To visibly reduce the signs of aging, the first thing to do is to stay out of the sun. It is so sad and ironic that the very thing that lifts our spirits, droops our faces.

Excessive sun exposure damages the immune system in the skin, destroys both collagen and elastin production and kills some normal skin cells. Heat and cold also damage skin and reduce functionality. The environment contains many chemical agents that react with the skin and create free radicals which in turn react with the compounds in the skin. Fortunately, proper diet and proper hygiene practices can help reduce the visible signs of damage caused by the environment. Eating a well balanced diet of proteins, fruits, vegetables, low-fat dairy and whole wheat grains as well as drinking at least 8 glasses of water will help retard the appearance of aging.

Many cosmetic companies have developed several lines of products to cater to your specific skincare needs that meet the criteria for the essentials of great skincare. The 6 essential steps to younger-looking skin are:

1. Cleanse
2. Exfoliate
3. Freshen
4. Moisturize
5. Protect
6. Drink plenty of water

This may seem like an awfully lengthy daily routine. However, I assure you that you can achieve great results and it takes less than 5 minutes twice daily. Look for a streamlined skincare program that delivers dramatic anti-aging benefits when used all together consistently twice daily (morning and night). I suggest finding one brand and sticking to it. Very often a particular brand formalates all of their products to work together. You will experience the best results that way. As always look for a try-before-you-buy service, usually offered by Beauty Consultants and/or a satisfaction guarantee. This will ensure that you will only be purchasing the products that work best with your skin type.

Start with a cleanser: Look for a gentle exfoliating cleanser for your skin type. Some contain vitamin E (a free radical scavenger) as well as botanical extracts that freshen the skin in one simple step.

Next is moisturizer: Age-Fighting Moisturizers should absorb quickly, leaving the skin feeling soft and younger-looking.

Solutions with Sunscreen SPF 15 provide protection from the sun’s rays to help prevent skin damage and premature aging. Some also contain vitamin derivatives A (to help boost the skin’s own ability to produce collagen) and E (free radical scavenger).

Night Solutions are designed to be used at night to improve skin’s overall texture and firmness. Some also contain vitamin derivatives A, C and E and anti-aging botanicals.

This is a simple daily routine that will deliver excellent results when followed consistantly. Remember, the one part of your body that is always exposed is your face. Put your best face forward and take proper care of your skin for a smoother, softer, more radiant, younger-looking appearance. When you love the way you look, you have a tendency to feel great too! And it will show in every aspect of your life!

Have a great day!

Dawn Hull
Professional Skin Care Consultant
http://www.MaryKay.com/ShopOnline

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Everything I write comes from experience. In 1999 John Wiley and Sons published my book about aging. My research included articles from the Medline database, medical newsletters, books on the topic, and a random survey of members of my local senior center.

The survey was called "How Do You Feel About Aging?" There were five questions on the form: 1. What are some good things about aging? 2. What are some bad things about aging? 3. What activities do you enjoy? 4. Occupation? 5. Age? (an optional question).

Only 40 people comleted the form. "Why aren’t more members filling out the survey?" I asked a secretary.

"They don’t want to think about aging," she replied, "and they sure don’t like to fill out forms!" Though I wished for more responses, I was grateful for the ones I received, and used them in my book. To get more responses I surveyed members of a club.

One member’s response was especially touching. Not long after her husband died she decided, primarily for safety reasons, to move out of her home and into a retirement community. The sorrow of her husband’s death didn’t diminish her enthusiasm for life. She participated in activities, remained active in her church, and was a community volunteer. On the survey form she wrote about the wonder of life and cherishing each day.

Another club member refused to complete the survey. "I can’t think of anything good about aging," she explained.

"Surely you can think of something," I replied.

"Nothing," she answered.

"Not one thing?" I asked hopefully.

"Nothing," she said firmly.

