As women are experiencing ever increasing demands on their time, many have opted out of using a toner in their daily skin care regime and only use cleansing and moisturising as the key steps to keeping their skin looking healthy, vibrant and young.

This is however a big mistake, as toning is a very important part of a daily skin care regime. Toning follows the cleansing routine and actually serves some important functions.

1. Toning closes the pores of the skin. Once cleansing of the skin has been completed, the pores tend to be open and therefore slightly enlarged. As a result, moisture can leave the skin, which in return dehydrates the skin. This is not a desired effect on the contrary loss of moisture from the skin is highly undesirable.
2. Closing of the pores has another benefit. It stops dust and other air born particles from settling in the pores and potentially causing problems. In addition, good quality, natural toners are anti-septic and provides moisture and nutrients to the skin, preparing the skin for the third step in a skin care regime - Moisturising.

Some skin care companies have tried to eliminate the need for this step combining the cleansing and toning steps into one step and formulated their cleansers to include toning functions.

Now think about this for a second and you will realise how ridiculous this concept is. A cleanser is supposed to open the pores and remove dirt and stale natural oils from the pores and thus cleansing the skin. A toner, as we discussed above, is designed to close to pores… See the contradiction? It cannot possibly work.

Any astringent (substance that closes the pores) cannot be applied to the skin at the same time as a product that is supposed to open and cleanse the pores. It just does not work. The whole idea is just to market a product to time-poor women by telling them they can combine these to steps and thus save time.

Unfortunately most women do not fully understand just how their skin care products work. They like them, their skin may even look good and the products therefore appear to be doing their job. In reality however, these types of skin care products are only doing a moderate amount of caring for the skin and the bulk of the products do very little at all except look good on the shelf and cost money.

The three steps in any good daily skin care regime must include cleansing, toning and moisturising. In addition, you should always consider using natural skin care products, as there are too many synthetic and artificial chemicals in commercially made skin care products which may actually do you harm.

Let’s look at a natural toner and it’s ingredients to understand how they actually work.

The Wild Herb Toner from Wildcrafted Herbal Products is used for oily skin and has a number of specifically chosen ingredients, which include:

Rosemary, Witch hazel, Juniper Berry and Peppermint. These herbs and essential oils are chosen for their toning and invigorating effects on the skin, while Grapefruit, Niaouli and Sweet Orange refresh the skin and combine to maintain normal sebum (oil) secretion.

As you can see, it is important to understand the functions a particular product is supposed to have and how these functions interact with the other steps in your daily skin care regime. Knowing this you will now probably understand why toning is a necessary part of your daily skin care regime.

Danny Siegenthaler is a doctor of traditional Chinese medicine and together with his wife Susan, a medical herbalist and Aromatherapist, they have created Natural Skin Care Products by Wildcrafted Herbal Products to share their 40 years of combined expertise with you.

Join our Natural Skin Care Newsletter – it’s fun, free and Informative and you receive a free eBook on natural skin care.
© Wildcrafted Herbal Products 2006

If you do not have the money to go to the dentist and have them perform several (sometimes only one, depending on how severe the case is) Tooth Whitening sessions, do not worry about it! You do not even have to go to Wal-Mart to purchase a Tooth Whitening kit. You will have to spend some money though, on whitening toothpaste (I would recommend Colgate Icy Blast 2 in 1 mouthwash toothpaste), mouthwash and floss.

You are probably thinking that this will not work, but just follow along the article and you can easily attain results if you follow the simple and easy instructions. You might have to have patience in order to attain whiter teeth this way (but I will say that it worked rather quickly for me).

All that you need to do is brush your teeth only once more than you already do everyday. For example, let us say that you brush your teeth only once a day only when you wake up in the mornings, brush your teeth before you go to bed as well (remember the whitening toothpaste). Also make sure that you add mouthwash to your routine, this is the main killer for yellow teeth and the creator of a brighter whiter smile. Just gargle for 30 seconds and spit it out! (The longer you gargle, the whiter your teeth will get though). There are some fun Tooth Whitening tips for you!

