BEAUTY TIPS

Mineral makeup has been used for centuries, but recently, it has garnered much more attention. Mineral makeup has been touted as better for the skin because the all-natural formulas are devoid of artificial fragrances, dyes or preservatives. However, the benefits may go well beyond the "natural" label. Consider these reasons to try mineral makeup and tips to find the best product line for your needs. Benefits of Mineral Makeup There are many reasons to consider mineral makeup for a cleaner, healthier complexion. Mineral makeup provides much lighter coverage with a unique blend of all natural ingredients free of chemicals and other harmful substances. However, the lighter feel of the makeup does not affect coverage; the products are still quite capable of hiding flaws like scars and fine lines, while providing a smooth, even skin tone. 

Some of the other benefits of mineral makeup include: 
� Won't damage the skin's surface 
� Lasts longer than other types of makeup 
� Better coverage for a flawless complexion 
� Reduces the risk of breakouts since pores aren't clogged 
� Won't irritate the skin In addition to these benefits, some find that mineral makeup can even turn back the clock on the skin. 

How Mineral Makeup Fights Aging Skin One of the primary causes of aging skin is the sun. The harmful rays can lead to dry, sagging skin and the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. It is important to protect your skin from this damage without using thick sunscreens that could lead to breakouts or irritation. This is where mineral makeup comes into play, with a hefty dose of sun protecting agents like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide included in the formulas. Some mineral makeup products provide up to an SPF 30 for the delicate skin of your face. Recommended Mineral Makeup Lines There are many mineral makeup companies today, but not all are created equal. It is important to look for companies that use only natural ingredients without any artificial dyes, perfumes or preservative clogging up the formulas. One such company is Jane Iredale, which is recommended by dermatologists and cosmetic surgeons because of its safety and benefits. The state-of-the-art formulas created by Jane Iredale come in a wide range of shades to suit every skin tone. Another good mineral makeup source is Colorescience, which uses only the highest quality of ingredients in their formulas. These products are packed with important nutrients like antioxidants and enzymes that treat the skin even as they provide a more beautiful complexion. Finally, Glominerals offers a wide line of cosmetics in fashion-forward shades and a few color classics included for good measure. If you are a style diva who is always tuned into the latest styles, Glominerals all natural line will be just what you need. Mineral makeup treats your skin right, offering sufficient coverage without clogging pores or irritating the skin. When it comes to turning back the clock on the skin, these all-natural formulas will protect the skin from the aging process and effectively cover the early aging effects that have already appeared.

Natural skin care is a way to care for your skin without the use of synthetic chemicals in skin care products. Proper hygiene and self-discipline are the biggest factors in natural skin care. A daily routine is the best way to get great looking skin. Taking care of your body is the same as natural skin care.

Methods of Natural Skin Care

Drinking eight or more glasses of water is a good way to naturally care for your skin. The most important need of your body is water since it helps the skin keep its moisture content. Water also helps functions throughout the body and assists in the removal of toxins.

Making sure everything is clean is always important including bathing everyday and having clean clothes and bedding. Germs can’t enter your pores if you have clean skin, which reduces your risk of skin problems.

There are many important benefits that come from exercise. In addition to toning your body, exercise can help increase your bloods circulation, which in turn flushes the toxins out of your body. Fatigue and stress is reduced with exercise, which not only improves the health of your skin but also your body’s entire health.

Oily foods can cause acne so it is important to keep a balanced diet. All the nutrients needed to keep up your body’s functions should be included in a balanced diet. A proper supply of nutrients that get rid of free radicals can be found in fruits and vegetables.

Skin sagging and aging can be reduced through proper sleep when can help your body relax after a stressful day. If possible you should get your sleep at the same time everyday.

Not only does stress damage your skin but it also does damage to your entire body. One of the most popular ways of alleviating stress is to take up yoga. You cannot only relax the body but also the mind through meditation. To fight stress you can also engage in relaxing activities periodically such as playing a favorite sport, listening to music, spending quality time with family and doing any activity that you might find relaxing.

Make sure you like your sun exposure. When you go out it is a good idea to bring an umbrella. Wearing hats and clothing with long sleeves is another good option.

Natural skin care methods aren’t very hard to do. An added benefit to natural skin care is it isn’t very expensive. Most natural skin care is already a part of your daily activity. Just pay attention to your daily activities and make sure you do them properly. Not only will you benefit your skin with these methods but you will also benefit your entire body.

There are also skin care products that are natural. Today the market has several natural skin care products available. Two of the most popular natural ingredients are aloe vera and lavender oils. Natural ingredients don’t have bad effects compared to the chemical products on the market today.

Herbs have been used in skin care from times immemorial. Ancient Ayurvedic texts in India speak of the use various herbs, such as, basil, turmeric, and saffron in skin care preparations. Herbs are now being increasingly used in the manufacture of skin care products across the world because of their healing and rejuvenating properties. Some brands do not even use artificial preservatives in their products, instead depending on the inherent quality of certain herbs to preserve themselves.

