New Running Shoes!

If you love to maintain your beauty from the inside out then more than not you are likely to exercise. I workout through many different avenues, resistance, water, cardio, pilates, rollerblading, etc. Anything to change it up.

Many people are not aware that in order to maintain the cushioning in a shoe you must rotate them and give them up to 48 hours to decompress! If you wear the same shoes every day you are not doing your feet justice!

I am not huge into running, mainly due to a bad back injury. I do like to try it sometimes though, mostly in a gym or track where I know I am safe if my back goes out. I have worn many different brands of shoes but the absolute best I have ever purchased yet are the new Asics Kinsei 3 shoes. They are pricey, at $180, but when you compare them to the other big name brands, the prices are equivalent.I only wear them on the days that I am going to run or jog on the treadmill or track.

Do a little research on them, go try them on, and you may simply agree that they are your best shoe purchase to date!

Sabrina S., M.S.

Benefits of Epsom Salt Baths

Most of us know about the importance of iron and calcium for our bodies, but what about magnesium? It is the second most abundant element in human cells and the fourth most important positively charged ion in the body. It helps the body regulate over 325 enzymes and plays an important role in organizing many bodily functions, like muscle control, electrical impulses, energy production and the elimination of harmful toxins.
Most of us are deficient in magnesium, so I’m going to put on my wise-granny hat on here and tell you this: soaking in a bath with Epsom salt, which is high in magnesium, is one of the easiest ways to get a boost.
According to the National Academy of Sciences, American’s magnesium deficiency helps to account for high rates of heart disease, stroke, osteoporosis, arthritis and joint pain, digestive maladies, stress-related illnesses, chronic fatigue and a number of other ailments. Who knew?!

Our magnesium levels have dropped by half in the last century due to changes in agriculture and diet. Industrial farming has depleted magnesium from soil and the typical American diet contains much less magnesium than that of our forefathers. And in fact, the modern American diet with its fat, sugar, salt and protein actually works to speed up the depletion of magnesium from our bodies.
Another factor in decreased magnesium levels has been our focus on getting enough calcium. It’s a delicate dance–calcium depletes magnesium yet calcium functions best when enough magnesium is present. Studies indicate that taking a calcium supplement without enough magnesium can increase the shortage of both nutrients. Researchers have found that many Americans have five times as much calcium as magnesium in their bodies, although the proper ratio for optimum absorption of both minerals is two to one.
With such widespread magnesium deficiency one might think that magnesium supplements would be called upon, but studies show that magnesium is not easily absorbed through the digestive tract. The presence of specific foods or drugs, certain medical conditions, and the chemistry of a person’s stomach acid can render magnesium supplements ineffective.

This brings us to Epsom salt. Known scientifically as hydrated magnesium sulfate, Epsom salt is rich in both magnesium and sulfate. While both magnesium and sulfate can be poorly absorbed through the stomach, studies show increased magnesium levels from soaking in a bath enriched with Epsom salt! Magnesium and sulfate are both easily absorbed through the skin. Sulfates play an important role in the formation of brain tissue, joint proteins and the proteins that line the walls of the digestive tract. They stimulate the pancreas to generate digestive enzymes and are thought to help detoxify the body of medicines and environmental contaminants.
Researchers and physicians suggest these health benefits from proper magnesium and sulfate levels, as listed on the web site of the Epsom Salt Industry Council:

• Improved heart and circulatory health, reducing irregular heartbeats, preventing hardening of the arteries, reducing blood clots and lowering blood pressure.
• Improved ability for the body to use insulin, reducing the incidence or severity of diabetes.
• Flushed toxins and heavy metals from the cells, easing muscle pain and helping the body to eliminate harmful substances.
• Improved nerve function by electrolyte regulation. Also, calcium is the main conductor for electrical current in the body, and magnesium is necessary to maintain proper calcium levels in the blood.
• Relieved stress. Excess adrenaline and stress are believed to drain magnesium, a natural stress reliever, from the body. Magnesium is necessary for the body to bind adequate amounts of serotonin, a mood-elevating chemical within the brain that creates a feeling of well being and relaxation.
• Reduced inflammation to relieve pain and muscle cramps.
• Improved oxygen use.
• Improved absorption of nutrients.
• Improved formation of joint proteins, brain tissue and mucin proteins.
• Prevention or easing of migraine headaches.

