Over Done Sunless Self Tanner: Home Remedies & Tips for Removing

Self tanners are one of the finest inventions because they let would-be sun bunnies go golden brown without ever having to expose yourself to the actual sun. With the ozone layer depleted, the risk of skin cancer from sun exposure has greatly increased, but we all like the glow that says, "Yes, while you've been slaving away in your cubicle, I've been lazily tanning at the beach". Sunless tanner is the way to be a golden girl without forsaking your job, your kids, your graduate education or your winter in the Chicago suburbs.

Fake ‘n’ Bake in a Bottle
Getting the right suntan in a bottle takes a little work, and it's better to pay for the more upscale self tanner if it's going to get you a smooth, even coat in a realistic color. This is no time to be cheap! But even the best sunless tanners can leave you a fake bake orange if you don't apply them correctly, with stealth, patience and continuity. Most self tanning lotions or foams say to reapply every two or three days, because the effect wears off fast.

Removing Splotches and Orange Color Caused By Self Tanners
And that fading effect is what's going to save you if you're wondering how to remove an overdose of self tanner. If you're lucky, it's just your hands or hands and feet that have turned orange, maybe because you forgot to wear gloves when applying the lotion or because your feet got a few more coats than your legs. You can easily fix the sunless tanning orange by waiting a few days—as the outer layer of skin sheds off, the color will come with it. We're all losing skin cells by the thousands each day, so if you can wait, you need do nothing else to get rid of your fake tan. But if the color is an issue because of an important event, tips on removing sunless tanner tend to recommend the use of baking soda. Put a nice blob of baking soda on a washcloth and gently rub it on damp skin. The baking soda exfoliates the skin, speeding up the loss of tanner, and it can be used on your body without the potential chemical complications that would come along with peroxide or bleach. Don't rub yourself raw, even if you're desperate to get the stuff off: give it a little rub, rinse off and wait a couple of hours before trying again.

Home Remedy to Fix Over Applying Sunless Tanner
Baking soda is a home remedy for so many ailments that it's surprising they don't sell it in five gallon containers. If you've used too much sunless tanner all over your body, you can dump several cups of baking soda into your bathtub and crawl in with it. Add water and soak. Basically, you're softening the skin, making it easier for the outer layer to slough and using the whitening properties of baking soda to help provide a little gentle bleaching action. Take your loofah and gently scrub feet, ankles, elbows and other places where the tanning liquid may have collected and created splotches.

For orange or too-brown fingernails and hands or toenails and feet, you can apply a facial cream bleach for around ten minutes, but don't try to use this stuff on other parts of your body: your skin will probably react to it in unpleasant ways.

To cover up sunless tanner on your face while it's wearing off, try layering mineral makeup over it, applying to your neck as well. Use a tinted moisturizer in green or blue to try to counteract seriously orange skin, and add your makeup on top of that. Exfoliate gently at night with an oatmeal scrub and remind yourself that in a few days it will be like nothing happened at all.

Clean Your Jewelry: DIY at Home or Take to a Professional Jeweler for a Steam Cleaning?

Clean your jewelry at home every three months and take your treasured pieces to a professional jeweler's once a year for an in-store cleaning and visual inspection. Many jewelry stores will clean your jewelry for free while you wait on the premises, probably because it's a great way to let people browse for new jewels while their old ones are being bathed.

DIY Home Jewelry Cleaning Products
No everyone has enough jewelry to warrant buying an ionic or ultrasonic jewelry cleaning machine: in fact, some jewelers say that these at-home versions of professional cleaners can cause gemstones to crack or become discolored. Money saving tips for jewelry cleaning include the fact that you can clean your jewelry safely and effectively without buying machines or expensive cleaners, and that it's better to clean as gently as possible with common household products. Don't ever steam clean your jewelry: hard stones don't need it, and soft ones will be damaged by it.

Caring for different types of gemstones and precious metals
In general the harder the stone, the less likely that it will be injured by attempts at cleaning. Metals are also forgiving: for silver jewelry, use an ordinary silver polish you can buy at the grocery store and follow the instructions. Wipe polish onto the piece, rub it, wipe it off and buff the silver to a shine. If you have silver jewelry with stones, they are most likely semi-precious or soft gems like turquoise, opal, pearl, lapis or coral. These softer stones can be injured by abrasion, heat or chemicals. In fact, they can absorb perfumes, so it's better to apply your perfume first and then put on your jewelry to prevent it from being stained by perfume oils. To clean these soft stones, just wipe them with a soft piece of leather called a chamois or chamois cloth. You can find them in automotive sections of the hardware store: car lover like to buff their chrome with them. Make sure and get a chamois that hasn't been treated with anything else: sometimes they are impregnated with metal polish that can ruin your semi-precious gems.

Before cleaning jewelry set with gems or semi-precious stones, make sure the stones are still solidly set. Over time, prong and bezel settings can loosen, and stones can fall out. Shake or tap your jewelry near your ear and listen for a rattle, which would tell you it's loose. If it rattles in its setting, don't clean it: you risk losing the stone. Put the piece in a ziplock bag and take it directly to your jeweler to have it reset and cleaned.

Home remedy for bring back the sparkle
Harder stones like diamonds, emeralds, rubies and sapphires can be cleaned with a weak solution of ammonia (1 part) and water (10 parts). In fact, many of the commercial jewelry cleaners you see in stores are just ammonia and water with a little scent and coloring added. Plain household ammonia, diluted with water works equally well and only costs a few cents. Dip a soft toothbrush in the solution and scrub the stone with the liquid, making sure to get underneath the stone wherever possible, since that's where the majority of dirt, soap residue and skin oils can accumulate. Rinse it off and dry it with the tip of a soft cloth.

Cleaning tarnished jewelry items
Gold, white gold and sterling or tarnished solid silver jewelry can be cleaned with old-fashioned toothpaste. Don't use gels, and avoid the tartar-control and anti-plaque pastes: look for something like the old versions of Crest, Pepsodent or Colgate; simple, white pastes with no added silica that could scratch your jewelry. Load up an old toothbrush with toothpaste, and rub it on the jewelry, making sure to get in all the crevices. Rinse it with tap water and dry with a soft cloth.

When cleaning rings, make sure to do the underside of the ring as well as the part that shows. Necklaces and earrings need gentle treatment, as they may be made of delicate wire or chains that could easily be broken by rough handling.

Pearls and opals require special storage. These stones need moisture, so they need to be placed in containers where air can freely move. If pearls or opals are deprived of a natural amount of humidity, they dry out, lose their iridescence and eventually crack.

Ask the Jeweler for Recommendation and Tips
If you're nervous about DIY home remedies or homemade recipes, you can buy jewelry cleaning kits containing supplies of chamois cloth, a cleaner, a brush and sets of instructions for the care of your jewelry. Make sure to buy your kit from a reputable company, and be wary if it contains harsh chemicals or rough abrasives. Remember, professional jewelers recommend highly diluted ammonia, basic toothpaste and soft cleaning cloths: you don't need anything more.

Three Fundamental Skin Care Techniques No Woman Should Skip

(1) Cleanse skin no more than twice daily with a mild cleaner that doesn't over dry you skin. Be sure to use a cleanser meant for your skin type
(2) Gently exfoliate your skin on a daily basis to remove dead skin cells and expose newer, healthier glowing skin underneath.
(3) Apply a moisturizer. A moisturizer with sunscreen of at least SPF 15 should be applied during the day.

For more helpful advice and products for healthier skin check out the Skin Store. This skin resource not only offers helpful skin advice, but breaks down products by function, skin type, skin condition and active ingredients making it easier to find the perfect fix for your skin.

Removing Unwanted Hair on the Jaw Line, Chin, & Upper Lip

What causes facial hair in women? The same hormones that cause it in men. Let's face it: we're a hairy breed. And in the all too human world of beauty, we value smooth, hairless skin. Our hormones create hair, even in the female of the species, and as women we spend a lot of time fighting Nature to please Fashion. Removing facial hair is an issue for women all over the world: even in ancient times, women used hot honey and tree saps to remove unwanted hair from the jaw line, upper lip, eyebrows and chin.

Waxing Unwanted Facial Hair
Today, waxing is still a popular hair removal option: it's relatively inexpensive, more thorough than plucking individual hairs with tweezers and can be done any time. Hot wax kits consist of a "wax" made of sugar or honey, (this is called "sugaring"), beeswax or resin. The easiest way to do waxing at home is to buy a microwavable wax, apply with a wooden spatula, then spread with a strip of cotton muslin and pull off the wax along with the offending hair. But, if you don't have the patience to melt the wax slowly at the recommended power setting, stir it thoroughly, test a tiny bit on the tip of your finger and ascertain whether it's too hot, you shouldn't do that kind of waxing because you run the risk of getting badly burned. Microwaves work hot and fast, and the wax must be carefully watched, timed, stirred, and tested before applying. It takes patience.

Bleaching Upper Lip Hair to Reduce its Appearance
Another popular at-home hair removal method is bleach. You can buy cream bleaching creams that are mixed with an activator and then applied to the facial hair. You cannot use cream bleaches on eyebrows or anywhere near your eyes—if they get in your eyes, you can go blind. Some people may experience facial redness or sensitivity from bleaching, so it's a good idea to do a 24 hour test patch first. But if the bleach doesn't bother your skin, and if you use it weekly, you'll not only be rendering facial hair more invisible, after awhile it will become fragile and start to break off, lessening its appearance even more.

Shaving is not a best practice for removing facial hair
Some people wonder how to remove facial hair by shaving, and this is a good place to say that shaving is a bad idea. It will leave stubble, and the only thing worse than facial hair is facial stubble. Forget shaving anything on your face.

