Beauty Products You Probably Already Have In Your Kitchen

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Have you ever been in a department store or spa and seen all of the fancy beauty products they have? I have and, to be honest, it can be quite intimidating. Besides the fact that I can't identify half of the tools they use, the creams and exfoliants are priced so high that you'd think they were more valuable than that ring you got for your 'Sweet Sixteen' present! The point is that when it comes to our looks, many women will spend whatever it takes. But what if I told you that you didn't have to? What if I told you that you could make beauty products that work just as well as what you find in the stores, but are at a fraction of the cost? What's more, what if I told you that you probably already have everything you need to make them in your cabinets right now? Well sit tight, because I'm about to do exactly that. Here are some ideas for 'beauty on the cheap'.

-Baking soda makes for a better exfoliant than a lot of commercial products, particularly if you have sensitive skin. It doesn't leave any kind of residue on your face and is all-natural, so there are no harsh chemicals to irritate your skin. Just take a little bit in your hand, use just enough water to make a paste, and rub it on just like you would any other exfoliant. It might not get rid of your blackheads right away, it can 'leave the slate clean' for your other products to work.

-Tea bags soaked in cold water can soothe puffy eyes.

-Shampoo or conditioner also makes for a great shaving cream.

-Rub the inside of a ripe avocado peel on your skin to moisturize skin after a day of tanning. Leave on for 15 minutes and rinse it off.

-To take off stubborn makeup, add a bit of baby shampoo to soap and water to break it up without a lot of scrubbing. Other shampoo works too, but baby shampoo is best because it's formulated not to irritate the eyes.

-Dabbing lemon juice onto a pimple can help dry it up and get rid of it.

-Use an olive oil-table salt mixture to rid your entire body of rough, dead skin. Just pour some table salt into a container until it is about half full, add enough olive oil to cover the salt, shake it up and rub on any part of the body you want to exfoliate. Olive oil has great moisturizing properties, so you'll be killing two birds with one stone.

-Oatmeal that is just slightly moistened can be a good exfoliant, as well as soothing irritated skin.

With a bit of experimentation and ingenuity, it's pretty easy to make your skin just as beautiful as the day you were born without having to spend a lot of money. Sorry Clinique; we won't be needing you anymore. I'm sure you'll manage.

Ideas for Moms To Pamper Themselves

Taking care of your kids whether you're a stay home mom or not can be exhausting. There are times when you just need to take a break. But it isn't always easy for moms at home when you have a million other things to be doing. But pampering yourself even for just fifteen minutes can make the rest of the day go so much better. Here are some ideas that you can use to pamper your self.

My favorite thing to do is read. My tension slips away as I lose myself in the pages of a good book. I like to read while I am eating breakfast or lunch. It gives me a break in the day. The hardest part is putting the book down. You might also try instigating a silent reading time each day. Even if your kids can't read they can look through a stack of picture books while you enjoy reading some adult literature for a change.

At least once a month take a night that is just for you. Get together with friends. Go and get your nails done. Or visit the scrapbook store, my activity of choice. I belong to a Book Club that meets once a month. After an evening of discussing and chatting with other women about a great book I feel ready to face my life again.

Exercise. Now you might be thinking she's crazy exercise is work. But in reality exercising is pampering your self. After exercising you feel less tired, more energized, and happy because you did something good for your self. If you don't have time or the ambition to exercise try stretching. It is relaxing and relieves the tired muscles we get from hauling our children around.

When your children are little try taking a nap when they nap. When I was pregnant with my second child I took a nap everyday with my son. It was a lifesaver. We would both wake refreshed and ready for the rest of our day.

Try taking a long hot shower or soak in a bubble bath. I typically try to conserve energy and am fanatical about turning off the lights and not letting the water run excessively. Except for when I get in the shower. I love hot showers because after one I fell better prepared for my day.

Put on some classical music. Music is a great mood lifter. Give your children some paper and crayons and let them color to the music while you relax on the couch.

