Beauty & Style

ATTENTION WOMEN ;side effects of lipsticks

men:
Do not forget to pass this message to their wives, girlfriends, friends or colleagues.
Women: Lip Care for using!

Dr. Elizabeth Ayoub, biomolecular and medical is issued an alert for lipsticks containing lead, which is a carcinogen.
Recently the brand ‘Red Earth’ decreased prices of R $ 67.00 to R $ 9.90!
Why? Because it contained lead.
The brands that contain lead are:

RED EARTH (Lip Gloss)
CHANEL (Lip Conditioner)
MARK AMERICA MOTIVES LIPSTICK
AVON

The higher the lead content, the greater the risk of causing cancer. After doing a test on lipsticks, lip was observed in the highest level of lead AVON. Care for those lipsticks which are supposed to have greater fixation. If your lipstick is fixed but is due to high levels of lead.
Take this test:
1. Put some lipstick on your hand;
2. With a gold ring on this lipstick pass it;
3. If the lipstick color changes to black, then you know that contains lead.

Source: daily inspirations for healthy living

 

Tips for taking care of skin during winters revealed

Winter time can be hard on the skin, making it dry, flaky and itchy, but with proper care you can effectively banish your skin woes. Dermatologist Rita Pichardo-Geisinger, Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, provides tips that are easy to incorporate into your daily routine to help keep your skin and hair in prime condition.

First of all use a fragrance free soap because perfumes and additives can dry the skin which can lead to flaking and itching or exacerbate conditions like eczema. It is also important to use a moisturizing lotion after the shower because when you apply a moisturizer to damp skin right after showering, this helps seal in water to prevent skin from drying out. “A moisturizer helps to act as a barrier of protection for your skin so look for one that has ceramides, a new technology that helps restore and protect the skin barrier,” she said.

Next, keep the temperature at home on the cool side, not too warm, to avoid skin dehydration because if your home or workplace temperature is warm enough to make it feel like a sauna, you might be drying your skin out. Do not forget to use a fragrance free detergent and liquid fragrance free conditioner for the clothes because some people with skin sensitivities can experience skin irritation or rash after wearing clothes washed in a detergent with fragrance additives.

Also, do not forget your moisturizing lotion with sunscreen for your face, even if it is winter time. If lips get chapped, avoid cracking by using a lip balm with sunscreen to get the double benefit of smooth and protected lips, Rita asserted. And, your hair can get dry in the wintertime too, so you might need to use a hydrating shampoo or an anti-frizz leave-in conditioner.

Lastly, tend to your toes and feet and treat them with good lactic acid creams that can help keep feet soft and supple.

Source: Times of India

Home remedies for cracked heels

one thing to keep in mind before you step out in your ‘opens’ is to make sure your feet are in absolute great shape. If your heels aren’t in perfect shape, sadly, there’s not much a lovely pair of summery flip-flops would be able to do.

Home Remedies for how to cure cracked heels:

Here is our list of 10 simple home remedies that will help soothe and makeover your cracked heels, and let you step out in style. Read, on how to heal cracked heels for more!

1. Lemon, salt, glycerin, rose water foot mask:

One of the first steps towards having a pair of beautiful feet is to heal them, and that is why this foot mask is absolutely perfect home remedy for cracked heels.  Take a basin of warm water in which you’ll be dipping your feet and add raw salt, lemon juice, glycerin and rose water. Soak in your feet for about 15-20 minutes in this water.

Using a pumice stone or foot scrubber, scrub your heels and sides of the feet.
Take 1tsp undiluted glycerine, 1 tsp rose water and 1tsp lemon juice and after mixing, apply over your cracked heels. Since this will be a sticky mixture, you can wear a pair of socks and leave on overnight. Wash off with lukewarm water in the morning.
Repeat for a few days till heels are soft and healed.

2. Vegetable oil:
Dry skin on the heels is one of the foremost reasons behind the cracking. This home remedy for dry skin helps combat this problem.

After washing your feet and cleaning and drying them up completely, apply a layer of vegetable oil on the cracked parts of your feet. Wear a pair of thick socks and leave overnight. In the morning, wash off and repeat for a few days to get smooth and healed feet.

3. Banana along with banana and avocado foot mask:

Take the pulp of a ripe banana and apply over cracked parts of the heel and feet.
Keep on for about 10 minutes and wash off.
You can also create a foot mask at home using a ripe banana and avocado.

