Do you want to look stunning with out wasting too much money? If your answer is yes, then you should read this tips. They have past on from generations to generations. The best part of it, is that you may already have the ingredients at home!

Get rid of blemishes
Apply toothpaste to the required area, Leave on overnight.

Dried or chapped skin
Apply petroleum jelly (vaseline) affected area.

Falling hair
Pour cinnamon in to 12 or more ounces of water, let it boil for 5-10 minutes. After it cools down, apply to hair scalp for 10 -15 minutes. Then shampoo and rinse as usual.

Hot oil treatment
Heat any vegetable oil (do not over heat). Apply to hair cover with shower cap and leave on for 10-20 minutes.

Blackheads
Mix oatmeal and honey, apply to skin. Massage skin for 5-7 minutes then rinse off with warm water.

About The Author

Kenia Morales is the owner and publisher of online magazine " For Every Aspect Of Today's Woman". To find more beauty tips and other women related issues and topics visit her site at http://www.kpatra.com

keniamorales@kpatra.com

It comes as no surprise that many of the most beautiful and famous people go to great lengths to maintain their youthful appearance. They work out with personal trainers. They go to the best hair salons and rejuvenating spas. They use exotic skin care products. And they go to the best cosmetic surgeons.

Cosmetic or plastic surgery can be as simple as a "lunchtime peel" or as involved as a complete face-lift. Botox injections can eliminate "frown lines." Liposuction can reduce excess fat. You can reduce or enlarge just about anything! But there is one beauty secret that is not well known. It beautifies the most looked-at part of the body. It provides dramatic transformations in one visit. It doesn't require surgery. In fact, you can stay awake through the entire procedure. What is it? Cosmetic Dentistry.

While plastic surgery certainly has its place, cosmetic dentistry has its own distinct advantages. It doesn't matter how beautiful the rest of the features are, if the teeth are ugly, no one's going to pay much attention to the rest. Beautifying a smile provides instant gratification. The changes to one's appearance can be incredible! A "smile lift" immediately improves confidence and self-esteem. The recovery time is insignificant. You can eat with it, smile with it, talk with it and kiss with it!

Beyond appearances, cosmetic dentistry has the unique advantage of being able to improve one's health. So many people are walking around with historical dental work that is compromising their oral health. Many others have worn their teeth to the point that their bite is causing symptoms of "TMJ," such as headaches, muscle pain, and even dizziness. Top cosmetic dentists address these problems. The frosting on the cake is that patients leave looking their very best.

Dr. Bernstein is a longtime Piedmont resident in private practice 2 blocks from Cal Piedmont. He is a clinical instructor at the world renowned Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies and his practice focuses on Cosmetic Dentistry and 5 star guest services. Dr. Bernstein can be reached at 848-SMILE (848-7645) and at http://www.allnewsmiles.com.

Like every organ in your body, our skin requires adequate nutrition to function properly. Nutrients that enhance overall body health will also promote healthy skin and hair. It needs pharmaceutical-grade supplements that provide advanced levels of essential vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and cofactors in convenient morning and evening packets for a difference you will see and feel.

The skin contains natural enzymes that break down the extracellular matrix--proteins that keep skin looking youthful--leading to lines and wrinkles. And, these enzymes, or MMPs, become more active as skin ages. MMP inhibitors that reduce the activity of these enzymes help slow the signs of aging. A new scientific breakthrough increases cell turnover rate and maintains a firm and elastic intercellular matrix for visible results you will see right away.

The skin reflects the state of the body's health and looks its best when all cells in the skin's layers are properly nourished and hydrated. The skin is the last organ to receive nutrients from the body, and the first to show signs of nutritional deficiency, imbalance, or illness. While some nutrients can be applied topically, others can only be produced from within the body. Therefore, the secrets to becoming more beautiful comes from a synergy of internal and external nutrition, as well as protection from environmental toxins and oxidation damage, which can accelerate sagging and wrinkling.

To achieve this synergy of internal and external nutrition and a protection from environmental toxins and oxidation damage, you need to develop a beauty regimen that is designed to be a comprehensive approach to skin and hair care that takes into account the nutritional needs of both the skin and body. You would need to use outer nutrients that hydrate and reduce the signs of aging. This regimen is most effective when used in conjunction with pharmaceutical-grade supplements that help to replenish and nourish the skin cells from the inside out.

To achieve a results-oriented, morning and evening regimen designed to leave skin clean, hydrated, and healthy, begin with a deep cleanse followed by a soothing toning treatment that will leave your skin refreshed. Follow with an application of one of our powerful refining treatments to help diminish the appearance of uneven skin tone, imperfections, and signs of aging. Finish with a deeply hydrating moisturizer for your face and eye area to achieve a soft, smooth appearance.

Two to three times a week, enhance the benefits of this simple skin-care regimen by exfoliating your skin with a gentle polishing scrub, followed by a luxurious, pampering masque that will leave your skin incredibly hydrated and radiant.

When used together as a system, products are clinically proven to increase elasticity, decrease the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, improve texture, and boost skin's moisture levels. In just a few short weeks you could experience dramatically visible results.

Because of the close link between nutrition and the appearance of the skin, dietary supplements are also an important step in your daily inner and outer beauty regimen. Skin is the body's largest organ and it can absorb healthy and unhealthy substances that are applied to it. Pharmaceutical-grade products focus primarily on the cellular health of the skin and use the newest technologies available to create products that are both effective and safe. Pharmaceutical-grade complexes should be thoroughly tested by dermatologists, allergists, and ophthalmologists to ensure quality and safety. To ensure safety and quality, an independent, third-party laboratory should test them again to demonstrate effectiveness. Along with added trace minerals that encourage healthy cells, pharmaceutical-grade products should contain powerful ingredients that are clinically proven to nourish, revive, and refine the skin as they help defend against free radicals and oxidative stress.

Now the science of skin care has been revolutionized with groundbreaking, self-preserving technology. For years, scientists have worked to find an alternative to parabens, the traditional preservative used in beauty and skin-care products. After nearly ten years of research, the answer has been found in a unique, patent-pending blend of botanicals, antioxidants, and active ingredients that keep every product fresh without the need for parabens. It truly is the next generation of skin and body care.

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PERMISSION TO REPUBLISH: This article may be republished in newsletters and on web sites provided attribution is provided to the author, and it appears with the included copyright, resource box and live web site link. Email notice of intent to publish is appreciated but not required. Mail to: eagibbs@ureach.com

Etienne A. Gibbs, MSW, Management Consultant and Trainer, conducts seminars, lectures, and writes articles on his theme: "... helping you maximize your potential." He offers a free health survey at http://eagibbs.usana.com; free state tourism guides at http://www.ExecutiveAndGroupTravel.com; and travel updates at http://www.executiveandgrouptravel.blogspot.com. Reach him at eagibbs@ureach.com or at 502-386-1175.

Aaah, a spa. It used to be that you needed a Hollywood mansion to even entertain the thought; but now, home spas are popping up everywhere you look and with good reason.

The basis for all the "ooh-ing" and "aah-ing" when people settle down to soak in their home spas is "hydrotherapy" or "water healing" which was first made famous by the Greek Hippocrates, the "father" of medicine, in the 4th century BC. He used to prescribed bathing and drinking spring water for its medicinal benefits. Soaking in hot springs was another Greek favorite which was quickly picked up by the Romans who built thousands of communal baths which were the forerunner of modern home spas!

Although the number one "official" reason for the remarkable increase in the installations of home spas is to sooth overworked muscles and soak away the effects of stress caused by our hectic lifestyles, home spas are also a wonderful socializing tool as many people have found out over the years.

Having access to home spas means that although parties may start out in the living rooms, they often end up in the "spa room" accompanied by soft music, low lights, a little wine or spirits and a whole lot of relaxing. Bathing suits are, of course, optional depending upon the "house" rules!

Today, home spas come in shapes, colors and sizes to match any taste, budget and available space. From built-in to portable, if you want one, there is sure to be one that wants you in return! There are "family size" home spas with lots of seating room all the way down to cozy ones that just fit two.

The latest models of home spas include a wide variety of lighting, music, water jet and seating options. Seating options should not be overlooked. You might want lounge-style which allows you to soak while fully reclined, or you could opt for the bench or chair-type seating which accommodate more people.

You can even get a floating remote control to set your music and lighting levels along with jet pressure and temperature. Home spas can be located almost anywhere that you have the space plus access to water and electricity. Portable home spas can be setup and moved relatively easily. Some people opt to have them installed into an existing bathroom or bedroom, while others will convert a porch or sun room into a spa room. Indoors or out, cold weather or warm, home spas are relaxing and enjoyable way to soak away what ails you or to get to know that certain someone a little bit better.

Although home spas are low maintenance, they aren't "no maintenance". You can usually find out all you need to know about keeping your spa clean and sanitary by reading the manual that came with it or by checking with your local pool and spa supply store.

Here are some important safety tips for users of home spas:

Read and follow all maintenance and usage instructions fully. Chemical poisoning or electrical shock, while unlikely, could result if you fail to follow instructions.

Never allow the water temperature to exceed 104F (40C)

Never enjoy your spa alone. You could fall asleep and drown.

Never use the spa if you are pregnant.

Never use the spa if you are intoxicated.

Check with your doctor if you are taking medications before using the spa.

Always lock down the spa cover when not in use. Children and pets could fall in and drown.

Forget expensive memberships to health resorts. You don't need them. Not when home spas start as low as $600 and can be installed in one day or less!

Credit: Mike Jones of BodyFAQ.com, the health, body & beauty information site. Click here for information on whether Botox is for you: http://www.bodyfaq.com/botox.html

A variety of hair styles, colors, and trends are growing in popularity for 2005. New hair styles for 2005 include hair of varying lengths, from curly and wavy to sleek and straight. Some of the old standbys from 2004 are still going to be popular in 2005.

