Health and Beauty Tips for Brides

On your wedding day, you want to be at your most beautiful. The glow of happiness will be written all over your face, so you are going to be beautiful no matter what. Also, keep in mind that the most important person in the room chose you and knows how beautiful you are, inside and out.

As you spend the next few months planning your wedding, there are a variety of things you can do to maximize your health and happiness during this important stage of your life. What better way to start your life as a new bride than to be healthy and happy?

Here are just a few simple steps that will lead to a healthy a beautiful wedding day:

Eat Healthy

The single most important factor in your health, both inside and out, is the food you use to fuel your body. So many brides want to focus on losing weight, and while that is a wonderful goal, it is important not to sacrifice your overall health just to lose weight quickly. There are hundreds of fad diets out there that will tell you to cut carbs or live off of nothing more than cucumber juice for two weeks, but is that really the path to a healthy body?

Balance is the key to a healthy bride-to-be. Cutting harmful foods out of your every-day diet is a wonderful idea, but be careful not to cut fiber, protein, and healthy carbs that will give you energy. Balancing your intake of calories, fiber, fat, and protein is the best way to lose weight and stay healthy at the same time. As the planning progresses, you will need your energy, so choose a meal plan that will boost your energy and reduce your waistline.

Sleep Six to Eight Hours Every Night

Sleep is very important, especially during stressful times. It may be tempting over the next few weeks to stay up late at night looking through pictures and making decisions about the wedding, but keep in mind that the less sleep you get now, the more stressful you will be in the future. Have you ever tried making important decisions when you are tired? It can become frustrating, to say the least. Lack of sleep also tends to show in your face, especially in your eyes... so keep that in mind when you are thinking of staying up late again tonight.

The average adult needs between six and eight hours of sleep every night. Getting a consistently healthy amount of sleep every night will give you more energy and will help you to dissolve whatever stress you took on throughout the day. So next time you are tempted to stay up for just another hour looking through those bridal magazines or working with the guest list, remember how much easier it will be to look on it the next day with fresh, well-rested eyes.

On the same token, don't let yourself oversleep. Waking up after ten hours of sleep, you will feel just as bad as if you only got four or five.

Drink Lots of Water

Water is a miracle beverage. It hydrates you from head to toe, leaving you feeling more energetic and healthy on the inside, while making your skin and hair healthier on the outside. While soda and other sugary drinks can bring down your energy and cause you to gain weight, water helps you lose weight and feel good. Buy a Brita pitcher or filter for your house and an FDA approved refillable water bottle to save money and go green while getting healthy for your wedding.

Doctors recommend drinking 64 ounces of water every single day, but the measurement isn't as important as the effort. Just replacing the soda at your desk while you are working with a fresh cold glass of water can make a huge impact on the way you look and feel throughout the day.

Exercise

Nothing relieves stress and helps your body look and feel beautiful more than exercise. If you want to make the most out of the time you have during the week, mix your workouts by doing two or three days of cardio and two or three days of strength training.
If you go to a Jazzecise class or out for a run, you are probably getting a great cardio workout.

Cardio is great for your heart health and is also great for your skin. But in order to get the best results from your exercise routine, you also need to be building muscle. Muscle burns fat faster and sculpts your body while strengthening your bones and your heart as well. Get a stretch band and do fifteen minutes of strength training at home, or buy a gym membership and go pump some iron.

The important thing is to stay consistent and to alternate your workouts to maxiumum results. One good tip is to pick your wedding dress early, then start working out and toning muscle in the areas that will show. For example, if you are wearing a sleeveless dress, work hard to build muscle and lose weight in your biceps and triceps. Exercise will help you to feel and look beautiful as your wedding day approaches.

Pick Your Beauty Products Early

Changing your beauty routine just before the wedding can wreak havoc on your skin and your confidence. On average, it takes at least a month for your skin to show the results of a consistently used moisturizer or other product. Using something for week just isn't long enough to see the real results, so don't throw those products away thinking that you can switch tons of times in order to find the right product before the wedding.

Do your research, consult a beauty and skin specialist. Do what you have to do. But pick a product (or products) that you want to use, and stick with it. Practice your makeup early and establish a daily routine that will allow you to look your best. Be patient, because it may be a month or more before you see the results of your patient daily routine. In the end, however, it will be worth it when you are rewarded with a healthy, balanced skin tone.