Does Your Hair Shed A Lot? Possible Reasons Why

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When you clean your hairbrush, does the clump resemble a Tribble*? Does your shower drain seem to clog up every time you wash your hair? Can everyone tell where you've been by following the stray hairs? These are all true for me, and have been for a long time. If your hair is black like mine, it can be seen everywhere I go. If you've had this problem and been worried that you're going bald like a man, take heart. There are several reasons for us to lose hair, and not all are medical. In fact, most of them are related to the way we care for our hair.

Most people lose about 50-100 dead hairs a day, but this is only a small fraction of the over 100,000 hairs on our heads. People with curly hair tend to lose more than others, although it's not really clear why. Some of the most common reasons for hair loss in women are:

• Hormonal changes such as childbirth, menopause or stopping birth control pills
• Thyroid problems
• The effects of certain medications such as those for cancer, high blood pressure or depression
• Inadequate levels of protein, iron and B vitamins in the diet
• Crash dieting or a major loss of weight
• Stress
• Heredity
• A major physical or emotional trauma. For instance, getting in a car accident or having a death in the family can put stress on your body and cause an increase in hair loss that can last for several months.

Once a hormonal or thyroid problem is treated, the loss usually stops. Don't worry about going bald, though, because the hairs grow back. If you're concerned, check with your doctor. She may be able to prescribe a different medication or give you other ways to slow your hair loss.

The ways we care for our hair can also cause us to lose more of it than normal. For example:

• Using chemicals such as color or permanents incorrectly. When I say, 'incorrectly', I mean doing it too often or, in the case of bleaching, using overly harsh chemicals. For instance, my sister went from brown to blonde by using a peroxide mix that responded to sunlight. She did it in a period of about a week, so you can imagine how much abuse her hair had to take to change that quickly.
• Certain hairstyles that require hair to be pulled tightly, such as cornrows or ponytails. Tight hair ornaments like barrettes and rubber bands can make you shed even more.
• Heat styling. This could be one reason those of us with curly hair lose more. Many curly-haired people will use flat irons or hairdryers to straighten their hair. The 'big hair' styles from the 70s and 80s were particularly bad because of the double whammy of using curling irons to pull bangs tightly while styling.
  
  

As you can see, many causes of hair loss have nothing to do with the balding we see in men. Many of them can be fixed by changing the ways we treat our hair. If the cause is medical, the loss usually slows once the problem is addressed. Since the hair grows back, you're probably not going to go bald anytime soon!

*Tribbles-http://www.thinkgeek.com/geektoys/plush/ac6e/

Self Tanner 101

Having trouble getting to the beach every weekend? Who isn't, and craving that bright tan is something most women want but simply cannot achieve all year round. Wanting to be tan and wanting healthy and glowing skin are too different things. Tanning in artificial booths can be dangerous and an expensive habit all in one. How can you achieve a tan without going anywhere or spending a fortune? Welcome to self tanner 101...

You may be thinking of self tanner as a product that younger people use or one that turns you a nice shade of pumpkin. While both of those can be truthful, it doesn't have to be. For instance, when done right self tanner products can make your skin look beautiful and make you appear younger in the process. It is not recommended to smother yourself in it as you can turn your skin several shades of orange or brown. There are a few tricks to the trade when using the products and you can be amazed at some of the results!

~Always wash and exfoliate your skin before you apply the tanner. Your skin needs to be soft and smooth before it can be changing the pigment. You have dead skin cells on the skin surface at all times and this needs to be washed away before it can be treated with tanning products to have a clean surface.

~Use gloves! Some use their hands, but it has been shown to be a wise idea to use a set of rubber gloves versus applying it using your hands. When you apply with your hands, you never can get all of the product off by washing them and then you result in having orange palms, or dark brown lines in between your fingers, very attractive! Use the gloves and when it is time to color your hands with the tanner, you can use a sponge that you would use for any basic foundation application. This can be much easier and the end result is perfect.

~Let it dry. Some women jump right back into their clothes and then they suffer from stains on their clothing. Allow ten to fifteen minutes, even stay by a fan if you can until it is all dry. The same theory applies to going to bed at night. Use a darker pillow sheet at first until you know the product will not stain fabrics.