When I was writing the aging book my mother lived in a local assisted living community. She had probable Alzheimer’s disease and I saw her often. One day, as I was entering the building, I spotted the director. We talked for a few minutes and then I asked her question. "Can you tell me," I began cautiously, "why so many residents seem to be angry?"

"They’re angry because they’re old," she relied.

"Oh," I replied, at a loss for words. Since we had that conversation I’ve thought of the director’s reply many times. I’m eight years older now, wear glasses, and two hearing aids. Though I’m a big "creaky" when I get up in the morning, within an hour I’m running at top speed. And as the saying goes, I’m determined to "have a good day."

I have twin grandchildren, one boy and one girl, and they are in Middle School. Early on, my grandchildren decided to call me "Grandma," not "Nana," or "Nona," or anything cutesy. Becoming a grandma has made me a better person. I’m a more reflective person as well, and focus on the positives of aging.

Because of my age:

1. Each day I awaken with gratefulness and joy

2. I have new sense of purpose

3. Family continues to be the most important thing in my life

4. I know who I am and what I do

5. I understand my talents and shortcomings

6. Self-care is part of every day

7. Silly excuses and falsehoods don’t work with me

8. I can laugh - really laugh - at myself

9. Laughter is a vital part of every day

10. It’s easy to ignore speeders who zig-zag and pass me because we will get to the red light at the same time

11. My calendar is filled with volunteer projects

12. I’m willing to take credit for what I do

13. When asked, I give advice to my grown children

14. Admitting mistakes is easier and I move on quickly

15. Tears come to my eyes when a cardinal lands on a snowy branch

16. I try to do the right thing

17. The wonder and mystery of the heavens fill me with awe

18. I understand the miracle of life

No matter how old you are, I hope you will look for the positives of aging. File them away in your mind and think of them from time to time. For the day may come when a child looks at you, hugs you, and calls you grandma or grandpa. What a blessing.

Copyright 2005 by Harriet Hodgson. To learn more about her work go to http://www.harriethodgson.com

Harriet Hodgson has been a nonfiction writer fr 27 years and is a member of the Association of Health Care Journalists. Her 24th book, "Smiling Through Your Tears: Anticipating Grief," written with Lois Krahn, MD is available from http://www.amazon.com A five-star review of the book is also posted on Amazon.

Herbal nutrition supplement anti-aging health benefits — is it possible that an anti-aging herbal nutrition supplement can slow the aging process? Absolutely! Numerous clinical studies have shown and are still discovering the wide-ranging health benefits of many herbs and nutrition supplements.

A healthy lifestyle includes having a sensible diet with nutritional supplements, adequate quality sleep, reasonable exercise and weight management. And slowing down the aging process includes providing your body all the nutrients it requires. Taking a high-quality, broad-spectrum vitamin/mineral/nutrition supplement helps fill in the dietary gaps that everyone will have.

Vitamins and minerals are only the beginning. Your body needs and will use a wide array of herbal nutrition supplement nutrients that have been proven to have specific health benefits. Here are examples:

1. Bilberry Extract - improves eye health and night vision. Clinical tests confirm that the herbal nutrition supplement bilberry is effective in treating eye diseases such as cataracts, retinitis pigmentosa, glaucoma and myopia.

2. Cranberry Extract - used for prevention and treatment of urinary tract infections and type 2 diabetes.

3. Ginger Extract - may be beneficial for irritable bowel syndrome, morning sickness, nausea, osteoarthritis, atherosclerosis, gastro intestinal disorders, hay fever, HIV support, low back pain, migraines and rheumatoid arthritis.

4. Gingko Biloba Extract - this herbal nutrition supplement promotes mental clarity and concentration, increases alertness and short-term memory and is used in cardiac protection formulas. It offers significant protection against the development of Alzheimer’s disease, hearing loss and strokes.

