Soft hands.

Soft Hands

So your hands don't feel soft anymore?

Before you go to bed

Lavish on the Vaseline and then pop on a pair of cotton gloves.


Your hands will be incredibly soft by morning.


love,
eleena

How to achieve and maintain a healthy head of beautiful hair.

HAIR SOS!!

Three main things are needed for a good-looking head of hair - haute hair - good health, the right attention to cleanliness, and caution when using cosmetic treatments.

1. Adequate Diet
Hair growth depends on an adequate diet. A widespread diet problem which causes loss of hair is iron deficiency Anaemia. The cause is too little iron in blood, brought on by a diet containing too little meat, eggs, cereals or peas and beans. Fresh fruits and vegetables are also needed to provide vitamin C, which enables the body to absorb iron.


2. Cutting the hair
Although cutting the hair is not essential to its well-being, it is easier to keep the scalp clean if the hair is kept reasonably short. Regular cutting does not make the hair grow strong or faster.


3. How hair can be damaged
Although scalp hair is hardy, and can withstand a lot of abuse, it can be damaged by too much or inexpertly applied perming, dyeing - Blonde to Brunette, bleaching and massage. The amount of beautying the hair can take varies from person to person. Occasionally the scalp is allergic to the dye and becomes inflamed and swollen. To prevent this occuring, the dye should be tested by applying it to a small area on the arm. If a patch of inflammation has developed, the dye must not be used on the hair.


Most people who bleach their hair do so with hydrogen peroxide. If the peroxide is repeatedly applied, it may make the hair brittle. Hair SOS If this happens the hair may turn rough, develop split ends, or become thinned or shortened.

Truly,
eleena

Natural Beauty - Enhance The Looks You Have

Visualization
You need to visualize the specific changes if you truly want to change your look. What will any improvements you make look like? See yourself with a streamlined body, healthier hair, clearer skin, majestic posture. These changes are realistic and attainable. Stay away from goals you'll never reach.

Don't compare yourself with someone you've seen on the TV or movie screen or on the cover of a magazine. Accept your uniqueness and capitalize on it.


Mirrors Boost Attitude
The quickest attitude adjustment is through reflection. Women who have low self esteem often avoid mirrors like the plague. However, mirrors can become a big ally.
Mirrors can tell you how you're progressing, in those little ways that may not be noticeable to the casual eye. It is the ultimate objective eye.


Do Everything Better
The way you use your beauty products will make all the difference in results.


For instance, try to duplicate what you see and feel your hair is shampooed at a salon. The product is always handled, never poured directly on hair.


Add a massage to your scalp when washing. While rinsing, lift your hair away from your scalp for about two minutes until it squeaks.


Discover The Virtues of Vanity
Confident women enjoy experimenting as a way of relieving stress and boost morale. Women who care about how they look are fascinating to watch, and teach us about taste and glamour. Vanity is a positive virtue, allowing us to fix our heads as well as our looks.


Look Pretty Amazing
Don't worry about looking pretty. Look pretty amazing show the world you care about yourself. Real beauty celebrates individuality. Rather than running around looking for beauty in pricey external products, discover within yourself. Make the most of what you have. You'll learn to like yourself and that will spark a light within.


Do One Thing For Yourself Everyday
Make yourself do it. It's the ultimate act of self-respect. Soak in the bubble bath or read an inspiring book. These little pleasures allow you to feel special. You can fake it if you, until you actually feel deserving of it. Whatever you choose, follow the action by writing down waht you did and how it made you feel. Make it your own "attitude file". Include stories, quotes from friends and photographs that have made you feel good about yourself.


Project Beauty
Feel good, feel pretty and that's just what the world will see. If you feel ugly, that's what the people will see. Try to look as good as you can. There are ways to live in beauty without being obsessive about it.


Find Supportive Friends
What people say, whether intentional or not, make us feel good or bad about ourselves. Look for people who make you feel good when you're down. This person will give you compliment. If you've done something different or if you're wearing something new, they will notice it. Keep this compliments and they will build your self esteem.


Listen To Your Inner Voice
Each of us has a voice inside our head that will give us advice. This is like a therapist. It will guide us in the right direction. It will calm us down, cheer us up and even help us figure out why we're overeating or not bothering to iron our clothes. The problem is that we often don't take time we need to hear this important information. Schedule some quiet time in a leisurely bath or walk, or even while putting on your makeup. Treat this intuition as an inner cheering section.


Take A Break
At least twice a day, set aside five minutes to recheck your make-up, hair, posture and clothing. No matter how impeccably you started out your day, a touch is both necessary and warranted. Take some deep breaths to renew and restore your appearance.


Mineral Makeup
All natural and works on everyone...

Cheers,
eleena

Acne Problems

What's Acne?