~Less is more. Wait a day or two and see if you life the shade your skin has turned. If you feel it is too dark or not enough, then adjust your applications. Put less on next time or add some more, and you can always buy tanners that are for certain types of skin as well. they make ones for lighter skin shades and ones for darker ones.

A Look Into Acne Scar Removal

Suffering through acne as a teenager is one thing, but then living with the reminder scars for the rest of your life is another. There are many procedures available through your local dermatologist that can help to make acne scars seem to disappear over time.

A good website to learn about acne scar removal is at www.derma-rollers.com. This website offers a device that will naturally increase the levels of collagen in your skin. If you have acne scars or wrinkles or stretch marks, they are a result of a lack of collagen in the skin. Using this roller type device is not painful and will show results at around the 40 day point if used on a regular basis. The roller has tiny needles (that don’t hurt) that will assist in stimulate your own natural collagen level. Basically, it will then plump up the face making the user look younger and help to eliminate those acne scars. This program has been featured on the Doctors show, Rachel Ray, etc. This roller appears to be very successful in the acne scar removal marketplace. It is FDA approved and they offer a money back guarantee regarding results and its use. And, a nice bonus on this particular product is that it is also successful in the treatment of hair loss, cellulite and wrinkles, too.

Laser resurfacing is becoming very popular for acne scar removal. The laser treatments will remove the upper damaged layer of the skin, thereby allowing the new fresher version of the skin to shine through. Before this procedure, the skin will be numbed so that the patient should not feel a thing throughout it. The healing time on using laser resurfacing for acne scar removal is usually around two weeks, but check with your doctor to be sure.

Keep in mind that just because a product is on the internet does not mean that it will work for you or even work at all. So, be sure to do some research on it before you buy it. Check to see if any sort of guarantee is offered with it and if it is approved by the FDA. If your interest lies in a simple topical application for acne scar removal, Meladerm Pigment Reducing Complex is a skin lightener. It costs around $50 for 1.7 oz and offers a 30 day guarantee. The best thing someone that is interested in any acne scar removal product or procedure is to search the internet and read the different reviews and comments about it online. You may be surprised to find that something that you read about and thought for sure would finally work as an acne scar removal for you, is not working on many other consumers, thus saving you time, money and great disappointment. Other good things to consider are to inquire about side effects, risks involved, total cost of procedures, any down time involved and if your health insurance will pay for any of your costs. Many times, unfortunately, acne scar removal is considered cosmetic surgery and not paid for by many health insurance carriers.

Getting In Shape For Your Big Day

The flowers have all been ordered, the caterer and DJ have been booked, and the rings have been purchased, all in preparation for the “Big Day.” But the biggest question on the bride’s mind right now is how to lose that pesky five pounds left over from Christmas and make sure that her arms don’t look like a Thanksgiving Jello-mold when she tosses the bouquet. Luckily, Health.com offers some help for the stressed out bride by providing a “Wedding-Ready” body toning workout. Getting in shape for your big day has never been easier, there are endless methods of cutting weight just before your special day to really enjoy it! Videos, gym routines, using a personal trainer and dieting can all have an impact on your body. Do not overeat weeks before the wedding, in fact cutting back on the sugars, caffeine, and fatty foods a month prior can be great for you skin that day and also help you relax and make better decisions. Many women are rushed, they feel overwhelmed and often cannot even sleep. Getting on track will not only help you look your best, it will also make you a calmer person for the big event.

Using tips and tricks from Canadian fitness expert Jari Love’s Ripped DVD workout programs, Health.com offers a routine that will help brides get in better shape just one month before their wedding. The workout uses small weights and many repetitions, combined with short bursts of cardio work, such as running in place and jumping jacks for one to two minute intervals, for 15-20 minutes just once or twice a week.