The straight look is still in. The messy look and the shabby chic look are also still going strong. The soft wavy look is one new addition to the in list that has been growing in popularity this season.

This season, one of the hottest looks is a short cut. Not just any short cut though. The newest version of the short hair cut is longer layers and fringe in the front with the back cut in shorter, softer layers. The great thing about this style is that, even though it is short, you still have a variety of options when styling it. It can be worn straight and smooth for a more sophisticated look. If a more youthful and fun look is in the cards for your day, simply tousle the layers for a more wind blown, wavy look.

Your hair’s texture is also an important part of the cut and style. Layers and soft edges give a cut the versatility that it needs to hold more than one style. Razor cutting is a terrific way to accomplish the flipped, wild look that celebrities like Meg Ryan wear. Using sculpting gels and waxes can give you a chunky layer look that separates and holds your layers in place. For a smoother, sleek look, layers can be blown dry to lay flat and soft against the face. Smoothing gels can help to keep hair smooth and free from frizz for hours at a time.

Although cut and texture are an important part of having a trendy, up to date short hair style, maintaining shiny, healthy hair is always a must.

Whether you wear your hair curly, wavy, or straight, a healthy shine is your hair’s best accessory. For this season, a product that adds shine to your hair is a must have.

To maintain a trendy and fashionable look for this season, color is the key. In Eastern cultures, hair color choice is not just a statement about our fashion savvy, but also is essential in showing our inner self and desires. Since red symbolizes strength and vitality, it is not such a surprise that most women today would pick red as their first choice of hair colors.

Red certainly is a trend this season, and that means all shades. Anything goes from burgundy to strawberry blonde on into the copper hues.

As a matter of fact, reds are beginning to replace blonde as the most popular hair color choice.

Color highlights have been popular for while and will continue to be popular this season. This type of hair coloring works particularly well on the layered, shorter haircuts. So, go ahead. Try whatever floats your boat. As I said before, this season, anything goes!

Nancy Faizabadi is a professional hair stylist and the founder of http://www.short-hair-style.com where you can find free tips on short hair style and color ideas, hair color trends, hair products and much more. Whether your hair is fine, thick, curly, straight, processed, colored or in need of a new style, http://www.short-hair-style.com has a section for you.

Over the past centuries, remains of many hundreds of people-- men, women, and children--have come to light in peat bogs in northwestern Europe, especially in Ireland, Great Britain, the Netherlands, northern Germany, and Denmark. Peatlands are most extensive in northern regions. They develop where drainage of water is blocked, precipitation is retained, and decomposition of organic matter is slowed. Because of their highly acidic nature, wetness, low temperature, and absence of oxygen, northern bogs have become a repository of past life.

The bog people are amazingly well-preserved with fingernails, hair, and teeth in excellent condition. How is this possible when the dates range from 8000 B.C. to the early medieval times?

The peat (Moor Peat) contained in the bogs has amazing preserving properties which contribute to its ability to both combat aging and enhance health. Peat has excellent moisture- retaining qualities which improves skin elasticity.

When peat is applied to the skin, penetrates partially between the epidermis cells of the skin. A, producing an exchange reaction of ions is produced when the binding process with albumin in the skin occurs. The harmful positive ions in the skin tissues are exchanged for the rejuvenating negative ions in the moor peat. These particles are captured by the blood vessels in the system, carried throughout the body to help healing.

The rejuvenating benefits can be attributed to the abundance of essential oils, fatty acids and lipoids. These penetrate into the skin re-establishing the skin's natural pH balance. When you apply the moor peat to your skin, the increased flow of blood to the skin can be seen by the flush of color seen on the skin when the peat is rinsed off. This characteristic of Moor Peat makes it most effective as an addition to any anti-aging and beauty treatment for the skin.

The soluble organic and inorganic active ingredients leave the skin detoxified, purified, and toned. It's naturally hypoallergenic and powerful and yet gentle.

The anti-inflammatory, bactericidal astringent and its bioavailability properties of Moor Peat make it an excellent skin treatment both for healthy and problem skin.

It has been found to be helpful in treating acne, eczema, psoriasis, burns, scars, stretch marks, and cellulite.

For Cellulite, an inflammation of the subcutaneous tissues caused by a build up of toxins, poor blood circulation and fluid retention due to weak lymphatic flow, Moor Peat improves both the inflammation and its causes, making it an excellent treatment for cellulite and an aid to weight loss.

In fine spas Moor Peat (or Moor Mud) is regularly used as bath, body wrap, and facial treatments. Cost for these treatments can be as high as $150 for a body wrap, $100 for a bath, and $85 for a mud mask or facial mask. These spa treatments can be done successfully at home for fraction of the cost by purchasing fine quality Moor Peat from a quality supplier such as Moor Mud Baths (http://www.moormudbaths.com).

Danielle Sims explored her library of alternative health, herbal books, and aromatherapy books and created a blueprint for making her own body wrap formulas at home. For more information visit Danielle's website http://www.wrapyourselfslim.com

What is Emu Oil?

Emu oil was discovered by Aborigines many thousands of years ago as a skin moisturizer, antiseptic, and as an aid in the relief of sunburn, muscular aches and joint pain, as well as aiding in the healing of injuries. The emu oil is rendered from a thick layer of fat on the back yielding 5 - 7 liters of unsaturated, non-toxic, highly penetrating oil.

Over ten years of research done at Global Canyon Ranch (Texas) has revealed that the emu oil has unique thermodynamic properties. Combined with other ingredients, the oil can be used to machine stainless steel much more rapidly, thus considerable savings in labor results.

The emu oil is the greatest emollient in the world. It penetrates the skin better than mink or any other natural oil, and lacks long chain fatty acids which is conducive to a long shelf-life.

Emu Oil is considered a complete source of essential fatty acids. Essential Fatty Acids (EFA's) are fats that humans cannot manufacture or synthesize. We must obtain them from our diet. Like vitamins and minerals they are essential to the body's functions. Incredibly, this amazing oil contains omega 3,6,9 essential fatty acids and is a powerful skin moisturizer and possesses strong anti-inflammatory properties.

Emu Oil for Anti Wrinkle.

Billions of Microscopic Three-Dimensional Nanoprisms! Here's "so what." Almost nobody knows this... but... the human eye cannot see a wrinkle. What the eye sees is actually the shadow made by the wrinkle. And, since all those billions of microscopic nanoprisms refract light.

This effect will last until you wash your face and the invisible silicon dioxide is removed. And get this: Remember how I told you the main ingredient in this cosmetic cream is made from emu oil? Well, it turns out emu oil is probably the best cosmetic ingredient in the world. That's because its molecules are much smaller than the molecules in human skin.

Penetrate down through seven layers of human skin!

For more information, please check out Emu Oil Product - Deception Wrinkle Cream - Anti Wrinkle Cream

When the weather starts to warm up and the days get longer, we are all drawn outdoors to enjoy the sun. Many will recall seemingly endless hours outdoors, soaking up the sun's rays without a care. Unfortunately, sunbathing isn't as carefree an activity as it used to be. These days, there's more to worry about, such as premature aging, scarring and blemishes, or even skin cancer.

Some people desire quicker results than what natural sunlight offers. For such people, sunless tanning is the route to take. Sunless tanning refers to the process of attaining a suntan by sunless means, as the term implies. Sunless tanning might take the form of lotions, sprays, powders, pills, tanning beds, or tanning booths. The efficacy and results of these methods vary. To understand how sunless tanners work, it's necessary to first know what a suntan is, however.

The sun emits three types of ultraviolet or UV radiation: UVC, at 100 to 290 nm, UVB, at 290 to 320 nm, and UVA, at 320 to 400 nm. It is the UVA and UVB rays that are the most harmful to our skin. UVB is easier to protect against than UVA, but both cause very real damage.

The body has its own defenses against UV radiation. Our skin protects us from UV damage by producing melanin, a substance that absorbs the harmful rays in order to protect our DNA. When the body produces melanin, our skin darkens, taking on a darker appearance. This is how we tan.

Most sunless tanning aids are harmless, but not all will prevent the skin damage caused by the sun and UV radiation. Furthermore, methods such as tanning beds and tanning pills are controversial and thought to be unsafe. The FDA, in fact, has not approved most tanning pills.

Staying out of the sun does not have to mean staying pale at all. There are numerous ways to get a tan without risking our health. The cost of sunless tanning options ranges from just a few dollars for cream, to $100 or more for a few sessions in a tanning salon. In an ideal situation, the result will be a great looking without anyone knowing the difference!

Sunless Tanning Info provides detailed information about sunless tanning lotion, booths, sprays, salons, and pills, as well as reviews of best sunless tanning products and methods. Sunless Tanning Info is the sister site of Tanning Beds Web.

What does Antioxydant have to do with anti-aging? You might not think in the first place that Antioxydant has a great benefit to prevent early aging. Furthermore, you might not be aware of what Antioxydant is and how it is also beneficial for your health.

Antioxydant can make you look younger than your age. Antioxydant is a very important substance that is needed by our body to protect vital cell structures. This is done by neutralizing hazardous molecules called the free radicals which can be formed by environmental factors such as chemical fumes and pollution. You see that they can cause harm to your skin, and may go further to cause skin aging. Thus, you are going to need Antioxydant to protect this outer part of the body.

The next thing you’ll ask is what the real source of Antioxydant which is used for anti-aging is. That is a great question! To answer this, you must have heard so often through many health articles and advertisements that vitamin E is a great nutrient for skin. Do you know why this vitamin is so precious? The answer is because you can find Antioxydant benefits in vitamin E! Again, it is because vitamin E protects your skin from free radicals.

Many people, especially women, sometimes feel that they get old so fast. They feel that their skin ages earlier. That is why they urge for some anti-aging medication or any methods for keeping their skin young and healthy. Indeed, taking foods that contain Antioxydants is the most effective and practical thing to do.