5. Green Tea Extract - may be helpful in improving cognitive performance, treating stomach disorders, vomiting, diarrhea and headaches. Green tea may be beneficial in reducing the risk of breast cancer, prostate cancer, colon cancer and gastric cancer. May be beneficial to maintain remission in persons with Crohn’s disease, to prevent Parkinson’s disease and help protect against heart disease, dental caries and kidney stones.

6. Guggulipid Extract - is used for arthritis, lowering high cholesterol, atherosclerosis, nodulocystic acne, skin diseases and weight loss.

7. Hawthorne Berry Extract - used for cardiovascular conditions such as congestive heart failure and coronary circulation problems and to treat both low and high blood pressure.

8. Mahonia Grape Extract - this herbal nutrition supplement is used to treat acne, chronic constipation, colds, flu, eczema, gallbladder conditions, dysentery, malaria, parasites, psoriasis and urinary tract infections.

9. Olive Leaf Extract - used for fungus and yeast infections, frequent colds, asthma, vaginal yeast infections, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, bacterial infections, herpes, AIDS, chronic fatigue, flu and colds.

10. Tumeric Extract - may be beneficial for rheumatoid arthritis, cancer, atherosclerosis, bursitis, genital herpes, hepatitis, HIV support, low back pain and osteoarthritis.

Should you take each herbal nutrition supplement individually? When trying to design your own supplement plan, it’s easy to end up with a dozen or more individual supplements to take daily, which is both a hassle and expensive. Besides, if certain substances are out of balance, they can combine to produce other unwanted compounds that can be harmful.

Also, women need a different formula than men. A woman’s herbal nutrition supplement product should contain nutrients proven by clinical studies to support the balancing of female hormones. For example, red clover is helpful for menopausal symptoms, hot flashes and cyclic breast tenderness. A men’s product should contain ingredients that support healthy male prostate like saw palmetto that is used for symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), improving sexual vigor and stimulating hair growth.

Learn as much as you can about what finding the best herbal nutrition supplement really means. Your health, energy and wellness is the issue. Before spending your money, be informed about the products you’ll be taking every day.

Copyright 2005 InfoSearch Publishing

Read more about the best vitamins and nutritional supplements - David Buster is VP of InfoSearch Publishing and webmaster of http://www.safemenopausesolutions.com - a website of natural health articles, reliable sources of nutrition supplements and related health resources.

Beauty and health go hand in hand. The finest cosmetics in the world cannot disguise the effects of poor nutrition and aging. Beauty, which comes from within, is reflected in a clear, sparkling skin and a fit, trim body, and needless to say, the aspects of nutrition and aging come into question in the context of ageless beauty. Often people with poor nutrition and aging go for the most common "Human Growth" hormone therapy, which rarely work in people over 40 years of age, and can have disastrous effects on your system, including worsening of health and accelerated aging process.

Therefore, the first thing that you must do is taking a broad spectrum of natural supplements to help fill in the nutrient ‘gaps’ that you have if proper nutrition and aging does not walk hand-in-hand. You also need a full array of amino acids, anti-oxidants, neuronutrients, herbal extracts and enzymes to have proper nutrition for your skin and body. Your body would need all these nutrients in correct proportions in order to maintain the proper balance of nutrition and aging. And, there are a slew of nutritive supplements available in the market today, which help achieve that objective.

To maintain the balance of nutrition and aging and to sustain natural beauty for years, the primary thing to pursue is to go for a proper diet that helps to maintain a balanced metabolism rate without accumulating fat and lessening the intake of calories. In this context, the Green tea deserves substantial attention from those interested both in sustaining youth and an overall balanced health and well-being. The Green Tea weight loss system (enriched with the high potency green tea) suppresses over-appetite naturally and safely, thereby increasing the metabolism level. This weight loss system provides a safe way to burn fat, making for a perfect nutrition and aging supplement.