Today, aloe vera is one of the most popular herbs, hailed for its skin-soothing and anti-aging properties. It is used in cleansers, face washes, massage creams, sunscreens, and anti-acne products. Tea tree oil is also widely used in skin care products for its antiseptic and anti-acne properties. Ginseng, sage, rosemary, witch hazel, chamomile, calendula, and arnica are also popular. They are used in the manufacture of skin care products for different skin types, based on their properties.

Basil and mint are used in acne skin care because of their anti-bacterial and refreshing properties. Fresh basil or mint juice can be applied everyday on pimples. Turmeric is another essential ingredient in many skin care products because of its antiseptic quality. It ensures a glowing, blemish-free complexion. Fresh turmeric fingers can be ground with a little milk and applied on the face and the body. Pure saffron is widely used in traditional medicinal and skin care preparations in India and the Middle East. A few almonds and saffron strands can be soaked in milk and then ground into a paste with the milk. Mixed with rosewater, this face mask nourishes and revitalizes skin. These are simple herbal skin care preparations that can be made by everybody at home. However, elaborate herbal remedies should not be attempted at home without proper knowledge of herbs and their effects.

To conclude, certain herbs are very beneficial for the skin and products containing them can be used with good effect. However, products of only reputed brands should be used, as the wrong mix of herbs could create problems.

Skin is the outer most covering of your body, which need to be kept clean and nourished. If your skin is kept in good health, then you will be feeling more beautiful, fresh and young. Your skin needs to be pampered and taken care of. The skin is the part of the body, which is exposed constantly to various types of pollutants and harshness from the surroundings. These pollutants harm the skin and the skin loses its youthfulness and glow. Here is some basic information about how to keep your skin healthy. You need to know your skin type before starting any skin care program. There are four basic skin types, normal, oily, dry and sensitive skin.

You need to wash your face to remove the dirt from it and to keep it clean. You should never wash your face with hot or cold water. Hot and cold water cause broken capillaries on the skin. Always wash your face with lukewarm water to remove the dirt and to open the clogged pores of your skin. You should wash your face as often as possible. But never forget to wash it before going to bed and in the morning. You should never go to bed with makeup on. You should use a mild cleanser suitable to your skin type for cleansing your skin. The surfactants present in the cleanser remove the dirt, and the oil secreted by the sweat glands. You should apply the cleanser gently over the face in circular motion. Then wash the face with cool water.

You need to give your skin a dry exfoliation brush in the morning to remove the dead skin cells. Exfoliating your skin is very essential in order to make it bright and glowing. The purpose of exfoliating your skin is to remove the dead superficial skin cells and to make way for the new skin cells to appear. This will give you a youthful and glowing appearance. The new cells also absorb moisture readily than the dead cells. Exfoliation also improves the blood circulation. You can use a soft natural bristle brush for dry exfoliation. If your skin is oily, then you need to exfoliate atleast 4-5 times a week. Those with dry sensitive skin can exfoliate once or twice per week. In order to keep your skin soft; you need to moisturize your skin. Moisturizers help to draw and seal moisture into the skin. This will rejuvenate the skin cells and make the skin feel soft and glowing. You should not overdo it as it can also result in clogging of the pores. You should select a moisturizer, which suits your skin type. Moisturizers also help to protect your skin from sun damage. Moisturizers with sunscreen are available which can be used in the daytime to protect your skin from the harsh UV light.

You need to invigorate your skin by massaging them in slow circular motion. This will help to improve the circulation and will also prevent formation of wrinkles. In order to have a healthy glowing skin you need to rev up your digestion. Drink plenty of water and eat a balanced healthy food. Avoid oily and junk foodstuffs. In this way you can prevent constipation and other digestive problems which are the main cause for skin ailments like acne, pimples etc.

Our body is like a machine. A machine needs fuel to run and greasing and maintenance to be in proper shape and perform. Just like any other mechanical device our body needs food to work. At the same time it needs maintenance i.e. care like brushing teeth, bathing and massage etc. And when body massage is concerned, definitely it should be well performed by body oils. Applying massage to body means giving body the nourishments it needs. This also means using some body oil to perform the task well.

Many of us do not know the good property of body oil but we all certainly know it’s greasing nature and so always like to avoid it because of one reason or the other. But you can find oils that are less greasing on your skin. Once you start using body oils, you would not quit. Applying oil during massage will also give you therapeutic benefits. A number of body oil products are available in the stores, which you can use for body massage on yourself, and gain the physical benefits from it. The body oil makes your body skin smooth and healthy.

Since the atmosphere in which you live changes continuously and hence your body skin has to face a lot of difficulties in changing weather conditions. Different persons have different skins and hence the problem varies individual to individual, but if you are a person of the kind who takes body massages and that too with some body oil, this will help your body skin to look good and healthy.