All this from a bath? Hurray! While there are many different brands of Epsom salt, they are all the same product chemically, and can be found at most drug stores. Add two cups of Epsom salt and soak for at least 12 minutes. Do this three times weekly.
If you are pregnant or have any health concerns, please check with your doctor before using Epsom salts.

8 ways exercise makes you gorgeous!

Need more incentive to lace up your sneakers? Here’s a peek into a few of the ways exercise can make you look and feel fantastic.
1. Smoother, More Radiant Skin
Working up a good sweat is the equivalent of getting a mini-facial, says Audrey Kunin, MD, a dermatologist in Kansas City, Mo., and author of The DERMAdoctor Skinstruction Manual (Simon & Schuster, 2005). “When the pores dilate, sweat expels trapped dirt and oil. Just be sure to wash your face afterward so the gunk doesn’t get sucked back into the pores.”
Breaking a sweat isn’t the only way exercise benefits the skin — it also reduces bodywide inflammation, helps regulate skin-significant hormones and prevents free-radical damage. When you exercise, the tiny arteries in your skin open up, allowing more blood to reach the skin’s surface and deliver nutrients that repair damage from the sun and environmental pollutants. These nutrients also rev up the skin’s collagen production, thwarting wrinkles. “As we age, fibroblasts [the collagen-producing cells in the skin] get lazier and fewer in number,” Kunin says. “But the nutrients delivered to the skin during exercise help fibroblasts work more efficiently, so your skin looks younger.”

2. Greater Self-Confidence
Confident people radiate a certain physical appeal and charisma. A recent British study found that people who began a regular exercise program at their local gym felt better about their self-worth, their physical condition and their overall health compared with their peers who stayed home. The best part was that their self-worth crept up right away — even before they saw a significant change in their bodies.
“You don’t need to improve your fitness level to improve your self-perception of how fit you are,” says Adrian Taylor, PhD, an exercise researcher at the University of Exeter in England and the study’s lead investigator. And from there it’s only a short leap to enjoying healthier self-esteem, he adds. “Our self-worth is directly tied to our energy levels, our feelings of competence and our perceived attractiveness.” And nothing is more gorgeous than the self-assurance that comes from feeling good in your own skin.


3. Increased Stature
No one has studied precisely why exercise makes you taller, but activities that stretch and strengthen muscles at the same time, like yoga or Pilates, can correct bad posture and therefore add height, says Dan Bradley, MD, an orthopedic surgeon at the Texas Back Institute in Denton, Texas. Hunching makes some muscle groups contract and others lengthen, he explains, which subtracts height. “If you actively work to bring muscles back into balance, your back will lengthen, your posture will improve and you can grow taller.”
People with swayed backs benefit most from core strengthening exercises, such as planks, farmer’s walks and bird dogs. For hunched shoulders, working on strengthening the upper back using resistance with bands, machines or free weights can help restore lost height. And, of course, exercise that improves posture tends to also make you look thinner, fitter and more confident.

4. Less Stress and Anxiety
Anxiety, fearfulness and uncertainty all drain your vitality and dampen your mood, which in turn tends to show on your face and in the way you carry yourself. Roughly 40 million Americans over 18 suffer from anxiety disorders, according to the National Institutes of Mental Health — that’s nearly 20 percent of all adults — and for many of them, that anxiety strips both the smile from their face and the spring from their step. Exercise has been shown to alleviate most mild to moderate cases of anxiety, and can very quickly improve mood.
Jack Raglin, PhD, a sport psychologist at Indiana University in Bloomington, Ind., is only half-joking when he says, “Exercise is like taking a tranquilizer, but better because you get the side effect of improved health and fitness.” Studies out of Raglin’s lab suggest that as little as 15 minutes of exercise bestows a calm that can last for hours. As for what kind of exercise elicits the biggest response, he recommends either heart-thumping aerobic exercise, like running, cycling or swimming, or a mixture of aerobic and anaerobic exercise, such as weight training.