Apart from the Green tea, there are also a number of “general wellness” nutrition and anti-aging supplements that work in order to provide your body with proper blood and tissue oxygen saturation, helping your body attain optimal body-fat reduction in the process. Besides, a comprehensive range of nutrition and aging products, including advanced appetite-suppressants, metabolism boosters and energy enhancers are available in the market. Acting as breakthrough "anti-dieting" products, they support the balance of nutrition and aging by reducing the caloric intake of your food in a natural way.

All said and done, it is really heart-warming for seniors to know that in today’s times, there are powerful anti-aging tools that combine scientific research and innovative technology to produce outstanding results for them. Today, maintaining health and beauty with proper nutrition and anti-aging products can be as effortless as ever!

Lopa Bhattacharya is a content writer/developer working for various overseas corporate website projects, CD-Rom presentations, brochures, flyers and other communication materials). Has worked on numerous SEO copywriting projects on varied themes ranging from travel, hotel industry, photography, web design and software development to US-based clubs and network communities. Was previously an editorial associate for the news, culture and entertainment portal based on the life and times of Kolkata.

The process of microdermabrasion involves the spraying of finely ground microdermabrasion crystals (sand-like particles / aluminum oxide typically) on to the surface of the skin in order to gently abrade and peel away the old skin and exfoliate all the dead cells. This results in a cleaner fresher and younger skin on the surface which many patients have described as a sheer reversal of aging. In this entire process, the knowledge of the small particles that help you regain your youth is at a minimum and that’s what we will concentrate on addressing.

Most such processes with microdermabrasion crystals use one form of aluminum oxide or the other as the abrading material so this article will focus on just that. Aluminum oxide chemical formula Al2O3 is a recommended substance for this procedure and is cleared for non-toxicity due to accidental ingestion and doesn’t provoke any harmful side effects or surface skin reactions. Before the start of any microdermabrasion crystals procedure, care is taken to ensure that this aluminum oxide is high on purity from unwanted particles for example silica which is present in the source. The purification process is enabled through a technical rigorous procedure of melting and re-crystallizing the native aluminum oxide.

While the inhalation of microdermabrasion crystals such as aluminum oxide by itself does not have adverse biological reactions in the body, the introduction of any particulate matter in the lungs could possibly cause a breathing impairment, nasal irritation and induced coughing. Therefore before you undergo this treatment, make sure that your medical practitioner takes care to sufficiently cover your nostrils and eyes before starting the procedure. Microdermabrasion crystals thus when used carefully can bring immense benefits to the human body than any negative reaction that could possibly have you in two minds about the treatment.

Keep in mind that this knowledge of microdermabrasion crystals is just so that you are aware of what you go through. The technique itself is very clean and there is almost no instance of residual particulate matter left on the skin. Summarily, we would just like to say, that if you find yourself suitable for undergoing this treatment, just go ahead and take one more step closer to the heydays of your youth!

Visit our site at Microdermabrasion Info & Articles to read everything you ever wanted to know about microdermabrasion, its benefits, the cost involved, what precautions to take and much more !

© 2005, Sam Natarajan. This article is courtesy of Microdermabrasion Secrets

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

Before you read on more to know the benefits of microdermabrasion, we assume that you have some preliminary knowledge of what the entire process of microdermabrasion entails, why people use it and how the technique works in terms of making the skin look younger. In case you don’t know this, we suggest that you look up our articles section on the basics of microdermabrasion before coming to this page so that you can appreciate and relate what you will read here. Our intent on this page is to summarily visit the various benefits that the procedure of microdermabrasion can deliver.

Fundamentally the microdermabrasion technique makes you look younger by removing the dead skin on the surface and ensuring that fresher younger skin from beneath becomes the outer layer. Primary benefit therefore is a younger skin, bereft of effects of aging with a very healthy glow. The second key benefit is the way the procedure is administered itself, its non-surgical, quite safe and has no adverse impacts on the skin. Unlike laser hair removal where skin color and pigmentation is a key parameter, microdermabrasion is applicable for almost all types of skin and skin color. Also because the reaction on the surface is purely physical, microdermabrasion does not have any side-effects that chemical treatments are associated with. Painless and quick, for sessions lasting typically around half n hour, no anesthesia is required either.