Electrolysis is permanent removal, but become an old technique
Electrolysis has long been considered a good way to remove hair permanently, but it's pretty much a bygone era at this point. Electrolysis is permanent, but it can cause pinpoint scarring; it's expensive and it hurts like blue blazes. Treatments cause redness and swelling or breakouts, and you risk infection. Scrap electrolysis: if you want permanent hair removal and can afford it, the thing to do is laser hair removal. Unlike electrolysis, there are no needles involved; pain is practically non-existent, any redness disappears in an hour or so, and it really works. Laser hair removal is the best remover on the planet: thousands of Brazilian bikini lines can't be wrong!

Threading is similar to plucking, but currently trendy
Threading is a newly rediscovered method of hair removal that can't hold a candle to laser hair removal, but it has its uses because it's cheaper. It's basically hair plucking, only it's done with a thread that's rolled across the skin, catching the hair and pulling it out. It's trendy and you'll pay more for it than by going to a beautician for a tweezing session because it takes special training. Frankly, most of us don't see the point.

Gotta Have a Great Pair of Tweezers for the Daily Upkeep
For cheap, fast daily hair removal at home, you've got to have a pair of decent slant tip tweezers. They aren't as easy to find as they should be! They must be properly balanced: the cheapo $2 no-name tweezers you get at the supermarket are never balanced enough to get the job done. Buy tweezers from a reputable company like Revlon, and then guard them with your life.

Dark Under Eye Circles Treatment & How to Hide or Lighten Them with Makeup

Most women over thirty will at some point wonder how to get rid of under eye circles. There are three ways to attack the problem of dark under-eye circles: prevention, topical application and cosmetic restoration. Holistic prevention, while being the easiest solution for some people is also the least effective for most.

What Causes Under-Eye Circles & Darkness
Dark circles under the eyes tends to be a genetic issue and practically unavoidable if dark under eye areas run in your family. But for people whose genetic background doesn't predispose them to dark circles, the easiest solution may be to get some sleep and drink a lot more water. One of the first signs of fatigue or dehydration is dark circles that appear under the eyes. The under-eye skin is thin, with a membrane that runs between a fatty layer and the outer layer of skin we see. When your body needs water, it shows up around the eyes first. Drinking liquor causes dehydration, as does over consumption of sugar and caffeine. Stress also causes under eye puffiness. Diet can impact your face too, especially if you have food allergies, and sulfites in wine can wreak havoc on the delicate skin around your eyes. So, once again, the answer nobody wants to hear: you might be able to banish undereye circles from within by taking care of your health.

Natural Home Remedies for Dark Under Eye Circles
But home remedies can only do so much. If your dark under eye circles don't budge even after a long nap and eight glasses of water a day, it's time to go the cosmetic or make up route. There are lots of options here, some more useful than others. Moisturizers are helpful mainly in that if you have lines around your eyes, the shine from the moisturizer will help lessen them and create a lighter look. Look for moisturizers with natural ingredients such as avocado oil, sesame, Vitamin K and Vitamin E. Moisturizer also works well as a base for under eye makeup like concealer because it smoothes the skin and makes it easier to apply a tinted cosmetic. There are no make-up secrets here: moisturizer will help other makeup keep from caking.

Best Beauty Product to Hide Dark Eye Circles
The best beauty product for under eye circles is concealer, and most makeup artists agree that it's important to use one with a slight golden color, as yellow tones counteract dark ones. Chamomile has long been known as a natural remedy for skin, and some concealers contain this ingredient which can help cure as it covers. Concealer is great for dealing with dark circles as long as you get the right shade and apply it correctly. Some women make the mistake of choosing a concealer that's too light: then you wind up with reverse-raccoon eyes, where the whiteness under your eyes looks strange and somewhat alien. The ideal concealer is usually a shade lighter than your foundation. To some extent, the area under the eyes is somewhat shadier than the rest of your face because the eye sockets naturally are somewhat receded into the face. If your concealer is too light, your eyes will disappear in the glare.

Non Surgical and Surgical Treatments to Correct Puffy Under Eyes
If you're tired of trying to erase your circles with eye cream, you may be looking for a treatment or even a cure. Looking tired all the time can affect your morale as well as the way people treat you. There are non-surgical options to eliminate puffy or dark undereye areas: injections performed by cosmetic surgeons can fill the hollows, and need repeating every three or four months. A really good ocularfacial surgeon can tighten the skin of the eyelids, reducing the puffiness and eliminating the dark circles for years to come. Called blepharoplasty, eyelid surgery can get rid of dark circles, puffy upper or lower eyelids and hollow, tired looking eyes. If you go this route, make sure to find a specialist who has done thousands of eyelids, ask to see before and after pictures and check with the local medical board to check the surgeon's history with other patients.

Don't Get Ripped Off

The temptation of finding a great deal on a designer Prada, Coach or Vuitton handbag usually leads the novice shopper to eBay. And although there are many great deals on eBay, you are probably not bidding on an authentic designer handbag. If you are in the market for a decent knock-off designer accessory, eBay is an option. If you want to spend a little more on the real thing there are several trusted retailers online that only sell authentic designer accessories.

French Manicure Instructions Guide to the Right Design and Polish for a Natural Look Without Going to the Nail Salon

The French manicure is often considered the most elegant thing you can do with your fingernails, since it combines perfect polish with a natural look that looks smooth and classy. If you're going for a job interview or just want perfect hands to show off a new ring, the French manicure is ideal. The French manicure can easily be done at home, with some patience and the right tools.

Tips for Beginning any Salon Quality Manicure at Home
Any manicure starts with scrubbing your hands, filing your nails and caring for your cuticles. Use a diamond file instead of the cheaper metal ones: it's about a dollar more expensive, but it files much quicker and smoother. For a classic French manicure, your nails shouldn't be dragon-lady long, but should have a smooth, oval shape that's slightly elongated to make the most of the white nail tips. You're going to need:

Instruction Guide to a French Manicure
A base coat in a subtle, neutral color like pale peach, nearly-not-there pink, or beige. The contrast comes with the white nail tips, which point up the hint of color in the base coat.

1. White polish for the tips.
2. Nail tip guide strips
3. A clear top coat.

After filing your nails and tending to your cuticles by softening them and pushing them back away from the half-moons, paint your entire nail with the base coat color and let it dry. If you have chronic problems with getting the nails on your second hand painted cleanly, you may want to start by putting a little petroleum jelly on the skin of your fingers around the nail. The petroleum jelly keeps the polish from sticking to your skin if you should slip up while painting, making for easy clean-up and a neater look overall.

Using French Manicure Stencil or Template Products
Once the base coat of polish is completely dry—never try to rush this step—put the nail tip guides on your fingernails. Apply the strip guide to the area where your actual finger ends. The white tip of your nail shouldn't comprise more than 20% of the overall fingernail when you're done. Make sure to place the guide strips on each finger so that the tips of your nails are the same length for each.

Once the guides are in place, you can brush white polish onto your fingernails. This is a time for especial care, so that you stay with the guides and get no white polish on the lower part of the nail. Don't remove the guides until the white polish is completely dry, or you'll ruin the tips.

Once the white tips are dry, remove the guides. If they leave any sticky residue behind, use rubbing alcohol on a cotton ball to take it off. Don't forget and use nail polish remover or you'll ruin your whole manicure!

Professional Salon Finish to Any Mani or Pedi
Finish your French manicure by painting the entire nail with the clear top coat of polish. This does two things: it helps your manicure stay fresh longer by protecting it, and it gives a shiny and unified gloss to each nail.

You can buy a manicure in a kit, great for the new DIY nail maven, because they come with designs, color options, style ideas, instructions and all the products you need for a manicure or pedicure. You can try the new manicure polish pen, buy fun stencils and templates or go for a natural look with a brand like Sephora, Opi or Sally Hansen. For professional looking fingers and toes, you don't need a history of salon work: you can get everything you need online or from your local drugstore. And for a quick version of the French look, you can buy a nail whitening pencil. Slide it under the edge of your nail to white the tip, et viola—instant (not as elegant, but very nice) manicure!

Getting Good Contacts at a Great Price

Contact hassles start when you need to buy new ones. There are "instant" lens stores for a quickie eye exam and cheap lenses, but too often, untrained store personnel know much less about eyes and exams than they should. You may find yourself with the wrong prescription and a store that's unwilling to correct the mistake. You need an optometrist for an eye exam. At an HMO, you will end up paying top dollar for contacts, since lenses are considered "cosmetic" rather than "medical" items. Contact lenses will cost more and you'll have to pay the entire amount even if you have full medical coverage.

You can see a private optometrist, but unless there's a sale, chances are you're going to pay a lot more for contacts than you'd like to. What can you do? Get your exam and prescription from the optometrist, and go to an online discount supplier.

See a reputable online discount contact lens supplier and have your contacts conveniently shipped to your doorstep.

Explore Colored and Disposbale Contact Lenses

There are four options for people with poor eyesight: glasses, contacts, surgery, or bumping into things. Glasses suit some people just fine: other people feel self-conscious in glasses and prefer contacts. My friend Wes detested his glasses, but was too lazy to take care of his contacts. He frequently slept in them; rarely cleaned them. So Wed went around with red-rimmed, swollen, crusty eyes for a couple of years. Since this was before they invented truly extended-wear lenses, he opted for having laser surgery for his nearsightedness. He had to have it redone in one eye (his eye changed shape again after the surgery), but that was more than ten years ago, and he loves his lens-free lifestyle.

Another friend of mine, Rebecca, hated her glasses so much that she just refused to wear them--all through school. It made life hard for her because she was very nearsighted and couldn't even see people's faces in the hallways. The second Rebecca heard about contacts, she started badgering her mom for them, and when she was fifteen, her mom finally decided that she was old enough. She's worn contacts for 24 years, and only wears glasses late at night, too watch TV.

With contact lenses, you have several options in terms of how long you'll wear them, how permeable and comfortable they are, and whether they're fit for regular nearsightedness or astigmatism, where the eye is shaped differently and needs a more highly customized lens. By far the most options you have when it comes to contact are the number and type of salines, cleaners, disinfectants and eyedrops available to you. Particularly if you have allergies or sensitive eyes, the right saline matters, and the most expensive isn't always what's right.

