Take care of your skin now and you’ll reap the rewards later. Celebrities such as Jennifer Lopez, Jennifer Aniston and Nicole Kidman have flawless skin. Legendary beauty, Sophia Loren gives meaning to the phrase “aging with grace”.

Of course these beauties have an advantage that most Americans do not have – large amounts of money. Many of us cannot afford to spend large amounts of money for beauty products. Some celebrities are known to spend up to $500 on small jars of “fountain of youth” type elixirs.

So what can the average American do in their quest for healthy looking skin? Stick to two basic practices:

The biggest factor in achieving healthy skin is to utilize products that your skin loves. In order to do this, you need to understand your skin type. Do you have dry skin and therefore need dry skin care products or do you have oily skin?

Knowing your skin type will narrow you playing field. There are many, many products on the shelves at your local drug store or in your higher-end department stores. You’ve probably heard terms such as Alpha-hydroxy Acids (AHAs), Beta-hydroxy Acid (Salicylic Acid), Retinol, etc. Cosmetic manufacturers use these propaganda-like words to sell their products. Do these terms really mean anything? How do they help your skin?

The simply fact is that you don’t need to be a scientist to find the best products. Let common sense be your guide. Do you know someone, who has used the products before? Did they find it helpful? These are questions that you should ask when selecting products.

After suffering from acne and oily skin as a teenager and now dry skin – I have tried every acne skin care product, oily skin care product and dry skin care product on the shelf. I have also tried several natural/organic skin care products. Some work and some don’t.

Over the years, I have developed my list of the best of the best skin care products including acne skin care products, dry/oily skin care products, natural skin care products and anti-aging skin care products.

Once you find the best skin care products, develop a skin care treatment/beautification routine. If your routine is in the morning or evening, then give yourself about 15 to 30 minutes to engage yourself without interruption.

Take pictures of your starting point so that you can track your progress each week.

Consult with your local day spa esthetician for more skin care ideas.

Beauty is only skin deep but a beautiful heart and mind, deserve beautiful skin.

Find the list of day spas in your local community.

Alpha Hydroxy Acids treatments have the ability to create a clearer complexion. Free from acne scars,fine wrinkles or dull looking skin.

Whether glycolic, lactic or arginine is used-they are all still acids! AHAs dissolve the natural moisturizing factor that acts as a glue to hold dead cells in the stratum corneum together.

Acids penetrate into the skin if not properly neutralized and a mixture of baking soda and cool water should always be used by your esthetician or dermatologist as a first rinse mixture to stop the process of exfoliation on your skin, because at this point the treatment has reduced the thickness of the stratum corneum and the skin has now become sensitive.

Clients should be informed that when they use such treatments the skin becomes more sensitive to the sun and should protect their skin with a sunscreen of SPF15 or higher. An esthetician or doctor should advise their clients not to experiment themselves with their skin after an alpha hydroxy treatment when going home for at least 3 days. When using such treatments (glycolic or lactic, etc.)in a series, especially for hyperpigmentation, acne scarring and anti-aging programs. If being done in a professional environment the results can be positive.

Mina Dimakis-Lev is an expert in skincare and makeup artistry. http://www.BeautyImagebyMina.com

The world is realizing that not only is it necessary to eat organically but also to use organic skin care products to feed their skin. Many people have asked the very same question regarding organic foods versus toxic chemical laden foods. And the answer is a resounding “yes”. People are finding out that there is indeed a difference in the food they eat. And Feeding your skin with organic skin care products will make a difference as well.

Using organic body care products will help to eliminate toxic chemicals from your body. This is essential to a healthy organic lifestyle. Your skin absorbs the toxic chemicals that are placed in the skin care products. Many people are taking great care to eat organically but do not realize that their skin care products are guilty of continuing to put toxic chemicals into their bodies.

Some of the non-organic skin care product additives to beware of include, dimethicone, carbomer 941, peg 50 almond glycerides, sodium laureth sulfosuccinate, TEA, DMDM hydantoin, imidiazolidinyl urea, BHT, FD & C Yellow No. 6, and fragrance. These are just a few of the chemicals that have been linked with health problems. Some of these toxins are potential carcinogens.