As you can see, microdermabrasion seems to be a win-win proposition for almost all suitable candidates who want to see a few years taken off their clock. Never before has the holy grail of immortal youth appeared any closer as it does with the wonderful effects of microdermabrasion. We recommend as always, for any treatment to consult your local clinic or physician to fully understand your suitability for the process.

The benefits of microdermabrasion are plentiful but nothing beats the glowing smile on your face when you look yourself in the mirror and see your youth abound once again!

Visit our site at Microdermabrasion Info & Articles to read everything you ever wanted to know about microdermabrasion, its benefits, the cost involved, what precautions to take and much more !

© 2005, Sam Natarajan. This article is courtesy of Microdermabrasion Secrets

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

Warning : Microdermabrasion can and will change your life, please be prepared to look magically younger.

Reliving the past is a quality that is as primitive as man himself. Remember how often you would have dreamt about those good old days, the sun and sand, the music and the merrymaking?

Those are now things of the past, when you were young and energetic. Now time has taken its toll and life has gone a full circle. But then again, time had not considered the invention of microdermabrasion technology. Your youth of yore can be within your grasp more than ever before with the wonders of microdermabrasion, the power of microdermabrasion kits or even your home microdermabrasion equipment.

Aging is natural. Not wanting to is equally natural. And this fine balance is what motivates most of us to do, look and feel the same way we did in our younger days. Microdermabrasion helps you and me in getting rid of the tell-tale signs of the passage of time. Who could have imagined that small things such as the microdermabrasion crystals held enough power in them to erase the wrinkles of aging? Or for that matter, delete almost all surface level skin imperfections? And thereby giving you a taut fresh and sublimely young look, turning your clock back and giving you one more chance at life yet again.

Microdermabrasion is a new and emerging technology that works on a very simple physics principle of friction causing wear and tear. In this case, finely ground sand particles or microdermabrasion crystals are fired in a streamline on to the surface of the skin thereby abrading it. This abrasion causes the dead cells, blocked pores and other skin-surface level deviations to give way and leaves behind a cleaner, healthier and fresher skin. Presto, you just dropped 10 years on your calendar.

Its never too late to experience the wonders of microdermabrasion and continue your romance with life itself. The only thing that could beat this is if god came down to earth and actually sent you back in time. Till such time that happens, be sure that microdermabrasion will be your substitute for god! Enjoy your life, fresher and younger!

Visit our site at Microdermabrasion Info & Articles to read everything you ever wanted to know about microdermabrasion, its benefits, the cost involved, what precautions to take and much more !

© 2005, Sam Natarajan. This article is courtesy of Microdermabrasion Secrets

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

Microdermabrasion. Home microdermabrasion kits. Microdermabrasion units. And you are wondering just what the hell all this is about! Nary a worrisome thought, for in 2 minutes flat you will know what microdermabrasion is and how you can benefit from this wonderful process that could make reversal of aging an earthy possibility!

Microdermabrasion: Say bye-bye to wrinkles! Look younger and fresher!

Fundamentally, microdermabrasion is a technique to negate the aging effects on a person’s skin and therefore the outward appearance and can also fight surface effects of sun exposure. It’s a process for reparation of facial skin in particular but can theoretically be used for most parts of the human body. Typical of any treatment for the skin, this technique like its brethren (e.g: laser hair removal) would require more than just one sitting for a satisfactory and long lasting effect.