Be Happy

My final tip is to just enjoy this exciting time in your life. Not everyone finds the love of their life and has the honor of getting married to them. Your engagement period is about more than just planning a wedding. It's about enjoying time with your fiance and building a healthy and happy life together. I wish you all of the joy and beauty you deserve as you move towards your very special wedding day.

Curly Hair: Product & Styling Tips

The Recipe

In order to achieve Perfect Curls, there are a number of key ingredients required. Like your favorite recipe, if you miss one or don’t have enough of another, you will not get the same effect. These include soaking wet, freshly washed/conditioned hair, a wide toothed comb, styling crème and mousse, a diffuser hair dryer and hair spray. The entire process, as described below, will take about 30 minutes, but may vary depending on the length and thickness of your hair.

Start With Soaking Wet Hair

Although this may be awkward at first, start your curly hair styling with soaking wet hair. When you are done with your shower do not put a towel on your head. Instead, rest it at your shoulders and use a wide tooth comb to get your hair ready and tangle free. It’s at this point, you need to add your styling products and begin the diffusing drying.

If you towel dry your hair or let it air dry, the styling products will adhere to your hair differently and you will not have the same level of results. All you need to do is try this soaking hair styling once and you will notice an immediate difference in the results- trust me!

The Right Styling Concoction

In order to achieve the perfect curly haired look, you will need a styling crème AND a styling mousse. The two together prevent frizz and flyaways allow you to coat every strand of your hair with product and define and sculpt the curls.

Start by applying the crème to every strand of your hair. Run your fingers through your hair, flip your head over to get the back. Do whatever you need to do to ensure every hair is touched. Next apply a controlled layer of styling mousse throughout. It may take practice to determine the right amount.. too much, your hair will be weighed down and crunchy, too little you won’t weigh down the curls enough.

Styling crèmes I recommend, from least to most expensive are: L’Oreal Curl Shaping Crème, Tigi Catwalk Rock Curl Amplifier and Bumble & Bumble Curling Crème. Mousses I recommend, least to most expensive are: Loreal Springing Curls Mouse, Rusk Mouse and Redken Fresh Curls mousse.

The Right Angle

For most of my blow drying years, I did so standing straight looking at the mirror. For the perfect curls you need to separate the hair from your head and allow the hair strands to “hang long”. There are two ways to achieve this 1) Bend over, hang your head down and allow your hair to drop forward over your head. Your curls should be in front of your eyes and hanging down. Or 2) Bend your head to the side, your ear to your shoulder, until your curls are hanging straight down away from your head.



I won’t fool you- neither position is ergonomically correct, but this is the pain we all go through for beauty. If you stand straight to blow dry with 2 layers of product on your hair, you will create the helmet effect. Your hair will stick to your scalp and your curls will stick together in strips.

Diffuse But Don’t Touch

After your head is in the chosen angle, use a diffuser hair dryer on high heat with a low temperature to blow dry. The key here is to blow dry every strand. If you allow any of the hair to dry on it’s own, you will reverse some of the hard work you’ve done so far. If you have coated your hair properly, you should see spiral curls forming as your hair dries. You should minimize touching or scrunching your hair and let the dryer and products do the work.

Since my hair is shoulder length, I dry my hair at an angle until about 90% dry, then complete the job looking straight for my finishing touches. My curls have formed by then, I find this last 10% of time “straight forward” helps me control the finishing touches.

Diffuse But Don’t Touch

After your head is in the chosen angle, use a diffuser hair dryer on high heat with a low temperature to blow dry. The key here is to blow dry every strand. If you allow any of the hair to dry on it’s own, you will reverse some of the hard work you’ve done so far. If you have coated your hair properly, you should see spiral curls forming as your hair dries. You should minimize touching or scrunching your hair and let the dryer and products do the work.

Since my hair is shoulder length, I dry my hair at an angle until about 90% dry, then complete the job looking straight for my finishing touches. My curls have formed by then, I find this last 10% of time “straight forward” helps me control the finishing touches.

Skin Beauty Tips for Winter Weather

Keep Your Skin Beautiful during the Winter Months

It is normal for cold weather to dry, irritate, and even chafe your skin. You can keep your skin smooth and vibrant by following these simple tips.

Remember, your skin ages no matter what, but you can control how it ages!

Use moisturizer everyday:Before leaving the house in the morning, apply a moisturizer with a 15 to 30 SPF. At night, before bed, apply a thick moisturizer to soothe your skin after a day of damaging cold air.