Acne is a term that's used to describe whiteheads, blackheads, and pimples. (You may well recognize slang terms like spots, or zits). Most teenagers get the type of acne called acne vulgaris, which can show up on the face, neck, shoulders, back, and chest. Skin pores contain oil glands which naturally lubricate your skin and hair.
But sometimes if a pore gets clogged beneath the skin with excess oil and bacteria, the dreaded acne is caused...
Whiteheads happen when a pore gets clogged, closes, and then bulges out. If a pore gets clogged but stays open, the top may darken and you've got a blackhead. A pimple happens when dead skin and bacteria work their way under live skin. This leads to a small infection that makes your skin look red. Get glowing!


What Causes Acne?
Although everyone is different, acne is usually caused by the build up of oil and dead skin in a pore. This build up of oil and dead skin is caused because of:
•Natural hormones. These are particularly active in your teens.


•Plugged skin. Lots of skin cells can close the oil glands or pores, creating blackheads or whiteheads, (as mentioned earlier).


•Bacteria. Bacteria can easily infect oil glands and pores and grow very quickly.


•Family background. If you have acne, your kids are more likely to have it too.


How To Reduce An Acne Problem
•You shouldn't squeeze, pick, scratch, or rub your skin as it makes the problem worse, and it might even cause scarring.


•Regularly shampoo your hair, and try to keep it off your face if possible - especially at night.


•Keep a food diary to work out if you are one of the few people whose acne gets worse if they eat certain things.


•Exercise regularly to get the old blood flowing, and make sure you get a wash as soon after as possible.


•Avoid unnecessarily touching your face.


•If possible, try to minimize your stress levels.


•Avoid getting sunburned.


•Change your wash cloth every day, as bacteria can grow on damp cloth.


•Wash your face twice a day with a gentle soap like Dove or Lever 2000.


•Always rinse really well with lots of water.


•Only wear makeup on special occasions, and then make sure you remove it completely.


•Granular facial scrub can make acne worse by aggravating the skin.


•Medication For Extreme Cases

Oral antibiotics
Oral antibiotics have a high success rate, and can be safely used for up to a year. It can take up to six months to fully take effect, but there should be a noticeable difference within six weeks. Oral Antibiotics include erythromycin, minocycline and tetracycline
Antibacterial cream
Benzoyl peroxide kills the bacteria which causes inflammation. It is available over the counter in 2.5%, 5% and 10% creams and lotions. It is available in gels in the same percentages but only by prescription. Clinically, there�s not much difference between the effectiveness of the various strengths and types used.


NOTE: Unfortunately, there can be some �side effects� of the use of Benzyol peroxide, including hypersensitivity, irritation, and contact dermatitis (although these are very rare). Remember to always keep Benzoyl peroxide away from clothing as it has a bleaching effect.

xoxo,
eleena

Wrinkle Removal Recipe

Banana is wonderful as an anti-wrinkle treatment.

• Mash 1/4 banana until very creamy.
• Spread all over face and leave for 15-20 minutes before rinsing off with warm water followed by a dash of cold.
• Gently pat dry.

 Cheers,

eleena

Cellulite reduction at home

Cellulite arises when the connective tissue puts pressure on the fat making the fat bulge under the skin. The less fat you have the less noticeable the cellulite is. A healthy diet and exercise help in reducing cellulite. To reduce cellulite you will have to detoxify your body, especially the liver and colon. During detoxification cut out nicotine and caffeine, do not eat extra salt or fat and drink a lot of water. Eat things like soya, blueberries and nuts. Ensure that you have sufficient intake of nutrients like glucosamine, B vitamins and essential fatty acids. Onions are good for reducing cellulite. Onions act like a natural diuretic and will release the excess water from the skin cells.

Do exercises that will help you loose weight on your legs and buttocks. Do special exercises to improve muscles in your thighs like walking, cycling, climbing stairs, yoga and pilates. Once there is a build up of muscles cellulite will disappear. Muscles will stretch the skin and smoothen the dimples appearance. Massaging the areas that have cellulite will increase circulation and break the fat up. You can use a body brush or use a body wash or exfoliator while bathing. This will also increase circulation. Use aromatherapy oils like sage, cypress and juniper help in cellulite reduction. Wearing pantyhose helps to reduce cellulite. Wear those that are body shaping and contour your thighs. Pantyhose press the fat and help circulation. There are pantyhose specially made to help reduce cellulite. Make a body wrap at home using coffee and seaweed to reduce cellulite. Spread warm ground coffee on the troubled areas, wrap with moist seaweed and then cover with plastic wrap. Keep this on for about half an hour. Unwrap and wash off in the shower, while doing so massage the area. There are a number of commercial products too that you can use to reduce cellulite. It is important to have a healthy diet and exercise regularly to prevent the buildup of cellulite.