It's amazing really, that more people don't have problems wearing contacts: it's kind of a weird thing to stick a piece of plastic in your eye, which was pretty much designed to keep anything that's not an eyeball out of the eye. But with the miracle of science, someone who can't read a book unless it's perched on her nose can drive a car across the country with the aid of two small pieces of plastic and a bottle of salt water.

Some of the problems lens wearers experience are dry, itchy eyes, redness, burning, or infection.

Rebecca, the glasses-hater, had to switch to lenses that she changes once every few weeks, after her optometrist diagnosed her with an allergy to protein deposits on her regular lenses, which only needed replacing once a year. The new lenses cost more than double the price of the old ones, but she didn't really have a choice, because she couldn't wear her old ones at all. With contacts that you throw out every couple of weeks, the protein deposits don't have much time to become an issue before the lenses are replaced with new ones.

If your eyes are bothering you consistently, you might start by switching salines. Rebecca has a hard time, being allergic to soaps, perfumes, various chemicals and latex. She had been using the saline for sensitive eyes when she suddenly developed a new allergy and wound up using the generic, non-sensitive formula again. Changing salines solved the problem, which was nice, because she wasn't crazy about her red, puffy eyelids.

If you decide to wear contacts, keeping them clean is the best way of avoiding problems with irritation and infections. Keeping lenses clean is pretty simple. Always wash your hands before taking lenses out or putting them in again. Change the saline or disinfectant in your lens case daily, and make sure to use disinfecting methods either by buying the combination disinfectant and saline, or by using a heat unit.. Use enzymatic cleaners on a weekly basis to remove deposits on extended-wear lenses, and rinse them well after enzyming them.

If you're scrupulous about lens hygiene but still have troubles, you may have an allergy. Talk to your optometrist, and try changing salines, cleaners or lenses.

Healthy Pregnancy Information on Proper Beauty Care, Exercise & Nutrition

Women are having babies later in life, and many women are into their forties before the biological time bomb goes off, leaving them thinking, "Omigad: I've just got to have a baby RIGHT NOW". The sudden baby urge is a phenomenon that has never been explained satisfactorily, and now, with women starting high-powered careers in their twenties, and realizing fifteen years down the road that, in the struggle of getting that MBA they forgot to do things about getting pregnant, it isn't so much explored as it is attacked with calendars, hormones, thermometers and implantations.

It's safer than ever before to have a late-life child, but Down syndrome and other birth defects do become more likely, and complications that result in injury to the mother are more likely too. The fact is, our bodies are vastly different at forty-something than they are at twenty-something; less resilient, longer to heal. Modern medical care makes it possible for preemies of under one pound to grow into healthy adults, and with today's understanding of the importance of planning, nutrition, and supplements such as folic acid, older moms experience much less risk than they did even ten years ago.

If you're pregnant and in your late thirties to early forties, you probably have inner and outer resources than younger women. You've probably planned your pregnancy, painted the nursery and are emotionally ready for motherhood. You may even have money saved for your child's education. So, with all your ducks in a tidy row, it may seem even more unfair that morning sickness, fatigue, bloating and blotchy skin are dancing attendance on your upcoming blessed event.

It may not be a surprise to you that many of the things you should be doing to stay healthy during pregnancy are also the things that will keep you looking your best, even in those early, wretched and retching, weeks. Read on for before, during and after beauty tips for pregnant ladies and brand-new moms.

1. I know you think you should be and could be Superwoman. You could try, but you'll probably just wear yourself out, and frankly, they don't give awards for Superwomen. If you can afford it, cut back on the work hours, take every sick day, holiday and personal day off, and don't even think about taking a shorter-than-usual maternity leave.

2. Rest. Step away from the computer, put your feet up, close your eyes, read a book, listen to music. Sleep doesn't count as rest, by the way: your normal nighttime sleep is also still required. Rest in between meetings at work, take naps on weekends, and avoid social events you don't really want to attend anyway by saying quietly (and with just a hint of gravity), "Oh, I'd love to, but I can't. I have to rest."

3. To assist you in resting, consider having groceries or dry cleaning delivered, go out for a meal once in awhile instead of cooking at home, and enlist the aid of those who live with you in things like doing the dishes, putting stuff away, or cleaning the tub. You might feel guilty before the baby comes, but once that wee creature arrives, you'll kick yourself for not having pre-trained your family to help.

4. When you aren't resting, exercise. Take walks, go swimming or take water aerobics, do whatever activities your ob-gyn says is okay for your particular stage of gestated bliss. Exercise is great for the skin, perks up the mental attitude, keeps the kilos down, and promotes your baby's health too.

5. Obviously, you won't smoke, take dope, use over-the-counter medications, or drink alcohol. Pay attention to your caffeine intake, too (remember, what Mommy does, Baby does too). Also, watch the sugar. Diabetes occurs more frequently in older pregnant women, and watching your diet can help keep your blood sugar under control.

6. Undereye circles sometimes come along with morning sickness because you get dehydrated, and it shows up in the thinning skin under the eyes. Drink plenty of water throughout your pregnancy.

7. Buy the prettiest maternity clothes you can find. Subsiding into sweats for months on end will compound any feelings of unattractiveness you may experience. Your body will certainly grow rounder--even around the ankles--but that's no reason to give up on fashion. Fashion loves you, and will always take you back.

8. Your skin color may change during pregnancy, and you may need to buy different shades of makeup. Some lucky women look fabulous between months four and eight: their skin glows, their eyes sparkle. If you are one of these women, count your blessings. If you're one of the other 90%, treat yourself to an occasional facial.

9. Some women get acne from the drastic hormonal surges of pregnancy. Check with your doctor before using anything remotely medicinal: your skin may absorb chemicals that aren't good for the baby. The acne is temporary, and will disappear once your body's hormone levels have evened out.

10. During your pregnancy and after the baby comes, accept help when it's offered. Lots of new moms feel that they should be able to do everything themselves, but in fact, it takes a village to keep Baby's laundry done. Line up a reliable sitter before the birth, so that as soon as you can, you can go out for dinner or a movie without worrying. Let friends cook you dinner, and coerce family members into chores. Fatherly creatures should also be pressed into service when it comes to hourly chores such as feeding, changing or holding Baby.Training your partner in baby-tending does more than get you some extra sleep: it helps Dad and Baby bond.

Pajamas Can Bring Out a More Sexy Side of You

If you’re like most of us, you sleep in something along the lines of a comfortable t-shirt and a pair of sweats. Give yourself a little pick-me-up with cute and sexy nighties, and wear them around the house just for kicks. Try a baby-doll or a strappy silk confection that clearly wasn’t meant to be slept in. Silk pajamas are fun for lounging, and even an old-fashioned embroidered cotton nightgown can put you in a different frame of mind. As you’re getting into bed, swap your play-clothes for — you guessed it — that comfy T-shirt and those soft, old sweats.

Girly Girl's Beauty Guide to Camping & Outdoor Vacations

If you want to maintain your beautiful image, never go camping. You may be able to survive a hike of beauty with some waterproof makeup products that can stay put for up to 18 hours. But if you'd like to experience Yosemite or Yellowstone and would rather sleep under the stars than at the Best Western, you don't have to give in entirely to Mother Nature's plan to cover you in dirt, sweat and mosquito bites. Read on for tips to being as gorgeous as possible at the campground of your choice.Ideally, you can start each day with a warm shower. Look for campgrounds that provide running water and "comfort stations", bathrooms with showers and sinks. Hot water (or warm water, in a pinch), is a great cleanser for a gal who's spent the days wandering through the underbrush. If you must, even a cold shower may be preferable to none at all. Most national parks have campgrounds with restrooms, but they get booked up early, so make sure when planning your trip to make your reservations in plenty of time to get a prime location.

Now, here's what to bring with you when you meet Mother Nature face to face.

1. Bug repellent
If there's a lake or a river, if temperatures are in the seventies or higher, if humidity is over 50%, you'll be wanting mosquito repellent. If you're planning to have children ever, read the label before buying repellents: some can cause reproductive harm. (Let's not take this particular moment to discuss why the FDA allows the sale of products that are known to cause birth defects. Then, we'd have to talk about the tobacco industry, and the petroleum industry, and we don't have time for that just now.)

After three days in a national park and a couple of five-mile-hikes through mosquito-infested meadows, I found a product called Herbal Armor, (available from www.allterrainco.com) a combination of citronella, peppermint, cedar, lemon grass and geranium oils in a base of beeswax and natural vegetable oils that kept me bite-free for the rest of the trip. I didn't test it at peak bug times, but I liked its natural, petrochemical-and-cruelty-free makeup. With the West Nile virus still growing and spreading west, bug repellents are becoming more than comfort products--they're important protection from a nasty illness.

2. Wet Wipes
A way to wash without running water. Nice smell, antibacterial. Portable. Perfect.

3. Water, and Lots of It
Drinking water is always important, and if you're hiking, you'll need even more of it. Best-case scenario, you'll have drinking water at your campsite and will just need to pack in enough for the hike. If you happen to have water for washing too, that's even better.

You can wash in streams (use biodegradable soap) and lakes, but don't drink water unless you know it's potable (there are signs at campgrounds saying whether the water is potable and can be drunk, or not). Water fresh from a bubbling spring is certainly attractive, but if a deer or raccoon (or gopher or bear) has also been attracted to water upstream from you, it may very well be contaminated with bacteria and parasites. If you're in parkland or Bureau of Land Management (BLM) areas, or even federally managed "wilderness", the water may also be contaminated with pesticides, herbicides, runoff from logging and mine tailings, and god-knows-what. I guess the lesson here is, find out as much as you can about where you're going before you leave, and make your bathing plans accordingly.