Take a ripe banana and half an avocado, or the flesh of half a coconut (green coconut). Blend everything in a blender together.
Apply this thick creamy paste over your heels and feet.
As avocados and coconut are rich in several essential oils and vitamins and fats, this paste will help treat cracked heels and keep them soft and moisturized.

4. Vaseline and lemon juice:

Clean and dry your heels. Once all the dirt is out, soak your feet in warm water for about 15-20 minutes. Rinse and pat dry.
Take 1 tsp Vaseline and the juice of a lemon. Rub this mixture over your heels and other cracked parts of the foot. Rub this in nicely, till it gets absorbed in the skin.

Apply this mixture before going to bed and keep on overnight, wearing a pair of woollen socks, as these socks help trap body heat and increase the effectiveness of the mixture. Wash off in the morning. This is an especially good treatment if you have really cracked and painful heels.

5. Take some paraffin wax and mix it with mustard oil or coconut oil.
Heat the mixture in a pan till the wax melts properly. Allow this to cool at room temperature and once it’s cool, apply over your feet. To get the best results, apply before going to bed and cover with a pair of socks.
Wash off properly in the morning.

6. Honey:
Honey is great to moisturize your feet and has great antibacterial properties.

Mix one cup of honey to half a bucket of warm water.
Soak your feet for about 15-20 minutes.
Scrub off gently for soft and supple feet.

7. Rice Flour:
Make this scrub that’s great for scrubbing your feet. Take 2-3 tbsp of ground rice and add a few spoons of honey and apple cider vinegar to make a thick paste.

If your heels are extremely dry and cracked, add a spoon of olive oil or sweet almond oil.
Soak your feet in warm water for 10 minutes and gently scrub it with this paste to remove dead skin from your feet.

8. Olive oil:

Virgin olive oil is one of the most natural ways to get smooth soft healthy heels.

Apply some extra virgin olive oil with the help of a cotton ball and gently massage your feet in a circular motion for 10-15 minutes.
Wear a pair of thick cotton socks and wash off after an hour. Next, take 1 tbsp olive oil, a few drops of lemon oil or lavender oil in a small bottle and add an equal amount of water to it. mix it properly to get a thick solution. Apply this homemade foot cream on your feet a few times in the day and also overnight.

9. Oatmeal:

Take 1 tbsp powdered oatmeal and some jojoba oil to make a thick paste.

Apply this over your feet, especially well over the heels and any cracked parts.
Leave this on your heels for about half an hour and rinse off with cold water.Pat dry.

Do this every alternate day to remove all cracks.

10. Sesame oil:

Apply sesame oil on your heels and any cracked parts each night before going to bed. This is a great cracked heels solution for feet.
Massage well till it mixes in the skin.
Do this every night to get rid of cracks and have beautiful smooth heels.

Source: Style craze

Importance of keratin treatment for hair revealed

Human hair is said to be as strong as the horn of a rhino, as both are made of the same protein, keratin.

Keratin is now being used not just to straighten the hair, but also fortify them.

Rod Anker, Creative Director of Monsoon Salon and Spa said that keratin does not make the hair straight, even though it may appear straight for some time but the objective of the treatment is to reduce frizz, curl and help the hair become more manageable.

He added that it washes out after sometime, therefore 3-5 months is typically the length of the time that it lasts.

During the treatment, hair is shampooed and blow dried, after which the solution is applied with a brush and combed through the hair, and allowed to absorb for about 20 minutes.

Hair is then blow dried once more and flat ironed and the oils of the treatment will set into the hair within a few hours – so static strands are normal at this time.

Anker also advised that the hair must be kept straight for 72 hours, without using any accessories, as it may disturb the process.

Source: Healcon

20 Home Remedies to Get Rid of Dandruff

Home remedies for dandruff is a natural way to get rid of dandruff, a common scalp disorder. A person looking for dandruff treatment can cure dandruff at home with the aid of naturally available remedies. Dandruff is the result of excessive shedding of dead cells from the scalp. Dandruff can be cause of hair loss, acne, pimples and hair premature greying, so it should be treated before it gets severe and chronic.

Treatment of Dandruff is necessary as it is embarrassing and creates self esteem problems. Dandruff can be spread if you make use of common comb, hairbrush, soap and towel. Getting rid of dandruff is not as hard as perceived. Dandruff home remedies are natural and very effective. They can give you long term results keeping you away from harsh chemicals and expensive hair care products.