Maria writes for halibreath.com offering free advice on bad breath. Download your free bad breath bible, and get rid of your bad breath now.

Brief overview of the skin’s functions

The human skin is the largest organ of the human body and plays several vital roles including, protection, sensation, temperature regulation and communication. In addition, it is also capable of healing itself.

I have discussed the anatomy and physiology of the skin in previous articles and will therefore focus on pores and their associated glands of the skin in this article.

There are literally millions of pores covering the surface of our skin and these pores play a very important role in the overall function of the skin and the health of our bodies. Often these skin pores are referred to a sweat glands, however they are more than that.

The microscopic anatomy of skin reflects this functional complexity, with each functional specialization implemented by particular features of cell and tissue structure.

Structurally the skin is basically divided into two layers, the epidermis (outer skin) and the dermis (skin below the surface). The epidermis is the epithelial tissue layer of the skin and contains hair follicles, sebaceous glands, and sweat glands, which originate in the dermis and protrude to the surface of the skin (the epidermis).

Focusing on the pores of the skin, lets look at the Sweat Glands first.

These glands are tubular and their secretory portion originates deep in the dermis. Secretions from these glands reach the skin’s surface via a duct that passes through the dermis and epidermis to the outermost layer of the skin.

The secretory portion of sweat glands is comprised of larger cells than the duct. These cells form a simple cuboidal epithelium, along with interspersed myoepithelial cells, which can expel sweat by contraction.

Cells lining the duct re-absorb certain elements from the fluid, secreted by the secretory portion of the sweat gland, as the fluid passes through the duct. This is primarily to conserve salt.

Sweat glands play a primary role in the body’s temperature regulation by means of a process called evaporative cooling.

There are two types of sweat glands, ordinary eccrine sweat glands found over most of the body and large apocrine sweat glands found in axillary, pubic, and perianal regions.

Sebaceous Glands

Sebaceous glands are part of the pilosebaceous apparatus, which consists of the sebaceous gland, the hair follicle and the hair shaft.

Unlike all other glands, sebaceous glands are holocrine glands, which means they secrete whole cells. The secreted cells are dead by the time they reach the surface of the skin but whilst alive and on their way to the surface, they absorb lipids (triglycerides and free fatty acids, wax esters, squalene, and cholesterol) which are then secreted to the skin’s surface via the lumen (opening/pore) of the hair shaft. The secretion of sebaceous glands is referred to as sebum.

Whilst most of the sebaceous glands are indeed associated with the pilosebaceous apparatus some glands open directly to the surface of the skin such, for example the Meibomian glands of the eyelids.

Sebum secretion is under hormonal control and sebaceous gland development occurs during puberty. Blockage, or excessive build up of sebum can lead to acne which is of primary concern to many teenagers and can reoccur during mid-life as ‘adult acne’.

As mentioned earlier, sebum is composed of triglycerides and free fatty acids, wax esters, squalene, and cholesterol. The secretion of sebum performs several functions. Firstly, the water-holding power of cornified epithelium depends on the presence of these lipids and secondly, sebum protects the skin against fungal and bacterial infections. This is sometimes referred to as the ‘Acid Mantel’ of the skin.

As you can see, the secretions from the pores of the skin are in fact much more than mere sweat and serve some very important functions. The ‘Acid Mantel’ for example is a key immune defence of the body protecting the inside from the external environment and thus reducing the chance of infection.

Danny Siegenthaler is a doctor of traditional Chinese medicine and together with his wife Susan, a medical herbalist and Aromatherapist, they have created Natural Skin Care Products by Wildcrafted Herbal Products to share their 40 years of combined expertise with you.

Join our Natural Skin Care Newsletter – it’s fun, free and Informative and you receive a free eBook on natural skin care.