When purchasing skin care be sure to read the labels and if you can’t remember all the toxic chemical names that you read about then keep in mind that most of the words you can barely pronounce are chemicals. Look for ingredients you are familiar with such as aloe or avacado. Again take the time to learn about these harmful synthetic chemicals and do everything in your power to avoid them including but not limited to eating organic food, and using organic skin care.

I am the owner of Kalista Organics providing you with organic skin and body care products. http://www.kalistaorganics.com

How to remove dye from hair which is designed to … well, dye, change the color of, alter stuff. And it does it - very well.

Trouble comes when it gets on places you don’t want it - like your face, or clothes, or carpet.

Or you decide that the color ‘to die for’ just did.

There are some commercial products to remove dye from hair, and a few home potions and processes.

Color Fix by Jheri Redding is designed to remove unwanted permant hair color, and controlled usage allows color correction to specific areas, either full or slight color corrections.

Loreal Color Zap gently washes away all permanent haircolor. Ideal for color correction, removal of dark shades, muddy, uneven results or color build up. Leaves hair ready for immediate re-coloring. Loreal Effasol Color Remover washes away permanent haircolor, leaving hair ready for recoloring. Can be used with water or developer.

Jerome Rusell’s Punky Color Punk Off is an easy to use gel that will cleanse your skin from hair dye stains.

Roux Clean Touch is a gentle formula that removes haircolor from skin and scalp. Removes excess color from hair ends and assists in removing stains from clothing.

Home remedies include this one:

Hot Oil treatments, hairspray, shampooing and exposure to water will gradually fade hair dye.

To remove the last bit of residue or stain on the hair (or to get color out immediately) make up a small batch of bleach mixture and add it to 2 tablespoons or so of shampoo in a cup. Stir it up.

Shampoo your hair with this mixture, "kneading" the hair. Start at the roots and work your way down to the end, and then back up.

You should see the color disappear right before your eyes.

Black hair dye is a special case.

It’s very hard to remove black hair dye from your hair completely, especially if it’s permanent. Better to let it grow out and not bleach it. Bleaching with chemicals damages the hair it may make it so stretchy and thin that it comes out in your comb.

Likewise if black hair dye stains skin or fabric. The best way is to prevent it from staining in the first place by applying Vaseline around the hairline before dyeing.

If black hair dye stains fabric then using detergent and water quickly is a good idea - otherwise dry cleaning may be required.

Black hair dye stains can also be removed by rubbing cigarette ash over the stained skin, dipping milk in cotton balls and rubbing over the stained area, rubbing on WD-40 or even nail polish remover or hair spray.

Jenny Drake has a healthy interest in living life to the full. Her advice and writings are available for free download at her Beauty and Fitness web site

There is nothing worse than smiling in the mirror and seeing 2 rows of yellow teeth. What happened to those pearly whites we had as children? Well, over time, our teeth start to darken because they absorb stains and they start to discolor. Some of the worst things we can consume that will impact the color of our teeth are tea, coffee, colas, red and smoking. The procedure known as teeth whitening or teeth bleaching is getting very popular. You no longer have to settle for those yellow teeth. You can brighten your smile either in the dentist chair, or at home using teeth whitening methods. There are a number of teeth whitening products including new tooth pastes and home use kits.

A popular method to teeth whitening is using at-home tray based teeth whitening products. This system uses a clear plastic tray that is filled with whitening gel and is then placed over your teeth. The tray is worn for several hours per day or at night while your sleep. The procedure often takes a few weeks for your teeth to come out white. Whether you do it at home or your have your dentist do it for you, it is important to use teeth whitening products that will provide lasting results, give you a naturally looking smile, are clinically proven to be safe as well as effective, uses low concentration of hydrogen peroxide and is approved by your dentist. There are a number of teeth bleaching products on the market sold over the counter that can do more harm than good.