Fresh fruits and vegetables are great sources of Antioxydant, which of course work as good anti-aging therapy. And truly, fruits and vegetables should be parts of a healthy eating plan. They should be taken in a daily basis. To mention it again, don’t forget that those foods contain important vitamins that role as Antioxydant.

Take anti-aging food sources and start living healthy now! For days to come, enjoy your younger and healthier skin ever!

About The Author: Novi White writes health articles on various publications. She has been working with doctors for their research publications. You can visit her Website MyAntioxydantGuide.com at http://www.myantioxydantguide.com

For months now I’ve had a steady stream of tanners coming into my spray tanning salon and leaving 10 minutes later with the colour of their skin in no way different from the one that they came in with.

Yet, they come again and again.

Why, do you ask, would anybody want a colorless spray tan? Isn’t it totally contrary to what the whole exercise is supposed to be about?

Welcome to the new era in spray tanning!

The newest thing on the market that is gaining more and more followers is spray tanning with a colorless (clear) spray tanning solution.

Once you’ve had it, it is hard to go back to the old solution containing bronzer.

For years bronzer has been added to the spray tanning solution for 2 reasons:

1) For immediate gratification, so that immediately after the session it would appear that you just came back from holidays,

2) To ensure that you got even tan. The person spray tanning you had to know if she did not miss any parts of your body. The brown dye in the solution could show her exactly where she had been.

People that spray tan frequently know that until now you had to pay for those few days of golden skin with at least one day of discomfort.

When bronzer is added to the spray tanning solution, it is responsible for myriad of problems:

• There are often streaks. Sure, most of it comes out in the first shower, but until then you run around with what looks like a map of a river running down the back of your legs. A dead give away that you just had a spray tan.

• You can get dark stains, especially on your hands and feet. Those are almost impossible to remove in a hurry.

• The brown dye gets onto your clothes and underwear. Once again, most of it comes off in the wash, but if you try to wear your good satin or silk bra, the only place for it, after the encounter with a bronzer will be in the rubbish bin.

• If you have large pores on your face you will end up with a “blackhead effect”. The bronzer will lodge in those pores, and it will take days for it to come out. Very unattractive. The same will happen if you shave or wax your legs. You will have spotty legs for a week.

• Because the bronzer lodges itself so deep in the pores, it can keep coming out for days on end onto your sheets, and towels. Also on the white clothes if you happen to sweat (no bride would sweat in her wedding dress, right?)

And what if spray tanning solution has no added bronzer?

Well, the problems described above simply don’t exist. You get sprayed, and your own skin develops the colour. Full stop.

The only drawback of being sprayed with a clear spray tanning solution is that you will have to wait for your tan about 5-7 hours.

Oh, and another thing, you will probably have to get your tan done in a spray tan booth. The reason for it is that most of technicians that do spray tans with a hand held unit simply cannot do a good job without the bronzer.

So the way to spray tan these days is to hop into a spray tan booth, 1 minute later wipe yourself down , put your clothes on, and be on your way.

Unless of course you like to stand completely naked for 20 minutes or so in front of a complete stranger while being spray tanned and getting streaks, blackheads and stains.

The choice is clear.

Boshena is an owner of TanXtreme, a spray tanning salon in Byron Bay Australia. She also wrote a spray tanning guide, which you can view on: http://www.best-spray-tan-guide.com

Why this fascination with beauty?

The demand for beauty services in spite of the economy?

Even when there is a recession, beauty parlours still flourish. Beauty products still fly off the shelves.

There is this saying that beauty is skin deep.

Then again, first impressions count.

Put it this way. Beauty is power. That was true centuries ago. That is true today.

When a beautiful woman walks into a bar, men flock to her and offer to buy her drinks. When an unattractive woman walks into the same bar, chances are, she would have to buy her own drinks.

A beautiful salesperson, man or woman is more likely to win the sale. Between a beautiful job seeker and an unattractive one, all other things being equal, the employer is likely to choose the good looker.

Like it or not, looks do count.

In the past, when women were dependent on men to support them, beauty was everything to a woman. A beautiful woman would have more suitors. She would be able to marry up. To marry a rich man who could take care of all her financial needs and that of her children. Long before commercial cosmetics existed, mothers would instruct their daughters on traditional beauty remedies. Simple beauty remedies like using mayonnaise as a moisturizer, or egg white as a firming mask were often used by women in the days before commercial cosmetics.

Then along came women entrepreneurs like Estee Lauder and other women from around the world. They converted traditional beauty recipes which worked for themselves into beauty creams that they sold to other women. Every woman has a right to look her most beautiful and these women were selling others their beauty secrets.

Make up was used to paint women's faces. In Egypt, the nobles, royalty and the well off would paint their eyes with khol, with crushed beetles and exotic ingredients. In Europe, women would paint their faces with make up containing toxic mercury for the sake of beauty. In Japan, the geishas would whiten their faces with creams that contain nightingale droppings.

You would think by now, we modern women would have learnt our lesson. Now, we just inject poison into our faces to paralyze our facial muscles in order to prevent expression lines from deepening as we grow older. Think of those botox injections done every 3 months to erase those wrinkles. Think of the acids we smear on our faces to smoothen them. The dermabrasion procedures done at the dermatologist in order to smoothen our skin.

Women all over the world have always been willing to suffer for the sake of beauty. Long ago, in China, women in wealthy families would bind their feet. The Chinese back then view tiny feet as beautiful, so little girls have their feet bound, to prevent them from growing big and ugly. Now that long legs are considered beautiful, some women go through a very painful medical procedure that breaks their legs, and stretches their legs by a few millimeters a day through a painful device until they attain the height they want. With their newfound height, these girls can look forward to a wealthy, glamorous future as an international model.

In Europe, centuries ago, wasp waists and curvy bodies were considered beautiful, so corsets were worn to make the waist look much smaller. These were tied so tightly that women faint easily. All for the sake of beauty. Now, corsets are in again. These days, women and men subject themselves to surgery to attain the beauty they desire. Liposuction to remove the excess fat to contour the body. Breast augmentation for bigger breasts that are considered beautiful. Nose jobs, face lifts, the works.

Thankfully, there is also a return to natural beauty remedies. This time, commercial cosmetics use natural ingredients that women have used for centuries in the home beauty preparations. These are effective and great for the skin.

What we women really should do is to focus on inner beauty, and to keep ourselves healthy. Health is beauty.

8 to 10 hours of sleep every night, fresh food, fresh air, daily exercise, drinking plenty of water every day, soap and water, or cleanser and toner, moisturizer where necessary and sun protection all day long. All that keeps your body healthy and your skin and hair, beautiful. Oh, and learn to age gracefully. After all, aging is a natural process in life.

The writer is the webmaster of Cosmetics Online, where you can find cosmetics, skincare, makeup and all the beauty products from your favourite beauty brand.

• Worldwide studies have shown that people who take anti-oxidants live longer and healthier lives. Anti-oxidants are essential for the removal of free radicals, which can cause premature ageing and can cause diseases such as cancer. Anti-oxidants include vitamin A in the form of beta-carotene, vitamin E, vitamin C and SOD or super-oxide. Because of the polluted environment that we live in, it is not always easy to get access to the natural anti-oxidants like vitamin E and vitamin C.

• Rooibos Tea, (Redbush Tea) is well known all over the world and regarded as safe to drink for its health benefits.

• Scientists have discovered that the Rooibos plant (Aspalathus linearis) contains nine types of flavonoids. Four of these flavonoids, specifically quercetin, luteolin, isoquercitrin and rutin are very powerful. Flavonoids like the quercetin found in Rooibos, help to neutralise free radicals and in combination with the tea’s naturally high Vitamin C content (1,5mg/ml), they act as anti-oxidant compounds thus protecting the body against diseases and premature ageing. Rooibos has Anti-inflammatory and Anti-allergic properties that can be very helpful in the treatment of eczema. Rooibos is also Caffeine free, Rich in Minerals and Low in Tannin.

• Thanks to Rooibos tea’s natural powerful, rejuvenating and antioxidant qualities it is also excellent for use in skin and healthcare products. The Annique Rooibos Products contain an Award Winning Rooibos Extract to restore and retard the ageing process.  Annique has been utilising the powerful benefits of Rooibos for more than 35 years in skin and baby care, and health capsules.

• Retrieve your youthful skin and stay healthy with the unique Annique Rooibos Range! www.AnniqueUK.co.uk  

When it comes to a glowing complexion what we put into our bodies and how we treat our skin and ourselves has a huge impact on how we look – no skin care product can overcome certain damage. Here are a few hints to take the best care of your skin and get that radiant glow.

1. Eat a balanced diet – what we put in our bodies will show on our skin. If you eat fatty foods and junk your skin will reflect that, so give your skin proper nutrition.

2. Get at least 7 to 8 hours sleep every night. A lack of sleep will show up under your eyes as dark circles or bags. Proper rest will also benefit your body and your life.

3. Drink 6 to 8 glasses of water a day to keep your skin hydrated. It is best to spread the consumption of water in small amounts over the course of the day to be sure it is properly absorbed.

4. Maintain a regular exercise schedule. Exercise gets the blood moving and creates a healthy body.

5. Get lots of fresh air but avoid prolonged exposure to wind and cold.

6. Avoid the sun and tanning beds. The damage done by ultraviolet rays is long lasting and cannot be reversed.

7. Always wear sunglasses to avoid squinting.

8. Try to achieve a well-balanced life and reduce stress.

9. Exfoliate twice a week to rid your skin of dead cells.

10. Develop a skin care routine for your particular skn type.

If you have been neglecting your complexion start right away to improve it – it’s never too late. What you do today will show up in your skin in the future. It’s up to you.

Sheila Dicks is an Image and Wardrobe Consultant who teaches women how to dress to suit their body type and look slimmer. Visit her at http://www.sheilasfashionsense.com to download her ebook, 'Image Makeovers' and get How to 'Build a Wardrobe' free.