© Wildcrafted Herbal Products 2006

We can always count on celebrities to serve as guinea pigs for the latest cosmetic and beauty treatments. During the Botox ™ craze, even director Martin Scorsese commented that he couldn’t find actresses who could frown anymore! Perhaps actors, politicians, musicians and the like all grew tired of looking like Stepford wives because the latest cosmetic craze involves Hyaluronic acid, a key component of human tissue, providing the body with essential moisture and a viable way to erase wrinkles without the loss of facial expression. Hyaluronic acid is available in facial injections reportedly favored by celebrities like Charlie Sheen, Tommy Lee Jones and Oprah Winfrey who have chosen Restylane, a Hyaluronic acid wrinkle-filler that works to lift the lip, wrinkle or fold and create volume. Hyaluronic acid injections do not relax muscles but instead “fill in” areas most affected by wrinkles and fine lines.

There are also several new, non-invasive beauty products that contain Hylauronic acid or work to stimulate the body’s own Hyaluronic acid production. Apparently full lips a la Angelina Jolie are a must-have because celebrities of all ages are going gaga for City Lips, a cutting edge product developed by City Lips Cosmetics. The City Lips product stimulates lips to produce their own collagen and Hyaluronic acid, painlessly increasing the size of lips. According to Karen Rauen, Good Housekeeping Institute’s chemistry director, "The City Lips lip plumper, we found, plumps people’s lips an average of three millimeters.” Celebrities like Desperate Housewives stars, Teri Hatcher and Nicolette Sheridan, Jamie Lynn Discala, Virginia Madsen, Melissa Rivers, Angela Bassett, Lacy Chabert, Lake Bell, Eliza Dushku, Bijou Phillips, Haylie Duff, Kathy Griffin, Tracy Ross, Marlee Matlin, Shannon Elizabeth, Michelle Rodriguez, Faith Evans, Giuliana Depandi, Debbie Matenopoulos and Princess Ann Claire, are reportedly huge fans of City Lip Cosmetics.

There are other Hyaluronic acid boosting “lip plumpers” on the cosmetic market including Lucky Lips which allegedly increases Hyaluronic acid levels by 148% just 48 hours after use. Other celeb Hyaluronic acid beauty favorites include Hydrating Gel Cream from Prada Beauty, a lightweight, sheer cream featuring Hyaluronic acid and Rest-A-Line Face Treatment by Joey New York, an anti-aging cream rich with Hyaluronic acid which helps the skin hold 1000 times its weight in water, causing a natural plumping effect. All in all, between facial injections and non-evasive beauty creams, it seems like there is much hope on the frontier for finding that elusive fountain of youth; for celebrities and for common folk, alike!

Hyaluronic Acid Resource is dedicated to promoting an understanding of Hyaluronic acid, a major ingredient in many medical and anti-aging therapies and to highlighting places where you can safely purchase Hyaluronic acid products. For more information go to E-Hyaluronicacid.com

When you call a plastic surgeon to determine the overall cost make sure to ask specifically what is covered in the fee that is quoted to you. You should make sure that the quoted price includes the surgeons fee, as well as covering any fees for the anesthesiologist and operating room.

Many times when receiving a quote they will only inform you of the surgeons fees without telling you that is all they are actually quoting you. when in reality the surgeon’s fee is roughly only 60-80% of the cost for the entire procedure. This is to get you to make an appointment to see the doctor which is when they will tell you the true total cost.

That can be quite different compared to the amount you where told over the phone. It is also wise to ask if the consultation fee itself can be deducted from the total cost. Most reputable surgeons should allow this deduction.

Another potential cost factor to have clarified is, if the surgical process takes longer then is estimated who will burden the extra cost? This can turn out to be a significant extra expenditure. If the surgery is done in a hospital the anesthesia and operating room fees can accrue at an hourly rate.

There are two more issues I would like to mention. It is important to determine if you will be charged for any potential revisional surgery should it be necessary. One hopes they won’t need any revisional surgery done, but it is best to not automatically assume that will be the case. Some cosmetic surgery procedures have revision rates as high as 10-25%. If you or your plastic surgeon do not bring up these possible issue, you may end up having to fit the bill for these additional surgeries.

Lastly one should inquire if the fees for all future follow up appointments are included in the total cost. It is fairly common to receive anywhere from 9 to 12 months of follow up care at no additional cost.