5. Better Immunity and Detoxification
Exercise shores up the immune system by goosing the body into churning out more white blood cells, including neutrophils and natural killer cells. More white blood cells mean fewer bacteria and viruses sneak past the gate. Net effect: You don’t get that worn-down sick look that comes from feeling under the weather, and small blemishes and wounds of all kinds heal faster.
Exercise also keeps the lymph system happy. The body has roughly 500 lymph nodes — little nodules of tissue that take out metabolic trash. But the nodes can’t haul garbage to the curb without the help of nearby muscles. When muscles contract during exercise, they put the squeeze on lymph nodes, helping them pump waste out of your system. Result: You look less puffy and polluted.
Increased circulation is the key to both white blood cell production and better lymph drainage, and the best way to achieve it is to regularly do things that make you breathe hard, says David Nieman, PhD, director of the human performance labs at Appalachian State University in Boone, N.C. “Right now, your heart is pumping 4 to 5 liters of blood per minute, but, if you got up and went for a run, it would pump up to four times more.”
That increased blood flow is what revs up the immune system, he says. His research shows that just 45 minutes of walking each day can cut the number of days of work you miss because of illness by up to 50 percent. The takeaway message, says Nieman, is simple: “There is no supplement or medication that has proven to be as strong as regular exercise in improving the immune system’s ability to detect and destroy invaders.”

6. More Restful Sleep
Plagued by dark circles? You’re not alone. As many as 60 million Americans wrestle with insomnia, according to a recent Harvard Medical School report. A slew of studies show exercise can elicit longer, more restful sleep. Why? Well, an intense workout may leave you more hungry for shuteye recovery time, but there’s more to it than that. Shawn Talbott, PhD, nutritional biochemist and author of The Metabolic Method (Current Book, 2008), explains that exercise sharpens the body’s sensitivity to the stress hormone cortisol, which can enhance sleep. Sleeping better leaves you looking fresh and healthy.
Here’s how it works: When your boss yells at you, the body spews cortisol to help muscles either duke it out or run like the wind. But, instead, if you sit and seethe at your desk, the cortisol stays in the bloodstream, like a racecar circling the track in a speedway. If the stress is chronic, the presence of cortisol 24/7 blunts the body’s cellular receptors, muting the hormone’s arousal call. That lack of sensitivity causes the adrenal glands to make more, just to get the body’s attention. “It’s like your body turns the volume up full-blast to get the message across,” says Talbott.
As a result, the body’s natural cortisol rhythms (high in the morning, low in the evening) “flatten out,” he explains, which can leave you mentally wound up at night — and carrying excess baggage under your eyes the next day.
But exercise is essentially a release valve for cortisol, helping you sleep more soundly and greet the day looking more refreshed, Talbott explains. “It sends a message to the brain that you’re using the cortisol for its original purpose — movement — and that it’s safe to turn off the tap afterward.” Bottom line: Your body is able to use the downtime for the tissue-repair work that keeps you both looking and feeling great.

7. Less Visceral Fat
Yes, exercise can help you lose your love handles, but it’s the loss of excess fat deep inside the body that boosts your overall vitality and your looks.
The body contains two types of fat. The one you can pinch (subcutaneous) is relatively benign. But the less visible stuff, the visceral fat that pads the abdominal organs like so many packing peanuts, can be a killer. Excess visceral fat fuels low-grade inflammation in the body and is tied to a virtual who’s who of 21st-century ills, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, colon cancer, breast cancer and dementia. It can also upset the balance of important hormones (more on that to come) that affect your skin, hair and general appearance.
Regular exercise trains the body to burn visceral fat more efficiently. Exercise attacks fat on several fronts, explains Jason Karp, PhD, an exercise physiologist at Miramar College, distance-running roach at San Diego State University and owner of RunCoachJason.com in San Diego. When you exercise regularly, your body makes more mitochondria, the cellular engines where aerobic metabolism takes place; it also produces more proteins to speed up the transportation of fatty acids into cells to be burned as energy; and it makes more enzymes that break down fat. “Enzymes regulate the speed at which chemical reactions take place. So the more enzymes you have, the faster visceral fat can be burned,” he adds. And the better your whole body looks as a result.