4. The Right Clothes
You can buy clothes with UV protective qualities combined with breathability. Try REI or other outdoor clothing retailers. You should have a hat, not only to keep the sun off, but to protect your head from hanging brambles, and, in cold weather or rough country, a knit cap to sleep in is also a good idea. (I have a friend who once woke screaming because a field mouse, also screaming, had gotten tangled in her long hair.)

Clothes should fit closely enough that they won't catch on things when you're running from a bear, but loosely enough so that nothing chafes. People with sensitive skin may not be able to tolerate long hikes in heavy denim, the seams of which can rub delicate skin. Cargo pants in cotton blends may provide smooth fabric with extra storage space in the form of pockets. (But if you're more concerned about looking svelte than in extra pockets, skip the cargo pants: they tend to make most of us look hippy.)

Layering is crucial, because you're going to heat up when hiking, cool down after camp's setup, and maybe get really cold in the mountain evening. My favorite outdoor piece is an ultra-thin, silk long-john shirt I found at a thrift store five years ago. It weighs about an ounce, but slipped on under a shirt, provides the equivalent of a whole sweater's worth of warmth.

5. Animal Repellents
Animal repellents such as pepper spray, bear spray and dog spray can all be essential safety and self defense items that are perfect for the outdoors. You never know what type of dangerous situation your could find yourself in out in the wilderness either with a human attacker, wild bear or vicious mountain lions. A defense spray on hand will give you time to escape to safety.

Beauty Tips For Teens

Let's face it. Being a teenager means being self-conscious, pretty much all the time. and, if you're a teenage girl, especially one whose skin, complexion or overall appearance is not "picture perfect" that can make the whole experience even worse. (This of course, can apply to any girl, depending on her frame of mind). Fortunately, here are some beauty tips that can come to the rescue for your face and skin type, so you can meet the world refreshed and ready, as well as some make-up and safety tips for when you're going out and having fun. All this said, always remember that true self improvement comes from within, and that while looking good on the outside, in terms of being presentable and attractive, are always find a strive for, but never define who you are.

Facial Skin Care Tip

Some people can confuse the physical transformation that comes with putting makeup on, with a sort of personal transformation, but again this is not the truth. When you feel beautiful inside, you will be more attractive to others on the outside. Makeup will not do it.

From a practical physical standpoint, it is a good idea to remember that your skin needs to breathe. It is important to keep your skin as natural as possible- so try and keep makeup is minimal as is necessary and keep going, "all-out" for special occasions like parties.

Mirrors with good high quality lighting are great for examining your skin – although the first time you take a really good close look it can be a loud and shocking personal alarm to take some fast action, if you’ve neglected your skin. Beauty tip no 1 is to take a close look at it at home and ensure before you do that you’ve done a good job of makeup removal. This can especially be true in the summer, when the excess heat can cause problems faster, if you've left any makeup on your face for an extended period of time.

If your face is usually dry: Before you shower, apply a rich moisturizing mask or thick layer of moisturizer. The moist heat helps the mask plump up fine lines and creases temporarily. Apply a heavy layer of petroleum jelly to lips. At the end of the shower, use a warm damp washcloth to gently massage off both treatments, and then use a naturally made loofah to bring out a natural, healthy glow.

If your skin is naturally oily: Use toner before and after you get out of the shower, before, to clean off any oil that has risen to the surface during sleep, and again when you get out to take off any oil that has surfaced from the heat of the water.

If you have combination skin, only apply toner masks to the "T" area on your face, you could cause your cheeks to redden from applying toner there.

Dab yellow or skin-tone concealer on blue under eye circles. Stay away from lighter skin tone or white cover-ups. You can get free samples to try out in the privacy of your own home and samples are available for all skin tones.

Hair Care Tip

Dwayne, the African-American Culture contributing hair care expert, shares a secret beauty tip on how to prevent hair breakage while you sleep for all hair types, not just black women. Spilt ends have a tendency to get caught on the cotton and your tossing and turning will actually pull the caught pieces out of your head. So little by little, if you were wearing a cotton scarf to protect your hair while you sleep, you may actually be making it worse! It is highly recommended that you either wrap your hair up in silk or satin scarves at night or sleep on silk or satin pillows.

Indian Ethnics.com, has some good Indian (and non Indian as well) beauty tips on make up and skin care for teens. Here's the secret: If you are getting ready for a night on the town, choose a foundation closest to your natural skin tone, and foundation that is to be sure to blend it past your jaw line and across your neck (so it doesn't look as though you're wearing a mask). When it comes to eye shadow, choose a color slightly darker than your eyes.

Beauty Accessory Ideas

As far as accessories, a hot gift idea for a teen with a low-budget can be decorative jewelry, that doesn't necessarily have to come from Tiffany's. There are plenty of places online where you can shop for attractive and very reasonably priced items. Believe it or not, the way you move can actually be one of the most attractive or off-putting features you have. When you can move more gracefully and assuredly, that puts out an air of confidence which will make a difference to matter what it is you are or are wearing. Consider taking a dance lesson, enrolling in some sort of after school sport like gymnastics where you can learn more control over your balance and agility. You may think, what does this have to do with looking good when I'm going out to a party- but once you've got grace and agility in what is referred to as your "muscle memory", it will make a difference in all areas of your life.

And lastly, I always think, especially if going out at night, that taking the time to buy pepper spray, even if it's a teeny little canister that goes on a keychain can be one of the best "accessories" you can own for your own and your loved one's peace of mind. It's probably one of those things you'll never need to use that you'll always be happy you have.

Get A Healthy Whiter Smile With Toothbrush, Toothpaste & Whitener Products Professionals Use

Taking care of your teeth means more than brushing with a good toothbrush twice a day with a flouridated toothpaste, and visiting the dentist twice a year, but those are the basics for caring for your smile. As we get older, problems with bad teeth and gums start to show in terms of yellowing, chipping or sensitivity. With age, teeth lose their whiteness and begin to yellow: one sure-fire way to take years off your appearance is by whitening your teeth with a home or professional whitener.

The truth about over the counter whitening toothpastes
Many toothpastes claim to be "whitening", but when you read the label, you'll see the only active ingredient is fluoride. Fluoride is necessary for preventing cavities, but it doesn't do a thing for whiter teeth. Other over-the-counter "whitening" products include baking soda and peroxide. Baking soda wisdom works by friction: it polishes stains from teeth. But, if your enamel is thin in places, baking soda can wear it further, exposing the dentin layer beneath the enamel. When that happens, you wind up with a brown spot or pit in the tooth. These spots often appear along the gemlike, where enamel tends to wear away naturally and is weak. Whitening toothpastes can't fix worn enamel: it takes a trip to the dentist to replace the missing layer with bonding.

Strengthing and repairing worn tooth enamel
Worn enamel comes with age: it also appears in younger people who grind their teeth, people who eat a lot of acidic foods, and people with bulimia whose enamel has been worn away by stomach acids. People with chronic heartburn or acid reflux disease may also have enamel worn off by acid, but for bruxers (or people who grind their teeth), the enamel comes off because of the pressure exerted by the jaws. The enamel flakes or cracks off under the pressure. If you grind your teeth, your dentist will recommend that you wear a plastic night guard over your teeth at night.

Natural tooth whitening remedy and products
Peroxide is the classic at-home tooth whitening ingredient. Toothpastes like Rembrandt contain peroxide in a dosage that, over a period of weeks or months, has a bleaching affect on teeth by six shades or more. Depending on your teeth's sensitivity, you may prefer slower-working toothpastes to quick-acting whitening kits. Bleach can make teeth sensitive, so if you try a tooth-whitener, go slow at first, and maybe pair it with a sensitivity-reducing paste such as Sensodyne.

Professional dentist tooth whitening - $$$$
If you're in a hurry, you can have your teeth professionally whitened in about an hour at the dentist's for around $300. Your dentist may use a combination of topical bleaching gel and a light activator to get your teeth super-white in no time at all.

Whiten your teeth without a trip to the dentist
If you don't want to spend several hundred dollars, you have other options. Rembrandt has a new two-hour whitening system (Rembrandt 2-Hour White from www.drugstore.com) that uses trays and a gel to whiten teeth in a much shorter time than the usual two-week period needed for other whiteners. You leave the trays on for 20 minutes, then take them out for ten minutes, alternating until the two hours are up. Or you can try other popular at home whiteners, like Crest White Strips, which take about a week to complete the whitening process.

Take Care of Your Nail Fungus Now

Women never like to admit they are having a problem with the dreaded nail fungus, but ladies don't be embarrassed because over 20% of us have had this unsightly nail disease at one time in our lives.

Brazilian Bikini Waxing and Laser Hair Removal

One of the things Mom didn't tell you when she was stumbling through the spiel on how great it is to become a woman was that you'd spend a significant portion of your life removing hair from the places where it naturally grows. The rule of fashion seems to be that whatever is least convenient and most unnatural is the most fashionable, which explains why women can't go to the beach or the pool without feeling uncomfortable in show-it-all bathing suits, and suffering from the combination of shaved legs and an application of stinging sunscreen.

Hair Removal for Your Bikini Line Requires Special Attention
The bikini area is composed of the coarsest hair on the body and the most sensitive skin, so fashion insists that it be placed on public view, and it must be utterly smooth. Some lucky souls are either so blond or so tough-skinned that keeping the bikini-line hair-free isn't a big deal, but most women have a terrible time.

Information on Hair Removal: Shaving, Waxing, Depilatory Creams and Laser
Shaving, the most commonly used hair-removal method, is quick, but often creates a new problem in the form of razor burn or bumps. Waxing lasts longer because it yanks the hair out from the root, but it's very painful, and unless you get do a highly professional job of it, you'll end up with skin irritation. Ingrown hairs are a problem with both methods, contributing to skin irritation.

Chemical hair removal by using products like Nair or Neat works for some people, but can cause allergic reactions and skin irritation, especially if you are trying to remove facial hair. After all, hair and skin are both composed of collagen, and an acid that breaks down hair is going to affect skin as well. Chemical depilatories last about as long as shaving, because they don't really take much hair off below the skin, no matter what the ads say.