You look great, work out every day and have a fit body.
Beyond that, you crave for that golden bronze look,
the look that would send the opposite sex into a tizzy.

Well, in that case let me welcome you to the amazing world of tanning bed products. Read on to know more about tanning beds, usage, accessories viz. tanning bed lotions, tanning bed lamps and a few tanning bed tips.

Tanning beds are devices that simulate the sun's UV rays that give your body the coveted bronze look. The vertical model the indoor tanning bed is preferred over its cousin, the horizontal model as in the vertical model, the tanning is uniform without any physical contact on any surface during the course of the tan and hence no pressure points for tanning. Widely regarded as the surer and faster way to looking great, tanning beds have been a great hit across the world although there have been several tanning bed reviews that broached the topic of harmful effects of tanning beds.

To get the best out of your indoor tanning bed, it's recommended to use specific indoor tanning oils that are available in the market than outdoor oils. Since the entire effect of the UV rays are on the skin, moisturizers are a must before one begins to use the tanning bed. Also the time spent inside the tanning bed depends on the stage of the tanning routine, the skin type and the number of tanning bed lamps that are being used.

An investment with rich dividends, indoor tanning beds have become commonplace, what with discount tanning beds and installment schemes paving the way for affordability. However, before acquiring a tanning bed, it is important to understand what you are paying for and the subsequent costs of owning this equipment. Apart from the initial set-up cost, tanning bed lotions, pillows, and lamps could all pinch your pocket a little more than you expect and hence it is advisable to do a cost-benefit analysis before making a purchase decision. As a long term decision, it is purely a matter of balancing the emotional need to look great with the financial need to curtail spends.

Discover the wonders of the tanning bed and get the dream look you have always wanted!!

Visit our articles section at Tanning Articles and Resources for more such practical tanning advice and tips.

© 2005,Yaksha Patel. This article is courtesy of Tanning Wonders - Making Tanning work for you !

You may publish it at no cost, as long as the links are left intact, made live, and this notice stays in place.

As we get older our lips get smaller and thinner – it’s a fact of life, but it need not be the end of the world or our attractiveness. If you don’t have the money or the inclination to run off and get collagen injections there are ways you can keep your lips looking great and desirable. By using simple techniques you can create illusions of larger, pouty and more balanced lips.

Lipstick looks best on smooth lips. To keep your lips smooth use a lip exfoliant and always wear some type of lipstick or lip balm, especially wintertime or in the sun.

To start creating wonderful lips use lip liner. Lip liner is a great tool that will keep your lipstick in place, define the shape of your lips and can make your lips look larger or smaller. Use a lip liner color that is lighter than your lipstick and keep the pencil sharp.

Use lip liner to outline the natural lines of your lips and then fill in the lips with a color that blends with your lipstick. This little trick will keep your lipstick in place. Never go outside the natural lines of your lips in an attempt to make your lips look larger. Lip liner will keep your lipstick away from the fine lines around your mouth, which will keep your lipstick from bleeding.

Start by defining the V using feathery, short strokes that are not too sharp. After you have defined and filled in the lips with liner, fill with color using either a lip brush or a tube. Blot with a tissue and reapply lip color. For a fuller look use a lighter color in the middle of the lip.

Tips for Lips:

* Matte is the longest lasting lipstick but can be dry

* Gloss makes lips look fuller

* For extra definition line lips once again after you have applied lip color

* Balms have SPF’s

* Sheer lipstick won’t last long

* Neutral shades will match everything

* Lips will look larger with a medium color

* Moist lipsticks are more likely to bleed

Copyright© 2005 Sheila Dicks

Sheila Dicks is an Image and Wardrobe consultant who helps women learn how to dress to suit their body type and look slimmer. You can reach her at http://www.sheilasfashionsense.com to download her ebook, "Image Makeovers" and get "How to Build a Wardrobe" ebook free.

Q: With so many skin care products on the market today, how do you know which one is right for you?

A: I encourage you to become a label reader.

The latest trend in skin care marketing is anti-aging. Many women today are concerned about reversing the signs of aging as well as prevention of the aging process. With so many well known brand name products out there, it may be difficult to find the perfect most beneficial one for you. That is why I encourage you to be a label reader and know what you are putting in and on your body.

The difference between botanically based products and those that only contain botanical ingredients is simply in the recipe. Botanicals can be added to a base of ingredients such as mineral oil, drying alcohols or animal by-products. In a base like that, your skin won’t benefit from the botanicals. You are paying for useless added ingredients that do not benefit your skin or health. For example 98% of cosmetic companies use some type of petrolatum by products, mineral oil, petrolatum or petroleum, in their products. Have you ever turned your products over and read “animal by products”? No, but the labels might say collagen, elastin and lanolin. Remember that the next time you lick your lips.

Furthermore, what you put on your body, you are essentially putting in your body. Don't believe me? Put a piece of garlic between your toes, you will taste it in about fifteen minutes. Wouldn't you like to be putting something on your body that aids in beauty as well as health? The ingredients are just a important as the effects.

There is hope, I have found a company with a Swiss formulated skin care line for the whole family*. These products are hypoallergenic and formulated without dyes, chemicals, or synthetic fragrances. They are also PH correct, which is part of their pure, safe and beneficial guarantee. It is not beneficial to use a product that makes you feel squeaky-clean because the PH of skin is 5.5 and we have an acid mantel that keeps down the bacterial infections. PH balanced is what most products advertise and that is about a 7, which is too drying for our skin. A lot of the clear soap that people use on their skin is actually a 14 on the ph scale, the same as perm solution.

I hope you come away from the article with a greater understanding of the importance of skin care and the products used to achieve healthy skin. At least, I hope you have become a label reader and are aware of what you are using and what you should be using.

*Please refer to my Bio and Resource Box for more information.

Michelle Burke an Independent Consultant for Arbonne International, is a small business owner in the Consulting Services industry. My team of consultants and I have a combined experience of eight plus years in this industry. I have extensive knowledge of Arbonne's Swiss skin care line and nutritional products, and would be happy to provide advice based on your particular area of interest. You may visit my website for more information: http://www.gohealthyshop.myarbonne.com or contact me via Email: chellemybelle@pldi.net or Ph:405-694-4766.

The skin has a defence mechanism against sun-damage, in the form of melanin. The production of melanin is accelerated on sun-exposure. However, we have seen that this defence is not enough. That is why protection of the skin, with ingredients that block the sun's radiation damage, is so essential. These sun-block agents are incorporated into 'sunscreens'.

Avoidance of the sun, specially at midday and in the afternoon, when ultraviolet radiation is at its height, can help to reduce the harmful effects. It is also essential to know that ultraviolet radiation is greater near water bodies, like the seaside and where there is snow. Snow, water and even sand reflect the ultraviolet reays and thus increase their rffect.

Exposure to the sun also causes moisture depletion and dries out the skin. Therefore, it is essential to step-up moisturisation, when you have been out of doors for a long time. The use of rehydrant cleansers, which contains aloe vera, can also help to control moisture loss. Aloe vera, like sandalwood, also helps to soothe and heal the skin.

When you are swimming in the sea, or in an open-air pool, remember to apply sunscreen before and after your swim.

Protect yourself with a parasol whenever you are out in the sun.

Remember, you are exposed to ultraviolet radiation even on a cloudy day.

More about sun care: http://www.ultimate-cosmetics.com/suncare.htm

About The Author

Nitin Jain

For www.ultimate-cosmetics.com

Get more articles on beauty: http://www.ultimate-cosmetics.com/beauty/articles/index.htm

Mac cosmetics are just the type of cosmetics women are looking for. Mac cosmetics can change you, in a matter of minutes, from the average looking, ordinary, girl-next-door into a stunning beauty. Mac cosmetics have a whole range of makeup, haircare, and skincare products for you. For that special evening out, all you need is your set of Mac cosmetics and some time in front of the mirror. However, Mac cosmetics are, after all, only cosmetics. As soon as you remove your makeup, the beautiful old you seems to disappear. How would you feel about having a glowing complexion, lovely skin and a head of shining, healthy hair - all achieved without constantly using makeup? Sound good? Well, it's true, and is now very much achievable! Mac cosmetics have recently introduced skin care products that will make your skin glow radiantly without constantly putting on makeup. In addition, they have developed products that will make your hair and complexion beautiful all day long without any makeup. In fact, tests conducted on a group of healthy, female volunteers with age ranging from 40 to 65 years old exhibited clear signs of improvements in wrinkle reduction, skin softness, hydration, smoothness and firmness when using these new Mac cosmetics.

Choosing the Mac Cosmetic that is right for you.

It can be difficult sometime to know what Mac makeup cosmetic is right for you. Some Mac cosmetics can be very expensive. If you are looking to find cheap Mac cosmetics, try buying Cosmetic Mac wholesale. Come, try these new Mac cosmetic products that are completely safe and natural and you too will find the joy of looking the best you can.

About The Author

Mike Yeager

Publisher

http://www.a1-beauty-4u.com/

I started making facial masks after reading several books on natural cosmetics. Common ingredients used in home made facials are eggs, lemon, milk, honey, cucumber, tomato, essential oils and lots more fruits, herbs and other ingredients.

The assumption I had was that home made cosmetics, being all natural and preservative free were much safer than the commercial masks you found in stores. A wrong assumption. You know the saying. Never assume anything. It makes an ASS of U and ME. Did you know some of the deadliest poisons on earth are 100% natural?

There are complaints about preservatives irritating the skin and all that. That may be true especially for a person with very sensitive skin. But preservatives actually make cosmetics safe to use. Preservatives kill or at very least, inhibit the bacteria, mold, viruses and nasty things that would otherwise thrive in the cosmetics we use. Commercial preparations usually contain some preservative or other to make these products safe for use. Some of the very high end cosmetic formulations are packed in sterile capsules to do away with or at least, minimimize, the need for preservatives.