Before you proceed with any form of teeth whiting treatment, your best bet is to consult your dentist first. They will likely be able to guide you in the right direction according to your current teeth discoloration. Yellow hued teeth respond well to teeth bleaching while gray hued teeth don’t respond well at all. If you have porcelain veneers or other dental bonding, whitening will not help them at all. You will likely have to have them changed out if they are really discolored so that they match your other teeth. Because your teeth are so very important, please discuss the use of any teeth whiting products with your dentist to ensure the safety of your teeth long term.

Amy-Jo Strutt is a successful writer and regular contributor to cosmetic-surgery-laser.com - An online resource to help you find the very best information on all forms of cosmetic surgery. http://www.cosmetic-surgery-laser.com/teeth-whitening.html

LED Photo Rejuvenation,Intense Pulsed Light or Infra-Red Light and it’s Affects on Skin Rejuvenation

In order for your skin to continue to exist, it has to constantly reproduce new cells to take the place of the ones that are being shed.

People need certain wavelengths of light similar to the way plants need sunlight to thrive. Your skin has the ability to absorb light and use it as a source of energy to stimulate cellular regeneration.

LED Photo Rejuvenation or Intense Pulsed Light (P.R./IPL) is infra-red light which stimulates the cell activity; this increases Collagen and Elastin production. (The proteins responsible for strength and elasticity of the skin).

Photo Rejuvenation translates the process of plant photosynthesis into the workings of human skin cells, stimulating the body’s own cells to build new proteins the same way plants use chlorophyll to convert sunlight into cellular building blocks.

Photo Rejuvenation flows light through your skin’s epidermis to fibroblast cells, which produce such structural proteins as collagen and elastin. When the light hits the cytochromes inside the fibroblasts’ mitochondria, it stimulates the cell’s energy transport system. The cell produces more structural proteins, which in turn gives it the appearance of improved tone and elasticity.

Photo Rejuvenation sends light rays into the cells, which in turn excite the Mitochondria into producing up to 10 times more ATP. This fuels the cell’s activities, which causes more of the needed Collagen and Elastin to be produced, as well as other needed materials for the skin.

ATP - Nature’s Energy Store

All living things, plants and animals, require a continual supply of energy in order to function. The energy is used for all the processes which keep the organism alive. Some of these processes occur continually, such as the metabolism of foods, the synthesis of large, biologically important molecules, e.g. proteins and DNA, and the transport of molecules and ions throughout the organism. Other processes occur only at certain times, such as muscle contraction and other cellular movements. Animals obtain their energy by oxidation of foods, plants do so by trapping the sunlight using chlorophyll. However, before the energy can be used, it is first transformed into a form which the organism can handle easily. This special carrier of energy is the molecule adenosine triphosphate, or ATP. (Nobel Prize winner Paul May – Bristol University).

The light rays that are emitted from infra-red light also come from the Sun. They are a natural light. The only problem with getting these light rays from the Sun alone is that you also get harmful Sun rays that can damage your skin more than do it good.

Using infra-red light you only get good helpful rays of light that help your skin produce the Collagen and Elastin it needs to continue to appear healthy, smooth and radiant. The more Collagen and Elastin you have in your skin the smoother, healthier and radiant it will look and feel.

Infra-red light also stimulates cells into producing other substances needed for repair. Dr. Harry T. Whelan says, "The light is absorbed by mitochondria where it stimulates energy metabolism in muscle and bone, as well as skin and subcutaneous tissue."

The Medical Collage of Wisconsin says, "Our laboratory has improved the healing of wounds in laboratory animals by using NASA LED light and hyperbaric oxygen. Furthermore, DNA synthesis in fibroblasts and muscle cells has been quintupled using NASA LED light alone…"

How Was This Discovered?