Lip balm is your best friend forever: Pick a lip balm with moisturizing ingredients, like Shea butter and olive oil. Apply it often.

Avoid hot showers:A hot shower will draw the moisture out of your skin. It is better to take a 15 minute warm shower. Be sure to moisturize your skin while it is still damp.

Take your vitamins:Not only will a healthy body make your skin look greater, but it will help keep you healthy during the cold and flu season. Avoid the dry skin of a runny nose by stocking up on Vitamin C.

Use a humidifier:A humidifier will help keep the air moist, which will help keep your skin moist.

Drink plenty of water: Keeping your body moisturized will help keep your skin moisturized and healthy. Water is good for you whole body: inside and out.

Eat healthy foods: You know the saying, you are what you eat? Follow that advice! Eat foods that are healthy and you will have a healthy body. Plenty of fruits and vegetables in your diet will show through in your healthy, glowing skin.

BEAUTY TIPS FOR TEENS

Being a teen in today's world brings many pressures from society to look good. The media is full of beautiful faces that add to the stress of growing up. Don't let that undermine your self-confidence!

What's a girl to do? There are many ways to enhance your natural beauty and keep a practical skin care and make-up routine. These tips will help bring out the best in you, but remember, good posture and a smile give a great first impression.

Teen Skin Care Tips

Teenagers have different skin care and make-up needs than mature women. At what age should a teen begin a skin care regimen? Skin care should actually start when they are preteens, as early as the age of 10 or 11. Hormones start to kick in and blemishes may begin to appear.

As you mature, your skin care needs will change, as your skin does. Pay special attention to what products you are using and if there are any undesirable affects taking place. What makes your skin look radiant one month may cause blemishes and break-outs the next.

Moisturizer

At an early age, a light moisturizer may be called for -- but do not use heavy creams made for dry skin. Choose a product that is formulated for light skin care maintenance and does not block your pores.

A heavy moisturizer will probably wreak havoc and cause pimples. Try using a light moisturizer only once a day, before bedtime. Any more often than that is probably be overdoing it.

Pimples and Blemishes

Acne is a #1 skin care concern for teens. Keep your face and hair clean, wash your hands frequently, and keep them away from your face. There are many products available on the market today for acne prevention and cures, and they are much more effective than years ago.
Once you begin experiencing problems, take action to avoid lifetime scarring. You can go to the Blemishes Page to find out how to get rid of pimples, preventative maintenance and how to reduce the appearance of blemishes once they appear.

Make-up Tips for Teens

Most teenage girls begin wearing light make-up around the ages of 12-13 as they become more aware of their appearance. As a teen, your make-up should look natural and enhance your facial features. Don't overdo it, this will only make you look silly. With a few simple, inexpensive products, you can play up your finest features -- and look great!

Keep your make-up light for school. You don't need to use make-up on every facial feature you have! Mix and match to find out what looks best on you.

For parties, you may want to add a little more make-up to enhance your features. Make sure you blend it in well with your fingers or a cosmetics brush and check it in bright light when you're finished.

Foundation

Foundation for teens is not necessary. While it can clog your pores, it will also look overdone. Skip the foundation and use a concealer on your blemishes only. Lightly dust on some loose powder over your entire face to even out your skin tone, control oil, and set the concealer.

Freckles

Don't try to hide your freckles. You may not appreciate them, but they are part of you. Exposure to sunlight makes freckles darker so avoiding the sun and using a sunscreen will keep them in check. As you get older, they can fade -- and then they won't be an issue.

Eye Make-up

You may not be interested in eye shadow until you're a little older. If so, that's great. When you do begin wearing it, keep it light and use any trendy metallics and sparkles sparingly. They can flake off into your eyes and cause irritation. Eye shadow does not have to match your eyes, however earth tones (tan, brown, gray) are very complimentary to blue, brown and hazel eyes.

When you begin using mascara, brown works best for both blondes and brunettes. Black is probably too harsh, especially in the daytime. If you think brown isn't dark enough, try brownish-black.

Waterproof mascara may be necessary for sports and outdoor activities in warm weather. It stays on longer and doesn't run -- but it's harder to take off. It's best to keep make-up to a minimum and you won't have to worry about undesired smearing.

If you're going to use an eyeliner, a pencil liner looks more natural than liquid liner. Learn to apply it with a steady hand for straight lines, and blot it with a tissue if you get it on too dark.