If you make your own skin care for use later in the week, chances are, unless you are anal about sterilizing everything and freezing every batch once it has cooled, thawing it only when you are going to use it, and keeping your cosmetics away from the raw meat in the freezer, eventually, you could find yourself using contaminated home made cosmetics, which could lead to a skin irritation.

I used to make my own skin care but found all the precautions I had to take such a hassle, now I buy mine off the shelves.

Even if you make your facial products for immediate use, you have to be careful about using only the freshest ingredients. A mouldy fruit or anything that is spoilt can lead to disastrous results on your skin.

Then there is the safety of the ingredients used in your skincare products.

I once told a pharmacist about the lemon remedy I was using on my pimples. She was horrified. Lemons are highly acidic. Lemon juice is pH 2. Sulphuric acid is pH 1. Lemons can cause a nasty acid burn if you are not careful.

We had a discussion about this. She told me about a customer who showed up with an acid burn. Turns out, she had a sunburn. Back in Australia, she would soothe that sunburn by rubbing cut cucumber over her skin. The juices would ease the sunburn. This time around, she was unlucky. The cucumber she used was more acidic than the ones she was used to and she ended up with a really nasty acid burn.

Though cucumber is soothing, cucumber contains Alpha Hydroxy Acids as do most fruit and some of the other ingredients used in homemade beauty recipes.

You see, in home made skin care, the exact chemical makeup of the ingredients you use may vary, leading to unpleasant results if you are unfortunate. That is why, everytime you make any facial mask, test it on the inside of your wrist first, before you let that mask touch your face.

I was lucky. The lemon facial I did helped clear my skin by killing the bacteria, without burning my skin. The pharmacist said I was fool hardy. As did my cousin who has been making her own beauty products for years already.

Lemon can thin the skin. It is so acidic. The pharmacist thought the other things, like the almond meal I mixed with the lemon juice helped neutralize the extreme acidity. Also, when I used freshly squeezed lemon juice directly on my face, I would dilute it with water first.

Yet the books I read with home made beauty recipes often include lemon in their recipes. After all, lemon has lightening properties. Lemon juice is often used to lighten freckles. Lemon was even recommended in a book by a former model, for use as a toner.

Not all ingredients are that dangerous though. Oats is an excellent ingredient for use in soothing facials. That was recommended to me by a doctor. For my toddler's rash. Cooked oats in a bag in the bath water is a home remedy to soothe itchy skin. Here is a facial that uses oats and rose water. http://www.womanht.com/facials/RoseOatsFacial.htm

A home made face mask can be as simple as putting some mash fruit your face. Fruity facials tried and tested outlines such experiments with fruit.

Different skin types require different ingredients. Dry skin can use richer, nourishing ingredients. Really dry skin would love the moisturizing effect of sweet almond oil or olive oil. Oily skin, on the other hand would break out in pimples if you try massaging these oils on your face. What works for your best friend may be disastrous on you.

The easiest thing to do nowadays is to simply buy a great mask for your skin type off the shelf for your home facial. I use commercial masks these days after some disastrous experiments trying to find new ingredients for new home made facial masks for my site. The successful facials were published with at http://www.womanht.com/facials/.

The writer is the writer of the articles in Home Made Facials.

There is no denying that we live in a world of convenience. Our daily lives depend on gadgets and devices such as the ubiquitous mobile phone, the trustworthy PDA, and our cars that we cannot live without.

It is no wonder that the indoor tanning salon got invented. People who want to get darker are bound to look for a better way to get a nice, even tan, without the complexities, inconvenience and danger of the open sun.

These days, tanning salons are full-fledged establishments with top-of-the-line tanning products and equipment. Although you are paying for something that you can technically get for free, you receive in return a more even tan in a much more shorter time-frame. Ever spend three hours in the sun just waiting for the perfect tan? Well, look forward to spending twenty minutes in a tanning saloon for even better results.

Whichever salon you frequent should have experienced, trained staff that can guide and give you advice on the maximum exposure time that you should have. Look out also for what to do in case of emergencies and also check if they provide protective gear, e.g. protective eyewear. Ensure that the salon’s policy after a customer leaves also includes sanitizing the tanning bed surface and eyewear. Trust me when I say that you do not want to lie on a sweaty, bacteria-filled bed surface.

Of course like the sun, tanning beds still emit the ultra-violet (UV) rays UV A, UV B, and UV C, so you have to watch your exposure. Many people think that just because it is a semi-artificial and human-controlled method, that it is safer and less dangerous. It is not. You still have to be careful and take care of your skin.

By practicing smart tanning in moderation, people can derive the best out of a tan. To tan smart, use a good lotion, wear protective eyewear, and never let yourself burn. After your tanning session, try to apply moisturizers liberally to replace the moisture lost.

Alvin Poh believes that a tan can make someone look healthier and livelier. Find out more about tanning beds or the popular Wolff Tanning Bed, and learn to tan smart!

So, you want a tanning bed. You can purchase tanning beds for home use or for a salon. When you want to purchase tanning beds know what you are looking for. If you are in the market to purchase tanning beds do some comparison shopping.

There are many tanning beds for sale and when you are ready to purchase tanning beds you should know how much you want to spend and what features you want on the beds.

You may be able to purchase tanning beds at a better price when you need more than one.

When you are ready to purchase tanning beds look online and compare prices. There are many sites that will have this information and it will be easier to purchase tanning beds when you know you are getting the best price possible.

What features are you looking for when you are going to purchase tanning beds? What is important to you in the way of UVA and UVB rays? These rays vary and when you want to purchase tanning beds this may be an area to look at.

Lamps are another area that you may want to familiarize yourself with if you are planning to purchase tanning beds. How long will they last and how much do they cost? These are questions you will want the answers to if you are ready to purchase tanning beds.

Also check out the warranties offered when you are ready to purchase tanning beds. Some companies offer really good warranties.

Before you purchase tanning beds for home or salon use you should also know what maintenance is needed. Are the beds mostly maintenance-free and if not can you do the work yourself?

Be informed and look around before you purchase tanning beds.

Timothy Gorman is a successful Webmaster and publisher of Tanning-Bed-Solutions.com. He provides more tanning bed information on tanning bed bulbs, tanning bed lotions and home tanning bed information that you can research in your pajamas on his website.

The other day, I indulged in one of my many guilty pleasures. Specifically, I watched a programme called "Face Lifts From Hell."

Like many factual programmes, you can learn a little something from "Face Lifts from Hell", and tonight I took away this little nugget: It's not immigrants or asylum seekers that are putting a drain on the national health service. It's idiots from this country.

One woman on tonight's programme (and I don't want to appear misogynistic, but there were no men featured; draw your own conclusions) went on a surgery holiday. The basic premise is that you go on a package trip with a group of other desperate people, and they cart you off to Poland to have various bits of your anatomy sucked, snipped, sliced and tightened.

This woman, who, due to numerous face-lifts, looked like she was constantly hurtling forwards at about 97 miles an hour, had some sort of breast-enhancement and, after surgery, was taken to a small apartment in a block with all the other patients and left there to recuperate. She was essentially dumped in a flat in Poland and left to her own devices with a group of equally vacuous and recently-mutilated women.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, she contracted an infection.

She then came back to the UK and, at a cost of £5,000, had to have things fixed. (Her bosom was left comically lopsided, to my great amusement, but this is a serious point. Ironically, a serious point is also what one of her boobs was left with.)

If this was an isolated case I could let the matter go, but the entire programme was like a hit parade of idiots who now had bodies as defective looking as their brains almost certainly are.

One woman - I swear this is the truth - was talked into cosmetic surgery by a travelling face-lift salesman. I'm not making this up. Someone came to this woman's door and convinced her to get a face-lift she didn't really want. I have enough trouble figuring out how my dad always seems to end up with windows and bank accounts he didn't have any intention of aquiring after someone knocks on the door, but how in the name of all that is holy can you even consider listening to someone who goes door to door trying to convince people to be drugged to unconsciousness so that a stranger can slice into them and pull their skins on tighter?! Am I the only one who would hear alarm bells ringing in my head if this happened to me?! Possibly, yes, as this woman leapt at the chance and was genuinely surprised when things ended in tears.

Another woman travelled from Turkey for liposuction, and woke up a week later in a different hospital with what can only be described as a seam. She now looks like you could unzip her and keep pencils in her stomach. Apparently the surgeon, who, wouldn't you know it, had a history of this sort of thing, botched the operation, severed an artery, and had to rush her to a (stop me if you see this coming) NHS hospital for treatment.

While I'm ranting, I may as well mention the lap dancer who wanted her breasts increased from a B cup to a C. She woke up with an F (am I the only one who pictures her relatives standing around with deeply interested looks and yelling "SURPRISE!" as she comes to?) and as a result could no longer lap-dance. Not to fear. She's since become a teacher. Perhaps this goes some way to explaining the state of the education system, too, but that's another story.

Our penultimate contestant tonight was a heavy smoker with a heart condition (who, funnily enough, was starting to look a little aged.) She was, to be charitable, nothing special to look at anyway. She also happened to neglect to mention her heavy smoking and heart problems to her surgeon, and ended up having a stroke from the stress of the procedure. What a shocker.

However, our prize winner tonight was a woman who had two children and put on weight (she actually put on the equivalent amount of weight of two ten-year-old children, by my calculation) and was offered a stomach reduction and lyposuction on (just the girls! People on the left! All together!) the NHS. Her operation wound became infected, and she contracted gangrene. But this isn't the end of the story. Oh no. After three days, she was allowed home, and was, in her own words, in agony. She then suffered several fits. This, I'm sure you'll agree, is where most of us would plan a return to the hospital. Instead, without going into the exquisite and mind-numbingly sickening detail she indulged in, she waited a further five days (with her condition becoming progressively worse) and nearly died.

