As stated before, the recovery period after LipoSelection is typically measured in days, however the recovery time depends on the extent of the surgery performed.

Fragrance and Fun Fight Dry Skin

If you are a baby boomer, you might be experiencing dry skin seasonally or everyday. It can be a constant challenge to keep the skin moist and supple; especially when menopause approaches or you live in the cold north or dry desert. I am a blue eyed blond that has fought dry skin my whole life. You can imagine how I feel now that I am going through menopause and living in Wisconsin. Two out of three circumstances is cause for serious action when it comes to skin care.
I have tried many products on the market with limited success. It's hard to know what to buy out there and with all of the advertising available, it's hard to know what to believe. Lucky for me, I am also a certified Aromatherapist so I know the benefits essential oils can have on dry skin. Essential oils are natural extracts of plants and flowers. They are the pure essence in concentrated form of what scent the flower or plant really has. Some of the best oils for the skin are: mandarin, bergamot, lavender, geranium, palmarosa, ylang ylang, sandalwood, myrrh, rose and jasmine. I don't usually use them "neat" or straight from the bottle as they are quite concentrated. I like to take a carrier oil such as almond oil and blend it with several oils for my own signature fragrance. I can also do this with unscented body lotion. You'd be surprised the fantastic fragrance that can come from a couple of drops of this and a few drops of that. If you don't want to follow the crowd use the same fragrance that the whole world has; make your own scent and wear it proudly.
See what people say to you. They will know they haven't smelled anything quite like it because natural essential oils aren't the norm. These scents are used very minutely in the cosmetic industry because they are expensive. It is much less costly for the companies to put out synthetic fragrances and call it good. Read labels carefully because some will claim to have a "natural fragrance of citrus" or whatever and the natural is supposed to suck you in to thinking you are putting natural products on your body so it must be good for your skin. If there is no essential oil in the product they can't call it natural. If you use natural essential oils you are less apt to be allergic to them. Many people are allergic to the synthetic fragrances in the over the counter skin care products. Buyer beware when it comes to the cosmetic industry.
Itchy dry skin can also be from not enough exfoliation. When you don't use a product for exfoliating, the dead skin cells will remain on your body and just flake away. I use essential oils again with ground oatmeal. Mix in a few drops of some of the oils mentions above and scrub on the body for a soothing exfoliant. Oatmeal is great for the skin as you know if you have ever taken an oatmeal bath after a sunburn. Soothing and calming is called for especially on burned skin. Lavender is a great oil for assistance with healing burns so try putting some lavender in your bath or scrub as well. When you skin is properly exfoliated, the new younger feeling smooth skin is exposed and you look great.
Don't forget about your feet. In the summer your feet are exposed all the time and in the winter they are covered up with socks and shoes. Put on a foot cream of a little heavier cream or lotion with some of the same oils listed above and put some socks on as you got to bed. You can even wrap your feet, elbows, knees or more (never the face) with plastic wrap and unwrap yourself in the morning. Your skin will feel baby soft.
After you come out of a bath, quickly apply the moisturizer you made before your skin starts to dry. You are locking in the moisture from the bath into the skin for an extra boost. Try taking cooler baths instead of one that is hot and steaming. Don't scratch your dry skin, just keep moisturizing. Add a humidifier to your home if you really experience dry air.
You don't have to suffer when it comes to dry skin. Use essential oils and have some fun concocting your own signature scent skin care products. You'll save money and smell great at the same time.
Beverly Marshall is a successful freelance writer, certified Aromatherapist and Feng Shui consultant. Her many articles offer guidance, suggestions and common sense ideas to change your life. If you are interested in products and information regarding alternative medicine, vitamins, osteoporosis, menopause, essential oils, insomnia, anti aging, dry skin and more; her many articles can be found.