Blush

Liquid and stick blush are popular choices for teens because they glide on smoothly and blend in well. Pinks and peaches compliment almost any skin tone. Apply to the apple of your cheeks and blend outwards, towards your hairline.

Lips

For luscious lips, lip gloss does the trick. If you want to add some color to your lips for a nighttime look, try a lipstick in a sheer color. For extra shine, put the lip gloss on over your lipstick. Always have lip balm handy for chapped lips.

General Makeup Advice

As with any make-up, blending is the key. Check your make-up in daylight if possible and don't be afraid to swipe off any access with a tissue. For additional tips, check out our Makeup Tips page.

If you ever experience any skin irritation, quit using make-up immediately until you find out what the problem is. Consult your dermatologist for the best remedy.

Wedding Day Makeup and Beauty Tips

Every Bride wants to be stunning on her wedding day. With the right products and preparation, you can achieve a gorgeous look that enhances your natural beauty. Here are 15 tips to help you stay refreshed and beautiful all day long.

1. Be careful what you eat and drink the night before

Avoid drinking too much alcohol or eating spicy foods the night before your wedding. Alcohol can dehydrate you and your skin, making you look tired. Spicy food can also make you look flushed, making your skin tone uneven. I am sure you will want to have a little bit of champagne or wine at your rehearsal dinner, but be careful not to drink too much. Keep drinking water throughout the night to keep hydrated.

2. Drink Cool Water

It is very important to keep drinking cool, refreshing water throughout the day. The more hydrated your body stays, the more awake and stunning your skin will look as well. Try putting a couple of cucumber slices in the water. They are known for having cooling properties and will keep you from getting flushed. Keep sipping throughout the day.

3. Avoid Heavy Creams

Heavy cream moisturizers can make your skin feel nice, but after a short time under pressure, they can make you perspire. Creams will start to weigh you down and might even begin to make your skin feel a bit greasy throughout the day. Instead, try using a light moisturizing body wash in the shower. Just before you get out, rinse with cool water so that you leave the shower cool and refreshed. This is especially important in the summer months or if you are having your reception or wedding outside in the sun.

4. Use Moisture Absorbing Powder

When you get out of the shower and are dried off, dust a little bit of moisture absorbing powder all over your body from your bra line to your feet. Nerves can make brides sweat, which can lead to problems with your undergarments and hosiery. The powder will keep you fresh and dry throughout the day.

5. Use A Strong Antipersperant

The night before your wedding, put on a strong anti-persperant like Secret Clinical Strength. Reapply after your shower as well for all day protection. Just be careful that you don't have residue left under your arms or on your dress.

6. Keep the Frizz Down

Avoid using alcohol-based gells on your hair and try a calming serum instead. Apply a small amount while your hair is still damp to keep any frizz down. My favorite is Warren Tricomi's calming serum, which can be found at many online retailers.

7. Try using a Mattifying Gel

If you have oily skin or are worried about extra shine throughout the day, try using a mattifying gel. Apply a small amount to clean skin before applying your foundation or any other makeup. Mattifying Gels like the one made by Coco Martinelli give your skin equilibrium and even tone.

8. Use the right shade of Foundation and Concealer

Make sure to test the color of your foundation and concealer ahead of time. Some people have a tendency to go too light with their concealer, but that actually does the opposite of what you want, bringing dark circles and blemishes to the top. Mix a bit of the concealer with your foundation to make sure the shade and tone is consistent, then apply to blemishes or problem areas lightly.

9. Use a Foundation Brush

When applying your foundation, use a brush! Using your fingers or a sponge can leave your skin oily and shiney.

10. Use Kleenex to remove extra oils

After you have put on your foundation and blush, press a Kleenex against your skin. This will remove any extra oils on your skin and leave pure pigment instead. You will see the benefits of this in your photos when your skin looks beautiful and shine free. Keep Kleenex or Oil Obsorbing Blotting papers on hand throughout the day and especially during pictures to control any extra shine.

11. Use Light Layers

When you start applying makeup to your eyes, it is best to use light layers rather than putting a ton of one color on your lids. Start with pale white or natural tone and then build from there, layering the colors. This helps the makeup to stay on longer, even if you are going to be in the heat of the sun.

12. Play up your Eyelashes

Make sure to play up your eyelashes and your eyeliner. It will really make your eyes stand out for the pictures! If you decide to use fake eyelashes, all you need is a single lash. If you start to go for the double lashes, they can look pretty fake.