Now, is it me, or is there a pattern, here? From what I can see, the sort of people who have cosmetic surgery are the same sort of people who travel to a Polish ghetto for operations, accept advice from travelling facelift salesmen, who don't think that mentioning your liability to have a heart attack mid-operation is anything to trouble your doctor with, and decide that having a series of fits following an operation should be considered a "wait and see" sort of situation.

People who go in for cosmetic surgery, by and large, are stupid.

Now, I'm not for a moment suggesting that there aren't good reasons. If you've been burned or damaged in some severe way that wasn't your fault, or if your body really does look terrible for whatever reason, I can understand the desire to do something about it. Otherwise, here's a pretty solid, iron-clad law of physics from someone who was a straight C student in science: People get older!! Believe it or not (you probably will, I'm quite dull) you've aged since you started reading this. Yeah, you. You, there, in the chair, looking at the screen with the slightly slack-jawed expression you didn't realise you adopted when you read things.

Most people just accept it and move on with things.

If you can't, here's the first of my tips: Stop smoking. Without exception, every single woman of 50-something I've ever seen cram her flabby, drooping body into an outfit far too low, high, tight and stretchy for her has also had a cigarette in her mouth. And too much makeup, but one thing at a time. If you want to stay young-looking, stop poisoning your lungs and skin with nicotine. It'll do you wonders.

Secondly, here's my tip for losing weight without having to have a vacuum cleaner inserted into any orifices or incisions. It's a simple equation: Less food, more exercise. Or, even, equal it out. Exercise proportionate to how much you're eating. Keep an eye out for this, you'd be surprised how many fat people seem oblivious to this law.

As soon as people start to accept that shit (and age) happens, and begin to look after themselves, they'll stop being a drain on the NHS from their botched face-lifts ("Who knew 'Crazy Achmed' wasn't a reputable surgeon?!") and everyone else with real injuries might get some frigging treatment.

This, more than anything else, is the problem with the world today. Years of increased convenience (remember when you had to walk to a certain part of the house just to make a phone call?!) has left western humanity softer than an impotent marshmallow and just desperate for someone or something to blame, and for someone or something else to fix it. "I'm 50 and don't look as good as I did at 19! There must be someone to blame and some procedure I can have!" It's just going to happen, people, and until we all start to face up to the simple and oft-overlooked fact that life has a habit of sucking, we'll never get anywhere. And the people who can't accept that, of course, also can't accept it when their desperate, sad attempts to beat the cosmic house fail, and so they complain about that. I guess, at the end of the day, I'm trying to get across a simple message: You were the one who chose to have that operation, madam, and if it doesn't turn out well, there's nobody to blame but yourself.

Incidentally, I have another weight loss tip. If you can't bear to exercise and cut back on what you eat, just smoke yourself thin. You'll look old, but I can give you the number of a really good plastic surgery salesman. Honest. He's just knocking on the door, now...

Luke Haines

If you have made the decision to undergo cosmetic surgery, then you have clearly done a cost benefit analysis and decided that the large expense of having a plastic surgery operation done does not outweigh the benefits to be accrued from the plastic surgery. If you are so unhappy with some physical feature that you think about it all the time or it inhibits you from living a full, successful life, or if you have a special occasion coming up and want to enhance your appearance for it, or you are in pain that could be alleviated through plastic surgery, then the benefits of plastic surgery could be great.

Now you want to get the most bang for your buck. You want the best doctor to perform your surgery. You want a board certified plastic surgeon so you can trust that the person operating on you has had training and experience. You also want to find a surgeon who specializes in the area of plastic surgery that you want a procedure. Some return patients may want to find a single doctor to trust who can do all of the procedures that they may want done over the course of their life. Others may want a specialized doctor because if, for example, you want botox treatment, a plastic surgeon who focuses only on skin and facial procedures will be better practiced and perhaps a better choice than a doctor who performs a wide range of procedures and perhaps spends more time doing breast augmentation than botox.

Cosmetic surgery is expensive, and prices vary according to region and . On average procedures run:

Forehead Lifts: $3000

Facelift, Neck Lift: $3000 – $12,000

Blepharoplasty (Eyelids): $1500 - $7000

Eyelid Ptosis: $3250

Lip Enhancement: $300 - $5000

Rhinoplasty (Nose): $3000 – $12,000

Otoplasty (Ears) $2800 - $4500

Torn Earlobe Repair: $450 - $650

Inverted Nipple Sculpture: $1400

Breast Lift: $2800 - $9000

Breast Augmentation: $5000 - $7000

Breast Reduction: $4200 – $10,000

Gynecomastia: $2700 - $9000

Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck): $3800 - $9000

Naval Surgery: $1800

Thigh Lift: $3500

Arm Lift: $2750

Liposuction: $1800 – $10,000

Find a qualified Cosmetic Surgeon in Your Area at http://www.sleepingswan.com

When there is easy way to do your aromatherapy skin care at home, why do you have to do it outside your house. You can save money and you can treat your skin properly. You will look fresh and your skin will be healthy although you do it at home.

The important message is that you must not careless with your skin. Although you feel you have complexion and glowing skin, you must understand that’s not forever. You still need to care your skin in order to be healthy because the longer you allow your skin to go without caring, the longer it will get damage. Well, aromatherapy skin care is a good choice.

Why do skins get damage? There are different causes, but generally your skin gets damaged because of allergic, make-up you wear and the sun exposure you endure or maybe stress. In order to control your skin, better you do your aromatherapy skin care since early age so your skin will last you a very long time.

You can do it at home using your aromatherapy skin care or other natural stuffs. Without leaving the comfort of your own home you can relax your body and mind, and also makes your skin better and healthy. Let go of stress. Stress can show up on your face, no matter how well you take care of your skin. Escape from everyday stress with these great home spa ideas that promise to rejuvenate, and renew your natural beauty.

Okay, here are a few tips of aromatherapy skin care that you might want to try at home:

- Use herbs or essential oils for a scent-sational soak in the tub that will melt away your worries and get you ready for your day of pampering.

- Use skin softener and lubricant of sweet almond oil for massage or otherwise applied to the skin. It contains vitamins A, B1, B2 and B6 and some vitamin.

- Steam your face before you do treatment to your facial skin by just standing in the shower for an extra minute or two. This will help to open your pores and improve the effectiveness of your chosen facial treatment.

- Cleanse your face to remove bacteria with aromatherapy skin care that give you natural herbal scent.

- After you are ready, put masker on your face. There is one great fruit masker for all skin types, the papaya facial. You can just mash up a fresh papaya and sieve into a bowl. Pat onto clean skin, leaving on for 10-15 minutes and then rinse with warm water, followed by cold water to close pores.

- To relieve puffiness, reduce fine lines and revitalize the sensitive skin around the eyes, you are suggested to use cold compresses. Anything cool will work well.

Everything is so easy. You can do all your aromatherapy for your skin care just from your house. This will be more convenience since you can order your aromatherapy stuff from the Internet. Life has spoilt you, isn’t it?

About The Author: Martha Carles knows aromatherapy very well. She has helped people with aromatherapy. You can visit her Website: MyAromatherapyGuide.com at http://www.myaromatherapyguide.com

A few years ago I discovered how to make a simple facial mask that left my face feeling incredibly soft, smooth and looking absolutely radiant. This mask contains kelp, honey, and aloe vera.

Seaweeds have been traditionally used to detoxify the body both internally and externally. They are rich in nutrients which help to both tone and nourish the skin. Seaweed contain mineral salts that can help the skin to hold it’s moisture better, which helps to smooth fine lines.

Adding honey to your mask adds additional moisture to the skin. Honey is a natural humectant that is rich in vitamins, minerals, enzymes and sugar. The sugar and enzymes in honey is a gentle exfoliate for the skin. When possible use raw honey to ensure that you get the maximum quality and benefit of this wonderful golden treat.

Aloe Vera has been known for its amazing healing properties for centuries. It has been used to help heal burns, eczema, sores, acne, insect bites, and more. It’s an antiseptic, highly lubricant, and penetrates deep into the skin.

To benefit from these ingredients, create this simple mask:

1 TBSP Kelp powder
½ TBSP honey (raw honey is best)
½ TBSP Aloe vera gel (99.9% pure)

Mix all ingredients in a bowl and apply to a clean face. Leave the mask on for 15 minutes and rinse with lukewarm water.

To enjoy glowing, healthy looking skin, use this mask 2 times a week.

I promise you will enjoy this mask and make it a regular part of your beauty program.

Danielle Sims explored her library of alternative health, herbal books, and aromatherapy books and created a blueprint for making her own body wrap formulas at home. Now she offers this information in an e-book entitled Wrap Yourself Slim: Body Wrap Exposed. Monthly newsletter is also available at her web site. For more information go to http://www.wrapyourselfslim.com

Commercial tanning beds come in two basic formats. Horizontal tanning beds are the tanning beds you most often see in both residential and commercial settings. These capsule or clamshell tanning beds consist of a lid lined with tubular ultraviolet lamps, and a glass or plastic “bench” contoured for optimal relaxation. Simply lie down, close the lid, and allow the UV light to penetrate your skin. Turn your body over one time halfway through your session for even tanning.

Vertical tanning beds are also known as tanning booths or stand-ups. The interior is lined with ultraviolet light bulbs in a 360 pattern. Just step inside and close the door. Since your body is exposed to UV light on all sides, there is no need to turn your body over halfway through your session; therefore a tanning booth tans twice as fast as a clamshell tanning bed.

High-pressure tanning beds blast you with more tanning rays (UVA) and fewer burning rays (UVB). The lamps are made of quartz, which allows their internal air pressure to be higher than conventional ultraviolet lamps, thus filtering out more unwanted UVB rays. High-pressure tanning beds sport a sleek, “open cage” construction with no doors. They are suited to intermediate and dark skin tones. Most commercial tanning beds include high-pressure lamps at least in the face area.