Here are some best ways to get rid of Dandruff at home with the assistance of home remedies:

Yogurt and Black pepper as a anti dandruff treatment
Yogurt reduces the intensity of scaling. Mix 2 teaspoon of black pepper powder in a cup of curd and blend it thoroughly. Then rub this mixture into dandruff affected scalp and after an hour, wash it with a mild shampoo.

Olive Oil Treatment for Dandruff
You can get rid of dandruff with the consistence use of olive oil. Olive oil is natural clarifying and moisturizing agent. It is one of the most admired home remedies for dandruff. A lukewarm oil treatment of olive oil can help you to treat your dandruff. Don’t make the olive oil too hot. Apply the olive oil to the problem scalp in circular motions before going to bed. Wash out your hair with a mild shampoo in the morning.

Lemon juice and Coconut oil
Blend together 1 tbsp. of lemon juice with 5 tbsp. of coconut oil. Apply to the scalp to get rid of dandruff. Lemon juice is a natural home remedy for dandruff and will clear away flakes from your scalp. There is a myth that lemon juice can lead to hair graying. However this is not true. Leave this remedy on the scalp for 20 to 30 minutes and then wash with a shampoo.

Vinegar to get rid of Dandruff
Vinegar is extremely effective for the treatment of dandruff as it is rich in potassium and enzymes which will help to cure an itchy scalp and dandruff. There are several ways you can make use of vinegar to prevent dandruff. You can massage apple cider vinegar into the dandruff scalp 5 to 7 minutes. Apple cider vinegar will help you to get rid of the dead skin cells, which are responsible in clogging the hair follicles and lead to dandruff flakes.  Another way to use vinegar to treat dandruff is to mix a tbsp. of vinegar in your last mug of water when you wash your hair.

Baking Soda to remove dandruff flakes
This may be surprising, but true that Baking soda is potential to clear excess flakes and clarifies the scalp from dandruff. You can add 1 tsp. of baking soda to a handful of shampoo and you will find that it can remove dandruff flakes even hiding in hair strands.

Aloe Vera gel to cure dandruff
Apply aloe Vera gel on the scalp to remove dandruff. Leave on for 15 minutes. Aloe is a natural home remedy, which clarifies and repairs damaged skin. It fights dandruff and let you get rid of dandruff flakes so the scalp can heal.

Apply Eggs to remove dandruff

Beat 2 eggs to apply it on scalp and rinse it off with in one hour to get dandruff free hair. Eggs help in the treatment of dandruff and falling hair. Egg acts as a good conditioner for dry hair giving them glow and shine.

Neem Leaves
Neem has the antiseptic property, which helps in getting rid of dandruff. Apply neem leaves paste on your scalp to fight dandruff as it is a very effective home remedy. Neem leaves is successful in treating lice, treating dandruff and many other eruptions on the scalp.

Warm Oil Massage on Scalp
Luke warm oil massage is considered as one of the best home remedy to get rid of dandruff. Luke warm almond oil, coconut oil, or olive oil is used to massage on scalp to prevent dandruff. Leave it on scalp overnight.

Onion is a natural anti dandruff solution
Apply the paste of onion into your scalp. Leave it on dandruff skin for one hour. Wash thoroughly. This will assist to get rid of dandruff. Apply lemon juice to remove smell of onion from your hair.

Fenugreek (Methi) Seeds and Oil to get rid of dandruff
Soak methi seeds in water for overnight and mash these fenugreek seeds in about half cup of warm coconut or olive oil. Apply all over the scalp. Leave it on for two to three hours. This home remedy will helps to get rid of dandruff naturally at home.

Besan and Curd to cure dandruff naturally at home
Mix 4 tbsp. Chickpea Flour also known as besan in curd to make thick paste. Apply on the scalp and leave it for an hour. You can few drops of lemon to get rid of oil of curd. This is a good home remedy to treat dandruff.

Reetha is natural dandruff treatment
Reetha, which is soap nut, is an ideal solution to get rid of dandruff. You can use powder of reetha and make a paste out of it. Apply for two hours and rinse it off. This way you can treat dandruff at home.

Apples to get rid of Dandruff
Apply 2 tbsp. of apple juice mix in water directly to the scalp. Apples have enzymes that eliminate dead skin cells that further causes scalp flakes. Leave this home remedy on the scalp 5 to 10 minutes before washing your hair.