8. Stronger Sex Hormones
Getting fit not only makes you look sexy, it also makes you feel sexy by balancing the body’s sex hormone levels, which in turn can improve the appearance of hair, skin and muscle tone. Although the most studied hormones linked to exercise are endorphins, sex hormones, such as testosterone and human growth hormone (HGH — the same youth-serum substance celebrities pay thousands to be injected with), also get a boost.
When British scientists compared the hormone levels of 10 middle-aged men who ran more than 40 miles a week with 10 healthy, but sedentary, men, they found that, on average, the runners had 25 percent more testosterone and four times more HGH than the couch potatoes.
“What’s good for your heart is good for your sex life,” says C. W. Randolph, MD, cofounder of the Natural Hormone Institute of America and coauthor of In The Mood Again (Simon & Schuster, 2010). He points to studies showing that the sex lives of fit 60- and 70-year-olds often resemble the sex lives of people decades younger. And, remember, testosterone fuels sex drive in both men and women, so this isn’t one-sided advice.
You can tailor your workout to produce more testosterone, says Randolph. He says working large muscle groups — doing things like squats, lunges, dead lifts, bench presses and rows — ramps up testosterone more than single-joint, small-muscle-group movements like biceps curls or triceps extensions. For best results, he suggests doing three sets of five to 10 repetitions with weights that push muscles to their edge, and rest 30 seconds to two and a half minutes between sets. (For more on the sex appeal of good health, see “Health: The New Sex Symbol” in the December 2006 archives and “Faked Fitness” in the March 2010 archives.)
Exercise researchers agree that the benefits of improved fitness are a boon to virtually every system in our bodies. And any kind of regular activity will help you experience more of these benefits for yourself. “Most people think exercise is only about burning calories, but it’s so much more than that,” says Talbott. “Exercise is about a million small perks, like stress management, better sleep and an overall healthy body.” And they all add up to a more radiant, gorgeous you.

Minimize the look of cellulite for summer!

Cellulite is a glorified term for collections of fat that expand and push against the connective tissue of your skin, creating the infamous dimpled "cottage cheese" appearance.

Cellulite is the result of excess body fat that usually collects in the highest fat prone areas of your body, such as the buttocks, thighs and stomach -- all those places that are put on display when you're in a bathing suit. Because women generally have a higher amount of healthy and unhealthy body fat than men, women have a higher occurrence of cellulite. In fact, research indicates that up to 90 percent of women have some cellulite! But don't worry -- this summer you won't have hide that cottage cheese behind a sarong. Here are 15 surefire fixes for zapping this frustrating flab.

Roll Out the Fat
"Moving on a foam roller loosens and opens your muscle fascia [tight interwoven fibers] and causes more nutrient-rich blood to circulate through those fibers, which raises your resting metabolic rate and breaks up fatty tissues," said celebrity trainer Ashley Borden, who has coached Mandy Moore and Cristina Aguilera. Breaking up fat tissue and cellulite using this deep tissue-like massage keeps blood moving through fat and muscle fibers and begins to minimize the appearance of cellulite in specific areas. "To see a change," said Borden, "roll out these body parts for 20 minutes most days a week."

Try Toning Supplements
Pharmacist and dermatologist Dr. Howard Murad of Hermosa Beach, Calif., has a ground-breaking program that combines supplement packs with topical cellulite creams to repair uneven, lumpy skin in eight weeks. "The nutrients in my patented complex are guaranteed to encourage the appearance of firmer skin up to 78 percent while improving the texture of stretch marks by 47 percent," said Dr. Murad. The supplements contain essential fatty acids and cell energizers to promote energy production and prevent skin damage. Use daily with Murad Firm and Tone Serum; 6.75 fluid ounces for $77.

Hoist Heavier Weights
The average woman loses five pounds of muscle and replaces it with 10 to 15 pounds of fat every decade of adult life, said fitness expert Wayne Westcott. "Because fat is exceptionally soft, it doesn't keep skin taut like muscle does. It also takes up more space, so it bulges out," he explained. With the proper weight-lifting plan, you can reduce cellulite and make your lower body look smoother. "When we put 16 women ages 26 to 66 on a resistance program for eight weeks, all of them reported less cellulite in their lower bodies," said Westcott, research director at the South Shore YMCA in Quincy, Mass. "Seventy percent reported a lot less." Must-do exercises include squats, lunges and leg presses.