The most effective hair removal system to date is laser hair removal. Laser methods work by directing a beam of intense light into the hair follicle. It burns the hair (you can actually hear it fry, and smell a little hair burning), and can disable the follicle if and only if the hair is in a particular growing stage when it gets zapped. Laser hair removal is not very painful (it feels like getting snapped with a rubber band), the hair is gone immediately, the area is usually hair-free for up to six weeks. Hair that does regrow comes in lighter. Repeated treatments can eventually kill hair follicles, but it takes 8 or 10 treatments, averaging around $200 apiece. On the upside, if you're headed for a summer in the sun and don't want to be bothered with troubling bikini-line issues, two laser treatments will keep you hair-free. Also, laser hair removal causes very little skin irritation, usually just some redness the day of the procedure.

Last week, my friend Melanie had to make a tough decision. She desperately wanted a new rug for her living-room because her sister-in-law was coming to visit. She had also already invested her ready money in a ticket to the Bahamas, and wanted a sure-fire cure for a bikini-line that doubled as a hedge (her words, not mine). There was probably no way to do both, but we hit the rug stores on Saturday, looking for just the right thing. We saw a lot of ugly, overpriced rugs that day! After we'd been all over town, it occurred to me that we should look online, and within minutes, Melanie found the rug of her dreams on Overstock.com. It was a Tabriz, handknotted confection made of "kurk" wool. (The wool comes from the sheep's neck and is known for its luxurious softness.) It had a pale background, and was decorated with stylized peaches and a leafy border. It was gorgeous! And the price was right, too. Melanie snapped it up. Then she got on the phone and called the laser clinic and made an appointment for a bikini line treatment. Problem solved, and she still has enough cash to buy tourist knick-knacks when she gets to Grand Turks.

Cure a Common Ingrown Toenail With a Foot Bath Home Remedy

Although most foot care experts say that clipping toe nails straight across helps prevent in grown toenails, you may still fall victim to one anyway: it doesn’t mean you’re a bad person, it can happen to anyone. Shoes that don’t fit right can cause an ingrown nail, as can just being on your feet or walking a lot. If a nail is becoming ingrown, you’ll first notice that it’s feeling tender where the nail is pushing into the side of your skin. You may find yourself favoring that foot, or pressing your toe against the inside of your shoes.

If you don’t catch it soon enough, the toe will become inflamed where the nail is digging into the soft skin of your toe. People who ignore their ingrown toenails end up having surgery, because things can get infected pretty fast. I saw a picture of a neglected toenail once, and I’ll never get the image out of my head.

If you think you’re getting an ingrown toenail, soak your foot in hot water, and even add some lavender or tea tree oil to help soften the skin further. After you’ve given it a good soak, say twenty or thirty minutes, see if you can pull the embedded nail up on the corner, lifting it away from the skin. You can use a nail file for this delicate operation, just barely, slowly sliding it under the edge of the nail. Be careful that your hand doesn’t slip –the pain will be enormous. (I probably don’t have to tell you to be gentle –the agony in your toe will make you ever so careful!)

Sometimes it takes more than one soaking to get the nail soft enough to lift from the skin. Especially if you have thin, sharp nails, they are more likely to bite into the sides of the toe. If you don’t succeed the first time, dry off your poor foot, dab on lavender or tea tree oil (they both have antiseptic and antibiotic properties) or some Neosporin, and try again tomorrow. In the mean time, stay off your foot as much as possible, and when you put your shoes on in the morning, first wrap your toe with a thick, soft bandage to cushion it.

A newly ingrown toenail will usually concede de-feet (har-har) after three or four days of gently soaking and cautious prying. Once the nail lifts past the skin, trim the nail with a small pair of scissors, and if your toe’s not too sore, file it smooth. Now you will have a tender, pink channel in your toe where the nail once pressed. Keep it bandaged and clean. To prevent infection, apply antibiotics after bathing until your toe doesn’t hurt anymore.

If the toenail is stubborn and you can’t get it out after several tries, hobble off to the doctor, who will put it to rights for you.

Ingrown toenails are like ear infections: some people go their whole lives without having a single toenail upset, and others are plagued by then. Once you get one, it’s more likely to recur, so make sure you treat your feet nicely, buy good shoes that fit right, and pay attention to any toe pain that arises.

I like to read the old books on how to be beautiful, and one important adage is to buy the most expensive shoes you can afford, even if your feet are strange sizes and your shoes have to be custom-made. It makes sense, considering the importance of foot health to daily life. Bad shoes can add corns and bunions even to young feet, and they affect your posture and back health. Not sexy topics, but prevention is everything when it comes to caring for your ten dancing toes!

Finding the Perfect Fragrance

Picking a fragrance can be a daunting task to complete in a 1-hour shopping trip. Your nose can really only distinguish a few different fragrances before your nose goes into "smell overload." Another option to shopping at the department store perfume counter is to shop online. Many online stores offer special deals that allow you to try several fragrances in your own home on a more reasonable timeline.

Prevent Chronic Halitosis By Learning What Causes Your Bad Breath

Preventing bad breath from occurring or at least affecting others
I brush my teeth about five times a day, and chew gum too. I good swish of mouthwash can be quite refreshing after a garlic filled dinner as well. But there have been times when forays into Vietnamese cooking or beer-and-pizza-with-the-guys has left my mouth less than fresh, which is why I carry gum in my purse for emergencies. This is a quick, temporary solution to curing lunchtime bad breath. While some people swear by breath mints, I've found that they don't do much for eliminating your breath once they're gone.

Natural Solution to Stop Bad Breath
If you don't want to get into any serious breath medications, there simpler more natural products available. For super-halitosis emergencies, you can use Breath Assure, which is nothing more than capsules of parsley oil. You don't chew them (I tried it once and was rewarded with a strong, sweet, oily taste that made me look like my friends' cat the day we tried to give him Benadryl to reduce the swelling from a spider bite. The vet didn't specify the type, just the dosage, and the liquid baby-dose Benadryl made him foam at the mouth for two hours. It was extremely unnerving.) The parsley oil works wonders, eliminating garlic breath and sweetening the breath for hours. Maybe that's why Greek, Turkish and Arabic cuisines combine parsley with lemon and garlic for relishes, salads and sauces.

If you are on a date and in a pinch with absolutely no breath prevention methods on hand, try eating the parley sprig most restaurants place of their plates as decoration. It's free, easily available, and it works! Just be discreet so your date doesn't catch on to your halitosis worries.

Causes of Bad Breath
Bad breath that comes from food is easily finished off by brushing your teeth, scraping your tongue, flossing, gum chewing or the aforementioned Breath Assure, but chronic bad breath can be a symptom of other problems health problems such as tooth decay, sinus infection, gum disease, or stomach problems. Eating disorders can also create halitosis from the stomach acids churned up by hunger or by vomiting. If you (or the guy in your tango class) experience chronic bad breath, the first thing to do is get to your dentist for a checkup. After ruling out possible dental care issues, your dentist may recommend a visit to the doctor to rule out other illnesses.

Home Treatment Remedy for Halitosis
Old mouthwashes contained alcohol and mint flavorings. New mouthwashes include zinc and chlorine dioxide. Zinc stops the process that creates the sulfur compounds in the mouth, which are largely responsible for causing bad breath. Chlorine dioxide kills the sulfur that's already present. You may decide to add mouthwash to your regular hygiene program whether or not you have other health issues that need to be resolved in order to stop chronic halitosis for good.

Pedicures and Foot Care Tips for Year Round Pretty Bare Feet

The foot: an interesting part of the human anatomy. When we’re born, they take our footprints, people count our toes and tickle our soles to hear that wonderful baby gurgle. At that amazing age babies can actually take hold of their feet to chew reflectively on their own toes. Long before we’re walking, our parents are cramming them into tiny little leather Oxfords, hiking boots or even tiny running shoes, I guess because they’re just so darned cute. Once we do start walking, we take our feet for granted. They get us where we want to go, and that’s just fine.

But once we’re grown and trying to fulfill our sexual destiny, we become aware of feet as aesthetic accessories. Turns out, they are more than just balancing tools, locomoting appendages. Feet have the surprising capacity to be extremely cute, or they can be downright hideous. Women's feet are usually nicer than men's, and the foot fetish is a common obsession among men. In fact, China once made the foot the primary object of female sexual beauty, subjecting women to footbinding because tiny feet were considered the most attractive. We still hold to the ideal of tiny feet, which explains why it's so hard to find women's shoes in wider that "B" width. It also describes pointy-toed shoes, stilettos and other fashionable footwear that makes your legs look wonderful, but can turn toes into what one author described as "scrambled monstrosities".

Sexy feet, repulsive feet, are not usually a matter of luck. A lot depends on the care and maintenance regime established by the foot-owner. At an absolute, bare minimum, feet should be clean. I mean, you walk on them, don’t you! What if you were stuffed into a leather show all day, strolling through parking lots, jogging in parks, shopping, doing laundry, tapping impatiently in line at the bank. Feet suffer from lack of air, from shoes that don’t breathe, from sweaty conditions on hot summer asphalt. Daily scrubbing with soap and a nail brush is a good start, but it’s only a start, if you want good-looking feet.

When it comes to toenails, there is no in-between. Clean, healthy, well-groomed toenails are sexy. Grubby, long, unhealthy toenails are nasty, and not to be tolerated. Toenails should be well-brushed with soapy water, clipped short and neat with clippers, and treated with anti-fungal medicine if nails are discolored, thick or peeling. Even girls can get athlete’s foot (always wear flip-flops at the gym, at the pool, at the park, in any shower that is not your very own), and there topical medicines that can cure it. (If you don’t know what athlete's foot is, it’s a fungus that causes feet to burn, itch and peel).