Good luck!
eleena

How To Choose The Right Dye For Your Hair

Isn't it true that when you want to change your look surprisingly and dramatically you change your hair? Coloring your hair always gives you a new look. Here's my advice on how to choose the right dye for your hair.

So you decide to color your hair. You are positive about the change and well prepared to see your new look. First you have to decide on the dye you are going to use. I will leave the color choice up to you. I will just mention that there are permanent dyes and not-so-permanent ones and each type has its variations.
There's also a third type of hair dyes. The vegetable dyes which are made out of natural ingredients and which are highly recommended. Vegetable dyes are similar to henna and belong to the not-so-permanent types of dyes.

Ok, you are ready to color your hair. Before you proceed you need to know what coloring method to choose depending on your hair style. Your new hair color must look good with your skin color/type. For example if your skin is light, you wont look good with very dark hair because you don't want your hair to draw the color out of your skin.


If you decide to be blonde then never attempt to color your hair alone the first time. It's better to take some advice from an expert/stylist or leave him/her do the job for you, especially if your hair has been permanently tinted.
If you decide you should have the sexy red hair, then you should know that red color really draws attention. It should be painless except if you are blonde in which case you should go at least two shades darker than your natural hair color in order to have a successful coloring result.
If you choose the good-old brown colors and wanna be a brunette then you should know that this is your safest choice. Brown colors will fit almost any skin/hair type. You can achieve all sorts of looks by using combinations of shades.
Last but not least. Black color. It will give you a dark/goth look. If you decide to color your hair black then you should know its the easiest color to apply to your hair. It will usually cover all hair types easily and effectively. Just make sure black colors look good with the rest of your face and will add to your skin, since black hair usually looks good on dark-skinned people only.

 You see, beauty is not just an outer appearance. It is a complete harmony from within that can be felt and sensed by others from the way you present yourself.

Love,
eleena

Dry Skin Causes, Treatments and Prevention Skin Care

Reasons for dry skin include a variety of conditions such as too much sun, windburn, harsh soaps and cleansers, aging and even diet. Insufficient water can dry your skin overnight. Start working on dry skin problems by increasing your water intake.

Vitamins and Natural Oils that May Help Dry Skin
Drinking lots of water is one remedy for dry skin, but if your skin is very dry, you may need additional help. You may have noticed that many skin care creams contain vitamins: although Vitamin E has been shown to work externally to correct dry skin, most other vitamins don't have a noticeable effect. Look for Vitamin E enriched skin creams, and increase its effects by also taking Vitamin E capsules, which help strengthen skin from the inside.
Another benefit of taking Vitamin E is that it works on the skin all over your body—hands, feet, face and everything in between. Other natural remedies for dry skin include Evening Primrose oil, flaxseed oil or Omega 3 oils derived from fish. All of these nutritional supplements have been shown to increase skin's elasticity, its rebuilding capacity and its moisture. You can get these treatments at any health food store, and most pharmacies carry them too.
Diet and Nutritional Changes that Will Improve Skin’s Appearance
Support the health of your skin by eating plenty of fresh fish (providing you with Omega 3). Adding a tablespoon of flax seeds to your morning cereal tastes good and increases your essential fatty acid intake. These nutritional steps do more than fix your dry skin: they're also natural cures for everything from stomach problems to heart disease.
Products, Lotions and Skin Care that May Help Keep Skin Hydrated
If you've recently started using an antiaging lotion or cream, you may suddenly develop dry skin. Creams that contain retinol, alpha lipoic acid, or either alpha or beta hydroxyl acids work by chemically exfoliating (breaking down) upper layers of skin. If you experience peeling, redness, scaly skin or a rash, stop using your new cream and try something with milder ingredients or a lessened concentration of the main ingredients. Some people have gotten contact dermatitis from the very skin creams that were supposed to solve their dry skin problems!
The best products for your complexion are usually the simplest: look for creams that have not been tested on animals and whose main ingredients are natural. Read the ingredients list on the back of the label! Consider ingredients like beeswax, plant oils, herbal extracts and basic ingredients such as glycerin and water.
Acne treatment can lead to peeling or dry skin; especially over the counter products containing salicylic acid or peroxide. Allergies to menthol, camphor and eucalyptus can also cause scaly, irritated skin, so if you're using a Noxzema type product or a nice-smelling toner, you might want to switch to something that doesn't contain those ingredients.
For Extreme Dry Skin Treatment and Relief
Extreme dry skin can get relief through intensive therapy by way of daytime moisturizer lotion, night creams and increased home humidity. If you suffer from dry facial skin or dry skin all over your body, especially in winter, it may be because the heat in your house is drying you out. Try putting a cool mist humidifier in your bedroom at night, and you may see a difference in a few days. A popular home remedy for dryness is the moisturizing facial mask. Use a half of a ripe avocado, pureed. Rinse your face with lukewarm water and apply the mask while your face is still damp. Leave on for 15 minutes, then rinse off with lukewarm water and pat dry. Apply your favorite moisture lotion.
Skin Conditions that Lead to Scaly, Itchy Skin
Eczema starts out looking and feeling like extremely dry skin, with itching and redness increasing until you may have scaly patches, clear, fluid filled bubbles , or welts on your arms, legs, face, eyelids or body. Eczema isn't dry skin, however: it's your body's allergic response to causes in the environment, and it can be worsened by stress. If you think you have eczema, talk with your doctor to find out about treatments: although dry skin remedies may be part of controlling eczema, you may also need treatment with corticosteroids, antihistamines, a special ointment for relief of itching, or other prescription drug therapy.