All UV lamps are marked with a UVB percentage. For example, a lamp marked 5%UVB emits five percent UVB rays and ninety-five percent UVA rays. This is a particularly low UVB percentage, which means that tans produced by its radiation will be brown and not burned. This is a good thing.

Most UV lamps have a lifetime between 500 and 1000 hours. However, you should replace the lamps at half depletion, since the quality of their light weakens over time.

The FDA requires that all commercial tanning beds include a timer that automatically turns the lamps off at the set time.

The newest technological advance in commercial tanning beds is cooling systems, which keep you even more comfortable during tanning.

Tanning Beds Info provides detailed information about home, commercial, and wholesale tanning beds for sale, as well as tanning bed lotion and other products and accessories. Tanning Beds Info is the sister site of Sunless Tanning Web.

Testimonials on Permanent Makeup

I first thought about getting permanent eyeliner because I had problems with getting it on and getting it to stay on. I was very nervous about having something ‘permanent’ done. But I went ahead and looked into it. I went on line and found several web sites on permanent make up. Nancy’s web site was the best I saw, she had a lot of before and after photos, and several great credentials listed. I called Nancy and she was very informative and I could tell she knew what she was talking about. Nancy made me feel comfortable with my decision to get permanent eyeliner. (She told me I would love it, and I do!)

I loved her work and the way she worked so much that I wanted to get my lips colored. Nancy helped me to decide on a good lip color for my skin and now I don’t even need to wear lipstick! Nancy again did an awesome job!

Well there was only one thing left, my brows. I was a bit nervous about having my brows done, but I trusted Nancy’s work. I now have my brows done, and of course they look great.

I can’t say enough about how happy I am with all three procedures, and the way Nancy spends her time to do it right and how you like it. I am constantly bragging to everyone about Nancy and how much I love my permanent make up! I would recommend Nancy for permanent make up to anyone who wants to look good all the time!

Tami in Huntington Beach, CA

I love my new permanent makeup. I now have the choice of not having to add makeup if I don't feel like it. I was always so self conscience about having no brows (plucked them out when I was a teenager and they never grew back). The eyeliner enhanced my eyes and makes my eyes look so natural. I actually feel younger and look younger!

Nancy is very patient and stops very often during the procedure so you can see how it's coming along. She is very conscientious about having everything clean and sterile. Initially there is a little discomfort but it goes away after the topical is applied. She is thorough when explaining the procedure so you know what she will be doing and it makes you feel more at ease.

E.M.in Newport Beach, CA

When I set out to produce a show about spa living, I knew one of the segments would have to be about permanent make-up. I scoured the Web and found a plethora of artists...especially in the Los Angeles and Orange County areas. I decided I would choose an artist by using a single criterion: Who would I choose to work on me? When I found alwayslookyourbest.com, I was impressed with the professionalism portrayed through the site. The “before and after” pictures were believable. The explanations were understandable. And mostly, Nancy’s credentials were impressive. After speaking on the phone, I knew I had the right person for the segment. On the day of the shoot, Nancy and her subject showed up early and prepared. She was accommodating and professional. The segment went perfectly, shot in only one take. And perhaps most importantly, the procedure Nancy performed looked great!

David Winter
Executive Producer
WinterMedia, Inc.

Looks great!! This is the only way to describe the transformation from no color and constant daily attention of applying eyeliner. I LOVE THE RESULTS!! The process was time efficient and relatively painless. Nancy was very cautious about the delicate area of the eyes. She constantly asked if I was feeling any discomfort. Have recommended several friends and business associates to her. Like some many things, I wish I had done this years ago. My only regret is that I can't give blood for one year. The American Red Cross still has a rule on tattoo's. Somehow the medical reasons for permanent makeup and tattoo's on the rest of the body do not equate in my mind. Nancy's business is conducted in an office environment with the cleanliness of any medical facility. Don't hesitate to have permanent make-up!!

KH Newport Beach, CA

My name is Pamela, a 44-year old resident of Long Beach, who contacted Nancy LaTouche in late 2002 to solicit her help in trying to reverse facial scars created by a dermabrasion surgery. Having paid thousands of dollars for dermabrasion surgery to improve my skin, and ending up with horrific, indented scars, you can imagine my outrage and depression as I labored to find solutions to this unexpected debacle. The doctor who scarred me was of no help, in fact, he refused to even address the matter with me. Hence, I was left to my own devices to try and find scar revision techniques.

One such technique is that of "needling", wherein the scar tissue is "needled" numerous times with the type of small needles used in permanent makeup artistry. In researching this technique, I found Nancy's website on line, and was immediately impressed by her thoroughness and professionalism. I called Nancy to explain my situation, and was humbled by her compassionate response and willingness to devote her time and expertise in trying to help me. Nancy explained that she had not, personally, performed needling (in fact, most such professionals have not done so), yet she jumped in with both feet to research the matter, emailed knowledgeable contacts, and invested long hours in studying this matter.

We eventually met at her offices for a "test run" in needling several scars. Nancy had read up on numerous articles and documents about this technique, so as to be well versed in its application. She spent a good 2 hours meeting with me and performing the test run, all the while demonstrating the utmost in professionalism, care and concern. Despite her many hours devoted to my problem, Nancy charged me only a fraction of her usual fee. She has since been in touch regularly to check up on my healing and progress, and continues to offer leads into scar revision techniques for me.

I cannot say enough about the care, professionalism and expertise demonstrated by Nancy LaTouche, and feel blessed to have met this exceptional woman.

Pamela A. in Long Beach, cA

***

Nancy is Board Certified by the American Academy of Micropigmentation, a member in good standing with the Society of Permanent Cosmetic Professionals and is current writing a book on what she learned in permanent makeup to be published on her website around March 2005. See http://www.alwayslookyourbest.com for more information, before and after photos and much, much more!

Today when we want to try out a skin care product, we immediately think of 'which one will I buy'. It wasn't that long ago when the only option available was to make your own skin care treatments. Of course there are many excellent commercial skin care products who have thousands of adoring customers. If you wanted something different, something more holistic or even organic, there are companies who produce these items as well. What if you wanted to go an even more all natural route and create your own skin care regimen at home?

Well, obviously, to do that you would need to manufacture all the skin care products yourself. A typical skin care regimen consists of first exfoliating your skin, followed by a nice cleanser. Next, applying a toner helps really condition and clean the skin. Lastly, a good moisturizer helps leave the skin smooth and silky. So, knowing that, all one needs to do is find recipes for each of these steps in the process. Note: If you prefer an organic option, make sure all the produce in the following recipes is organic.

Home Made Lemon Exfoliator:
Take one lemon and cut in half and juice it. Save the lemon halves to rub on your elbows, knees and bottoms of your heels (anywhere you have thick skin). Combine the lemon juice with 1/2 to 2/3 cups of granulated sugar. Take this mixture and rub it all over your body while standing in the tub or shower. Once you have completely rubbed the paste all over your skin (take care on your face and avoid using it near your eyes), rinse your body.

Home Made Facial Cleanser:
Take 1 cup of roll oats or oatmeal and add it to a blender. Process it for a few seconds to soften the flakes. Do not process it to a powder. In a bowl, add the processed oats and 1 tablespoon of granulated salt or sugar. To this mixture, add 1/4 cup of farina. To use it, splash your face with lukewarm water. With your wet fingers, take the mixture from the bowl and rub it on your skin. Take care not to stretch the skin and remember to be gentle. Rinse with splashes of lukewarm water. Do not use every day.

Home Made Apple Toner:
This is a very simple toner recipe. Take 1 apple. You may want to experiment with different varieties till you find the one that suits you best. Start with perhaps a green apple, like a Granny Smith. Remove the core and skin of the apple. Place the apple, chopped into quarters, into a blender with 1 to 2 tablespoons of honey. Puree the mixture. Gently spread the mixture all over your face and let it rest for 12 to 15 mins. Rinse it off with lukewarm water and gently pat your skin dry.

Home Made Moisturizing Cream:
Take a ripe avocado and slice it in two lengthwise. Remove the pit and discard. Take only half the avocado and place in a glass bowl. To that, add 1 to 1.5 tablespoons of wheat germ oil. Mix this well. Apply it to your skin and let it set for 15 to 20 mins. Rinse it off with lukewarm water.

Forget the pharmacy, you can make your own skin care regimen with house hold items you may already have in your kitchen. If you have problems with your skin such as sensitivity or allergic reactions, make sure to test the recipes using a small area first before applying to the rest of your skin. If you truly have a serious skin condition you may need to consult with your local or online dermatologist for advice and treatment.

Taking care of your skin early on in your life is the best way to prevent premature aging of your skin. Our goal is to provide information and resources for you to find anti-aging skin care and wrinkle protection at any age. Visit Anti Aging Skin Care for more information on acne skin care and wrinkle reduction.

Your skin is your armor, your shield from the elements. Yet when was the last time you really thought about what you need to do to take care of it? Throughout your life, genetic and environmental factors will cause a lot of wear and tear to your skin. But you are never too young or too old to start taking care of your skin. In fact, skin care and protection should be an essential part of your health, fitness, and beauty regime. If you take care of your skin, your skin will take care of you! If your stuck in a skin care rut, or if you are just looking to learn a bit more about the basics of skin care, read on to learn more about this important step in your daily activities.

The Essentials of Skin Care

The first step to taking care of your skin is preventing damage. Sun, wind, pollutants, and simply aging can degrade the condition of your skin. Common complaints include dry and itchy skin, wrinkles, sagging, color changes, and age spots. There are steps that you can take to keep you skin looking and feeling its best.

Exercise, rest, and good nutrition lay the foundation for beautiful, healthy skin, inside and out. A proper diet is not only good for your overall health, it also helps to ensure that your skin will receive all of the vitamins, minerals, and nutrients that it needs to maintain and repair cells. Drinking purified water is another good way to keep your skin healthy. Water helps to hydrate the skin and move waste and nutrients through the system. It is very effective mixing a teaspoon or capful of Organic Apple Cider Vinegar in with your water. Do not drink Tap Water.