As for the prices themselves they are pretty uniform in the United States on the whole. Although in some areas of New York certain procedures may cost 30-50 % more when compared to the rest of the nation. Below are some of the average prices from the east and west coast of north America for various procedures. Due note that these are the rates for accredited institutions and surgeons. It is defiently not worth the risk to try and save a few bucks by dealing with non accredited practioners.

Breast Lift $5000-6000

Breast Augmentation $5000-8000 (depends on if the implants are saline or silicone. Silicone being the more expensive of the two.)

Face Lift $7000-9000

Liposuction $2000-10,000 (depends on how many areas the procedure is done to.)

Nose Surgery $5000-6000

Tummy Tuck $6000-8000

Above are just the estimates for some of the more popular procedures. The figures themselves come from a survey done by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.

For more information visit our cosmetic surgery and tummy tuck site.

Cosmetic surgery can make an exciting and lasting difference in the way your face and body look. Many see the results as ‘life-changing’. You will feel more confident and positive about yourself. It marks the beginning of a new attitude about you and your health. When you look good you’ll want to maintain that appearance. Not surprisingly, many start incorporating exercise and better eating habits into their daily routine, habits that will help you look and feel younger longer. The better your physical condition is prior to surgery, the better your surgical outcome will be. Elective surgery will give you time to prepare to be as healthy as possible. An added bonus for those who are fit beforehand is they won’t gain as much weight when they are inactive after surgery. Because you have more muscle from an active lifestyle your metabolism will remain higher. You will be given strict instructions by your doctor on when to return to an exercise regimen. It’s usually three to four weeks after a facelift, and a month after any type of body surgery, like breast augmentation or liposuction. Once back to working out or starting up for the first time then it’s best to build up slowly.

EXERCISE PROGRAM

You’ve had the surgery you wanted, the results are great…but how do you keep yourself looking slimmer and younger. The operative phrase may be "getting into a routine". To get results you need to train a minimum of three times each week, If you do it twice, you will maintain your current fitness but it’ll be difficult to see any esthetic change. The cornerstone of your workout should be strength training. You lose a pound of muscle every year after thirty and your metabolism slows down. The optimum strength training is for roughly 45-55 minutes three times per week. But if you are short of time, concentrate on the large muscle groups, like legs and chest. These are the core of strength training. Cardio should be at least three times a week or more. I recommend three to four weekly sessions of moderate cardio lasting about 50 minutes and one twenty-minute intense session. The cardio must be aerobic, so your heartbeat remains at an elevated rate with activities like cycling, running and fast walking are examples. Tennis and squash don’t qualify. Here’s a good tip! Do your cardio after your weightlifting as your glycogen levels are down and you’ll burn more fat. Flexibility is another important aspect of fitness, one people often neglect if they’re rushing. You don’t get old then stiff, ‘You get stiff, then old."

I recommend doing stretches anywhere, anytime, while watching television, in the shower, even at your desk. I take my strength training clients through a dynamic stretch to warm up for every workout , then end the workout with a static stretch for lasting flexibility gains. But what about those people who really just don’t like to exercise? The secret is to get a program that is tailored to you. A personalized program can be really motivating and there are so many options to choose from. Hiring a personal trainer can help you create a program that works for you. Classes are another way to put some fun into your routine. Pilates, yoga, spinning, step aerobics, there are lots to choose from.

NUTRITION

If you want to decrease body fat and increase lean tissue, sixty per cent of your success will be determined by diet. If you are not getting enough proteins, fruits and vegetables, carbohydrates and water, the muscle won’t regenerate itself. I recommend 3 meals and 2 snacks. If your meals are too far apart, the body holds onto the fuel because it doesn’t know when the next meal will come. It saves fat for survival. When meals are too large your blood sugar spikes, causing insulin to spike causing fat storage yet again. Carbs are getting a lot of attention these days: are they good, bad or half-way in between? I recommend meals that contain lean protein, a vegetable, and a ‘good’ carbohydrate. Try and eat a low glycemic index carb, like sweet potatoes or real oatmeal. These carbs have a slow and consistent release of sugar into the bloodstream. This keeps your insulin levels nice and low. I don’t like diets like Atkins which are too high in fat, and I’m not a proponent of The Zone Diet, but you should watch your carb intake.