Truly,
eleena

6 Easy Steps to Looking Great

1. THE BODY

Wear dresses created from fabrics which luxuriously slide against your skin. Dresses which are made from satin, cashmere and soft, touchable fabrics which hug your curves without actually revealing too much skin is one of the top ways for you to look and feel sexy. A little black or red dress can definitely heat things up - but you can also be ultra-sexy with outfits made of metallic shades like silver, gold and pewter. Match your dress with a sturdy pair of 4-inch heels. There's nothing sexier than a sturdy pair of heels to compliment your outfit.

2. FACE BASICS

The basis of makeup should be your foundation. Find a foundation that matches your skin, but before you apply it to your face, massage in a thin layer of face moisturizer to prevent your skin from flaking. Set the foundation with light dabs of face powder - don't overdo it as you may end up looking too powdery.

3. EYES

For a seductive look, go for smoky eyes. Line your eyes with a black eyeliner and fill your lid with black eye shadow. Using your finger or a slightly bigger eyeshadow brush, spread the colour to the outer rims of your lids from the inner to the outer part of your eyelids. If you lined your undereye, use your black eye shadow to set the liner, smudging it a little to give it the smoky look. Using a cotton bud or your little finger, wipe away access colour away from your eye bags to clean the area. Curl your eyelashes and apply some mascara to it.

For a more demure look, line your eye lids with a black or dark brown eyeliner. Use a light eyeshadow in neutral colours (brown, beige, light pink, bronze etc) or anything you feel matches your outfit. Fill in the outer part of your eyes (not the brow bone area, but below it) with the light eye shadow and IF you want a little more definition, fill in the eyelids from the corner of your eyes towards the inner part, with a slightly darker colour. For example if you are using a pale light brown shadow, use a slightly darker brown to emphasize your eye lids. This way your eyes won't look too mysterious, but it opens up your eyes as the eye liner makes it look bigger.

4. CHEEKS

For a seductive look, use a darker blusher to define your cheekbones. The trick is to apply it to the lower part of your cheekbones to bring out the definition in your cheekbones. Make sure you shake the brush once or twice after picking up the colour from its palette as you might accidentally swab on a heavy tone that could result in you looking like a cabaret showgirl. Apply lightly so you can play around with the tone of colour on your skin.

For a demure look, use a light pink blusher to highlight your cheekbones. You can sweep this across your upper cheekbones but instead of drawing it upwards towards your eyes, draw it to your ears. Shake the brush once or twice after picking up the colour from its palette to avoid over-doing the blush effect.

5. LIPS

If you're daring enough to use a bright scarlet colour, go ahead. The only setback is trying not to smear it while you eat and drink. There might also be a chance of staining your teeth with your red lipstick so be careful! Red is however undoubtedly a very sexy colour for the lips.

For pouty, sweet, succulent lips, use a light shade of pink, or any colour that resembles natural pink lips. Apply some colourless lip gloss to create some full lips. By using light colours for your lips, your eyes get all the attention.

6. HAIR

If your hair is silky, smooth, and neat you don't have to worry about a thing as you can step out with your hair down. If you have frizzy or unmanageable hair, you may want to go to a salon to wash and dry your hair as they can give you curls, straighten, or give you an up-do for your night. If you don't have that kind of time, give yourself a side parting and sleek your hair back into a low bun. This way you not only look elegant, but neat too. If you're feeling a little more on the wild, happy-go-lucky side, give yourself a messy bun so look au naturale and effortless.

xoxo,
eleena

Six Steps To Perfect Eyebrows

1. Brush brows upward. Carefully trim any excess hair above the top of your natural arch. Be careful not to take off too much at the ends or you'll have brow "bald" spots.



2. Look closely at the shape. Your brow should begin at your tear duct, peak at the outer edge of your iris and end at the outer corner of your eye. "Many women make the mistake of taking off too much at the outer corners," says Weston. "This slants the brows upward and makes the person look perpetually angry."


3. Prep your skin: Soak a cotton ball in astringent and wipe the brow area.


4. Hold a pencil in line with the outer side of your iris and note where the peak of your arch naturally occurs. From the arch to the outer corner of the eye, your brow should fall in a straight or slightly curved line, depending on the look you're trying to achieve.