Repair Surrounding Skin
Certain foods may reverse inflammation of connective tissues and boost collagen formation that can minimize the appearance of cellulite. Salmon, walnuts, almonds and olive oil are rich in essential fatty acids, which help repair epidermal layers. Soy products, such as soy milk and cheese, contain an element known as genistein. Genistein gives soy products their collagen-revving qualities, as well as blocking further breakdown of frail skin fibers, so eat up!

Shape Up with Galvanic Gels
The appearance of cellulite worsens as we age because skin becomes thinner and we lose collagen, which leads to less immune power but more inflammation. When enough collagen is destroyed to weaken the dermis, fat moves between the structural fibers and the dermal capillary networks. This loss of capillary network is due to engorged fat cells clumping together and inhibiting blood return. Nuskin's Galvanic Spa II Body Shaping Gel used with NuSkin's Galvanic Spa System II instrument delivers significant improvements. In a 30-day study, participants used topical creams as well as a galvanized metallic massager. Results showed 35 percent of participants experienced a one-inch reduction in thigh circumference with either the cream or the massager, and 73 percent of participants saw significant topical improvements when using both the cream and the massager.

Tap Your Inner Ballerina
Have you ever noticed that professional dancers have very little cellulite? "That's because they dance and tone their legs nearly every day of the week," said fitness expert Denise Austin, creator of the "Body Makeover Mix." Ballerinas have gorgeous legs and little lower-body flab, so perform some of the exercises they do every day -- or every other day -- and watch cellulite disappear! Austin recommends holding onto a ballet barre (or the back of a sturdy chair) to perform plie and leg lifts. Stand in ballet first position (with heels touching and legs turned out) and extend the right leg diagonally back, pulsing up and down 30 times at hip height. "My 15-minute cellulite segment in the Body Makeover Mix' zeroes in on these areas with very specific dancer's exercises," Austin said.

Drink More Water
To flush out stress hormones, detox your liver and other organs and rebalance estrogen production -- which may impact cellulite -- regular exercisers should drink eight to 10 glasses of water and green tea each day. "Mix water with lemon juice, which is a bile thinner and more efficiently helps your body metabolize fat stores," said trainer Jackie Warner, author of "This is Why You're Fat." Green tea contains chemicals that boost stress-relieving hormones and regulates appetite and cravings. "Green tea contains certain compounds that block fat storage, too," she said. Drink up!

Boost Overall Circulation
Cellulite can be made worse by age, weight gain or a sedentary lifestyle. Chances are if your mom or older sister has cellulite, you will too, especially if you spend most of the day sitting on your rear during long commutes and computer marathon sessions. "Add activity into your day to keep blood circulation moving, so take 10-minute stretch breaks at the top of every hour," said Warner, star of the new Bravo show "Thintervention." She also suggests that those looking to lose cellulite "take a daily multi-vitamin with adequate B-vitamins, which play important roles in energy production and fat loss."

Bump Up Your Cardio
Aim for 40 to 60 minutes six days a week, and choose repetitive activities that target the areas where you may have the most cellulite, said Austin, star of the DVD "Best Buns and Leg Shapers." "If you have cellulite on your thighs and and around the butt area, try biking or jogging. If you have cellulite on other areas, like the back of your arms or on your abs, try kayaking, rowing or boxing to reduce cellulite over time," said Austin. "Put it this way ... it can't hurt!"

Eat Your Way Firm
Bright fruits such as mango and papaya have antioxidants that are thought to prevent tissue damage, which may minimize the appearance of cellulite. Broccoli, peas and lima beans help fight inflammation of the connective tissue, as well. Darker berries, such as blueberries and blackberries, also help boost the antioxidant level in the body and stimulate the production of collagen which may lessen the appearance of cellulite.

Slather on Caffeine-Based Creams
The Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology reported that a Brazilian study showed that caffeine-based creams also minimized the appearance of cellulite. The study treated the lower bodies of 99 women with a topical cream consisting mostly of a caffeine solution, which the women used twice daily for 30 days. When researchers took their subjects' measurements at the end of the study, the slimming effect was clear: More than 80 percent of the women had a reduction in the circumference of their upper and lower thighs, and nearly 68 percent also reduced their hip measurements. Whether caffeine itself banishes cellulite is less clear. The researchers assessed cellulite changes with a hand-held imaging instrument that reveals microcirculation in fat tissue. As the research shows, you'll see results only as long as you use the cream.