How does microdermabrasion work? At the heart of this treatment is a sandjet or a sandblaster which propels very finely ground sand particles through a nozzle on to the surface of a skin in a gentle wave. What this helps achieves is to abrade i.e. rub away due to friction all the dead cells on the surface of the skin that gives an aged and possibly haggard look. In several cases of microdermabrasion, this could be combined with a suction mechanism as well that works in tandem with the sand particles that are being fired on the skin surface. This treatment doesn’t have any painful body reactions and can be administered to almost everybody who have a normal skin composition and don’t suffer from any pigmentation irregularities. So when the sand particles are blown away, what is left behind is fresh new and younger looking skin that just turned your clock back through a few years! Now, isn’t that a delightful thought?

To know more about microdermabrasion, feel free to navigate our site and equip yourself with the latest buzz in the fast growing populace who are trying and succeeding in going back in time. Regain your youth and relive those moments you have always treasured!

Visit our site at Microdermabrasion Info & Articles to read everything you ever wanted to know about microdermabrasion, its benefits, the cost involved, what precautions to take and much more !

© 2005, Sam Natarajan. This article is courtesy of Microdermabrasion Secrets

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

How would you like to turn the clock back by 10 years? May be even 15 years? And No, I am not kidding for that’s exactly what microdermabrasion can do for you. If you saw a small attractive home microdermabrasion kit or any other microdermabrasion equipment, you would simply find hard to believe that such an innocuous device could possibly hold the key to a time-warp for you. Microdermabrasion does all that and more. Here is how this wonderful technology, microdermabrasion works for you.

Lets break down the word microdermabrasion : Micro obviously stands for something that’s very small in size, derma stands for your skin, and abrasion is the wearing away of a surface due to constant friction. That’s precisely what a home microdermabrasion kit or other microdermabrasion equipment does. The treatment consists of using a sand-jet that can blow fine particles (either sand or other microdermabrasion crystals) on to your skin that removes all the dead cells, opens the skin pores and essentially makes your skin taut. Varying speeds of the jet with different sizes of the microdermabrasion crystals makes treatment possible for different parts of your body so that you can gain the best possible advantage from the use of this wonderful treatment.

Are you despairing because you don’t have the time to visit a clinic? Not to worry, just get yourself a home microdermabrasion kit and you are right on your way to a more youthful-self! Home microdermabrasion kits have been increasingly rising in popularity thanks to their affordability and easy-to-use functionalities. You should definitely check this option out if you are running on tight schedules or if convenience-of-use is a big criterion of selection.

Go ahead! Look younger, feel great and relive your youthful days once more!

Visit our site at Microdermabrasion Info & Articles to read everything you ever wanted to know about microdermabrasion, its benefits, the cost involved, what precautions to take and much more !

© 2005, Sam Natarajan. This article is courtesy of Microdermabrasion Secrets

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

I was speaking today at a conference for foster parents, and got into a conversation with a woman who has 9 foster children. I mentioned that she must have a whole lot of energy. She said she just hopes she never gets old.

One the many things that struck me about the conversation was that there is a great deal of difference between getting old and getting older.

Getting old means losing your zest for life . Getting older is going to happen as the years add up. One is inevitable and the other is not.

How to get old

Here are some ways that I have observed in which people can get old:

Hardening of the references - Don’t confuse me with anything new or a different way of looking at things.

Seven last words - The seven last words spoken before someone gets old are

“I’ve always done it this way before.”

Less laughter - I’ve heard it said that we don’t stop laughing because we grow old. We grow old because we stop laughing.

How to get older

Learn from life and it’s experiences - If you are the exact same person as you were 20 years ago, then I would suggest that you have wasted 20 years.

Laugh - Laugh often: at yourself especially.

Learn from those that have gone before - Others have gotten older before us. It amazes me how so often we do not take advantage of the opportunity to “sit at the feet” of those older and wiser.

Grow old or grow older - it’s up to you.

Visit SecretsofGreatRelationships.com for tips and tools for creating and growing a great relationship. You can also subscribe to our f*r*e*e 10 day e-program on how to enrich your relationship today, from relationship coach and expert Jeff Herring.