Body oils also works as moisturizers to your skin. However, you are advised to use natural oils for body massage. The benefit of using natural oil is that these do not contain any artificial fragrance or color. The natural oils are rich in vitamins and minerals, which are essentials to your skin. Taking massage with natural oil makes your body relaxed and gives your body skin the necessary vitamins and minerals. So your body skin always look healthy, young and beautiful.


There are a number of natural body oils available for body massage. Body massage is simple and safe. It is one of the best methods to keep you away from different stress and anxiety. This is useful for all and especially for those who are workaholic. Doing body massage is enjoyable and it has a lot of health benefits like proper blood circulation and lymph drainage, better movements of different joints and tendons, healthy skin and wonderful emotional well being. This also gives amazing calmness to your mind.

Now you definitely would like to know, how to do an effective body massage and hence to give maximum benefits to your body.

By knowing the following facts you can get maximum benefits from body massage;

* It is important to know, how to give the body massage treatment to your different body parts like toes, legs, thighs, back, chest, stomach, neck, and even head. Giving individual attention to each body part will boost energy in your body enormously and will improve the individual parts strengthning as well.
* You need to understand the anatomy of your body and its working criterion and accordingly you need to understand the techniques of massaging for different body parts.

Doing body massage at a regular basis with a natural body oil will relieve you from back pain, and minimizes the chances of day to day-to-day stress and muscular cramp.

For generation, people are not only using garlic because of its medicinal value, but traditionally, people have rubbed their bodies with it, buried it besides their bodies in coffin, worn it around their necks, draped it on household walls and even prayed to it. This great bulb has a lot of benefits, because no other plant has been held out for so long as a cure for so many human ailments. Thats why garlic has been considered as the Wonder Drugs
Garlic has been used medicinally for many years for treating bites, tumors, ulcers, snakebite, wounds, headaches, heart diseases, cancer, pimples, measles and many more. It also prevents infections such as the common cold, cough because of its Anti-bacterial, Anti-fungal and Anti-viral property.

As this proverb is very common that
An apple a day, keeps the doctor away
In the same manner,

A single bulb of garlic a day, keep diseases away
In general, it exhibits antioxidant activity, which is good for your skin. It also contains flavonoids, which is good for heart and body.
Garlic contains a range of compounds including Allicin, which is a pungent oily liquid that gives crushed garlic cloves their characteristic smell, and has been shown to be the antibacterial agent due to its active sulphur.
Raw garlic is very smelly, so in order to reduce it smell, you can simply add it to your gravy, salad dressings, to soup, yummy pizza or just garnish it before serving or have it in your own style.

TIPS:
Garlic is just magnificent and phenomenal. I am providing few of the basics known and reliable home remedies for some specific ailments, which you could try at your home .

If you have cold and flu, then take small amount of garlic every day until the infection disappears. Garlic tends to reduce the frequency of colds and flu without any side effects. A suggested dose would be two or three cloves of raw or cooked garlic a day.

We all face horrid acne, blemishes, blackheads during our teens. If you want to reduce it, or if you just want to glow up your skin, then take two cloves of raw garlic regularly with warm water early in the morning. It works as a blood cleanser and clean your system internally. Do not eat chocolates, spicy or oily food during this treatment and rinse your face five times a day with cold water. Drinks lots of water daily to flush off toxic waste from the blood and urinate whenever you feel that your bladder is full .Else, apply a cut clove gently on the affected area only if you have no sensitivity to it.

If you have High Cholesterol Level, use garlic in your food. This is the better way for heart patients to reduce their cholesterol level. Modern medical science suggests one reason that garlic might reduce cholesterol , i.e. “Garlic is a proven anti-oxidant This property might help to prevent LDL (Low Density Lipo Protein) from being oxidized. In this way the cholesterol build-up that clogs the arteries could perhaps be reduced by garlic.

If you are very fat and want to loose weight, squeeze half lemon juice in one glass of luke warm water and drink it with two cloves of raw garlic regularly twice a day (morning and evening), for about three months. Avoid using starchy foods and fats. Do exercise regularly. You amazingly fell a great change in your body.

If you have Wrinkles, and you want to use anti ageing cream, it would be better to use 3 cloves of garlic regularly as it has a powerful antioxidant effect, which help to protect the body against damaging Free Radical. Remember, out skin is made up of collagen and it looses elasticity on yearly basis. Therefore, use garlic and do exercise regularly for the positive results.

If you have Earache, put two or three drops of warm garlic oil in the ears.

Take garlic to boosts the weight of babies in the womb. Thus, when they are born, they are heavier than they would have been if you had taken garlic. Some babies are born too small, so garlic is a definite boon in these cases too.

Use two raw garlic daily to reduce the risk of cancer, due to its Anti-Carcinogenic properties. It helps prevent cancerous compounds from forming and developing into tumors. It also inhibits the growth of tumors.