Nibble Sulfur-Rich Foods
The quickest way to smooth out appearance of your skin is to amp up collagen production with sulfur-packed foods including green and black olives, cucumbers and celery. Vegetables that are rich in vitamin-A may also aid in boosting collagen production in the human body, so incorporate more raw carrots, cantaloupe and sweet potatoes into your weekly food plan.

Try Laser Mesotherapy
Because there is no guaranteed cure for cellulite, the most permanent treatments diminish the appearance by reducing the amount of fat within the fat chambers themselves. Mesotherapy involves injecting microscopic quantities of natural plant extracts, homeopathic agents, pharmaceutical agents and vitamins into the skin and will be customized per patient by a surgeon or dermatologist. Generally, the average patient requires 10 treatments, which help fat cells shrink and become less obvious. Patients will feel sting-like shots during the treatment and soreness afterward. A common side effect is bruising, but these more expensive mesotherapy treatments last much longer than creams. However, the benefits of these treatments will only last as long as you maintain a leaner weight.

Live in a Red Light District
Two simple and environmental aids can mask the appearance of cellulite on your body like a sleight of hand or a magician's wand! First, a darker, sunless tanner smeared on your bumpiest parts can camouflage the areas for several days. Second, according to Sheila Kelley, fitness instructor and owner of the S-Factor pole dancing studios in Los Angeles, "When we teach women to pole dance wearing lingerie, and we want them to feel and look their most confident, we use red light bulbs which hide cellulite and make your body look sexier and stronger," she said. Buy red light bulbs in any hardware store and place them in your bedroom, then try the S-Factor: Polework 101 workout on DVD.

Try a Simpler Surgery: Lipo-sculpture!
Cellulite affects overweight and thinner people, too, so sometimes the best option is a surgical procedure like liposuction or the less invasive liposculpture. According to a recent study by the American Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons, liposculpture has increased 215 percent in the last five years. Smaller cannulae are used to remove fat cells close to the skin. Some surgeons may use superficial liposuction to perform "ab etching," a procedure where certain areas of fat are removed, mainly in the lateral bands of the midsection muscles, which creates a "six pack" effect. Liposculpture eradicates cellulite, but your surgeon should come highly recommended since lipo-sculpture can damage underlying areas and may cause scarring.



Even some of the fittest celebrities have cellulite! Find out what activities they do to keep it at bay.

Fitness expert Nicole Dorsey Straff is a Los Angeles-based exercise physiologist and author, and frequently writes about diet, health and wellness.

Beauty tip #12

Rose and lavender work wonders in calming skin inflammation, according to Michele VanLandingham, ingredient information specialist for Dr. Hauschka Skin Care

Beauty tip #11

"To make the waist look narrower, use a white pencil liner to dot an egg shape on each side, starting below the rib cage. Fill in just this area with a self-tanner one shade darker than your natural skin and blend," says Cindy Barshop, owner of Completely Bare spas

Beauty tip #10

For full lips go for a glossy look. Try first outlining the perimeter of your lips using a concealer brush dipped in bronzer two shades deeper than your skin tone. Then, top pout with gold, peach, or coral gloss

Beauty tip #9

Keep your eyes open when applying liquid liner — otherwise your line will look uneven. Apply by drawing three dashes, one on the corner, one in the middle, and one on the inside corner of your eye. Then go back and connect the dashes for a smooth line.

Beauty tip #8

To accentuate your upper lash line without creating overly spidery fringe, apply a strip of false lashes meant for your lower lashes from corner to corner. They're shorter than traditional falsies, so they'll thicken your lash line without elongating it too much.

Beauty tip #7

Large pores are caused by two things: genetics and age. Want to shrink them? Go to a dermatologist or a spa to get microdermabrasion treatments, a type of facial that gently sloughs off the dead surface layer of skin

Beauty tip #6

Trying to look well rested when you aren't? Avoid piling on the foundation. Use a tinted moisturizer instead, followed by a beige eye pencil — it counteracts any redness

Beauty tip #5

For flawless skin choose a cleanser and moisturizer appropriate for your skin type that you can use a.m. and p.m., and then supplement it weekly with a purifying face mask. You should also consider using a nightly skin treatment that exfoliates dead skin cells.