The three exercises in the workout are supposed to be done while lifting dumbbells that weigh between three and five pounds in each hand and should be repeated between 20-40 times each. All three exercises put a strong focus on all the areas that a bride could possibly want to shape up, particularly the thighs, shoulders, butt, hamstrings, calves, biceps, quads, abs, and core. So, whether her dress is sleeveless, strapless, silky, or sheer, this workout will help those nervous brides from getting cold feet due to those extra cold-cuts at lunch.

For brides who feel this basic workout isn’t enough, or for the bride who wishes her husband-to-be would lose a few pounds with her, Vince Delmonte fitness (http://www.vincedelmontefitness.com/) offers a special 75 day “Wedding Day” workout plan that works for both men and women. Vince and his wife, Flavia, made this program with the goal of getting themselves into great shape by the specific deadline of their wedding day, June 26th. This is a workout that both bride and groom can enjoy, and promises exercises, nutrition, and even mental and behavioral techniques to help nearly-married couples get better prepared, both for the wedding day. . . and the wedding night. To read more about the Health.com bride’s workout, go to http://living.health.com/2008/02/22/bodywork-an-all-body-toning-workout/
　

How To Obtain Great Looking Skin

Sleep. Sleep is one of the most important, best kept beauty secrets available today. If you ask any celebrity, any model, any actress, or anyone in the public eye how they keep such great looking skin, one hundred percent of them will tell you that they get at least a solid 8 hours of sleep every night. When you sleep, it allows your body to repair cells. Since your skin is made entirely of cells, sleep is very beneficial to beauty. It’s essentially the easiest and best thing you can do for your body. If you’re not getting adequate amounts of sleep, you should really factor it in. It’s worth it.

Lotion. Applying lotion to your skin is incredibly important to keep it moist and to prevent it from drying out and cracking. There are all kinds of lotion for all kinds of skin; from face lotion, to hand lotion, to body lotion, to moisturizing lotion, etc. There are tons to choose from! The reason the lotion industry is so huge is because they are fully aware that in order to have beautiful skin, people need to apply lotion. Any model will be able to tell you that. Be careful, however, when choosing your lotion because if you choose something too oily or too greasy, it may have a negative effect on your skin, causing pimples and blemishes due to oil buildup.

Makeup. Everyday women all around the world apply makeup to their faces. Their makeup stays on their faces usually anywhere from 8 hours to 14 hours a day on average. This is a huge chunk of time that you facial skin spends under makeup. Therefore, you want to ensure you are not using anything that is blocking the pores on your face. You want to allow your skin to breathe at all times so by purchasing lighter makeup, you are allowing this. Something like Bare Minerals is a fantastic example of a great makeup choice. It comes in a powder, not a thick liquid, and allows your skin to breathe.

Wash your face! After you apply makeup and wear it all day long, you need to wash it off to air out your face through the night. Even if you get the best breathable makeup available, you still need to let your natural skin feel some air and oxygen. Without oxygen, your skin will need breathe correctly which may end up as blemishes on your face. Also, when washing your face, make sure you are not using a soap that is too hard, or a wash cloth that is too rough. Your facial skin is extremely sensitive so you only ever want to apply gentle things to it. Dove soap is a great band for washing your face if you haven’t tried it yet. It’s smooth and gentle and it really deep cleans. Facial scrubs are good for you too because they were designed specifically for facial tissue. This means, the abrasives in them will not be too harsh for your face skin.

Understanding Acne and How It Effects Women Living With It

Having acne can change the way your perceive yourself. It can cause depression and even ruin your self-esteem. Many people do not realize the impact that living with acne can bring and how it can profoundly effect those living with it.

Acne can come in two forms, it can develop on the face and it can develop on the body. Some unlucky folks have acne on both their face and their bodies as well. The face seems to be more stressful as it is not a place of your body that one can hide. The body acne develops on the back, neck and shoulders generally and there are more men suffering from this type of acne than women. Men typically develop body acne over women because they play sports and the heavy sweating and dirty sports clothing and head gear can quickly effect how their skin looks. Women too can experience the acne on the back and shoulders and doctors are blaming acne prone skin for that as well as women not wearing clean undergarments and having long hair. Long hair can be greasy and when it lays against the skin on the back it begins to develop acne. You would be alarmed to see the large amount of women that wear dirty bras and sports bras under their clothes. This can be from a lack of good hygiene or from not realizing they need to change their bras out each day and not wear them over and over again before they wash them. Dermatologists are also claiming sleeping on dirty sheets and pillowcases can attribute to body and face acne becoming much worse. With the results of all of these hygiene findings it is making a very clear explanation for why so many people are suffering from acne.