If any insect bites you at the seaside, you just crush the garlic and apply it to the affected area to reduce pain and to remove poison.

HOW TO TAKE GARLIC:

Crush two or three small cloves of raw garlic and eat it raw or boiled, before going to sleep. You can have it with a glass of milk or with water. Please do not take more than two or three raw cloves of garlic per day as it might makes your blood thinner and might cause serious ailments.

Contra-indications/precautions:

Do not consume more than three to four raw cloves of garlic a day.

Patients having heart and other problems should take medical advice before consuming it.

Its best to avoid garlic before any surgery because it could probably disturb Anticoagulants.

If you are on any medication, always check with your doctor first before taking raw garlic.

Asthma patients should not use it as it worsens the symptoms of Asthma.

If you have sensitive skin, I recommend not using physically on the affected area. Raw garlic can burn delicate skin! Do not use directly on skin if your skin is sensitive or susceptible to rashes or other skin reactions without consulting your doctor first. People who are or may be allergic to garlic or any of its sulfur compounds shouldn’t try direct garlic application on skin too.


SIDE-EFFECTS :

Although, garlic is a natural Anti-biotic but a very small number of people have been known to exhibit Hypersensitivity to garlic. Garlic allergy includes skin rash, temperature and headaches. Garlic intolerance could result in Heartburn or Flatulence.

POINTS TO BE NOTED:

Its important to remember that the effect of garlic on cold and flu comes from Allicin and this can be obtained from crushed, raw garlic and is destroyed by over cooking.

Garlic cloves cooked whole have very little medicinal value.

Garlic with strong smell has more Sulphur in it, which is good enough for medicinal purpose.

FEW FACTS ABOUT GARLIC :

Garlic helps to boost up our Metabolism rate. Thus help us to reduce our weight easily.

Garlic helps reduce Atherosclerotic buildup (Plaque) within the arterial system.

Garlic lowers or helps to regulate Blood Sugar.

Garlic helps to prevent blood clots from forming, thus reducing the possibility of Strokes.

Garlic helps to prevent Cancer, especially of the digestive system, prevent certain tumors from growing larger and reduces the size of certain tumors.

Garlic helps to remove heavy metals such as lead and mercury from the body.

Raw garlic is a proven natural antibiotic and, while far less strong than modern antibiotics, can still kill some strains of bacteria that have become immune or resistant to modern antibiotics.

Garlic dramatically reduces yeast infections in body parts.

It helps to make our immune system stronger against cancer, ulcers, hemorrhoids etc.

Research indicates that self-confident people perform well at work and have secure relationships. Great looking skin makes one feel good and adds to self-confidence. While some people are born with flawless skin, others have to work hard to achieve it. Even individuals blessed with a lovely complexion need to take care of their skin regularly.

Natural skin care involves the application of naturally occurring materials to cleanse, refresh, and nourish skin. These materials are readily available, inexpensive, and harmless unless one is allergic to any of them.

Different skin types require different skin care products and beauty regimens. People with normal skin can use a number of natural aids to enhance their looks. A mask made of fresh apple juice and honey can be applied on the face and neck and rinsed off after 20 minutes. A mix of orange-peel powder, oatmeal, and milk can also be used effectively.

Oily skin tends to be problematic, especially during adolescence. A mask of raw egg whites and freshly squeezed lemon juice can help to reduce the oiliness. This mask should be washed off with warm water. A mask made with grated cucumber and rosewater can also work magic on oily skin.

Dry skin tends to get drier with age and to look rough. A concoction of mashed ripe banana, honey, and olive oil can be applied to refresh and nourish dry, tired-looking skin. Ripe strawberries, mashed and mixed with fresh cream can also be used.

Two masks should ideally be applied on combination skin, simultaneously. One mask should take care of the T-zone and the other, the rest of the face and the neck. Alternatively, one can add olive or almond oil to the same mask to take care of the drier areas. A mask made of oatmeal and yogurt can be applied to the T-zone. Honey can be added to this mask, for the drier zone.

To sum up, natural skin care can improve the texture of all skin types, at a minimum cost. However, this care has to be supplemented with a nutritious, low-fat diet, regular exercise, and plentiful sleep to obtain glowing skin that earns praise.

When you develop acne, it can have a major change in your strong and active personality. It has the power to make you feel helpless, insecure, and bashful. To get a smooth and clear face, you need a new attitude about your health. Your acne and treatment that you use for it should start with improving your health.

Hormones that are released by the various organs are controlled by your overall health. The releases of excess hormones, which cause acne, is a result of your health. If you do not have a healthy body, then you will have an imbalance in your hormones. This imbalance may not cause acne, but in many individuals it does.

Most doctors dont think diet causes acne. If the doctors were right about food, then they would easily be able to help you clear your acne with their drugs. Drugs can give you temporary relief, is they work at all, but as you use them. They can also give you some unpleasant side effects.