13. Take time with your Lips

I have found that the best process when applying lipstick is to take your time and apply in layers. Start by lightly powdering your lips, which gives the color a firm base to hold onto. Then use your lip pencil to outline your lips and also to fill in your entire lip. Next, apply your chosen lipstick over the pencil color, blot, dust with powder, and apply again. Using a long lasting lipstick like Covergirl Outlast Lip Color will help keep your color vibrant all day long. If you want a bit of extra shine, add a little bit of lipgloss to the middle of your bottom lip and rub them together.

14. Carry Caudalie Beauty Elixir!!

This is one of my favorite products in the world! It was developed from the "elixir of youth" that Queen Isabella of Hungary used to use to keep her looking young. It is made up of Grape, orange blossom, rose, organic balm mint, and myrhh. All you need is just a small bottle so that you can spray a light mist onto your face when you need to refresh your makeup. It also tightens your pores and seals in your makeup, keeping it fresh and beautiful all day long! You can find it at stores like Sephora and Ulta, as well as others.

15. Practice Ahead of Time

Whether you are doing your own hair and makeup or you are hiring a professional, you do not want to leave your wedding look to chance. Take some time to look through some bridal magazines and fashion magazines, cutting out pictures of what you like best and would like to try. Then, set up a date to "audition" your wedding look. Play around with different combinations and speak up about what you like and what you don't. Take notes about what products you finally decided to use and which lipcolor, etc, so there will be no guesswork when the big day finally arrives!!

Beauty Tips Using Natural Ingredients

Natural Beauty

Every year, people all over the world spend untold millions of dollars on products that promise youth, beauty, better skin and hair. Most of these wonder preparations are comprised entirely of synthetic chemicals and are very costly. Most of them achieve dissapointing results.

Why do we part with our hard earned money for expensive chemicals that overpromise and underdeliver? Simple. If we think there's the slightest chance that a product will live up to its claim, we're willing to try it. But what did women do in days gone by? Certainly their methods were natural and cheaper.

Our great-grandmothers did not have access to these miracle products, but they still had to deal with wrinkles, dry skin and brittle hair. They had little choice but to use a plant from their garden or something from the cupboards and pantry. They didn't use chemicals and the price was a fraction of what we now pay to get the same effect.

The resurgence of homeopathy and natural healing has brought with it the old fashioned way of dealing with beauty problems. You can find recipes online and in some of the many available herbal books. I've had a copy of Jude's Herbal Home Remedies for about thirty years and I think it's a good one.

Out of the hundreds of old-fashioned beauty secrets, I've selected a few for you to try and have listed them before.

Face Care

Peppermint tea is cheap, readily available and a good astringent. Take a clean cloth and soak it with the tea and use as a face compress.

Thyme is another option in the herbal astringent category. It can actually help clear up acne. Pour 1 1/2 cups of boiling water over 3-4 tablespoons of dried thyme. Steep for half an hour. Strain and bottle the resulting astringent. Should be kept refrigerated and used daily as a rinse.

Combat blackheads with finely ground cornmeal. Moisten a handful and rub into face for approximately 5 minutes. Don't rub too hard or you'll have some redness for awhile afterward. Rinse face and moisturize.

To tighten skin, beat together 2 tablespoons unbeaten egg white, 1 tablespoon powdered milk and 1/2 teaspoon honey until well blended. Apply to face. Let dry, then rinse with warm water and blot dry. It's recommended that you use herbal astringent as final rinse.

Make your own lip balm by melting 1 1/2 ounce of beeswax in double boiler and stirring in 1 ounce of honey. Beat in 2 ounces of olive oil. Stir until cool and put into a wide mouth jar.

Almond oil is a great softening lotion that can be applied to any rough skn.

To remove freckles, rub on a mixture of equal parts lemon juice and buttermilk. Apply daily and leave on for half an hour. Rinse and moisturize with olive or almond oil, leaving the moisturizer on overnight. Repeat this process until the freckles are gone.

Safflower oil is a non-allergenic eye makeup remover.

Breath

One tablespoon of allspice in a cup of hot water becomes a breath freshening gargle.

Make a dried mixture of 1 tablespoon each of peppermint, rosemary and lavender. Add a teapsoon of this mixture to one cup of boiling water and stir. Steep for 15 minutes and strain. It can now be used as mouthwash.

Hair

The following are for use as a final hair rinse and are all made the same way. Pour 4 cups of boiling water over the chosen herb, cover, let stand for half an hour and strain.