5. Hold the tweezers at a 45 degree angle and pluck the stray hairs below the brow line. "Pull in the direction of the hair growth, or you may end up breaking the hair mid-shaft," says Engle. Follow your natural brow shape, not the trends. "It's very difficult to let your brows grow back into their natural shape after you've plucked them to death trying to achieve a particular look," she says.

6. Fill in sparse areas with a freshly sharpened brow pencil - be a bombshell; use light, quick strokes to draw in hair. Brow powder will give thin brows overall definition, and is great for a more natural look. Using the brow brush, sweep powder up and outward over brows. If you're a brow novice, a tinted brow gel is a foolproof way to keep brows in place. Lightly coat brows using upward and outward strokes. Wipe off any excess and allow it to set. Get Glowing!

love,
eleena

Home Manicure Tips

Are you tired of spending thousands of $$$ each year at the nail salon? Due to ecomonic issues, many women are forgoing their weekly trip to their professional nail technician and are doing their nails at home. However, knowing how to properly buff and prepare their nails can be a challenge. If not done correctly, you can actually damage your nails. So, take a look at these easy steps and learn the correct way to buff nails.



Use Salon Products and Tools
There are thousands of nail products on the market today and knowing which tools you need to properly buff your nails can be tricky. However, if you visit your local beauty store you will need to pick up only a few products. First, a handheld nail buffer is essential on your list of supplies. These look similar to emery boards; however they have several different colored panels and appear more like a foam block. You may also want to grab a few bottles of colored polish or OPI polish in French white if you’d like to give yourself a French manicure.


Before Filing or Buffing…
Before you start filing away at your nails, there are a few things you should do first. Be sure to remove all old polish with a gentle finger nail polish remover. Look for those without acetone for the gentlest results. After getting rid of the polish, soak your hands in warm soapy water for ten minutes. This will soften your nails and skin to allow you to not only buff your nails better but also remove the unwanted cuticle areas. You can make your own homemade hand spa by filling a large bowl with warm water and adding a small amount of scented bath oil to the water. After soaking your hands, be sure to dry them completely.


Buff Nails the Right Way
To begin, grab your nail buffer and file your nails as you normally would (rounded, square or oval). With the roughest side of the buffer, start to buff your nails. Use a gently side-to-side motion when doing this. The main purpose of this phase is to smooth out any major ridges your nails may have. Next, use the next roughest side of your buffer and repeat the process. This will further work any ridges out of your nail area. To finish the buffing phase, utilize the smoothest part of the buffer to polish your nails until they shine.
Be sure not to be too rough when you are using the first few sides of the buffer. These are meant to only be used gently on the nails. Being too aggressive can lead to a split or chip in the nail, which is almost always difficult to repair properly.


Tips for Professional Salon Results
After you’ve successfully buffed your nails, consider taking your homemade manicure to the next level. Grab your favorite lotion (with or without sun block) and a pair of clean cotton gloves (socks will work if you don’t have gloves). Lather your hands in the lotion, put them into the gloves and wait for ten minutes. When you pull your hands out, wash and dry them well. You will find they are incredibly natural and soft! Be sure to wipe your nails well, apply a top coat of polish and begin painting them in your desired color. Allow the first coat of polish to set and apply another thin coat. Finish with a top coat and allow it to dry.As you can see, getting beautiful nails doesn’t necessarily require an expensive trip to the salon. So, instead of spending money on artificial acrylic nails this season, consider taking the natural route and doing your nails and toe nails yourself at home!

wuhuu,
eleena

Tips & Techniques for Applying Eyeliner

Eyeliner is the bane of existence for many a beauty conscious woman. There is a distinct trick to the art of applying eyeliners in such a manner as to not end up with that permanently surprised look which may be somewhat disconcerting to those with whom you converse. Some have taken to the application of liquid eyeliner only to find that they end up with black smudges in the creases underneath their eyes.



Fortunately, tips and techniques for the successful application of eye liner abound, and if you follow just a few of them, you will give your eyes that beautiful appearance which can set the tone for the mood you are seeking to evoke.

Fun Looks and Styles
The how to of eyeliner application begins with a consideration of the look for which you are aiming. There are several fun ways of defining your appearance before you put on that first stroke of the eyeliner. Will you be going for the gothic look? Are you hoping to achieve that glamorous movie star look? Perhaps you are simply aiming for an enhanced natural look to showcase the beauty that is yours.


Liquid, Gel, or Loose Powder Application
After the definition of the look, the choice of eyeliner pencil is the next consideration. To apply eyeliner, a thin and sometimes hard pencil it utilized, but this does not permit for easy application once the skin underneath your eyes has lost some of its teenage firmness. Waterproof gel or loose powder eye makeup is another option, but they require a steady hand. A happy medium is a soft consistency eyeliner pen from Cake, Estee Lauder, Christian Dior, Bobby Brown or Mac.