If you been struggling to get rid of pimples, then its time to get serious about your acne and treatment. Take curing your acne into your own hands. What you have to do is to realize that acne is caused by the food you eat. The food you eat determines how your body works. Put good food into your body and gain good health and you will have a clean face.

So, what kind of diet will help to keep you acne free? It will be the best diet that will give you the best health. The better your health the less acne and toxins your body will have. Blemishes on your face represent excess toxins that are trying to get out of your body. The normal channels your body uses to get rid of toxins have been over worked, so the body uses the skin to eliminate them.

To make your diet more effective, there are some lifestyle changes you can make that will accelerate your health. First, you can start being more active by not watching so much TV. The movement of your body helps to route toxins out of your body, so do some exercise. If you smoke or work where there is a lot of air pollution, you need to consider making changes. Pollution will definitely shorten your life and create blemishes on your skin during your life time.

Here is a good diet to help you get back your health. There are certain foods that you need to stop eating for acne and treatment. Since it may be difficult to change your eating habits, it is best to replace a poor food with a "better food." And, you need to change your eating habit gradually.

* All products made from white flour have little nutritional value and do nothing to keep your healthy. In fact, white flour can cause constipation, making your colon toxic which can lead to acne. Back off on white flour slowly and replace it with products that have multi-grains.

* One way to know if the food you eat is good is to know that good food is not found in packages. Packaged food has all kinds of chemical additives that literally poison your body. They disrupt you organ functions creating hormonal imbalances that lead to acne. Most food that is good for you is not found in the grocery store it is found at the farmers market.

* Milk is also one of the foods that are over rated and commercials have created an atmosphere that if you dont drink milk you will lack calcium. You dont need milk to get all the calcium your body needs. Milk has a lot of fat, causes allergies, and mucus. Milk compromises your health and can cause you to break out with pimples and skin infections and other blemishes.

* Eat more fruits in the morning to detoxify your body. Eat more raw vegetables for lunch and dinner. Try to avoid eating cooked vegetables. These vegetables lose up to 50 percent of their nutritional value when cooked. It is best to steam your vegetables and leave them a little hard by cooking only 3-4 minutes with very little water.

There are many different things you need to do to change your diet. Just change one thing every week or every two weeks. Over a year, you will see a change in your health and your acne and treatment of changing your diet will clear up your blemishes.

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Dry skin is characterized by dull and rough appearance. Some individuals are born with dry skin, while others develop it over time, due to a host of factors. Dry skin tends to age faster as it lacks the necessary oil and moisture to keep skin soft and supple.

Individuals may develop dry skin due overexposure to sunlight, harsh climatic conditions like severe cold or heat, or artificial room heating or cooling. An improper skin care regimen, especially the overuse of soap or face wash, or no skin care at all can also lead to dull skin.

For people with dry skin, facial skin care should involve the basic skin care regimen recommended for all skin types ½ that is, cleansing, toning, and moisturizing. In addition, an oil massage for the face and the body, using either olive or almond oil is recommended before bathing. Warm water should be used for bathing. A suitable moisturizer and a body lotion should be applied after bathing. Sunscreen must not be forgotten while going out during the day.

Honey is a good moisturizer, and those who wish to follow the natural path to glowing skin can apply it regularly over the face and the neck and wash it off after ten minutes. A face mask made of raw egg, honey, and rosewater is beneficial to dry skin. Mashed, ripe banana can also be used as a rejuvenating face mask. Mashed, ripe strawberries mixed with fres
h cream provide a similar effect.

Dry skin also needs some extra care, such as the application of an outer eye cream and night cream. Both provide essential oil to dry skin and prevent signs of premature aging like wrinkles and fine lines.

To conclude, apart from external care, a wholesome diet that includes cereals, nuts, vegetables, and fruits can prevent premature aging of dry skin. Intake of garlic, carrots, eggs, and milk is especially recommended. Daily intake of at least eight glasses of water, and adequate sleep are also vital aspects of skin care.

Fried food, soft drinks, excessive tea and coffee, and smoking and alcohol are harmful for skin. Therefore, these should be avoided.

Maintaining healthy, radiant skin isn't rocket science, but it does require a bit of smarts. For one thing, when it comes to your complexion, the lifestyle choices you make from day to day are just as important as sticking to your daily skin-care regimen.

Beautiful skin starts with healthy habits such as eating a balanced diet, engaging in regular exercise, limiting alcohol consumption, and not smoking. Beyond those basics, here’s a quick list of simple strategies that’ll help keep your skin at its best.