What is the Best Treatment for Grey Hair

When your hair goes grey it is due to the fact that the cells in the hair follicles called "Melanocytes" no longer generate pigment, the main one being melanin. The hair follicle loses all pigment over time and eventually goes white. The white hairs against your darker hair give the effect of grey hair. As your hair is no longer as healthy as it use to be you need to consider treating it to prevent it from going brittle and lifeless.
The vital vitamins that your hair would need in this case is B12, and Omega 3's. You can take these supplements as tablets or you can use a shampoo that contains these types of nutrients. There are many products on the market that promise to treat Grey Hair or even take Gray Hair away. Beware as there are only a few that will actually be effective.
If you are looking for a shampoo that will replace the lost nutrients in your hair then you need to make sure that the ingredients of the shampoo will actually treat the problem. If the shampoo contains Emu oils then you know that the product will work. The Emu oil contained in the shampoo is known as the follicle awakener and has been used by many to help prevent the onset of gray hair. Every hair must have omega 3's to grow properly. And Emu oil is the only ingredient that we know that can moisturize the hair enough to get it back up to an 8% moisture rate as it is supposed to be.
Now although a shampoo with these types of ingredients will help with the lack of moisture in your hair you may find in some cases it will actually darken the hair and reverse the graying process to some degree. The Emu oil actually works at the root of the hair follicle by penetrating the hair strand rejuvenating the pigment.
Just because you have Grey Hair doesn't mean you shouldn't treat it with conditioner and shampoo. Grey Hair can look healthy if treated properly. If you use the correct products you will find your hair will be healthy, full of volume and in some cases you could even get your original hair color back.
Grant Marwick is a freelance writer and owner of that provides solutions and advice on treating gray hair and grey hair treatments.

Holiday Hair Style: How to Look Perfect in Summer

Keeping your holiday hair style under control isn't just about keeping your expensive up-do from falling down while you're dancing. It's about healthy-looking hair during those wet, hot, and sticky months of summer, whether at home or on vacation.
Those who live in areas where the sun and humidity get downright unbearable during the summer know how difficult it is to keep their hair looking good. But if you aren't familiar with the potentially damaging effects of humidity, salt water, sand, chlorine, wind and dry air, you might not know how to properly care for your holiday hair.
It's easy to breathe new life into it by following a few simple summertime tips.
Hair that's full of split ends looks bad so the first thing you should do even before the summer months set in is give your hair a good trim to remove those damaged ends or try a new hair style. Hair looks instantly better after it's been cut.
If you plan to color your hair, remember that chemically treated hair is more vulnerable to environmental conditions such as sun, water and humidity. Plan your hair coloring three weeks before your trip so your hair has time to regain its natural balance and is more resistance to damage.
Another thing you can do is ask your stylist for a deep conditioning treatment prior to your vacation. This will help to smooth the hair, repair damage and make the whole hair structure stronger.
Depending on your destination climate, you might also need to bring a surface conditioner with moisturizing qualities for hot, dry weather or frizz control cream for a humid climate. Unlike deep conditioners, these products coat your hair with a protective layer while adding gloss and making your style more manageable.
It just wouldn't be a summer vacation without time in the water. Although swimming and other water activities are a lot of fun, they can wreak havoc on your holiday hair. Whether you're swimming in the sea or at the hotel pool, always rinse the sea salt and chlorine out of your hair with plenty of fresh water.
Chlorine dries out the hair, making it brittle. It also fades the color and with some hair colors, can turn hair an unsightly shade of green. It's not the chlorine that turns your hair green but the presence of heavy metals like copper. The chlorine initiates the process by damaging the hair cuticle, which allows these metals to enter the inner structure of hair.
It also wouldn't be a summer vacation without spending as much time as possible in the sun. We know how damaging the sun's UV rays are to our skin, but these rays also damage the hair's structure. They break down the keratin which results in dry hair that breaks easily. So look for hair care products that contain UV protection and use them as directed to help your holiday hair style look as healthy as your holiday tan.
Lots of people with fine hair apply too much anti-frizz serum to their scalp and hair, which makes it look greasy and weighed down. Instead, apply a light conditioner beginning at the middle of the hair strand and continuing down to the ends. Then finish your hair style with anti-frizz serum applied only to the ends to seal off the tips so water can't enter the hair shaft.
When you're packing your suitcase, be sure you include a mild shampoo, a mild conditioner, an anti-frizz serum (especially if you have naturally curly hair), and hair spray for those times when your holiday hair needs extra hold. And check to make sure all these products contain UV protection. Just remember: using UV products doesn't mean you can stay out in the sun indefinitely. Your hair and scalp can be damaged if exposed to too much sun so don't forget to bring a sun hat.
Nancy Faizabadi is a professional hair stylist and the founder of where you can find free tips on short hair style and color ideas, hair color trends, hair products and much more. Whether your hair is fine, thick, curly, straight, processed, colored or in need of a new style, short-hair-style.com has a section for you.