Assuming your feet are clean and healthy, the step to beauty is a short one. Keep your feet smooth by using a pumice stone a couple of times a week, rub them with lotion like Upper Canada Peppermint Foot Cream to keep them soft, and use a clear polish if you don’t like brightly colored toes. No one talks about it (except in women's studies class), but women grow hair on their toes. If your toes are fuzzy, you can wax them to add to overall foot smoothness. Get a pedicure for that professional polish, but don’t let them cut your cuticles, whose sole purpose in life is to keep your feet safe from infections.

Showcase your sexy feet in strappy date-night sandals, sexy career pumps or silly, weekend, jelly thongs with a silver toe ring for an accent. (Never wear a toe ring and an anklet at the same time –it’s a huge Fashion Don’t). Hiking boots are ideal for long walks, and they also look cute with ragg socks in wool or cotton and tweed skirts. Boots always look wonderful, and the longer they are, the better they look. (There is a limit—boots that go past the knee scream "Dominatrix!" and may not be the look you’re trying to project.

Stop a Nail Biting Habit with Proper Natural Nail Care

The first thing we can all do in having good-looking hands is to keep them
clean by washing regularly. It’s amazing how many people (guys especially, but some women and girls too) walk around with grubby non manicured finger nails. Get a nail brush and put it by the sink, so it’s convenient whenever you wash your hands. An added plus of a nail brushing your fingers is the way it feels: those soft bristles and the luxurious soapy lather take your hands on a daily very mini spa vacation. Always follow up with a nice hand cream or lotion to keep your hands moisturized.

Stop nail biting. Break your toddler or child's habit early.
Beautiful hands and nail care start with basics, and not having raggy, bleeding cuticles is a primary step in having presentable hands. Granted, one of the hardest habits to break is to stop fingernail biting, but it’s also one of the more disfiguring things that can happen to a hand. We all know someone who bites their nails to the quick, then starts on those ragged cuticles. Nail-biting usually starts in early childhood as a toddler with some people never outgrowing it, while others only revert to nail-biting in times of stress.

A finger nail biting cure that helped remedy 18 year old girl's problem from when she was a child.
I know a New York woman who stopped biting her nails when she was eighteen, because she wanted to be a flight attendant, and she had read in one of those “How to Be a Flight Attendant” guides, that bitten nails would keep her from being accepted into “Smile School”. (It was a long time ago, when airlines also had age limitations for stewardesses.) I admired her greatly as she stopped through sheer willpower.

At first, she went retro and wore gloves a lot. She also started carrying a nail file in her purse so that when a nail got split or roughened, she could take care of it on the spot. She wore gloves because taking off a glove to bite a nail is a great way to make yourself pause and consider, and then stop the behavior before it starts. She never did become a flight attendant, but she did have her hands photographed for a newspaper ad for the Chicago manicure and nail salon that she frequented and once more a few years later for a Los Angeles nail care and manicure salon.

Nail care and nail biting products
There are some products on the market to stop nail-biting, super-hot or bitter things to paint on your nails. I've heard some nail-biters say that the nasty taste didn't stop them, but they must work for some people.

Do Your Make These Hair Styling Mistakes?

(1) Cut your own hair
(2) Use too much styling product
(3) Use the wrong styling product for your hair type
(4) Forget to style the back of your hair
(5) Choose a hair style that doesn't fit your lifestyle
(6) Pick the wrong hair color for your skin tone
(7) Eyebrow color clashes with your hair color.

Laser Hair Removal Treatment Basics, Process and Costs

Laser hair removal may be the best cosmetic procedure to come along in the past hundred years. It's not surgery and is totally safe. It is fast—so fast you can get your bikini line done and head for Hawaii on the next flight. It's as easy as running a wand over the skin; and it's lasting. When you have laser hair removal treatments, spaced correctly to time for the natural growth cycle of hair, you will end up with hair that is either too fine to see or completely nonexistent.

How does the laser machine work?
Laser hair removal is practically painless. You feel slight snaps as the laser targets and incinerates the hair below the surface of the skin and right to the root. The hair is vaporized: any that are left can be wiped away by the technician. The laser zaps hundreds of hair follicles at a time, so if you're looking for a Brazilian bikini line, laser treatment is the most sensible way to go.

Laser hair removal works by running a laser set to the depth of the hair follicle across the skin. The laser beam is drawn to dark pigments, so the darker the hair and the greater the contrast between hair and skin, the more effective it will be. The beam passes through the skin harmlessly and contacts the hair and follicle. Newer treatments are more effective with blonde hair.

When the laser meets the hair, it burns it up in a tiny blast of light energy. Because hair regrows every six weeks, you need to have a half dozen treatments in any one area for hair to be permanently removed: the hair follicle is only actually killed during one week of that six week cycle. The only known side effect from laser hair removal is that your skin may be sensitive for a little while: treat it gently and avoid the sun for a day or two.

While there's no evidence that you shouldn't have laser hair removal treatments during pregnancy, you may have trouble finding a clinic to go along with that idea.

Yes, males can get this treatment too . . .
Men like it too! A man with excessive chest or back hair will find it much easier than other hair removal methods, and will see results the first time.

After your first laser treatments, hair may not regrow for a couple of months, and when it does, it will be sparser and lighter than it was before.

Where on your body can you use this hair removal process?
You can have laser hair removal on any part of the body: facial hair, legs, arms, necks, backs and the bikini line are all fair game. Most laser clinics are supervised by a medical doctor who may perform the hair removal, or by trained clinical staff. The typical cosmetologist still doesn't have a laser hair removal system: if you go for old fashioned hair removal, you'll find yourself in a waxing or electrolysis center. Waxing is much cheaper than laser hair removal and is a good option because the skin stays smoother than it does for shaving. Waxing can also cover a large area at a time. Electrolysis, on the other hand, is both somewhat costly and extremely painful. If you must have electrolysis, make sure the cosmetician supplies you with Emla cream to desensitize your skin somewhat, and take an analgesic before treatment. Better yet, shave or wax until you can afford laser treatments.

Questions about Safety of Laser Hair Removal
There is no known danger in laser hair removal. It's not a radiation treatment; it does not increase your chances of getting cancer. It affects hair growth, and the facts are available in any FAQ section of the brochures put out by laser hair removal clinics.

How Much Does It Cost and How to Prices Vary?
The machine and laser equipment are expensive, so laser hair removal is not yet cheap, but prices have lowered drastically over the past five years. For information on prices, consult your local hair removal clinic—the costs vary widely from region to region, and sometimes clinics have truly affordable deals to get people in the door.

Shape Eye Brows with Threading, Waxing and Plucking with Tweezers

Eyebrows are tricky creatures. You know how they’re supposed to look, but sometimes they don’t want to cooperate, and because they’re growing out of your head, they have a semi permanent character that defies wishes and good intentions.

One of the many problems of eyebrows is the fact that if they aren’t the right color, they can either dominate your face or disappear entirely. Their unfortunate (but necessary) proximity to your eyeballs makes it a pretty major no-no to just sweep the haircolor across each brow and hope it doesn’t drip into your eyes. That’s why the goddess of practical beauty created the eyebrow pencil, an unsatisfactory solution, but sometimes better than nothing if your eyebrows happen to be very pale.

Shaping Your Eyebrows: How to get the perfect arch shape
Shape is also crucial, and if your eyebrows are coarse, creating and maintaining the ideal shape is difficult because pulling out individual hairs can leave large gaps, or severely shorten the length of a brow if you happen to pull out the half-inch hair on the very end.

The perfect eyebrow starts above the inside corner of your eye (over the tear duct), and ends at the outside corner, above your eyelashes. Eyebrows should have an arch: in nature, it’s rarely where it should be, which is a frustrating commentary on standards of beauty. Ideally, the arch happens over the iris, the colored part of your eye. It should be gentle, so if you’re planning to reshape your arch, take it very, very slowly. Do a hair or two a day, and err on the side of caution. Hasty plucking can give you a surprised look that lasts for weeks.

How to Pluck Eyebrows with Tweezers: The Do's and Don'ts
Many women pluck their eyebrows with tweezers. Some wax them, but wax is tricky because it’s hard to get an accurate shape. And some go to a hair removal salon to try "threading." Although threading is newly popular in the United States, it is a centuries-old technique of hair removal practiced in India. The eyebrow experts say never, never to pluck your eyebrows from above, but always to pluck from the bottom of the brow. I say, if you have some wild or stray or bushy hairs growing above your brows, feel free to pluck them. I did it once, and nothing bad happened to me.

I read somewhere that it’s okay to trim your eyebrows. I think this is good if the single hairs are long and thick. You can pluck some hairs and trim the others, brushing them up, evening the ends (be careful not to trim too much!), then brushing them down checking again and again as you go along.

Use Eyebrow Gel to Keep Your Brow Shape Neat after Tweezing
Finally, keeping your brows neat can be done with special eyebrow gel, or you can use a little hair gel to smooth them and keep them shapely.

How to Tie and Wear a Womans Scarf Many Fashionable Ways

When it comes to accessorizing that special outfit, the scarf is the one item you want to have in your wardrobe. The scarf is the perfect accessory as it can add pizzaz to any outfit from the perfect little black dress to a business suit or your favorite T-shirt and jeans outfit. The scarf can add a sensational look making even the plainest outfit into a fabulous fashion hit. You should try to have a variety of scarves such as the pashmina, cashmere, fleece, silk and the scarf belt, then you will be ready for any occasion.

Scarves Can be Worn Many Places on the Body Besides Your Neck
There are numerous ways to wear a scarf, making it a very versatile accessory. Wear it around your neck, tied, knotted or draped. Wear a scarf around head to keep your hair in place or around your waist as a belt. Wear a large scarf around your shoulders as a shawl.If you really feel like “tying one on” try tying a silk scarf around your hips. Just by tying a scarf around your hips, like a scarf belt, you can make your waist look smaller. You can achieve this look very easily by folding a long oblong scarf into the desired width, draping it around your hips and positioning it as a sash. Adjust it as you like. Let it hang down asymmetrically drawing the eye downward to produce a smaller looking waist.