1. Wash your face
Facial cleansing is a simple task, but there are a few rules to follow:

• Make sure your hands are clean before you begin.
• Use lukewarm (not hot) water and a mild cleanser.
• Gently rub the cleanser into your face using circular motions.
• Give your face a mini massage to promote circulation.
• Rinse well to make sure all soap residue is gone, especially around your eyes, nose, and hairline.
• Finish with a splash of cool water to refresh skin and close pores.
• Pat (don’t rub) skin dry, but do leave a bit of moisture behind.

2. Moisturize
When it comes to moisturizing, timing is everything, so start slathering immediately after washing your face or bathing to seal moisture into your skin. Daily moisturizing not only helps prevent dryness, it’ll also help plump up your skin, thereby reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. When it comes to choosing products, opt for one extra-gentle moisturizer made just for your face and another for your body, plus an eye cream or serum for the sensitive area around the eyes. In general, choose the formula that’s right for you, but do look for ingredients like a high sun protection factor (SPF), humectants (like glycerin or urea) that absorb water from the air and seal in moisture, and antioxidants to help fight against the effects of pollution and sun damage. Opt for noncomedogenic, fragrance-free moisturizers that won’t clog your pores or irritate your skin. Remember, expensive moisturizers are not necessarily better than drugstore brands; it’s often the fancy fragrance and pretty packaging that bump up the price.

3. Sun protection
With more than a million cases of skin cancer diagnosed in the United States each year, everyone needs to practice year-round sun protection. And we’re not just talking about direct sunlight or hot summer sun. Up to 80 percent of ultraviolet rays can pass through clouds or are reflected off snow, according to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD). And don’t think you’re safe from sun exposure just because you’re indoors. While window glass blocks the UVB light that causes sunburns, UVA rays can still penetrate and damage your skin, eventually contributing to wrinkles, brown spots, and potentially skin cancer. So while slathering on sunscreen every couple of hours may seem like a drag, protecting your skin — and your health — is worth the effort. Just as with moisturizers, it’s wise to choose a sunscreen specifically designed for the face and another for the body. Buy products with an SPF of 15 or higher (some dermatologists recommend 30 or higher) and look for the words “broad-spectrum UV coverage” on the label. Always apply your sunscreen 15 to 30 minutes before you go outside, and be sure to reapply it every two hours, as well as after swimming or sweating.

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle, along with washing, moisturizing, and protecting your skin from the sun will help keep your skin in great condition from head to toe. For more simple strategies to protect and pamper your skin, check out Daily Glow’s The Basics.

FROM dailyglow.com

Maintaining healthy, radiant skin isn't rocket science, but it does require a bit of smarts. For one thing, when it comes to your complexion, the lifestyle choices you make from day to day are just as important as sticking to your daily skin-care regimen.

Beautiful skin starts with healthy habits such as eating a balanced diet, engaging in regular exercise, limiting alcohol consumption, and not smoking. Beyond those basics, here’s a quick list of simple strategies that’ll help keep your skin at its best.

1. Wash your face
Facial cleansing is a simple task, but there are a few rules to follow:

• Make sure your hands are clean before you begin.
• Use lukewarm (not hot) water and a mild cleanser.
• Gently rub the cleanser into your face using circular motions.
• Give your face a mini massage to promote circulation.
• Rinse well to make sure all soap residue is gone, especially around your eyes, nose, and hairline.
• Finish with a splash of cool water to refresh skin and close pores.
• Pat (don’t rub) skin dry, but do leave a bit of moisture behind.

2. Moisturize
When it comes to moisturizing, timing is everything, so start slathering immediately after washing your face or bathing to seal moisture into your skin. Daily moisturizing not only helps prevent dryness, it’ll also help plump up your skin, thereby reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. When it comes to choosing products, opt for one extra-gentle moisturizer made just for your face and another for your body, plus an eye cream or serum for the sensitive area around the eyes. In general, choose the formula that’s right for you, but do look for ingredients like a high sun protection factor (SPF), humectants (like glycerin or urea) that absorb water from the air and seal in moisture, and antioxidants to help fight against the effects of pollution and sun damage. Opt for noncomedogenic, fragrance-free moisturizers that won’t clog your pores or irritate your skin. Remember, expensive moisturizers are not necessarily better than drugstore brands; it’s often the fancy fragrance and pretty packaging that bump up the price.

3. Sun protection
With more than a million cases of skin cancer diagnosed in the United States each year, everyone needs to practice year-round sun protection. And we’re not just talking about direct sunlight or hot summer sun. Up to 80 percent of ultraviolet rays can pass through clouds or are reflected off snow, according to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD). And don’t think you’re safe from sun exposure just because you’re indoors. While window glass blocks the UVB light that causes sunburns, UVA rays can still penetrate and damage your skin, eventually contributing to wrinkles, brown spots, and potentially skin cancer. So while slathering on sunscreen every couple of hours may seem like a drag, protecting your skin — and your health — is worth the effort. Just as with moisturizers, it’s wise to choose a sunscreen specifically designed for the face and another for the body. Buy products with an SPF of 15 or higher (some dermatologists recommend 30 or higher) and look for the words “broad-spectrum UV coverage” on the label. Always apply your sunscreen 15 to 30 minutes before you go outside, and be sure to reapply it every two hours, as well as after swimming or sweating.