P.R./IPL was discovered accidentally by NASA about 40 years ago. Astronauts who became injured while in space would not heal until they were back here on Earth. Scientists didn’t know the reason until plants were placed aboard space craft with the intent to grow food during long distance space travel. These scientists determined that the red LED lights that were used to encourage the plants to grow were in fact healing the astronauts’ wounds! Now the astronauts who became injured while in space were healing before they got back to earth, due to the P.R/IPL. They concluded that the red spectrum of light is the healing spectrum and the ultra violet light spectrum are the damaging rays.

Here is what a few experts are saying about Photo-Rejuvenation All aspects of wrinkling, skin coarseness, pore size, irregular pigmentation showed visible improvement with Photo Rejuvenation. —Dermatology Times

Photo Rejuvenation treatments…the results are the closest thing to a face lift that I’ve been able to achieve since becoming an esthetician. —Day Spa Magazine

The treatment is especially effective at improving the appearance of the face, neck and chest, by reducing signs of aging, wrinkles and age spots. —Web M.D. Health

A process called Photo Rejuvenation can smooth away wrinkles, erase age spots and relieve the symptoms of Rosacea. —ABC‘s Good Morning America

With all this cell energy stimulation happening from the infra-red lght rays being massaged into your skin, what do you think would happen if you super-charged your skin with the exact nutrients it needs to build or re-build itself?

Answer: Better, superior anti-aging results!

***

This article was obtained off http://www.lightstim.com. Nancy LaTouche is a new distributor of LightStim International, and wanted to pass along this fascinating information.

Full explanation of this technology can be found at this website: http://www.lightstim.com

When you are younger, you don’t really notice the pressure society puts on people to stay slim, trim and young looking. Whether the pressure is real or not, more and more people are turning to cosmetic surgery and treatments to regain their youthful appearance. A cosmetic treatment growing in popularity is botulinum toxin or its more common name, Botox. It is a popular non-surgical injection that will temporarily reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles on the forehead, around the eyes and on the neck. Basically, Botox is a toxin that paralyzes the muscles that cause wrinkles. While the muscles are paralyzed, the skin appears smoother and softer looking. Another alternative to consider are collagen injections which also helps create the appearance of younger looking skin.

Some studies have also indicated that Botox has other advantages such as relieving migraine headaches, reducing excessive sweating and muscle spasms in the eyes and neck. Although injections are only temporary, they can last up to 6 months. Collagen injections are also only temporary lasting anywhere from 3 to 6 months. They are becoming more popular as well because they are quick to administer and don’t require any sedation. The one caution about these injections is that if you have allergies to beef or lidocaine, you are likely not a candidate for collagen injections because of the significant risk of an allergic reaction.

If you have wrinkles between your eyelids and chin, the most effective way to address them is to fill them. The two most popular choices to use are fat and collagen, often used for smaller areas while fat is mostly used for larger areas. We highly recommend before proceeding with any cosmetic treatment you consult your family doctor. Even though Botox has been around since 1982, be sure to use a certified plastic surgeon that has years of experience. Your looks are at stake here so you want to do as much due diligence as possible before moving forward.

Amy-Jo Strutt is a successful writer and regular contributor to cosmetic-surgery-laser.com - An online resource to help you find the very best information on all forms of cosmetic surgery. http://www.cosmetic-surgery-laser.com/botox-collagen.html

Healthy skin is one of the most common health and beauty concerns for people today, and rightfully so. Our skin is our bodies largest organ, and when our skin doesn’t look or feel good, it is exposed for the rest of the world to see.

Consequently, there are hundreds of companies selling thousands of products, all vying to have the best selling skin care product. Although this is not inherently bad, many of these companies charge an arm and a leg for products that are chemically based, pose a risk of skin irritation, and damage to the environment.

However, there are effective alternatives to chemical skin care. An all natural, home remedy can often achieve the same results as the chemically based products, but without any of the irritation or side effects.

One of the best forms of natural home skin care are masks. Masks can be made from a wide variety of ingredients at home to achieve whatever your skin care needs are. Furthermore, most of the ingredients are easy to find, and very affordable.