Tea Tree Oil to treat dandruff
Tea tree oil is a natural home remedy for dandruff. Tea tree oil has natural antiseptic and antibiotic properties, which make it best to get rid of dandruff. You can apply tea tree oil directly to the scalp, or add few drops to your regular shampoo.

Lemon and Garlic
Mix 1 tbsp. of lemon juice with 2 tbsp. of garlic. Apply paste to the scalp. Lemon juice will help you to get rid of flakes. Garlic is a natural antibiotic and is best to kill the bacteria on the scalp. Leave this anti dandruff treatment on scalp for 20 to 30 minutes and then shampoo your hair.

Beetroot leaves and Henna
Crush beetroot leaves in heena powder to make a paste. Apply this mixture to remove dandruff.

Snake gourd
Juice of snake gourd should be rubbed on the scalp. This will help to get rid of dandruff

Aspirin as a home remedy to treat dandruff
Two aspirin dissolved in the shampoo can let you get rid of dandruff. Aspirin helps to fight dandruff.

Rosemary 

Mix vinegar in oil of rosemary leaves (squeeze them). Use this home remedy for dandruff. You can also apply mixture of rosemary oil and coconut oil to your scalp to treat dandruff.

Dandruff can be prevented by washing your hair regularly or at every alternate day. This can help you to get rid of dandruff. Choose a home remedy for dandruff, which suits you and use it constantly to treat dandruff. I am sure once you try, you would love these natural home remedies.

Source: nehasadana

Beware — Using household bleach can ruin your skin!

Various forms of bleaching have been used for this purpose — from the natural ones like using lemon or potatoes to the various cosmetic bleaches. However, recently more women are using household bleach in the hope of making their skin glow. This is following a recent study at Stanford University School of Medicine where researchers tested mice with radiation dermatitis — a side-effect of chemotherapy and radiation treatments — by bathing them in a diluted bleach solution for 30 minutes a day. They found that ‘the inexpensive, widely available household chemical could provide a new way to treat skin damage caused by radiation therapy, excess sun exposure or ageing.’ However, a lot of doctors have warned against this trend saying it can do more harm than good.

Don’t confuse face and body bleach

Dr Amrapali Patil, founder Trim n Tone, says without human or clinical studies supporting them, animal studies cannot be solely extrapolated to the effects of any drug, substance or chemical in humans. ‘Bleach to some degree has a corrosive effect and in inflammatory conditions such as dermatitis it will aggravate the condition. This would set up the affected area to be superimposed by infection and more irritation not to forget about the carcinogenic potential of such a product. Also, the skin would become prone to hyper pigmentation and tanning thus becoming more cancer prone,’ she says adding that she doesn’t advocate the use of household bleach on the face. ‘Cream bleach is suitable for lightening dark facial hair. Face bleach has a different concentration than body bleach. Since the skin of the face is more sensitive, it is prone to irritation quicker than any other part of the body. Also, it is more exposed to the sun than any other part of the body. So use only face bleach for facial hair lightening

Be careful

Dr Satish Bhatia, dermatologist, Dermetics, warns that one must not blindly follow studies. ‘I absolutely do not agree with the study because diluted bleach solution causes cancer to the skin according to the US Journal. We should not always go by these studies. If you’re using bleach, apply 1:10 dilution of distilled water or more than that depending on the skin type and only use on the less sensitive parts of the body to be sure that it won’t irritate your facial skin.’ He adds, that while cream bleaches contain a low amount of bleach i.e. two or three per cent, they may cause eczema or acne depending on how sensitive the skin is

Some precautions by Dr Amrapali Patil

  • Use facial bleach for face and body bleach for body.
  • Always do a patch test of the bleach to be used before applying it directly on face. Such a test should be done on the arm. Wait for upto 24 hours before using on large areas.
  • Don’t use near the eyes, inside the nose or ears.
  • Don’t use bleach on scar tissue, warts, moles or near genitals.
  • Bleach shouldn’t be used over sunburnt, irritated, chapped skin, or an area that is freshly shaved.
  • Bleaching isn’t safe to use on areas where you are using chemical peels or substances such as Retinol.
  • Metal and bleach don’t go well. Therefore, don’t mix bleach in a metal container.
  • Avoid sun exposure after bleaching for a day

Source: newsr

Laser Hair Removal’s Risks

The first two laser hair-removal sessions went smoothly, but the third ended with burning pain that persisted for weeks, a 26-year-old Brooklyn woman recalled. Then the marks appeared: long red stripes along the backs of her legs. Over the next few months, the stripes turned dark brown.