Sage and fennel are both good conditioners for your hair

Parsley clears up dandruff

Chamomile lightens hair and promotes hair growth

Rosemary darkens hair and leaves a nice scent

Dried nettle leaves are another good dandruff cure

Lotions and Powders

If you want to make your own after-shave lotion, add 1 ounce dried lavender flowers and 1 ounce sage to 2 cups of witch hazel. Let sit in a very warm area in a tightly closed jar for a week. Strain and rebottle.

Scented bath lotion can be made by adding 1/2 cup each of mint, lemon balm, rosemary and lavender to 1 quart of rubbing alchohol or witch hazel. Pour into a jar, making sure the lid is closed. Place in a sunny location and let steep for a couple of weeks. Shake every day. The colour will turn a nice green and lotion will be fragrant. Rub into your skin after bathing.

Male Beauty Secrets

Today

Male grooming these days is on a par with the female grooming routine, and if my sister and I were both going out on the town we would have to have a roster to use the bathroom, men these days are taking a lot more pride in their appearance and want to look great when going out into the public eye.

There are many new products on the market these days aimed at male grooming and personal appearance and it is a thriving marketplace.

From well manicured nails to male lipsticks and eyeshadows the modern man has a host of products to choose from to help him achieve the perfect look and as well as products, like women, men can also use cosmetic surgery to enhance their features remove unwanted fat and even have breast reduction surgery if they have man boobs.

For men who worry about the size of their manhood there is a surgery available for that too.

Look Good Feel Good

Taking that little bit of pride in your appearance not only helps you to look better, it gives your ego a little boost which gives you more confidence in yourself making it easier for you to socialise.

You don't have to spend a fortune to look your best though there a many ways to improve your appearance without breaking the bank and some ways that won't cost a single cent.

Male Beauty Tips Shaving

These days is optional, a lot of ladies love men who have a five oclock shadow, but if your facial hair is unkempt you would be better to take the razor to it and be clean shaven for your night out.

Nails

Manicured nails look great on anyone, but you don't have to break the bank to get yourself a good manicure, your mother and your sister, if you have one, have been doing their own nails for years and I am sure that they will gladly help you and offer you advice on nail care, ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS ASK.

To enhance your well manicured nails a spot of clear nail polish or varnish will help them to stand out.

SKIN

Anti-aging creams work just as well on men as they do on women but they can leave your face with an unmasculine shine if you use these creams you should also purchase a couple of cosmetics to take the shine from your face a concealer and or a light foundation powder or cream.

Skin Cleansing

Cleaning your face with an apricot scrub gets rid of dead skin particles and leaves your facial skin feeling smoother and looking great it can also help prevent black heads and white heads.

Cosmetics

Choose any cosmetics carefully, although in reality there is no reason for a man to wear lipsticks, eye shadow, blushers or any of the many different cosmetics available, they can be used to enhance your best facial features, the best way to go about applying cosmetics is to seek out an expert who will show you how. If applied correctly Cosmetics can enhance your appearance but applied incorrectly they can leave you with an efeminate appearance which sends out the wrong signals.

Teeth Whitening

No matter how often you clean your teeth the can become stained from drinking tea, coffee, smoking and from eating different foods there are many different ways to whiten your teeth but the cheapest option is to use a whitening toothpaste although this might take a little longer than other methods to work they will give you a brighter smile in two to three weeks.

Fresh Breath

Having whiter teeth doesn't always mean that you have fresh breath, and although regular brushing does help investing in a good mouth wash is essential, mouthwash gets to parts of the mouth that brushing can't reach leaving your breath fresher and your mouth cleaner.

Hair Care

Regardless of your hair type, it is important to use a shampoo that is gentle on your hair. Ingredients such as vitamin E are great for naturally strengthening and conditioning the hair follicles. Don't be fooled by super fragrant shampoos, either. Be sure to read the labels, as these types of products can contain artificial ingredients that don't do much for your hair.

Hot oil treatments also leave your hair with a great natural looking shine.

Pubic Hair

To shave or not to shave is a matter of personal taste, if it feels right then go ahead an do it but if it doesn't then don't, You can manage hair growth on body parts by trimming the hair now and again with scissors taking care not to endanger your chances of having children in the future.

Clothing

No matter if you are going out to a formal or casual event ensure that your clothes are well laundered, cleanliness is next to godliness afterall, after you have worked on all of the other care tips above, you could spoil it all by having poorly washed or pressed clothes, shoes should be well cared for and well polished.