The most popular home made mask is an oatmeal mask It is a simple, completely safe mask, and it works perfectly for people with oily skin. The ingredients are as follows:

1/3 cup of fast cook oatmeal (1-3 minutes)

¼ cup of honey

½ cup of water

Mix the water and the oatmeal together, and cook. Then, set the oatmeal aside to cool and thicken. As it is cooling, mix in the ¼ cup of honey. Once the mask is well mixed and cool, apply a thin even layer to the skin.

Be careful when applying this mask around the eyes. Though completely safe, the oatmeal can cause slight eye irritation. Better yet, place a used tea bag over the eyelids to reduce any redness or eye irritation.

The way this mask works is simple. The oatmeal in the mask is the primary “active” ingredient. It works to absorb excess oil on the skin and in the pores. Oatmeal will also help remove excess skin cells, and exfoliate the skin. The honey is simply there to turn the oatmeal into a pasty, sticky consistency that will adhere to the skin.

Another all natural skin treatment is to use lemon juice to help exfoliate and freshen the skin.

Lemon juice is a fruit acid, AKA Alpha Hydroxy Acid. It works in a similar fashion to salicylic acid, except that it is 100% all natural. It will help exfoliate the skin by reducing the “glue” that causes dead skin cells to stick to the skin.

This is one the simplest masks you can make, and is actually more of a “rinse” than anything. The only ingredients needed are water and lemon juice. Mix 1 part water to 5 parts lemon juice, and massage the solution onto your face. Then, rinse your face with cool water. Make sure to rinse well, because it can cause skin irritation if left on too long.

Even though these are all natural, it is always best to consult a dermatologist before using any skin care treatment. When used properly, these masks are effective alternatives to many of the expensive, chemical products sold in stores.

Greg Podsakoff is a former acne sufferer, and the editor of http://www.acne-treatments-guide.com

Often times, our self esteem can be impacted by our outward appearance. Our physical characteristics can have a huge impact on our self confidence, our mental stability and our belief in our self worth. For many women, the size, shape and look of their breasts can either boost their self esteem or can drag it down lower and lower. That is one reason women are turning to breast augmentation surgery with breast implants. Over the years however, this procedure has gotten a bit more complicated. There are a number of different options and decisions to be made when considering breast augmentation such as what type of fill – saline or silicone? Do you want a smooth or textured surface implant? What size and shape do you want? So whether it is a breast lift, enlargement or reconstruction, you need to consider all the questions above.

You can choose from a number of different breast implants including shape and fill. You options include saline, silicone –yes they are still available and we will discuss this further, cohesive, soy bean oil, round, tear drop, high profile, low profile and moderate profile. Silicone implants were banned in 1992 but there are discussions taking place that it may be lifted in the near future. Silicone is actually still used today but only for patients in clinical trials who require reconstruction or revision surgery. Once you have decided on the fill, you need to decide the size of your breast augmentation. The best way to describe to your surgeon the size you are looking for is with a picture. They will then be able to guide you in the right direction based on their experience. This same rule applies with a breast lift. Bring in a photo or picture of the look you are after.

When determining the shape of your breast implants, you basically have two options, either round or anatomical or tear drop. It is important to find one that is as natural looking as possible. The last thing you want is for your breast augmentation to look unnatural and out of place. Round implants are actually placed under the muscle and are believed to be more natural looking than tear drop implants. Shaped implants tend to sit in one place which again can make them unnatural looking. A breast lift can also be accompanied by implants. So not only will your breasts sit higher, they can be made larger or more shaped using implants.

Amy-Jo Strutt is a successful writer and regular contributor to cosmetic-surgery-laser.com - An online resource to help you find the very best information on all forms of cosmetic surgery. http://www.cosmetic-surgery-laser.com/

Everyone has a favourite myth about hair care – and we usually never let the truth get in the way of a good legend! This article examines some of the most widely known - and the reality behind the myths.

1. Excessive washing of hair causes hair loss/dryness.

FALSE: Frequency of washing doesn’t harm hair. Wash it as often as you like, although the recommendation is three times a week. The right shampoo for your hair type and texture will actually add moisture, body and beauty to your hair.