Now that you understand the types of acne that can develop, you must understand what it can do to the person living with it. To begin with, it looks bad and even somewhat disturbing on some faces. Some people have simply given up trying to treat their acne and they have several blemishes all over their face or horrible scarring from past acne spots. These people are well aware of what their skin looks like as they have to see it everyday, and when others are hurtful or judgmental of those suffering from acne it can be a lifelong challenge to gain back their self-esteem. While many years ago people assumed that those suffering from acne were people that were dirty, or un-kept and that simply is not the truth. Some people have great hygiene habits and they have acne as a result of unfortunate genetics. There are more cases that are harder to treat types of acne than the cases where the acne can be treated quickly. These people are suffering from low confidence and need to get the help to cure their acne as fast as possible. If they cannot seek the proper treatment, then perhaps finding some form of makeup will suffice for the time being. If you have a child with acne, do them a favor and try your best to work with them to cure their acne to make sure your child always feels their best.

How To Make Your Own Bath Salts

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One of my favorite rooms in my house is the bathroom. For the most part it isn't very special, but it does have one important thing-a huge bathtub! Technically two people can fit in it, but mostly it is nice for that afternoon soak after a hard day. Like many other women, I have a big assortment of various gels, salts, oils and bath bombs to make the water smell nice and help me unwind. One thing I have noticed is that some of them are very nicely colored and make great decorations-at least, until the bottle is empty! They are also much cheaper to make on your own than to buy in the store; my sister has made some for gifts that would have cost twice as much if she'd bought them ready-made. Believe it or not, making them isn't that complicated. While there are some variations, here is a basic recipe.

You will need:

Sea salt, 2 cups

Epsom salt, 3 cups

Some fragrance or essential oils for the scent, ½ ounce

An airtight container to put it in

Baking soda, 1 cup (optional)

Coloring (micas or liquid-soap coloring, also optional)

A mixing bowl, preferably glass or metal

A whisk or spoon

The salts and baking soda can be found at any grocery or discount store. Craft stores will often have the coloring and oils, although specialty beauty shops may have a wider range of scents.

The first thing you would do is measure out your salts into your mixing bowl. The reason I said that the bowl should be glass or metal is because some fragrance oils can soak into and discolor or alter plastic. Once you measure out your salts, add in ½ ounce of your fragrance or oil. If you are using baking soda, add it and stir everything to make sure your mixture doesn't clump. It's not unheard of for someone who is using a strong scent to use less oil than the ½ ounce I mentioned, but you don't want to use much more than that because that can cause the salts to clump. Remember, you can add more later if you want, but you can't remove it once it's in there. If you don't want to add any color, just spoon the salts into your container (a mason jar or any other airtight container will do) and you're done.

One thing I'll say about the containers-you want an airtight container that will not react to the oils in the salts. Simple mason or apothecary glass jars will do, although craft stores may sell other types of bottles. Some of my favorites are glass test tubes or tiny wine bottles with a cork! You can use plastic containers or plastic-lined paper bags if you want. Just be sure that air can't get in and that the salts or oils won't warp the container.

Colors give you an easy way to personalize your salts and turn them into decorative items as well as functional items. You can use only one color, layer colors or make a sort of 'swirl' by shaking the jar. It's your choice. All you have to do is drop the color into the mixture in your bowl and stir. For best results, use only a few drops at a time because otherwise your salts can clump.

So, now you have a nice way to create a bathroom decoration that also serves a purpose. These homemade bath salts can also make for a good gift. However you use them, making your own bath salts can be a great way to save money while also being creative. Have fun!