Beauty Tips from Asia - The Floral Bath

It has een practised for centuries, passed from generations to generations - the secret of beauty of the Asians, and sometimes as a mean for a good fortune - Floral Bath

Floral bath is famously known by the Asians. People from Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, and China practice them as a ritual for beauty, good future, to dispel bad luck, to help refreshing the mind and body, and to overcome body ododr problem. As with the different countries, the methods for floral bath also vary.

How It Is Done, Traditionally

The Chinese practiced it for good fortunes. When one is feeling unwell, or facing hardshp and misfortunes, or even when one is need for better luck, floral bath is one of the option to restore their good fortunes. The types of flowers used is not an important matter - as long as the ingredients include kaffir lime fruit (Batavian lemon) and pomelo (Chinese grapefruit) leaves. These two ingredients are believed to have the ability to dispel evil and to exorcize bad fortunes.
In Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailands, floral bath is performed as a ritual to enhance a person's beauty. Ritual includes recital of incantation by the bomoh (the medicine lady) and a few hours of traditional beauty treatment.

Several ingredients are needed to be prepared before the ritual begins, that is just before midnight comes. These ingredients are usually include different types of fragrant flowers, coconut leaves, betel leaves, betel nuts, limau purut (Citrus hystrix) and akar sintok (Cinnamomum sintok). They are to be used together with other materials which include wax, unprocessed thread, chalk, and face powder made from grains.

The ceremony begins with the bomoh weaving four strands of coconut leaves into a shape. Then the wax is melted with the thread used as a wick. When that has been prepared and put aside, eight pieces of limau purut, some of its leaves, seven types of flowers, akar sintok, four betel leaves rubbed with a little chalk, and some ripe betel are kneeded thoroughly and placed in a special vessel filled with water. The bomoh then recites an incantation over the prepared ingredients while sprinkling grains of uncooked glutinous rice around the maiden.

After the incantation has been recited, the bomoh bathes the girl with prepared liquid (it should be mentioned here that the maiden is usually dressed in a sarong while the bathwater is poured over her, and the entire ceremony is conducted with a selected audience).

Try It Yourself

Over the years, different variants of floral bath have immerged transcending cultures. Now, floral bath can be enjoyed without having to think about tradition and ritual, and it is done not only to enhance one's beauty, but also as a therapy. Where and how they want it to be done is optional - whether to go to Asian spa resort or by doing it themselves.The reason to practice it is also less mythical - to have fresh skin or to refresh mind, body, and soul.

One of the variation that is commonly done now is to select a few types of flowers that have fully bloom. Suggested flowers including red rose, white rose, jasmine, purple orchid, lily, cananga, lotus, and michelia. These flowers not only pretty, but also possess positive scent or energy that can refresh mind and soul and stabilize one's aura.

In preparing the floral bath, these flowers must first to be soaked under the sun in an ember filled with warm water (you can also use crystal or glass container), until the flower looks a little wilt (about 3 to 4 hours). When the bath is ready, you can soak in your body into the water and let the flowery warm water pampering your skin and indulge your mood.

It is not suggestible to let other people keeping you company while preparing your floral bath - their negative energy might interfere with the positive energy of the flowers.

The Effectiveness

No scientific evidence as to how effective these baths are in achieving the desired result or if they do really work. However, several researchers had found that flowers do have 'energies' to cure illness and to enhance mood. For example Edward Bach, who was the founder of Bach flower remedies, found that remedies made out of flowers are able to affect one's soul to be stable and harmony. It is not scientifically proved, but whatever it is, there is no harm trying - at least it is fun, refreshing, and smells good!

Beauty Tips

Beauty is in the eyes of the Beholder

Most women want to look good. Beauty might be skin deep, but it does reflect how you feel about at yourself. Do you take care of yourself? Do you pamper yourself? Do you value yourself? I'm not saying that a person needs to look perfectly groomed, or good all the time. I don't believe that. Just that when one looks into the mirror, one should be pleased with what they see.

Every woman wants to have flawless skin and reasonable good facial features. There are thousands of books written on beauty. This hub will focus on cheap and easy ways to rejuvenate your skin. There are loads of natural ingredients, if and when applied correctly, can do wonders for your skin. Before you decide what would work for you, you need to identify your skin type here.

Identify your skin type

There are essentially 3 types of skin.