“It was horrifying,” said the woman, who asked not to be identified in order to preserve her privacy. “It wasn’t something you would see on a normal person.”

Laser hair-removal procedures have become immensely popular in recent years. Nearly half a million such treatments were performed by dermatologic surgeons in 2011, the last year for which figures are available, according to the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery. But an unknown number of procedures are performed each year by nonphysicians who may have minimal training.

The treatments are not without risk. Performed improperly, they can cause disfiguring injuries and severe burns in sensitive areas, like the bikini line and the mustache area above the lips, and, rarely, even death.

The percentage of lawsuits over laser surgery that involved a nonphysician operator rose to 78 percent in 2011 from 36 percent in 2008, according to a study published in JAMA Dermatology in October. Laser hair removal was the most commonly performed procedure cited in the litigation. Another popular treatment, intense pulse light, is used to “rejuvenate” aging skin and get rid of wrinkles.

“Not a week goes by that I don’t see a complication from a laser,” said Dr. Tina Alster, founding director of the Washington Institute of Dermatologic Laser Surgery. She and other physicians worry about the proliferation of nonmedical facilities like so-called medical spas that offer laser treatments and other cosmetic treatments but may not have licensed medical personnel on site.

“There’s a perception by the public that anybody can do this,” Dr. Alster said. “People need to remember, it’s not the laser doing the work, it’s the operator.”

In the case of the Brooklyn woman, the laser operator, who was not a doctor, scheduled repeat treatments of her legs four weeks apart instead of the 10 to 12 weeks for legs and the back recommended in a treatment protocol, according to her lawyer, Harry Rothenberg. She sued and reached a confidential settlement with the laser operator.

The licensing and training of laser hair-removal operators varies from state to state, resulting in a patchwork of rules and regulations, said Dr. Mathew M. Avram, director of the Massachusetts General Hospital Dermatology Laser and Cosmetic Center and an author of the new study.

In laser hair removal, pulses of light are used to destroy hair follicles. The treatment is considered to be the practice of medicine in some 35 states; however, nonmedical personnel who offer the treatment are required to have on-site medical supervision in only 26 states.

New York, Virginia and Georgia do not consider laser hair removal to be a medical treatment, and 11 states simply don’t have laws regulating it.

“It’s basically the Wild West of medicine,” Dr. Avram said. “Some states are legislating and protecting patients, but a great many are not. The average person walks into a spa and sees someone with a white coat on and may assume they’re a physician.”

Even doctor-owned facilities may not have one on the premises when procedures are being done, Dr. Avram said. And states that require medical supervision may not require training and licensing of laser operators; training often is left up to the manufacturers that sell the laser equipment.

But the operator makes critical assessments of an individual’s skin type and how far apart to schedule treatments, as well as other decisions. Among those with the greatest risk of complications are people with more natural pigment in their skin or those who are tan.

A laser operator with no medical training also may treat something that looks like a sun spot but is actually a skin cancer, obscuring the disease until it is much more advanced, Dr. Avram said.

Allan Share, president of the International Medical Spa Association, agrees that there is very little oversight of medical and day spas, and he urges consumers to do research before seeking treatment. “It’s always important for a consumer to do their own due diligence,” he said.

For those considering laser hair removal, here are some factors to consider:

Ask whether the facility is owned by a medical doctor and whether he or she is immediately available during procedures. Ask the provider to review your medical history. Ask what procedures are in place in case of an emergency.

Ask who will actually perform the procedure. What licensing and training does the operator have? How many times has the operator performed laser hair removal? Has he or she done it on the part of the body that you want treated?

Ask whether laser treatment is appropriate for your skin type, hair color, complexion and body area. Suggest that the operator test a small patch of skin before you undergo the procedure. Consumers with conditions like diabetes, a difficulty with wound healing, or a tendency toward keloid scarring may be especially vulnerable to complications and should talk to a doctor before undergoing laser treatment.

If you experience pain or discoloration after a procedure, don’t wait — call your doctor right away.

Source: The Newy York times

5 Natural Beauty Cheats You’ve Probably Never Heard Of.

Whiten Teeth With Activated Charcoal

It seems counter-intuitive that activated charcoal – a black substance that stains everything – would help to whiten teeth, but it really is very effective.

Simply dip a wet toothbrush in some activated charcoal and brush for two minutes before rinsing the mouth with water. The activated charcoal will pull toxins out of the teeth and remove stains.