How to Tie a Silk Scarf Around Your Neck
Of course, the traditional way to wear a scarf is around the neck. A fashion statement can be made by tying your scarf in creative ways. Try tying a small square scarf around your neck as a choker or a longer oblong scarf can be knotted in front and hang straight down. The smaller silk (many times can be found in washable silk) scarves look great with a scarf pin to secure them in place. Use a crystal brooch, ring or scarf pin that is all the rage now to hold your scarf in the front. The scarf clips are great to use. Shell scarf holders that you can find at your beach resort gift shops are great options as well. These are just a few ways to hold that perfect designer silk scarf in place. If you don’t have a scarf pin or brooch, try wearing that long oblong scarf in the Grace Kelly style by holding it across the front of our neck and then bringing one end around to fall done your right front side and then bring other end around your neck to fall down your left front side. This is a great way to wear those designer silk scarves that are so light and airy now days. They are great for summer and spring. Another way to wear the long oblong scarf is just drape it around your neck and shoulders and then let it hang down dramatically in front.

How to Wear a Winter Cashmere Scarf and Keep Warm
For winter wear your wool or cashmere scarf and get extra warmth around your neck , by folding the long oblong scarf in half and positioning around your neck with the two ends on one side and the fold of scarf on your other side. Next take the two ends and slip thru the fold of the scarf. By pulling on the two ends you can tighten the scarf as you like around your neck. If it is really cold out you can tuck these ends into your coat for added warmth or if you want a fashionable look then fan the two ends out as desired. This looks great for the thinner summer scarves for a more fashionable look. The knitted scarf is great to wear this way too and often comes with matching gloves to complete your outfit. Usually the knitted scarf is just worn by looping it around your neck.

Tying a Scarf to Make a Hair Accessory and Keep Your Hair Style in Place
A large square scarf can be folded in half forming a triangle that can then be tied around your neck loosely to hang dramatically off one shoulder. Then of course there is always the head that can be covered with the larger square scarf. Hold your hair in place while riding in your convertible this summer by using a light weight chiffon or silk scarf. You can either tie the scarf in front under your chin or try tying it in the back of your head. A smaller scarf can also be folded to a create an hair ban. Another way to wear the square scarf is as a Turban. Fold the square into a triangle and fold edge under over the forehead. Take the two ends to the back and cross them over each other bringing them again to the front to tie on top of the head. You can then tuck in the ends or any loose fabric and adjust as you desire. Be creative with your scarf tying and have fun trying out the many different ways to wear your fashion scarves.

How to Find Your Bra Size

Did you know that 7 out of 10 women are wearing the wrong bra size. Popular shows like Oprah and TLC’s What Not to Wear have dedicated entire shows to the subject since the problem is so rampant amount women. With such large number wearing the wrong bra size, I began to wonder if perhaps I was wearing the bra size.

I decided to do a little bit of research on behalf of all women on measuring a bra size. Many websites explained how to find your correct bra size and had a size chart to find your resulting cup size. I will paraphrase the important parts about determining your bra size using this method.

How to Measure Bra Size
First put on your favorite bra that you think makes your breasts the right shape and feels most comfortable. Next you will need to find a flexible measuring tape (the kind a seamstress would use). You may also need to grab a trusted friend to help you measure, since it is difficult to keep the tape level around your body. The first measurement to take is around your ribcage, just below your breasts. Now add 5 to this number to get your band size. If the resulting band size was an odd number, you will need to round up to the next even number since bra bands only come in even numbers.

The second measurement should be taken around the fullest part of your bosom with your favorite bra on. This measurement is your cup size. Next subtract your band size from your cup size to calculate the right cup size. Refer to the bra cup size chart below:

Bra Size Chart
1” larger than measurement 1--------A
2” larger than measurement 1--------B
3” larger than measurement 1--------C
4” larger than measurement 1--------D
5” larger than measurement 1--------E
6” larger than measurement 1--------F

After all the research about finding the right bra size, my measurements put me in the somewhat embarrassing category of 32A. I did indeed fall in the 7 out of 10 women who are wearing the wrong bra size. I figured models have smaller breasts right? It can’t be that bad. So I was off to the store to try on what I thought to be my “measured” bra size. The only problem was a 32A was giving me four breasts (you know the double-bubble affect) instead of two! I was back to square one asking myself “whats my bra size?”

Have a Professional Measure Your Correct Bra Size
Completely frustrated at the department store trying on the wrong size bras, I had to call in the little old woman sales assistant in the bra department to measure my size in the dressing room. I will admit I was a bit shy, but at least I would have a solid answer from a real bra professional. With the tape measure she too, measured the same measurements as I had myself. But when looking at me in the 32A, she saw the problem. She sweetly went out and searched for a 32B bra size for me to try. After trying on this new size it fit absolutely perfect! I was ecstatic and quite happy with the shape result and added perkiness.

The moral of the story is have a bra professional fit you with the proper bra size. Measuring with a tape measure may not be enough to get the perfect fit bra. And trust me, a correct size bra makes for a shapely, perky bosom with comfort. If your measured bra size is not translating well to the bra size try going up or down a cup or band size for the perfect fit.

What the Right Bra Size Shouldn’t Do
With so many ladies wearing the wrong bra size, I thought I would take a moment to discuss the signs that you might be wearing the wrong size bra. Below is a list of no-no’s when it comes to bra fit.

Breasts should not fall out below the bra when raising your hands above your head. If they do try, going down a band size

The middle part of your bra that sits between your breasts should sit flat on your rib cage. If it doesn’t try, going up a cup size.

The band of your bra should stay level around the circumference of your body. A band that rides up in the back means your band size is too big.

The bra straps should only be 10% of the support your bra gives. If your bras straps are doing all the work, consider going down a band size.

Breasts should fit comfortably into the bra cup with no overflow, double-bubble, or wrinkles in the bra fabric.

Your bra band should not be giving you the illusion of back fat. If this is happening try a larger band size or a difference style bra.

Get Great Skin by Using Mineral Make up

Mineral make up blends flawlessly into skin giving you the look and feel of bare skin, while covering problem areas like blemishes, under-eye circles and age spots. If you have sensitive skin or acne prone skin, mineral make up does not have any artificial fragrances, color and preservatives that would irritate skin. Mineral make up also offers natural, broad-spectrum sun protection (SPF 15).

1980s Retro Makeup Application

Like all trends, '80s Makeup Trends seemed normal at the time, but looking back by twenty years or so, we can see the difference in the apparent natural look of today. In the eighties, women were coming into their own as far as workplace issues were concerned, and the trends were towards ultra-smooth color on the face, bright eye and lip shades and plenty of make up. The combination of workplace politics and cheap fluorescent lighting played absolute hell with women's makeup, turning foundations and eye shadows (blue was popular) into strange colors indeed. And makeup was important if you wanted to be taken seriously. It was quite usual for a woman to apply a full set of makeup—foundation, powder, lipstick and liner, mascara, eyeliner and eye shadow—to go to work. Like most fads, 80s makeup trends looked good: nowadays, women who make up that heavily look like they have something to hide.

For the perfect eighties theme party costume . . .
But if you're going to an 80's style retro party, you can easily create the eighties look. Fashions are easy: a matching dress or skirt suit with big shoulder pads, preferably in a bright color is a good start. Heels are imperative, and hair should be big and fluffy but very controlled. Remember, the '80s look is all about minimizing flaws but maximizing power. It was the decade of the woman's power suit, along with power lipsticks in bright reds and power perfumes heavy on the oriental floral scents. Need a model? For a perfect '80s hair style and suits, look at reruns of Designing Women.

Put some glamour into your eighties look
But if you're looking to do something more glam, Madonna is your model. Not the Madonna of today, with her London-Pilates-yoga chic, but the younger, earthy, in-your-face fashionista who successful combined wedding gowns with soldier boots. Any woman who was a teen in the eighties probably has a mental picture of Madonna that makes ordinary eighties clothing and makeup look like something from another century. Madonna wore makeup, all right, but she wasn't afraid to tear it up with plenty of white foundation and stark black eyeliners. Eighties fashion for the fashionable was all about extremes: shock had its value, and the idea that everyday women were wearing shoulder pads and big brass buttons to claim their share of the glass ceiling workplace was laughable. There was an interesting thing happening in the 1980's: some women were trying to climb the corporate ladder while others were trying to capitalize on a sort of brooding sexuality. The combination was confusing, since the clothes were hard edged but the faces were hidden under piles of makeup. It's almost like women had taken up full body and face armor to meet the wars of the workplace.

80s hair and make-up styles
Glam came along in the 1980s, and the cosmetic and clothing fashions were a combination of Star Trek and an Illinois Human Resources convention. Glam makeup practically preceded the wearer into the room: we're talking eyes so smoky they teared from all the goopy makeup, and big, pillowy, pouty lips, the kind of lips that say, "kiss me and then I'll sue you for sexual harassment". The average woman put on a lot of makeup, did things to her hair with curling irons and bright hair dye color, blow dryers and three kinds of gel, and then it was time to do her eyebrows.

More 80’s fashion and outfit ideas
Other 80's styles included workout gear, because the 80's was the time when aerobics really hit the big time. Jane Fonda's workout video made leg warmers a must-have, and it became fashionable to be thin so you could look really great in your gym wear. We saw the advent of lavender jogging suits for women, millions of cross trainers and meaningless little visors for running in the sun while it burned the top of your head. Sunglasses were big, so big in fact, that they reduced the wearer's face to the size of a bug's. Indoor glasses were also big and round, covering from cheek to eyebrow and resulting in glasses wearers pouring on even more eye makeup than ever before.

Minimize Wrinkles through Natural Home Treatments

Everyone wants to grow old gracefully with the look of youth and as few wrinkles as possible.