Color Choices: Black, White, Glitter…..
Next, chose your colors wisely, white might be great to make a dramatic contrast to dark skin or add little designs to your eyelids, but if you are going for an organic, natural look, you may opt for something that is just a shade darker than your eyelashes. Enhancements, such as glitter and eye shadow matching styles are also available, yet they will draw a lot of attention to your eyes and detract from other parts of your appearance, such as a great haircut or lip liner. Make sure you do not overdo the drama of your eyes and then have it compete with the dramatic shape enhancement of your lip liner!


Eyeliner Designs & Techniques
The best eyeliner technique for lasting effect is to complement your eye’s shape but slightly enhance it. For example, make a fine line that just slightly extends beyond the corner of your lower lid to get the coveted cat’s eye appearance. Use white eyeliner on the inner rim of your lashes for a more open and alert look. Remove eyeliner that spread beyond its intended locale with a q-tip dipped in a bit of eye makeup remover. Do not cover it up with powder since the color will come to the forefront in a short period of time.

love,
eleena

Natural Skin Care.

Skin is the largest organ in the body and it weighs between two and four kilos. It covers an area of two square meters. The skin repairs itself completely once in every seen to ten weeks. The skin reflects a person's health condition. It will be smooth and soft when well cared for and dry and flaky when left alone. For it to remain soft, beautiful and youthful, pamper your skin. Find below some tips on natural skin care.

1. You must consume two liters of water everyday. It hydrates the skin.
2. Include fresh fruit and vegetables in your diet to make it rich. Such diet has Salubrious effect on the skin.
3. Sleep well. Sound sleep is very essential for healthy skin. Stress affects the skin also.
4. Add high-quality supplements, including vitamins and minerals and essential fatty acids. They help in maintaining the tone of the skin and keep it youthful.
5. Follow a regular skin care routine. This helps in keeping the skin fresh and hygienic.
6. Learn what your skin type is. It helps in taking the right decisions about what to use and what not to patronize.
7. Regular exercise is very essential for a healthy and supple skin. It also releases sweat and keeps the skin pores clean and open.
8. Limit the intake of caffeine and alcohol as they are likely to affect the skin, particularly in the long run.
9. Keep stress levels low. Stress affects the skin and leads to bags under the eyes and folds on other parts.
10. High temperature also affects the skin. Avoid exposing the skin to extreme temperatures.


To pamper your skin, use natural skin care recipes. Recipes made from substances such as honey, milk, egg, carrot, pineapple, spinach, radish, guava, tomato and sandal are very useful in maintaining a healthy and glowing skin, day after day.


Natural skin products made from natural substances such as rose, lavender, Aloe Vera, green tea and cucumber extracts, vitamin C and herbal antioxidants help your skin in retaining the smoothness and preventing folds. For facial skin needs cleansers, moisturizers, anti-wrinkle creams, French green clay masks and also products such as serums intended to firm skin on the neck and face, reduce lines and wrinkles.


Anything you put on the skin is absorbed at least in small quantities. Hence, it is better to avoid products that contain ingredients such as synthetic fragrances, chemical preservatives and petroleum-based chemicals used in many skin care products that could be harmful to the skin. Diligent natural skin care has to be adopted to keep the skin always healthy.

xoxo,
eleena

Get your sexy & healthy hair!

It doesn’t take much to go from drab to fab when it comes to your hair and celebrating the summer months. Follow these easy steps and tips to get your hair back in shape and ready to show off at the beach, pool or party.
Need a new change? Well, is the perfect time of year to do something different! Visit your favorite salon and find out what the latest hair looks are. One of the first things you’ll want to take care of is any damage to your hair. With buns and ponytails being all the rage for months, it’s easy to neglect your hair. However, now you’ll want your locks to be in the best condition so this means no split ends or breakage. Ask your stylist to give you a trim to get rid of any split ends and a good deep conditioning to restore moisture and hydration from the scalp all the way to the tips. Once your hair is healthy, it’ll be much easier to manage and style. When it comes to deep conditioning treatments for your hair, choose a product (if you’re doing it at home) that contains essential oils and naturally rich conditioners. For a fun, do-it-yourself hair recipe, you can create your own hair mask using ingredients such as honey, almond oil, olive oil, bananas, and avocado. For the best results, you can leave the hair mask in overnight and rinse in the morning.