Beauty tip #4

Sure, it's chilly in your bathroom in the morning, but don't be tempted to crank up the heat in the shower. Hot water followed by cool, dry air leads to rough skin. To lock in moisture post-shower, pat — don't rub — yourself dry, and coat skin in a thick alpha-hydroxy lotion.

Beauty tip #3

If you are already consuming a healthy, balanced diet, you won't be surprised by the fact that what we eat plays a pivotal role in how our skin looks and functions. If you've been taking steps to eat a healthier diet full of antioxidants from sources such as fruits and vegetables, essential fatty acids found in fish, and non- or low-fat sources of protein, then you've likely seen positive changes in your skin by now.

The pervasive myth that drinking lots of water will help your skin is a fallacy that wastes your time (unless you enjoy spending lots of time going to the bathroom). Rather, eating the right foods can lead to healthier skin cell production, reduced dry skin, a more radiant complexion, fewer breakouts, less wrinkles, and greater skin resiliency so you look younger, longer.

Chronic Inflammation Sabotages Your Looks!

It's a fact: Chronic inflammation from numerous sources prematurely ages the skin. Inflammation occurs inside and outside the body. Many of the foods we eat on a routine basis generate a steady buildup of inflammation in the body. Over time and coupled with unhealthy lifestyle choices (think smoking and tanning), the body becomes less able to handle the constant inflammatory assaults, causing immune system malfunctions that lead to chronic illness and diseases which could have been avoided with a change in diet.

To some extent this is true for the skin as well. And the good news is that it's not too late to begin reducing inflammation and repairing some of the damage right now. In essence, consuming an anti-inflammatory diet is one of the more beautiful things you can do for yourself and your skin.

Pro-Inflammatory Foods to Avoid

The foods on the list below are among the worst for inciting inflammation within the body. Seek to reduce your intake or avoid them completely and soon you'll see the rewards in the mirror:

Sugar, especially refined sugars such as high fructose corn syrup
Trans-fats (any oil listed as "partially hydrogenated" qualifies), which includes margarine and most shortenings
Processed or cured meats (the nitrites and nitrates are an acute source of inflammation)
Red meat (if you won't give up beef, at least choose the leanest cuts and avoid grilling, which creates carcinogenic substances)
Highly processed foods, which includes most of the menu at fast-food restaurants
White flour (a source of simple carbohydrates and present in most baked goods)
Desserts such as cakes, pastries, and yes, even that muffin you think is a healthy choice for breakfast

What to Eat to Look Better (and Feel Healthier)

I get seduced by potato chips and chocolate cake as much as the next person, but by keeping in mind what is really important I can pay attention to a vast array of healthy foods that work to reduce inflammation. And these foods are far from flavorless or boring! Quite the contrary, you may find that eating these foods coupled with antioxidant-rich spices to be a culinary adventure for your taste buds! The next time you're jotting down your grocery list, be sure to add these anti-inflammatory, appearance-boosting foods:

Coffee (believe it or not, coffee is a tremendous source of antioxidants) and green tea
Deeply-colored berries (blueberries, blackberries, raspberries)
Deeply-colored vegetables, especially leafy greens and cruciferous vegetables such as red cabbage
Red, green, yellow, and orange bell peppers (plus all types of hot peppers)
Salmon and other cold water, oily fish (a bountiful source of omega-3 fatty acids; choose wild caught rather than farm-raised)
Walnuts (most nuts have health benefits, but they're calorie dense, so be mindful of portion control)
Olive oil (also recommended: grape seed, walnut, rice bran, and canola oils)
Whole grains (the fiber boost reduces inflammation)
Spices such as ginger, turmeric, cardamom, curry, cumin, garlic, oregano, basil, and tamarind
Flax or pumpkin seeds
Yogurt (preferably plain or those with reduced sugar)

Healthy Eating + Smart Skin Care = Beautiful You

Now that you're aware of which foods can improve your appearance, it's important to pair a healthy diet with a healthy skin-care routine. The products you use to cleanse, exfoliate, moisturize, and protect your skin should contain ingredients that support skin's normal functioning while reducing inflammation. Look for products I've rated highly because these contain essential ingredients for skin such as antioxidants, soothing agents, and ingredients that help rebuild and sustain skin's healthy barrier function. And of course, be sure your daily routine includes sun protection because unprotected sun exposure is one of the most insidious forms of chronic inflammation you're likely to encounter.