Preventing wrinkles
Preventing wrinkles is the best way to not have wrinkles. Your first and best defense against wrinkles is to stay well hydrated; this keeps the skin plump and smooth. It is recommended that you drink between six and eight glasses of water a day. While that sounds like a lot of water in all actuality it really is not that much water

A well balanced diet is also helpful to preventing wrinkles. If your body is getting the proper nutriment you will have healthy skin to go along with that. Foods rich in anti-oxidants and high in vitamins A, C and E are good for the skins appearance. Taking a good multi-vitamin can also be a way to help the skin.

Exercise is important to healthy skin as is moisturizing. When you exercise your body gets rid of toxins that can build up causing you to age faster. Using a good moisturizer will help the skin retain its elasticity making you appear younger.

Avoid the sun, smoking and limit your alcohol. These all have the power to rob your skin of its elasticity and youthfulness. It is recommended that you always wear an SPF of 15 or higher if you are going to be outside. You can also choose to wear protective clothing to avoid the sun and prevent wrinkles.

Age Spot Home Remedies
One of the most natural and easy to use home remedy is just recently being discovered by many people. Virgin Coconut Oil is one of the best skin care treatments because it has many antioxidant properties as well as the ability to be absorbed into the skin and cell structure helping to rejuvenate the skin. Virgin coconut oil that has not been refined does not break down the same as refined vegetable oils. You can even substitute virgin coconut oil in foods and further your health and skins appearance.

Extra virgin olive oil, avocado oil, peanut oil, or sesame oil is also very good for skin to help reduce wrinkles as well as prevent them from forming. These oils contain properties that are healthy for skin including antioxidants that help the skin retain its elasticity.

There are many home remedies for treating problem areas one home remedy for under eye treatment is to apply odorless castor oil with a cotton swab to the area. You can also use egg whites to firm and tighten skin. Or use apple cider vinegar with distilled water to balance the ph level of your skin.

Over the counter skin treatments
There are many over the counter skin care products that you can purchase to treat wrinkles at home. Dermatologists recommended products will contain vitamins C & E as well as have anti-oxidants in them. Products that also contain AHA help to remove the dead layers of skin to produce a younger appearance in the skin.

Many night creams contain retinol as well as aha. Retinol is a form of vitamin A and can be used to reduce acne as well as anti-aging by speeding up the turn over rate of your skin. This also helps to give the skin a younger appearance by reducing fine lines and wrinkles on the face. Retinol is recommended for under eye treatment as well as the fine lines and wrinkles around the mouth and corners of the eyes.

No matter how you choose to reduce your winkles and fine lines it is clear that you have many options that do not have to cost a fortune and it is clear that prevention is the best option for reducing those fine lines and wrinkles that age us all.

Get Rid of Age Spots

Age spots are always an unwelcome sight. While they may be associated with old age, men and women in their twenties develop age spots as well. Once they make an appearance, the search for answers and treatment options begins.

The Dreaded Appearance of Brown Age Spots
Age spots, or liver spots, often appear on the backs of hands, arms, shoulders, and the face. They are flat, discolored areas and are mostly circular in shape, but can be irregular. These discolorations can range from deep brown to light tan in color.

It is important to note that any unusual skin blemishes require evaluation by a medical professional. Some skin cancers go untreated because they are mistaken for age spots, freckles, or moles.

Causes of Age or Liver Spots
There are many contributing factors in the development of age spots, but the bottom line is sun exposure causes age spots. Tanning beds and long periods of exposure to sunlight without proper skin protection produce these discolorations.

Other popular theories suggest impaired liver function, an overabundance of free radicals in the body, and poor diet contribute to the development of age spots when combined with sun exposure.

Genetic predisposition plays a role in the development of most undesirable conditions, and age spots are no exception. Some people will develop age spots despite preventative measures.

Preventing Age Spots
The best defense against age spots is protection from the sun. Sun block, protective clothing, and limiting time in direct sunlight will drastically reduce your chances of developing age spots.

Basic lifestyle changes are helpful in reducing the appearance of new age spots. Consuming plenty of pure water per day, eating fresh fruits, green leafy vegetables, and getting regular exercise assist your body in naturally defending itself from free radicals, skin damage, and toxin build-up. Medical professionals also recommend avoiding concentrated sugars, preservatives, caffeine, alcohol, tobacco, and fats.

What Skin reatments Are Available for Age Spots?
Fortunately, many treatment options are available. Some women are content with simply covering the discolorations with make-up. Others opt for bleaching treatments or removal of the damaged skin.

Bleaching
Women interested in reducing the visibility of age spots often choose over-the counter treatments to bleach the affected skin. Many women find relief from an old-fashioned beauty fade cream. These treatments fade the discolorations, but subsequent sun exposure will result in reappearance of the age spots.

Hydroquinolone creams are effective in fading age spots in fair-skinned individuals. These creams should not be used by anyone with dark skin, as a darkening of the age spots may occur with usage.

Specialty Facial Treatments
Many specialty facial treatments remove the discolored area to reveal lighter, undamaged skin as the body heals. Removing the damaged layer of skin often involves some level of discomfort and specially trained professionals perform these procedures. Treatments include laser surgery, chemical peels, freezing, and microdermabrasion.

Finding a Natural Remover
Many people seek out a homeopathic cure for age spots rather than resorting to harsh treatments. Some popular vitamin supplements are vitamins C and E, Zinc, Selenium, Beta Carotene, and Potassium.

One popular natural home remedy is pure lemon juice. Rub fresh juice into the affected skin, allow air-drying, and follow with moisturizer every day until faded. A honey and yogurt facial can help fade age spots as well.

Deciding to remove or fade your age spots is easier today, thanks to the number of options available. You can choose from cover-ups, natural remedies, bleaching, or complete removal. You do not have to live with unpleasant age spots; treatment can begin in your own kitchen.

Basic Skin Care Around the Eyes

The skin under and around the eyes is the most sensitive skin on your body. It is thinner in this area and can become problematic for many people early on. There are some basic things that you should do every day and night to take care of this more sensitive skin.

You should always wash off eye make up using a gentle cleanser. Many over the counter products that are created to remove make up around the eyes are best because they are made to be gentle enough to not cause damage to the skin. One very good cleanser that is natural and gentle enough for even sensitive skin is witch hazel. This product cleans well all while still being gentle enough for that very sensitive around the eye area.

A good way to prevent this from happening is to use an eye gel or moisturizing cream in the morning when you first get up and again at night before you go to bed. As we age the skin becomes less elastic and can loose the soft supple look it had before. Staying well hydrated also helps the skin to continue to have that supple look. Ensuring that your moisturizers contain SPF will also help to ensure that the delicate skin around your eyes is protected from getting wrinkles that can be caused by sun damage to the skin.

Lymph nodes located under the eyes where toxins build up in the lymph system your eyes to be puffy and swollen. A good way to reduce that swelling is to apply a cool mask around the eyes. You can also gently press on the area using the third finger on each hand to massage this area to release the toxins built up in the lymph system. Many people also like to store a jar of eye cream in the refrigerator so that they can apply it cold to the skin to reduce the swelling and sooth the enflamed feeling.

Crows feet or laugh lines around the eyes are very typically the first to appear because of how delicate and thin the skin around the eyes is. The best way to combat these types of lines and wrinkles is to use a product that contains glycolic acid, also known as alpha hydroxy acid or AHA. One product line that boasts to be gentle enough to be used around the eye as a wrinkle remover is Olay. Utilizing cosmetics that contain AHA will help you to diminish your fine lines and wrinkles around the eyes. There are many over the counter cosmetics that help get rid of your fine lines and wrinkles.

There are also many natural remedies that can be used to moisturize & soothe the delicate skin around your eyes. To reduce swelling and make your eyes more relaxed you can use slices of cucumbers on your eyes. To moisturize the delicate area you can apply a little olive oil around your eyes each day to give this area more moisture then the rest of the skin.

Choosing the Right Moisturizer for Your Skin

When looking for the right kind of moisturizer for your skin you should consider many things before just going and buying any product off the shelves. These things should be skin type, time of year, as well as cost of the product you are looking at.

Skin Types
Oily skin is described as shiny with a dull color to it. Chronically oily skin has large pores and often has blackheads or pimples that can be either large or small. There are many causes to this type of skin a few of which are hormone levels, heredity, diet, and the weather. Natural oils such as Olive oil are actually good for oily skin types, they help break down the body’s oil and replace it with good oil.

Dry skin can be described by a dull flat tight look. This skin type often suffers from a tight itchy feeling and the skin can flake or chap and crack easily. This skin type can be caused by a lot of the same things as oily skin such as heredity, diet, and hormones.

Combination skin is skin that has both oily patches as well as dry patches and is a very typical skin type for the face. Often the T zone is where the oily patches are; the T zone is the forehead, nose, and chin. Often this area is affected by acne or can be more greasy feeling then the rest of your skin. The dry patches are often the cheeks where they can become so dry some people may experience flaking or chapping.

Sensitive skin is skin that is thin or fine in texture. If you have sensitive skin you probably have allergic reactions to many products including detergents, cosmetics and alcohol that is used in many skin care products. Sensitive skin burns easily as well as can get windburned more easily.

Products
Dermatologists recommend that you always use a moisturizer that contains a sun screen. SPF is important to give you the sun protection you need. During the summer months you can even find moisturizers that contain tint for a nice tanned look.

Some products like Aveno have clearly labeled bottles that tell you what the skin type each different product is best for. Aveno is best for sensitive skin as well as to be used during winter months when dry skin can be at its worst.

Neutrogena is one of the top recommended products for skin care by dermatologists and can be found in just about any drug store, chain store, or super market. Neutrogena is a product that is especially good for people who suffer from oily skin types or acne that is often caused by oily skin.

You may also find that some organic ingredients work best for your skin. A natural deep moisturizer is olive oil and is often used even in luxury salons. This is one of the best moisturizers for a deep penetrating facial or all over body moisturizer. Choosing a product that is right for your skin will allow you to save money as well as find the right product for your skin type.