2. More shampoo = cleaner hair.

FALSE: Don’t waste your shampoo! A dollop of shampoo, about the size of a quarter is usually enough for long hair. Very long hair may take a little more.

3. Conditioner helps repair split ends.

FALSE: No conditioner can "repair" damaged hair. What it can do is smooth down the cuticle and make hair seem in better condition. A good conditioner can also prevent damage from occurring in the first place.

4. Blow-drying produces hair loss.

FALSE: Blow-drying can damage, burn or dry hair, which can cause it to fall, but the hair will grow back immediately. This is not permanent hair loss.

5. Sleeping with wet hair causes scalp fungus.

FALSE: Scalp or fungal diseases can’t be caught from sleeping with wet scalps. Scalp infections require prior involvement with infected sources such as humans, tainted hair care tools or animals. Scalp fungus (tinea capitis) mainly affects children, whose immune systems make them more susceptible to skin infections.

6. To get your hair to grow, brush 100 strokes each day.

FALSE: Brushing that much can damage the hair cuticle. NOT recommended! Actually, your hair reacts better to a comb than a brush. Brushing it will only lead to split ends and hair breakage.

7. Sharing combs and brushes can spread scalp diseases.

TRUE: Lice and other parasites can be transported from scalp to scalp through the sharing of combs, brushes and other hair care tools.

8. Cutting hair makes it grow faster and/or thicker.

FALSE: This common misconception comes from the fact that hair is thicker at the base than it is at the tip, so shorter hair appears thicker at first. Cutting your hair does not affect its normal biologically determined growth rate or overall texture. Thin, limp or fine hair will not ever grow thicker in response to a haircut. Plump up your hair by using volume enhancing hair care products, experimenting with a hair fattening blunt cut or getting a texturizing perm or color treatment.

9. Color treatment causes hair loss.

FALSE: Most hair coloring products contain chemicals that can do serious harm to the hair itself if not properly used, but it wont instigate hair loss.

10. Salon products are identical to drugstore products.

FALSE: Although there are exceptions, salon products generally contain higher quality, more expensive ingredients that are designed to consistently provide more intensive cleansing, moisturizing and conditioning results. The quality ingredients found in salon products are not usually found in drugstore brands. If in doubt – read the labels.

11. Long sun exposure favors hair loss.

FALSE: Your hair acts as a shield against the sun. Hair loss appears at the follicle level and so the sun would have to penetrate at this depth to do any damage.

12. Diet is related to hair loss.

TRUE: it’s important to eat right in order to be generally healthy. However, no individual food has been proven to be beneficial or detrimental to hair.

13. Stress causes hair loss.

TRUE: Severe stress (e.g. surgery or a death in the family), can shut down hair production, causing temporary hairloss (alopecia areata). The scalp usually recuperates, though, and hair grows back

14. Wearing tight braids, ponytails or buns causes baldness.

TRUE: Traction alopecia is a very real hair loss condition that is quite common amongst older African American women. It results from wearing tight ponytails, cornrows or buns over an extended period of time. Over time, hair breakage or loss as the result of tight, stressed styles, can become permanent. Avoid this potential problem by opting for looser styles that minimize scalp tension.

15. Smoking causes gray hair.

TRUE: According to J. G. Mosley of the Leigh Infirmary in Lancashire, England in an article in Science News (January 11, 1997) smokers are four times more likely to have gray hair than non-smokers. Even worse, smoking has been conclusively linked to accelerated hair loss.

SUMMARY

Heard another myth about hair? Do your research – ask an expert! This doesn’t include your grandmother, best friend or local barmaid. Instead, talk to an experienced hairdresser or a trichologist. Always get the real facts before you act on any hair myths – you owe it to your hair.

(With thanks to Daniel Mcullough and Karen M. Shelton)

Michael Barrows is a web publisher specialing in niche marketing. Pick up his FREE ebook "(Nearly) Everything You Should Know ABout Hairstyles and Hair Care" at his website; http://www.great-hairstyles.com