The Benefits of Sunless Tanning Sprays

Some people desire enough of a tan for just one occasion such as an evening out. Some people look at all options available in sunless tanning products and decide to tan the old-fashioned way, after all. For those who opt for a traditional, sun-induced tan, caution and protective measures are recommended.
Currently, sunless tanning spray can be found at high-end salons or spas and can anywhere from $25 per session to up to $100 for a few one-hour sessions. Sunless tanning spray contains dihydroxyacetone (DHA). DHA is applied in a fine mist to the entire body of the customer. DHA reacts with dead skin cells on the surface of the body, causing them to turn brown. Most tanners who use the spray method report good, realistic results and excellent coverage. The spray on tans last five to seven days, typically.
Sunless tanning spray is either water or oil based. The former is recommended for people with sensitive skin. The FDA has approved DHA as safe since the 1970s. It is colorless -- the color change in tanners' skin is chemical -- but may at first emit a slight odor, which should disappear after showering. It will not stain clothing.
Sunless tanning spray is not recommended for people with dry and flaky skin or for people with very fair skin. In the case of those with dry skin, a spray tan may end up looking patchy, due to the accelerated shedding of dead skin cells. For those with fair skin, the tan may end up looking too dark or otherwise awkward.
Moisturizing can optimize the life of a spray tan. Other preparations to take are to exfoliate before having sunless tanning spray applied, avoiding showering for at least four hours before the tanning session, and avoiding physical activity for a short while after the spray tan is applied. The better precautions are taken and the more diligently aftercare is pursued, the better the results of a spray tan will be.
Sunless Tanning Info provides detailed information about sunless tanning lotion, booths, sprays, salons, and pills, as well as reviews of best sunless tanning products and methods. Sunless Tanning Info is the sister site of Tanning Beds Web.

Tanning Booths - Safer Than You Think!

Visiting a tanning booth to tan may be safer than you believe. You have to understand that skin cancer has a 20-30 year latency period, so most stories that you hear now are from the people who way back when thought that getting sun burns would fade into nice looking tans. This approach was not very good nor did it work at all. If you decide to try out a tanning booth the only thing you need to worry about is wearing protective eyewear.
The thing that causes skin cancer is the repeating pattern of getting sunburned. If you can avoid getting sunburn while using a tanning booth then you will not have much to worry about. Also, with using a tanning booth the UV rays are controlled and you can easily set your exposure time to them by using the bed. That way, you will be safe to tan for about 10-20 minutes depending on where you are at.
If you plan on using a tanning booth for the very first time and you do not tan very easily it is recommended that you do it for only 5 minutes for your 1st and 2nd sessions, and then move up to 10 minutes for the next few, then after that move to 15 then 20 minutes. You should never go past 20 minutes in one session unless the bed specifically instructs that it's safe to.

How To Purchase Tanning Beds

So, you want a tanning bed. You can purchase tanning beds for home use or for a salon. When you want to purchase tanning beds know what you are looking for. If you are in the market to purchase tanning beds do some comparison shopping.
There are many tanning beds for sale and when you are ready to purchase tanning beds you should know how much you want to spend and what features you want on the beds.
You may be able to purchase tanning beds at a better price when you need more than one.
When you are ready to purchase tanning beds look online and compare prices. There are many sites that will have this information and it will be easier to purchase tanning beds when you know you are getting the best price possible.
What features are you looking for when you are going to purchase tanning beds? What is important to you in the way of UVA and UVB rays? These rays vary and when you want to purchase tanning beds this may be an area to look at.
Lamps are another area that you may want to familiarize yourself with if you are planning to purchase tanning beds. How long will they last and how much do they cost? These are questions you will want the answers to if you are ready to purchase tanning beds.
Also check out the warranties offered when you are ready to purchase tanning beds. Some companies offer really good warranties.
Before you purchase tanning beds for home or salon use you should also know what maintenance is needed. Are the beds mostly maintenance-free and if not can you do the work yourself?
Be informed and look around before you purchase tanning beds.
Timothy Gorman is a successful Webmaster and publisher of Tanning-Bed-Solutions.com. He provides more tanning bed information on tanning bed bulbs, tanning bed lotions and home tanning bed information that you can research in your pajamas on his website.