Treat Acne & Other Skin Conditions With Banana Peels

This is a great little trick for treating acne, warts, stopping the itch from bug bites and poison ivy and reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles with an ingredient you’d normally throw in the trash.

Simply rubbing the inside of a banana peel on your face helps all of the above. Banana peels are rich in antioxidants, vitamins and nutrients which are absorbed into the skin.

Reduce Wrinkles, Cellulite & Stretch Marks With Gelatin

According to Mommypotamus.com, eating gelatin increases collagen production which are the building blocks of the skin.

A diet high in gelatin helps to:

Reduce wrinkles
Reduce cellulite
Reduce stretch marks
Grow strong hair and nails
Balance hormones

Naturally Conceal Gray Hair With A Herbal Hair Rinse

Some women look to conceal their gray hair using chemical dyes and other harmful products – instead try this homemade sage and rosemary hair rinse and gradually cover gray hair naturally.

Bring one cup of water to the boil, remove from the heat and add a quarter of a cup of dried rosemary and a quarter of a cup of dried sage. Allow to steep for 30 minutes. Using a coffee filter, strain the mixture so you are left only with the infused herbal water.

To Use: Position your head over a bowl and rinse the liquid through a number of times, massaging it all through the hair.

Gradually gray hair will fade and the natural color will return. Many report seeing noticeable differences after just one month.

Use Rosehip Seed Oil

“A study at the University of Santiago in 1983 was the first significant research to reveal the incredible anti-aging properties of rosehip seed oil. 180 individuals with deep wrinkles, premature aging, UV damage, facial scarring, acne and other skin related problems were treated using rosehip seed oil. The results showed that the treatment helped to regenerate the skin, reduce scars and wrinkles and help skin to regain its natural color and tone.”

Source: Natural living ideas

4 ways to embrace your age

When I was 13, I wanted to look like Cheryl Tiegs. It was the late ’60s and she was the epitome of beauty. She was tall, thin and blond. Standing at 5 feet 0, with dark brown eyes, dark brown hair and strong eyebrows, I couldn’t have looked any more different, and I spent a lot of time feeling bad about what I wasn’t. Then I saw Ali MacGraw in the movie Love Story. Those eyes, that hair, those thick eyebrows—I finally recognized the possibility of my own beauty.

Today I am troubled by society’s definition of beauty. I’m not sure how it started, but there is a whole breed of older women who look nothing like the women I grew up admiring (my grandmother, Helen Hayes, Jessica Tandy). It seems that everywhere I turn, there are women who have altered and erased everything Mother Nature gave them. The sad thing is that most of them don’t look any younger than their untouched peers. Why do so many women want to get rid of the features that make them unique in favor of a cosmetic-surgery-enhanced, cookie-cutter look?

We have a choice. We can buy into these images or we can make the conscious decision not to. True beauty isn’t about looking like a supermodel (remember—they’re freaks of nature) or a twenty-something Barbie doll. True beauty is about accepting and feeling good about who you are. I hope some of the things I’ve learned will help you see your own beauty.

Stop obsessing

Instead of worrying about your “flaws” and the things you don’t like about yourself, focus on what’s right. I can’t tell you how many times women come to my makeup counter so fixated on the size and shape of one feature that they overlook everything else. When a woman asks me how to make her nose look smaller, I point out her amazing smile and show her how to enhance her lips with the right lipstick and gloss. More often than not, she is pleasantly surprised by what she sees.

Live in the present

We waste too much energy feeling bad that we don’t look like we used to instead of appreciating what we look like now. It makes no sense to obsess that you can’t pass for 30 now that you’re 40, because at 50 you’ll look back at photos from 10 years ago and realize how young and fresh you were. I hated my arms when I was a teenager and often wore long-sleeve shirts. Now I see pictures of myself from those days and think that my arms looked just fine. I would have saved myself a lot of adolescent angst if I had made the best of what I had at the time, rather than trying to fight it.

Go with the flow

There’s something incredibly beautiful about a woman with lines on her face, and I think we should start using the word living instead of aging. Lines are proof that we’ve lived life. We get them when we laugh and when we express ourselves. Take them all away and you end up looking like a plastic-faced mannequin. Tip: A little concealer and blush can do wonders.