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle, along with washing, moisturizing, and protecting your skin from the sun will help keep your skin in great condition from head to toe. For more simple strategies to protect and pamper your skin, check out Daily Glow’s The Basics.

Many women pine for the fair skin of their youth. Here's how to get it back.

If you were born with fair skin, you may find yourself pining for that porcelain, rosy-cheeked complexion of your youth. With age, we lose that peaches-and-cream complexion as acne, rosacea, and sun damage wreak havoc. Here are some tips and tricks for how to regain your former fair skin — and keep the damage at bay.

• Stay out of the sun. The sun makes your skin darker. Even when your suntan fades, your skin becomes darker and ruddier over time, not to mention burned, damaged, blotchy, and susceptible to skin cancer.
• Whenever you’re outside, wear a hat. Choose a wide-brimmed one in the summer months to keep the sun off your face and a baseball cap with a long brim in the fall and winter months. Even indirect sun exposure is detrimental to fair skin.
• Use sunscreen every day. Make sure it has a UV factor of 30+.
• Fake it. Use a light makeup base one shade lighter than your natural color, then dust on translucent powder to keep skin fair and radiant. Don’t slather on the makeup or your skin won’t look natural or fair. In the summer, choose a makeup base with sunscreen for extra protection to ensure fair skin.
• Follow a good skin-care regimen. Cleanse your skin regularly and gently with facial cleanser, and follow with a light moisturizer to keep skin hydrated.
• Even out a bad complexion. Is your skin uneven? Try using these home remedies to restore a smooth complexion:
  • Sandalwood oil. Sandalwood can help remove pimples, red blotches, prickly heat, lessen the effects of sun exposure, fade freckles, soothe rashes, eliminate spots, and heal swelling. Pricey but worth it, sandalwood might be your ticket to fair skin. Add sandalwood to every facial cleanser, scrub, toner, moisturizer, and product you use to achieve and maintain a fair complexion.
  • Almonds. Grind almonds into rosewater and apply the paste to your skin.
  • Eggs and honey. Whip an egg white with honey and a squeeze of lemon juice, and smear on face for a super-nutritious skin treatment. Wash off after 15 minutes.
  • Radish. Apply grated radish and radish juice to skin to make it fair.
  • Tomato juice. Bathe your face in tomato juice. The antioxidants provide a good skin treatment for fair skin.
  • Oatmeal. Serve breakfast to your skin: Mix tomato juice and oatmeal to use as a facial scrub, then rinse.
  • Milk powder may also help you achieve your goal of fair skin. Mix with warm water to form a paste, spread on skin, let sit for 30 minutes, then rinse with cool water.
  • Papaya has been used for centuries in many cultures to help women get fair skin. Cut a papaya in half and rub all over your face every night.
  • Bleaching creams. There are creams that can help you get fair skin. Some are safer than others, so use with caution, and apply to a small, inconspicuous spot on your arm before slathering on your face to make sure you don’t have an adverse reaction. Always consult your dermatologist before using any bleaching cream.

  With a few small lifestyle changes and some easy home remedies, you can even out your skin and become the fairest of all!

1. Avoid full foundation coverage Few people need to apply foundation all over the face. Simply apply where you have uneven skin tone (usually along your nose and on the skin). In wintertime, if your cheeks tend to get ruddy, apply there as well. See my list of the top 10 foundations.

2. Consider a tinted moisturizer Foundations can go on too thick for some people. Tinted moisturizers provide a lighter coverage. My absolute all-time favorite is Laura Mercier
3. Blend foundation correctly Always start in the center of your face then blend foundation outward. Blend foundation from face to neck well, otherwise people will see the line where you stopped giving you a "mask face."

4. Pick the proper color and formula for your skin type Choose a color that's as close to your natural skin tone as possible. Never try to deepen your complexion with foundation, it will look very obvious. But do consider two shades of foundation: One for summer when skin is naturally darker, and one for winter when skin is lighter. Also, selecting the right formula for your skin type is key. For oily skin, go for a matte foundation. Dry skin? Try a hydrating formula. One last tip: It's a myth to test foundation colors on the back of your hand. The best spot is actually along your jawline, according to Allure's Linda Wells, in her book,Confessions of a Beauty Editor.

5. Apply concealer BEFORE foundation Once you apply concealer, you won't need as much foundation, according to makeup artist Bobbi Brown in the April 2006 issue of O magazine. Use concealer under eyes, along the nose and one the chin. See my list of the best concealers.