Makeup Tips for 40, 50, and Beyond

Growing older doesn't have to be a burden. Aging is a part of life and if we learn to appreciate our bodies and faces we will feel much more comfortable and live a much happier, stress-free life. It seems odd that some younger women are more concerned about how they look and dwell on flaws when they are at their physical best; when some older women, who are happy to be alive, feel good about themselves, accept their bodies and faces for what they are and rejoice in living.
If you are worried about getting lines and wrinkles and would like to feel better about how you look, the first step is to change your attitude toward yourself and aging. Start by evaluating the ideas and beliefs you have about aging and where you got them. If you see older women as unattractive then you are going to have a difficult time looking in the mirror at an aging face. Aging is the kind of thing that sneaks up on you and then one day ? boom, you're there. I have met women who are fifty and beyond who are very attractive and exude self-confidence (yes, they have lots of lines and wrinkles and a not-so-perfect body). Their attractiveness comes from feeling good about themselves and knowing they are more than the outside package. Self-confidence crosses all barriers, people notice and see the beauty.
Aging gracefully doesn't mean that you shouldn't take care of yourself. It means keeping fit, using skin care products regularly, watching your diet and living a balanced life. Develop your own beauty and accentuate your positive qualities.
As we age and our faces change, we must change the way we care for our skin and how we wear makeup. Here are a few tips to get you started:
1. Always use a moisturizer. A good moisturizer will help your foundation glide on and will keep your skin more healthy. Choose a foundation that is the same color as your skin, is moist, goes on evenly and is one you can see your skin through. Don't forget to blend around the jaw line.
2. If you have dark spots a good concealer and foundation will hide it. If you have a lot see a dermatologist who can lighten them.
3. Powder is used to absorb excess oil and reduce shine. If you have been plagued with oily skin all your life you might notice that as you get older your skin is less oily and you have fewer lines than your dry to normal-skin friends. Use powder sparingly since too much will accentuate lines.
4. Use eye shadows sparingly and only use shadows that have a matte finish. Iridescent or shadows with a shimmer attract the light and will make wrinkles more apparent. This is a time when less is more. Use earthy tones that create depth and apply the dark shadow to the outside of the lid making sure the lines move upward.
5. Eyebrows change as we age and become unruly and sparse. Use an eyebrow pencil and feather strokes to fill in the bare spots. Keep your eyebrows a lighter color than your hair and in good condition. Remember, eyebrows frame the eyes; so to open your eyes and keep them looking bright depends largely on how well you care for your eyebrows.
6. Use blush to create a soft look. Blush shouldn't stand out - use just enough to create a glow.
7. Use a lip liner to prevent your lipstick from bleeding into the fine lines around your mouth. Lip products that have an emollient that will keep your lips soft.
Use makeup to accentuate your positive qualities and make yourself feel great. Don't focus on covering lines and wrinkles but instead pay attention to your positive features. Let the beautiful you show through.
Sheila Dicks is an Image and Wardrobe consultant who helps women feel more confident by dressing to suit their body type. To get tips on how to dress slimmer and find your best styles get a copy of her ebook "Image Makeover" to get the Free Report " 7 Things Your Girlfriends Won't Tell You About Beauty and Fashion".