I prefer clients keep a food diary for a couple of weeks. You become accountable and start thinking a lot more about what your eating. I stress the importance of consistency and regular eating habits. Try to eat twenty-one meals a week and don’t skip them. Breakfast is your most important meal. I usually make an egg white omlette with spinach and feta cheese. (Lunch is usually chicken or fish with salad, and dinner is similar, usually with salad). Of course, there is no secret formula to getting fit. It’s a matter of planning ahead and working hard. But the results are worth it if you can make it work. Set realistic and attainable goals for exercise and diet or you’ll fall off the wagon. They must also be challenging to make changes. It usually takes 45 to 60 days to see that change and you will feel so much better about yourself. Just remember, nutrition and exercise go hand in hand for your best results before and after surgery.

DEBORAH is a highly respected authority in personal training for overall health and fitness, with more than 22 years of experience and success. Her credentials include…

Currently licensed Registered Nurse specializing in Rehabilitative Nursing Medical Exercise Therapist: certified by AAHFRP, an internationally recognized physical rehabilitation certification Maternity Specialist Pre & Post Natal certified by Maternal Fitness Personal Fitness Specialist: certified by NASM, an internationally recognized certification Yoga Teacher Professional Health Member, National Organization of Fitness Instructors (IDEA), a leading membership organization of health and fitness professionals Deborah Caruana RN, MES, CPT Email: deb@vitalsignsfitness.com Website: http://www.vitalsignsfitness.com

Invisalign is the invisible way to straighten your teeth without wearing conventional metal braces.

Invisalign uses a series of clear, removable custom-made plastic aligners to move your teeth. This technology is also more comfortable, avoiding the mouth abrasions that can be caused by the metal and wires of conventional braces. And this technology is also more convenient, since you spend less time in our office getting adjustments.

Because you remove your aligners before you eat and drink, there are no food restrictions or problems with flossing or brushing.

Once a dentist develops a custom prescription for your mouth, Invisalign uses 3-D computer imaging technology to design the complete treatment plan, from the initial teeth positioning to the desired final positioning.

This 3-D imaging allows you to preview the final positioning of your teeth before you start treatment. Custom-made aligners are created based on the imaging information. Each of these aligners moves teeth incrementally and is worn for about 2 weeks.

Typically, you will visit your dentist once every two or three weeks for progress reports and to change trays. Not every situation can be treated with Invisalign. So it is advisable that you check with your dentist to see if this is the right treatment for you.

Find out more information about Invisalign at:

http://www.drmagner.com
http://www.212smiling.com
http://www.drsmile.net

Breast growth occurs in teenage women as a normal part of puberty. This is caused by hormonal changes in the body, mainly associated with the adrenal gland, and the female sex hormone estrogen. So what happens when the breasts do not fully develop?

There are options out there for young women to pursue who have not had their full breast growth potential realized. An alarming rate of young teenage women are actually going under the knife to achieve larger, fuller breasts as a means of defeating self esteem issues associated with the stigma of underdeveloped breasts in our society.

The new wave of natural breast enhancement products, pills, and systems now offers young women and older women alike the chance to complete their natural breast growth cycle, and maximize new breast growth by stimulating and reactivating these glands into action, and promoting natural, healthy teenage breast growth or adult female breast growth.

Female teenage breast development sometimes does not fully cycle, or is "stunted" by certain circumstances that may be hormonal or diet-related, and the breast tissue never reaches it’s full growth potential into adulthood.

The reasons for this are widespread and laced with speculation. We do know that now young women who have been self conscious about their breast size can take matters into their own hands, and actually grow healthy breast tissue safely by either taking safe supplements or using other breast enlargement methods such as a suction device, hynosis, and even certain exercises that promise to sculpt and curve a more generous bustline.

The best part is, since the breast growth is all natural tissue, you won’t have to worry about breast implant hardening, and the many other medical complications and expenses that can come along with cosmetic surgery (not to mention undesirable results!)