(Sources for the information above: Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology, December 2009, pages 303–310; Journal of Medicinal Food, December 2009, pages 1,213–1,220; Journal of Nephrology, November­-December 2009, pages 149–158; Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Volume 72, 2009, pages 1,474–1,483; Journal of Investigative Dermatology Symposium Proceedings, 2008, pages 15–19; Lipids in Health and Disease, October 2008, page 36; Nutrition and Cancer, February 2008, pages 155–163; The Journal of Nutrition, September 2007, pages 2098–2105; American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, January 2007, pages 314S–317S; La Clinica Terapeutica, May-June 2005, pages 115–123

Beauty tip #2

Overzealous tweezing can lead to emaciated brows and bald patches, where hair only grows back irregularly.

 Use a protein-spiked brow gel to stimulate healthy growth and brow fillers to shade in problem areas

Beauty tip #1

Concealer is only half the battle when it comes to fixing flaws. To perfect your complexion (no matter what your skin tone), try lipstick in a warm pink. "It distracts people's eyes from blemishes and other imperfections," says makeup artist Morgan Schick.

Ready for warm weather?

Not only do you need to be in shape for summer, but you also want to look the part!


 If you don't tan, use self tanner. The most economical one that really works is Neutrogena spray! It will get your back also & doesn't leave you orange!

Don't forget to exfoliate first for best coverage that is even & even more important, shave, wax, or yank the hair out prior because if you have to shave again you will need to re-tan!!!

Aveda Institue! Day of pampering for a fraction of cost!

This past Saturday I went to the Aveda Institute in Columbus, Ohio. I expected a school like Vidal Sassoon Academy but man was it so much more! You are welcomed with their Comfort tea and it does relax you! All products used are Aveda except for the nail polish which is OPI.

The services take a bit longer because students perform the services but mine did not the girl was great!
I wanted the color on their website and they obliged!

I first got my long hair (mid-back) colored ($55) and cut ($22); I simply got a trim, but anytime they use scissors, it is considered a cut. While they are waiting for the color to set I received an arm & hand massage! Upon being time to rinse you are taken to a room where you do not sit down, you lie down!
On a big padded table, with your knees held up by a triangle support pillow. After rinsing you are given a mini facial! Toner, cleansing and a massage!!! No other way to have your hair rinsed! Awesome!

When my hair was finished being styled I then went to get my pedicure ($25). Great massage, paraffin dip (I got peach), and they use a paddle no razors to get calluses etc off! My toes and feet look great & feel so soft!!!

Total= $105 with tax! No tip is accepted.

Total for Aveda Salon- Color for long hair- $80+ (all over only, no highlites), cut $32+, Spa Pedicure- $59- Total= $171 without tax and tipping is expected for each service.

I then went to the other location to get a facial and my eyelashes tinted so I do not have to wear mascara for 6 weeks!

The elemental nature facial ($45) was good, did 2 masks, had a massage on the face also, while she waited for the mask to finish I received a foot & leg massage along with shoulder & upper back! great! Did a few extractions but you could tell she was a student when she asked if I had been able to get a pore to open and she was talking about my beauty mark! NOT GOOD!

That lasted about an hour-1.5 hours, and then I moved on to my eyelash tint ($13). Another student did this & she also did a great job! She didn't make my eyes sting which is awesome! Always make sure you take out your contacts prior to having this service performed!

Total cost at the school for these pampering services- $63 with tax and no tip allowed. 

Aveda salon: $70 and up+, $28+ and up! Tipping expected!

So, for the day of pampering that started at 8:45am & ended about 3:45pm my day cost - $168 + parking lot costs!

At an Aveda salon in Ohio (bigger cities is probably more!) - $269 without adding taxes or tips!!!

Over $100 saved and due to the fact that they may condition your hair more you may actually save even more!!! I will definitely try to make the trip up there again!