Take charge of yourself

Focus on being healthy, strong and fit. Commit to making smart food choices and exercising regularly. This requires work, and it’s not a quick fix, but you’ll look and feel better over the long term. I’m 56 years old and I’m still learning that there’s a lot I can do to be the best version of myself. I encourage you to make 2014 the year when you commit to pursuing your own best self!

Source: news.nom.co

5 New Things to Do with Avocado

Creamy, delicious avocados are a healthy way to add tons of nutrients and flavor to your meals, from breakfast to dessert. Full of monounsaturated fat, fiber, and vitamins, this versatile super fruit can be used in so many ways, both in and out of the kitchen, as these recipes prove.

1. Avocado and Smoked Salmon on Toast:
Streamline your morning routine with this quick breakfast. It provides healthy fats from the avocado, protein from the smoked salmon, and tons of flavor from the tamari and lemon.

Serves: 2

Ingredients:
2 slices gluten-free bread
1 ripe avocado, halved
Juice of 1/2 lemon
1 dash tamari soy sauce
Pepper
2 slices smoked salmon

Directions:
Toast bread. In a small bowl, use a fork to mash avocado with lemon juice, tamari, and pepper to taste. Spread avocado mixture on toast and top with salmon.

Nutrition score per serving: 297 calories, 16g fat (2g saturated), 31g carbs, 9g protein, 8g fiber, 420mg sodium, 4g sugars

2. Simple Avocado Quinoa Salad

Combine quinoa, kale, and of course avocado for a super salad. This makes a perfect side dish or lunch for a summer picnic.

Serves: 4

Ingredients:
3 cups cooked quinoa, cooled
1/4 red onion, thinly sliced
1 Fuji apple, thinly sliced into half moons
2 cups purple or Lacinato kale leaves, chopped into ribbons
Juice of 1 lemon
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 teaspoons honey
1 pinch sea salt
1 avocado, cubed
1/4 cup crumbled feta or chevre (optional)

Directions:
1. In a large salad bowl, toss quinoa, onions, apple, and kale to combine.
2. Drizzle in lemon juice, oil, honey, and salt, and toss to coat well.
3. Gently fold in avocado and feta, if using. Serve chilled or at room temperature.

Nutrition score per serving: 293 calories, 16g fat (2g saturated), 35g carbs, 6g protein, 7g fiber, 72mg calcium, 97mg sodium

3. Avocado Chocolate Smoothie

This smoothie was inspired by my friend Kim Barnouin, author of Skinny Bitch. Ever since I had an avocado chocolate mousse at one of her dinner parties, I can’t get enough of the unique, delicious combination.

Serves: 2

Ingredients:
1 ripe avocado, peeled and pitted
2 tablespoons dark unsweetened cocoa powder
2 tablespoons agave nectar
1 frozen banana
1 cup ice
1 cup unsweetened almond milk

Directions:
Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. Serve immediately.

Nutrition score per serving: 306 calories, 17g fat (3g saturated), 42g carbs, 4g protein, 11g fiber, 124mg calcium, 101mg sodium, 24g sugars

The enzymes and oils in avocado can help restore moisture in dry skin. Grab a good book, a cup of tea, and relax while these all-natural beauty treatments work their magic.

4. Candice’s Sweet Avo-Honey Mask: In a small bowl, use a fork to mash 1/4 avocado. Stir in 2 teaspoons honey and apply to your face with clean hands. After 10 minutes, rinse off with warm water.

Candice’s 20-Minute Miracle Mask: In a small bowl, use a fork to mash 1/4 avocado. Stir in 1 tablespoon egg whites and 1/2 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil, mixing until very creamy. Apply to your face with clean hands. After 20 minutes, rinse off with warm water.

This smoothie was inspired by my friend Kim Barnouin, author of Skinny Bitch. Ever since I had an avocado chocolate mousse at one of her dinner parties, I can’t get enough of the unique, delicious combination.

Serves: 2

Ingredients:
1 ripe avocado, peeled and pitted
2 tablespoons dark unsweetened cocoa powder
2 tablespoons agave nectar
1 frozen banana
1 cup ice
1 cup unsweetened almond milk

Directions:
Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. Serve immediately.

Nutrition score per serving: 306 calories, 17g fat (3g saturated), 42g carbs, 4g protein, 11g fiber, 124mg calcium, 101mg sodium, 24g sugars

The enzymes and oils in avocado can help restore moisture in dry skin. Grab a good book, a cup of tea, and relax while these all-natural beauty treatments work their magic.

Source: shape