The most important way to care for your skin is to protect it from the damaging rays of the sun. Ultraviolet radiation damages the skin and can lead to wrinkles, premature aging, age spots, and cancer. Take extra precautions to make sure your skin is not exposed to the sun’s rays. Use a natural sunscreen, or a moisturizer that contains sunscreen (at least SPF 15) everyday. Your skin does need some sunlight – 10-15 minutes of direct exposure daily.

Dry skin is very common, especially with age. Older skin has fewer sweat and oil glands than younger skin. Dry skin may be caused by frequent baths, certain cosmetics or medications. But whatever the cause, there are ways to alleviate the itchiness associated with it. Avoid using harsh soaps when bathing, and if possible, cut back on the number of baths or showers each week. A sponge bath with warm water may help to clean and revive skin without stripping the skin of its valuable moisturizers. When you do use soap, try using a natural very mild soap that does not contain any dyes, parabens or perfumes. Follow up the bath with a moisturizing lotion like Parfait Visage, concentrating on problem dry areas. A good all natural moisturizer is one of the foundations for a healthy skin care regimen. Continue moisturizing throughout the day to keep skin healthy. Your hands and face are particularly susceptible to daily damage, and may need to be moisturized several times.

A Skin Care Routine

A skin care routine does not have to be elaborate in order to be effective. But you should develop some kind of skin care routine based on your skin type, daily activities, and nutritional needs so that you can be sure you are taking the very best care of your skin. Following a daily skin care regime will also allow you to more closely evaluate your skin for abnormalities. Here's a simple routine that you can adapt to fit your needs:

1. Cleanse: Wash your skin thoroughly on a daily basis to remove the dirt, debris, pollutants, and perspiration that accumulates on a daily basis. If you have dry or sensitive skin, use only warm water to wash your skin and use a mild natural cleanser every few days like the product Oxy-Skin. If you have normal or oily skin, be sure to wash with a gentle cleanser on a daily basis. Be sure to brush your teeth before washing your face, as toothpaste residue can irritate sensitive facial skin. 2. Moisturize: Unless your skin is very oily, you will want to use a moisturizer everyday to keep your skin hydrated and healthy. Your skin needs moisturizer all year long as both the indoor winter heat, and summer sun can be equally damaging to your skin. The most advanced product is “Parfait Visage” which is used for the face. 3. Protect: Use a natural sunscreen when possible, regardless of whether or not you plan on spending much time in the sun. The sun's rays are very damaging and if you get in the habit of applying sunscreen everyday, you will never be left without protection. The suns most beneficial rays occur at sunrise and sunset.

Skin Care Products

There are several types of skin care products that may make a useful additional to your daily skin care. These include cleansers, sunscreens, moisturizers, exfoliants, facial cleansers, toners, retonoids, herbal and nutrient supplements, and cosmetics.

To learn more visit http://www.skin-care-support.org.

Dr. Group, the founder/CEO and clinical director for the Global Healing Center, heads a research and development team producing advanced, new, natural health protocols and products. To learn more visit http://www.ghchealth.com.

You have long hair and you are ready for an updo or “long hair” service and you go to a full service salon and what – they don’t offer “long hair” service. Guess its not so full service after all. So you go to another beautician and they don’t know what to do either. Why is that? Some of the reasons hairstylists don’t offer “long hair” or updo service is because:

None of their clients have long hair
Never learned how
Takes too long
Learned, tried it, but got out of practice and forgot
Too confusing

To the hairstylist, watching is easy. But when you are actually doing the work, it becomes confusing. It’s hard for a hairstylist to get and keep clients. If you are able to offer total hair services, including long hair, then you’ll be keeping new clients instead of sending them away. One way to help you get over some of the points listed above is to practice on a wig or mannequin. When you are in-between appointments, this will offer you practice to gain confidence and allows you to display your work to your customers.

If you are good at long hair, then you need to be the hairstylist that your competitors send their customers to. Advertise that you do long hair. There are plenty that don’t do long hair and this approach may get you the client list you need.

Let the bridal shops know you are available, along with the formal dress shops. Girls going to prom always want fancy hairstyles. Offer your services free to the bridal show as a promotion for your business. This helps you gain more updo customers and helps the bridal shop. Win-win.

You can also create a photo album of the mannequins you have been practicing on, or on customers. This will give prospective customers your ability and creativity level. Another idea is to work with a clothing store on their special event or sale days – and offer your services to attract customers. You can make these books up inexpensively with a digital camera and color copies. Have them bound with some of your business cards and ask if you can display them at the bridal shops.

Complimentary cards are very good, too. You can offer a discount on the back of the card. When a client gets their hair done, then give them some cards to hand out when they are asked where they got such a cute hairstyle. This works especially well at high schools before proms and dances. As always, if they don’t need long hair services, they will probably pass the card onto a friend.

How much should you charge or expect to pay for long hair or updo services? Well, its different all over the country, but in general, the price should be at least $5 over the normal hairstyle whether it’s a shampoo and blowdry. Be prudent in your pricing as if you get a client that will only require 15 minutes for a braid or a quick updo, then you may not want to charge more.

Stuart Simpson
Pictures of Updo hairstyles at:
http://www.formal-tuxedo.com

Have you ever known a sun worshipper, one of those people who can never seem to get a dark enough tan? They are always looking for that new product that will break their newest tanning plateau and deepen their color even more. Some of them are the lucky few who's skin tans easily. They rarely burn, and after a few hours in the sun, will emerge looking like most of us would after a long Caribbean vacation. The rest of us though, are left to envy these lucky few, as we know darn well a few hours in the sun will wreak at least a week's worth of peeling, dry, red havoc on our skin, not to mention the multitude of fine lines and wrinkles that will surely follow.

That is, until the past few years have produced the latest and greatest generation of self tanning products. No longer do you have to suffer the unnatural orange color, the intensely unpleasant odor, or the unsightly fading of the old self tanners. Today's self tanners, at least the quality ones, are formulated to give every user an even, natural tan that lasts longer, has a deep brown undertone rather than orange or red, and fades just like a real tan.

There are even several good "spray" self tanning services offered by many tanning salons for those who don't feel comfortable with self application. I've only personally tried the Mystic Tan salon service, and it does look quite good for about two days, but it fades in to what looks similar to age spots or freckles (NOT very attractive I can assure you). It also can have quite an overpowering smell depending on how much of the active ingredient (DHA) the particular salon has the device set to. Unfortunately, the better your tan, the stronger the smell, as this is the DHA at work giving your skin the darker appearance.

The most effective, longest lasting self tanners that produce the most beautiful color are the self tanning creams (for recommendations and reviews visit http://www.cosmeticsgalore.com/best-cosmetics-online-reviews.html ). They tend to go on a lot easier, are easily blended, and result in the least amount of streaking and patchiness. The gels, sprays and mousse do not have the same even, natural results that the sunless creams do. You definitely want to go with whatever type you feel most comfortable applying, but the cream form is highly recommended.

There are some very important steps you need to take in order to get the best tan possible. The first step prior to applying the self tanner is EXFOLIATION. I've found that if I skip this step, the tan fades a lot faster, and tends to not blend as well. By exfoliating thoroughly in the shower, you are providing the self tanning cream a clean slate for maximum adhesion and staying power. Also, use a makeup sponge to apply the self tanner to the tops of your hands after you have washed them, as well as to your face for a more blended, natural look. Be sure to get everywhere - behind your ears, the back of your neck, etc. Try to have the very little clothing on for as long as you can right after application, as DHA is activated by oxygen, and will work better if it has more circulation during the activation phase. Once this application has dried for a few hours, you may apply a second coat if you would like to achieve a darker color. Just don't overdo it. To maintain the tan, reapplication should occur every 3-4 days.

With these excellent products and the gorgeous results they produce, there is simply no excuse to repeatedly subject your skin to the sun's damaging rays again. With the new sunless tanners, you can be tan year round AND maintain your skin's youthful and vibrant appearance. It is truly a win/win situation.

About The Author

Danna Schneider is the webmaster of the beauty review and advice website CosmeticsGalore.com ( http://www.cosmeticsgalore.com ). She is a cosmetics and beauty product researcher and enthusiast.

admin@cosmeticsgalore.com

One of the most important roles of our skin is to protect our ‘insides’ from the external environment, acting both as a barrier and a filter between ‘outside’ and ‘inside’. In addition, the skin is involved in regulating our body’s temperature, like when we have a fever or we’re physically working hard, we tend to sweat, which is the body’s way to attempt to lower the temperature.

Another important role of our skin is to protect us from harmful substances entering our body, and in eliminating toxins. This takes workload off our Liver and Kidneys to filter out by-products from our body’s metabolism. The skin also breathes!

Hormones, Sweat glands and pH

The pores of our skin are made up of a combination of oil and sweat glands (sebaceous and sudoriferous glands) helping to keep our skin healthy and elastic. An excessive sebum secretion is often associated with oily skin and acne. This is particularly common in adolescents as the increased levels of sex hormones stimulate sebum production and secretion. When in balance, the combined excretion of oil and sweat from the skin’s pores has a pH of about 5.5.

The Acid Mantle, Age and the importance of the skin's pH

This slightly acidic layer, also referred to as the “Acid Mantle”, is our body’s first defence mechanism against bacteria invading it and is not a favourable environment bacterial growth to occur. This defence layer develops at puberty, which is why children are more susceptible to disease, viruses and fungal infections such are ringworm. The pH of children’s skin is closer to neutral (pH 7).

At puberty, however, we start to produce more hair on our bodies. Hair follicles have an associated sebaceous gland or glands which become active as hair growth increases, causing changes in the skin’s pH. The hormones that control sweat also become active and the whole surface of a teenager’s skin is totally different to that of a young child. This is our body’s way to increase our defence system.

The pH of normal, healthy human skin i