You can choose from a handful of styles that suit your personality: long layers, curls galore and side swept bangs are the most popular. You can turn to your favorite celebrities to find out what styles you’ll want to copy or use for inspiration for your own summer ‘do. Want that sexy, tousled look? Add volume to your hair naturally by following these easy steps:


•Wash your hair with a volumizing shampoo. Follow up with a light volumizing conditioner on just the ends. Use a wide-toothed comb to work the conditioner throughout and detangle your hair.
•Rinse and wrap your hair in a towel and proceed to get ready for your day.
•After some time, unwrap your hair and instead of brushing or combing, use your fingers to work a small amount of curl enhancing gel or texturizing spray. Work it from the roots to the tips, while scrunching and twisting strands as you go along.
•Let your hair air dry and scrunch and tousle the hair in areas that go astray. You’ll be able to shape your tresses as desired. And that’s it

Just like that, you’ll need to spruce up your hair care regimen to adjust with the weather. This includes using quality hair products that contain sunscreen to protect your hair from sun damage. When possible, wear accessories that won’t require your hair to be in the sun for an extended period of time. You can choose from cute hats, scarves and even a fashionably floppy hat.

love,
eleena

Caring for oily skin types.

Most people experience oily skin when they hit puberty and hormones begin to rampage across the bodily systems. Causes of oily skin have also been attributed to diet, stress and environmental issues, but the main reason for oily skin is the increased production of skin oils, or sebum, usually associated with hormonal changes. Remedies for oily skin range from washing practices to herbal skincare products made for the oily complexion.

Oily Skin and Acne Breakouts
Oily skin doesn't necessarily cause acne, but it can be a contributor to breakouts if the skin isn't kept clean enough. Acne occurs when pores are invaded by dirt and oil, get clogged and breed bacteria. The bacteria in the pore causes swelling and the typical pimple is filled with pus, which is the body's attempt to fight infection using white blood cells. Keeping your skin clean and pores unclogged is one important way to prevent acne breakouts. And it all starts with the way you wash your face.
Skin Care and Makeup for Oily Complexions
Some people think that removing oil from the face is like washing it from dishes: they use the harshest soap and the hottest water to get their skin "squeaky clean". They never moisturize, and may even wipe their skin with alcohol to dry it out. The bad news is that if you treat your oily skin with harshness, it will redouble its efforts to protect itself—it will actually start to produce more oil to cope with what it feels are harsh environmental conditions! Wash your face, but use a gentle soap and lukewarm water, and don't rub or scrub. Treat your skin with love and compassion, and it will respond positively. Use an oil-free moisturizer to keep your skin protected, and protect it further by using a moisturizer that contains sunscreen. Keep the shine blotted down by using powdered mineral makeup, which is guaranteed to give you a matte finish without clogging pores. At the end of the day, remove your makeup with a gentle, alcohol-free toner, wash your face gently, and reapply moisturizer before bed.
Natural Beauty Product Suggestions for Oilier Skin
Oil free moisturizers usually contain glycerin and water, and some of the best products also contain tea extracts and oatmeal. Oatmeal has long been recognized as a soothing skin care product, and when used as a mask can brighten your skin without drying it out too much. Companies like Aveeno are making oatmeal based moisturizers and makeup that work wonderfully to care for the skin. Beauty tips columns always contain the oatmeal facial mask as a remedy for oily skin. Just puree oatmeal with a little water, wipe on the skin, allow to dry most but not all they way, and rinse off.


Luckily, caring for your oily skin has never been easier, since a tremendous range of products ensures that there's something for everyone. Treating oily skin is done at two levels; prevention and blemish control. Gentle treatment, the right oil-control makeup and proper nutrition can help prevent oily skin. Blemishes can be treated with tea tree oil or one of the natural remedies including green or white tea extract (powerful antioxidants) and skin calming oils such as lavender or chamomile.
Does diet and nutrition contribute to skin oils?
Some people think that chocolate or fatty foods can cause oily skin, and if you are allergic to a particular food, it may show up in the way your skin behaves. Chocolate has not been shown to increase skin oil or breakouts; in fact, dark chocolate contains antioxidants that are good for your brain and your body. But junk food like chips, high fat, high salt burgers and other fried foods may impact your skin as they do your entire body. If you're a junk food junkie and have oily skin or breakouts, take a month off from your favorite foods to see if your skin condition improves.


Antiaging therapy in the form of creams or lotions containing plant or milk acids often dry users' skins as the acids remove the top layer of skin cells from the complexion. Check out moisturizers containing alpha lipoic acid, which may decrease the oil in your skin after a short time of use.

Best of luck,
eleena

How young is your skin?

When it comes to determining your complexion's age, the date on your driver's license tells only part of the story.



Lifestyle habits—including diet, sleep schedule and sun exposure—complicate the results. And if that's not confusing enough, choosing the best way to turn back the clock on your skin's appearance can be so baffling, you're bound to wind up ticked off. Before you sound the alarm, take our quiz to reveal your skin's true age. Then follow a personalized plan to uncover a smoother, healthier glow in no time.


Your skin is in its 20s
Rev up collagen production and buff every other day to keep your skin youthful-looking.


Your skin is in its 30s
Keep wrinkles at bay and stay radiant with a good SPF and microdermabrasion.