So, if you’re one of the many young women who want larger, fuller, more sexy breasts, but you don’t want to go under the knife there are alternatives available to you that don’t involve a plastic surgeon, or any foreign objects in your body!

Visit Breast Enhancement Product Comparisons for more information on natural breast enhancement. Danna Schneider is the founder of BreastEnhancePill.com

Patients unhappy with the appearance of their smile have several options. These options include, teeth whitening, bonding, porcelain veneers and all ceramic crowns and bridges.

The least expensive and most popular cosmetic procedure is teeth whitening. Teeth whitening can be very effective in brightening stained teeth. There are essentially two techniques for whitening teeth. The first technique requires involves two office appointments [home whitening]. Impressions of your teeth are taken during your first appointment; these are used to fabricate custom trays that will hold the whitening gel in contact with your teeth. On your second appointment you return to pick up your custom trays and the whitening gel. Once dispensed, the patient applies the whitening gel at home as prescribed by the dentist.

The second technique is performed in little over an hour in the office with BriteSmiles’ patented teeth whitening procedure [in office whitening]. This procedure utilizes a light activated gel, which erases years of staining in just over an hour’s time. With the BriteSmile procedure it is not unusual to see patients whiten their teeth by as much as ten shades, the results are amazing!

Although teeth whitening will brighten your smile, the procedure does not address cosmetic issues such as gaps, crooked teeth, and tooth length.

Direct bonding is the placement of tooth colored material directly on the front surfaces of the teeth to cover stains and modify the shapes and spaces of mal-positioned teeth. Bonding is a relatively inexpensive procedure that usually requires one visit. The shortcoming of bonding is that it stains easily and is not very durable.

Given you are a good candidate, the best way to improve a smile is with the placement of porcelain veneers. Porcelain veneers are thin shells of porcelain that are bonded to the front surfaces of teeth. Veneers can permanently eliminate stains on the front surfaces of teeth and can be used to change the positions of misaligned teeth to create that perfect smile. Although porcelain veneers require the removal of some tooth structure, it is considerably less than what is required for the placement of ‘caps’. The advantages of veneers include strength, durability and long lasting aesthetics.

Just a note of caution here, not all dentists have the same training in relation to cosmetic dentistry. Cosmetic dentistry is not a legally recognized specialty, which makes you somewhat vulnerable. Any general dentist may advertise as a cosmetic dentist. It is incumbent upon you to make sure the dentist you select has extensive training in COSMETIC dentistry.

Better smiles for all. John J. Russo D.D.S.

Dr. John J. Russo is a graduate of the University of The Pacific School Of Dentistry. He is the director of The Cosmetic dental Center and Russo Dental Care,and author of the column "Ask The Dental Doc."

You can find many styles of sunglasses in stores today. These styles include everything from fashionably chic to practical and functional to groovy and retro. While looking stylish is one reason to wear sunglasses, there are many other benefits as well.

1. To keep the sun out of your eyes. The lenses should be large enough to actually protect your eyes from the sun.

2. To cut down on glare. Polarized sunglasses help to cut down on glare and make things much clearer.

3. To help prevent cataracts. A pair of sunglasses with a high UV protection factor are recommended.

4. To keep other people from recognizing you. Hollywood stars use sunglasses in this way quite often.

5. To hide the fact that you’ve been crying. The darker the lenses of your sunglasses, the better for this purpose.

6. To spice up an outfit. Sunglasses come in many colors and styles so that you can accessorize nicely with any ensemble.

7. To keep the wind out of your eyes. This is especially helpful while riding a motorcycle.

8. To protect your eyes while playing sports. Be sure to have sunglasses with impact-resistant lenses.

9. To accentuate your looks. Your facial shape can drive which shape of sunglasses look best on you.

10. To look cool! Enough said!

Copyright © 2005 Susan Daniel and Debbie Overstreet

About Susan and Debbie: Susan and Debbie are internet marketers. You can review more articles on sunglasses and also find the perfect pair of sunglasses for your needs by visiting http://www.spunkysunglasses.com