Oily: Large pored, coarse, blackheads and frequent breakouts. If you
have oily skin, avoid fried foods

Combination: The T-zone is oily and the rest of the face is dry.

Dry Skin: fine pored, pinkish and roughens easily Eat healthy foods including eggs,

butter, vegetables etc.

Some Facts that you should be aware of :

• Excessive Skin Exposure to the mid day sun ,exhausts the skin's healing


• Ability


• Smoking dries the skin


• Rapid weight loss causes sagging and collapsing of muscles causes


• Muscles to lose elasticity


• Central heating can dry the skin
  
  Use Natural Ingredients to enhance your Beauty
  
  Benefits/Effects of Natural Ingredients:
  
  Knowing the benefits of some natural ingredients, you can make your own facewash, masks, and moisturizing creams. Following the tips below, you can pamper your skin, and get a home made spa treatment.
  
  Almonds: are best for dry and combination skin because they nourish it and moisturizes it.. Smoothes out wrinkles
  
  Gramflour: is great for oily skin as well as aging (because it doesn't make it dry or oily) and clears off the dirt, makes tightens the skin.
  
  Oatmeal: is best for all skin types and its bran acts as a scrub cleaning away the dirt and skin oils.
  
  Yoghurt: Can be applied directly, however it is not suitable for oily skin. It smoothes and soften lines.
  
  Lemon: Lemon is as a natural toner and bleach. Not suitable for dry skin. Also it is better if you dilute lemon by adding milk to it. Use it as a cleanser, Soak cotton and apply to skin, and it acts as a great cleanser.
  
  If you have dark elbows or knees, you can rub the inside of a squeezed lemon on them, and they will become fair after regular use.
  
  Fruit Peels
  
  You can use fresh fruit peel, they refresh the skin. Rub the fruit side of the peel on your face, pat dry with cotton wool; don't rinse
  
  dry skin, peel of apricot and peach is best;
  
  normal skin, use grape peel Oily skin; use lemon and grapefruit rind
  
  oily Skin, use peel of pear
  
  for blemishes, use apple peel
  
  Cucumber: Cucumber is a great refresher, and when cold slices of cucumber are placed on eyes, makes you feel fresh as well as gets rid of those eye circles.
  
  Honey: Apply honey if you have dry skin, it will leave your face thoroughly moisturized and glowing. Not suitable for oily skin.
  
  Caring for your Neck
  
  Neck shows signs of aging first. You need to take care of your neck, by moisturizing it and putting cream on it too. The best way is to apply cream in upward motion. Clean your neck regularly with creams designed to keep your neck young.
  
  Teeth:
  
  A smile is a curve that puts everything straight. Healthy and white teeth are a necessity. Have you ever noticed a person's smile, it lights up the whole face. Anyways, for whiter teeth, you can try to rub a little salt on them.Also brush your teeth the first thing in the morning, and the last thing in the evening.
  
  Nails:
  
  For stronger nails, rub garlic on them. For whiter nails and to get rid of the yellowness, rub lemon on the whites.
  
  Eyes:
  
  "They eyes are windows to the soul" Eyes should be sparkling, white should be white and not yellow. Get rid of those eye circles by placing cucumber slices or potato slices on your eyes.
  
  You can also soak cotton in rosewater and place on closed eyes.
  
  Alternatively, soak cotton in iced water and place it on your eyes. It relaxes eyes a lot.
  
  For longer eyelashes, apply castor oil with a lipbrush on the lashes, taking care that you don't put any in the eye.
  
  Last but not least, Drink loads of water. We all know that drinking water is one of the top secrets of beauty.
  
  Beauty Drinks
  
  Alongwith water, you can try having a Saffron drink.
  
  Saffron drink: Soak 5-6 strands of saffron in 3 tbsp of milk, let it stand for 10 to 15 minutes. Add to 1 cup of warm milk, and then drink it. The best time to drink it would be night time. You can also boil water and then squeeze half a lemon and add 1 tbsp honey. Mix and drink it. It is known to help reduce weight.
  
  Relax and Take a bath
  
  It's difficult to find time to take a bath, but it relaxes you like nothing else. Fill your tub with hot water, add some bath salts, or bubble bath, anything with a soothing smell, light some candles, put some music on, and relax. You can also try to put cucumber slices on your eyes. Make sure your phones are turned off.
  
  Love thyself, pamper thyself, and thy will look fresh and beautiful.
  
  Indulge yourself, and be happy. It will show on your face and your attitude.