Your skin is in its 40s
Reduce wrinkles and add weekly enzyme peels to bring back healthy, smooth skin.

Your skin is in its 50s
Trigger cell rejuvenation and use laser treatments to repair damages and retain your natural beauty.

Aging skin & exercise.

Along with a healthy diet, lots of water, supplementation, stress management, and sun protection, staying active is an important and integral part of staying healthy. When related to the aging of our skin and preventing the early signs of aging, there are some things about exercise that you may want to consider.

Can Exercise Fight the Signs of Aging?


It can certainly help - if not directly, then at least by promoting other parts of a healthy lifestyle that directly fight the signs of premature aging. Exercise improves circulation and invigorates skin, helps supply oxygen to skin cells, and is great way to combat stress. All of these are factors when trying to maintain a youthful appearance.


There is a consensus, however, among skin-care providers that too much exercise can actually promote the signs of premature aging, so be careful not to overdue it. Factors involved with exercising that may cause premature aging involve weight loss and a decreased resistance or exposure to free radicals. A large amount of weight gain or weight loss as a result of a rapid change in lifestyle and exercise patterns can cause the skin to loose its elasticity, resulting in wrinkling - so moderation and slow, progressive changes in exercise programs are recommended.


Things to Consider In Your Exercise Program


Some factors to consider that may not have occurred to you about your exercise program is how they affect your skin. If you exercise outdoors, for example, it is important to consider that you are exposing your skin to not only the effects of pollution but to sun damage as well. Even on cloudy days, an estimated eighty-percent of the suns UVB and UVA rays make it through to penetrating our skin. To help fight the negative effects of this exposure, experts recommend applying an SPF 15 or greater that protects against both types of rays at least 30 minutes prior to working out and wearing a hat that limits the amount of direct sunlight.


It is also recommended that individuals who engage in large amount of outdoor cardiovascular activity supplement their diets with Lipoic acid, Ascorbic acid, and Glutamine fifteen minutes prior to exercise to help ward off the vulnerability to oxidative damage .


If you are a swimmer or spend large amount of time in the water as part of your exercise program, you know that the chemicals in water can wreak havoc on the balance of skin. It is important to wash the skin immediately after working out to prevent the damage these chemicals can do and follow up with a chemical-free, fragrance-free moisturizer.


The best bet for avoiding irritation or damage to your skin during exercising is to try to make sure it`s clean by washing it before you begin working out as the rise in temperature will help any harmful agents sink deeper into our pores. If you must wear make-up during a workout, make sure it`s an all-natural, mineral and water based foundation. And, of course, drink plenty of water before, during, and after your workout to prevent dehydration and those pesky little wrinkles!

Giggles,
eleena

Bye bye love handles!

It is an unfortunate fact of life that as we age, fat seems to make itself at home in our bodies. One of its favorite places to reside is in the area of the waist just above our hips, called the love handle region. But what is to love, exactly? Those additional rolls of fat are the guilty culprits in making many articles of clothing fit a little snugger, and in keeping many of us from showing up on the beach in bathing suits. There are no if’s, and’s or but’s about it; love handles have got to go! The good news is that with the proper combination of diet, cardiovascular exercise and muscle toning, you can say goodbye to those unsightly love handles.

Targeting Fat
Here’s the bad news: there is no way to target specific areas of fat on our bodies for effective reduction. Instead, we must focus on reducing fat in the body overall, and the best way to do this is through diet and cardiovascular exercise. A general rule of thumb is that once a woman hits a body composition that is around 20% body fat, the love handles will begin to disappear. It is doubtful that anyone needs to be preached at about the proper way to eat these days, with so much information available on diet and nutrition. Keep in mind that no matter how much you exercise, you will continue to gain weight if your calories consumed are higher than the calories burned each day. This is why it is so important to cut out fats and sugar from the diet as much as possible while you are exercising daily, to increase your odds of dropping the pounds and inches on a consistent basis.


Cardiovascular exercise should be done four to six times each week, and can be as simple as taking the dog for a walk around the block, to sweating it out on the treadmill at the gym. Any type of cardio exercise will effectively burn the calories – and the additional fat – but the harder you workout, the quicker you will see results. Before you begin any type of exercise program, make sure that you talk to your doctor about the safest choices for you. Once you have a cardio workout established into your daily routine, you can begin adding specific exercises that will tone the muscles on either side of your abdomen, called the obliques. The best types of movements that will work this area include twisting and bending motions that will stretch and tone those muscles. The toning will succeed in reducing the inches around your waistline, and give you the definition and firmness that your image is craving.


While additional fat storage in the body may be a fact of life as we age, there are things that we can do to keep those storage areas under control. Once you get a handle on those love handles, you will be able to sport that bikini with confidence. Bye bye, love handles!

good luck,

eleena