Beauty Basics - Eight Tips For Naturally Beautiful Skin

Not sure what to look for when choosing cosmetics? Need some advice on taking care of your skin? Here are eight tips to help your skin look and feel it's best.
1)Select moisturizers made with vegetable oils. The lotions, creams and body oils that you use should be made with vegetable oils, not mineral oil. Vegetable oils, (like olive oil, sweet almond oil, corn oil, etc.) contain fatty acids which help to moisturize and soften the skin. Mineral oil is derived from petroleum and does not contain anything that helps to nourish the skin.
2)Look for herbs and herbal derivatives in your cosmetics. Herbs and their derivatives (essential oils, extracts, infusions) contain natural chemicals which soothe, tone and help condition the skin. Two herbs which are especially useful in natural cosmetics are Lavender and Tea tree. The essential oils of both lavender and tea tree are gentle, natural antiseptics.
3)Once a week soak your feet in warm water, and gently exfoliate dead skin with a pumice stone. Follow up by moisturizing your feet with a natural foot oil or foot lotion.
4)Every week soak in a tub of bath salts. Salt, especially salts mined from the Dead Sea in the Middle East, are rich in minerals and help draw impurities out of the skin.
5)After a shower or bath, seal in moisture by using a body oil or lotion made from natural vegetable oils.
6)If you have blemishes and your skin is dry, moisturize your skin in the morning and at night with products that contain vegetable oils which are high in essential fatty acids. Essential fatty acids help to soften and hydrate the skin and they can also help soothe minor irritations. Vegetable oils that contain large amounts of essential fatty acids are: corn oil, sunflower seed oil, safflower oil, borage oil, blackcurrant seed oil and evening primrose oil.
7)Look for toners and astringents that are made without ethyl alcohol, rubbing alcohol or isopropyl alcohol. These ingredients are solvents that are extremely drying to the skin.
8)Every time you wash your hands, moisturize them with a natural lotion or cream to help them stay soft.
Ololade Franklin publishes Making Good Scents(TM), a newsletter for people who make their own bath and body care products.

Silicone Breast Implants Revived by FDA

On July 28 2005, the FDA issued a letter of approval to Mentor Corp ending the the thirteen year old ban on silicone-gel breast implants. This move came about as Mentor Corp. persuaded the FDA that its newer silicone implants are less dangerous and more durable than older versions. The company will employ these implants only under the following strict safety conditions approved by the FDA.
- Prospective patients must sign a consent form acknowledging that they realise the risks of a silicone breast implant including the fact that they could break and need replacement or removal.
- Mentor is only allowed to sell silicone breast implants to board-certified plastic surgeons who complete a successful practical training program to learn how to insert these implants in a way that minimizes the odds of breakage.
- Mentor must produce and maintain a registry to track the implant patients long term results.
- Patients must be educated about the fact that if an implant breaks, the effect of the breakage typically doesn't cause immediate symptoms. Further it is advised to have an MRI after 5 years and 2 years thereafter to check for breakage.
- Mentor must conduct a ten year study to determine the percentage of breast implants that will break in that time.
- The study must be reviewed by an independent committee.
- The results of Mentor's breast implant program will be reviewed by the FDA in 5 years to verify that the implants are performing as expected.
According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, 334,052 breast augmentations were performed in the United States in 2004 - the vast majority employing salt water filled implants that are sold without restriction. Consumer surveys predict that if the silicone breast implants return to the market, 200,000 women will have them installed in the 1st year.
Silicone-gel breast implants began selling in 1962 and were banned in 1992 amid health fears. Research since then has shown no statistical correlation between silicone breast implants and cancer or auto-immune disease such as lupus. Some women will swear that their health deteriorated from the moment they had their implants placed, but this is anecdotal evidence. When researchers compare a large group of women with implants to an equally large group without them, no difference between the two groups is found in the number of women with cancer or autoimmune disease.
Formation of excess scar tissue due to a foreign-body reaction is common. If it is localized, it can cause traction and rippling effects in the appearance of the implant. If the scar tissue completely encircles the implant the condition is called capsular contraction. These scars can bind the implant into an unnatural round shape, so that it appears the woman has a baseball stuck under the skin on her chest. This condition is more common with smooth-walled silicone implants, though it occurs to a lesser extent with saline implants as well. Implants placed behind the chest muscle have a much lower incidence of this problem. Surgeons can sometimes break the scar tissue manually (which is not recommeded, as it can break the implant and void the manufacturer's warranty) , but often follow-up surgery is needed.
The asthma drug Accolate has been used with some success to prevent and even reverse capsular contraction, though months of treatment may be required.
Other possible complications include seroma (a collection of serous fluid), hematoma (blood), synmastia (breasts that appear to be fused in the center), bottoming out (implant slides too far down the chest), double-fold ( the implant's outline does not corresspond to the natural breast crease), deflation (the implant breaks), tissue necrosis (localized death of tissue) and infection.