6. Use a sponge or brush OR your fingers There's really no right or wrong way to apply foundation. It's just by preference. Some makeup artists swear by foundation brushes to apply foundation. A brush allows you to get into all the nooks, crannies and pores on your face. To do this, put a glob of foundation or tinted moisturizer on the back of your hand and dab in a synthetic brush (I like MAC brushes) then apply to face. Other makeup artists believe using your fingers warms up the foundation, which helps it melt into your skin better. A sponge provides a great even coverage. It's up to you which you prefer.

7. Don't throw out wrong-toned foundations and concealers Finding the right color foundation and concealer can be daunting, which is why I suggest you get professional help at Sephora or a makeup counter at a department store. This way you can try before you buy. But if you do have a few foundations and concealers that are just a bit off, do like the makeup artists and blend a couple of mismatched colors for the perfect one.

8. How to conceal dark undereye circles According to makeup artist Anthea King in InStyle magazine, you want to neutralize dark undereye circles with peach- or yellow-tone concealers. Dab concealer on the inner corner of the eye by tapping it into place (never run a concealer on like you would sunscreen or foundation). Great concealers for undereye circles include Sue Devitt Automatic Camouflage concealer:I also love Benefit Lemon Aid Concealer
9. Don't be afraid of bronzers Nothing warms the face more than a bronzer. Make sure to use a big brush (I love MAC brushes) and a light touch. Apply to all the spots where the sun hits: Forehead, cheeks and nose. For more 'pop', blend a creamy blush on top. I use Laura Mercier Golden Mosaic Shimmer Bloc
If you have a yellow complexion, try Laura Mercier Pink Mosaic
Another good one is Bobbi Brown Bronzing Powder
10. Avoid "cake face" Oily face? Make sure to blot oil before powdering or your skin will look cakey. Try a powder-free blotting sheet. Here's a list of a great blotting sheets from cheap to somewhat steep
11. Set makeup with a primer Primers are a relatively new 'must-have' trend in the beauty world. They act like spackle: They moisturize, plump the skin and fill in any fine lines, pores and wrinkles so your foundation won't settle into them.
At first I was skeptical but then a makeup artist talked me into the beauty editor's All-Time Favorite foundation primer from Laura Mercier. Cha-ching! The primer is oil-free, which means it contains no oils, a bonus for my oily skin. I bought it and use it daily underneath my tinted moisturizer. See my list of the best primers.

12. Natural oils are not bad Speaking of oily skin, I'm no fan of the cakey, too-powdered look. Don't be afraid of your skin's natural oils, I prefer my face to have some sheen, which I think looks more 'dewy' -- plus, keep in mind oily skin tends to develop fewer lines than dry skin.
If you have oily skin, apply an oil-free primer before your foundation to keep makeup in place(see tip #2 above), then powder only the nose and chin. Keep a pack of blotting tissues in your purse to blot excessive oils (see tip #1 above).
A great powder that works on skin colors from fair skin to dark is Three Custom Color Specialists Mini Press Powder. Makeup artist Matin Maulawizada swears by this powder in Elle Magazine
13. Moisturize before applying concealer Concealer on dry skin tends to settle into fine lines so be sure to moisturize first. This 'plumps up' the skin.

14. Get rid of the "ashy" look If you have dark skin, you may notice your skin can get ashy. Combat it with a cream highlighter. Apply concealer to upper corners of lips where skin tends to be darker.

15. Tone down ruddy skin If you have ruddy skin, tone it down with a yellow- or green-based foundation. Pink-based foundations and tinted moisturizers will only worsen your red complexion. Also, try yellow-based blushes, such as apricot,m instead of a pink tone.

16. Get rid of that "hung-over" look New moms who work and don't want to look exhausted, students out partying or studying all night and anyone who suffers from the "hung-over" look would benefit from Orlane's anti-fatigue serum. Makeup artists use this miracle serum on models because it boosts circulation and gives color to ashen skin
17. Highlighters add depth to skin I love the way highlighters can minimize your worst features while enhancing others. Apply just above the eyes for a wide-awake look and use to contour around the cheeks. A makeup artist's favorite is Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat concealer. Makeup artist Jo Strettel swears by this in Elle Magazine because it's easy to use: You simply paint it on the face
18. Create instant cheekbones Add contour and depth to cheekbones by applying a bronzing powder over cheeks, forehead and nose (where the sun naturally hits), then applying a cream blush on cheeks over this. Instead of applying blush into the apples of your cheeks, dot the cream along your cheekbone, then blend in well. You can also skip the bronze and blush and opt for a contour powder like Il-Makiage Taupe.

19. Darken your ultra-white skin Does your skin get super white? Add color and shimmer to it with Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse or multi-purpose oil. Christina Ricci loves the gold shimmer
20. Yes, everyone can wear blush I have ruddy skin and thought I never needed blush and the makeup artist at Bobbi Brown agreed, until she applied a tinted moisturizer first. The moisturizer toned down my ruddiness enough that she NEEDED to add a blush which subsequently gave me a healthy flush.

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