Monday, November 30, 2009

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






Wednesday, November 25, 2009

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


Tuesday, November 24, 2009

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








Monday, November 23, 2009

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

Sunday, November 22, 2009

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

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